Chương 25: "To Sambridge City-2"
"Thank you, Professor Ken," Sanno replied, holding the package carefully with his two hands.
"Tell your dad, he should show up in our reunion sometimes," said the professor, as he looked back at the memories of him and Dexter Angeldame in a high school class graduation ceremony. "Our old classmates were always looking for him. He's quite the charmer, you see,"
Sanno chuckled. He had always heard stories about his father's younger days, capturing the hearts of maidens. "He's busy as always. Even busier now, I think."
"He's busy, that's why he needs you to run a lot of errands for him," The professor sighed, thinking about his busy friend.
"By the way, do you know someone with the surname Aevis?"
"Hmm... Aevis?" Professor Ludwig thought deeply, remembering if he had students or colleagues with that surname, but he couldn't think of any. "I can't think of anyone with that last name."
"Oh, I see…" Sanno uttered, slightly disappointed with his reply. "Then, I think I should go now. We still need to go around town and at least find someone with that surname. Thank you, Professor."
"No problem, send my regards to your father," He said as he waved goodbye to Sanno.
Sanno approached his car and opened the trunk. He carefully placed the package inside. When he closed it, he was surprised to see Professor Ludwig near him.
"I remember the Aevis family," he told Sanno. "There's a plaza across the intersection of the university. You can find their cafe there. I think it's their family business. Perhaps you can find them there."
Sanno widened his eyes in delight. At the back of his mind, he was already thinking of hacking the Sambridge local government offices just to acquire their address. Good thing the professor remembered their location. "What's the name of the cafe?"
"It's called… I forgot, but I think it starts with letter A."
He thanked Professor Ludwig and he finally waved goodbye. When he rode the car, he was surprised to see the two of them singing like crazy idiots. He lowered the volume of the music and said, "Do you know that you're both tone-deaf?"
Lia gave him a bewildered look, "No, I didn't know,"
"Lia's the best singer in the world. What are you saying, Sanno?" Leo said, supporting his childhood friend.
Sanno's face palmed, and couldn't believe that he recently became closer with the two.
"So, did you find out anything?" Lia asked.
"Yeah. Let's go," he replied and started the engine.
Within a few minutes, they arrived in Sambridge Plaza, an area where different food stalls and restaurants are located. After parking in the nearest parking lot, the three of them started walking to look for the Aevis family's cafe.
One by one, they searched for all cafes that start with the letter A.
"There are a lot of cafes here, starting with letter A. How will we know?" Leo was asked to look for it, even though he didn't know the reason.
Lia was in deep thought, "I don't know… Gut feeling, maybe?"
"We might have to enter and ask for information," Sanno said, worriedly. "If a lot of people know that we're looking for the Aevis family, it might get to D.M. Cadre's ears, which will lead us to a difficult position."
"Wait, are we doing illegal business?" Leo asked, confused about the conversation.
"No, it's not illegal, but… this is against the protocols," Lia explained. "I'll explain it to you someday."
They had almost reached the last few establishments within the plaza.
"Gaaah! My feet hurt already," Lia said, as she sat on the nearest bench. She stretched her legs to feel better.
"I think we can take a break," told Sanno, looking at his steampunk-style wristwatch. "It's just ten o'clock. But I got hungry with all those walking."
"Let's go there," Leo said, pointing at the cafe nearest them. "I took a flyer. Aside from their coffee, there are grilled dishes on the menu. There's grilled fish, and meat as well."
Lia got excited and swallowed. "Ohhhhh grilled fish!"
"Grilled meat…" said Sanno as he imagined pieces of grilled duck meat that were freshly cooked, being served in front of him.
"It's a letter A, too. Aesop's Cafe and Restaurant..."
Sanno and Lia looked at each other. Lia stood up from the bench, and as if she hit a jackpot, she jumped for joy, totally forgetting the pain she felt because of her tired feet.
The three of them entered the restaurant and the bell attached to the door rang.
"Welcome to Aesop's," the woman sitting behind the cashier's table greeted happily.
The interior was cozy, with acoustic guitar music playing in the background. Small, grayish-blue potted plants were placed on each table, and small flowering plants in brown pots were arranged in line beside the windows. The furniture was mostly made from varnished, reddish-brown wood, the walls and windows were grayish-blue in color, and the beautiful wooden floor looked like it was properly maintained.
Lia and the two boys chose a seat at the right side of the door.
A girl, wearing black slacks and a neat, pink fitted shirt walked near the door, with a man who looked like her father.
"I need to go now, papa," the girl said in a fine voice. Her long, layered, jet black hair, which extended up to her waist, looked like it was properly combed.
"Take care, and do not drop the glasswares again," The girl's father said, slightly laughing.
"Pa! I won't be clumsy anymore! I need to graduate!" The girl pouted. She then took her shoulder bag from her father. "See you later!" She exclaimed as she waved to her father, and to her mother who was sitting behind the cashier's table.
When she left and the door closed, the man approached Lia's table. "Your orders?" He smiled at them sweetly.
Lia stared at the man who looked a bit like Aesop. "Those golden eyes… So it was from his father," she thought.
Sanno noticed Lia spacing out, so he told his order first. "One cinnamon tea, and one grilled duck donburi. How about you, Lia?"
"Oh, one iced latte and grilled fish with pineapple salsa, please," she said.
Leo just stared outside the window. He's a bit hungry, but he can't eat at the moment.
"Leo, how about you?" Lia asked.
He shook his head. "I'm not too hungry, don't mind me,"
"Oh, okay," Lia said, giving a worried look.
"I'll repeat your orders, one cinnamon tea, one grilled duck donburi, one iced latte, and grilled fish with pineapple salsa… Anything else?" the man asked.
Lia asked for confirmation, "The girl a while ago… Is she your daughter?"
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