Chapter 11: Date

[Kifestein, Morning]

A hooded figure walked to an old appliance store. His face, hidden by a veil of darkness. Behind the counter of the appliance store sat a young boy with features one couldn't perceive.

"Do you still not have it?" The man inquired in a whisper.

"Ah, it's you," said the boy. "Y'all lucked out. A new fella dropped it off just yesterday." He looked like a growing teenager, yet his tone was that of an adult.

"A new guy? There's a turncoat in administration? What a fool," the man bellowed. While conversing, the boy turned around and took out a document from the shelf behind.

"A new guy in town! Kekeke... Make sure you prepare well. Tell your boss that we'll be expecting the rest of the payment." As if mocking the man, the boy made a smile and spoke in a haughty tone.

The boy handed over the document to the man. The hooded figure received the paper and made an odd gesture with his hands. "Guess we'll be receiving a guest soon. Infinitum esse libertatem."

The boy made an annoyed expression and waved his hands at the man as if shooing him away. The boy was looking forward to the storm this city would find itself in.

Nea asked me on a date, but that was just a cover. She would use this to judge whether I was a threat to her. I wanted this to happen, but not so soon. She is smarter than I expected. My original plan wouldn't work anymore.

I changed and walked out of the room fifteen minutes before the agreed time. I waited at the reception for a few minutes before Nea reached the place. She wore something stylish and easy to move around in. With a bag flung over her shoulder, Nea smiled at me. "Hello again Ivan, you look quite handsome today."

"Yes, I am aware," I said. "Where will go today then?"

Nea made an amused face. She gestured at me to walk. "You got here just yesterday, let's walk around the town, get in some sights," she said.

"Sounds like a plan."

With Nea in the lead, we passed through the complex roads of the city. The superior planning of the city put even the stark disparity between the rich and the poor on display.

Lone mothers sitting in the alleyways with nothing to feed their children. Homeless drunkards in ragged clothes, most of them infected or wounded. Factory workers, more unkempt than the wildest of animals. Malnourished children with no one to call their own. Despite them being right in front of their eyes, not a single soul seemed to have noticed. Hypocrites who can only speak for the weak and never act.

"You said you're from Scalmourne? I heard the mayor has met with an unfortunate accident there." Nea said, diverting my attention from the people.

"Yes, I heard," I replied. The quester seemed to have noticed my gaze and looked around herself. The sight of people she had been ignoring came into her vision as her face scrunched up in a frown. "This democracy thing is coming along shakily for Zakall, huh?" she asked.

"Nothing new ever works right away, give it some time."

"Well, that's true." She stayed silent for a while before her head jerked towards me. "Hey Ivan, let's get you some clothes, you look too bad next to me."

Huh?! Bitch, you picking a fight? Well, whatever. Before coming on this date, I memorized all her likes and dislikes. I'll use this chance to make her drop her guard.

We went to a few stores and browsed through the clothes. The plump owners of the place thoroughly licked our boots while their sickly employees ran here and there to meet every customers' demands.

The jewelers showed off their rare metals, while filthy beggars limped around their shops, clutching at the feet of whoever they could approach.

We scoured through the entire city, taking in all its blacks and whites. From slums near the north end to the Quester's guild at the west end. We visited the temple and lastly left towards the administrative building. Stopping wherever we wanted to and skipping whatever we felt like, it felt like only we saw the city torn between its people as everyone else went their own ways.

The sky is dark again today. Will it rain?

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