It was like Garner delivered a gut punch to me and Celestine. His eyes cold yet concerning, Garner simply sighed, he looked away and his eyes hinted of distress. Celestine clenched her fist while I laid back on my chair. We both want to ask him why, and knowing Garner he'll tell us the reason himself.
"Would you mind telling us why?" Celestine's tone mixed respect with intimidation, her eyes could pierce Garner.
"Because things aren't as simple as they seem." Garner vaguely replied as he. stood his ground.
"We haven't even discussed our options, and you're shutting us down?" Celestine begins to subtly condescend Garner.
The moment I felt an inevitable pissing contest between these two, I looked at one of the waiters. I hailed him and ordered another food, because I know very well that the best way to help your friends that are fighting each other, is to sit back and enjoy the show.
"I'm sure you are aware of everything that is happening in Kyatto, correct?" Garner deigned himself.
"We have a vague idea. But I don't care about that, tell us the real reason why you won't help Nico?"
With no explanation from Garner the best option I have is to keep quiet.
"Rumor has it that the entire royal family's assassination was plotted by the duke himself, all part of his plan to take the throne. And that seems to be the case as the duke is now the king of Kyatto. But since we all know that the princess survived, there's a chance that the duke's reign as the king would be short-lived."
"Nico told us that she could do it, all she needs is a handful of capable soldiers." Celestine added.
"If that were the case then why haven't you done it?" Garner asked.
"Because-" Celestine tried her best to give an answer that isn't half-assed.
"Because we're broke and we need the cash. That's why we're here." I answered in place of Celestine.
"He's right. Also we need your help, if you can you could spare us a few guys and guns. We could lead the coup… and if things go right you could talk to the princess and get whatever you want" Celetsine said after she glanced at me, she slowly regained her confidence.
"It can't be that simple." Garner scoffed and smiled.
"Why? You have a vast network of scavengers that are basically mercenaries, you just received enough credits to fund a small army. Why won't you lend us any hand?" Celestine questioned in disbelief.
"Trading routes. Simply put I have control in portions of those routes, places where any galactic security doesn't dare to look. If I help you and this whole thing fails, there's a tendency that it'll come and bite me in the ass. Which means all of my legal and illegal business ventures could be… poof, gone. In other words, the risk-rewards ratio does not flow in my favor." Garner gave Celestine a soft rebuke.
That statement made Celestine rethink all her plans. Her body language and expression couldn't lie that she wanted to help Nico, yet she doesn't want to place Garner in an unfavorable position. Everything went dead silent.
"Then how about this, you give us your select third-party mercenaries we could hire then your name will be unaffected if crap hits the fan." Celestine suggested again.
"And what are your preferences?"
"Someone as skilled as Rover, with almost the same rate."
I smirked at Celestine's remark, it's almost rare that she would compliment me. But I was bothered because she's looking for someone as good as me and I'm not going to sell myself short but I don't work for cheap.
"It's impossible. You're looking for someone good that works for what could essentially be paid with food."
Garner's statement buzzed my ears. Did he just devalue my skill-set? Did he not realize that I got all of this, because of him?
"As much as I hate to admit, yes I am looking for an army of Rover." Celestine sighed.
Now I would say that I officially lost track of the topic of this conversation. What started as a serious discussion about helping an orphaned princess, turned into a subtle slow roast about me. I let out a disturbing groan.
"Our group would like to tender our resignation effective immediately." I boldly announced, annoyed.
Celestine and Garner gave me a look of disapproval.
"What did you say?" Garner asked.
"Our team would like to sever our ties with you. Because our fearless leader would want to help Nico, and you won't give us a dime of help because of those trading routes, if we cut ties with you and we failed your trading routes won't be touched and we get to face the consequence of our actions… So that's my current proposal."
Celestine's puzzled stared gave me the impression of explaining it further, and so I opened my mouth again.
"You're looking for someone like me. Well there's no other me than me, thus I offer you my services. And by the way my rate just gone up…" I told Celetine.
"Celestine's proposal for a coup is messy and ineffective. Here's my cost effective, low maintenance plan. I suggest to just straight up kill the duke, make it look like an accident. Let Nico show up and poof, problem solved." I told Garner my slightly better plan.
The two of them projected the same look as before.
"What?! On my planet that plan works 100% all the time."
"Well it might be less theatrical but that is plausible. If you would agree to that I can help by giving you safe passage to one of my trading routes in Kyatto." Garner told Celestine.
"Well I'll have to tell the princess about this." Celestine nodded and both of them shook hands in agreement.
Garner opened his holowatch to find the route to Kyatto. As we both waited for him to give us the coordinates, my holowatch vibrated. It was a call from Strife. Without wasting another second I answered the call expecting Strife in his usual self, yet what I heard were barrages of beams guns and bullets flying on the other line.
Panic and adrenaline kicked in, although I know Strife is one of the best marksman I know, I don't think he has ever done an escort mission before. I quickly switched my holowatch to track Strife's location.
I waited patiently but the machine could not pinpoint Strife. My mind's maternal instinct overrides my entire body, my thoughts kept shouting Nico, over and over. I stood up and looked at Celestine in the eyes, as if this crazy connection between us strengthened.
"They're in trouble." I told her and she simply nodded.
We looked at Garner and he knew that he'll have to send the coordinates later.
Celestine and I rushed towards the door. As we exited the peaceful restobar, we were met with chaotic screaming. Everyone hurried away, like men of action we ran towards the danger. We jogged past everyone, we couldn't dash forward for it was like walking against a strong current. I was ahead of Celestine, although counter productive, I ran close to her and grabbed her hand.
Both of us ran towards the market square, the place where we assume everyone is running away from. As we drew near our body momentarily froze at the state of the then peaceful market square.