After Esme's confident introduction which was done to perfection, there wasn't a word spoken. Everyone's gaze was planted firmly on Esme.
Ten criminals stood in front of one another, like strangers waiting to be buried in the same grave before anyone had even had the chance to dig it.
Sanae was becoming visibly more and more impatient as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"Unbelievable! You're all getting ready to walk into one of if not the deadliest places on the planet and you have trouble giving yourselves proper introductions."
Slowly raising her hand, Aurelia called out,
"OOO! Me next!"
Without waiting for permission, she boldly walked to the front of the group with way too much confidence.
With a dramatic smile on her face, Aurelia introduced herself.
"Hi hi~! Aurelia Anno, at your service! Full-time criminal, part-time chaos goddess, and now stuck on this wonderful death expedition. Oh, and before any of you idiots get ideas about…"
She paused for a moment and smiled sweetly,pointing at Assad's direction with her binded hands.
"… I have already claimed him, and if you touch him, I'll wear your face as a mask,okay?"
The entire room has fallen silent and was an unusual type of silence to have; a silence that would be painful, so much so that you could feel everyone become aware that they were breathing.
Sanae slowly raised her hand to cover her face and let out a long, deep sigh.
Assad had frozen in shock, his mouth was slightly open and would not close. He had also twitched his left eye.
"What... did she just say?"
Confidence and cockiness had left Esme's body and replaced all the excitement with total confusion causing her to blink many times and rub her eyes to make sure she was not dreaming after hearing the strange thing Aurelia had just said.
Claiming an unknown guy/gal is totally insane and not acceptable at any time - ever.
That wasn't the case with the rest of the prisoners. Many were already standing still with no expression, one man who was slightly older than the others was standing with a puzzled look on his face, trying to comprehend what he just heard.
"What do you mean... already claimed?" he said under his breath.
Aurelia was still smiling from utter pride, totally oblivious to the destruction she just caused by claiming someone no one knew.
"What? You all were acting too gloomy. Just like how Esme over there did, I was just making things fun.In my way of course."
Suddenly, Assad's left eye twitched more violently than before.
"Fun...?! Fun?!"
Sanae put her hand down from her head and her already cold countenance has gone even colder.
"...Kanno."
Aurelia raised her head immediately.
"Yes, Commander?"
Sanae waited several seconds to respond.
"Could you explain to me what you mean by "claimed"?"
Aurelia's eyes widened. Her smile just got a bit more intense, because she had her eyes on Assad the whole time. When she pointed at Assad again, her look changed to a much more serious nature right in front of him.
"Come on, you all have got to see how stunning he is. Quiet, Angry, Mysterious and stunning... there must be some danger. "
One of the criminals slowly turned his body to face Assad.
"Stunning?"
Another spoke up puzzled.
"Weren't we just threatened with death?"
Esme put her hand over part of her mouth. Is she trying not to laugh?
"Oh, Well," said Esme without hiding her laugh, "this expedition just got interesting."
Assad's left eye was now twitching at an aggressive pace.
"Shut up," he deadpanned to Aurelia.
Aurelia gasped as if it was the most shocking thing to be said.
"You see, even though he might act cold, there is to be no touch from now on," stated Aurelia.
Assad darkened.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
For several seconds, Sanae stood in silence, gathering her composure.
"Right, we are going to completely disregard that and move on."
"Awww," replied Aurelia and began blowing air into her puffed out cheeks.
Sanae looked and pointed directly at the remaining group of criminals.
"Next person introduce yourself. "
An unusual and off-putting atmosphere filled the room until a deep, low voice interrupted.
"...I guess I will go next. Someone needs to knock this ugly spirit out of here."
Aurelia seemed to be quite annoyed.
"Hey!"
The man slowly stepped towards the group, moving at a tortoise's pace and appearing calm and relaxed about the situation.
When he was directly in front of Sanae, he appeared to have no fear whatsoever. Sanae immediately made eye contact with Kagero.
"What is your name?"
The man released another puff of air through his nose.
"Kagero Ryūgo, as that weird girl described herself earlier I am a criminal, too, just like everyone here, apparently. "
Aurelia pointed to herself immediately and replied.
"WEIRD GIRL?!"
Kagero completely ignored her.
"I have a town, it is peaceful and full of joy and smiles with other things, I should be there right now but instead I'm wasting my time here and being forced onto an expedition that I never requested to go on."
Sanae once again stood with her arms crossed.
"Interesting, but unless your town can survive Nami Lan for you…there is no difference between you and every criminal in this entire hall."
Kagero shrugged.
"Fair enough."