Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

I could only stare at the silver Bandit.

We'd just willingly walked into the center of his stronghold, but considering that I knew he could have dragged us all here without any of us being able to leave so much as a scratch on him, there wasn't much of a question as to where our final destination would be. I preferred having some freedom, limited as it was since we were in a locked room.

When I checked on my companions, I realized that half of those who'd been with me the first time were here now. Gesai and Justia were both missing, while Oz and Ren were sharing in this second captivation.

The pair had moved behind me. While Oz was wearing a brave face, I could tell that the blonde was trying to stifle a shiver as I watched Ren out of the corner of my eye.

It was hard to fully feel how tense the situation was with Aelin next to the glass wall, gawking at the people who were starting to gather below us.

Jenne was also a pillar of calm, and she was wearing an emotionless mask. I had assumed that she'd take the lead in situations like this, but it seemed like she was trying to just hold herself together, so I decided I was going to have to be the one to do the talking.

It was better for me than our other option. Kara looked like she was sizing up Hogo and waiting for her moment to attack. I needed to take control of our side before she did. Kara might have been a Tier Six a month ago, but now she was a Tier Two, and attacking a Tier Four or Five would end in disaster.

"Hogo, why did you bring us here?" I reached out with my right arm and pulled Ren closer to me. I felt her hand squeeze my arm as she pressed next to me.

"Why are you so tense?" The bald man spread out his arms. "We're all friends here!"

Oz sneered at his comment but remained quiet.

I coughed to cover up the noise she made. "Then, as a friend, what do you want?" I gestured at the room with my free hand. "Or did you just bring us here to see how well you're doing?"

"Showing off never hurts?" Hogo grinned as he sat up on his throne. "But you're right. Once I saw you, I came up with a plan, and you getting that coin only helped." He sized up Kara, then turned back to me. "I want to make a deal with you. Well, your father, again."

The veins in my bodyguard's neck bulged at his indifference to her. I reached out my left hand and grabbed her shoulder, squeezing it as hard as I could.

"You're going to trap us here, so he'll powerlevel you again?" I touched my right pants pocket to make sure the return stone was still there.

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"Trap?" The older man feigned looking offended. "No! You're my guests!" He nodded at the window. "You can watch the auction from here if you want! You can even place your bid!" He grinned wide. "And it's a one-way window, so the Cobras will never know you were here!"

"That's so cool!" Aelin turned around and scrunched her face. "How do you place a bid if they can't see you?'

Hogo stood up and walked over to the window. He put his hand on it, and a screen appeared, showing us a blank information window.

"Whatever is up for bid will show up here." The bald man pushed a green button, and the entire window turned a hue of green. "When you push that button, it'll signal that you want to make a bid." He let go, reverting the glass to its regular form, then he backed up and motioned for Aelin to try it. "Go ahead."

I was getting more confused the longer this went on. "So what's your plan? How are you going to make my dad powerlevel you?'

"I never said I was going to make him." Hogo bit his lip. "But I hoped that if you asked, maybe he would help me out?" The silver man winced. "This might look grand and all, but the energy it requires to keep it going is enormous! But if I was Tier Six, then I'd have no problem getting enough crystal to keep this place running!" He winked at me. "Rumor has it, Trent just thrashed Mive in his own city and is bedding Klix!"

Kara choked. She turned even whiter as she struggled against the coughing fit.

I let go of her so she could use both arms. "What do you mean, keep this place running?" I chose to ignore the rumors. I had no idea what ripples they'd have, and I didn't want to be the cause if it antagonized the Primus. Though the thought of getting to tell Trent that people thought the reason he was in Klix was because he was with Klix was able to force a smirk out. I had a feeling of what his reaction was going to be. Considering that the Goddess had already told me that she had attempted that in the past, it wouldn't surprise me if she was the one who started the rumors herself.

"This place…" Hogo thought for a moment. "Probably easier to show you..." He looked at my harem. "But I don't think we can bring everyone…"

Kara had recovered from her coughing fit and stood up straight. "I'm not letting you go anywhere without me."

I had a feeling that she was going to say that. I looked at Jenne. "Will the rest of you be okay here?"

"We'll be fine!" Aelin rushed over and grabbed Jenne's arm. "Fooda is down there!"

I turned to Hogo. "Is that okay?" I looked at Oz and Ren. The blonde was still clutching tightly to my arm.

"We'll be fine." Oz slipped Ren's grasp off of me and held the other woman's hands. There was a questioning look in her eyes, but they weren't wavering.

I turned to Hogo. "That okay?"

The silver man waffled his head as he thought, then nodded. "Fine. You won't need her, but if it makes you feel better... " His voice dropped off as he walked to the door and held it open.

"Alright." I waved at the four women I was leaving behind. "I'll be right back." On impulse, I kissed Ren, then gave Oz a much quicker one.

"What? No kiss for me?' Aelin bounced her eyebrows as she pouted her lip.

"You want one?" I glared at her. I wasn't going to give her one regardless of her answer; there was no way I'd do that to Justia, and at this point the thought of kissing her felt like I'd be kissing my little sister, not that I had one.

"I'll let you have one when you get back." The brown woman giggled and turned back to the window.

I nodded at Jenne, then headed towards the door. It was time to figure out what this place was.