Xiao Ping and James stood at the university entrance, about to leave, when they heard a voice from behind them. "Brother James! Wait!" said Catherine as she ran up and stopped in front of them.
She looked at Xiao Ping with a mocking gaze, but when James looked at her, she quickly smiled at Xiao Ping.
Xiao Ping said nothing, only looked at her with cold eyes as he stood aside... with his umbrella. He wanted to leave the campus and head to the nearest place that sold holsters. He felt uncomfortable having to slip his hand between his underwear and trousers to adjust the pistol and prevent it from falling from that sensitive area.
Furthermore, he wanted to buy some miscellaneous items.
"What is it, Catherine?" James asked, then added: "Don't you have exams next week or something? You should use your time better instead of running around!"
"Don't say that, Brother James! I study day and night. I only took a break today to get some fresh air, that's all!" said Catherine.
"Why didn't you visit your father? He seemed very worried when I met him yesterday!" said James while... remembering the situation that made him feel pity for Herbert's daughter, who was slowly dying without her daughter knowing. And James wouldn't have known if not for Xiao Ping's ability to see connections as well... Old Man Herbert had shown him the effects of that disease on his body.
"You visited my father yesterday?" asked Catherine.
"Yes, it was a wonderful visit!" James replied quickly with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked suspiciously.
"I just visited him because I lost my glasses... or rather, my entire pair... so I bought new ones from him!" James replied, then added: "And now, what do you want?!"
"I don't want anything from you! But please deliver this to Madeline!" Catherine took an envelope from her bag.
"What's inside this envelope?" said James.
"That's none of your business! Just deliver it to my big sister!" Catherine said sharply.
"Yes... yes, I understand!" said James as he put the envelope in his coat pocket and turned to leave with Xiao Ping. He waved to her over his shoulder with his hand.
As they left the campus, James turned to Xiao Ping and said: "Ping! Why were you so insistent on taking that job? Was it for the money? Even though you told Madam Eleanor no, but..."
"But... what?" said Xiao Ping.
"But... I think you were concerned about the money inside! But that's not logical. Is it because you're short on money? I remember you received five gold coins from Old Man Herbert yesterday! In exchange for buying that vial from you that Paisco gave you!" said James.
Look who's talking! He's the one who made me bear all the carriage fare! Xiao Ping thought to himself before saying: "And why do you think that's not logical?"
"Because you're my partner, and that will bring you a lot of money in the future! If the partnership is successful, you know! And also, I think you're our personal chef!" replied James.
"..."
Xiao Ping said nothing and just kept walking until James pointed to one of the carriages parked on the side of the curb.
"I'll pay," he said as he gestured for Xiao Ping to get in... and indeed, Xiao Ping closed his black umbrella and then got in.
"Where would you like to have dinner?!" said James.
"There's something I want to buy first!" replied Xiao Ping, tilting his head to the side.
"And what is it?" asked James.
.....
A few minutes later.
On Dark Lantern Street, among the ancient buildings, two people stood on the sidewalk. One was holding an umbrella, waiting for his friend who was settling the fare with the carriage driver before leaving them alone.
These two people were none other than Xiao Ping and James.
"Dark Lantern Street again?" asked Xiao Ping as he opened his umbrella under the light of the lanterns and the fog that had begun to gather in the street, blocking the crimson moonlight in the sky.
"Yes!" replied James.
"But you said you knew a place with a shooting range?" said Xiao Ping nervously.
"I know I said that! That's why we're here!" replied James as he suddenly walked to one of the small houses on the street and knocked on the door: one strong knock, one low knock, and one medium knock—three knocks in total.
Xiao Ping followed and stopped right behind him, looking at the door and expecting that those knocks were a coded language, not ordinary knocking.
Xiao Ping expected someone to appear behind the door and ask them some questions to let them in, as he had read in other novels, but he was surprised when he heard a strange voice say: "The weather is lovely for going out with the family, isn't it?"
Xiao Ping stepped back a bit, preparing to take out his Abyss Pistol to examine his surroundings, but James extended his hand in front of him and said: "It would be lovely if I had a family, but unfortunately, I lost them!"
"This isn't the time to remember the pa—" Xiao Ping was about to finish his words, but the voice interrupted and said: "Correct answer! You may enter!"
"Huh!" Xiao Ping was internally surprised and involuntarily looked down, seeing a face beneath him, about the size of the gardener's hut.
"Don't worry, it's just a second-level artifact! It's only here to guard the place from intruders, nothing more!" said James, trying to reassure Xiao Ping... when a transparent aura enveloped them and their vision disappeared for a moment until strange lights suddenly flashed before their eyes.
Xiao Ping covered his eyes with his free hand, avoiding the light, but his eyes soon adjusted to those lights and everything returned to normal.
An artifact! Protection from intruders? he thought to himself as he looked at the place they had arrived at.
"Where are we!?" asked Xiao Ping. What he saw after regaining his vision was a long, lantern-lit tunnel, with a waiter with long gray hair approaching them, each step echoing in the corridor.
"In the place I told you about earlier!" replied James. At that moment, the waiter approached.
"Good evening, sirs! How may I assist you?" the waiter asked after bowing to them.
"Is there a big auction tonight?" James asked the waiter, and it seemed he knew him well.
"Yes, there is, sir. But at nine o'clock!" said the waiter, then looked at Xiao Ping and said: "Sir! I can take your umbrella so it won't be a nuisance if you wish!"
"Hmm... then take it!" said Xiao Ping as he handed him his black umbrella.
"At nine? I thought there was an auction at seven today?" said James.
"Forgive me, sir, but I am of low status, so I don't know the details!" replied the waiter, then said: "Is there anything else you gentlemen desire other than sensitive information?"
Sensitive information? James only asked him about a change in the auction time. Why all this seriousness! Don't tell me... this is really interesting. I must reserve a spot in that auction, Xiao Ping thought to himself and said: "So, are there any conditions for participating in that auction?"
What? Does Ping want to participate? What is his devilish mind thinking? James thought to himself.
"No... sir!" replied the waiter. He continued: "However, there is protection for the participants' privacy, and also a commitment not to leak any information about this place!"
Privacy protection? Xiao Ping thought to himself and said: "Even so, I don't trust it! So, aren't there any masks you provide for people to hide their identities?"
"Undoubtedly... there are, sir!" said the waiter as he took out a large tree branch in his hand, from nowhere, and quickly and skillfully crafted two perfectly made wooden masks in an instant.
So fast, he made about ten thousand cuts in a second! Is he from the Path of the Recluse? James marveled to himself as he looked at the waiter.
Hahaha, what incredible skill in using energy! This is amazing! Xiao Ping marveled to himself as he used his ability to watch the scene that unfolded before him.
"Please, esteemed sirs... consider it a token of trust!" said the waiter as he extended his hands with the masks to both James and Xiao Ping.
A token of trust? Or are you threatening me with veiled words! You exaggerated your use of ability in front of us just to say that this is the fate of anyone who reveals the location of this place? What an amazing thing to find two people who tell you ordinary words that carry poison inside! Xiao Ping thought as he and James put on the wooden masks.
"And now, please lead us to the shooting range! After that, we'll head to the cafeteria for dinner!" James said to the waiter.
"At your command!" The waiter moved ahead of them with elegance... while explaining precisely which room they passed by.
So this is really the perfect place. It has everything someone like me might need. This place represents the paradise for unofficial power holders on earth! I hope I can find some bullets similar to those of the fugitive's pistol! Xiao Ping thought, and some hope for something in this world finally rose within him.
After a few minutes of walking, the waiter turned to them and said: "Esteemed sirs, these are the shooting ranges you desire... The entry fees are:
250 Bronze Liras for a weekly subscription.
1 Silver Lira for a monthly subscription.
10 Gold Liras for an annual subscription!"
That's expensive! Why are the prices here so high? Xiao Ping grumbled inwardly as he looked at James, who tilted his head as if to say he didn't know, as if reading his thoughts.
"Sir... I know what you're thinking, but... despite this price, we provide services such as ammunition supply, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a bedroom... and all means of comfort until the subscription ends!"
"If that's the case, then," said Xiao Ping. He took out 250 paper bronze liras and handed them to the waiter. He didn't want to waste money like this, but the circumstances he lived in forced him to do so... He wouldn't have paid 250 paper bronze liras for a monthly subscription... if the additional services hadn't been provided.
...
End of Chapter ~ To be continued