"Starting today, I will be your master!" The room was filled with gasps and confused murmurs.

"Their what now?" Jack spoke out their confusion. Epel glanced at Jonah. He saw the boy was gripping the counter tightly as if he was trying to crack it.

"You lost a bet against me." Azul tapped his cane and stretched out his other hand, summoning a golden contract with 'Ace Trappola' signed at the bottom. The particular ginger in the front line let out a grunt. "And according to our contract, you all will be working under me as my servants until the day you graduate."

"HOLD IT!" Ace stepped forward. "This is a straight-up fraud!"

Azul hummed. "Ah, even Ace Trappola is here." Jack's sharp eyes noticed the way Azul clutched his cane slightly tighter. The Octavinelle Prefect blinked several times before continuing. "That was quite a rude accusation. I believe that I gave you the perfect test notes just like I promised in our contract. If you follow them, you should've had no problem scoring over 90."

Ace huffed. "Yeah, I did score 92 points. But I didn't know that you'd be giving those notes to all these guys!"

"I second Ace's argument." Deuce stepped next to Ace, crossing his arms in front of his chest as Grim perched on to his shoulder. "Even if we received the notes, there's no way all of us could place in the top 50!"

"If this many people score over 90, then getting 85 is just the same as failing, yanno!" Grim yelled.

Azul shook his head in disappointment. "Are you boys aware of the term 'duty of confidentiality'?" When none of them answered, he continued, "'I want to easily get a high score', 'I don't want my grades to drop', 'I want to spend my time until the test having fun', and so on. The idiots-" He cleared his throat, holding back a chuckle. "No. Everyone who relied on me had their own reasons for doing so, but who made a contract for whatever reasons and under what conditions are all deeply connected to an individual's privacy."

He pushed his glasses, it glinted under the light. "There is no way that I will be talking about someone behind their back, you know? I am a very honest man, after all." The boss grabbed onto the floating golden parchment, showing it to the three students and the others behind him. "There was a stipulation written on page 127 of our contract under the fine print, correct?" He chuckled. "I am just simply upholding that agreement."

Grim's face became pale. "Th-then, what will happen to the fire magic that I gave as collateral?"

"He's right! What about my water magic?"

"Give me back my unique magic!"

"Oh my, oh my, dear customer. Have you all forgotten the terms of the contract?" Azul sighed. He flipped the paper in his hand and cleared his throat. He started to read, "'In return for the notebook to counter the final exams, you shall entrust an ability you take pride into me. If you managed to be in the top 50, then I will return your ability and give you a notebook for every test until you graduate. However, if you are unable to make it into the top 50, then you will become my absolute obedient servant until you graduate'."

Epel gasped. "Is it even possible to take others' abilities?"

Jack growled. "This is intolerable." Jack was about to stand up, but Jonah suddenly grabbed his arm. Jack was way stronger than Jonah, but the way the smaller boy glared at him, made him crouched down again.

"Both of you get out of here." Jonah stood up.

"What? We're not leaving you here," Epel hissed.

"Then stay put. Don't come out even when everything goes wrong." Jonah glanced at him. Shadow from his bangs covered his eyes, making it looked like there was a glint in it. "I don't need both of you to make this even more difficult."

Without even waiting for their response, Jonah walked out of the kitchen. Jack noticed the way he curled up his fingers into a fist or how the way he was biting his lower lip, but he kept on walking.

Azul rolled up the contract and it disappeared in a puff of violet smoke. "A lock of your hair was part of the collateral, too, correct?" Azul smiled. "In other words, I'm free to choose whether or not to return your abilities."

"Is that even legal?!" Ace screamed.

"Then, what if I ask you to do it?"

The room once again filled with gasps as Jonah emerged from the shadow. The boy was furious, but he didn't know toward whom. Toward those three idiots for signing a contract they didn't know the risk? Toward Azul who trapped them in said contract? Or to himself for not always keeping them out of trouble?

Of course, his presence surprised everyone, but for some reason, Azul was the one who was the most surprised.

-----

No no no no no no no no no!

Why is he here? He shouldn't be here!

"Baby... Seal?" Floyd spoke out their confusion. Jonah stood across from him, looking pissed. No, FURIOUS. His fists were clenched on each side, he gritted his teeth, and he was glaring ever so intensely toward him.

"Captain?!" Ace screamed. But Jonah ignored him. His gaze focused on only Azul.

"Jonah..." Azul's previous confident voice disappeared. "What are you doing here?"

"What? Are you afraid I might catch you red-handed with your fishy business?" Even his voice sounded like he was trying his best to contain his anger. He took quick strides across the room and suddenly grabbed onto Azul's suit. "You better have a good explanation for this, Azul Ashengrotto."

Floyd was the first one to move. Quickly leaping behind Jonah and pressed his magical pen behind his neck. "Mou, Baby Seal~ You're not supposed to be here. We are busy today."

"Oi!" Grim suddenly launched himself to Floyd's arm, mouth open ready to bite. "Stay away from him!"

Floyd clicked his tongue. "So noisy." He raised his foot and kicked Grim on the face, sending the cat back. Ace quickly moved to catch Grim while Deuce leaped forward, raising his fist.

"Take this!" Deuce launched his fist, but Jade had moved in front of Floyd, quickly countering Deuce's fist easily with his hand. Amidst the blunette's surprise, Jade twisted the hand, quickly moved behind Deuce, and locked his hand behind him at a weird angle, making Deuce screamed in pain.

*BANG!*

The kitchen door suddenly slammed opened and a blur of white quickly launched itself toward Jade. The greenette released Deuce and quickly jumped back, right on time before Jack landed. He took out his magical pen and pointed it at the wolf-boy. "Stay boy." He launched a strong waterjet toward Jack and the wolf-boy couldn't even take out his magical pen fast enough. He raised both of his arms in front of his face to protect himself from the incoming water, but even his strength couldn't hold back much longer.

"STOP IT!" Jonah suddenly screamed. "ASHENGROTTO, CALL OFF YOUR TWINS!"

Jade and Floyd glanced toward Azul. The Octavinelle Prefect, who was still surprised at Jonah's appearance earlier, snapped out from his trance. He gave Jade and Floyd a quick nod, thus the Leech Twins pulled back their magical pen. Jack was kneeling on the ground, soaking wet, while Deuce rubbed his wrist, luckily nothing was snapped. Grim just gained his consciousness from being kicked while Ace could only stare at the captain as Floyd's hand slithered around the boy's neck, threatening to squeeze it.

"Satisfied?" The once eyes filled with shock now replaced with a cold glare, but that didn't waver Jonah's anger.

"Not until you explain what is the meaning of this," Jonah growled back.

Azul pulled the tip of his fedora downward. "I have nothing to explain, for you have seen all." He tapped his cane once again, summoning another contract, but this time, it had the signature of one 'Jonah Argentum' on it. "All of these poor unfortunate souls had signed their name under this Golden Contract. As it is an official form, none of you will be able to destroy it. No matter what magic you use, it will be impossible to lay a hand on this contract. The moment those anemones appeared on their heads means that you have no choice but to follow my orders."

Jonah gripped on Azul's suit even tighter. "These so-called 'poor unfortunate souls' are my crewmate and I'm not letting anyone take them away from me! Not even you, Ashengrotto!"

"It doesn't matter, Argentum. Only because they are part of your pesky little friends, that doesn't mean I will just let them even if you beg for their lives." Azul raised the contract. "And do I need to remind you of your position?"

Azul heard Jonah's breath hitched. The prefect had got him cornered. "You have disobeyed my order by coming here, Mister Argentum. As your contract stated, I expect your complete loyalty. No protest, no defying my order." His lips curled up into a cruel smile. "Your dorm is on the line, right now. Do you really want to lose it?"

Jonah gritted his teeth, holding himself back from punching the taller boy in the face. Azul knew Jonah didn't have the guts to do it. He wasn't wearing his dorm uniform, so he didn't have his sword. But even then, Idia's prosthetic hand might do the trick, but not with Floyd's magical pen on his neck. He was outnumbered. He had no choice but to back out. Jonah lowered his head and Azul thought he had done it. He didn't need to lose-

Jonah snorted. "You dumb takoyaki."

What?

Azul's eyes widened when Jonah raised his head, smiling so widely that it scared everyone. "You really think I will just back down like that?" He laughed loudly, tilting his head backward. "HAH! You should know me better! Mess up with my crew and I'll launch a canon at you! You don't just mess around with Captain Jonah fucking Argentum!"

Azul was trembling. He lowered his head as he gritted his teeth. Of course. Of course, this stupid captain would choose those pesky crew. He should've known. In the end, everyone would choose anything but himself. They only stayed when they needed him. But once they had other problems or when their problems were solved, they would have no hesitation to leave him. It didn't change back then, why must it change now?

"So, this is it then?" Azul said coldly, pushing Jonah away from him. "This is your final answer? Should you back down now, you will be able to keep your dorm."

Jonah's smile disappeared, gripping his chest where Azul had pushed him. He kept glaring at Azul. "You know my answer. You won't stop me from saving their asses once again."

Azul's hold of the contract tightened, scrunching the golden paper. "Fine," he whispered. He raised his head, his glare matched with Jonah as tears pricked at the corner of his eyes. "FINE!"

A magic circle suddenly appeared underneath both of the prefects' feet and around Jonah's signature on the contract. Jonah gripped his right eye. It was throbbing harshly underneath the eye-patch as Azul pointed his finger at him. "Jonah Argentum, you had broken our contract! From this day onward, you are no longer a worker at Mostro Lounge! You are not allowed to speak to me or anyone associated with Octavinelle and Mostro Lounge, including the twins, your crew, and these anemones! You're not even allowed to step through the Octavinelle Mirror unless I say so! And you must surrender your precious Ramshackle Dorm to me whether you want it or not! THESE ARE MY FINAL WORDS!"

At the last scream, the magic circle flashed brightly. Jonah clutched his throat feeling as if something was choking him. His whole body felt heavy and he was struggling to breathe. Every time he opened his mouth, bubbles came out from him and he lost even more air in his lung. It felt as if he was underwater.

Of course. Mostro Lounge, the Octavinelle Dorm, all of them are located underwater. The only way to make him stay away from Azul's territory is to make him unable to breathe in the enchanted water.

Azul fixed his suit and turned around, his coat fluttering behind him. Despite all those shouting, he couldn't bear himself to see Jonah struggling to breathe. "Jade, Floyd, take this boy and his wet dog out of my sight immediately."

"Very well."

"Yes, Sir."

Floyd grabbed Jack by the arm but the wolf swatted him away. "Don't make this difficult," he growled, pointing his sparking magical pen. Jack growled but he stood up.

Jade walked over to Jonah who fell to his knees, still struggling to breathe. With ease, he helped him up, gripping onto his upper arm roughly, without a sound.

"Mark my word, Azul Ashengrotto," Jonah said, watching the bubbles came out from his mouth and his vision started to blur. "I will take back my crew if it's the last thing I do."

Azul didn't even turn around. He answered it coldly, "Give it your all, Captain Jonah Argentum. I'm dying to see your comeback."

With that, everything became black for Jonah.