Bab 32: William Bloodear
Similar to many grand establishments in this city, this particular hotel boasted a garden for its guests. While modest in size due to its urban setting, the space still served its purpose, functioning as both an ornamental feature and a private enclave, shielded by surrounding walls.
The garden unfolded with shortly trimmed grasses and meticulously pruned trees. At its center, a fountain graced the scene, accompanied by a petite flower garden that adorned the space beneath the hotel's low brick wall. Though diminutive, these elements infused the hotel with a touch of freshness, providing a respite of clean air for its guests.
The garden, one might say, was cost-effective.
Everything appeared pleasant and well-arranged. However, a peculiar detail seized Leon's attention as he strolled along the garden path.
"Shouldn't the entrance be on the inside? Why create a path from the outside?" Leon mused aloud, then promptly answered his own query with a gesture towards his companions, "I mean, I know the reason, obviously."
Lastly, "Wouldn't others find it weird?"
"They would and most likely are," Laima, "But what can others do about it if the owner says, 'I felt like designing so'?"
Leon gazed at her for a brief moment, lost in thought. He then nodded decisively, "Well, fair enough. There's nothing they can do about it."
"I know, right? So, there's nothing to worry about," she concluded, signaling the end of the conversation.
The destination was the fountain at the center. Standing before it, Laima paused for a few seconds before commencing a rhythmic touch on its metallic side. Her face exhibited a level of focus and attention surpassing any she had displayed thus far, delicately tracing the contours of the fountain's edges.
Seconds ticked away until a scene, already witnessed by Leon on the first day of Rebellious, unfolded once again. A mechanical hum resonated through the surroundings as the fountain gradually pivoted, turning entirely to the side.
"Wow!"
"What's so astonishing? Weren't you the one who showed me something similar?" Leon retorted, unable to resist his natural inclination.
"What!? Can't I even amaze now!?"
"Stop yelling. What if a Scepter hears you?"
"Do I look like that idiot to you? I bet the priestess of this city would be talking right now. Plus, some people would be coughing or something. So, they can't hear us, alright?"
"Great way of thinking. But can you risk it? We are talking about Scepters here."
"And how do you know that there's a Scepter here?"
A moment of silence enveloped Leon as he closed his mouth. He turned his gaze slowly towards Laima and Belenus.
Seizing the opportunity, he remarked, "So, you didn't know, huh? Hahaha!" And made sure not to let the chance slip through her fingers.
Seemingly, the two adults also found the scene amusing, emitting short laughter simultaneously. Leon's cautious nature may have embarrassed him a bit, but he paid little heed, firmly standing on the side of better be safe than sorry.
Laima, "If there were to be a Scepter here, would we be here for just 3 kilograms? And wouldn't there be a God's Ban or a Level 6 higher up?"
Her questions, imbued with qualities of answers, prompted a nod from Leon. He casually proceeded to navigate the secret base beneath the fountain. He continued threading the narrow path towards the rear of their entry point, not the front.
The pathway leading into the hotel proved trickier to navigate compared to traversing the border of Neaire.
The tunnel boasted two sides—one at the back, clearly designated as the hotel's emergency route, and the other at the front, serving the same purpose in case of unforeseen circumstances.
They could have opted to wait inconspicuously in a corner of the garden and evade almost any inquiry. However, they chose to traverse the tunnel, considering the presence of the two children. Laima and Belenus were aware of this secret location, but the youngsters were not. Nevertheless, they needed to be acquainted with it, just in case.
Living a life on the run demands a perpetual sense of caution; there's no such thing as being too vigilant.
They didn't find themselves in the lobby but in the alternative entrance more suitable for people like them—the basement. An old-school twig broom rested in the corner alongside an abundance of water bottles and wines, painting the scene that welcomed them.
Laima pulled out a black card with edges matching the color of Leon's hair.
Holding the card proudly between her fingers, she declared with a wide grin, "Let's go."
In less than five minutes, it became evident why Laima displayed the card so confidently, humming as they ascended to the upper floors.
After all, some people were inclined to showcase their financial capabilities. In her case, it was Rebellious's capability, yet displaying it was, nonetheless, a form of flaunting.
"How is it?"
"Amazing!"
"Yes, amazing."
"I know, right?" She exclaimed, then threw herself onto one of the expansive beds, adding, "We'll be staying here at least tonight."
"Yesss!"
The room they were assigned to was a king's suite—so regal that it occupied half of the entire floor, mirroring another suite of its caliber.
Two colossal beds faced each other, accompanied by pairs of bathrooms, lush greenery for refreshment, and a panoramic sea view. Anything one could desire from a king's suite was present in abundance.
Belenus, who had been silent for a while, slowly spoke up, "Don't let the comfort lull you. We still have a mission to accomplish."
"I know, I know," casually answered, rushing off his cautionary words and refusing to let them dampen her spirits.
"We will do the recap after William comes here."
Her gaze fixed on the picture-perfect landscape, a blend of colorful buildings and the sea, Triss demonstrated that, despite her attention to the view, her ears remained attuned to the conversation.
"Who is William?"
"The owner of this place is also one of us, as you can see."
"If you kids want to take a nap or something, now's the time," Laima suggested and promptly followed through.
"I'll also do the same," Belenus added, taking the opposite bed.
"Then, I'll be sleeping with Laima."
Now it was Leon's turn. A colossal man had already claimed a bed, essentially occupying the entire space. Neither did Leon fancy sharing a bed with him, nor would there be enough personal space to do so. That bed had already become the exclusive territory of the giant, Belenus.
'I'll just take the couch,' a prudent decision was this one, indeed.
With that settled, they slept for the first time in a comfortable atmosphere after their short but tiring journey. However, a nap was still a nap, meant to be brief.
Time passed, marking the moment when people at the prayer site began to make their way back home or head to their work, depending on their occupation.
Knock, knock.
Just two knocks proved sufficient to rouse the two strong ones. However, they opted to bide their time.
Another knock resounded, followed by five seconds of silence. Then, in a much brisker cadence than before, a series of three knocks echoed through the room, precisely as Laima and Belenus moved to awaken the kids during that brief interlude.
"Come in, William," Laima.
An undeniably handsome man entered at a leisurely pace. His blood-red hair mirrored Triss's, albeit on the shorter side.
His refined face, crafted as if from a million diamonds, was not just captivating for women but for anyone and everyone, irrespective of race or gender. The combination of a red office shirt and a black suit jacket added an intriguing touch to his appearance.
Slowly opened his mouth, "Hello, great to see you once again," peaking in a manner that conveyed a sense of having all the time in existence, suggesting there was no need to rush about anything.
"How do you do, William?"
"Thank you, Belenus. I hope you've also been doing well."
"I am," chuckled. "Well, at least for now."
"Triss, Leon, this is William," Laima introduced.
"Hello, my name is Triss," she greeted, strangely devoid of any admiration in her eyes, unlike most girls of her age.
"The name is Leon. Nice to meet you."
"It's great to see fresh blood," casting a cautious gaze between them, though his brown eyes lingered on Triss for more than a second, "The name is William. William Bloodear."
Seizing the momentary silence, "Did you do the recap?"
"Not yet. We were waiting for you," Laima.
"Let's go, then."
Their destination wasn't William's office, but the empty room within it. A table and ten chairs constituted the entirety of this space.
Laima was the first to speak, "William, how many Sting Tiers are stationed here?"
"Just three right now."
"Right now?"
"I've heard that some of them went to other cities for various reasons."
"You don't mind me asking your source, right?"
"I heard it from the chief of guards of Neaire."
Just before anyone could pry, "I have some kind of intimate relationship with her."
""…"" Other than Triss, who maintained an innocent look, everyone else fixed him with questioning eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing. Please, go on."
"Tomorrow she will take a day off, and I'll deal with her during the operation."
"How will you do that?" Triss innocently asked.
"..."
"What?"
Patted her head, "He will play with her, Triss," said Leon.
"..."
"What do you mean by playing?"
"Life must be great, huh?"
"?"
"It's okay, Triss. You are great just the way you are."
"Alright, let's get to the sea battle part, okay?" Laima.
"Yeah, we should," agreed Belenus.
Hadiah
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