The Unexpected Condition

After entering a small room that could serve as an average noble's wardrobe along with the inn staff member, Shui's group stayed silent while they felt the room move. The elevator was hardly surprising at this point, so even the twins had a weak reaction to it. The room for Dia and Diana was closer to the elevator exit, so he waited for them to enter the room and be given a tour before leaving with the staff member to his room. As with the double room the twins had, there was more than enough space to live in, but no specialized rooms like at Myriad Flower Pavilion. Even so, it felt worth the price.

As he would be in this city for the longest time since leaving on this journey, Shui felt like taking a rest, but there were still matters to take care of. As he was in a new city, his first priority was to get information.

A short time after Shui left the inn, Dia and Diana lied next to each other on the big bed. Although they had stayed at a few inns after Shui saved them, the difference in quality was noticeable. The feeling of her body sinking into the mattress brought Diana closer to sleep, but she forced herself awake to talk with her sister.

"Dia, what do you think about him?"

"I'm not sure, but he doesn't seem to have bad intentions."

"I think so too, but..."

Diana didn't finish the line, but it was easy for her sister to guess the rest. While Diana wasn't a fool who would trust people easily, once she decided to have faith she was very loyal. Dia admired this about her, but this aspect of her personality left her vulnerable to betrayal. While the Matriarch's sister was the biggest traitor who contributed to the fall of their clan, among the other traitors were dear friends of theirs. Perhaps more than the bandits, it was those already dead people who she found harder to face.

"At the very least, I don't think he's deceiving us now. However, if you feel that we shouldn't trust him..."

"...No, let's wait."

Elsewhere, Shui had taken a mecha-car to get to Section C4 where the underground guild was. He was surprised when he heard it, but the mecha-car service was funded by the city, so he could use it without worrying about his pocket. In Windwave City, the underground guild had a front business selling antiques nearby where the Workers' Association was. Those who frequented the vicinity at least had a suspicion as to the truth about the antique store, but no one was willing to bring attention to it.

After getting inside the store, Shui gave the clerk the password and was allowed to go down a flight of stairs that went to the basement where the underground guild ran its operations. At the bottom of the stairs, Shui found the usual bar setup so he went straight to the bartender with his request. By now, Shui was very used to buying information, but he hadn't earned much income recently besides from a few ominous artifacts that he managed to sell along the way. At the same time he was diligent in getting information, so his quantity of funds kept dropping, and it seemed he wouldn't have enough this time. Due to the rare and unique features prevalent throughout the city, a detailed report was impossible to buy with money alone, and even a comprehensive report was touching the limit so Shui focused on the information he needed, mainly about the airship and the idol concert.

The good news was that the concert was a surprise announcement so there were still tickets available that he could buy from the amphitheater in Section C2 where the concert would be held. When he learnt this, Shui planned on making it his next destination, but there was a problem pertaining to the airship. He wasn't wrong about the schedule or the destination of the next airship, but the requirements to get on were harsher than he thought. Apparently, one had to be an Area B-level figure for at least a month in order to get the chance to buy a ticket.

Shui wasn't the type to put all his eggs in one basket, so he could still make it to Ashen Star City in time if they set out immediately, but then he would have to miss the concert.

'Calm down, let's look if we can find a way around this.'

Anxious and hopeful, Shui asked for ways he could get a ticket without meeting the condition declared after reluctantly taking out more money.

"The airship is the most popular means for the city to showcase its power, so there are strict rules in place so that no outside force can meddle with it. However, even if you don't have the public qualifications, if someone with a high enough status is willing to guarantee your trustworthiness, then you should be able to get on."

"And who would have the status you're talking about?"

"At the very least, they would have to have Area A access privileges like the city's administration."

Shui immediately clicked his tongue. It was impossible for him to find any Area A guests in time, but getting a meeting with the city's administration would be like trying to have an audience with royalty. Even bribes would probably only land him on a waiting list.

'Do I really have to sneak in? But what should I do with Dia and Diana?'

As Shui started to think of other methods of getting on the airship, the bartender provided extra details.

"In terms of the city's administration, there might be a way for you to get a connection with one of the directors."

"How?"

The directors held the second highest authority in the city, so Shui snapped on this information. He eagerly awaited a response, but the bartender only glanced at him and then went back to wiping a glass cup with a cloth. Shui knew there was no point in arguing so he took out more money in order to hear the rest.

"Recently, one of them sent a request to us. One of their children is lacking protection due to special circumstances, so they need a replacement for the time being. If you can protect the child for at least a week, the client has offered a high reward that includes the right to negotiate a favour."

"This sounds like a great deal, why hasn't it been taken yet?"

"It's not that it hasn't been taken, it's just that the additional conditions have hampered everyone that's tried."

"What's the problem?"

"The child is enrolled in a prestigious school in Area B with security so tight that no one can sneak in. The only option is to hide among the students or staff, but even then it's difficult to approach the child because of their status. I'm telling you this much because I think it fits your skillset, but if you want to know more you'll have to accept the job."

From what Shui heard, it sounded like he would have to rely on his disguise ability. Although he had never taken a protection mission that would span several days and it obviously wouldn't be easy, Shui didn't feel discouraged because others had failed. Furthermore, he had limited options and no time to be picky.

"Okay. I'll do it."

However, perhaps he should have dug a little deeper before taking the job.