What's Real?

I try to not think much about that and kept observing her from the distance. This lasted for a few minutes when someone finished their book and left after paying for his drink.

I got up and sat on the vacant chair. The chair was thankfully just right next to her.

"Something light, please." I ordered.

"Dear customer, we have a rule that you must be reading a book if you want to make an order," He explained politely.

I heeded and got myself a random book before returning to my seat.

"Something light, please."

"Okay." He nodded and get to work. He mixed drinks, shook it for a few times rather rhythmically, stirred it and shook it again precisely for four times before pouring it on the glass and serving it to me.

I took a whiff and it smelled sweet and sour simultaneously, with a bit of a sharp scent of alcohol. I took a sip and it tasted amazing. I was quite surprised that my eyes widened slightly and I let out a low groan of surprise.

Perhaps she heard me and asked, "Are you new here?"

"Yes, and this drink tastes amazing. What's it called?" I turned my gaze to the bartender.

"Creepy Jewels," he replied briefly.

I grunted in acknowledgement.

"The bartender is an amazing bartender. Anything he creates would make those that drink it want it more. Too bad he only makes one drink for each person," Hansel said.

"Why?" I instinctively pondered, but he didn't say anything in response.

"No one knows why, some said because he doesn't want his stock to run out quickly, or it's because it is his marketing strategy."

As we were in Aegis, getting goods were quite hard and expensive. There were pillagers and bandits around Aegis, ready to loot whatever coming inside the district.

Some businesses hired Honors so their goods can be delivered safely, and that's where the expensive coming from.

I grunted as I understood and asked, "How long have you been visiting this library, miss–"

"Hansel, and you can drop the act, Synnefo, no, you go by Sunny nowadays." She said calmly, but there was a hint of annoyance.

"The name Sunny just came all of a sudden. You can call me by Synnefo, if you want."

"No, I'll just call you by your nickname. Your real name is hard to remember. How do you pronounce it anyway? Sin-ne-fo, or sain-ne-fo?"

"The former is correct." I give her a slight nod.

"I see, so, what do you want from me? If you want to capture me, you should think twice. You're just a grade A Honor and wouldn't be able to hurt me."

"I'm not here for that, I want to confirm something."

"We have nothing to do with that attack at Gram's night market, or we're interested in that device."

I looked at her for a few seconds straight and asked, puzzled, "You knew?"

"Nothing can escape us, or capture us." She took a sip of her drink.

"So Ginto's house isn't your doing?"

"Ginto? Ah, the mercenary. No, his house and death of his family isn't our doing. Hey, don't you think you thought of us a bit too much evil? We wouldn't just kill anyone." she said, clarifying something.

I thought for a moment about their organization. Although it consists of out laws and suspicious people– when they start a mission, they never kill innocent lives, only people involved.

However, their method is quite barbaric and inhumane to those that are involved.

"You're right, sorry." I paused and added, "Do you know Igor?"

Maybe just my imagination, but I saw her stopping for a moment when she was about to flip the page, and continue flipping the page as though nothing just happened.

"He's an old friend of mine. If you want to know more about him through me, give up." She suggested.

"I'll pay."

"It's not about money." She closed her book and turned her eyes to me, "It's about loyalty. I owe the old man a lot of things, and having someone digging up his past is the last thing I wanna do. If there's nothing else, leave."

"I understand that you respect Igor and don't want a stranger to know his past, but it's not me that wants to know, but his son."

"His son? What are you talking about? His son died a few years ago." She looked at me with a weird look

I almost doubted my ears when I heard it and was surprised– I was loss for words.

I paused for a moment when I get my composure back. "Surely you've mistaken, his son is still alive and well."

"I don't know what leads you to think that, but his son is dead. I see his corpse and his funeral."

I frowned deeply, thought for a moment as I look for the right question before finding one, "Why did Igor commit suicide?"

"I just told you, I won't answer."

Silence descended as I didn't know what to say. No, there were many things I want to say but they're just so many and ended up stuck in my throat. Not only that, Calvin's life might also be in extreme danger if I reveal everything I know.

However, at the same time, I need to learn more about Igor from Hansel or else, it'd be hard to finish the task.

"His son is still alive," I revealed solemnly.

"You…" She turned her head to me in annoyance, wanting to lash out, thinking I didn't listen to her, but when she saw my solemn expression, she paused and continued, "tell me everything and I'll determine whether I should believe you or not."

I gave her a slight nod and told her everything. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing or not, but whatever the consequences are, I'm prepared to fight.

'That damn old man…' she said under her breath. I wouldn't hear her words if I'm not an Honor.

"Hansel, can you tell me what's going on?" I asked slowly.

"Since Yurim lead you here, it means she trusts you, so I guess it'll be alright."

I wanted to say I wasn't here because of Yurim, but because I planted a marble sized smoke on her body and that's why I was able to find her.

I met her a few months ago by accident and planted the smoke to find where her base is hiding. Unfortunately, I couldn't 'see' her position each time she returned to her base.

Ever since then, the smoke has been with her, which was surprising because I thought she'd discover it in a few months or so, but those months has passed and she has yet to find it. I have a few theories why she failed to find it, but that wasn't important right now.