A couple of hours passed. The team spent some time getting their belongings situated after which they gathered in the lobby to discuss their future plans.

“I didn’t want to say it in front of Fox,” Elaine smiled. “Congratulations on manifesting your soul!” she exclaimed in an excited tone.

“Thanks, but I’m pretty certain he already knows.” Ulmak murmured.

“What makes you say that?” She wondered.

“He hinted at it while we were waiting or you guys,” Ulmak sighed. “He said that he would love to tell me more, but I am still far too inexperienced to see the bigger picture,” he said, crossing his arms.

“He has been helping us along the way, so I don’t think It’s a bad thing,” Zeke shook his head.

“Is he even allowed to do that?” Elaine wondered.

“I don’t think so,” Ulmak stated.

“Who’s to say that he is? Who’s to say that he isn’t? Whatever it may be, for some reason he’s going out of his way to help us,” Zeke remarked with a thoughtful expression.

“I wonder what that reason is,” Ulmak pondered.

“Anyway.” Elaine stood up, “this conversation is getting nowhere. I’m gonna head to bed,” she said while heading to her room.

“Good night, don’t let the bedbugs bite. Tell us if you need anything.” Ulmak waved.

“I’d do anything for a glass of wine,” she muttered with a slight blush and a wink aimed towards Zeke.

“You wish,” Ulmak laughed.

The three went to bed soon after. Zeke lied in a single bed with Ulmak, patiently waiting for him to fall asleep. He tracked Ulmak’s breathing, waiting carefully until it started to slow down.

“I’ll wait another five minutes just to be sure.” Zeke thought upon hearing Ulmak snooze off.

He sneakily made his way out of their room, getting dressed and taking the key card out of Ulmak’s bag.

“Alright, now where do I get myself a bottle of wine?” he quietly pondered.

He checked the fridge, but only soda was available, labeled and tagged with scanners tracking everything taken out.

“The restaurant is bound to have a bottle,” Zeke thought before sneaking out of their room and hurriedly charging towards the elevator.

As the doors of the elevator opened, a familiar face smiled proudly standing inside.

“Isn’t it a little late to go out exploring?” Nolan asked with a slight smirk.

“Not when one’s looking for something,” Zeke replied, stepping into the elevator.

“Where to?” Nolan asked.

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“The restaurant, or maybe a bar,” Zeke stated in doubt.

“What do you need?” Nolan asked with a slight sigh, visibly frustrated with the boy’s inability to decide.

“It’s a secret,” Zeke replied.

“And do you have any money to buy this secret?” Nolan inquired.

Zeke turned quiet.

“I guess not. So how did you expect to get something in the restaurant? Did you plan on stealing it?” Nolan asked with an angry expression.

“No, I was going to put it on Fox’s tab,” Zeke stated.

Nolan laughed, “That wouldn’t have worked,” he shook his head with a smile. “Listen, tell me what you need, and I’ll see how I can get it for you.” Nolan briefly closed his eyes.

“F-f-fine,” Zeke stuttered. “I need a bottle of wine,” he explained.

“OH! What’s the occasion?” Nolan giggled, covering his mouth with the palm of his hand in a mocking feminine manner that contrasted with his gargantuan masculine stature.

“I can’t tell you that!” Zeke shouted.

“So, it’s for a girl. Alright, come to my office, I’ll give you a bottle of good wine,” Nolan said before putting his keycard to the elevator control, forcing it into an overdrive mode.

Soon, the two arrived. Zeke was welcomed to an office filled with ancient sculptures and paintings, various objects and artifacts from before the cataclysm.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Nolan smirked.

Zeke sat down on the couch. It was by far the most comfortable couch he had ever had ever experienced. Classical music started playing from the speakers mounted in the ceiling.

“Have you ever smoked a cigar before?” Nolan asked.

“No,” Zeke replied with a shaking tone.

“Well, you’re going to,” he said before dropping something metallic loudly on to the ground, “come with me to the balcony, I have a few things I want to say to you,” he said, giving Zeke a shot-glass with a brown, murky liquid.

“I can’t drink this,” Zeke replied.

“Relax, it’s just coke, and not the fun kind either,” Nolan smirked, walking towards the balcony.

Zeke followed him, and soon, another panoramic view of the city opened before the two.

“What do you think?” Nolan wondered.

“I’ve seen this view since I left the caves. I’m afraid I’ve grown quite accustomed to it,” Zeke explained.

Nolan lit his cigar, carefully rotating it along the flame of his lighter, distributing the heat evenly along its tip.

“I’m the same way, really. But the customers they just love this view. They love the luxury suites. Even though they can see pretty much the same thing if they climb just a few bridges up.” Nolan blew out a puff of smoke. “That’s just the nature of man.” He paused.

“You know I’ve entered the competition before, won it too. That was years ago now. This place is cruel. It is where legends are made, so it has to be. They will make you kill everyone until you are the last ones standing. And then they will tell you that only one of you can be the winner and they will make you kill each other.” Nolan sipped his glass of whiskey.

“Did you kill the members of your team?” Zeke asked with a shaking voice.

“No, I killed the examiner.” Nolan replied. “Fredric was a teammate of mine. A kid from outside the city. He might look young, but he stopped aging a long time ago. I’m guessing he’s as old as the calamity itself, if not older,” he explained.

“So, we should be fine, right? We can win this, right?” Zeke asked.

“I don’t know. There are usually some pretty bonkers people competing. If you meet them, you’re fucked. I can’t say if you’ll be okay or not. I can tell that you’re a bright kid, so your chances are higher than zero.” Mr. Nolan blew another puff. “Oh, and one last thing. Stop calling Fredric by that silly nickname. Call him by his name. He deserves at least that much, right?” Nolan laughed.

“Okay, I’ll do that,” Zeke laughed back.

“Sure, kid. You can go. Take the wine from the table on the left. I’ll finish this thing on my own,” Nolan pointed to his cigar.

Zeke stepped through the doors of the balcony before turning back around.

“One last thing,” Zeke swallowed, “What was that thing you needed Fredric’s help with?” Zeke wondered.

“Oh, That… My daughter is getting married, and I don’t know what to do. What presents to give her and all that. Fredrics’ good at those sorts of things, so I asked him to help me out,” Nolan explained.

Zeke went back down to his lobby, bringing the bottle with him.

He knocked on Elaine’s door.

“What took you so long?” she asked with an angry expression.

“This,” Zeke gave her the bottle, “Now, if I’m not mistaken, you will do anything my heart desires?”

image [https://i.postimg.cc/VvZ4Wm3V/Name-Alias-X-Species-Demon-Age-80-Height-182cm-Affiliation-Knights-Rank-Special-grade-investigator.png]