Tala just tilted her head. She didn't pay heed to her surrounding for she was navigating the location of the hall they were looking for.

Suddenly, a bunch of young men wearing red-brown robes and with elite warrior crest in their chest blocked their way.

"Boss, these three seem lost." A big eyes youth sneered. He whispered, "Boss, they might have something valuable in their sleeves."

"Dane, you're right. Let's give them a warming welcome then." Dilaw, a yellow-haired youth smiled wryly. He stared maliciously to the three young men and said, "As per policy, you two need to hand over your things."

Looking at the appearance of the three, they seemed ordinary. A thought of quivering and begging three children played in his mind.

But in his dismay, the trio didn't even bother to look at him as they were chatting something.

The crowd started to gather. His presence attracted a bunch of citizens that were passing by.

He really did not want the things the trio have. He was really just want to pummel some people today, and the three was a great target on his sight.

He purposely cleared his throat and said with a threat, "I'm the boss here. Hand over your things or else..."

He had not finished his words because of a young man, the shortest among the three, passed by beside him without caring his presence.

This earned laughed at him by the crowds.

Steams of smoke wafted on his ears as his cheeks reddened.

He extended his arm to tap the shoulder of the young man when another one grabbed his wrist. With piercing eyes, the youth whispered at him saying, "If you touch him, you will taste my wrath."

He didn't know why, but he felt a chilling presence out of those words. The youth loosened his grip and followed suit together with the other one.

The crowd found themselves dumbfounded. "Aren't they afraid of the people in the Artisan Hall?"

"They sure have met their demise."

"Poor young men!"

"At least they have some guts."

These were the conversations running around.

Kalipsi's purposeful grip left a red mark on his wrist. Notwithstanding the humiliation, Dilaw blocked their way again.

"We don't want a fight," Uno said simply without a hint of emotion on it.

"Look! You're begging now, huh!" Dilaw regained his arrogant behavior after hearing those words.

Uno looked at Dilaw with a hint of displeasure. 'When did I beg?'

"Scram," Kalipsi said in not so loud nor gentle voice.

That one word darkened the surroundings of the group of Dilaw. He gestured one of his men to step forward.

Knowing what it means, the man nodded in response.

"Scram? You sure talk big. I hope you can back it up," Gab, one of this bunch of youth step forward as he made a sound of his knuckles.

"These bunch of imbecile," Kalipsi's patience was wearing off now.

. 'Just an elite warrior dare to fight me?' Kalipsi tilted his head ready to fight.

This bunch of mediocre was nothing to me!

Gab was ready to send his strongest punch when a slim young man in a robe stepped in the middle and stopped him. "Gab, stop it. If you don't, I'll tell the elders about this."

Kalipsi was stunned to the young man who stood for them. Seeing his petite body, he really does look weak.

"Laz, do you think you can scare us?" Gab responded.

"Then, go ahead." Laz raised his eyebrow.

"Gab, let them be. Let's go." Dilaw, their leader said. He continued, "Laz, you will have a time with me sooner or later. Be prepared because I don't have a plan of going easy with you."

The bunch of youth disappeared.

"Are all of you okay?" Laz faced the trio.

"We're okay. You should have just left us. Now, you're in big trouble than we are." Kalipsi felt guilty. If he just handled his temper earlier, they should have not caused trouble to the petite youth.

"It's okay. They can't touch me as long as I work to the stone hall. My ability was the best." Laz stated proudly. He was an apprentice appraisal of stones and he was proud of it for he was the only student that was accepted as a disciple of the head of the Stone Hall.

Though his master was reasonable rich, he wants to earn by himself. And he already asked a lot of help from his master already. Asking help from time to time was no simple thing to do.

Though his master offers help, he did accept some of it.

To his great surprise, the youth who talked to him looked at him like an answer to his question.

"Y..you worked at the stone hall?" Kalipsi asked.

"Yes."

"That's great. We're heading there but it seems like we have lost direction." Kalipsi looked at tala with knitted brows. But Tala seemed like she doesn't care which make Kalipsi's brows knitted deeper.

"Are you going to buy stones?"

"No. we're going to sell one," Uno replied. On their way, Tala has painstakingly harnessed their skills by letting them kill beasts. They accumulated a large number of energy stones in just three days.

"That's great. Can I be your appraisal? You know, I will have a share if your stones will be sold to our hall." Laz didn't have to hide this request for he needed money.

"Of course! It will be our pleasure."

"Then, thank you. I am Laz by the way."

"And I am Kalipsi. These two here are Tala and Uno."

Uno gave him a smile while Tala nodded.

"Tala was a silent type of person, huh?"

"Right. Don't bother him."

...

As they walked near a hall, Tala could feel a slight disturbance of energy. That's the effect of accumulating a large number of stones and restoring it without much precaution. That's also the reason why Tala was so sure to find their way, but unfortunately, the busy city kept her circling.

Inside the hall, stones by stones were displayed like a museum, but the stones seemed ordinary and limited.

Laz halted in front of a door.

Inside was just a simple round table with six chairs surrounding it.

Laz gestured the three to have a sit.

"You can put the stones you're about to sell here." Laz pointed out the table. "I will be the one who'll assess it as per our agreement." Dealing little things was the duty of an apprentice like him. Jus the ages of the three in front of him, Laz was confident to do the job.

A lot of stones fell into the table as Uno emptied his storage ring. Seeing the no ordinary sight, Laz's mouth opens wide. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. A bunch, more like a hundred energy stones were laying on the table. The energy it emitted weren't ordinary too.

"They're Grade D's stones! No. There some Grade C. How...how?" Laz looked at the two youth in disbelief. He thought that the job with the three would be just an ordinary one.

"Can you appraise it?" Kalipsi asked.

"Of course! But wait here. I can't appraise these all by myself. I call my elder. I hope you can wait." Laz looked at them with glistening eyes.

"Of course. You help us from that bunch of idiot. Waiting a little longer is nothing."

Hearing those words, Laz immediately dashed out to seek his master.

"Master! Master!" Sounded by a panting Laz.

"What is it? Is there a problem?" Elder Lawa asked a panting Laz. He was the head of the stone hall. His power stood up making him one of the trusted elder of the Datu.

It was the reason why no one dared to touch Laz.

"Not really. There are three young men who came here to sell a bunch of stones. Because of their higher grade, I can't appraise them all. I hope master will help this young man." Laz explained.

"Oh? That will be great for our city. The Datu will be very pleased to have many stones. You know, stones were rare as there were only limited expert who can seek for it." Elder Lawa said gleefully. He continued, "Laz, lead the way!"