Here I am, in Renova City.
The newly built capital city, born from the kingdom who recently just ended its civil war.
That was 12 years ago.
But now, it has risen from the ashes. Starting to become an important industrial land with the help of its tech advanced neighbour, the Aurelis Estrella Kingdom.
Who would have thought the land that once spilled so much blood would reach to this degree, even surpassing a lot of its neighbours in terms of resources, wealth, and power. In such a short amount of time too.
Truthly astonishing.
But I'm not here to admire the city. I'm here to meet an old acquaintance.
Holding on to the liquor box, I make my way to the more silent part of the city.
Well at least during this hour that is.
The sky had barely turned dark, as the sun slowly dimmed away.
This city as a whole had a very different atmosphere compared to the many cities I had visited.
The air that can make you choke, the many factories that fill every inch and corner of this land, its more complex transportation compared to the standard carriage and how everyone seems to always be busy with work.
Ahead of it time I would say but this wouldn't even brush the surface to the like of that technology from Aurelis.
I had arrived at my destination.
Still quiet for now but as midnight closes its gap, this place will eventually become the most festive.
"The entertaining district."
The last time I was here I met a couple of old acquaintances working in this very same place.
And I'm here to visit them, because they had become part of the Mori journey in the past.
Not too long after, I reach my destination, standing outside a building that I can describe as having its own unique style.
The guard on the front entrance stop me on my track.
"Sorry sir but this place hasn't opened yet. Come back in a few hours or so".
"It's alright though I'm not here to stay. I'm here to meet your boss. Tell them it Clint, Clint Graystone waiting outside and I'm bringing drinks to have a chat"
...
A couple of minutes pass as I wait passionately outside. When the guard from before came back, I was then allowed to enter the establishment.
"Use the elevator at the end of the bar and go straight to the top floor. You will find boss waiting there"
I nodded, and continued moving onward.
The building consists of multiple floors and you can guess it all had its own purpose. Afterall, this place serves all forms of entertainment.
Entering the elevator, the dimly lit yellow light barely allowed me to see the floor number.
Thankfully it wasn't the first time I had used it. Clicking on the highest number floor the lift starts moving after making a loud rang.
Speaking of which, I didn't expect to meet familiar faces in this kind of establishment.
During my many information gathering this past couple of months, I had once arrive to this city and stumble upon this intertainment district.
I decided to head to one of the building that seems above the average. My reason of course is not for my own entertainment but instead I was looking for an easy way to earn some valuable information.
Sitting on the bar near the entrance, a sudden commosion arose.
Turn out it one of the co-founder to this place barges in from the front door in anger, letting out foul language to everyone.
Then, our eyes met, even though I'm in disguise he was quick to realise who I was.
And after that a lot happend, but the important thing was I get a very valuable information before I left.
Back to the present, the rang sound stops as I reach the attended floor.
The two guards lock eyes on me before opening the door to the rest of the floor.
This floor is private, it is reserved for someone who is willing to pay for the best service here.
It is also the same place where the two co-founders and my old acquaintance love to stay.
As I step foot inside, I was quick to be greeted by the man sitting on a sofa.
"The great leader of the Pavilion crew had come to visit us... Again. Well, former leader but it still an honor really"
A nerdy good looking man, wearing glasses greeted me, with a cold glass of liquor in his hand.
Don't be fooled by his calm appearance. The greed of that man is far above anyone I had ever known. Maybe he is the greed incarnation itself.
As I was about to open my mouth, it was shut by a soft finger.
My eyes turn to look at the person.
She is wearing a beautifully designed black dress complementing her already great body figure. Elegant, thin and revealing. So thin in fact I can feel the heat from her body pressing on my arm.
Her hand brushing my lips while the other rubbing my back, she spoke in a soft word.
In a tone that I can only describe as seductive.
"You left so early last time. We didn't get to have a proper fun."
She continues rubbing my back and lips but I stop her just as quickly.
"I'm not here for entertainment and let me remind you, the last time, the deal is I get my information and you get to relief your sensual hunger. It got nothing to do with fun"
She pulled back the hand I had caught.
"You are no fun, Clint. But I had to admit, your way in bed does really satisfied my desire... I wonder where you learn that from, Mr.M over there could really use some guidance. So thanks for that"
She kissed me on the cheek before leaving me to sit beside the man on the sofa.
Starting a banter against one another.
Sigh.
What a troublesome individual these two are. I guess some parts of them never change even when they reach adulthood.
I soon join them, sitting on the opposite side, a beautiful glass table separating us.
Meet Moriarty and Sin.
An old acquaintance of mine.
From appearance alone, they look... Fancy.
I mean what do you expect? They run a business that had an entire building dedicated to it, not to mention this private off limit area. Knowing them from the past, the price to even rent this floor without a doubt costing an arm and a leg.
Which makes me wonder why I even allow to be here.
Snap, snap*
"Hey, are you here to chat or be a gargoyle statue? This floor isn't entirely free, you know."
Moriarty spoke, in his irritated voice.
A second later I finally opened my mouth, putting the box I was holding on to the glass table.
"I was just waiting for your banter to end. Here, a gift."
Eyeing the box both of them give off quite the grim look, before staring back at me.
Moriarty had a dubious expression. While Sin, her smile just went away.
The room when silent for a moment.
'Did, I make the wrong move?'
"It not a threat"
"Yeah and that what makes me more concerned." he quickly answered my words.
Sin on the other hand, is almost contemplation on what she wants to say.
This awkward situation makes me wonder why it happened in the first place.
...
...
...
Got me thinking for a real while.
'Have I never show the bright side of me to this two before'
Looking back, yeah that would explain a lot. They seem rather stun to talk. How should I break this awkwardness?
Cough, cough*
"It was not from me, it was a gift from Duke. You know the old man Duke. I catch a ride with him to get to the city"
The mentioning of Duke seems to work as their expression finally when normal again.
Both of them almost simultaneously letting out an awe sound.
"Yeah, yeah the all reliance Duke. Of course we remember him, right Sin?"
Sin give a small nod, while he take a look at the vintage liquor box.
Hmm, I don't thing the situation is getting better. How did we even have normal conversation back then, if it already this awkward today. Maybe the age factor plays a role here. Either way, stating my business here should sooth the situation.
I lay my back againts the sofa. Resting my arm on the arm rest.
"Alright then, let me just make it clear why I'm here in the first place. First, I don't go by the name Clint anymore. I had adopted a new one. You can call me Mori from now on. Recently, I had join an org call the Confluence. I'm sure you two had heard of that organisation before. Second, my reason for coming here is simple actually. I just want to spend more time and chat, mainly because I still want to figure out what is Mori places in this world. To be more aware of my role as Mori. Since I meet you two not too long ago, I see this as part of Mori journey... Do I make it clear?"
"That's a lot to take in. Especially the last part. That really doesn't sound like the person I used to know from before. Are you sure you didn't get you head bash by those evil rats again"
He just got to bring up the rats. These fools had never really changed but I had to control my anger.
"I'm perfectly fine"
Sin who was quiet this whole time finally spoke.
" I didn't think you would join any organisation after you left the Pavilion crew. Not to mention, among the most dangerous ones at that, like the Confluence. Aren't you prefer a more uneventful life?"
"Well, that the funny thing. I do but you see someday during my nightwatch-"
And my blabbering continues forward as the two listen closely to my little adventure that changed who I was from before. But we didn't stop there.
We three end up chatting for so long that we forgot about the time for a bit. Drinking Duke gifts together at the same time.
I guess, my mission here is a success, I didn't really think it was going to work out actually. Since the two aren't the listening type.
But what do you expect? The world works weirdly sometimes.
I came here because they had become part of the Mori journey in the past. But then I left having a friend I had remembered once back in the Pavilion crew.
Truthly unexpected.