"So to get this straight, you're literally a shopkeeper?" Hops asked the woman inside a building.
"Yep, this is mine. All of it." she proudly told him behind the counter.
They were inside a small store on top of a hill, overlooking parts of the city below. It was a decent view, but Hops wasn't here to admire this place. He was here to get answers. And some of them were definitely in front of him right now.
"So, you said on the way here you were, Alice?" Hops asked her, as he uncorked a bottle of beer next to him and starting drinking against the wall.
"Yes, and you'll have to pay for that." she spoke from underneath the counter without looking.
"This stuff is terrible, not going to lie." Hops almost spat out, before placing the bottle on the counter. "Anyway, why were you following us again?"
"Because Leon told me to. Ever since he lost the fight, he always asked to know where at least Jamal was. Of course, after the first few times, I kept saying he was out there, but never his exact location, knowing exactly this was going to happen."
"So, you were stalking us?"
"Him, and I suppose so. I didn't actually expect him to come here since Leon got elected two years ago."
"So if that's all true, then that means you work for Leon?"
"No, he just comes in when he needs information. I guess you can call me a contractor of some type. Just some side money and reduced taxes to keep this place running." she grunted as she placed the book she had on her, before heaving something to the back.
As Hops watched her go back, he eyed the book. The thing looked like it was new and going to break down at the same time. Watching carefully, he was about to get up to check it out, until Alice had returned and grabbed it.
"Nice try." she knew, as she placed the book back between the straps.
"I wasn't even going to take it. Why do you even need it for?" Hops said before a loud explosion rocked the area.
"That's how I can increase my powers and can do more? And why don't I ask you some questions, like why you're here with Jamal?" she looked back at him.
"I don't have time to explain, but you sure everything's good outside?" Hops got towards the window to see a line of dust towards some buildings.
"And it's over, so yeah." She grinned, as she moved towards the door, to go towards the action.
This woman is crazy, Hops frowned, as he quickly moved beside her to see what was to come. As far as he could see, there was a crowd surrounding the area, and from here, he could hear a large commotion. If even one of them died, especially Jamal, he didn't know what he would have to tell Ula.
He didn't even realize that Alice was already pacing down towards the activity, before quickly rushing down towards her, trying to see what happened.
...
"And because of that, I formally resign being the President of Fuishem," Leon spoke loudly to the crowd. "If you excuse me, I shall get a boat to Suruthum at once."
Jamal watched eagerly behind him, as he looked around anxiously. Two more people needed, and then Youden will have himself a good fight. Avenging Boom's death, even after all these years, he was going to do it, and if he didn't he wouldn't forgive himself.
"Jamal!" he could hear Hops yell out his name, alongside the other woman. Great.
"So you found her?" he questioned, as Hops walked up to him, while the woman stayed back.
"How are you even alive! I thought you died in that thing!"
"Um, I've survived way worse. As well as you and your friend over there." Jamal noted behind him.
"Man, I don't know, but I think she should join the team." Hops lowered his voice.
"What! Why?!"
"That book she has, it's powerful! And even without it, I think she could be useful."
"Look, I don't know if she was flirting with you back there, but I don't think so. That's a distraction, and I don't even know her skills. So I'm not convinced at all." Jamal shrugged, as he could see the woman watching him from afar, before Hops went back to her. No way.