Chapter 111: Wall Market

"Why wouldn't there be? People of Shinra, their hearts are also made of flesh." Scarlet said.

"Is that so?" Tifa snorted coldly and said in a voice so low that only the three of them could hear, "If that's the case, then why do you still keep extracting the Planet's Lifestream with the mako reactors? Look at the slums below, look at Midgar's surface, not even a single weed can grow. You don't even love this Planet, so what are you talking about, true love?"

Scarlet still said indifferently, "But that has nothing to do with me."

"Fine, let's say it has nothing to do with you. Or rather, let's not talk about righteousness and such lofty things. Let's talk about just one point, Scarlet, don't you think your age doesn't match with Aiden ?" Aerith said from the side, with a bit of hidden sharpness, "I remember your age should be almost forty, right? Even though you take good care of yourself now and look very young, but ten years from now? Twenty years? Can you still stay with Aiden ?"

As soon as those words came out, Scarlet's face immediately darkened. The fact that she was older than Aiden was a thorn in her heart, and now that Aerith had pulled it out and said it plainly, she felt a bit of pain inside.

Looking at the silent Scarlet, Aerith knew she had struck a nerve, so she smiled smugly at her and then walked into the lingerie shop arm-in-arm with Tifa.

Looking at the backs of Aerith and Tifa, Scarlet had countless thoughts swirling in her mind. Then, as if making some kind of decision, she clenched her fist.

'It's time to have a good talk with Hojo.' Scarlet thought.

Then, she smiled as well. Her heart seemed much more at ease and she followed them into the lingerie shop.

———

Aiden, who had entered the lingerie shop, sat down in a corner just like before. But since it was a women's lingerie store, he was too embarrassed to look around, so he fixed his gaze on the three women who had just come in.

Each of the three women had different personalities and preferences, so after entering, they each went to different sections to choose.

Very quickly, they picked out the styles they liked.

However, since it was lingerie, none of them could bring themselves to put it on directly and come out to let Aiden give comments.

Even though someone among them really wanted to pull Aiden into the changing room, the situation now was different, there were other people watching.

So after trying things on, they asked the shop assistants to wrap them up and rang them up at the counter.

"Where to next?"

After leaving the lingerie shop, Tifa asked Aiden.

"Let's find somewhere to eat." Aiden checked the time before coming out, it was about time for dinner.

"I know a restaurant nearby with pretty good food. Let's go there." Scarlet, who had followed them out, said. As a Shinra executive, there wasn't a single restaurant in the upper level she hadn't eaten at.

"Hey hey hey, when Aiden said 'we,' he meant the three of ua, that doesn't include you." Aerith waved her finger at her. With sisterhood restored, she and Tifa were now standing on the same side again, temporarily.

Scarlet immediately looked pitifully at Aiden, "My knight, are you going to abandon me?"

"Uh…" Aiden frowned. He really wanted to refuse, but for some reason, his heart suddenly softened, and he nodded and agreed, "Alright, let's all go together."

"Aiden…" Aerith stomped her foot in dissatisfaction.

"Well, someone has to help pay the bill, right?" Aiden sighed, then changed to a 'let's eat off the rich' expression.

"Yes, yes. Restaurants in the upper district aren't cheap. You all must have spent a lot shopping today, so let me treat this time." Scarlet followed up on Aiden's words.

"But…" Tifa tried to say something, but Aiden cut her off.

"It's settled then. Scarlet, lead the way." Aiden waved his hand and said.

"With pleasure, my knight." Scarlet smiled sweetly and gave a lady-like curtsy before turning to walk ahead.

"Aiden!" Behind him, Tifa frowned, "She's from Shinra."

"And a high-ranking one at that," Aerith added.

"I know, but she doesn't seem to have any ill intent toward us." Aiden said, "Remember what I talked to Barret about before? I don't support Shinra, but I don't oppose them either. Besides, it's just a meal, nothing will happen. And she's paying anyway."

"Well, alright." Aerith and Tifa saw Aiden's firm stance, so they couldn't say anything more. But both of them felt a sense of crisis inside.

———

"Aiden , what's your plan after dinner?"

Inside the restaurant, Scarlet asked Aiden, who was sitting between Aerith and Tifa.

"Of course, we're going home," Aerith said. "We live in the slums, so now you have no excuse to come with us, right?"

"That's true, but…" Scarlet nodded, "But the night is still long. If we rest this early, isn't it a bit of a waste? Why don't we go have some fun at the Wall Market?"

The Wall Market was in Sector 6 of the lower level. It was the most prosperous and fun place in the lower area, and even many upper-district rich folks often went there to have fun.

"Wall Market, huh?" Aiden was a bit tempted. He had been here so long but never visited it.

Seeing the tempted look on Aiden's face, Scarlet continued, "Looks like you're quite interested in that place, Aiden."

Aiden nodded, "I've heard of it, but never had the chance to go."

"Then let's take this opportunity and go together," Scarlet said, then turned to Aerith and Tifa, "See? Aiden really wants to go. If you two really like him, you wouldn't object, would you?"

"Of course not." With Scarlet putting it that way, how could Tifa object?

"Are you paying again?" Aerith added.

"Of course, tonight's expenses are all on me." Scarlet smiled slightly. "And if possible, I can cover in the future too."

"No need for that." Aerith shook her head. She knew the saying, 'you can't take things from someone without owing them.'

Seeing Aerith shake her head, Scarlet's eyes held a trace of disappointment. Her plan had failed.

But she hadn't expected to beat Aerith and Tifa with this kind of tactic anyway.

'There will be plenty more chances, won't there?' Scarlet bit her spoon and thought.

And the next opportunity was about to appear, at the very place they were heading.

Scarlet was the last one to leave the restaurant.

She said she was going to pay the bill, but Aiden and the others, who were waiting outside, saw her mysteriously making a phone call at the counter.

"Aiden , who do you think she's calling?" Aerith asked, feeling a bit uneasy.

"Want me to go ask her?" Aiden pinched Aerith's nose. "Then I'll come back and tell you."

"Forget it. Judging by how secretive she looked, she won't tell us anyway." Aerith folded her arms and turned to Tifa, "Later, we have to keep a close eye on her, don't let her mess around."

Tifa nodded, "Don't worry, Aerith. I'll keep an eye on her."

"You two, is it really necessary to be so dramatic?" Aiden smiled bitterly. "What, do you think she's going to eat me or something?"

"You never know." Tifa had experience. During dinner, she clearly felt that Scarlet's gaze toward Aiden was off.

"It's mainly because she's a Shinra person. If it were someone else's woman, we wouldn't be this tense." Tifa added.

"Is that so?" Aiden glanced at her. That comment was… interesting.

As the three chatted, Scarlet came out of the restaurant. She waved the car keys in her hand and said to Aiden and the others, "Come on, let's drive there."

"You're driving?" Aiden looked at the Shinra-branded car parked on the roadside.

"Of course. I'm quite good at it." Scarlet said confidently and walked toward her car.

"Director, should we come with you?" At that moment, several Shinra security guards responsible for her safety came running over.

Scarlet originally wanted to send them back, but thinking of how the Wall Market was much less safe at night than in the day, she nodded.

"Follow us. Oh right, send someone to warn the guys in Wall Street, tell them to behave tonight. I don't want anyone disturbing us."

"Yes, Director." One of the guards nodded and took out a phone to make a call.

Just then, Scarlet's phone beeped after she got in the car.

She glanced down. It was a message from someone named Madam M.

"Director Scarlet, the room you booked has already been arranged."

Scarlet smiled slightly after reading the message, then deleted it right away. She looked at the people who had gotten in the car and said, "Hold on tight, I'm starting the car."

[📍If you're enjoying this story, be sure to check out my new fanfic— "Naruto: The Uchiha Rules the World". It's a fresh take on the Naruto universe, with power, plot, and the Uchiha clan at the center of it all. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

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