Tatsuo and Darren arrive at the city gate of Argonaut. Looking at the city from a far bird’s eye view, it bears the shape of an eight-edged cog wheel. For each edge there is an entrance gate. The city is divided into 4 sectors, with a large, tall structure located at the epicenter.
Bringing both arms into the air, Tatsuo triumphantly declares that they’ve finally made it. He faces Darren to josh how his impeccable memory allowed them to find their destination.
Darren: Uh…Yeah…It was impressive…But it wasn’t even about that…We were out of the forest for quite a while…All you said was: “I smell something!” And now we’re here…
Ignoring Darren’s comment, Tatsuo is excited to enter the city to meet up with the others. The two make their way to one of the city’s entrances where a line is formed that they get into, until it was finally time for them to get verified.
Guard: Name please?
Tatsuo: Hi I’m Tatsuo and he’s Darren.
The guard’s eyes spontaneously widens with shock: Huh?! You’re Tatsuo!? The one from Geld?!
Tatsuo:..I’m sorry which guild…?
Darren (thinking): Guild?
The guard hands over a sheet of paper with “GELD” written on it.
Guard: This one.
Tatsuo: Oh yea, I’m a part of Geld.
Darren’s eyes widens as if they were about to pop out, as he couldn’t comprehend the level of stupid he was witnessing.
[https://i.imgur.com/YNdlS60.png]
The guard rings a bell, “MAKE WAY! WE’VE GOT A VIP VISITOR!!!”
Darren flabbergasted: HUH???!
Darren and Tatsuo are then taken to a luxurious looking mansion.
Guard: Here is your stay! Your friends are waiting for you inside!
Darren stares at the mansion blankly, while Tatsuo gazes in awe.
[https://i.imgur.com/A8mprrU.png]
Darren: …Hey, Tatsuo….What the hell is this…?
Tatsuo: Don’t know! But what friendly people! Now we don’t have to look for my friends! Hahahaha!
The two enter the mansion. Upon entering, they both take in the moment to gawk at their rich-victorian themed surroundings. They make their way to the receptionist who assists in guiding them to the room where Sharon and co. were staying at.
Tatsuo and Darren walks up the stairs and down a hallway until they finally reach a door labeled 602, the room number that the receptionist had provided them. Upon entering the room, they are immediately greeted by an excited Sharon.
Sharon: Tatsuo! You’ve made it!
Sharon gleefully runs up to Tatsuo: We were waiting for you! I knew you’d come…!
Tatsuo: Oh! Long time no see Sharon, Queenie!
Sharon places her fingers up on her nose: *gags* You guys stink!
Tatsuo: Yeah, the two of us could really use a shower!
Sharon notices Darren and inquires about him, asking Tatsuo if he was a random lost child he picked up along the way. Sharon’s comment throws Darren into a fit, where he exclaims that he was 18.
Tatsuo: Well…We’ve been through a lot for the past couple days…
A tap of a teacup being placed down on a dish is heard on the obscured side of the room. Sitting comfortably in a Victorian chair is Victor drinking a teacup.
Victor: Heh yeah… I’ll say… – He says elegantly posed.
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Everybody stares awkwardly at Victor.
Tatsuo: What the hell are you doing here?
Victor simply sits there with a suave smile, “It’s complicated….”
Sharon proceeds to explain the situation to Tatsuo. She gestures her hand towards Queenie who is sat across from them on a large couch.
Sharon: It’s all thanks to Queenie here! Because we weren’t sure when you were gonna be arriving, we paid the guards at the gates to identify and escort anyone from our guild over here to this place!
Sharon: Victor somehow made his way to Argonaut and after he spoke to the guards they sent him here since he’s still listed as a part of our guild.
Victor nods his head whilst still smiling confidently.
Sharon: Queenie was also the one who rented this room for us! It really took me by surprise! I at first suggested some tavern nearby…But then she took us here and said it was no problem! She just literally took out another diamond! This girl just makes cash out of nowhere!
Tatsuo: Woah! That’s amazing! Looks like we were lucky to have you with us! Thanks Queenie!
Queenie: …No Problem…
Sharon pushes Tatsuo and Darren with both her arms against their back, directing them to the bathroom.
Sharon while doing her best to hold her nose: Anyways, you guys are making this place reek! Hurry up and clean yourselves!
*In the shower.
Darren steps onto the stand up shower whilst Tatsuo makes himself comfortable in the bathtub.
Darren: Damn…So that Queenie person…she paid for all this….
Tatsuo: Yup.
For a moment none of them said anything. Only the ambience of shower water hitting against Darren’s body as he has his head down, thinking about something.
Darren: What did you guys do for her to provide you with all this service?
Tatsuo: Hm? Nothing. We just met her in Pillsberry and decided to travel here together.
The silence resumes as Darren ponders more. How odd that a wealthy stranger would do all this for them out of nowhere. Could it be that they are hiding something from him? But after spending time with Tatsuo, he is aware of his character. If she is willing to provide random strangers like them this much, perhaps she could do the same for him then?
Darren: Do you think if I asked her for money to get me off Irene, she’d do it…?
Tatsuo: I don’t know, but she’d probably do it….
Tatsuo and Darren get out of the bathroom, both wearing bathrobes.
Tatsuo: Wooo~!!! Nice and refreshed~!!!
Suddenly Queenie rushes into the bathroom. The two boy’s faces follows her, turning back as the door frantically slams shut. Shortly after, they hear Sharon scolding Victor across the other side of the room.
Sharon: What did you do Victor?!?!
Victor: I just had her taste test the food…!
Sharon: Then why did Queenie storm off like that?!?! What did you put in your food?!
Victor: I’m just trying to recreate the food that we make in our restaurant! Although since this occasion was somewhat special, I thought I’d add in some extra ingredients…!
Sharon:...Special ingredients…?
Victor: Yeah…!
Victor: Father always said to experiment when it comes to making food, as you’ll never know when you’ll come across a secret ingredient to making a hit dish! I remember him saying that bugs are often overlooked when it comes to food making, and that they can provide an assortment of taste when used…!
Victor: So I added the bug-thing that Tatsuo and Darren brought over into some of the food…!
“Maybe that’s why the food started turning purple…” – A large boiling pot sits atop the stove. Inside, an insidious purple liquid is being boiled. The liquid swells with ghastly bubbles that leave behind a pungent smell.
Sharon: That’s obviously the reason why! And that thing was no good for ingestion anyways, it was clearly rotting when they brought it here!!! Aren’t you the son of an owner of a restaurant?!?! How are you so bad at cooking??!!
Victor: Well…I tried to tell you but you insisted that I make the food today….
Sharon: I thought you were just being polite!
Victor: Also, isn’t it kinda rude to judge a person based on their workplace? Just because I came from a restaurant doesn’t mean I’m a good cook.
Having witnessed the two’s bickering, Darren stares blankly in devastation about the Mandaeliscopod.
Darren falls to his knees with his soul crushed: All that work…Down the drain….
*flashback to a few days before the current events….
Becca is navigating through a forest near the outskirts of Argonaut. She looks down to the letter she is holding.
Becca: According to the letter, it should be around here…
After taking a couple steps further, Becca brings her head back up facing forward. Immediately her expression brightens up. Before her is an open-empty spot in the forest showered in beams of sunlight.
[https://i.imgur.com/FSJrKX0.png]
Becca: This is it! This must be the place…!
Becca: But that’s strange…Why is the spot empty…?
She walks up to the center of the area where the ground is visibly disfigured. She kneels down to probe further, placing her hand onto the disfigured markings on the ground.
Becca: The displacement of the ground…It’s as if this area was uprooted by something…!
She checks back with the letter: I don’t see it anywhere…! Where is it…? Where is…The grave…?