"Welcome to Eden!" A hostess with a formal suit welcomed the customers with open arms. She was especially excited after interacting with an intimate couple, who greeted her courteously.
Though male customers visited frequently for the services, it was rare for such a beautiful woman to be interested in their bar.
The man was wearing a suit with a peculiar-looking turquoise striped tie underneath a long, wool coat while the woman sticking close to his arm was dressed all white except for her golden heels and her beige coat.
Although inside the bar, there was air conditioning, looking at them, she felt scorched. Despite their eccentricities, she properly fulfilled her duties as a hostess and guided them around the bar. It was a good thing the couple's table was along the way in the innermost section, or else she would have to make a double trip.
Her legs were already hurting enough as it was.
"I am Lloyd, and she is my wife, Freya. Pleased to meet you." The gentleman initiated a conversation with her.
"I am Ashiana, the hostess of this club." She replied.
"So you own Eden?"
"I am the manager but the owner is a different person. Although we have meetings between managers of each Eden branch and the vice president, it's rare to meet the boss. The one at the very top who controls everything and gets the most profit. Although I am excited to see him, I am glad I didn't ever run into him."
"I get your thoughts." The woman chimed in. "Superiors just radiate a different aura from us, normal workers."
"You are right. Just like the customers here. Even if they are in the bar, just this close to me, fundamentally, they live in a different world from us." The lights reflected in her longing eyes told the couple she had an unrequited love for one of the regular VIP customers. Noticing Freya's sympathetic gaze on her, she stopped talking about herself and continued to give the context information of the bar.
"Anyways, Eden has many important shareholders and collaborated with a company, specialized in producing alcoholic drinks and distinctive recipes that sets Eden apart from any other bars. We also have other special services customers could choose to make their experience with us a refreshing paradise away from reality."
"It reminds me of a euphoriant."
Hearing the word 'euphoriant', Ashiana stopped in her tracks. "What a shame that I have to leave now. I wanted to talk with you a bit longer."
All of a sudden?
Freya was taken by surprise because Ashiana seemed like she wanted to stay longer with them but let it go. "Us too. We can't wait to try out your set of snacks and drinks."
"Ah, these special products are made personally by our staff here, after receiving training from the company I mentioned earlier."
"May we know the name of this company? I have been hearing you talk about it so enthusiastically, so I got curious." Freya asked with a gentle voice.
Ashiana answered. "If I remember right, it is called Lilith."
He paused before replying. "I see. Thanks for telling us."
The couple and Ashiana bid farewell in front of a private room.
"Wait!" Running after her quickly in her heels, Freya called out to Ashiana, who was taken by surprise, and held onto her sleeve.
Ashiana faked a professional smile. "What is it?"
Rummaging through her handbag, Freya handed her two mini animal band aids. She flashed a warm grin at her. "You are hurt."
"How did you…?"
"I am a woman as well, so I can tell. Your black high heels must be newly bought since I didn't see signs of the stilettos being polished or any scratches on the leather. Since it's a new pair, walking all around with it from morning to afternoon would hurt quite a bit."
Ashiana, stunned that Freya had noticed such a minor wound, almost broke into tears. Ever since her brother died at their hands, it had been a long time since anyone had sincerely cared for her like this, even if it was a stranger.
"Are you perhaps Sherlock Holmes?" Ashiana felt a bit more comfortable to joke around with Freya, stepping out of her bounds as a hostess.
"I am not. It's just an observation." Freya noticed Lloyd calling back for her. "Anyways, see you later!" Her blonde hair cascaded up to her waist swayed side to side as she walked back to her husband waving at her merrily.
Despite having little time to know each other, being embroiled in this dirty trade voluntarily, Ashiana hoped this loving couple wouldn't find out about Eden's true business lying underneath this bustling and animatic bar.
The corner had three large sections divided for each set of eight-person tables with light metal chairs. Guided to the first section, the furthest away from the corner of the room where the bathroom for guests was and the closest to the lively center of the room where people were chatting with each other or vibing along with the music alone.
The couple seated themselves next to each other on the left side of the round black marble metal table since they knew the other didn't like to sit in the middle.
"Why did you give her the band aid?" Lloyd pouted.
"Why are you asking?" Freya asked densely, guessing the reason for his displeasure. "By any chance, are you jealous, Lis?"
"Yes." He immediately answered, pouting adorably just like Raul and Rune when they couldn't get what they wanted. "Don't answer my question with another question."
It wasn't necessary to explain his thoughts, but Val guessed Callisto wouldn't let him off that easily. As per his personality, he would complain persistently until Val'd grown tired of his voice. Coming closer to him, Val replied. "To secure our lifeline."
It wouldn't matter if others heard them since Val already had his illusion spell cast on the whole bar. Even though most werewolves were able to use the illusion spell - how powerful it affected others depended on their rank and their innate bloodline, they weren't able to easily break through the illusion unlike vampires whose senses were quite sharp and had many illusion spells cast on them before.
To counter this weakness, werewolves had a mixture of various crushed herbs, developed by a wolf shaman.
"She's the manager." Callisto couldn't keep up with Val's thought process.
"If she had a conscience seeing us buy the drugs, I hope she would convince us not to. In a way, I am also giving her a chance to live honestly. Looking at our attire, she should be aware we are quite rich. We can then provide her a job. If she decides to turn a blind eye, then I am going to wipe her out along with the other bastards."
All of a sudden, his jealousy seemed petty in face of Val's carefully thought out plan. Callisto silently gave a nod. "We sure should."
Val sighed, already exhausted from dealing with Callisto.
In the first place, why did he even agree to come here…to Eden?
As Callisto came back from his meeting, it already turned seven. He flopped down onto the sofa beside Val, who was worried about his condition.
"What happened?"
"I found the location of Ebon."
"What is Ebon?" Val feigned ignorance about the matter he learnt recently. Val had a feeling he shouldn't tell Callisto he let the boys go to make a deal with them or else he'd go kill them secretly where he couldn't supervise them.
"Ebon is a criminal syndicate, which handed out types of drugs to werewolves like euphoriants but mainly enhancement drugs. I extracted some info from memories of Novela, that traitor."
"No wonder you took so long. That also explains why a faint trace of blood was lingering around you. Anyways, Novela was the traitor?" Val seemed astounded.
"She was on our list of suspects."
"As far as I saw her, she had no reason to do this all of a sudden. Do you think it was planned by another mastermind?" Val wondered.
"It's true that she had a mastermind moving behind her. It would probably be Joseph or Louis who she met because ever since she returned to the mansion from going to the Luz realm, many servants testified that their lady was indeed acting weird."
"I see." Val pondered upon his deductions.
"But as for her motive, she had every reason to go along with this act." Her hatred. Her frustrations. Her pain that no one could understand her. When Callisto saw her again, he knew she was no longer a reasonable person to have a gratifying conversation with since the effect of the drugs had kicked in.
"With her hatred for werewolves, they had been selling it to her which she fed to her werewolf servants in the house. It's like Duke Lecter 2.0."
Val bursted out into laughter.
"What is it?" Callisto asked.
"Nothing, just that the name 'Duke Lecter 2.0' sounded weird when it came out of your mouth."
Callisto rolled his eyes. "Anyways, I thought we should strike hard while the iron is hot."
"While others are thinking you are in the prison, no one would ever imagine you would be out here doing investigation activities."
"Correct. Besides, I ordered Alfonso to keep any of the vassals from leaving so that they wouldn't leak information of my return. So….," Callisto had a scary look on his face, "let's disguise ourselves."
"Do I have to go?" Val asked, looking away from Callisto, not wanting to see the ridiculous outfits he had to fit in.
Callisto raised his eyebrows. "You are asking that now?"
"But…."
"It's just a disguise. Bear with it." Callisto said.
Right, they came here to investigate this organization called Ebon by themselves.
Val sighed, exasperated that he went along with Callisto's pleas without thinking of the consequences. "Oh, right. Why were you so surprised hearing the company's name?
"You don't know about Lilith?"
"No… I don't investigate little companies that are under legal approval by the government."
"But what if it was approved by Joseph's underlings?" Callisto suggested.
"You don't mean…"
"Yeah. Lilith is under Joseph's jurisdiction. That company is where the source of drugs are coming from. It is a well-known brand producing alcoholic perfumes, but I never knew they provided beverages as well. Many have tried infiltrating it for more information but none had made it out alive or dared to do so because of the strict defenses it had."
"It seems I have to keep up."
"Anyways," Callisto smirked. "How did I not know you were a woman?" Mentioning the line Val said to Ashiana, he was being sarcastic as he was in the past when he interacted with 'Velda'.
"I was just pretending to empathize with her situation."
Callisto made another point to attack her. "Seeing as you run well in heels, this role as a wife must fit you pretty well."
"Obviously not. It's uncomfortable."
"Stop pretending to be a tomboy." Callisto lifted his chin, mumbling unpleasantly. "It doesn't fit your character well."
"I am a boy though." Val defended himself.
Callisto stopped at that, satisfied Val was shaken by this much.
"Why did I have to dress up as a woman and you a man?" Val whispered. "It's unfair, dear husband." He whispered seductively into Callisto's ears, which instantly tinged red. Callisto's hand immediately grabbed Val's shoulders to keep him away.
He muttered huskily. "Don't provoke me. I am having enough trouble controlling myself as it is around you."
"Oh?" Looking around the isolated room, Val didn't back down, climbing on top of him. "Here? Are you sure?"
"I am serious."
Yanking Val's head towards him, he showed him how serious he was about this. At the reflection of Callisto's red eyes, revealing his desire for him, Val faltered, withdrawing from this bold position. "Weren't you straight?"
Callisto's hands on his waist stopped him from running away. "I am."
"Then, what this about?" Val asked, looking down at the big bulge in his pants. As Val peeked at his body teasingly, they were interrupted by a group of four other customers entering.
A little boy in the middle with short hazelnut hair asked shyly. "Are we interrupting?"
Val realized what position they were in as the four customers asked that. "No, you aren't." Freya said in a gentle voice, getting off her husband, as if nothing happened. "Go ahead."
The other three followed the little boy, seated themselves ordering some drinks and a few snacks to go along with it. Afterwards, Langa, the alpha of the pack, sat in the middle of the table, while having a frowned expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" The brown boy asked Langa.
Surprised he was even asked something, Langa replied. "Nothing. It's just Eden was nothing but a bar, huh…" Langa didn't sigh, but everyone could sense the disappointment in his face.
"Of course, what else would you expect from the neon light flashing in their sign? Some kind of elegant bar?"
"Not quite." Langa denied his deduction. "I thought there would be something shady happening underneath."
True. But he didn't need to tell them that. "You are lying. Their business would immediately be shut down if there were any illegal trades."
"I guess you are right." The boy said. "They wouldn't risk it all for nothing."
"Speaking of which, what's your name, little boy?" Freya asked the boy in the middle.
The other guards were agitated as if they were trying to defend their master, whereas, the boy with delicate features stopped them from moving further. He introduced himself as Yeisen.
If it was the same Yeisen the two kids talked about, then he must have heard about the drugs and came to investigate or come confirm something. "Good name."
"Well, I am…" Langa was about to introduce himself when Lloyd cut in.
"I know you. Langa, the alpha. I've heard many stories about you."
Langa was annoyed by his lack of manners to interrupt someone's introduction, nevertheless, he shook Lloyd's extended hand. "What about you?"
"I go by the name Lloyd. Pleased to meet you." Lloyd gave a warm smile.
Freya also made a similar gesture to Langa. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Langa. I am Freya, Lloyd's wife. I am very sorry for my husband's discourteous behavior." She bowed apologetically, lowering both her and her husband's head.
After introducing each other briefly, they went back to observing the surroundings while enjoying the delicacies they ordered.
"Why did you come here?" Lloyd asked, thinking Langa didn't look like the type to go to a bar.
"Lately, there are werewolves from my pack missing. Although they are just fledglings, to me, they are just as important as the others. After going to this bar, they disappeared, so I am just making sure it wasn't this bar that caused the disappearance of the bar or else…" Langa clenched his fists, "I am going to crush them."
Yeisen declared some what-ifs. "What if they were a large syndicate instead of just a simple, small business of slave trade. What would you do? Would you still pick a fight with them for this little thing?"
"Any people regardless of their rank under my rule are under my protection. If they go missing, it's my responsibility to see it through and give an explanation to their family members."
"Answer my question."
"If I deem them as dangerous."
"I see." Sensing Freya's gaze on him, he explained his case. "I was just interested in how a newly established bar could be so popular with the werewolves.
"Same here." Lloyd nodded. "Though I came more for the food my friend recommended enthusiastically for me to try."
"Just for the food?"
"My friend is a helpless foodie. If I don't, he will kill me before I can taste the food."
"Hahahaha…." Yeisen and Langa both laughed out in a similar fashion as the old people did.
"That fellow sounds peculiar."
Langa added to Yeisen's statement. "I would like to meet him one day."
"Don't." Lloyd shook his head. "I strongly advise against it."
They continued to have a pleasant chat.