"Marcus. This is Mau. I suggested that she could use your help. I will translate for you."
Marcus looked at the barista, his expression one of bewilderment. However, he quickly composed himself. His eyes sparkled. Wasn't this the perfect chance? The boss was acknowledging his talent. He could forge a closer connection.
"At your service, barista!"
Olivier nodded lightly and turned towards Mau, introducing Marcus. The two customers looked at each other. Mau didn't know if this human could help her, but she was ready to give it a try. After all, there was no harm in getting some advice. She didn't need to act on it.
Thus, Mau spoke to Olivier, explaining her situation in a few sentences. For her this was already a lengthy explanation, but the barista kept asking questions. Mau answered patiently. After a while Olivier felt that he had some understanding and re-laid everything to Marcus. The latter contemplated carefully before giving his answer.
A back and forth ensued with Olivier in the middle. The trio talked almost an entire hour. Olivier found it quite interesting, getting some distraction from his usual boredom. Marcus was amazed learning that there were other worlds out there.
Only Mau didn't feel much. She thought the advice Marcus gave wasn't quite suitable for her. Perhaps Marcus didn't quite understand the rules of Rey's home world. Connections and such were nearly useless. Only strength mattered.
Thus, as Mau sat back down on her table, she appeared contemplative but didn't make any moves. She left a few hours later, but only because she had to show herself occasionally to prevent various individuals from harbouring even more suspicions.
Olivier felt it was a pity. However, serving as translator for his guests gave him a novel experience. It was a different way to learn something about the world out there. Quite intriguing.
However, after that it was back to boredom. Time ticked by and before he knew it a new day had already arrived. Benjamin showed up early in the morning to fetch his red beans. Ten packs, Olivier couldn't even imagine what he planned to do with them. The businessman was lively and radiant, giving Olivier an uncanny sensation. The barista didn't feel like talking to the man. After downing three cups of coffee Benjamin soon left.
This day was destined to offer much excitement. A while later Rey appeared clad in black garbs, her expression stern.
"What's this… ghost?! A witch?!"
Marcus's surprised voice echoed through the café as he stared at the door. There, an alien looking exactly like Mau appeared with a strange, indistinct shadow floating behind her. The shadow seemed to notice something, turning towards Marcus. It bead-like red eyes flashed with violence. He didn't understand what Marcus was saying but from the tone it seemed like this strange person insulted his queen?! Unforgivable!
The ghost general moved in a flash, its claw raised ferociously. It was ready to tear this man apart.
Olivier raised his brow. In his eyes the ghost moved in slow motion. There was no need to overthink it. This was the effect of the café granting Olivier inhuman strength and abilities within its vicinity. He raised his foot, just about to go over there and teach that ghost a lesson for attacking his customers. But someone else was even faster.
"Mau~"
The black cat had raised her head at some point. In her eyes there was an indescribable emotion staring at the ghost. Like a queen disgusted by a misbehaving subject in her presence. A simple cry from her was enough.
Suddenly the ghost general felt as if something pricked his very being. His shadowy body turned chaotic. It started to distort. The general felt pain he never thought possible as a ghost. This punishment was worse than everything he ever experienced. It only lasted for seconds but to the general it felt like years.
At that moment, under everyone's surprised eyes the ghost general was abruptly compressed, turning into a small, black sphere. The sphere shot towards Rey's shoulder and transformed into a tattoo on her skin. Rey instantly felt the general's presence. It was sealed and would only reawaken a hundred years later. Of course, Rey could pay the equivalent price, but it was hardly worth it.
Rey, a queen by heart, was momentarily furious but she quickly controlled her emotions. She had known about the black cat. Such a terrifying being, she couldn't anger her. It was already fortunate that the black cat only punished the ghost general and not Rey as well.
Having just arrived Rey remained at the door, her lips slightly parted. At first, she tried to warn the ghost general. Then she was about to complain to the black cat. But everything happened too fast. Now she didn't dare to say anything. She chose a table, coincidentally the same one Mau had chosen, sat down, and remained unmoving like a statue.
Olivier let out a light sigh. Was this how one should treat their customers? What if Rey didn't dare to come again now? Well, looking at Marcus's frozen expression that ghost indeed had it coming.
Observing Marucs, a thought suddenly came to Olivier's mind. This was a ghost, right? He had just seen a ghost. Why was he not surprised? Afraid? Anything? It just felt like a matter of fact. Like, why wouldn't there be ghosts in the world? Olivier was somewhat amused by how quickly he had adjusted to these kinds of occurrences since coming to the café. It seemed like nothing could surprise him anymore.
Quiet returned to the café. Only the lonely gramophone played its atmospheric music. The customers listened with half-closed eyes, the melody evoking various memories.
A few hours later Mau also entered the café. She was surprised to see Rey already waiting. What happened? Did the mission get cancelled? Just as Mau worried, both women put on their rings, exchanging their thoughts.
Mau couldn't help but take a sharp breath. A new force emerged from the rift? Subduing Fog Demon Ridge? It seemed the Boneplains had again become more dangerous…
The two women communicated for a while. But eventually they had to return to their own worlds. Mau and Rey were familiar with the café's rules. Since their contract lasted for at least one year, there was no need to return the rings yet. They only had to approach the door and stimulate their will strongly and they would be sent back to their own worlds. The café was quite accommodating.
Olivier actually didn't know this as he watched the two women leave. He couldn't tell where they went. He didn't even think about it as his boring life continued. The book about Kerv had already been read so many times. Olivier almost knew it by heart. He couldn't bring himself to read it again.
"If only I had a new book…"
As Olivier let out a sigh, and intense sensation engulfed him. It was like a call for help from a faraway place. Could there be such a coincident?
Suddenly Olivier's tranquil mind was disturbed. He thought he had already prepared himself for this day to come, but when it really arrived, he was still nervous. He glanced at the black cat and noticed that she had already stood up, looking back with a peculiar gaze. There was a challenge, a provocation in her indifference.
Olivier took a deep breath. He left and went up the stairs, entering the first room to the left. There, on the old, wooden table an extremely thick book laid wide open. A dry smell wafted towards Olivier. He took his eyes away and glanced towards the bookshelves, where a second book had appeared next to the one titled 'Kerv'.
"Did the time come? Do I need to stop a killer again?"
Olivier could barely supress his trembling hands. He hurried towards the desk, staring at the book's open page. However, what he saw was not someone in immediate danger.
There was a women wearing an orange jumpsuit. She sat in what appeared to be quite a secure, large room. Behind her were uniformed men and women with stern expressions. The woman sat behind a wall, half of it made from glass, using a phone to talk with a man in a suit on the other side of the wall.
Although Olivier could tell that the woman's situation didn't seem to be great, her life didn't appear to be threatened. So what was going on?
Olivier was confused. However, it was great that he didn't need to save the woman from immediate danger. It allowed him to learn more about the woman's world.
First, Olivier carefully read the woman's information revealed on the second page of the thick book.
Christine Heller. Human. Lifespan of 86 years. Currently 35 years old. Has a husband and two young children. Growing up and currently living in the city of Tessas. Currently distresses, nervous, afraid. Seemed like a completely ordinary person.
Yet she was targeted by a hunter? Or why would the book react to her? Was there some secret to it? Olivier still couldn't quite comprehend what these hunters were after. Why would they try to kill people, even travelling to different worlds to do so? First it was Sam and now Christine. What was so special about them?