"Sir, what would you like to drink?"
Emily's clear voice rang out across the bar, cutting cleanly through the layered noise of laughter and clinking glasses. Hollenhua's gaze lingered on her for a brief moment, his expression unreadable, before he lowered his voice slightly.
"A bottle of whiskey."
"Of course. Find a seat first, I'll bring it over," Emily replied with a light smile, already turning to grab the order.
Hollenhua nodded faintly and made his way to a nearby armchair, settling into it with quiet composure. From there, his eyes drifted across the room, observing the patrons with careful attention. The bar was lively, filled with regulars who seemed completely at ease, their conversations flowing as freely as the alcohol.
Some were playing drinking games, shouting numbers and gestures with exaggerated enthusiasm. Others leaned over tables, sharing stories about recent events, their voices rising and falling in animated discussion.
One topic dominated everything.
"The Judge."
"Man, ever since that guy showed up, this place feels completely different," one of them said, slamming his glass down with a satisfied grin. "Wallier Street's never been this peaceful."
"Not just here," another chimed in. "The whole East District feels cleaner. It's like crime just… backed off."
"Feels even better than Batman, honestly."
"Better than Batman? Nah, don't go that far," someone countered immediately. "Batman's everywhere. The whole city feels his presence. The Judge? He hasn't even stepped out of the East District yet."
The debate carried on, blending into the background noise.
Hollenhua accepted the glass that was placed in front of him, his fingers wrapping around it loosely. His gaze flicked briefly to the person who had served him, something subtle shifting in his expression.
There was something… off.
He couldn't quite place it, but a faint sense of danger lingered beneath the surface.
Nearby, Locke moved through the crowd with practiced ease, a towel draped over his shoulder as he carried trays of drinks from one table to another. The bar was busier than usual, and with Dam absent earlier, most of the workload had fallen on him alone.
Still, his movements remained smooth.
He navigated between tables effortlessly, placing drinks, collecting empty glasses, and keeping everything running without interruption. At one point, he noticed a smaller figure trying to squeeze out from behind the counter.
He stepped in immediately.
"I've got it," he said, reaching for the tray.
Emily swatted his hand away.
"I can handle it myself," she insisted, her tone carrying a surprising amount of determination.
Locke raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course I am," she shot back, already moving away with the tray balanced carefully in her hands.
Despite her size, she moved quickly, weaving through the crowd and delivering drinks one by one. Her presence didn't go unnoticed.
"Well, look at that," a bearded man laughed, watching her approach. "Ever since Lin showed up, you barely bring me drinks anymore!"
Emily rolled her eyes playfully.
"Then maybe you should complain less and drink more," she replied, setting the glass down in front of him.
The surrounding table burst into laughter.
Not far away, a younger man watched her with far less restraint, his gaze lingering a little too long as she moved between tables. Locke noticed, but didn't react immediately. Fortunately, most of the bar's regulars were decent people, and situations rarely escalated into anything problematic.
Still, he kept it in mind.
Once the last drink had been delivered, Emily returned to the counter, clapping her hands lightly as if finishing a task. She hesitated for a moment, glancing toward Locke, who was reorganizing bottles behind the bar.
"Lin?" she called out, her voice slightly uncertain.
He looked up.
"Yeah?"
Her face flushed faintly.
"I've decided something," she said, her tone gaining strength as she spoke. "I'm going to expand the tavern."
Locke blinked, then smiled.
"That's a good idea."
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? You think so?"
"Of course," he replied without hesitation.
That was all it took.
She turned and hurried away, almost like she was escaping, her heartbeat quickening for reasons she couldn't quite explain. Recently, she had found herself caring more and more about his opinions, and hearing his approval brought an unexpected sense of relief.
Locke watched her go, a faint smile lingering before he turned back to his work.
After a moment, he stepped closer to where she was now busy again, humming softly to herself as she worked.
"Why expand now?" he asked casually.
Emily stiffened slightly.
She didn't turn around, but her voice remained steady.
"It's because of the Judge," she said. "If he hadn't scared off all those criminals, the East District wouldn't be this peaceful. Business wouldn't be this good either."
There was admiration in her tone.
And respect.
Locke's smile deepened slightly.
"I think he could still do more," he said lightly. "What do you think he should do next?"
Emily paused, considering the question seriously.
"I think he's already doing great," she said after a moment. "But… I hope he stays safe. There are still a lot of dangerous people out there. My dad told me about it."
"Dangerous people?" Locke repeated.
Emily nodded faintly.
"Yeah. Really powerful ones."
She didn't notice it.
The brief flicker of red that passed through Locke's eyes.
"Boss!"
The shout came from the main floor, pulling him away before he could respond further. He turned immediately, moving back toward the bar to handle the next order.
Hollenhua watched him closely as he approached again.
"Another cocktail," he said, his voice slightly hoarse.
Locke nodded and moved efficiently, selecting the prepared bottle and placing it onto a tray. Moments later, he returned, setting the drink down in front of the man and pouring it smoothly into the glass. Under the light, the liquid shimmered with a faint blue glow.
Hollenhua didn't reach for it immediately.
Instead, he looked up.
"Are you hiring?" he asked.
The question hung in the air.
Locke's expression didn't change.
"You'd have to ask Emily about that," he replied with an easy smile. "I'm just the help."
Hollenhua gave a small nod, his gaze lingering for a moment longer before he leaned back in his seat.
"Understood."
…
Nearly a kilometer away, the atmosphere was far less relaxed.
Dam hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the breath out of him as he sprawled across the pavement.
"Watch where you're going, you idiot!" a voice snapped above him. "You trying to get yourself killed?"
"S-sorry! I'm sorry!" Dam scrambled to apologize, his face pale as he looked up at the man towering over him.
Tattoos covered the man's body, his presence aggressive and unstable. He raised his foot slightly, clearly intending to kick Dam where he lay.
Before he could, someone grabbed his arm.
"Hey. You want to die?" his companion muttered urgently. "This area's been under the Judge's watch."
The man froze.
Fear flickered across his face as he glanced around, his earlier confidence evaporating almost instantly. The dimly lit street suddenly felt much colder, the shadows at the corners seeming deeper than before.
He lowered his foot.
"Lucky you," he muttered, spitting to the side before turning away.
The two of them left quickly, their steps noticeably faster than before.
Dam slowly pushed himself up, brushing snow and dirt off his clothes. A trace of frustration passed over his face, but it didn't linger long. Instead, he reached into his pocket, gripping something tightly.
A card.
His expression shifted.
Determination replaced everything else as he broke into a run, heading straight toward the tavern.
The door burst open moments later.
Warm air rushed out to meet him as he stepped inside, the cold immediately melting away from his face. Relief washed over him, and a grin spread across his lips as he spotted Locke moving through the crowd.
"Dam?" Locke said, already noticing him.
The man hurried over, gesturing excitedly as he tried to explain something without drawing attention.
Locke understood.
Without a word, he guided Dam toward a quieter corner of the bar, away from the noise and the crowd.
"Lin," Dam said quickly, his voice low but urgent. "I got information from the central district this time. You need to be ready."
There was excitement in his eyes.
And something else.
Uncertainty.
....
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