I walk toward the door to go outside Robert's house. "Okay, I am going to look for clues to see where this Hagen fellow is. I recommend you do the same since you are closer with the bandits."
As I walk off toward the main part of Compound City, I stare at how many bandits truly live in this small area. "Better housing probably bought through theft or Hagen playing favorites." I look around for a map or anything to point me in a direction for where I should start my search.
That is when it hit me that I saw neon lights with a giant red arrow pointing to a bar. I really think this might be a trap more than anything, but some answers are better than none. I start walking toward the bar when I swear I saw Erin and Robin walking by. I did not reach out or call them because it is probably better if the bandits or Hagen cannot piece together what is happening.
I kept walking as I appeared in front of a big red door with golden handles. As I pushed open the doors, all I could smell was cigars and many different types of alcohol. I stared as I noticed a seat at the bar was open. I sat down as the bartender swung around to me.
"What can I get you?"
I looked at the selections, which were practically endless, but I made up my mind. "I will take a bourbon."
As I looked around, I leaned forward and covered my mouth in case someone tried to read my lips. "You know anything about Hagen's whereabouts?"
The bartender scratched his chin after he placed my drink in front of me. "Huh, if he is not at home and not at the bar, he might not be in town. But he usually comes here every night."
I took a swig of my shot. "Thank you for that information and the drink." I placed three gold coins on the table in front of me as I walked out.
I decided to go back to Robert's and wait for him to return. Robert was talking with one of the watchtower guards.
"Hagen? Our leader? What do you want him for?"
Robert looked off into the hill where the house lay. "Just wanted to chat."
The bandit laughed. "Look, Robert, if you are not rich or well known, then you are nothing to Hagen. I know you resent him for what he did to you in the past, but you have to learn to let go."
Robert walked up to the guard and shoved him, causing him to trip. "Piss off, Bill. When you watch your wife die or have to raise a kid by yourself in a city that is poorer than dirt, then you can talk to me and raise your hand back to me. But until then, you stay on the floor and take it all in. That is what we are to Hagen."
Bill stared at Robert and said nothing. He stood up and apologized. Robert did not shake his hand back, not because he was mad, but because Bill crossed a line, and even Bill knew that line was crossed and there was nothing in the world that could fix that.
Bill left his post and started walking around until he found himself at a makeshift grave he made inside the city. It was one of the few things Hagen had not destroyed. Maybe he even felt guilt for that day. I doubt it though. He sat down in front of the grave and just stared at the sun, imagining it was him and his wife and his daughter. He stood up again, said a prayer, and walked toward his house.
I happened to be waiting outside. "So did you find anything?" I said as Robert approached.
"Uh, no. I have not found out anything. In fact, what I have found out is that this city sucks and the people living here are shit all around."
I looked around before I answered. "Something happened to you?"
Robert slammed his door open and I followed behind him. "Yes, something happened to me. A good friend of mine said I should just get over the death of my wife."
I sat on the floor staring at Robert. "Honestly, it is not easy to get over. In fact, I do not think you ever can get past the fact that they are gone. I know people have told me to get over it as well, but I just cannot do it. It hurts to try to forget, and I feel like a villain when I do."
Robert nodded in agreement and looked around the room. "So what did you find out then?"
I laughed. "Well, he could be in three places. He could be at his house or the bar in the middle of town, which I went to, and yeah, a lot of options to pick from. And then lastly they say he could be in another town."
Robert paced the room back and forth. "Well, I did not see him at his house on the hill, and I take it you did not see him at the bar or you would have told me by now, so I am really at a loss."
I looked up. "I will say I did see Erin and Robin, but I did not say anything because I do not want to get Erin hurt and I do not want to drag your kid into any more messes."
Robert stopped and sat on the bed. "So what is the plan, Ren?"
I stopped and thought. "Well, I say we should wait until he is at the bar. If we fight him there, we could honestly crown the new leader of the city, and with people seeing his defeat, they would not back him again. I also thought about attacking him at his house, but I do not know. It seems like walking into a trap. I think it is pointless to jump him outside of town. Not only could someone steal credit, but someone else who is allied with him might jump to his aid as well."
Robert nodded. "Take some of these flares." He started digging in a backpack that had seen better days. "When you see Hagen or even hear of his whereabouts, light this and I will come running, or vice versa."
I picked up the flares and put them in my pocket. "I swear I am going to buy a backpack when I get back to my village." Robert laughed at what I said.
"So that is our plan then? Find Hagen and kill him."
I nodded before looking at the window. "Yeah, I think we might have written ourselves a death wish, but hey, you only live once, am I right?" I put my fist into the air and waited for Robert to give me a fist bump. "Let's wait for Hagen to go to the bar and get the jump on him, bring him to hell and back."
Robert fist bumped me back and looked at me. "For a better tomorrow."
I gave a thumbs up as I rested my head against the wall behind me. I ended up drifting off to sleep, but when I awoke, I heard loud thumps passing through. If I had to guess, it was Hagen's back and currently heading to his house. Robert poked his head in.
"Now we wait for the deep nightfall."