— "What are you doing here? This place is no spot for tourists, my friend!"
— "It's complicated. Better we get out of here first; the explanation will take a while."
— "Fine then. Put your hood up and let's go together." — Vincente signaled for the men to resume carrying the crates.
The journey was swift, though they had to change directions several times to avoid patrols and other criminals. They finally reached an ascent; sunlight glinted off the sandy walls as they surfaced in an alley. The streets were bustling with a restless crowd—people dressed in diverse colors, and orcs moving to and fro.
— "Are we in the Flower District?" Gantz asked, looking at the street. At that moment, everyone lowered their hoods and stowed their cloaks.
— "Yes, exactly. Let's blend into the crowd. Follow us."
Gantz stayed in the middle, supporting one of the large, heavy crates while taking in the scenery. Massive colorful buildings featured balconies adorned with tables and chairs, dark red roofs, and banners stretching across the cobblestone streets. Magic lamp posts were decorated with colored lights. On the sidewalks, beautiful women showcased themselves to the public, calling for customers to come upstairs. The Orc women truly drew attention with their large bodies and prominent busts that stood out in their reddish dresses; their dark green skin and slight tusks gave them a wild allure. There were also men and some male Orcs doing the same kind of work.
— "Have you ever tried an Orc?" Vincente asked.
— "No. Back when I came here with my father, I didn't have the chance."
— "You'll love it, man! Sucking on those mountains... it's the best thing!"
— "Still, it's strange to see them doing this kind of thing."
— "Why would it be strange? Orcs just like to fight, eat, and fuck. This is literally the dream job for them!"
Gantz shrugged. The crowd had stopped further ahead. A group of soldiers in blue armor was dragging a naked man along, while a naked woman cursed at him. One of the soldiers turned back, handed her a wad of cash, and left.
— "Some sucker who didn't want to pay. Happens a lot." Vincente smirked at Gantz.
The crowd moved again, and they soon reached a warehouse where they dropped the crates and received their payment.
— "Come on, let's head to the bar. Then you can explain everything."
They walked to the middle of the street to a bar-bordello. The atmosphere was lively, with cozy red walls. A sweet scent hung in the air, and the brown wooden floorboards creaked satisfyingly underfoot. Gantz and Vincente sat at the wooden counter, which was adorned with carvings of swans and foxes. The others headed to a more secluded table.
Vincente ordered a bottle for himself and a type of burger for Gantz.
— "You still don't drink, right?"
— "No," Gantz said, waving his hand in dismissal.
Vincente waited for the bottle of cachaça to arrive before Gantz started talking.
— "I have a feeling I'm going to need this." He smiled at Gantz, but the somber expression on the young man's face quickly withered the smile away.
The bottle of clear liquid arrived, and he poured himself a glass. The conversation began and lasted for hours. By the end, Vincente had to hide his face under his shirt as his shoulders shook. His eyes were red, and he gripped Gantz's wrist tightly.
— "I should have been there."
— "And what would the result have been, other than losing another family member?"
— "You're right."
Suddenly, a noise caught Gantz's attention. He looked back and saw an Orc with her breasts exposed; it caught him off guard. He had never seen anything that size before. For a moment, he forgot the tightness in his chest before turning back to the counter.
— "It's on me."
— "What? What are you talking about?"
— "There are only two ways to dull the pain: drinking or fucking. Pick one and go drown yourself in those delicious green skins."
— "I'd love to, but I don't think now is the time. I have too much on my mind. First, I need to figure out what to do next."
— "I'll get you a job, bro. You said you're much stronger after that freak-show in the cave. I think I know someone who can help you settle in here."
Gantz thought for a few seconds before nodding.
— "Come on, I'll show you."
Both left the establishment, but Gantz took one last look back before jogging to catch up with Vincente. They crossed several alleys, passing gangs of magic-drug dealers, until they reached a darker area where it seemed the sun didn't dare to shine.
They went down a staircase in an alley to a corridor with a single, heavy metal door at the end. Vincente gave a password to the Orc on the other side, and they entered a luxurious environment—the floor covered in red carpet, gambling tables, and paintings of beautiful landscapes. They were led to an office in the back and frisked by two more Orcs wearing black combat suits with gold trim before one of them opened the door.
— "Vincente! My friend! You're here?
Looking for more work?"
The Dwarf stood up on his chair, smiling. He was short in stature, barely five feet tall, but his shoulders were broad, his chest puffed out, and his arms strained against the white sleeves of his suit.
— "Actually, no, my friend. It's my childhood friend here who needs it." Vincente patted Gantz's shoulder and pushed him forward.
— "Hmm, and what is he good at?"
— "Well, he's very strong!"
— "Strong, is he? Doesn't look like it with that thin body. But if you say so, I'll test him! Gurlock, come here!"
A massive Orc stepped through the door. His arms were as wide as Gantz's entire body, and his frame was packed with muscle.
— "What is it?" The voice sounded like a drum being hit with maximum force, even though he seemed to be speaking softly.
— "Test this one and see if he's strong." The Dwarf pointed at Gantz, who immediately looked tense.
The Orc didn't overthink it; he just punched. The force of the acceleration caused a blast of wind to explode in the room. Time slowed in Gantz's vision. He stepped back before feeling the Dark Matter flow into his right arm, filling his muscles and creating artificial ones.
Gantz punched back. Another explosion rang out before the half-ton Orc was sent flying, crashing through the stone wall behind the Dwarf. Gantz looked at his own hand in doubt. The Orc climbed out of the wall; he brushed the dust off his suit and was ready to continue before the Dwarf shook his head.
— "Okay, that's enough. I'm already going to have to rebuild a wall; I don't want to have to move out because of this fight. Go call someone to clean up this mess!"
The Orc left, grinning at Gantz.
— "Alright. Your salary will be two gold coins a week, and you have a free pass to sleep with whoever you want at the brothel once a week. You'll work as a 'cleaner'."
— "A cleaner?" Gantz asked, scratching his head and looking at Vincente.
— "We call them cleaners—the ones who protect the ladies and collect money from the 'trash' that doesn't want to pay."
— "Makes sense to me. I'm in," Gantz said, smiling.