Eventually, the group reached the lowest part of the city. An area filled with enormous crowds. The streets were relatively well lit by strips of LED lights placed on every corner of every building. They walked along the main street, carefully following Fox, careful to not get lost.

Being native to the city of Lower Babel, Ulmak, Elaine and Zeke, were used to seeing large crowds trafficking through busy streets. However, the fact that both Elaine and Zeke had never been outside their home city made them feel a certain sense of unease. Something about their surroundings feeling both foreign and familiar put them on edge. Almost like the crowds, walkways, buildings and streets were about to lead to an alley, a park or a vista they’ve seen before.

As Elaine looked up, she saw the massive buildings disappearing into the darkness above them, fading into a strange, obscure fog, just before her gaze could reach their tops. A deep sense of dread filled her heart. “I have no clue how anyone could call this place home,” she thought to herself.

After walking for about 30 minutes, the group reached a clearing with an opening. It was a hexagonal square paved in solid gold. Four immaculate fountains were shooting streams of water around the perimeter. And in the center, there stood a tall glass building, its upper part disappearing, molding into the ceiling of the cave, where countless windows could be seen peering down onto the city below. On the front of the building, the words “Legend hotel” were engraved in golden letters outlined by neon lights with constantly changing hues.

The group marched forward through the golden square. Their dirty boots leaving footprints on the ground set off a chain of circular golden robots who followed in their wake, cleaning up after them.

Zeke looked on amazed, as he had never seen anything like this before. This place was everything he imagined the safe zone of Lower Babel to be. Because he was poor, he could never see it for himself. But here he was. This was almost like a dream come true.

“We’re here,” Fox said after reaching the front door of the establishment and taking a step towards the square.

“Where?” Elaine asked. “Where are we exactly?”

“You’ll find out shortly,” Fox stated as he started to approach the reception desk.

The inside of the hotel appeared Grecko-Roman inspired, with large marble statues placed all around the interiors, and decorative marble columns supporting the first floor. Vines were hanging from the columns connecting them, splitting the first floor up into a reception-waiting room area and a restaurant area.

An Asian female wearing a tidy golden uniform was standing behind the reception desk.

“Welcome to Legend hotel,” she said, while making a slight bow.

“Hello,” Fox waved to the woman, “I have an arrangement with Winston.”

“I’m sorry sir, I’m afraid mister Nolan is out of the office, and it is uncertain when he will be back,” The woman bowed again.

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Fox briefly looked towards Zeke before smirking and resting his arms on the reception desk.

“Tell Winston that Fredric Lacro has come to see him,” Fox whispered to the receptionist, leaning over towards her right shoulder.

“I’m sorry…” she said before being interrupted.

“I am Fredric Lacro,” Fox said, visibly angered, “Do not make me wait.”

The eyes of the woman lit up in a blue hue.

Fox looked over at Elaine.

“She’s making a call.” He stated, pointing his finger at the woman, “Don’t worry, we’ll get you guys well rested soon,” he said with a warm smile.

“Sir! mister Nolan is asking you to wait, is that an option?” the woman asked, her eyes still lit up by the same blue hue.

“No,” Fox replied with a serious expression.

The receptionist sighed.

“I understand. He will be here shortly,” she said as her eyes returned her back to normal.

Suddenly, an elevator on the right side of the building beeped, signaling that someone had come down.

“That was fast,” Fox laughed.

A tall, muscular man in a striped suit came storming out of the elevator. He appeared to be in his mid-fifties with gray slicked back hair, a pair of round shades with golden rims and golden teeth that became exposed because of his anger.

“Fredric,” he growled.

“Winston,” Fox smiled, “I thought you weren’t home.”

“I wasn’t, for anyone else,” Winston stated, while scratching his head with his eyes closed. “I couldn’t have you tearing the place up again,” He sighed. “What do you want?”

“Meet the members of my team,” Fox said while directing his hand towards the three. “This is Zeke, Ulmak and Elaine.” Fox briefly turned his head towards them. “Winston is the owner of this hotel.”

“Shit, you want them to stay here, don’t you?” Winston asked, shaking his head.

“Yeah, luxury lobby, three rooms… no… make that two rooms,” Fox stumbled.

“Fine,” Winston said approaching the receptionist and whispering something into her ear.

“Here,” Winston tossed Fox a keycard, “Top floor, Lobby 508”

“Thanks boss!” Fox smiled.

“Come back after you show them their rooms, something came up and I might need your help,” Winston scratched his head while looking down at the floor.

“Okie dokie,” Fox started walking towards the elevator, “let’s go gang!” he waved with his hand.

The group followed suit.

“By the way,” Winston wondered, “Which one’s the leader?”

“Zeke,” Fox replied with a slight smirk.

“He’s a clever kid, huh?” Winston smiled back ever so slightly.

“Yeah, real clever,” Fox stated as the doors of the elevator closed.

The group rode the elevator upstairs to the highest floor. Once the doors of the elevators opened, they were exposed to a blue gilded corridor with dim lights.

“One singular lady and gentlemen, welcome to the luxury suites,” Fox said as he walked out of the elevator.

He took them to a door with the number 508; he opened using the keycard before handing it to Zeke. Inside, there was a large, luxurious living room area with a kitchen, and a flat screen tv.

“You think it’s cool now? Take a look at this,” Fox said and flicked the switch on a wall, transforming the floor into a see-through surface, opening a beautiful vista of the Undercity.

“Alright, two rooms, one on the right, the other on the left,” Fox explained before stepping out.

“But there’s three of us!” Ulmak stopped Fox.

“Those two can share,” Fox remarked, pointing towards Zeke and Elaine, causing Elaine’s face to turn bright red.

Fox walked away, leaving the group to sort things out on their own.

“Don’t worry, Elaine, I’ll share a room with Zeke. You can sleep peacefully on your own,” Ulmak said attempting to soothe her, visibly frustrated himself.

“You don’t have to do that,” Elaine whispered.

“Nonsense! I can’t have a lady sleeping in the same room with a man,” Ulmak replied.

“Fine,” Elaine sighed taking her bag into her room. Zeke looked on quietly from the sideline without muttering a word.

image [https://i.postimg.cc/430LxFYT/Name-Alias-X-Species-Demon-Age-80-Height-182cm-Affiliation-Knights-Rank-Special-grade-investigator.png]