The tout's car cruises smoothly down the highway, heading steadily towards the outskirts of Pay 2 Win. By now the tourist crowd had thinned out, with little to impede our journey towards the lair of Padu the Beast. Well, that's maybe a bit too dramatic. But from the scenery whizzing past the car's window, my guess is Padu wouldn't mind getting a bona fide lair of his own. It would beat actually living in this dump.

"Padu's not doing too well, huh?" I comment to the tout, taking in the dying neighborhood around me. There's a large strip mall that's been left abandoned, paint peeling under the sun and with most of the fixtures torn out. The skeletal frames of several office blocks tower over the car, sighing with the wind at their state. A stretch of bungalows were clearly built to be luxurious considering their size and quality red brick, but the gardens are overgrown and marred with patches of untended, yellowing grass.

"Regretting your choice already Adam?" the tout asks as he tosses me one of the pamphlets littering the dashboard's surface, "We can still turn back and visit a real celebrity."

"No, I mean, I still want to visit Padu." I shake my head in denial, "But I remember him being a real big deal. And he's living here of all places?"

"Didn't make enough money in his glory years I suppose." the tout shrugs, "It happens. And this neighborhood is the cheapest place to stay in the whole town."

"That's because nobody stays here." I grimace, peering out of the window, "The whole place has gone to seed. Even my apartment back in Crossroad City is classier than whatever this place has become."

"Some big company bought the entire tract of land and began development." the tout explains, "The project was ditched halfway. What you see is all that's left."

"No fucking way." I breathe, taking in a large sign precariously leaning to the side. Give it a few more months and the whole rotten structure would probably topple over. But my attention is captured by what's written on the creaking slab of wood.

PHOENIX PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

"Guess they have a link to your own bosses?" the tout raises an eyebrow as we drive past the Phoenix Guild's coat of arms painted on the sign, long stained with road dust and most likely bird shit.

"Yeah, I know the guild does property development back in the city," I frown in confusion, "but they've never up and just abandoned work like this. It would be too big a stain on the guild's reputation."

"Learn something new everyday." the tout nods sagaciously to himself, but I can't help but feel something is deeply amiss about the neighborhood. Phoenix Guild might be a business but it is also incredibly influential and well connected. You don't get the privilege of guarding the city's ball and consequently rubbing shoulders with all the big wigs by having a bad reputation.

There's no way Phoenix Guild would have willingly abandoned this project. Something must have happened here that forced their hand.

The tout and I lapse into an amicable silence as the car steadily makes its way toward our destination. I breathe a sigh of relief as we drive past what was probably going to be a recreational park that had regressed into a homeless encampment. I was worried for a moment that Padu had fallen all the way to rock bottom. It would have made for an awkward meeting.

The car finally comes to a stop before a massive iron gate mounted into a solid concrete wall. Both the gate and wall stand tall and proud, completely obscuring whatever is being protected. A black camera mounted on the top of the gate immediately swivels and locks on to the car.

"Well, here we are." the tout says, "Take a good look. Its what you're paying for."

"What am I looking at?" I demand, my mind failing to make sense of the scene in front of me. Other than the TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT painted on the wall, there's nothing to clue me in on what this place is.

"Welcome to Sunshine Orphanage. Last known residence of Padu the Beast." the tout explains, "Does he actually stay here? Fuck if I know, no one has managed to get inside. No one uninvited anyway. But this is the address listed under Padu's name in the town's directory."

"I ... I ... I can't accept this!" I snap in annoyance, "How am I supposed to meet Padu?"

"No idea. Use the intercom? There's one on the gate." the tout looks away guiltily, "I did warn you against coming here though."

"Yeah. Thanks for the help Captain Obvious." I grumble and disembark the car.

"I'll be waiting here." the tout fires back, "Least I can do for you Adam."

I carelessly wave back to the tout and make my way to the iron gate. The black camera keeps tracking me, making an obnoxious grinding noise as it turns. That camera must have been deliberately built to be as big and noisy as possible. Most likely for intimidation purposes. If this place really is an orphanage, it takes security and privacy really seriously. I press the red button on the intercom and attached the speaker makes a harsh rasp.

"What?" an unfriendly female voice electronically demands.

"I'm here to meet Padu?" I offer, not sure what else to say. There's a short pause before the person on the other side of the line responds.

"The Director has no appointments today." the woman grunts a dismissal.

Director? Oh my. Padu doesn't stay here. He runs this facility. The tout's information might not be one hundred percent correct, but it was close enough to the mark.

"Since the Director is free today, can you check if he's able meet me?" I ask, racking my mind for an excuse for Padu to consent to my request. Our only connection is that one wrestling match where I ended his career. Other than that, I'm drawing a blank.

"Why would the Director want to meet you?" the woman drones disinterestedly.

And there it is. The golden question. I've got no good answers, so screw it, I'll take refuge in audacity. If Padu's pissed at me, I can always try apologizing to him later.

"I'm a former colleague." I explain to the woman on the line.

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"Hah." a derisive snort, "If you really knew the Director, you would know he never meets anyone. Ever."

"That's not -" I try to cut in but the woman isn't having it.

"Goodbye." the line goes dead with finality.

"Hey! Hey!" I keep jabbing away at the buzzer but no one bothers picking up. I glare at the camera which remains gazing sedately at my distress. Disdain almost seems to radiate from the soulless contraption.

"Asshole." I kick at the gate, an impotent show of rage.

And all of a sudden, the gate pops free of its hinges and crashes into the dirt. My eyes boggle at the unexpected turn of events.

"No way!" the tout is screaming excitedly, dashing at me from his car as fast as his legs can carry him, "You used your adventurer powers to break in?"

"No!" I swiftly deny, "I don't even have super strength. The gate must be poorly maintained."

Not that Warrior class strength would help. The gate was solid enough to no sell multiple high level warriors bashing away at it. Logically, I would have no chance in breaking it down.

"Who cares?" the tout breezily waves me off as he takes out his phone, "This is the first time someone ever managed to enter Padu's home. Gotta make the most out of the opportunity brother."

"What in the world are you doing?" I bite my knuckles in exasperation, realizing things had escalated in a direction I wasn't expecting.

"Taking photos duh." the tout explains, "Would make a good addition to my brochure."

Now that he mentions it, the interior of the compound is really impressive. A massive stately looking mansion stands in the distance, surrounded by manicured lawns and well tended grounds. A fountain stands in the middle of a paved path leading to the mansion while teens and children in uniforms lounge on the grass, being lectured to by distinguished looking teachers.

"This looks more like an expensive boarding school than an orphanage." I comment, looking about in confusion.

"Yeah, check out those smaller buildings by the side." the tout agrees, "My money is on those buildings being dorms."

No way an orphanage has this kind of money to splurge. Despite the genteel appearance, the whole facility stinks worse than the shit I took this morning. My unease only grows when I take a closer look at the uniforms the students are wearing. All of them carry the insignia of Phoenix Guild.

"Looks like the locals know we're here." the tout rouses me from my reverie. The teachers have begun to hurriedly gather the students, leading them back into the mansion.

"No choice but to brazen it out." I sigh, "Not as if we can slip quietly away into the night."

"Lead on Adam." the tout says eagerly, taking up a spot behind me.

"I'm probably getting so fired from the guild after this." I mutter to myself, setting off with steady steps. There's a loud popping noise, causing the tout to release a girlish scream, but other than a slight burning smell, I don't sense anything particularly dangerous to us.

"Probably nothing." I shrug and the tout falls in.

The grounds are completely deserted now, but the doors of the mansion swing open and a group of heavies burst out, wielding nasty looking batons. Got to admit, those guys actually manage to make plaid and tartan look threatening.

"Welcoming party is here Adam." the tout swallows audibly, "You got this, right?"

"Three Warriors, one Gunslinger, one Sorcerer." I observe and purse my lips, "Standard Guild security detail. Might get hairy."

The tout cowers harder in my shadow while the security team intercepts me. There's a confused look on all their faces, as if they don't really know how to respond to our presence. Not that I'm complaining, it saves me from being dog piled into oblivion. I fish out my wallet and flash my guild ID at them.

"Here to see the Director. Told he was free today." I pray that the security team buy my paper thin excuse.

"Let him in." a woman's voice interrupts.

A middle aged lady stands imperiously at the door, modestly dressed in a long sleeved blouse and ankle length skirt. But her clothes are all made of expensive silks, clearly tailored to flatter her figure. I get a vague sense of familiarity looking at her but before I can ruminate further, the lady barks out another order.

"You wanted to see the Director?" the lady commands, "He's willing to make an exception for today. Come."

The lady doesn't bother waiting for my response and merely turns away, retreating back into the mansion. I hurry after her before realizing that the guards are still barring the tout. Looks like the invitation is for one only.

"You go on ahead Adam." the tout nervously quips, "I'll chill out here."

Running down the corridor after the lady, I'm even more convinced that this is some kind of school. Photos of students are lined on the wall and display cabinets proudly show off various prizes won by this or that student. It doesn't take me long to catch up with the lady but my eyes are quickly pulled to the side.

My Awakened senses, as Boggs put it. There's something important here.

Focusing, I take in an old photo of a pair of students. A boy and girl standing under a banner. The girl leans against the boy tightly gripping his arm while the both of them carry bouquets, the kind used to greet important visitors.

WELCOME HOME GRANDMASTER reads the banner.

"This photo -" I shout out to the lady but she casts an annoyed glance at me.

"Hurry up." the lady frowns without further explanation.

The sense of familiarity I get from the lady only grows after I've seen the picture. She's clearly related to the girl portrayed. And I have met the girl before. The features on her face remained pretty constant despite the years.

"Rachel. The Acting Grandmaster's secretary. That's the girl in the picture." I snap my fingers as the pieces come together.

"My younger sister." the lady finally deigns to respond, "She wanted to have a picture taken together with her boyfriend."

The distaste lacing the word "boyfriend" makes it clear what the lady's opinion is regarding the relationship. Come to think about it, the boy in the picture also looks damn familiar too -

"At least she's grown out of it." the lady concludes, "The relationship would never have lasted for long anyway."

"Huh." I mutter. Its common knowledge in the Guild that Rachel is in a relationship with the Acting Grandmaster. So yeah, I suppose Rachel did manage an upgrade. I want to ask about the missing Grandmaster, he obviously has a link with this place, but the lady stops dead in her tracks.

"We're here." she flatly states, gesturing at a mahogany door barring the way.

"Aren't you going to let me in?" I quiz, staring at the door. The handle has been replaced by a hefty lever, the kind you see used in bank vaults. There's a slot on the lower part of the door, large enough to slide objects in.

"The Director has not met with anyone ever." the lady says stonily, pointing at the slot, "All his meals and correspondence are passed through that gap."

"I hope you guys don't expect me to squeeze through the gap." I make a weak joke, trying to relieve the tension in the air.

"If you are the person the Director is expecting, you will be able to pass through the door." Rachel's sister plainly answers, "If you cannot, then you shall leave. That is all."

"What kind of shit is this?" I demand. Games and more games. But the lady doesn't bother to humor my outburst, calmly waiting for my next move.

"Fine." I reach out and grasp the lever. There's a chunky resistance to it as I pull.

And the door opens.

"It was never locked." I tell Rachel's sister. But the lady's face is ashen. She looks scared.

"Do what you came here to do." the lady whispers bowing low in submission, "But please -"

"What's going on here?" I ask, my hackles rising.

"Be merciful to Padu." the lady pleads, "He has done much good here."

And with that said, Rachel's sister runs down the corridor, distraught and not looking back.

Gritting my teeth, I step through the door. I'm overtaken by a wave of vertigo, my vision swimming. But the voice of my heart is silent, whatever is going on, it isn't a danger to my safety. The door closes with a click.

And the horizon stretches out before me.

A metropolis at my feet.

"What the hell? Where am I?" I shout in fear, my eyes taking in the sight before me. I want to disbelieve my lying eyes, but I cannot.

"Crossroad City. My penthouse." a gurgle comes from the bedridden midget sequestered in a dark corner of the room.

The vista from the window taunts me, making a fool of all logic and reason.

"Impossible. How did I get here? I'm in a completely different town!" I close my eyes shut, trying to get my bearings.

"And yet here you are." a second voice gently mocks.

I turn and see a second Padu, standing by the minibar. This time snappily dressed in a leisure suit, fit and strong, a drink in his hand.

"It has been a long time, Drifter." the second Padu smirks.

But nothing can hide the sadness in his eyes.