章節 7: An Old Friend
A few blocks away from the station, there was a series of banks and, inside one of them, there was a queue of customers doing their business.
Sitting on the waiting benches was the couple who had already finished registering at the bank.
- Listen well, Aren. Don't let these two cards out of your sight for anything in the world. One is your identity card while the other is your debit card; both are important wherever you go. - explained Alicia seriously
- I understand.
The young woman finished explaining some more details about the handling of all the basic and indispensable things to live in that country, since their separation was near.
A few minutes later, they left the establishment in search of a place to stay, it was already a little late and they had not yet found a place to rest, but happily they had been able to sell almost all the jewelry they had found in the castle of Loarre.
- Although the guy was cunning, in the end, we were able to sell to him without so many problems ... but I must say that that place was not very safe ... I think that was why we didn't have to do so much paperwork or present certificates ...- commented Alicia happily.
- Certificates? - Aren asked with some ignorance.
- Yes ... in addition to them verifying the jewelry, they usually ask you for papers certifying that it's legal property ... that it hasn't been stolen or something like that ... but, fortunately, I'm glad that place hasn't changed. - explained the young woman.
- What do you mean?
- I only went there a couple of times years ago, but that pawnshop is known for making things easy, if you have something of value, they buy it from you and that's it. It doesn't matter your background, or where you got it from ... as long as you have something 'interesting' to offer, then they'll put a price on it. - he finished explaining.
- ... I see.
The pair continued walking until they found a lodging, it being almost dark.
At the reception, a man in a semi-formal suit came out to greet them and kindly attended them; the request was simple: a double room with bathroom included. Then, having received the keys, before leaving, Alicia asked- Is Mr. Sakamoto absent?
The receptionist was a little surprised to learn that the young woman knew that name, since that man was the owner of the place.
- I regret to inform you that Mr. Sakamoto is not here; he left on a trip a week ago, but I understand he will be back in six days. - replied the receptionist.
That being the case, the couple said their goodbyes and headed for their room.
- You ... did you already know this place? - Aren asked with some caution.
- Yes ... I used to work here. Mr. Sakamoto was like a father and took care of me for about three years. - she replied happily - ... although it looks like I will have to wait a few days for him until he arrives.
Aren watched her for a moment, for he felt as if Alice's mood had become a little saddened. However, he did not ask any more questions.
They spent the day unpacking what they needed and rested afterwards.
The next day, early in the morning, Alicia and Aren went out into the streets of the city. The young woman began to show him several places; it is worth mentioning that they were not worried about money, since, as Alicia had said, they had enough to live for several months without any worries.
That day, Alicia had scheduled to show Aren essential places, since she knew that her partner did not know everything.
"Yes, of course ... How could someone has lived in that castle for almost all his life?" questioned the young woman in her thoughts about that male, then sighed, "Although it was no lie that he had no common sense or knew obvious things ... I don't know what to believe anymore."
Clearing her mind of those doubts, they continued to walk around the place. Unfortunately, the walk seemed to be interrupted as they realized something.
Alicia, observing among the people, noticed the presence of a man in traditional Japanese attire who passed by an Asian store. The woman thought she had gotten confused and suddenly that man disappeared from her sight.
- That's them. - the man in the Japanese suit, who was hiding in the crowd, was heard to say over a portable intercom.
- As long as they don't notice ... don't do anything yet. - replied a woman's voice over the intercom.
Alicia walked as if nothing was happening; however, she could not shake off that image of what she had seen and, therefore, she set out to go to a certain place leaving Aren in charge of buying some melon rolls sold by a famous local bakery.
Although the idea pleased Aren, his surprise was that there was a tremendous waiting line. When the young man turned around, Alicia was already gone.
- Well ... all or nothing. - expressed the young man.
Another message was received, the girl had separated and left the man in that bakery.
- Shall we follow her? - asked a man in a black suit and dark glasses standing nearby.
- Yes ... and keep an eye on the other one. - replied a woman's voice.
Suddenly a couple of men in suits stood in line behind about four people who were after Aren waiting silently.
It was a fairly busy park, where there were families having fun, the place where a young woman around 24 years old wearing a black shirt and pants with a pair of dark boots, along with an older male with gentlemanly bearing and clothes that described him as such, was sitting watching the scene.
- Don't you think you give him too much of a turn? - asked the man in a suit who was drinking a cup of coffee.
- No ... at the moment, I am also being watched ... I must be patient. - replied the woman next door.
- Letting Hayato be on watch is kind of ... humiliating, don't you think?
- Well ... you two wanted to come with me, so suck it up. - replied the woman with light sarcasm.
- On the other hand ... knowing her do you think she noticed?
- What do you mean? - questioned the woman.
- Well, Hayato was seen, wasn't he?
The unknown woman was silent for a few seconds and then fixed her gaze straight ahead with some concern.
- No... I don't think so. - she replied.
The male in the suit smiled and took a drink from his cup.
- Well, it seems you don't know me well enough; don't you think? - refuted the voice of another woman who was behind them.
The seated woman turned her gaze and recognized who it was.
H-Hello, Alicia... How long? - answered the young woman while she watched as if it were a lifeless face the angry expression of that woman.
Meanwhile, Aren was still waiting in line as were the two men in suits behind him; and, although it was not yet possible to identify whether they were allies or enemies, the same feeling united them.
"How long will we have to be waiting?"
About twenty minutes passed, in that park where Alicia had found that pair that could easily be mistaken for a father and daughter. Sitting next to those two, she was carrying on a not so pleasant chat.
- So for security, eh? - Alicia mentioned with sarcasm and disbelief.
- Yes ... after all we are friends, aren't we? - answered that woman.
- ...
- Besides it wasn't only for you, it was also for your friend.
Alicia reacted seriously when they talked about Aren.
- What about him? - she asked
The young woman next to her hesitated to keep talking- Look, this isn't a good place to tell you everything, but you haven't come at a good time.
Alicia with some caution asked why.
- There's been a series of crimes for more than four months now and, if you've noticed, the number of officers in public places has increased.
The man next to the girls who was just listening to the conversation kept his head down, took out dark glasses and put them on.
Although it was a brief conversation, the minutes passed like seconds.
Meanwhile, in the bakery, Aren and company were still waiting without much progress.
- When will this queue move forward? - said one of the men in suits, - yes ... besides it's already getting hungry ... don't you think we should buy some for ourselves too? - opined the other male, to which they both nodded.
It was then that a somewhat crafty guy wanted to sneak in, but everyone present noticed him and immediately voted him in, with Aren also being a participant as the two men in suits; the feeling of unity was being consolidated.
Another twenty minutes passed and following the conversation in the park, something reluctantly surprised Alicia.
- My background? ... That's been taken care of, hasn't it?
That bodyguard who had put on his glasses remained silent focusing on his surroundings, for something sensed as if they were being watched.
- Yes, but there is someone who is sticking their nose into this ... I won't name names, but I would like you to ... - The woman was stopped by her apparent bodyguard who was at her side, as she warned that 'they' were coming.
Suddenly a group of men in suits and dark glasses, about six of them, appeared before them.
Both Alicia and her friend were silent.
- Nice to meet you, Miss Lois Valdelomar and Miss Alicia Enid ... we are officers of the municipality under the orders of Miss Victoria D. Hans. - spoke one of them in a monotone and formal tone.
"Victoria?" wondered Alicia.
- Oh, I see ... it's a pleasure all the same, but what business does the president of the mayor's office have with us? - asked defensively the one who was called Lois Valdelomar.
- Certainly, we will save your time, Miss Victoria gives you two invitations to a meeting for the celebration of her twenty-second birthday to be held in two days. - replied the man in the suit.
Both Lois and her bodyguard looked somewhat confused, but more so Alicia who didn't seem to understand what was going on.
Lois and the man at her side looked at each other for a moment and then the woman accepted the two invitations. However, the man who was handing them the cards was still not releasing them.
The atmosphere suddenly became aggressive, so the bodyguard straightened his head as if he was ready for anything.
- I must mention to you that these invitations are somewhat special ... they are not for you to attend the public event, but for a private gathering at the end of the celebration ... you will only be allowed to go with a 'chaperone' if you think it is necessary. Please do not be absent. - the man proceeded to explain.
As if that intimidation had no effect, Alicia's friend Lois simply nodded with a gentle smile.
After this, those men left.
- It did not turn out as expected. - spoke one of that retreating group of men.
- It doesn't matter anymore; the main thing was the delivery of the invitations ... that's all. - replied another.
Finished in possible failure with the other group, and some several minutes having passed, at the bakery where Aren was, out came the two men in suits who had been following him with a bag of freshly baked breads. Both were quite pleased with the result of their patience.
As they left the place they ran into their group. The rest saw how happy the pair were and one of them asked.
What about the guy they were following?
One of the pair answered surprisingly.
- Ah yes ... he's right here. - pointed to a place where there was no one, as the young man had already left.
The guy who seemed to be their leader asked again- Where do they say he is?
After a few seconds and seeing that Aren was no longer there, those two men came to only one conclusion.
- Shit, we screwed up, didn't we?
A day passed since the meeting of Alicia and Lois, and inside the room where they were staying, Alicia and Aren were talking.
- So ... you're going to a party of someone you don't know ... but you're going with someone you do know ... ... Are you playing tongue twisters? Because I have a really good one. - asked the young man.
Alicia looked at him with a serious face and sighed.
- I have no choice left ... the worst thing is that Lois didn't tell me anything else after those guys left ... but, why did she change her mind so suddenly? It's like now she wanted me to go without knowing anything ... Yes, a very good friend. - this last was said with great sarcasm.
The young woman did not want to tell more things about her friend or about the types of costumes she had met before, but, although she did not know it, Aren seemed to realize some things.
While Alicia was still pensive, Aren took a letter; and upon reading it, it said in one of its indications that clearly specified that the guest could take a companion at the most.
- You already read it, didn't you? So get ready and let's go shopping for clothes. - said Alicia without hesitation.
She said this because one of the instructions was to present herself in formal attire.
The young man sighed with fatigue.
The day arrived; it was the celebration in a mansion of elegant design that in front of it was a large square. Being in the afternoon, the cars were arriving and letting in people of high status. Although it was a celebration, the number of people was restricted along with officers who maintained order and security.
The place was quite decorated, but it was not ostentatious to the eye, all balanced.
On the other hand, while the bustle and chatter could be heard in the great hall of the mansion, in a room spacious enough to be considered a medium sized room with furniture and some appetizers awaited a couple of graceful women wearing ball gowns waiting on their feet.
- Did you really bring him too? - Lois asked with some disbelief.
- I think it was better to bring him ... something told me it wasn't good to leave him alone. - replied Alice with some heaviness- changing the subject, this time you came with Hayato.
- Yes ... it was either that or I would have to watch an endless fight between them to decide who would accompany me. - Lois replied.
While these two were conversing while waiting for the 'hostess', in an adjoining room two more people were present. They were the two companions of the ladies; Lois Valdelomar's companion was that man Alice had seen, for he wore a different design but the same Japanese-style clothes; on closer inspection he was also a man of a certain age, but with already gray hair and a sharp, piercing gaze. Both were sitting facing each other in silence as if they were meditating.
After a few minutes, in the room where Alice and Lois were sitting, a woman's voice could be heard saying- I hope I haven't bored them too much.
A slightly serious looking, but still polite woman had entered the room.
A slender figure and semi-wavy hair that reached a little above her waist and, next to her face, a flower; with a somewhat mature look for her age and a dress that could be considered inappropriate for the celebration, since it was an antique dress that seemed to be a mourning dress.
That dress was of a dark color and with wide sleeves, moderately long with insignia on its hem. Inside was a light white dress that swayed as she walked.
The two ladies immediately recognized the presence of that woman, since it was not difficult to understand that she was the hostess and central character of this celebration when they saw those insignias on her basta.
- Pleased to meet you, as you know, my name is Victoria D. Hans, the current mayor of Luesia. - that woman introduced herself with a friendly tone but with a certain seriousness.
Lois answered- Yes ... we were waiting for you. - with a confident attitude.
By that time, Aren had left the room without Alicia's sighing, since she hadn't eaten all day and was already hungry.
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