Block 99, Stefan Street.
Near the outskirts of Wallen City.
The dim, worn streets of Stefan were glowing with flickering lights from a single bar, the only colour breaking the silence of this darkened neighbourhood.
Once even being called the "Silicon Valley" of the human nation, Stefan Street had been the heart of innovation, alive with bustling dreams and brilliant minds.
But five years ago, it had all got to ruin during a devastating terrorist attack in the Second War against the vampire colonisers.
Since then, despite many efforts by the twelve great councils to rebuild, the street's proximity to Wallen City drew relentless underground influence.
Now, an unspoken rule kept the streets in lockdown after sundown, no legitimate business dared operate at night, lest if they want to end it.
Only those tied to the underworld had the nerve to keep their doors open at late hours.
Ding!
The wooden door of the bar creaked open, and the bartender's eyes flicked up, sizing up the newcomers.
At this hour, only those with underworld connections had the audacity to step inside. He'd grown familiar with the usual patrons over time, but these two stood out.
A man in his twenties, his clothes tattered and worn, entered alongside a woman of similar age and with similarly poor clothing.
They walked close, but not with the intimacy of a couple.
The bartender's brow furrowed slightly. 'Are they new here?'
Their rough, almost ragged appearance gave them the air of rogues, triggering a sense of irritation in his eyes.
From his experience, newcomers from the lower circles were often the rowdiest, prone to trouble and careless actions that disrupted his work. He disliked them for their noise, their ignorance of etiquette, and their tendency to stir up problems.
Such rouges never understood their place.
Still, he forced a cheerful smile, keeping his tone professional.
"Good evening, sir. Might I have your name?"
"Arc Wellstone, and she's Claire," the man introduced his tone calm and composed, contrary to the gruff demeanour the bartender had anticipated from him.
It was indeed Arthur. Now that he was supposed to be dead for the world, he needed a different identity to work, and Arc Wellstone was what he came up with.
Arthur sat at the table just before the bartender, settling in with an ease that gave the bartender pause.
"Oh, sir, what can I get you?" the bartender asked smoothly, leaning forward with his typical charm.
"Whiskey sour,"
"And for the young lady?" The bartender's gaze shifted to Claire, her delicate yet striking features catching his attention. His initial assessment faltered slightly. 'They don't look like your average thugs,' he thought, eyeing them more closely.
Arthur glanced at Claire briefly, before asking. "What would you like?"
"Anything would be fine,"
"Then she'll have the same," Arthur replied, not bothering to dress his words in any pleasantries.
"Right away, sir."
The bartender took a large block of ice and began carefully carving it with practised precision. His years of experience were evident as he transformed the ice into a flawless sphere, a skilful display that usually left new customers wide-eyed and impressed.
But the two people in front of him barely reacted, their gaze uninterested. To break the awkward silence, the bartender was about to speak when Arthur cut him off.
"I'm here to meet Leslie,"
The bartender's cheerful facade wavered, his smile freezing for a fraction of a second before he regained control.
"Sir, I'm afraid she's busy at the moment."
"Is that so? Or did she tell you to ward us away?" Arthur's gaze flickered briefly over the bartender, noticing a slight shift in his demeanour. "Looks like she's here, after all."
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the bartender replied, his cheerful facade replaced with a stern expression.
Just as he exchanged a quick glance with a woman seated alone in the crowd confirmed his suspicions.
Bang!
Without warning, Taking out a pistol from her tattered clothes, Claire fired a shot at the bartender, only for a protective barrier to block it, sparking briefly before returning to normal.
The suddenness of the attack left him momentarily stunned.
"Claire, break it," Arthur ordered, his voice calm but his eyes cold.
"Understood."
Claire's fist glowed with a blue aura as she punched through the barrier, shattering it in one blow. She grabbed the bartender by the collar, preparing for another punch.
"That's enough," Arthur said, stopping her with a raised hand, his gaze shifting back to the same woman, the bartender had exchanged glances with. "Right?"
A woman with long, flowing purple hair rose from her seat, her elegant face framed by a calm, amused smile. She approached, her eyes sharp and focused on Arthur.
"So, you knew I was watching?" she said, voice laced with intrigue.
"No. Just a guess," he replied evenly.
"Hmm." She stopped a few steps away, her gaze appraising. "So, who told you about me?"
Ignoring her question, Arthur moved forward. "I'm a summoner. You got any work for me?"
A soft chuckle escaped her, a mix of curiosity and amusement. It wasn't often someone brushed off her question so casually, but she let it go, finding him more intriguing by the second.
"You're a summoner? Funny, I don't sense any mana from you," she said, studying him closely.
Arthur nodded toward Claire, who stood silently nearby. "She's my summon."
Her amusement deepened, turning into genuine surprise. "A human as a summon? Is that even possible?"
"Not for just anyone," he replied with a slight shrug, waiting patiently as she processed his answer. "So, do you have work or not?"
"I do," she said, pulling a piece of paper from her pocket. "Since you came to me, I assume you're not picky with commissions."
"Anything's fine, as long as it pays."
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to read him more closely. "So, it's all about the money for you?"
Over the years, she'd learned to size people up in an instant, to sense their motivations, whether they were capable or not. But Arthur defied her instincts. He carried no aura, no hint of mana, and yet his confidence, composure, and the odd nature of his summon marked him as anything but ordinary.
"Yes," he replied simply.
☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎
{A/N}
Hey guys, so how was the chapter? Do you like it?
Well, I am not getting any comments, and with the pre-contract system, it is difficult to determine how the novel is performing.
So if you could comment, pls do I would genuinely appreciate it.
A Random Fact about the world of Welhemheim:
The world of Welhemheim consists of three continents,
1] The Mainland Continent: Where Human Nation, Mosaic kingdom, Dwarven State, Elven State, and The Empire Is located.
The mana is abundant in the land and technology is far more advanced than other continents.
2] The Demonarchy: The name is pretty much self-explanatory, the Demonarchy is a continent ruled by demon and their filial race, Ends.
3] The Great Wilderness: The land of monsters or the land of mysteries, it has many more names as to this modern date, it remains as place of danger and mystery, which is about 70% unexplored.
It will be explained in more detail later in the chapters.
So don't worry.
Peace Out!!