Hotel de Mazzon

Crynn POV

"So, it's just the three of us, huh?" I said to the two ladies sitting on both sides next to me, Jill and V. Calian and Aria is not joining us but I guess this small step doesn't need five guys to complete. "Is this close enough to establish to connection yet?" I questioned Jill as her fingers move vigorously along a digital pad she's holding.

"Almost, just a few seconds," I have to say, this is not my first rodeo in a hotel. There was one time, an arms dealer came in to do a documents exchange with an unidentified party. You don't see arms dealers selling documents everyday, said document is worth a lot in the dark market. Of course, I went in and stole it easily. One flashbang, one pistol, a lot of sneaking around the guards, and I got myself millions of dollars that easily.

"Done, cameras' disabled," good, we can proceed more safely now with that gone. But man, I lament all the taxi drivers in this world that lost their jobs thanks to the development of self driving vehicles. The sedan we're on is a self driving, self paying taxi controlled by an AI system connected to a large database connecting hundreds of different cars, that's what V told me.

"We have arrived, 10 Eurodollars' the payment," with how the AI's language is programmed casually, it sounds more like we're talking to a real person rather than a robot. "Payment received," V's pupil glowed blue as the AI sounded, the car door automatically opened, indirectly suggesting us to get out of the vehicle.

"So you pay the taxi fare with your mind," that looks spooky. There was one time I walked down the street and coincidentally was enamored of some sorts at a commercial for a game. I don't really remember what it was that attracted me but perhaps it was the sense of coldness and sense of a robotics that exceeded what is supposed to be most humane for humans.

It was a small clip, about an android, a robot so to speak strolling in the park. And around it was other androids. One was busy accompanying a child in playing around with a smile that has nothing of warmth. Another was running after a man, providing water for when the man stopped his exercise for a quick break.

And the android went on to cross the road where he was met with a preacher, accusing androids of being creations of the devil. And finally, the android went into a shop to buy something. And how is the payment done? By mind or software, the android shopkeeper and the android buyer simply looked at each other without any expressions and it's done, the transaction is complete.

There's none of the emotion you'll usually find in a night market, there's none of the kind conversations between a buyer that's looking for some goods by asking the staff. There's no sense of living, no sense of socializing, just a world 'ruled' by androids. But I heard the game is good, in fact, I watched some videos of it and even I have to compliment it.

Anyway, it's just weird seeing how V paid the AI with her mind, telepathic much. "Only to digital transactions like those. But people to people, we use cash rather than transferring, except if it's a large sum, that's differently said," V replied and what she said is for the best, keeping human-human social activities is important, even to something as minor as buying and selling.

"No one brings weapons right," I don't because I have stored it inside Jill's game inventory, V doesn't look like she brought any weapons either. "Awesome, act normal, act like the rich folks coming to town," got it in my head, boss. The three of us dressing stylish men and women, just waltzed right in to the front door where we are immediately greeted to the contraband detectors.

We simply entered right in as the walk through metal or contraband detector flashed green after discovering that we aren't carrying anything of possible harm. "Welcome to the Hotel de Mazzon," the guards bowed as we walked pass, extravagant treatment, hotel front door staff needn't be so... servant-like. Certainly don't bow, I've never entered a hotel where the staff bowed to me before.

"Where is the emergency stairway again? I whispered at Jill. "By the buffet restaurant," okay, let's go then to the buffet restaurant. Where is the buffet restaurant... never mind, I'm sure Jill will lead us to wherever it is. "So, V, you've been to one of these hotels before, am I right, I'm sure you got some fun before the disaster strikes," I asked as we power walked like we have business to do.

"Konpeki Plaza is the hotel's name, it's certainly lavish, very Japanese and most of all, very Arasaka. The facility's top notch, they make great cocktails down in the bar, the hotel room's comfy. But compared to this Hotel de Mazzon, I'm afraid Konpeki Plaza is nothing," I can see what you're talking about, this hotel looks very exclusive.

In the center of the lobby is a giant marble statue of the three highest Greek Hellenic Gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. But that's not the only Gods being showcased around the place as statues and idols. I presume that in the distance is the Four Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and the less known but still famous, Uriel along with other Gods I might not be very familiar with.

But I do know for a fact that the robed figure sitting under a tree meditating is the Buddha. The old man with an eyepatch as well as two ravens on his shoulders is Odin. There is also an oddly placed jade statue, the only statue that is not marble. The jade statue has a Chinese crown as well as royal robes on but I can't be too sure who it might be but by the jade, I can probably safely say that that's the Jade Emperor.

"Well, if you could stop staring at the statues, then we should probably go. You won't try to steal them, will you?" Oh fine, I'll not continue to stare though there are more statues but duty must be done. And no, I'm not going to steal them.