Alice Nebula, could be said as the city of future, a modern city with variety of activities and advanced technology. Flyover with so many road layers, bullet railways and its trains back and forth. Also skyscrapers that look very fascinate.
With modern technology and multiple defensive walls made of thick metal, it is not surprising that this city was used to be the main base against Samsara many years ago.
This is not the first time Rihan had set foot in the so-called Last Defense of the Beta Urora. About two or three years ago, he was sent to investigate something. If it wasn't out of necessity, he would be very happy if all sorts of affairs in Alice Nebula were left to his co-workers. It's not that Rihan hates big city life, but he just doesn't want running into people who know him in the past.
A week had passed since being freed from those three annoying and stubborn guests. For some reason, Rihan still hangs in Alice Nebula. Right in the small café shop with pastel shades near the corner of the city.
As soon as the door was pushed open, the bell above it greeted loudly. The aroma of coffee is so tempting. Rihan walked through three tables arranged in a row on the side of window and chose to sit at the fourth table. He likes to sit near to the corner.
An old barista greeted him warmly from behind the bar counter. "Espresso." Rihan ordered before being asked by the old barista.
Then he sat facing the door of the café, or with his back to the fifth table which is the corner-most seat. His hands spread wide the newspaper he had brought in and lifted it so wide and high that people in the café could not see his face or body.
The coffee he ordered was brought to his table and Rihan took a sip. A very delicious bitter taste slowly passed through his throat. In the midst of enjoyment, the cafe door opened once again and three people entered. At first, Rihan doesn't really care about the customers. But their voices are very familiar to his ears. Could it be...?
Rihan lowered his newspaper and saw who those three customer were. They sat at the second table so Rihan had enough space to see their faces clearly. A second later he hastily raised up the newspaper again. Everything was in brief and did not arouse the slightest suspicion.
"As a warning, if I meet him again, I'll definitely beat him up," Regina Waldermar growled in warth.
Rihan knew who she mean.
"Sasha didn't even teach him how to fill the stone on purpose. She wants to hold Daniel at least until we are all fully assembled," commented Andra in slow tone voice.
"But seeing Daniel filling up this nullified stone so quickly, I don't think he could be just an ordinary person, a commoner or whatever. Remember he managed to escape during the fight at the sugar factory? He can even untie the knots in his hands without making too much of a move." He added.
"Ryan must have had his reason. I'm sure he's not as bad as we think." Alvi didn't want to be prejudiced.
"But at least leave a message or something. Even though you went straight to Nebula Tower as soon as you got permission to leave the hospital. But he's just being selfish. An ignorant!" Gina grumbled.
"Am I that irritating that everything seems to be my fault?" Rihan wondered in his mind without daring to move an inch.
"Everyone has their own life and troubles. He's done with what you requested, right? So you also need to respect his decision." Another voice suddenly chimed in.
This time Rihan did not dare to peek.
"Instead of peevish by thinking of him, why don't you relax and enjoying your coffee?" Julius Aditya Kane smiled broadly and walked over to the fifth table. He sat opposite his back with Rihan.
From behind his back, Rihan heard a small chuckle from the laughter That Julius was trying so hard to suppress.
"If only I wasn't avoiding them, I think your face would be bruised by now," whispered Rihan furiously.
"Why are you still here? Wasn't it a week ago that you badly wanted to run off?" Julius replied in a whisper as well.
"This is kidnapping! You, or Alice Nebula, could bring me here, but don't provide me any fees or transport to return to Yi Lu," Rihan snapped.
"If it's the case, then you can return to Nebula Tower and charged a fee. I'm sure they will give it to you without hesitate." Julius only delivered the usual things people would do when Nebula Tower forgot to give them the facilities, such as travel expenses, housing and so on.
"Then I have to come back every day to check whether my travel expenses have been paid or not. Thanks, but no." Rihan flatly refused.
Julius straightened his seat. "Have a number I can call? Your old number is not connecting." He finally changed the subject.
"Nope. Last time I lost my phone during the incident at the abandoned sugar factory in Yi Lu." Rihan said honestly.
"Use mine. I just bought it yesterday." Julius handed over his cell phone.
Rihan looked doubtful rather to accept or not.
"There is no tracking chip or sound hijack. I just bought it last night." Julius tried to reassure his friend.
"If I sell it, it might cover the cost to return to Yi Lu." Rihan muttered admiringly at the brilliant idea that suddenly crossed his mind.
Julius reflexively turned around and said, "You—" But before he continued swearing, something more entertaining come across.
"They're coming and getting closer… Aren't you afraid of being found out?" Julius shifted his seat slightly and prepared to witness something that was more tormenting than his anger.
Rihan looked displeased and immediately ran to the toilet with his head buried behind the newspaper in his hand.
The old barista who was serving the coffee jumped in surprise at his customer's behavior.
"What happened to him? Is there something wrong with the coffee?" Gina was shocked in surprised.
Julius smiled in satisfaction. Not long after that, the phone in his pocket vibrated and a message appeared on the 5-inch smartphone screen. "Just wait for my revenge! PS: please pay for my coffee!"
The smile on Julius's lips grew wider and he almost burst in laugh. But he couldn't, because the presence of three little junior who were approaching him.
"Anything fun? You unusually look happy." Andra asked curiously.
Julius put his phone on the table. "Nothing special. It's just that recently there have been a lot of good things and makes me happy."
"What's wrong?" Julius asked his junior's purposes.
"Alvi said she wants to go back to Yi Lu, looking for that selfish-ignorant-man-in-a-bear-head to say thank you. You are our supervisor. So… can you give us the permission?" Gina explained in a low, polite and careful tone.
Julius did not immediately accept or reject. He thought for a long time before replied. "Permission is fine for me. But not today or tomorrow. I need to make sure Alvi's condition is stable before going for a long journey. And, I think you're not able to go anywhere for the next week or two."
"Okay." Alvi nodded obediently. To be honest she did not expect to get permission so easily especially after all the incidents in Yi Lu.
Seeing the three junior return to their respective table, Julius once again grabbed his phone and started typing a message. To whom? Of course to his old friend.