March 21st 10:25 AM. Suou strolled the streets of the Red Light District. Since it's still daytime, the streets wasn't as lively as nighttime. He approached a building where no one would have thought was a gambling house.
It looked like any normal abandoned building without any logos.
Upon entering, he was greeted by the stench of burned out cigarettes and the sounds of chips hitting the tables. A woman wearing a fitted suit approached him, judging from her attire, he had to guess that she was one of the Host Greeters here.
"Good Morning, sir. Are you here to play?" She asked.
"No, I came here last time. Can you get the manager for me?" He asked her.
The woman's work smile dimmed a bit before she led him inside to an empty table, "you may sit here, sir. I'll go get the manager." She bows slightly before rushing off in the other direction.
Suou leaned back and studied the room. It wasn't full just yet, so he didn't see anyone who matched the description of being down on their luck or anything like that. A man Suou recognized, followed behind the woman from earlier.
"Suou! I see you've come back!" This man is the casino manager of this gambling house. He was a man in his forties like himself, with short brown hair, styled in a messy faux hawk, and at least 180 centimeters tall, with a large belly.
"It's been a while, manager." Suou greets standing to shake his hand. The manager beams in his direction.
"No need to be so polite, its good to see you're face again , its been a few days. I remembered you requested me to find you some people for you last time." The manager joins him at the table and dismisses the woman.
"That's right, how'd it go?" Suou asked.
The manager waves over someone to bring them drinks before facing him again, "I did find them for you. To be honest, I'm curious. Why is a man like you looking for people who's lives are pretty much hopeless?"
A man like him? He wondered what the manager meant by that. Maybe there will be a day he figures out what kind of person the manager thought him to be.
"The people you found for me, are they here?" Suou asked.
"Ho ho, changing the subject. I guess I'll find out eventually," the manager was curious about this man sitting before him.
The first time he met Suou, he had been strolling the night streets of the Red Light District. It seemed he had been recruiting or hiring people for something. Out of curiosity, the manager introduced himself and somehow they became quick acquaintances.
He learned that Suou was looking for clients who were pretty much homeless or looking to change their lives. The clients can't have attachments, and if they did have them, it was crucial to be certain that their attachments didn't have attachments.
"They're here, but you have to promise that you will come to me from now on with this type of job." The manager points out.
The manager leans back into his chair, "also now that we're partners of some kind, you can stop calling me manager. From now on, you'll call me Shi Fang." He says.
"I don't..." Suou didn't finish his sentence.
Shi Fang waves a hand at him and crossed his arms.
"It's fine. I'm quite interested in finding out what you're doing with these people. Just see me as someone you can trust, if you ever want to tell me something, I'm all ears." Shi Fang says.
Suou sighs. he could tell this man was the stubborn type. It looks like he made quite the strange acquaintance.
"Now, let me point out the two people who did arrive." Shi Fang beckons for him to take a look around the room.
The first person Shi Fang pointed out, was a woman dealing cards at a Blackjack Table. One would not have guessed that she was someone down on her luck with the way she smiles.
"Don't be so quick to judge. That woman there is known as Kong Wuhan. She's a twenty-four year old single mother of two. I know you said no attachments, but there are kids involved, so I'm sure she can take them with her." Shi Fang points out.
"So, what's her deal?" Suou asked.
"I figured you'd ask that. I have all her information since she's my employee. Her boyfriend died in a car accident about a year ago, leaving her to deal with all the bills and two fussy children. She has no debt but money is tight. I heard someone mention that she was willing to do anything to turn her situation around." Shi Fang explains.
Well that certainly sounded like someone he was looking for. It's a bit much to expect her to want to bring her two children into a fantasy world, though.
"How old are her two children?"
Shi Fang grins, "luckily their still toddlers who are still under the age of five." he answers.
It still bothers him, but it's not like he didn't have children contracted. This would be totally up to the mother, after all. "She seems to be good." Suou finally says.
"I'm glad. Next, if you look over by the slot machines, you'll find your next client." Shi Fang nods over to the other side of the room. He also gave a brief description of the person's appearance so that Suou could find them.
There weren't many people by the slot machines, so it wasn't hard to spot that person. Judging by the woman's messy appearance, he could tell she was someone down on her luck.
"That woman there, comes here every morning to play slots. She always looked like she was in a trance. So, I had my men do a background check on her. Xiang Hui, thirty-two, no husband, kids or parents. Looks like she's been an orphanage since she was small, no one dared to adopt her due to behavioral issues." Shi Fang taps the table lightly before speaking again.
"I'm not sure if she's good enough for you though."
Suou shook his head, "no, she's perfect." A person like this will probably be easy to persuade.
Shi Fang explained that the others he found for him won't arrive until later. Suou never expected that he'd be spending the entire day in the Red Light District. He somehow feel blessed that he didn't have to go searching for people himself.
*************************
Fu Fang Gambling House 9:00 PM.
Suou never thought that he had anything in common with Shi Fang. But the more he hang around the gambling house, the more he realized that Shi Fang may look tough, but he was actually a kind man.
He took time to drink with him, and even treated him like a VIP guest. Why was this person interested in him, someone who can't spend money in this place?
"Looks like the others have arrived." Shi Fang says as customers began flooding the gambling house. Some had tons of money to buy chips, while others barely had any. Shi Fang wasn't the type to turn them away and always offers a discount or a certain amount of chips to these type of clients.
After taking care of business, Shi Fang rejoins Suou to point out the remaining three clients.
They were each different ages, with backgrounds no one would expect.
First there was a family man with a wife and a teen-aged son.
Wen Zhihao, Thirty-eight, a small-time salesperson who barely gets paid minimum wage. Has a gambling addiction.
Tan Zhihao, Thirty, an ex-marine on leave due to old injuries. Wishes her husband would stop gambling.
And last their son, Lian Zhihao, fourteen, a bullied kid who wishes his parents would stop fighting.
The entire family wants to get away from their life and change it for the better. Apparently they'd sign a contract with the devil himself if it meant they could.
They would be considered one whole contract if they agreed to become his clients. As for the last two Shi Fang introduced, they were as follows:
Huang Hai, fifty-six, an elderly woman who comes to the gambling house not to gamble but to make friends. She has no attachments but it was uncertain if she would be willing to leave Earth behind.
Yao Xun, nineteen, a rich spoiled brat. He's an illegitimate son who's unwanted by his father. His mother died long ago, and since then he's done nothing but come to the Red Light District to gamble or pick up chicks.
Someone like that would probably jump at the idea of becoming a player.
"These are pretty impressive. I quite like them." Suou says.
"I'm glad I was of help. If you ever need me to look for people outside this joint, just give me a call." Shi Fang handed over his card.
Suou accepted it gratefully.
"This way, you don't have to travel all the way here. I'm sure you have things to take care of." Shi Fang stood and turned to leave.
He paused, "I set up a meeting in my office with those five, so be sure to go there around eleven." He adds.
"I'll be sure to remember that." Suou says with a nod.
****************************
Office Meeting 10:50 PM.
Yao Xun sat down in one of the armchairs facing the desk. He watched as four others enter the room followed by the Casino Manager. "Hey, old man, why have you called us here?" He asked impatiently.
"What a rude young man." The elderly woman huffed before taking a seat in the other armchair.
The others stood around the office also wondering the same thing. They thought perhaps they violated some rules so they were called back here. Of course the Casino Manager assured them this wasn't the case.
After ten minutes went by, there was a soft knock on the door, The Casino Manager stood to answer it. He greeted someone at the door and another man followed him inside.
"Thanks. I got it from here. For purposes I don't wish to explain. Would you kindly leave us be until I step out?" The man asked the manager.
"Alright. I understand. But let me remind you," The manager placed a hand on his shoulder, "I may look like this but you can trust me. Whatever secret business you're dealing with, if ever you decide I'm trustworthy. You have to promise to let me in on it." He says.
Suou agreed, maybe one day he will tell him. Unfortunately, it won't be now. Once the people in this room signed the contract whatever they see in this room, will stay in this room. That was the power of the contract.
Shi Fang stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. He couldn't help but feel there was something interesting about Suou, which is why he was drawn to him. It would be great to befriend him, maybe if he does, one day he'll see what he's hiding.
Suou turned to face the five people who may become his newly obtained clients. His goal here was to see if any of them truly wanted to change their lives even if it meant they may die.