"'May this curse afflict you with incurable paralysis for an entire month'..." Ares, having left Hans' office, was heading towards one of his assassination targets while checking up on some of the scrolls that were lying around in the mayor's safe. "... 'This effect is three times as effective against anyone named 'Ares' or 'Hans''... Wow, what an asshole." Ares blinked thrice in rapid succession as he rescreened the scroll. Apparently Maro, the previous mayor, had been more concerned with Hans ands Ares than he let on. God only knows what he was planning on doing with this scroll but it was too late to find out regardless as he was deader than dead. Him and his big, invisible bird bit the dust when Ares became Garmr for the first time back during the international so it was impossible to ask him what sort of devious plan he was cooking up. In the end, he wasn't able to put it into action and Ares had effectively dismantled the trap... Or, well, he was about to rip the scroll in half but then he had a different idea! He arrived outside a shack and summoned the Nyxian Prowler, using is and Visitation to sneak inside without alerting the guards nearby. He then placed the scroll on the only table in the place and wrote a small note that read 'You know who this is from, don't bother asking'. He placed the note on top of the scroll, crossed his fingers, and hid in a corner as a big and angry guy stormed in with a huff and a puff. The big guy threw himself onto a chair and finally noticed the scroll as he kicked out his men and picked up the note.
"Tsk, that asshole is as cryptic as ever." The man grumbled and threw the note onto the floor, amidst a pile of litter, and opened the scroll without so much as blinking. Ares hadn't expected his little stunt to go so well but apparently his ideas were just that clever. Ares didn't know anything about this target, he just assumed the big guy would fill in the blanks and develop his own confidence in the source of the scroll. The big guy was hired muscle that had accepted some contracts that were giving Hans grief as they targeted corrupt officials he wanted to interrogate before they were murdered. Apparently some bigwig was trying to cut loose ends and so Ares had simply pretended to be this mysterious benefactor and it paid off. The big guy collapsed onto the floor with a frothing mouth and wide open eyes but that was all the movement anyone was getting out of him. He was a transition realm cultivator, so not really a threat to Ares, but in this manner he couldn't possibly fight back and there would be less of a mess when Ares was finished with him. The big guy probably thought he was being betrayed, that he had become the last loose end now that the rest of his work was done, but the truth of the matter was irrelevant because Ares didn't spare him a single second longer than he needed to and beheaded the lug with his scythe before moving on. The scroll designed to kill him had become a tool he used to kill someone else, he had to thank Maro for his assistance! But in all seriousness, Ares was considering learning to make scrolls of his own. Or, if nothing else, drag Egerton into the business and pose it as some kind of language training scheme. He could explore the vastitude of language and its applicability in blah blah blah. If Ares framed it correctly he could make dangerous scrolls and have Egerton disguise them with his literary prowess. Or Ares could just do it himself, he was pretty pun savvy when he wanted to be. 'May your days be filled with riches and gold'; cue the Grand Annihilation. Or something to that effect, anyway. If anything, maybe Onno would be a better scroll maker. He used variety cultivation and so could implement a larger and more versatile range of effects into them. Ares would consider it but right now he was pretty engrossed in Screening the scrolls he had on him as there were some funny ones mixed in too.
Not funny haha but more like funny as in 'this scroll automatically imparts a passive art that forces the user to laugh out loud whenever they are making a conscience effort to hide'. This was a pretty sick joke but funny to imagine at least. An assassin would be less so a deadly shadow and more like a haunting ghost, creepily laughing in the hallways of a mansion in the dead of night. It might even be more terrifying than the prospect of a normal assassin... As for what Maro was doing with this... Maybe he was experimenting with wet workers and trying to copy Hans? As in, he wanted his own assassin task force but couldn't trust them so would reward them with this scroll when he grew wary of them. It was a way of saving his own hide if he felt like his hired goons were going to turn on him, presumably, but he must have abandoned the idea because he would always be wary of them from the start. Giving this scroll to an assassin ruined their entire career so he couldn't possibly save his hide from the get go if he was betrayed instantly. If he waited too long then the scroll would be pointless as the betrayal would have already happened so, though it's effect was practical in destroying an assassin's life, it wasn't great at what he wanted to use it for. Insurance, basically, but hard to time perfectly. His paranoia probably won out in the end which was why he never went down the same route Hans did. Hans had self confidence he couldn't be bested by anyone he hired and, furthermore, he earned a lot of their trust by making a real effort to make Red Sun a better place. He hired locals with morals so the risk on his end was a lot lower anyway and that was the real reason Corrupt Mr Maro couldn't copy him.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ares cornered a man who was laughing like a maniac. Ares performed some more scroll trickery and the person in question was trying to run and hide from him after having fallen prey to such schemes but... Well, the scroll was definitely working, that much was evident. Given how loud this guy was cackling Ares could use his divine sense to spot him from miles away even. Of course he let this man run in the first place to test the power of the scroll, and could have just murdered him without all the fluff, but Ares had to admit that finding a laughing garbage bin was pretty hilarious. The man went literally dumpster diving to try and bury his voice but it just echoed amongst the foul smelling trash so Ares rocked up to a giggling bin and couldn't help but giggle a little himself. Scrolls were becoming amore and more attractive to him the more he realised he didn't have to take them so seriously and could use them to toy with people like this. He was already concocting some evil ideas in his head like 'whoever reads this scroll shall have their libido raised to match that of my first wife'. Just throwing such a scroll out into the wild would have some rather funny results, he reckoned, but he could also give it to, say, Bellona, and watch mayhem unfold. Or he could give a scroll to Mako that made him bow before Ares every time he saw him, that would really grind his gears. Scrolls were versatile methods of issuing commands and pseudo oaths to those stupid enough to read them without any kind of assurance or insurance / back up. Now, really, they were supposed to be mostly beneficial. They were supposed to be methods of communication and or learning aids for arts to be passed down... But this was Ares we're talking about here so naturally such a thing never crossed his mind whatsoever. As a sect master, the most consideration he gave this scroll was that he could imbue some of them with Gamble and have his more talented weapon oriented disciples learn it that way. Doing it for Echo was overkill because the art was simple enough to learn on its own so Gamble was a pretty decent option actually... But how could Ares resist the allure of negative scrolls instead?! Inscribing arts onto a scroll was way harder, and a longer process, than just making it blast confetti in a person's face! Way less entertaining too!
A woman was seated in a bougie marron chair, surrounded by dark ambient lighting in a brothel with questionable legality. She was covered in furs and slender red clothing but still managed to reveal parts of her that most women would be uncomfortable showing in public. She wasn't nude but infinitely close to it and one wrong move would lead to indecent exposure. She was sipping on a tea and staring at a scroll that had appeared on her desk unbeknownst to even her secretaries and aides who swore they hadn't placed it there. She felt as though someone was staring at her back, silently encouraging her to pick it up and read it, but naturally she was hesitant. It could be from her backers, it could be blackmail, or it could be a terrible affliction. There was no real way to tell so she played it cautiously and called in a lackey to open and read it for her. The lackey trembled but did as they were tolls as far worse fates awaited them if they weren't obedient. The brothel already kidnapped people, finding the family of the workers and bringing them over was very much possible now that they were contractually stuck to this place after being conned into working here. The lackey opened the note and spoke. "Should this scroll be read, a ravenous monster will break down your walls and eat the most immoral person in the room."
...
"What the heck?" The lady in red looked around, baffled by the absurd declaration. This scroll seemed childish, like something you would read to a kid as a bedtime story to make them behave! As if such a nonsensical scroll could possible be real! Such a thing could never be enforced no matter...
CRASH
ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?" The lady's last words wouldn't ever receive an answer as Garmr leapt at her with fangs bared and ate her whole in a single bite before sprinting away and vanishing into the horizon. He left behind a stunned lackey who was wetting their trousers and shivering on the floor as well as a bunch of extremely confused locals who could have sworn they just saw a giant wolf monster appear out of nowhere.
Elsewhere, after transforming back into a human, Ares was rolling around on the grass in a park behind a bush and laughing like a madman. "Hahahahahaha! Oh man, the look on her face was priceless!" Ares wiped a tear from his eye and cleared his throat but still kept chuckling afterwards. "Haha, that poot attendant is never going to open a scroll again for the rest of their entire lives, hahahaha!" Ares had been a bit mean and spooked somebody who was probably innocent but it was fine! They were a mortal anyway and shouldn't be getting involved with scrolls to begin with! Let this be a lesson to them to stay away from danger and live a normal life from now on!
As for the woman in red, she was gone and because she'd been the main lynchpin behind that brothel it ought to collapse on its own now. Also the threat of that weird wolven 'boogie monster' showing up again should dissuade anyone from trying to keep the brothel afloat with monetary aid from afar. That scroll was a fake, Ares made it himself and it had no magic whatsoever, but nobody else would know that from a mere second hand report! Getting involved in that cursed brothel, and having a wolf monster scroll show up at your doorstep, was a risk no sensible person would be willing to make when there were so many uncertainties about the situation. It wasn't even known who sent the scroll in the first place so this was a matter best left untouched.
...
...
...
Aw crap, maybe that was a bad idea after all? Ares realised a little too late what he'd done. Eating a person as Garmr was fine, he'd gotten used to the idea, but he'd eaten a half naked temptress and Enyo might not be too pleased. 'Don't eat that! You don't know where it's been! From now on, don't eat any floozies!' And so on so forth. Ares didn't feel like eating her was a big deal but Enyo would probably mind and see it differently. That was something eh was going to have to remember in the future... It's not even like she tasted nice or anything! She was softer than any man was, and easier to chew, but she just tasted like a bottle of perfume and was rather repugnant actually. Ares felt like he swallowed ten thousand lavender bath bombs. Oh well, Enyo's tough time aside, Ares had a blast setting up that little comedy. Well it was a comedy for him, everyone else involved must have thought it a horror instead. Garmr wasn't exactly a well known entity as of yet. His existence wasn't a complete surprise, Ares showed it off before at the international, but that was a one time thing and some people had yet to see it with their own two eyes personally. Those from afar, who were coming to Red Sun in search of opportunity, or those who couldn't make it to the coliseum or fit in during the matches, were unaware of the sheer scale of Garmr. They'd get used to it eventually, as residents of Red Sun Ares'... Unique traits, would become that much more apparent to them in due time as they put up with his shenanigans. From today onwards a new legend was born in that any naughty business owners would be snatched up by the big bad property monster if they misbehaved. Nip was the most affected by this rumour! Her fear of Ares would seemingly never be fully quelled at this point! Unintended side effect of worsening his relation with the local hairdresser aside, Ares finished up his tasks and killed two birds with one stone. He used all the harmful scrolls to the help kill his assassination targets and had a pile of useful ones left over for Hans to deal with. Though, really, Hans could have also used the negative scrolls too if Ares hadn't been a greedy little scroll goblin and used them for his own gains and amusement. They could be considered his payment for helping out today as Hans had nothing else worth giving Ares other than verbal 'thanks' anyway. Ares was introduced to the wonderful world of scrolls so he called it even and took his leave, returning back home just in time to find Sandy, Enyo, and Bellona getting along well.
Bellona had a bite mark on her neck, and not one of Ares' as he knew exactly where he left them, so the legendary pervert shark Enyo had claimed another victim at some point during his departure. Bellona looked grouchy, presumably as she'd had her memories taken and rifled through by Enyo, but there was a hint of a smile as she'd been praised by her sister afterwards for her performance. Enyo had accepted defeat and acknowledged Ares' crowning of Bellona as victor... Provided she also got to experience Bellona's talents at some point. Bellona kissed her teeth and agreed to get her off her back for the moment and then relished her victory over her sister while Sandy returned with kebab skewers for everyone to partake in. Sandy was quietly nibbling away at her meat and Enyo seemed to think she looked very cute so was stroking her hair with a wide smile. Sandy really had become a pet rhino as far as Enyo was concerned! She didn't seem to mind it herself though, or rather actively enjoyed the feeling of being part of a large family, and so visibly relaxed every time she took a seat anywhere in the house. You could tell when an animal was at peace with their surroundings and all of Sandy's edge disappeared as soon as Enyo's hand started fiddling with her hair. Ares knew not all his partners would get along as well as this so he was content to enjoy the serenity of three co-operative and friendly lovers while it lasted. "Food's ready." One person got up to set the table, one's eyes sparkled, and the other... Was staring at his crotch. Bellona's investment in getting better at this new past time of hers was admirable but not now! She'd probably calm down after a day or two but she seemed to really want to explore every nook and cranny of this hobby now that she was getting into it for the first time... If she really wanted to then Ares would play with her after dinner. No sausage until she'd eaten her greens! Maybe he didn't need to prank her with a libido scroll after all...
Ares, with the help of Enyo, got everything ready as the whole house filtered into the living room in search of good food. The quiet chatter and back and forth between everyone was something Ares had really missed during his time out and about. It was good to explore solo every now and then, he also enjoyed that too, but after a while he wanted to come back and experience this here and there as well. Hell even Sadie, who was freeloading yet again, was more than welcome to stop by. She got along well with Sandy so they were often spotted drinking on a couch somewhere and chomping on food together. When one came to Ares looking for seconds, they'd ask for double portions so that the other didn't have to also get up. Appa also really liked toying around with Visitation and treated it like a younger brother, playing games with it but not hide and seek because Visitation was way too good at it. Only a select few people in the house could ever find Visitation if it went all out so that was a no go. Aejaz' Stacked Deck, the unusual treasure he got from Ares' pilfering of the Elliot back in Xasca, was like a party trick nobody wanted to be the victim of. It was impossible to beat Aejaz at most card games to begin with, because of his magic making things blatantly unfair, but his new deck was even less legal and needed to be banned! The only person who challenged him was Bellona and she actually won by cheating herself in a game of blackjack. She used her magic to halve the numbers on Aejaz' cards, lowering his score and leaving him bewildered at the humbling defeat he was made to taste for once. Then there was Enyo and Trixie who found out they had a lot in common when it came to preferred articles of clothing. Trixie was good at undercover work, that was her forte back when she was part of Fleeting Glimpse under Sho, so her wardrobe was filled with things Enyo would consider 'cosplay'. Trixie didn't use that stuff in the bedroom much, though she also didn't say she never used it for that so that was telling, but Enyo's interest in that kind of approach was sky high after receiving the harem clothes from Xasca and the Grecian lands. Namely, she was curious where Trixie picked up all these outfits from as Mimi, the blacksmith, wouldn't be making outfits for the harem until she was picked up way later and so Enyo wanted something to fill the void until then. Dressing up as a police woman and cuffing Ares, or maybe the reverse, was a titillating thought for her...
As for Ares, he was talking with Allie... At least he was after being reprimanded by Enyo for eating the lady in red earlier as he hadn't gotten off lightly for that. Allie was petting Leo and laughing at Ares' joking complaints about his berating at the hands of Enyo but she also had her own topic to talk about. Apparently she needed a few more ingredients to make a Mini Pillie out of the parasite Ares brought her from Isaz so she was waiting on Zhang to locate and procure them on her behalf before she moved forward with actual alchemy. It was looking promising though and Ares was excited to see it too. And in this way, the evening passed and soon everybody was in bed and sleeping in their own rooms. Sandy was in the same bed as Ares for the first time since moving in and she was gifted the closest spot to him by Enyo who willingly stood aside. The bed was barely big enough for three but it would be a bit of a struggle so she volunteered to sleep elsewhere tonight so long as Ares promised to find a bigger bed. Really, the only solution was going to end up being a massive circular bed in the middle of the room. Even if he found a bigger bed than the one he was currently using there would eventually be too many partners for that as well. It was either a custom made behemoth stretching across the entire room or a circular design which was less of a hassle to acquire in the short term. Maybe when he was sect master, and got his own house, he could think about creating a dedicated bedroom that multiple harem members could sleep in at once if they wanted to. Basically one private room each and then a big bed chamber for sharing if they weren't in the mood to be alone or wanted to find Ares as he'd spend most nights there presumably. It wasn't needed right now but in the future it would be pretty important to have built. For now, though, Sandy could snore peacefully in his arms... And occasionally nibble them too... They're not food! Silly rhino! She was gentle in her nibbling though, almost as if she subconsciously realised what she was doing and held back, so Ares didn't mind. She looked so precious and content so he couldn't possibly bother her or wake her up! This was like the rhino equivalent of a cat sleeping on your leg. Surely she wasn't still hungry? He fed her plenty earlier! Oh well, he'd make sure to wake up before she did and prep her breakfast to keep her satisfied. After that? Well tomorrow was going to be the day Ares officially became sect master. Sadie hadn't come around just to feast; that was her primary goal but she was also tasked, by Yulo, to inform Ares about the passing of the torch ceremony that was in the works. It wasn't a big deal, it would be a relatively quick affair, but Ares had to be present along with all the disciples and elders currently at the sect so he couldn't skip it. It was a hassle, and Dascar was apparently going to butt in, but it was a pretty key moment and so Ares would do his duty properly!