Inside the 7th settlement, Dan left the Bath and searched for Basar..
It is afternoon already. Basar seems to be attending the customers. Dan didn't disturb him. After Dressing up Dan left the Tavern.
Legacy opened a panel before his eyes. This is a basic map of 7th settlement with crude lines and 4 striking blue points. According to Legacy those are the locations of the Nav-crystals.
Looking at the map Dan's suspicions came true.
"Dan: As I thought. This can't be just a coincidence." Dan spoke.
"Legacy: Yeah. You are right. It seems Humans from this planet also know something about Nav-crystals. If not multiple crystals shouldn't be stocked in 4 particular places." Legacy confirmed Dan's thoughts.
"Dan: Even still, we should check these 4 locations. Just in case." Dan replied and started wandering the settlement. As he was moving the crude map of Legacy kept getting more detailed.
Dan finally reached the 1st location. What he saw didn't make him happy. Not only those crystals are in Human hands, out of all places why it has to be the Peace keepers Headquarters. Dan cursed his Luck but didn't stop walking. Dan just slightly glanced at the headquarters, and walked past it like a ordinary passerby without garnering any attention.
With out stopping Dan Directly walked towards the 2nd location. When he finally reached the 2nd location he cursed his damn luck again. The 2nd location was actually the Central Hall. As if the Peacekeepers Headquarters was not hard enough.. His Damn luck upped the difficulty level. Like before Dan have to walk past it dejectedly.
The 3rd location was actually a Normal looking House. It was such a stark contrast of the previous locations that, Dan's Instincts screamed, There is something definitely Wrong with this place. Dan didn't linger here either. As he was leaving, He got a glimpse of the man by the window. Dan walked past the house like a ordinary passerby.
What Dan didn't know was that, the man by the window kept looking at Dan's leaving figure.
Few minutes later Dan finally reached the last location. And it was totally out of his expectations. It is a place where Desire, lies, Hate and envy are all mixed together. Yep, this is the Red light district of the 7th settlement.
Be it Gambling, prostitution, Outlaws this place has everything. Dan is not a fan of such place. As Dan was about to leave Legacy's voice stopped him.
Dan saw a fat man came out the building with a woman in very revealing clothes. The woman giggled and went inside the building again. The fat man smiled lecherously and started walking. Dan followed after him.
"Dan: Are you sure he is the man?" Dan asked Legacy.
"Legacy: It is definitely him. Not only the crystal is on him, He is also the one who sold Hesta those Transformation scripts." Legacy answered.
Finally, The fat man entered a decent looking house. Dan left like a passerby, but he made a mental note of that place. There is no need for Dan to linger anymore so started walking towards the Tavern.
"Dan: Did you note down all the locations?" Dan asked Legacy in his mind.
"Legacy: Perfectly. The Peacekeeper Headquarters have 3 Nav-crystals, The central Hall have the most, 7 crystals, the 3rd location have 2 crystals and finally the fat man have the last one. What are your further orders?" Legacy asked after reporting everything.
"Dan: Let's change the plan a little. First we will rob that fat man. Then we will think about other locations while getting strong."
When Dan returned to the Tavern it is already evening. Basar was waiting for him. When he saw Dan he asked in worry, "Basar: Are you alright? You are acting weird since morning?"
"Dan: No. I am completely fine. Today is just another bad Day. That's all." Dan assured his Boss.
"Basar: Listen Dan, If you are facing any difficulties just tell me. You are not alone in this world. I will support you." Basar replied While patting Dan's head.
"Dan: Don't worry. I have no intention of making my life miserable." Dan spoke with a smile.
"Basar: You are stubborn. Fine. I am leaving for central Hall. You clean this place." Giving orders Basar left for delivery.
"Legacy: He is a good man. You respect him so much." Legacy stated.
"Dan: Yeah. If not for him I would have died in some alley like a sewer rat. I owe him a lot."
Dan told Legacy his story..
Dan never saw his mother. Apparently she died after giving birth to Dan. His father never let him feel the absence of a mother. He was like a Mountain that protected him, sheltered him.
When those othersiders came and recruited him, that was the last time he saw his Father. Dan waited for his return but he didn't came back. What could have a hungry, scared 8 year old cowardly brat could have done in that situation?
He started stealing to stay alive. Sometimes luck shined on him, Often it didn't. When it didn't, Dan had to sleep in a cold abondened house with his bruised body and rumbling stomach. Still he held on. His father used to say, Expect good when you are in your worst.
Maybe finally that good day came my father always talked about. It was a usual day for me. I saw a short man and tried to steal from him. But I failed..
I covered my face by instinct. Whenever I fail the game, the other party always attacked my face first. But it was different that day. That hand came but it didn't hit me.. it gently patted my head. The feeling I forgot at some point. That familiar feeling.. the warmth of my father's hand. After so long.. I felt that touch again.
"Basar: If you want. You can come work for me. I will make you some delicious food." That weird man said.
That day changed my life.
Dan sighed and started cleaning..
"Legacy: Rare.. They are rare you know.. People like Basar. Especially In a cruel world like this one. Helping someone without expecting something in return, Not anyone can do it." Legacy praised.
"Dan: He is a fatherly figure to me. I will Make him proud. I will become the Best Chef in the whole Marus Forest.. no in the whole world." Dan Replied while cleaning.
"Legacy: I always wondered, Why do want to be a Chef and not something else." Legacy asked.
Dan smiled slightly and answered, "Dan: That Day when Basar asked me to work for him, I agreed only for free food. I can still remember that day.
Basar just bought a fresh Dirima from a hunter. He cut the meat. Battered it. Spiced it and made his special curry. I was so hungry. I haven't eaten anything in 2 days.
When Basar served me that Curry, I ate.. like a beast. But Basar stopped me. He advised me to enjoy the Taste, Not just eat like a beast. That day for the 1st time in my life I enjoyed my food. He taught Me like that food, LIFE should not be just SURVIVED. It should be ENJOYED. So, I made my Dream to Enjoy my life the way I like IT.
"Legacy: Although, Artificial Human emotions are installed in me. But for some reason I fell like I learned something New. I feel like a gained something unexplainable." Legacy replied in a uncertain tone.
After sharing his story with Legacy, Dan felt like a Burden just lifted off his shoulders. He felt weirdly refreshed. Although, they were just two random strangers a day ago, Now they are acting like old friends.. It's like Dan found a relative he never had.
As they say.. A true friend is more than 10000 Relatives.