亚洲综合中美

“Call it selfishness,” he smiled, “-I revived you to fulfill my purpose. You must have made peace of death, saving the boy and getting shot. Quite the heroic way to die if I say so myself.”

“Actually,” she laid on her back, “-I had a lot of regrets. I wanted to make my killers pay,” her head locked onto his face, “-I’m sorry, I don’t know who attacked me, even now. They just wore black suits and followed.”

“Why were you in Melmark anyway?”

“A call,” she said, “-a call, I was asked to head to the capital and wait at the hotel. A representative of the five conglomerates wanted to talk, and if they already knew I was alive, why hide the fact.”

“What about the film crew?” asked Igna, “-any idea where they are or what they’re doing?”

“I sadly know,” her face sulked, the voice deepened in woe, “-when I reached Melmark, I received a damning message. Read something along the lines of, ‘-don’t come back, we’re under attack’ then silence, the people have died, what can I say more.”

.....

“Hard to track them,” he complained, “-I’ve searched countless newspapers and reports to no avail. Law enforcement has nothing to do with the incident. It as if they were erased from history.”

“Erased from history,” she gulped, “-now, that’s a bad way to die.”

“No matter,” strong on his feet, “-let’s get you a warm and satisfying meal. I have more to say, involvement in the underworld, etc.”

The revival wasn’t much a secret as it was a matter of time. Aceline had always played a crucial part in Staxius’s past life. Knowingly or not, her actions served to reshape the way people thought. The concert in Iqeavea is a prime example, ever since then, no star was has performed on said stage, no foreign stars anyway.

The duo of a prince of lust and a hotheaded demoness arrived at the park in Fulha’s district. Once at the bottom of town, they turned to the left following the road leaving for the airport. Carter lake stood at a two-hour drive from where they waited.

“We’re here,” gawked Asmodeus, “-look at them,” they pulled to an underground parking lot. Once up the sloped entrance, without helmets and items to restrain their movements, a big inhale sufficed to take the atmosphere in. Time showed late afternoon at a not so very active time of day. Not active for the gambling houses, the streets were occupied enough to be dubbed, ‘-popular.’

“Where’s the red-light district?” inquired Kul, her menacing eyes scanned past many o’ buildings and people, they of which returned a suffocated gulp.

“Why?” inquired Asmodeus leaning over her shoulder, “-are you that excited to witness the bonds of flesh?”

“Shut it,” her fist stopped shy of his nose, “-don’t talk nonsense, I won’t take it lightly, understand, prince of lust.”

“Fine, who went and crawled up your arse,” he spun and took to the higher streets. The Park, host of the skirmish between Codd and the gang cupped itself between enormous buildings. The journey through town continued, drunkard young adults were a common sight. ‘-A tour around a zoo,’ figured Kul nonchalantly, ‘-this is boring.’

“Stop being a dead weight,” pleaded Asmodeus, “-your crappy vibe is going to ruin my luck,” the scenery swapped for the entrance of a curved hunk of engineering. Cleaned stairs climbed onto a revolving door. Guards presided over each side. Despite their pitch-black glasses, the intent was clear, one could imagine them giving a once over followed by a snarl. The dress code read formal. As it so happened, they wore formal attire. Kul saw the unfolding scene and sneakily tiptoed backed towards the street.

“NO,” glanced Asmodeus, “-be my muse for tonight,” he grasped her arms, “-we’re here to scout the enemy,” he dragged her up the stairs. A rush of slot machines and empty tables raged onto their stead. He conveniently ambled over and took 10,000 Exa worth of chips.

“I’ll be at the bar,” facepalmed Kul, ‘-his drooling, what an idiot.’ A lovely bar maiden waited in a skimpy bunny outfit. She straddled the stool and asked for a drink. “-My lady, is the bunny suit necessary?” she wondered.

“Not a suit,” replied the maiden, “-they’re my real ears and tail,” she struck a cutesy pose, “-are you not familiar with demi-humans?”

“I am plenty,” she downed the drink, “-never expected them in Alphia.”

“Well, not many of us can afford a ticket here,” she chuckled and poured another, “-I come from a trader’s background.”

“Why are you working here then?”

“To pass time,” said she continually cleaning glasses or wiping the counter, “-Odgawoan’s quite the amusing place.”

“So, you say,” narrowed Kul, “-tis a pleasure to meet another fellow compatriot.”

“Likewise, miss?”

“Kull, call me Kull.”

“My name’s Ena Londaen from the Londaen Family of commerce. We’re part of lady Haru’s trading empire.”

“Oh, you must be familiar with her, yes?”

“No, actually, I’ve never met her. Only father is allowed to speak. The whole war in Arda caused plenty of worry for us traders, it’s a hard life.”

“Must be,” she downed yet another drink, “-I do hope I’m not intruding on your work.”

“No,” she left a kind grin, “-speaking to guests is why I love the job.”

“Cool with me.” Concurrently in the next room, the slot machines rang, the dribble of chips had the few visitors curiously follow the sound of money.

“Damn dude,” explained a stranger accent, “-you won the jackpot,” he laughed.

“Beginner’s luck,” he exclaimed, “-doing slots all day is boring. Ain’t there a poker table, blackjack, or anything up for games?”

“Don’t worry,” added another, “-our boss is coming to play poker soon, a table will open up, don’t worry.” They slyly rubbed their hands, he sensed trouble, more importantly, money, the arousal of the gambling addiction visibly altered the eye color. The visage dropped into an emotionless state, the ever-sinking abyssal glare had the entourage forcefully cough. “Did I scare you?”

“Ah man, what the hell,” they chuckled.

From the bar, between the sip of whiskey, a group of lavishly dressed prominent figures ambled to a vacant poker table. “Look at them,” she lit a cigar, “-hotshots?”

“Yes,” whispered Ena, “-they’re members of the underworld here. They use nicknames; so, I can’t tell you who they are. One thing for sure, they’re sore losers and prey on heavily stacked players.”

“Is that right,” she asked for a pint, “-I’ll take this to my friend. Prepare me the best drink you have; I want to see the match unfold.”

The curious bunch led Asmodeus to a poker table. Buy at price said of 250,000 Exa, the exact amount won at the slot machine. A heavily dressed man sat and leered at the others. The entourage split to whisper, “-I see,” he nodded, “-have a seat, newcomer.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” he took the one opposite ‘boss’. Adjacent chairs were soon occupied by ladies and men. The friendly stares spoke of their acquaintanceship.

“Here,” a cold glass pressed against Asmodeus’s cheek.

“-what,” he yelped, “-oh, it’s just you,” he accepted the drink, “-what happened to the drinking contest?”

“She’ll bring us drinks, don’t worry about it,” the table was very much annoyed by her sudden appearance, “-beat them to a pulp, they’re going to cheat, show them what the prince of gambling can do,” whispered Kul.

“This is perfect,” the face sunk into borderline murderous intent, “-I’ll show them.”

Thus, drinks were brought by waiters. Kul took a seat and waited. The first few hands were lost, they bullied the newcomer. The ladies began to tease and question his intellect. Not once did the mind falter. The dealer’s cardistry bewildered the coming audience. The exchanges between him and the ‘boss’ were very suspicious. Then, on the fifth hand, where three players backed out, a duel to a 100,000 sized pot laid in wait, the river came down and won the game. He flipped his card and threw it at the center.

“Good bluff,” winked he at the ‘boss’, “-I like the dealer, his good, the card handling is top-notch, a bit too good I fear.” An assistant way into the shadows signaled to stop the sleight of hands. Menacing puffs covered the table. What followed was a carnage, Asmodeus won hand after hand, bullying the others when he called. The winning went from 250,000 to 1,000,000 in the last hour. One against one, the presumptuous personage went all in. Never during the game did he speak, the earlier round confidence flushed down the drain. The river card flipped and he won.

“Good game,” he said, the match ended. A tip of 2,000 flung towards the dealer. Murderous intent bubbled, ‘-that’s my queue,’ figured Kul. The money transferred to the bank account, “-good profit,” said he cheerfully sliding down the handrail out the casino.

“Yeah, sure,” she followed, “-what about your fans, should we do something about them?” figures followed their steps.

“Let’s,” they jumped into a dark alley.

“You’re good,” said the boss of before, “-what’s your name, buddy?”

“Asmo,” said he, “-what about you, old man?” gang members guarded the alley from both side.

“It’s Esvalo, I’m the right-hand man of a gang,” he approached with hands in pocket, “-now, I want to make an offer.”

“What offer?”

“Join my gang,” said he, “-keep the money and join us. Talented poker players are what we need.”

“Sorry Esvalo,” he smirked, “-I’ve sworn allegiance to another man. I heard you were sore losers,” he glanced at the back, “-I see the slimy tongues are there too,” he narrowed to the ladies.

“Leave them out of this,” said the man, “-I’m not a sore loser,” he gestured, “-just someone who hates to lose money.”

“Same difference!” cried Asmodeus, they pulled handguns and aimed, “-do something.”

*Clap,* countless tiny specks fluttered into the alley, “-old man,” she fired, “-guns don’t work on us,” *Snap,* the pistols disassembled, “-I can easily wipe out this whole district if I wish it,” the ground trembled before her aura, a dark orb summoned, “-remember our names, we’ll be back soon. Keep the fight for another time,” it flung to a lonesome gunman and cleanly carved through his chest. A swipe materialized countless of the same orb, “-what say you, mister, take the loss like a man or be slaughtered like a dog.”

“Survival of the fittest,” he laughed, “-good, good,” he nonchalantly turned, “-keep the money and welcome to Odgawoan, Asmo. We’ll meet again.”

The alley cleared, “-why use such a dangerous spell...”

“Actually, it was the weakest I have,” her expression didn’t falter once, “-why didn’t you fight, isn’t the prince greater than a high-tier demoness?”

“I’d rather not sully my hands,” he yawned, “-come on, we’ve made 1.2 million tonight, cheer up a little.”

“Oh please,” they ambled into the freshly bustling street, “-we need to scout for a location.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he walked carefreely, “-the red-light district is north of here. I did my research.”

“So you knew?” her eyes narrowed.

“Obviously.”

The amiable scuffle was watched by a certain shadow, the light of the street reflected against the binoculars, “-they’ve left and defeated Esvalo. I don’t sense malice.”

“Fair enough, return to the hideout, I have another matter you need to attend to,” the presence vanished.

“Did you sense it?” side-glanced Kul.

“I did,” he puffed, “-who cares, we’re strong.”