Small circular booths were raised, protecting the privacy of customers. Trace and Ergon Franke were sitting inside one such booth and enjoying their lunch. The Prayashe restaurant was one of the most spacious shops in the Pearl Moon Market. It was one of the few places where customers could remove their masks and safely enjoy their time.
A waiter was standing between two doors that led inside the booth. He knocked on the wall in front of him and after a while a small sliding window was opened. Just inside the window was a round rotating table.
"The bill shall be be paid by nonsensicals who believe in a fictitious moon."
The waiter stood their speechless. He had to leave after the window was shut. Voices from outside couldn't reach the inside. The only way of communication was the window present, which was big enough for waiters to put dishes on the table inside.
"I can pay the bill", Trace offered.
"Not now, not ever. Not until this heavenly salesman is present at your service."
Ergon stood and gave a pose after slamming his hand at the table. Trace was sitting opposite to Ergon around the circular table. The booth was spacious enough for five to six people. It was not the smallest booth present, nor was it the largest.
"Young man, your mind is not frail and you run just fine. What led to your fall?"
"I couldn't see the stone and when I tried hard to see it-"
"I couldn't have understood it more clearly!" Ergon exclaimed.
Ergon raised his hand with palm facing towards Trace. Indicating that Trace did not have to speak anymore. The puffed bag was slammed on the table. Its impact shook the empty dishes. Ergon took out a small box from the bag and pulled the bag onto the seat again.
"Trouble in seeing far and wide will not bother you anymore. Use it when the time is right," Egon said.
Trace gladly accepted the box and opened it. A pair of pearl rimmed glasses were inside the box. For a moment Trace was confuse. But quickly questioned.
"Will I be able to see the stone after wearing these glasses?"
"Of course, bet on it young man, everything will reveal itself like a clear crystal."
"What was that stone?" Trace asked.
"Since you a part of Pearl Moon Market now, I will tell the secrets but you mustn't enclose it to foreigners."
Ergon paused for a while after saying it, then sat down. He put down his chin on the support of his clasped hands. A silent and serious atmosphere gripped up the booth.
"A godly natural treasure that can help Sorcerers grasp the realm of Level 3."
"Reaching Level 3 without the government's help is possible?" Trace exclaimed.
"Nothing in this world is small enough to be encompassed in the word impossible." Ergon claimed.
"How much does it cost?"
Trace said while his hands were on the pocket holding all the coins he had. Even after receiving the money from Swirls, he only had a few coins left. They amounted to about 70,000 [1-Kin] coin or 70 [1-Sherry] coins or only 14 [5-Sherry] coins.
The coin case inside Trace's pocket could hold 24 coins in total. For today's expenditure, he had brought out all his savings. It did amount to a huge sum for Trace but it wouldn't even amount to a speck of dust when compared to the price an unheard of treasure.
"Selling such an item is ludicrous! However, if I were a fortune teller my divination sees you in a room alone with that treasure." Ergon said in an mysterious voice.
"How is that possible?!" Trace couldn't help by gasp.
"Rings is what people believe in for, it is power. Look, the power to achieve greatness is in on own hands," Ergon pointed out.
Trace stared at Ergon Franke with bright eyes. It's just like master said, my future is literally in my own hands. Trace looked at the two rings on his fingers.
"At the matter on hand, what do you wish to purchase?" Ergon asked.
A long silence fell into the booth. Surely, Trace had brought out all his coins but what did he really wanted to buy. After giving Ergon a few embarrassing looks, Trace said.
"Stuff to set up a Detective Agency…"
Ergon slammed his hands on the table and got up with shock. A detective agency? Did I just bring in a detective? Ergon tried to think of the matter in a logical way. But the look on Trace's face made him jumpy.
"Your master pushes you towards the path of a sleuth? Heavens! What master doesn't pass the torch to their apprentice!"
"Master suggested we combine his art with Detective work", Trace said.
Oh my world! It's falling upside down. I feel like a man covered in rags in front of the great fortune teller. Fireworks went off in Ergon's heart. Monstrosity of an idea.
"Never until now did I find my match. Fate that brought you to me, even heavens wish for our partnership.
"Worry not young man, I will provide you with best guidance to find the best items in the Peral Moon Market", Ergon didn't let Trace speak.
The door of the booth was kicked open as Ergon walked out. Trace also decided to follow and walk out of the same door. Heavens made me go to the Koyoko Shopping Complex, Trace joyously thought.
…
In the restaurant, majority of space was taken up by booths but a few open tables were also present. One such tables was surrounded by a few people. Everyone who passed the table, tried sneak a glance at the person having lunch.
Only two people were seated while others were standing around the table. None of them had masks and neither were covering their fingers. Out of the two people, only the person wearing pearl rimmed glasses was eating.
"Is there anything I should order for you?"
The man who spoke had a wide figure and wore tinted rectangular glasses wide enough to cover his eyes. He was wearing a multicolored coat with thick strips and a pearl full moon badge was sticking on his collar lapel.
Peerze shook his head and took the last bite. He lifted the cup at the side and took a gulp so that it would be easier to chew the food. After gulping, he wiped his lips with a napkin and pushed his body backwards to sit up straight.
"Thank you uncle. Won't you and your men eat something?"
The man laughed and smiled at Peerze. There was a hint of loving tenderness in his eyes which soon turned into tears as he sniffled. He took the napkin passed by a man standing behind. And wiped his tears before clearing his nose.
"My boy had grown up to be a compassionate man."
The uncle said in a breaking voice. The men surrounding the table, except the person who offered the napkin, were also in tears. Everyone tried to control their tears in the presence of their young master- Peerze.
After a while, drinks for everyone present was brought by the waiters, and everyone drank before wiping tears from their eyes. Only the man standing directly behind the uncle drank normally.
"Sir, he is here", the man behind the uncle bowed down and said.
…
Trace and Ergon climbed up the stairs and were walking towards the exit. The walk led alongside a glass railing with open tables at the other end. In between the railings were glass gates that could be pushed to enter the other side.
Just as Ergon saw the group around Peerze, he put up the puffed bag to hide his face and increased his speed. He cussed in his mind because he knew that the other party had noticed him. While looking back, Ergon asked Trace to take long steps too.
"Get him, men", a loud voice was heard followed by heavy footsteps.
Just as Ergon and Trace got out of the restaurant, they were surrounded by the men dressed in striped clothes. Ergon stood there motionlessly like a shocked duck until the uncle in tinted glasses arrived. Peerze was also following his uncle.
"Are you planning to ditch the meeting like last time?" the uncle said.
"Why would I need to do that when there is still some time left?" Ergon said in a complaining voice.
"You can't leave this place but I won't be at ease until I take you there with my own hands. Get him men!"
Seeing Trace was about to take something out of his pockets. Ergon shook his finger towards Trace. What is this poor boy going to do? Use smoke bombs they use at fortune telling? Ergon sighed in his heart, he was about to miss the opportunity to curry more favor with Trace.
"This matter is also of extreme importance for me. Lead the way like gentlemen. But I hope young master Peerze can show my guest around the complex," Ergon said.
"You bastard, why would our young master do it!"
The men took Ergon away after cursing loudly at the bizarre request. Before leaving the uncle hugged his nephew and tears veiled his eyes. The group also sobbed for a short period of time before everyone maned up like the person in their group who didn't even shed a single tear.
…
Trace was not sure of what to do anymore. Since, it was an important matter Ergon wished to attend he could not interfere. His hands were still gripped on the talisman holder. After taking a deep breath, he theoretically calculated in this mind - what could be the talisman that I should've taken out if I wanted to save someone from a group of people?
After thinking for a while, Trace arrived at an answer. The group leading Ergon had already disappeared in the distance. Trace looked around to see which direction he should take. Surprised, Trace noticed that the person wearing pearl rimmed glasses was still standing at the side.
Giving a light nod, Trace picked a direction and started moving. That person is named Peerze and seems like he has some sort of a gold card that can be used in this place, Trace pondered. Thinking about the time when the coachman had called him young master after seeing the gold card was also similar.
Maybe, it's the badge that is equivalent to gold card in this place. An idea popped in Trace mind as he looked at the badge on his chest. The badge had purple case, made up of Angelite, but it was hollow and painted black at the front. Whereas, Peerze's badge was a complete circular badge made up of pearl.
Trace looked around, seeing the different types of badges. There are four types of badge shapes with three different colors. Blue color for Angelite, purple for Amethyst, and deep creme for Perl.
This is the shop! Just as Trace turned towards the store, a familiar face popped up on the corner of his eyes. Trace couldn't help but nod at the figure present. Isn't his office in a different direction? Is he following me?