Chapter 94: Shocking Discovery (1/2)

The bar was mostly empty, lest for a few drunken men chatting and playing darts. Dim lighting gave the bar an ominous, yet aesthetic ambiance. The smell of alcohol pervaded every wood or fabric in it. Arthur, with a perception above the average awakener, frowned at the strong smell. Walking toward the bartender, Arthur ordered a beer to make himself stand out less.

He wore a pair of thick fake glasses and combed his hair differently. It was a lame disguise, but that's as much as he could do without his illusion ring on him. However, he still had the F-rank skill Camouflage that allowed him to decrease his presence. After a few beers, he started his act.

”Ah, I'm pissed,” His voice a higher octave from usual, acting drunk as he said to the bartender. ”That bitch said she preferred someone taller! Can you believe that? Do I look like a shortie to you? Do I?” The bartender shrugged.

”Everyone is fake, you're fake too!” He pointed at the bartender who was wiping the glass cups wearing a wry smile.

”Buddy, how low is your alcohol tolerance?” The bartender laughed, brows twitching. ”Whoa! Do that in the bathroom!” He lost his cool when he saw Arthur looking like he's about to vomit.

”I… Uwa,” Arthur had his hand on his mouth as he pretended to barely hold his vomit inside. The bartender came from behind the counter and started dragging him across a corridor toward the bathroom.

”Jesus, don't drink if you're this weak!”

He grumbled as he pulled on Arthur across the rooms. These rooms were private for 'personal use' of any customers that wanted to rent. It seems it has been placed in case two drunken and eager people wanted some private time.

Si has said that the meeting would be in one of these rooms. That's why Arthur had Si draw the outline of the place and send it to him for Arthur to come up with a plan. Realizing that he would pass through the doors if he went to the inner bathroom, Arthur decided that he would have the bartender guide him there since it was the closer of the two.

It would be suspicious if Arthur wanted to go to the inner bathroom while there was one across the bar near the door. However, if the bartender was the one to take him there because it was closer, it would be fine.

As he passed the doors, Arthur placed his hands on them as he flailed his arms while 'resisting.' What the bartender didn't realize was that at a certain door, a rune glowed briefly before disappearing. It was the room that Si said the meeting would be in. The next few moments were spent imitating vomiting in the bathroom before getting kicked out.

”There should be laws against treating fine men like this,” Arthur grumbled and stole one last glance at the bar. With a humph, he left the scene and found an alley that was veiled by darkness yet still within the rune's range.

”Let's see what you can do,” Arthur shared the connection with the rune as he allowed the voices to enter his mind. Si's ability was truly godlike despite its lack of combat power. He was able to foresee the meeting, its exact location, and the time. However, he said that something was obscuring his vision. That's why Arthur had to get here himself. It was essential to learn about the Enders' goal.

Voices from all over the bar started appearing in his mind as he was wearing invisible earphones. He realized that some of them were the sound of the darts hitting the board, the low music, the bartender grumbling as he flushed Arthur's vomit, and the bar's door opening.

Looking at his watch, it was 5:59 PM. As he watched the clock turn to 6, a bell on the counter rang.

”A room, please. Nice and warm.” The voice was familiar. It was Tyrin's voice, crisp yet distant.

”Enjoy your stay, Sir.” The tone the bartender used was a world different from the one he used with Arthur. It held subtle respect and understanding.

Standing with his back to the wall, slowly being covered by the darkness taking over the world, Arthur realized for the first time how the night arrived earlier than in Kera. Did it have to do with Yalen being to the east of Kera? He wondered.

Clank.

”Ugh,” Arthur was startled by the loud sound of the door closing. He forgot that the rune was engraved on the door itself. His mind was still a bit dizzy but everything came back to normal.

”It's 6 already, where is she?” He heard Tyrin talking to himself, or maybe someone else?

”She's late!” He was impatient. Arthur looked at his watch and found that it was 6:01 PM. Was Tyrin scared of something?