Coming down to the first floor, Nolan noticed it was dark outside. The restaurant was still full, though, and as busy as ever.
They didn't mind the restaurant on the first floor and headed straight to the floor door under the stairs.
Entering the floor door, they walked down the stairs, finally arriving at the gambling facility.
The basement, now the gambling facility was well-lighted thanks to the large oil lamps hung on the wall.
The gambling facility was crowded and very noisy too.
Nolan's gaze instantly fell on Nara. She was behind the half-moon reception table, stuck close to the wall, carefully observing the situation in the gambling facility.
Their eyes met.
Nolan smiled and together with Harley, walked over to her.
"Nolan, you returned?" Nara asked, surprised. "That's a relief. With you, we could definitely think of something to put that stupid noble in his place and get revenge." She added angrily.
"Nara, calm down," Nolan spoke seriously. "Harley has already told me about your situation. You can't act rashly. Otherwise, your old enemies will find you."
"Hmph! So what if they find us? I just have to fight to the death." Nara looked straight into Nolan's eyes, clenching her fists.
This shocked Nolan a bit. Previously, no matter the situation, she was always calm and collected. This was his first time seeing Nara like this, so enraged and reckless.
"Okay, let's say you fight to the death. But if they destroyed your family when you were a powerful noble, what chance do you have against them now? And what will happen if you die? Do you think Harley could live without you? And what about Henry? Have you thought about him? What will happen to him?"
Hearing Nolan's words, Nara lowered her head. She finally came to herself and realized what her reckless actions could cause.
She came from behind the half-moon table and stood before Harley and Nolan.
"Thank you." Nara bowed slightly to Nolan. "Thank you for waking me up."
She then turned to Harley. "Dear..." She jumped into his arms. "I'm sorry."
Harley hugged her tightly. "It's good that you came to yourself."
They stood like that, hugged, for a while.
Nolan waited patiently on the side with a smile on his face.
After a few minutes, Nara let go of Harley.
"But why have you come here?" She asked.
"Nara, we can't beat Bonosus on our own," Nolan said. "We came here to ask about the underground organizations in this city. We plan to join forces with an underground organization."
"That's a good idea, but I don't think anyone here is willing to tell us anything. After all, very few dare to talk about underground organizations. They could lose their lives." Nara said.
"Nara, how much are we making from this gambling facility?" Nolan asked.
"I don't know. I am in charge of the restaurant and the chambers. Harley is in charge of this gambling facility. I come here only occasionally." Nara replied.
"About twenty taels of silver a day," Harley said.
Nolan smiled. "Good."
"Everyone!" Nolan shouted from the bottom of his lungs.
The loud voices of the people slowly died down, and everyone turned towards Nolan.
"Our restaurant wants to make a partnership with an underground organization," Nolan spoke, "However, we are not knowledgeable about the underground organizations, so please enlighten us."
After Nolan finished talking, dead silence filled the gambling facility. Everyone turned their gazes away from Nolan.
'They really don't dare to say anything.' Nolan thought.
"Don't worry!" Nolan shouted again. "You will not be in danger. Also, whoever gives us information about the underground organizations, we will reward him with five taels of silver, and he will be treated as an honorary guest of our restaurant."
However, even after Nolan announced they would give rewards, the dead silence remained. No one dared to say anything.
Nolan gritted his teeth in anger. 'Is really no one going to step out?' Nolan thought.
Just as Nolan started losing hope, a man stepped out.
'Thank god.' Nolan sighed a sigh of relief.
The man that stepped out looked to be in his middle sixties. He had sparse white hair.
"I know a bit about the underground organizations." The man said.
"Sir, please come this way," Nolan said with a wide smile.
Nolan led the way out of the gambling facility while Harley and Nara remained there.
On the first floor, the restaurant was full.
"Layla!" Nolan called out.
Layla, which ran around serving customers, immediately ran over to Nolan.
"Boss?"
"Is there an empty table?" Nolan asked with a serious expression.
Layla shook her head. "Every table is full."
I see. What about a chamber, then?"
"There are a few empty chambers. Do you want me to prepare a chamber for this sir?" She asked, examining the man that stood beside Nolan with her gaze.
"Layla, bring us to the chamber," Nolan commanded.
"Y-Yes." She uttered, lowering her head. This was her first time seeing Nolan like this. She had seen him angry before, but she has never seen Nolan this serious and commanding. His serious tone made her uncomfortable.
She led the way upstairs.
Along the way, she kept silent, as well as Nolan and the man.
Layla stopped before a door. "Boss, please." She opened the door of the chamber.
Nolan and the man entered the chamber.
"Come inside too," Nolan commanded Layla.
Without another choice, she followed inside.
"Layla, you will bring us a hot pot and the best wine we have here. Also, find Nara or Harley and ask them to give you five taels of silver and then bring the money to me. " Nolan ordered.
"Is that all, Boss?" Layla asked, clenching her clothes in her hand.
"Yes,"
Layla immediately left the chamber and headed downstairs, towards the kitchen.
In the center of the chamber was a little table and short, three-legged chairs around. When Layla left, Nolan sat on a three-legged chair before the table, and the man sat opposite him.
...
Downstairs, in the kitchen.
Layla entered the kitchen.
The kitchen was just a large room with a few brick ovens fueled with wood. Also, the corners of the rooms were full of large wine jars.
Inside the kitchen were Nara and a few other cooks.
Nara had left Harley to look after the gambling facility and had come into the kitchen to help the cooks because the restaurant was full, and they barely completed the orders from the customers.
"One hot pot, please," Layla said to the cooks.
"Aghhh! Another hot pot! Why are they all ordering the hardest food to make?" A cook complained.
"Well, maybe because it is the most delicious one?" Another cook replied.
"Alright, alright. I know it's hard, but please endure." Nara encouraged. "I will give everyone a bonus."
"Thank you, Boss!" The cook that complained previously shouted happily.
"Boss Nara is the best!" The other cook shouted.
"Alright, everyone, focus," Nara said.
The cooks immediately focused back on their work.
"B-Boss Nara," Layla quietly called out for Nara.
"What happened?" Nara turned to Layla.
"Boss Nolan is acting strange. I have a bad feeling that something bad will happen."
"Layla, don't worry. As long as Nolan is there, nothing bad would happen." Nara reassured Layla.
Layla nodded. Though she still had her doubts, there was nothing she could do.
She took a large jar of wine and two cups and headed upstairs towards the chamber where Nolan and the man were.
Knock, knock!
She knocked on the door of the chamber.
"Come in."
She heard Nolan's voice and entered the room.
She placed the jar of wine on the table and filled the cups.
"Did you bring the money?" Nolan asked.
"Boss, Boss Nara will prepare the money." Layla lied. "I will bring them together with the hot pot."
"Alright, go."
Layla then left the chamber.
Nolan's blood boiled for a moment. When Layla was leaving the chamber, he noticed the man staring at her buttocks with lustful eyes.
However, Nolan controlled himself. 'Calm down. Just comply with him and get the information about the underground organizations.' Nolan thought.
"Now," Nolan raised the cup and took a sip. "Let's talk about the underground organizations."
"Hahahah! Yes, yes, yes." The man took his cup of wine. He drank it in one gulp. "What do you want to know?"
"How many underground organizations are in this city?" Nolan asked. "Do you know anything about their leaders?"
The man filled his cup with wine. "There are four underground organizations in this city. The Red Rose organization. This organization is in decline because its leader Rosalia had been killed some time ago. Also, this organization is active in the south part of this city."
The man drank his cup of wine in one gulp again. " The Viper organization, there are only rumors about this organization and their leader. The rumors say that this organization is very cruel. There are also rumors saying that their leader eats snakes. This organization is active in the north part of the city."
The man filled his cup again. "There is also a Black Rose organization. The leader of this organization is a woman, like the leader of The Red Rose organization. Rumors had it that The Red Rose organization and The Black Rose organization are mortal enemies. This organization is active in the east part of the city." The man explained.
However, he didn't continue explaining and stopped.
"When are you going to give me the money?" The man asked.
"Don't worry about the money. Layla will bring them soon." Nolan assured the man. "Just continue."
"I won't say a word more until I see the money." The man said stubbornly.
'Fu.ck you! Stupid fossil.' Nolan cursed inside, gritting his teeth.
Just as the man said, he didn't say another word. He and Nolan sat in silence and drank wine for about ten minutes.
Knock, knock!
The knocking on the door broke the silence.
"Come in," Nolan said.
The door opened, and inside entered Layla, carrying a hot pot and chopsticks.
She placed the hot pot on the table.
"Boss, here are the money." Layla took the money out of the belt of her hanfu and passed them to Nolan.
"Kyaaa!" She screamed suddenly.