"I think my daddy could help us..."
'What?' Spark twitched his eyes when he heard her sentiment and silently wondered, 'She wasn't an orphan?'
"Your daddy could help us?"
Spark carefully asked, leaving her plenty of room to go into detail.
"Y-Yes ... You know, I actually live inside Monsoon City."
Laurel revealed her exalted origins. She is a meek, shy little girl with back-long suave blonde hair and light brown eyes, which indeed gave her a sweet and harmonious appearance, but nothing about her bearing indicated a wealthy descent when they first found her.
Just like everybody else, she was out of her wits, dirtied and rubbed in the stench of neglection, resulting in their previous presumption.
So the revelation came as a big surprise to everyone present. She was stumped by a storm of queries, innocently questioning her statement. Was she kidnapped from the Inner City? How did they smuggle her through the Gate Inspections? Such questions fell onto the little girl in quick succession.
A little overwhelmed she clarified what had happened.
"I-I snuck out the house to wander the outskirts. My daddy forbid me to go on my own, so I decided to do it without his approval. When I walked into an alleyway and everthing went dark suddenly and after waking up I found myself behind bars ..."
Laurel told her story with a sob. The other kids felt silent because they could deeply relate to how fear-stricken they were when they realized the truth of the situation, down in the dark, morbid cellar.
Gazes of complete understanding, compassion and pity fell onto the little girl.
Spark shared that sentiment but he silently scolded the blonde girl 'Isn't it too early to act like a rebellious teenager?'
'But what terrible luck ... To coincidentally be captured on the day she decided to sneak out.'
Spark freezed when he realized how improbable this thought was.
'...Was it really coincidence?'
Spark mulled over his thoughts quietly.
'It could very well been a hit of misfortune; a classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or perhaps... It was a premeditated kidnapping, strategically planned and woven with deeper ulterior motives.'
He needed to clarify his doubts.
"Laurel, dear ... when were you captured?" Spark softly chimed in, lowering his body to meet her eye to eye.
"Two or three days ago?" she honestly estimated.
Sogel suddenly spoke up.
"Right! I remember."
"That was the last time they brought in somebody new. A day and a half before you came to save us."
Spark asked the gaunt girl another of the doubts that pressed against his mind.
"But ... why didn't you tell us yesterday?"
If it was him, he would've told this information much sooner, but she replied with such clear-cut and reasonable logic that it left Spark speechless for second.
"...I was hungry and tired."
Before a vein could bulge on his temple, she added:
"And you can't pass through the Gate in the night anyways!"
Spark was stumped for a second, before recovering his bearing and nodding with a chortle.
"Haha, right ..."
"So where can I find your daddy to tell him you're safe?"
"It's on the Main Plaza, the three-story shop called 'Fantassimo'. He is always in there working..."
'What's up with the awkward name?'
Spark cringed at the poor-naming sense of the owner.
"And the name?"
"Uhm ... F-Fantassimo?"
"No, silly. The name of your father."
Laurel tilted her head in a fluster and replied quietly.
"Ohh .. it's Alessandro, Alessandro Oleppo."
A dignified name, is he the culprit behind the mishappened name?
Spark uttered this thought only silently. He would know soon anyways, so instead of questioning about the owner any further he asked about the more pressing matter, altough vaguely.
"Why do you think he could help us?"
...
"Because daddy can always help!"
Spark's expression stiffened once again, a light smile froze on his face in bafflement.
Right, can't expect better from a 9 year-old.
"Fine... it's worth a try, and I would have met him in any case," Spark announced while doing his best to sound unaffected, "I think it's better for you to wait here with Uncle Joey and Aunt Jessie. I'll make a trip to the city and inform your father of your well-being for now."
"Okay!"
Laurel agreed and did not sound disappointed by this development. In fact, she seemed eager to spend more time with the others, after they bonded over the terrible experience in the cold cellar. Joey,on the contrary, didn't look as convinced.
"Go on your own? No, let me accompany you. What if you end up as a target outside?"
Spark shook his head in disagreement.
"I don't believe I'll be a target prior to you. In their eyes you are the biggest threat by far. They do not neccessarily know about me, or at least about who I am." Spark retorted reasonably.
How can a non-cultivating youth be viewed as a dangerous obstruction? He only had some worth as a hostage, and even that was obscure to their opponents.
"What if something happens here in the meantime? We cannot risk it Joey!"
"It's more likely to happen if you're not present. We shouldn't disregard that possibility. I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if something happened because of my indecisiveness... And also... I can do it on my own, don't worry too much."
After Spark revealed his motives, Joey went silent. Indeed, they couldn't make such a blunder when danger was impeding. A Qi-Realm Artist was needed at the very least to promise safety to the feeble, powerless children.
Joey respected the young man's decision, since he came to respect his character. Spark always showed a mature disposition with fair and meaningful reasoning stemming his statements at all times.
Joey had a stern expression... He sighed after a while
"Fine. Be fast and... and take care of yourself... Godspeed."
"If you're not back by the evening, I'll come find you. No discussion"
Spark nodded with a smile, before deciding he really had to be back by dusk. He left the worried faces behind and made haste to the East-Side City Gate.
He wouldn't lose time now, when time was the most valuable resource in an information war. Before the hidden forces came to know about their whereabouts and all recent developments, it was advisable to pool all their power and resources in one place.
...Hopefully, in time. So that the invisible strings of the dark ploys they found themselves woven into, wouldn't cut their preparations apart.
'Let's just hope Alessandro can help us...'
Spark thought while sauntering through the outskirts, nearing the tall, dark stone walls.
'I'll need to find somebody else if he's no help."
It didn't take him too long to arrive at the Inner City gates because the majority of the outskirts were spread in vicinity of the City like an aqueous membrane, not stretching too far into the wilderness.
A gargantuan, steel portcullis peeked out from beneath the ceiling of a graceful, ancient stone arch. Its sheer size awoke awe in Spark at first. The sight was reminiscent of entrances of medieval stone castles, the only trait differentiating them, was their size.
The gate in front of him was humongous, doing the insurmountable height of the walls surrounding it justice.
The walls encircling Monsson City always peered above the houses in the outskirts and the slums, much like a looming shadow, but standing in front of them made Spark view the Inner City in a different light. The outskirts weren't small by any means, but in comparison to what the walls must hide inside, it's frankly, quite negligible.
He neared the Gate, which was mostly empty, except for the occasional straggler and some people in front. The queue wasn't very long and the cause for that was made clear to him when he arrived.
"People with no money, shouldn't think of entering our Monsoon City!"
A guard reprimanded an average looking male clad in clean cotton clothes. The former wore an shimmering iron plate armor covering most of his body, with exception of his head. He gripped an imposing massive steel halbert in his right hand, which was stuck in the ground next to him, with its blade pointed upwards. It was unclear to Spark, which Cultivation Realm the man possessed.
The geared up middle-aged man with jet black hair was quite eye-catching, but the most impressionable feature of his appearance was neither his armor nor the shimmering halbert. It was definitely his swollen blue eye and bruised cheek, making him stick out like a sore thumb and offsetting the cold guardian aura he was supposed to have.
With the blue hue around his eye he looked more like a choleric barfighter parading in someone else's armor and furthermore, he seemed to be in a very foul mood.
"But aren't 2 silvers entrance fee way too much, compared to before? It used to be only a couple dozen coppers!"
"I don't make the rules, I just follow them. Now get lost, until you have enough money!"
The guard spat out these words coldly, his foul mood growing worse by the second. The male from the outskirts dejectedly turned around, quietly cursing the guard on his way back. The people in line showed dark expressions when they heard of the fee raise. Some even left the queue of their own accord. They clearly weren't ready to pay the money for the entrance fee and did not want to raise a fuss with the guard. They wouldn't be able to handle the cosequences.
The people in front of Spark gave up two silvers reluctantly, the grumpy mood of the guard rubbing onto them in the process.
'Two Silvers just to enter? Who the hell thought of that? That's outrageous!'
Spark kept his nonchalant attitude. He wouldn't share his inner anger with the world outside, solely to avoid any mishaps. He accrued much more than 2 silvers during the loot of the the gangster hideout. Currently he had 7 Silver coins along with some copper change in his pockets. He could bear the expenses easily.
When it was his turn at the gate, he reached into his pouch and pulled out 2 coins, showing them clearly to the guard, before sliding them into the bowl on the small table. The guard scrutinized him with a cold expression, before granting him entrance.
'Better be careful around that guy, he seems more than ready to start trouble...'
When he entered through the gate, he found himself in a slightly broader plaza which narrowed into a long street, bordered by buildings on both sides. An appropriate amount of people went about their business in the street. Horse-carriages tuckered down and up a crossroad a couple hundred meters away, and Spark assumed he still had some distance to cover to reach the Fantassimo, but luckily there were enough people here to ask exactly how long it would take.
Finding the least busy person in the proximity, he asked for directions to the Fantassimo and kindly received the advice to reach the main-plaza first, and ask another person there. He would automatically find it on the left side if he carefully looked at the signboards. Supposedly it wasn't to be missed.
Following the directions to the main plaza, he consciously decided against boarding a public carriage and went ahead by foot, in order to soak in the sights of the streets he traversed. Up until now, he only saw the general situations in the slums and Outskirts, and there the situation was limited by monetary causes.
Only in the Inner City could he analyse the industrial progress of this planet!
Looking around leisurely, Spark found the vistas to be very similar to Earth's in some aspects. There weren't any buildings above three or four floors, except for the buildings which resembled small skycrapers and domes in the distance.
The smaller apartment complexes did their best to seem modern and fashionable, with ornate decorations filling the architectural parts of the houses. It seems that the inhabitants put a lot of value on appearances and face.
Lush, green gardens stretched from porches, which could only called artistic masterpieces. Some even going as far as carving statues of mystic and famous beasts out of wood and marble.
There were even effigies of important figures!
Spark didn't recognize the statues, since he was still quite ignorant of the Cultivating World's culture, but it was still very impressive to him.
But even he discerned the figure of a Phoenix peering out of a stainless steel gate, depicted on a marble stature. It was so meticulously crafted that Spark jolted back, expecting the statue to come alive and attack him. After ensuring it was just plain stone, he scolded its placement inwardly.
'D-Damn it ... I almost got a heart attack! What moron thought of hanging it so close to the street? I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone had already passed out at this corner. Just how frightening would the real deal be, when a stature can already invoke such shock?'
After inspecting the statue more accurately, his gaze wandered above the gates to the mansion. The corbels on the facade were inlaid with shiny metals and embellished its appearance multifold with countless squiggles and twirls. Golden-yellow paint almost blinded the observer with its resplendent shimmer and corroborated the estimated magnitude of wealth the owner must possess. It was the epitome of petty bravado, but the artistic side of Spark could appreciate the painstaking work that went into every detail.
After appreciating the mansion for abit, he kept on walking. He wouldn't lose any more time in awe. As Théo Floga, he had seen more grandious mansions, better architecture and the peak of human ostentatiousness. The splendor he had seen, certainly didn't lose to this sight. No, Spark assumed it even prevailed dominantly in most aspects, such as interior design and technological appliances.
He derived that assumption due to the presence of carriages on the road and lack of any notion of higher technology. But to substantiate his hypothesis, he would need to research in further detail.
Following the directions and signboards for another quarter of an hour, he finally reached a place which was bustling with huge amounts of people.
'That must be it.'
He has unmistakably reached the main-plaza. A sign on the cornerstone seperating the street he currently found himself on, gave the auspicious plaza a strange name.
'Monsoon's lair' was written plainly, but in bold print on the small wooden sign.
The first view that fell into his eye after he turned away from the signboard and entered deeper into the plaza, was the beautiful fountain standing proudly in the middle. A refined, monstrously detailed statue acted as the middle point, with the rest of the fountain surrounding it, somewhat lacking grace and impact, even though it was cluttered up with the most intricate designs and minerals.
The statue depicted a being Spark has never seen before. But it's grace rooted him to the ground for minutes. A lank snake layered its body into the air, stretching to devour the heavens itself. No blemish of dirt spotted its fair scales, which were so smoothly engraved, that you could mistake them for skin. The only smears were caused by the natural streaks of the marble itself, stretching on its surface and adding to the ancient, mystifying air it had and coating this mythical creature in an enigmatic look.
The tail on the ground had angelic rings wringling around it, somehow levitating in the air without moving. Spark could only attribute this strange sight to the wonders of the Elements. Further up, two unfurled wings broadened up to the sky, it was a fantastic view.
But the wings were not made up of feathers. Their fabric looked illusory and liquid with rotund corners, but paradoxically exuded sharp intents. They really looked like watery feathers until they turned into marble in the next blink of the eye.
Spark rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Holy rings also wreathed around the holy snakes neck and formed two protruding horns above its head to give birth to a magnificient sight.
'How could someone create such a perfect, lifelike statue...'
Recovering from his initial daze, he troddened alongside the marvelous being without taking his eyes of it, before he remembered his goal again.
"Right, right... the Fantassimo shop."
He looked left and right and asked the next best person about the shop's whereabouts. A pair of woman and man sat on one of the wooden benches, beneath the statue.
"Excuse me, do you, perhaps know where the 'The Fantassimo' is?"
The pair looked up and scanned Spark from foot to head subconsciously before the man shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
"Of course, who doesnt? It's right there," he pointed to a spot in the scrummage before resuming, "but it's best you don't disturb the owner right now. It's ... not the best moment."
"Oh ... why is that?" Spark asked curiously.
"Just ... don't, if you wish to buy his products in the future," the man said with creased brows and refrained to elaborate.
The man waved Spark away with a scrunched up eyes, indicating the end of the conversation.
Not taking this advice to heart at all, Spark nonchalantly made his way to the place he was pointed towards. It wasn't out of ignorance or invidiousness, but because of the simple fact that he could guess the reason of Alessandro's desperation.
After ambling down the street, he found the 'Fantassimo' with relative ease. Arguably, it was not as decorated and fancy compared to the other shops in the plaza, but it exuded an alluring charme with intricate statues of a longsword and an axe left and right of the entrance. A monotonous cream-coloured paint washed the building in a strange familiarity and its normalcy made it stand out.
'The Fantassimo' was carved onto a massive steel plate skillfully and hung above the entrance. Before entering though, he vented out the cringe about the terrible naming sense with a discernible quiver, as to not carelessly ask and alienate the other party and of course to also identify his intentions one more time before giving the door three clear knocks.
Short silence filled the moment after, before an angry voice hoarsely shouted with an incredulous subtone.
"We are closed! I thought even the most foolish mongrel would understand such a simple matter by the sign at the door!" the shouts became more irritated and louder as heavy stomps burst onto the shop floor.
"But some people really want to die before their parents!" the threatening statement echoed onto the door from the inside, before the door swinged back in terrible speed.
A burly giant of two meters ripped open the door and his dark yellow eyes gazed onto the visitor viciously. His bulky arms pulsated in anger as he gripped the steeled doorhandle without restraint.
It seemed that he was not the first visitor to knock on the door today.
'Is that a giant?!'
Spark drew in a cold gasp when he discerned the figure behind the door. Short, dark blonde hair and a scruffy blonde beard, coupled with the toppling, burly stature of the man in front of him was enough to make him jolt back in fright, but he kept his cool and gazed at the figure opposite of him.
"Is Alessandro Oleppo in the house? I bring important news."
Spark asked nonchalantly, outwardly completly unfazed by the fast pace of the situation. The tall man in front lowered his head in along with his torso to look Spark straight in the face before he spat out his next words coldly.
"That would be me. What important information did you bring?"
'And she decided to disregard this beast's orders? Spark drew in a cold gasp mentally. She might be even braver than me...'
Ignoring the cold atmopshere he had inside of him and the spice of threat he felt on the outside, Spark answered him with a polite smile.
"It concerns your daughter. Can I come in?"
* * *
Three people were seated opposite to each other on red velvet couches. A young grey-black haired man faced a couple in front of him while sipping on an unfamiliar tea from porcelaine cups. Currently, they were on the second floor of the 'Fantassimo' building.
"W-What did you just say?"
A tall and horridly bulky man incredulously stammered. A slender, brown-eyed woman with curly brown hair, sat closely next to the man and gazed at him with her red, tired and exhausted eyes ripped apart, and her quivering fine mouth slightly agape.
The young man in front of them repeated himself without a change of expression after setting down the saucer and cup on the table carefully. He gave them an assuring nod.
"I said your daughter is fine, we have successfully rescued her from a prison-complex in the slums."
The curly haired madame let out a shrill gasp when her brain processed the sentence she heard.
"Y-You found Laurel? Is she fine? Whe- where is she ... can you lead us to our daughter?"
She garbled her words and stumbed over her tongue when she spoke. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking, but the sheer worry and relief in her voice was crystal clear and Spark felt relieved alongside with them, to be able to bear such good news.
"Don't worry Madame, she has received great care and is unharmed. Currently she stays at 'The Shelter', down in the outskirts, alongside the other rescued children and a trustworthy guardian. By the way, how may I adress you?"
"T-thats a relief ... thank you," she said softly, suppressing her sob to speak clearly „and –oh right, my name is Corale. Can you tell me how we can adress you?"
Spark nodded slightly and waved:
"No need to thank us, everyone with a shred of morals would have done the same. And you can call me Spark. Just Spark."
"Alright then, Spark. Lead us to the Shelter you talked about, immediately!"
Alesso interrupted with a fiery voice, his hands gripping his thighs tightly. Judging by first impression, he was a very ... passionate man. Spark looked at him and shaked his head before elaborating.
"I wished to talk to you a bit more, before we do that." he sighed and a serious expression formed on his face.
"We have plenty of reason to assume, that the danger has not passed, so we hoped to receive your support. Presuming, you have reached the Qi Realm, of course?"
Spark somehow concluded that the human colossus in front of him must have reached the Qi Realm already.
But that was only his impression, he needed to make sure.
"More danger?"
Alesso furrowed his brows before proving Spark's thoughts right
"It's been a long time since I reached the Qi Realm. Now tell me, what danger are you talking about exactly?"
Alesso stared at Spark with slitted eyes, expecting a quick answer.
"For that, I'll have to explain in detail ..."
Spark started to recount the happenings of the last day.
...
Of course he omitted details like the Bone Marrowing Pill or the Clearing Cloud Arts, but lapidarly mentioned all other vital information including gangster boss Celas, the recovered contraband, the prison cellar, Laurel's immediate kidnap his suspicion of hidden forces in the Inner City, therefore painting an adequate picture of the situation.
Ending the story with a sigh, he looked at the pair who had listened carefully to that point and asked them a question that was stuck in his mind.
"So, I've wondered if, perhaps, there was something that could've drawn attention to Laurel or maybe even been a big enough reason to target your family?"
Alesso und Corale sat in silence, pondering about what Spark had said. Alesso fell back in the suave couch, making the delicate structure squeak in terror.
"You probably saw my shop's trade downstairs."
The Blonde Giant drew in a whale's breath and sighed loudly, "I sell the best Weapons and Soul Bounds in Monsoon City, so naturally there are many envious mongrels!"
He shaked his head and opened his yellow slant eyes glimmering with furious resentment before adding on:
"But so far not one of these fools have tried anything sketchy in particular, but now that I look back, there is one thing I own in particular, that could be very tempting ..."
Spark listened curiously and pressed on when he saw Alesso hesitating, "What thing? Do people know about it? Mr. Oleppo, any leads could prove fruitful."
Seeing that it wasn't the time for secrecy and surreptitious bullshitting, Alessando crossed his arms and nonchalantly commented, "Some weeks ago, an aquaintance of mine found a genuine Space Ring and sold it to me."
Spark's face contorted into a frown with dark lines hanging over his grey eyes.
'... A what now?'