The group moved through the sunny streets of the city with a clearer objective in mind, their steps guided by conviction. Even so, they took the chance to admire their surroundings as they walked, for Starugnia had many distinctive features that they rarely saw in New Lumingard.

Its people, for instance, were quite reserved and polite. They would nod or wave at them as they passed, but rarely engaged in conversation—even the merchants made sure to not be an inconvenience, as rare as that sounded!

If they thought about it more deeply, most of their interactions were with travelers rather than with the city’s inhabitants—well, aside from Rahmu, the girls that had approached Selorien back at the hub, and the ‘thugs’.

Apart from that, a sandstorm had suddenly hit the district they were in, and they could see in action the many structures put in place to protect the citizens against the hazardous weather. It was both ingenious and practical, though not infallible. Selorien, for one, seemed to think so as he spat out some sand with an irritated expression!

As the colossal skull that stood in the center of the upper districts began to shrink in the distance, the group slowly reached the lower districts. They were taken aback by the sudden shift in atmosphere, and since it was daytime now, Ascalon could better appreciate some details he had missed the night before.

People in this area of the city wore ragged clothing, and exuded an air of poverty. A lot of them looked thin, and appeared wary and shifty, with some even spitting at their mere presence, which made Lyra flinch with nervousness. Buildings were not only dilapidated, but also flimsily repaired with makeshift additions, like wooden boards over the adobe slabs.

At some point, Lilithra stopped briefly, her gaze locked onto a corner between two buildings. A mountain of sand had piled up, and there was an old, frail person slowly trying to dig it up with a rusty spade. It was clear that the same protection from sandstorms they had in the upper districts wasn’t as effective here, or even nonexistent.

Lilithra looked at Ascalon, her eyes pleading, and the knight sighed in resignation as he understood her intentions, walking toward the elder. With little explanation, Ascalon gently moved the man aside, the look on his face one of shock and intrigue.

Picking up the spade, Ascalon dug swiftly into the sand, clearing the passage in a matter of seconds. However, the sand remained piled on both sides, as there was no other place he could simply move it to.

At the end of the narrow passage was a weak dog, which didn’t even have the strength to bark. It weakly approached the older man, who hugged it gently. Ascalon thanked Lilithra in his mind, feeling a deep sense of gratitude.

“Thank you, traveler.” The old man exclaimed as he bowed, taking both the dog and the spade with him. Lilithra beamed with delight at the knight, alongside Lyra who was a bit teary eyed. Selorien was smirking, though he seemed eager to move on.

As they advanced, the surroundings grew somber, as people shouted in the distance and some of the inhabitants of the district fought in the streets. It was a shocking sight—some people even appeared to be out of their minds. Perhaps it was a common occurrence in these areas, as poverty and hunger brought forth desperation.

Ascalon did his best to try and resolve any conflict he could, but only if it looked like it could be solved swiftly—they had their own matters to focus on, after all.

Amidst the chaotic situations, they continued with their journey, and soon, they stood at the entrance of a building Ascalon recognized as ‘fancy’ from the moment he saw it.

“So this is the ‘fancy’ building that Elephantid thug told you about, huh?” Selorien asked, understanding why it had been described as such. The structure before them contrasted with the run-down looks of the lower district.

It was tall and imposing, and its surface was adorned with golden tiles that shimmered under the harsh sun. Two large pillars stood at the sides of the entrance, and a multitude of tough-looking individuals surrounded the building, forming a perimeter.

Contrary to the other lower district citizens, the people guarding the structure were clearly well-fed and well-paid. They wore clean, well-made clothes, adorned with jewelry, and some even had guns at the ready.

They didn’t seem surprised by the group's presence, as one of them approached with laid-back steps, chewing gum and clearly uninterested. “Go on, he is waiting.” he stated, pointing toward the entrance.

Without hesitation, Ascalon proceeded, his friends quickly catching up to him as they nervously appraised the surroundings. The inside of the building was as sophisticated as the exterior, with lavish red curtains hanging from every wall, golden vases and statuettes, and guards at every door.

Aside from the mean-looking thugs, there were many veiled women in scantily-clad attire, some even baring their chests. The most common thing they shared, however, were their scared, defeated expressions, visible even through their veils.

Ascalon could easily imagine that these women were there against their will—a distressing yet most common occurrence in such dens of villainy, and it was both disgusting and infuriating.

Lilithra and Lyra, in particular, seemed increasingly uncomfortable at the sight, which was no surprise. As they walked, the group was guided by guards who pointed toward the direction they had to go, and ascended through polished stairs as they tried to focus on the task at hand.

As they finally reached the last set of doors, they were invited into an ample guest room, filled with expensive-looking furniture. From lush sofas to extravagant paintings and other sophisticated decorations, the space exuded an air of wealth and luxury.

It was baffling to see such grandiosity amidst the impoverished areas of the lower district, and Ascalon wondered if this Loreno fellow was sucking up the resident’s funds in some way or another. It felt reminiscent of the many corrupt lords he had encountered in Excadia, who always found ways to impose higher and more absurd taxes upon their villages.

While Ascalon was contemplating, the man himself, Loreno, made an appearance, emerging from behind a set of curtains that probably led to another room. Without uttering a word, Loreno walked toward a nearby sofa, leisurely sitting down on it while the group appraised him intently.

The man had dark gray hair and copper-toned skin, exuding an imposing aura. His blue eyes were set on the group, his gaze intense and fierce, as though he could pierce right through them. His face was adorned by a well-kept short beard, and he had a single golden earring dangling from his left ear.

His attire consisted of a long white jacket, decorated with golden embroidery along the hems, sleeves, and collar, the fabric seeming really soft and thin. His white harem pants looked as sophisticated as his jacket, with golden patterns that matched it perfectly. Loreno was clearly a man that loved to flaunt his wealth, and for the wrong purposes.

“Take a seat.” The man suddenly spoke, his deep voice startling Lyra. Ascalon bowed slightly and quickly took a seat, while his friends looked at him with clear reluctance. Eventually, they followed his lead and sat around him.

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Loreno looked at each of them slowly, carefully assessing them, before speaking up again. “I was informed you messed up some of my boys yesterday.” He said as his gaze stopped on Ascalon. “And that you’re looking for a certain individual as well.” Loreno added, raising his right hand and snapping his fingers.

Ascalon arched an eyebrow in curiosity, while his friends tensed up. Lilithra couldn’t help but think this was the moment in the movie when they would be gunned down at the mafia leader’s signal. However, what followed was a sight that only angered her, rather than an ambush of some sort.

A completely naked girl appeared from behind the curtains Loreno had emerged from, her body full of bruises. Most noticeably, her cheeks and right eye were swollen, bearing the mark of recent violence.

Lilithra clenched her fists tight, her anger swelling up, while Lyra shrank slightly, shocked by the sight. Selorien, though usually unbothered, frowned with clear disgust. The girl shakily brought a long cigar to Loreno’s lips, placing it with some effort. The man produced a lighter from his pocket, and gave it to her.

The poor girl tried to light the cigar multiple times, but her frail fingers couldn’t manage to make the contraption work correctly. As Loreno grew in irritation, he forcefully took the lighter away and lighted his cigar himself.

“Useless bitch, shaming me in front of my guests.” He muttered as she bowed with fear, turning back and leaving while sobbing. Ascalon stared at Loreno with a calm, impassive expression—though he concealed a burning rage within. They still needed to learn about Levi’s whereabouts, so Ascalon had to be patient.

But Loreno was in for retribution afterward, that was a promise.

“So, you want to know where this Levi guy is, right?” Loreno’s words cut through the tension in the room, drawing everyone's attention as he played with his cigar in one hand.

Lyra was forced to take the initiative, urged by her brother's name. “Ye-yes!” She exclaimed, her heart racing as Loreno’s sharp eyes focused on her.

He studied Lyra from head to toe, making her feel extremely uncomfortable, and his lips curled up into a smirk. “You must be his sister, Lyra.” Loreno replied, his eyes boring into her. He took a drag from his cigar, breathing in the tobacco.

“I do know where he is. But, why should I tell you?” He added as he examined their reactions, a cloud of dark smoke slowly escaping from his lips.

They all thought that, at the very least, Loreno wasn't bluffing about the information, since he knew that Lyra was Levi's sister. That, or someone else had tipped him off—maybe even Rahmu. But, for now, they had no way to confirm their doubts without convincing Loreno to talk.

“Sir Rahmu said you could help us, if that is of any worth to you.” Ascalon spoke, causing Loreno to look at him with narrowed eyes.

“Sadly for you, his words have no weight here.” The man replied, smiling confidently.

“How much money do you want?” Selorien suddenly chimed in, leaning forward with impatience.

Loreno chuckled to himself, opening his arms wide. “Ah yes, I love money—who doesn't, eh? One can never have enough!” Loreno exclaimed with a mocking tone.

“But lately, I’m more into… investments!” He crossed his arms, his chuckling turning into full blown laughter, the cigar on his lips almost falling down.

Aside from Ascalon, the group started to tense up, realizing the man before them wouldn't give the information so easily after all. “I'm no mere broker like Rahmu, I deal with the highest bidders—Starugnia's politicians, and wealthy noble families from across the land.” Loreno boasted, his voice booming with grandeur as he drew from his cigar deeply.

“If you want this info, you'll either have to pay me a fortune... or, these two could work for it.” He added, pointing with two fingers toward Lilithra and Lyra, his mouth releasing a cloud of dark smoke toward them. The girls flinched, disgust and anger steadily growing within them. Ascalon clenched his fist, while Selorien frowned in clear irritation.

“Hmmm... well, not her, I suppose.” Loreno said with a disappointed expression, his eyes fixed on Lyra, who furrowed her brows in confusion. “I know you would bring a steady flow of cash, as tasty as you look, but my friend Ian wouldn't forgive me!” He concluded with a bold smile, having dropped another hint to them.

The mention of Ian made Lyra’s heart race with agitation, since she was still feeling conflicted about the whole ordeal. To add to her frustration, they had finally found the one who seemed to have the answer she was looking for, yet he wanted something outrageous in return—and she wouldn’t allow it.

“I see.” Ascalon's voice suddenly rang through the room, everyone focusing their attention on him. Loreno, in particular, awaited his words with clear anticipation. “It does not seem like we will reach an agreement, so I have another proposal.” Ascalon's tone was calm, yet everyone perked up in curiosity as the intrigue overcame them.

“You give us Sir Levi's location, and you get to walk away in one piece.” Ascalon concluded, his voice resolute. Everyone froze for a moment, and Loreno blinked a few times, processing what he had just heard. Abruptly, he burst out laughing.

“Oh wow! Such confidence... or naivety? ” Loreno exclaimed as his laughter receded, a mocking grin plastered on his face. In the next moment, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers once more.

Ascalon's friends shifted nervously, expecting that this time around, they weren’t going to just see a girl bringing in another cigar. This was, indeed, the part of the movie where they were supposed to get gunned down.

A multitude of guards flooded into the room, and the group sprang into action, readying themselves for a fight—though the odds weren't in their favor. “Make sure to leave the girls unharmed.” Loreno ordered his henchmen, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

At that moment, Lilithra summoned her trusty banner, while Selorien armed himself with his distinctive dual daggers. Lyra, on the other hand, looked lost and scared, while Ascalon remained unfazed.

At the sight, Loreno raised an open palm, gesturing to his guards to stop. “Now then. I'm a reasonable man, as one has to remain flexible when doing business.” Loreno spoke, his words carrying a smug bravado.

He threw the cigar toward them, hitting Ascalon's shoulder before it fell to the ground. “My offer still stands. You could still, how was it, 'walk away in one piece'? Ha ha!” He mocked Ascalon, his eyes fixed on him, daring him to act.

Ascalon sighed in resignation as he stood up, the guards pointing guns and bladed weapons toward him. “You must realize that my guards are nothing like the fools you played with yesterday.” Loreno explained, opening his arms wide as if presenting his troops.

“I've seen my share of overconfident, fearless guys like you.” He said, narrowing one eye. “They're all cut from the same cloth, believing their skills to be special, their levels to be unmatched!” Loreno added, chuckling with amusement.

“But they always end up the same way, beaten to a pulp... like your brother!” The man exclaimed as he smiled with glee, his eyes fixed on Lyra.

Lyra's expression contorted with desperation. “No... wh-where's my brother?!” She screamed as tears started to shimmer in her eyes. Loreno laughed, clearly enjoying the unfolding event, while Lilithra and Selorien exchanged impatient glances. Ascalon simply stepped forward.

“Oh? What now?” Loreno asked, noticing Ascalon's movement, his grin still brimming with confidence.

“I did say you would walk away in one piece, yes.” Ascalon began, his voice firm and unwavering.

“But I must apologize, for that was a lie.” He added, and in the next moment, his figure crossed the distance between him and Loreno in a second.

None of the so-called guards managed to react, but Loreno, with a shocked expression, backstepped just at the last moment, screaming. “Get them!” His authoritative voice spurred the guards into action.

Ascalon held back, since they needed Loreno to be as healthy as possible to give them information, but was slightly surprised by his reaction time. In response, Ascalon burst forth and shoved the man slightly, sending him flying across the room.

Shockingly, Loreno managed to maneuver in the air and landed on his feet, before sloppily fleeing through the curtains he had emerged from, wincing in pain.

Ascalon quickly assessed the situation, and while he could have used his overwhelming presence to deal with the guards, he believed his companions were more than enough.

They could use the training, after all, though it might have been a bit too spartan from his part. Still, he had Loreno to deal with, so Ascalon dashed after him.