Rashen woke up back in the room he shared with Gayle, although he was alone at that time. The pain in his eyes from yesterday was gone and he could see clearly again. He hurried out of bed to freshen up,he was in a hurry to get back to Blak Acre: to find the young girl he met last night. He was frustrated at himself that he let the girl go, and even more frustrated at the fact that Nigsky the gutter had used the opportunity to escape as well.
After freshning up he hurried to the dining hall where Macy and Gayle were currently eating their breakfast.
"Morning Rashikins" Gayle said after seeing him, "Your food's in the kitchen" he practically sang as Rashen walked past him and straight into the kitchen. He was still mad at them. Angry that they basically laughed at his idea that all the theft activities might be related. He was in such a rush that he didn't even bother to think about the fact that Gayle only kept a half empty box of crackers and a glass of milk for him as breakfast,he simply ate it standing in the kitchen left without saying a word.
Just like yesterday, Rashen spent the whole day patrolling Blak Acre in hopes of seeing the girl,with every second that passed by he grew more worried about her,more worried about her and the danger she might have been in. A whole day passed and Rashen wasn't any closer to finding the girl than he was at finding Blak Acre's 'King of Thieves'. Using his flames for flight and viewing the region from above still didn't help him in his endeavors. Days passed and Rashen still couldn't find her or any clues that could lead to her,he even just realized that he didn't even get a good look at her face since it was so dark in the alley; the only thing he picked up was her tattoo. He cursed himself for taking so long to recall her tattoo. While he couldn't get a good look at what the tattoo was exactly,he could tell,by how shabbily drawn it was and her bruised up her skin around where the tattoo was, that it was forcefully drawn there,an assumption that she was forced down and couldn't keep still during the tattooing session. This led to another theory,a theory he needed to confirm.
It was about half past seven in the evening,the bar,Goddess Spit,was packed. One particular regular sat alone with a couple of empty beer bottles at his table. He eyed a particularly curvaceous waitress with lustful eyes as he downed another bottle. There seemed to a commotion coming from the bar's entrance but he couldn't care less.
"Long time no see Nigksy" The source of the commotion, Rashen in his uniform,said at last. His presence startled him to the point where he reflectively jumped from his seat and blocked his face from a hit that would never come,
"A bit jumpy today eh Gutter?" Rashen asked mockingly as he took a seat across Nigksy, "I just want to have a little talk, I'm not here to do you in... today" he delayed that last part on purpose.
Nigksy,still standing, looked around,all eyes were on the both of them. It took him a long time to decide on what to do exactly but he settled on sitting back down,he whispered,
"Here to arrest me for the other night? Well forget. You made a big mistake coming here. Y'see-" Nigksy gestured around at the bar, "This here's my domain. You can't make a move on me,you do and everyone here will be on you like flies on a shit stain" he said smugly.
"I already told you I'm not here to arrest you Nigksy. As you said you're in your domain and I can't touch you here" Rashen lied,he knew he could arrest him if he wanted and no one in the bar could stop him even if they attacked him at once,but he wouldn't tell Nigksy that,he needed him to feel safe and in his element, it's the only way he'll talk.
"So what is is that the all important Imperial Soldier needs from a guy like me huh" Nigsky said sitting back relaxed in his seat,
"I need to know about-"
"Afraid I'll have to stop you right there" Nigsky interrupted,
"If it's information you want then I'm afraid it's gonna come at a cost".
Rashen resisted the urge to knock him out right there and drag him to prison where he belonged,but he remembered what the Ranking Commander said during the graduation, about how differently the real world works compared to the academy,and in the real world nothing goes for free, especially information.
"So what'll it be? What's your price?" Rashen asked,
"Immunity" Nigsky replied immediately, "With you and your meddlesome group of Imperial Soldiers walking around everybody's gotten a bit on edge-"
"If they've done nothing wrong then there's no need to be on edge" Rashen interrupted irritably, Nigksy laughed,
"You really are just a stupid,naive kid aren't you?!" He said. Rashen found himself resisting the urge to hit Nigksy. He'd been resisting the urge all his life for different people, what's one more?
"Anyways,if you and the other ones are going to be here a long time then I want immunity from you all. It's the only condition that I'll give you the information you want"
"And what if you don't have the information I'm looking for?" Rashen asked,
"Well then you're going to have to trust me" Nigksy said with a mocking tone.
Rashen thought about it. Was he willing to go against everything he stood for, everything the Imperial Forces stood for and strike a deal with a criminal?
He thought of the girl, thought of how young she was,how she might be in danger,how she needed help. He thought about it carefully,
"Fine, it's a deal then. Depending on the severity of your actions, you'll have full immunity from me and the other Imperial Soldiers here in Grittshore" he stretched out his hand for him to shake,he could feel the stares of everyone in the room but he was only looking at Nigksy who in turn looked at him back with skepticism.
"That's the best I can do for you" Rashen added. Nigksy took his arm,
"Then it's settled then" he said victoriously.
"Good" Rashen said, "Now I have some questions I'd like you to-"
But before Rashen could finish his sentence Nigksy ordered for a waitress.
"A little birdie told me..." He said to her, "...you got the good stuff at the back. Imported from Jing-Hai, bottle twelve inches, wine aged for three years,touch of viper venom real strong stuff."
"Did the little birdie tell ya a drink like that's outta ya pay grade?" She asked with the full intent to mock him,
"Relax" Nigksy smiled and gestured towards Rashen,"My friend here'll foot the bill." The waitress turned to look at Rashen and Rashen, feeling her hard stare,made sure he had his eyes locked on Nigksy not making eye contact with the waitress. She took his silence as confirmation and left to bring the drink.
"Can't have a conversation without a good drink, didn't your academy ever teach you that?" Nigksy said bouncing around his seat impatiently, waiting for the waitress to return.
After his third mouthful of the exotic drink, Nigksy beckoned Rashen to speak.
"I need some information regarding the criminals of Grittshore,how they operate to be more specific" Rashen said wasting no time. Nigksy laughed
"Kid everyone's a criminal in Grittshore. You want quality information you're gonna need to be a lot more specific."
"Fine then let me rephrase" Rashen said, "I need information on how organized crime is run here"
"Organized crime eh?" Nigksy started, "Those are a relic of the past. They used to be a lot bigger but certain factors led to conflict, and those conflicts led to bloodshed and almost no one comes out alive,lost a cousin that way.
Normally they'd claim their turf, their territory where they operate. Some gangs are usually very tight, some even go as far as doing blood oaths,real freaky shit and if you mess with one of em then you've pretty much picked a fight with the whole group."
"What about stuff like dress codes and special greetings and stuff?" Rashen asked
"Yeah,they did that a lot,most gangs have their schtick that makes em unique,clothes, piercings,hair styles..."
"Tattoos?" Rashen asked,but he practically already knew what his response would be,
"Yes... tattoos.." Nigksy took another shot of his drink and stared at Rashen with calculating eyes, "You sure do know how to ask the right questions. Seem to have a base understanding of organized crime here don't ya?!"
"The girl you almost killed the other day..." Rashen started, "...had a tattoo on her...so I was just wondering"
Rashen could see Nigksy's facial expression change ever so lightly,
"Just because she's got a tattoo don't mean she's in a gang kid"
"Yeah...if that's what you believe Nigksy" Rashen said as he got up from his seat.
"Hey where are ya going? You forget you're supposed to pay for the drink?"
"I'm sorry but I don't remember saying I'd pay for your drink Nigksy,our deal was your immunity from the Imperial Soldiers, you're on your own pal." Rashen said quite cheekily. Nigksy was about to reply but the words were lost in his mouth,he could only look as Rashen walked out on him and out the bar.