As time passed, Jayden and Fade headed back to the City of Scams to scavenge information.
"...You take the right side of the town, and I'll take the left. Ask those who you think might have good intel on our goal," Fade said.
"Our goal is to collect information on the whereabouts of that Saint Dagger," he continued.
"And make sure you don't reveal too much about your goal or plan. Saying too much could cost both our lives."
What does he think I am? Some sort of idiot?
"Of course not," Jayden replied.
The two took their respective routes—Jayden going right, Fade going left.
As Jayden walked, he was awkward at first, but he adapted. Every step felt like the crowd of demons was gazing at him—though in truth, some were, and some weren't.
He passed a vendor.
"…Hey good sir, would you like to hear something interesting?" the demon asked, but Jayden didn't stop.
"…Hey… I'm talking to you, sir!"
Jayden kept walking, completely ignoring the vendor covered in a white cloak.
"…That's strange. It's the first time I've seen someone wearing white. All I've ever seen are black or brown robes," Jayden muttered.
Every step he took, he scanned his surroundings—windows, walls, houses, and even demon children passing by.
He stared at them for a second. They stared back.
"…Urm, good sir, might we help you with something?"
Yeah, if you could tell me where to find the museum of this damned awful hell—
"Yeah right, as if I could actually say that…" Jayden whispered to himself.
The demon children were just two. One pressed a finger to her chin.
"I can't say I know where the museum you're looking for is located, but you could ask my mother." Her face lit up like a bright candle.
(Wait—how? How did this little girl know what I was looking for? Can she read minds? Is this place messing with me? What should I do? Should I kill her?)
(But if I kill her, that'll cause a war… and there are two of them. Could I even win?)
Jayden focused above their heads.
A status bar appeared.
Level 100 — Level 100
And he was only Level 12.
(This is bad. I can't kill them. They'll kill me instead. So what now?)
At that moment, the demon girl stepped closer and pulled his sleeve.
"It's okay, sir. You wanted to know where the museum is, right? Come with me. My mother knows a thing or two about it."
(Whew… I thought I was a goner. If this kid understood what I really wanted, I would've been reported for sure. She's probably too young to understand anything like that.)
The children led him toward their mother—but the direction they were going slowly dragged him back to where he came from.
And then—
"Aaaha! I knew you would come looking for me!"
The same vendor.
The one he ignored earlier.
"…You're that vendor from earlier," Jayden said.
(Damn it… how did this connect back to her? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you…)
"…Aah, so you were really ignoring me back then, weren't you?!" the female vendor said.
"And here you are, standing in front like nothing happened."
"Well, the thing I wanted to talk to you about is the museum," she continued.
"Why exactly did you want to talk to me? Why not someone else?" Jayden asked.
"Ooh, it's simple actually," she replied. "This museum recently acquired something unique called the Saint's Dagger, and it's highly valuable. It costs about 2 million Greed Coins."
"And you know what? That cloak you're wearing… actually never mind. You strike me as someone capable of acquiring that 2 million prized artifact."
(Wait… what is she implying? Doesn't matter. I just need information—location, security, details. As long as I get that, I'm good.)
"See? I told you my mom knew a thing or two about the museum," the little girl said.
"Oh, so you two were already discussing the museum?" the vendor asked.
"Nope. I just had a feeling this stranger wanted information, so I brought him here. I mean, you know a few things about this place, so yeah—" the little girl smiled, standing beside her mother.
The vendor fixed her eyes on Jayden and smiled.
"So… let's do business."
After negotiations were made, Jayden returned to the campsite, waiting for Fade.
Some time passed, and Fade finally returned.
"Dude, you're always late. What took so long?" Jayden asked.
"Info. Did you find anything on your end?" Fade replied.
"Yeah, but basic info… sadly I had to pay for it."
"Actually, let me explain what I got from what I paid for," Jayden said.
Jayden explained everything.
When he finished—
"Hm… yeah," Fade said. "Now I see why that town is called Brave Scams. You literally paid for nothing. You were given false info on top of it."
"…What!?" Jayden was shocked.
"Nah, we don't have time for them," Fade continued. "And as agreed, I'm only helping you get in and watching over the place. You're the one stealing the dagger—and you're doing it alone."
"Hm… I guess half a loaf is better than nothing," Jayden said.
"Yeah. Come on, let's go."
Fade then put on his mask, fitting it perfectly over his face.
To be continued…