Hotel Peregrinate. Known for its mysteries that no one seems to be able to solve.
No one knows who the owner of this place is, but it is in connection to many, many popular and powerful businesses.
Peregrinate, its parent company, is a company that is shrouded in even more mysteries than this hotel itself. Though people believe it may have affiliations to the underground world.
But this hotel is a pathway to learn more about this company.
If you wish to do business with them, you can, if you are able to solve the riddle they will ask you when you express your intention. This riddle will send you in a series of quests which you have to complete by the end of the party.
Party? Yes, party. This is just a party for everyone to socialise with each other, in their respective groups of course.
But the riddle is only for people that want to have anything to do with this company.
This 'party' is held every year on their anniversary and, every year, people wishing to partner with them.
Don't get them wrong, they will still partner with whoever they want. But if it is this way, at least you have some room to make demands. Otherwise ... you are screwed.
What happens to the people that fail the riddles? Well, they get blacklisted.
I just need to meet the head of this company. Issac thought, remembering how fancy Chester was dressed the last time he saw him.
He looked like he was about to go somewhere and it helped that the embroidery on his half-torn coat resembled their logo, if only a tiny bit.
Issac would not have put this together if it wasn't for Araya though.
He looked over at the woman sucking in a breath and releasing it over and over again in an attempt to calm herself down.
He ignored it for a second but decided against doing that and leaned forward while the men are talking about everything all the people that need to know already knew.
"Araya," he whispered as the woman turned to face him. "We are only going in there to have fun. You don't have to be so worried about messing up."
"B-but, what if I stutter and say the wrong thing?" She asked, pulling at her fingers. "Maybe I shouldn't have come. I am only causing problems for you all."
"Did anyone say that?" he asked.
"N-no. But-"
"Then you do not need to concern yourself with that pointless thought of yours," he said flicking her forehead. "Just go there and have fun. Think of this as your own personal party."
"A-are you sure?"
"Yeah, and there could be some people there that will be able to help you in your business," he said, squeezing her hand. "Just focus on that, can you?"
"Yeah." She nodded, gaining a little bit of confidence again. "I can do that/ No problem."
"Great. They are calling Jokers now." He said pointing to Soren smiling at them as the people around him began to walk away.
"Are you sure I can do as I want to?" She asked again, furrowing her brows.
"Do I look like the old man to you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Go on. I don't want to see your face for another couple of hours."
"Ok." She smiled brightly at him. "Thank you."
"You are going to be late, go on." He pushed her to Soren who smiled at him, almost assuring that he would take care of her.
"You'd better," Issac answered with his eyes as the two walked away.
"Issac." Haiti and Orion walked to them holding their cards, "They are calling our group to the East. Ace."
"Soren and Araya are in the front," Zadie said, pointing to the group walking into the hotel.
"That means you two are in the west," Orion said, stretching as they began to walk away. "Good luck. The winner buys the losers dinner."
"I don't think that is ho-" Haiti began but she was already being dragged away by Orion. Turning to the two she smiled and waved as they waved back.
"He knows that they are not going to be able to do it," Zadie said, looking at Issac.
"I know. That is why he made that bet." he sighed as he made eye contact with the bell boy of the group Spades as people began to line up in front of him to enter the building. "Come."
_______________
The two began to walk through a hallway with the crowd of people in two lines.
The interior is decorated with all kinds of paintings and antiquities all along the side of the walls. The hallway is narrow with royal red wallpapers and rich oak shelves that still smell very fresh.
There is barely enough room for you to stand side to side with your partner and not brush against the antiques, let alone touch them.
Murmurs could be heard amongst the crowd of people. It is not as much as before as more than twenty people were kicked out at the front.
"How many people are left?" Issac asked.
"Sixteen," Zadie said, looking at him from the corner of her eyes. "If twenty people were kicked out, and they only allowed thirty-six people per group then it would be sixteen. That is a lot more than I thought it would be."
"Why is that?" He asked, staring up at a painting as if he was interested.
"Most are wearing borrowed branded clothes or dupes." She said, looking at the couple behind them.
The woman sparkled with almost the same intensity of the sun and her partner was no different as the two talked to everyone around them like the word 'whisper' was never introduced to them.
Issac looked at them as well and turned to Zadie, "Are they-?"
"No." She shook her head. "They are real. Mr. and Mrs. Jariya of the jewellery brand Jariya Tilbury. They are just incredibly vain about their brand. Have you heard of them?"
"I have," Issac said, taking one more looked at them. "But I have never bought anything from them."
"I expected as much." She smiled. "Jewellery is not something I know you to waste your money on. But then again, I could be wrong. After all, I never knew that you had an interest for the pole."
"Many don't," Issac said nonchalantly. "Many were thrown out because they either lied about their identities or they were too nervous that they became suspicious. But, frankly, I am sceptical of the latter."
"Why?"
"As long as they tell the truth, you can find them. So, just because they are nervous does not equal to them lying." Issac shrugged. "We need to keep an eye out on the workers too."
She looked at the bellboy in front of them and nodded, "Noted."
____________
They finally entered a large hall that is full of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling at several lengths. At the corner of the hall is a long table with more bellboys in the same mask just different colours standing in front of the buffet.
All kinds of food are there from intricately cut fruits to a chocolate fountain. Issac looked around the room and, subconsciously, made his way to the table, grabbing a plate and then piling it with all kinds of chocolate placed on the table like a pyramid.
"Issac." Zadie walked to the man eating his sixth piece of chocolate. "What are you doing? I was looking everywhere for you."
Issac held a chocolate piece to her face, "This is imported from t-"
"I am sure it is tasty." She said, taking the chocolate from him and popping it into her mouth. "But I hope you have not forgotten why we are here."
"I have not." He said, consuming another chocolate. "But let me finish trying everything here first. What is that?"
"It is said to be the sweetest wine in the world." one of the bellboys with a blue mask said, holding a bottle of buvvling liquid. "No one has been able to drink a cup of this entirely before."
"Please pour me one," Issac said while Zadie looked at him, growing annoyed as the seconds passed.
"Here you re sir." He said, handing him the champion cup filled to the brim with the liquid. "You will have to finish drinking this completely."
"Thank you." He said, taking a sip of the drink and nodding. "Wow."
"Let me try," Zadie said taking a sip of the wine as her face contorted in disgust. "Oh, that is sweet."
"Not bad," Issac said, taking another gulp before turning to the bellboy. "Where did you buy that?"
"Issac."
He looked at her, slightly annoyed and turned back to the boy, "We want to meet with the owner of this company."
"You do?" He said, amused. "Then you will be needing this."
He took out a card from his shirt pocket and slid it to them on the table.
The back of the card is decorated with Spades and at the front is a couple of words written, "Upon reaching the end, you need to first go to the beginning."
"Good luck." The boy said, a little sparkle in his eyes.
Issac carefully took off the glove on his right hand and held it out to the boy who shook it, "Thank you."