The Scrap Tamer - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Darius Rook: The Pit Master

Reid walked back to the waiting room he was previously in to find it almost devoid of the other contestant save for a few who stuck around.

The others didn’t bother staying because apart from the winner, no one else receives a prize apart from the cores they were able to secure during the hunt.

After a few minutes of rest, Reid exited the room and he spotted Elizabeth as soon as he left the hallway.

“Good job back there” Elizabeth complimented with a satisfied smile.

“Thank you” Reid replied. He knew that he had done more than enough to impress but weirdly he hasn’t received any invite.

As if on cue, a buff looking man in a suit walked up to them and started speaking to Reid.

“47?” The man asked. His voice sounded heavy and gruff.

Every hunter participating in the Hunt was recognized by their token number unless otherwise changed by the participant himself.

“Yes” Reid answered turning to face the giant of a man.

“The Boss wants to see you” The man, who was likely a bodyguard, said.

“Lead the way then” Reid said with a smile.

He and Elizabeth started following the bodyguard towards one of the underground rocky walls, or so they thought.

The rocks opened to reveal a lit stairway, heading upwards. They then climbed with the man until they reached a door.

The man pressed his finger on what looked like a finger print scanner and the door opened with a beep.

They were led into what looked like a really big office/ living room with a huge floor to ceiling glass window that directly faced the pit.

One part of the room was setup as an office and another part had a couch, a large TV and a center table which made it look like a living room.

On the couch sat a fat man in a suit, his attention glued to the TV. Playing on the TV was videos of Reid’s fight with the Stag.

Standing by the man was a lady holding a tablet. She acknowledged them with a nod before going back to scrolling through the tablet.

“They’re here Sir” the bodyguard respectfully informed and walked outside.

“If it isn’t the star of the Hunt” The man said shutting off the TV and taking the tablet from the lady. “Please take a seat”

Elizabeth and Reid took a seat on a couch opposite him.

“I’m Darius Rook, also known as the pit master but you can just call me Darius ” He introduced.

“I’m Re—” Reid wanted to introduce himself but was interrupted by Darius.

“Oh I know who you two are” He said with a smile “Imagine my surprise when I found out that the ‘failure’ of the Fletcher family was taking part in my games”

“And you too, Miss Cross.” He turned to Elizabeth “I’m honored to have the youngest platinum rank tamer in my humble underground”.

“Thank you for having us” Elizabeth simply said.

“Now, I know you two didn’t just randomly decide to come here and partake in a mostly illegal underground game just like that,” Darius said, leaning back on his leather couch. “Tell me, why are you here?”

Elizabeth sighed a bit before saying “There have recently been reports of people disappearing in the city. We were hoping you might have some information.”

“The disappearances huh?” Darius rubbed his chin as if thinking about it “that information is gonna cost you a hefty amount of credits”.

“Money’s not a problem ” Elizabeth confidently said.

“Haha, of course” Darius laughed “you’re a platinum ranked tamer after all so money is the least of your worries”.

“How much?” She asked, hoping to go straight to the point.

“Don’t worry about it Miss Cross, Reid here has entertained me enough so I’ll give the information as his reward” He said pointing to Reid.

Reid raised an eyebrow. “That’s generous of you, but I’m guessing there’s a catch?”

“Oh no, there’s no catch, I promise you,” Darius said with a grin. “Just be sure to remember me when you climb the ranks in the military. A friend in high places never hurts.”

“I see” Reid simply said.

Darius was betting on the fact that Reid would rise higher quickly in the military, if not, then that would mean he had given the information out for free.

“Now, what do you want to know?” He asked turning back to Elizabeth.

“Everything you can tell us” Elizabeth answered.

“Get me the file, Charlotte” Darius said to the lady standing by him “and while you’re at it, can you get our guests something to drink”.

The lady left and returned in a few minutes with someone who looked like a server with a tray of drinks in hand.

Charlotte handed a black folder to him as the server placed the drinks on the table.

Darius passed the folder to Elizabeth before saying “you’ll find all you need to know in there”.

Elizabeth took the folder and sent it to her inventory before asking “if you had all this information, why didn’t you try to do something about the disappearances?”.

“I’m not the police or military, I’m only a business man who involves himself where he smells profit Miss Cross” He answered as he tapped his nose.

“And ironically, you’re just giving the information to us for free” Elizabeth said.

“Maybe, maybe not” Darius said with a chuckle “only time will tell.”

“As for your reward for winning the Hunt ” He said to Reid “what would you like?”

“Rewards? I thought the information was it” Reid was surprised by his words.

“Oh no no, the information was for the entertainment provided” Darius said with a smile “you get to choose one thing”.

With a snap of his fingers the bodyguard from before and another one walked in carrying a long crate.

They placed on the floor and opened it up, revealing its contents.

“Now, make your choice” Darius spoke with a wide smile.

Reid’s eyes opened wide in shock at the contents of the crate. With a grin, he quickly made his choice.