บท 14: Hoodlums hunt (2)
Sebastian, with a glance around to ensure no prying eyes were upon them, swiftly dragged the two unconscious men deeper into the alley.
He wanted to avoid any unwelcome attention, seeking the shadows as his cover. Once secluded in the dimly lit alley, he set to work.
He began by patting down the first man, his hands moving over the fabric, searching every pocket with a sense of purpose.
The man's pockets yielded a small fortune; a wad of Starcoins that felt cool and heavy in Sebastian's grasp. A smirk played on his lips as he pocketed Exidia's currency.
While turning his attention to the second man, Sebastian continued his search. This time, in addition to the Starcoins he unearthed a bag filled with a peculiar substance.
It was clear from its appearance and the way it was packaged that this was the "funny stuff" they intended to sell to Sebastian.
The young man, contemplating its value on the market, decided it was something he wanted to offload at the earliest opportunity.
<Adrian will be happy about this. > Adrian was the guy he sold that stuff to.
Satisfied with his haul, Sebastian stood up, looking down at the two men sprawled before him.
In the alley's silence, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
"Pheeeew. Today has been a great day. The haul has been fantastic, and I beat the shit out of those guys!" he said while he fled the scene.
Sebastian, his spirits high from the day's unexpected gains, meandered through the network of alleys with a brisk, confident step.
Each twist and turn took him deeper into the heart of Exidia's slums, away from the bustling main street and into its forgotten veins.
The city's vibrant chaos faded into a muted backdrop as he delved into a neighborhood where time and prosperity seemed to have stalled.
The apartment complex that emerged before him stood as a testament to the area's decline—a once hopeful structure now succumbing to the relentless march of neglect.
Its facade, marred by the passage of time, bore witness to countless stories, most of them untold. In this forsaken part of Exidia, the complex was known to Sebastian as the place where Adrian "worked".
While navigating the dimly lit stairwell, Sebastian ascended to the second floor, his footsteps echoing off the walls, announcing his arrival.
He pushed open the door to find himself in the presence of an older man. The man, with a cunning grin, sat behind a counter protected by bulletproof glass.
His eyes, though aged, sparkled with an undiminished vigor, hinting at a keen mind beneath the silvered hair.
"HEYYY!" the older man said. Adrian didn't know the name of the hooded man in front of him, Sebastian, but he knew that whenever he came, he brought some pretty interesting stuff with him to sell.
"Adrian!" Sebastian said. The young man's tone was cheerful. "I brought you something," he said, while tossing the bag to the man's counter. Adrian examined the product. "Did you rob the Cobalt Serpents again?" he asked.
"You know me. I enjoy meeting those guys. I always have fun with them!"
"I've never seen someone toying with a criminal gang. You must be really mad."
"Mad? I was mad once," Sebastian said, leaving Adrian even more confused. However, what Sebastian brought was the good stuff.
He wasn't one to shy from a profitable opportunity, and knew that if Sebastian was able to mess up with gang members, he wasn't a simple man by any means.
Most likely, the hooded man was a Thespian, and he didn't want to mess with them.
"How much?" Sebastian asked.
"800 Starcoins. The product is good and will sell well, but there isn't much of it."
"It's ok for me." Then Adrian gave the money to Sebastian.
"A delight most profound, to engage in commerce with thee," Sebastian said while bowing with a flourish, befitting a player upon a stage while mimicking taking off a hat in sign of respect.
Adrian did the same, but contrary to Sebastian, he really had a hat, which he took off with a radiant smile while playing along. Sebastian then left the building.
"4900 Starcoins today, not bad, not bad at all, Seb."
While heading towards the bus stop, Sebastian found himself in the company of several unsavory characters.
Yet, intimidation was far from what he felt. On the contrary, he almost wished for an excuse to engage them, to lighten their pockets in the process.
Still, he held back from initiating conflict with those not affiliated with the Cobalt Serpents, his self-imposed rule of engagement, at least for now. Besides, he wasn't in a dark alley, people could see him.
His disdain for the Cobalt Serpents wasn't rooted in their nefarious activities—though he could easily claim moral high ground over their distribution of harmful substances on the streets.
Sebastian didn't give a damn about what they did and what they sold. No, the catalyst for his hostility towards the entire gang was as superficial as it gets: a single member's notably unsightly teeth had caught his ire.
This odd quirk was all the justification Sebastian needed to mark the entire group as his enemies.
"In the shadows where misdeeds weave, lurks a grin that makes you seethe. Crooked teeth, a sight so vile, sparking rage for miles and miles. "
Sebastian, wearing a grin, boarded the bus that took him near his home, leaving him with a short walk to complete his journey.
After having arrived at the Wells' mansion, a once grand estate now devoid of the butlers that used to welcome its inhabitants, he stepped through the main door.
The excitement bubbling within him was palpable. He was too excited, and that excitement made him easily lose control of his actions.
Aware of this, Sebastian endeavored to steady himself, recognizing that his excitement, while intoxicating, often led him to act impulsively.
By reigning in his emotions, he found he could maintain control, allowing him to behave in a manner more befitting his surroundings.
<This is exhausting… >
He walked toward the kitchen. "MOOOOM! MOM! ARE YOU HOME?"
"YES! STOP YELLING!"
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