After such a meal was made, and everyone had their fill, the group was quick on departing themselves out of Orochi, waving goodbye to both the residents and the Dragon himself. Right as they were about to leave, however, one such person would intervene. "WAIT!! Don't go just yet!" The man shouted, out of breath and on his knees as he caught up, a box on his back.
"Eh? What's the holdup?" Harvard asked, meeting eye to eye with the man. Once he was able to breathe again, the man was quick on taking off the box strapped onto him and pass it towards the boys. Solomon made quick work in having Shady hold the box, letting it sink down and be bound by black ribbons, an insurance to secure whatever was inside. "A present?"
"That AND a bit of a request. I assume you have read the poster's, correct? This Box is to be delivered onto Brunono's Wares and Wonders. It's a shop very distant from here, around, say... far right of the Circle. He was supposed to be given this earlier, but because of some unexpected circumstances, it had to be delayed."
"The delay being?"
"Apparently someone has issued a whole war against the two strongest Kingdom's in the Omega Circle! Both King's AND Sozo's! I couldn't imagine how anyone is willing to have the strength necessary to face- ... Oh! It seems such news must've shocked you just as much. My mistake, I probably should've been a bit nicer in breaking down such a clash." Despite the Man's apologies, the boys were slackjawed in awe, with Solomon smacking Harvard upside the head, Stolas having a head start on running away, and Zazel taking a deep breath as he'd tug his jacket. The Demon was quick to try and glance around to find Taro, only to see him waving goodbye to the children, flicking around in his gauntlet and summoning a Dragon out of pure Metal to soar off. The man really decided to give away their skirmish without even telling them who is involved.
"Yeaaaaah. Maybe go a bit easier next time..." A nervous laugh out of Harvard and a glare from Solomon later, the group was quick to go after Stolas and embark on such a small quest. Once they left Orochi and they made their peace, Harvard would turn towards the three boys. "So real quick, we're gonna check what's inside that box, right?"
"What?? Why??" Solomon asked.
"Well, we don't really KNOW what we're delivering to this 'Brunono' guy, right? I feel like we may need to inspect some goods in case its something dangerous."
"Are you suggesting that it could be a bomb?"
"Pretty much!"
"I doubt it." Envy would retort, as he'd see Adel going up ahead and scouting out the forest for any enemies that may be coming soon. "If anyone were to try and send Brunono something, odds are it has to be valuable."
"Like an artifact?" Zazel piped up, immediately having the boys stop themselves upon hearing it.
"Yep. No way tha-. . . Why are you guys stopping?"
"Ok yeah, no. We're checking what's inside." By Harvard's words, Solomon was quick on letting Shady put it to the side, allowing Harvard to investigate it, small locks being made on each angle, at least three locks on the top for each side. He'd cast a spell to summon a monster's appendage, more specifically with Fibonacci's eye, letting it take aim and contort the lock enough to snap in two, breaking each lock one at a time in the process.
"Wait, wait, WAIT! Why?? You can't tamper with-"
"Envy, If it's a possible Artifact, what makes you think Sozo or King would just go up and snag it? Or WORSE: They BUY it off of Brunono and get an advantage?"
"Shouldn't you kids already have an answer if that problem were to happen?"
"No, No. I trust Harvard in this." Solomon would comment, as he'd see the last lock break off and prepare to open it. "Artifacts like Harvard's Cards or my Book are enough of a nightmare already. If we actually have an artifact in our disposal that's worth a lot of Gold, that could mean we A. Get to learn more about its abilities and prepare in advance should it come up as a plausible threat, and B. Keep it as far away as possible from those two, considering they already have soldiers willing to risk their necks out just to kill us." Despite Envy's efforts, he can't help but give credit to Solomon's explanation. It was a bit of a liability to give away something precious without at least trying to learn WHY it is worth so much. As the box opened slightly, a faint aroma was seen looming out. Sweet, sugary even. Harvard opened it fully and would have his eyes glued onto what was inside, his mouth nearly drooling.
Inside the box was a Gingerbread house, complete with candy canes for poles and a gingerbread man standing watch just outside.
"A... Dessert?" Solomon questioned.
"It looks really good, too! Look at the choco-crackers! Look at the Peppermint as the glass!" Stolas commented, amazed by its craftsmanship, though was quick on his talons to catch Harvard before he would try to dismantle it and ravish the house in one hungry feast.
"This was the Artifact? Really? What could it even do?" Zazel asked, as he tried to channel his energy into it. Nothing seemed to occur properly, though when he stopped, he notice small droplets coming down on the Gingerbread's head. Something was off with this snack and was quick on closing the box again, setting up Beleth to mimic the locks and seal it again. "Let's keep an eye on this for at least a few days. Brunono wouldn't mind a small delay... would he?" The Demon looked up to Envy, as he'd cast Eligor to catch Harvard before he tried to break the locks again, keeping him far away from the sweet treat.
"Dunno. Never met the guy myself."
"Then how did-"
"Sozo brings him up whenever he needed Financial advice. Whoever or Whatever Brunono is, he's probably going to expect it soon."