Alisson adjusted the collar of his tailcoat, and then made sure his gloves were tightly on his hands. He stood before a large building; from the outside it didn't seem like anything special. Similarly, without his manifestation, he looked like any other nobleman. Well, maybe normal noblemen didn't wear hairclips.
He had instructed Celis to head back to the embassy with the apprentices. This was no place for those kids. Or Celis, for that matter. He didn't want to see her in such a place.
There was a man outside who could best be described as a bull, large and unseemly, ready to charge at Alisson given the smallest reason. "This is the back entrance, kid, I doubt you have any business here, so run along…"
Alisson looked up at the man. "Ilodith. I'm here to speak with him."
"So you're the Sidonian they told me to look out for…Aren't you just the tiniest little thing…"
He leaned in smirking. He turned and opened the door. "Right this way, big man…"
Alisson was led through dark hallways of varying glamour. He wore a deep frown as he walked. Music of some sort could be heard faintly through the walls, and it got louder. Alisson could've sworn he heard voices and other sounds, but he wasn't sure without his true ears. Alisson's gaze splashed across the columns in the building as he walked.
Finally, after numerous flights of stairs, the bull said,
"That door on your right's the place, go ahead, don't be scared…"
He gave Alisson a shove on the back and grinned, showing his surprisingly well kept teeth. Alisson continued, and walked into an unfamiliar sight.
It was a dark room with many moving, bright lights. There was a great deal of activity; women danced, and waiters moved along with trays of food and drink.
Alisson had never been in such a place. Hedonism. That's all it was to him on paper, but looking at the room before him, he could say for certain that this room was hedonism embodied. Alisson knew there were probably more extreme avenues of fulfilment in this very building than the mere club before him, but it was all the same to him.
He heard a whistle that cut through the loud music. Alisson couldn't see very well, but he followed where the whistle had come from. As he walked by many tables and what Alisson could only think was space for dancers, he noticed that much of the club was empty. It was midday after all, he could imagine it wasn't exactly peak hours.
Alisson averted his eyes from the dancers that and attendants that were in the club, however. They were mostly scantily dressed and in some cases nude.
He found a booth in the corner of the club where a man was sat, holding a drink, smirking at him. Upon a table before him was a small candle, barely noticeable in contrast to all the fast moving, bright lights of varying color. Alisson at first sat opposite the man, but he shook his head and wagged his finger, and pat the chair next to him. Alisson reluctantly sat near the man, smelling a stench of alcohol.
"Wonderful place, isn't it? You should see it in at midnight! – Is what I would say, if I didn't have to report to command every night…"
Alisson recognized the man's voice, and suddenly he realized that he was speaking to Captain Versatsu, the captain of the guard.
"Versatsu?" Alisson squinted at him, hardly making out his large frame. "What are you doing here?"
"Pardon? You'll have to talk louder than that if you want someone to hear you over the music!"
"What are you doing here at this hour?" Alisson asked again, louder. "Aren't you supposed to be on duty?"
"It's a management job mostly, you see. There's not much happening now ever since Irine sent a detachment of their military police, crime has been at all time low."
Alisson furrowed his brow at Versatsu. "Would it not be your job to then watch over the foreign MPs?"
Alisson looked around the room. Crime may have been at an official low, but if something like this was now considered legal here, then he wondered how many other crimes were really happening in this city that now went undocumented.
"The military police are pushovers Alisson, they're like eh…what do you call them…" He swirled his drink around, "Paper tigers…They just deal with common thugs, it just makes my job a lot easier!"
"What about external threats? Surely the walls of the capital need to be garrisoned and-"
"What external threats? Irine has the damn country land locked for all I care, and if they decide to attack, there's not much a city garrison can do now is there?"
He chuckled to himself. "Anyway…I'll let Ilodith know you're here…Oh and Alisson, say hi to that little lady that follows you around everywhere, you know, the one with the blue hair…"
Versatsu stood and downed the rest of his drink before walking away into the darkness of the club. Alisson was left in the alien environment, deeply frowning, averting his eyes from anybody else. Eventually another man came to sit opposite Alisson. He was well dressed, and a bit on the older side. He seemed professional, but his little smile bore traces of some underlying degeneracy. Another man, a bodyguard, stood nearby behind the first.
"So, a real Nekomata, here in the flesh…For being so storied you really aren't all that imposing, you know that?"
Alisson brought his unamused gaze to the man. "Are you Ilodith?"
Ilodith nodded, never breaking eye contact with him, and Alisson continued, "There are certainly better mistakes to make then assuming that of me."
Ilodith's gaze seemed to settle on Alisson's hair. "An orange hair clip, huh?"
Alisson wore it so often he almost forgot he had it on, and realized it was probably in contrast to the rest of his black, noble attire.
"A gift from my late mother. The rest of them went to my sister."
"I bet that's a whole story onto itself…" Ilodith cracked into a grin, and leaned forward, lifting a hand over Alisson's head. "There there, aren't you a cute little kitty…" He pet Alisson's head for but a moment.
Alisson struck the man's face with a lightning-fast jab. Ilodith recoiled, his hands on his face. "Oh-ho-ho…" He wiped his face. "…I like you."
Alisson hadn't struck him hard enough to draw blood, and not in the right place to knock him out.
"Do you know how few Sidonian envoys would've done that?" Ilodith asked, finally smiling back at Alisson again. "They would've glared at me sure, but to them it's stupid to hit someone they're trying to negotiate with, and that's where their mental processes end…But you, Alisson Vi Nuam, you're a man, aren't you? You've got yourself an ego and everything…Not some sort of sociopath like all the other Nekomata I've seen." Alisson kept frowning at Ilodith, and he continued, "I get it…You're disgusted by this whole place, looking down on me from your high horse…But meeting with me here makes you just as much of an opportunistic scumbag as the rest of us…Wouldn't you agree?"
Alisson closed his eyes. "I can't deny that. But hedonism and securing strategic objectives are two very different outcomes that we desire."
"Don't worry Alisson, we're both here for the latter…I've heard you've been rucking it with an Areni girl, and yet here you are ready to descend on their nation's corpse. Like a vulture. I guess it's par for the course, I mean you know the Areni foxes are one of the lowest and vilest castes in their society, so she's a good match."
Alisson had heard whispers of it before, but had never bothered to ask about Tsuhara's clan.
"You know, isn't it incredible how two nations at war can both come together like this in a third-party state and just divvy up the spoils? It's a little heartless of Sidonia, isn't it?"
Alisson sighed. "We're here in this meeting already, small talk like this won't produce any reaction from me." His eyes narrowed at Ilodith. "If Irine were a rational entity, then it would not permit any further communication and trade between Sidonia and the Queendom, but you and the other Irinian nobles vested here are greedy – But this can be beneficial for all parties involved. That's why I'm here."
Ilodith smiled at Alisson, raising a finger at him. "Now, don't say that part out loud. You know the Prince recently purged a good chunk of the nobles of Irine, that is, the stupid ones. The only ones left are the smart ones, and of these there are two camps; the blindly loyal, or those who know how to do good business. The one I represent is thankfully of the latter."
Alisson's brow piqued. "I'm presuming this noble has many such establishments cropping up around the Queendom?"
"Of course. But I obviously can't tell you their name. For every place like this that operates, another battalion of knights can be paid to kill your kin." He rolled his head with a malicious smirk. "But such a tiny nation like yours is just dying for any trade, so I wonder what kind of moral predicament you're in."
Alisson blew a burst of air through his nose. "Let's cut the prodding and probing. I'd rather spend less time listening to this awful music."
"Of course, of course…"
Ilodith snapped his finger and called over a waiter, for drinks. Ilodith and the waiter bantered while the drinks were prepared, apparently they were about to change shifts for the night. Alisson obviously didn't get anything to drink.
The two began to discus the finer points on the overall Sidonian agreement with Irinians pertaining to the noble that Ilodith served. Many times Ilodith jotted down notes from what Alisson said, not suspecting that what Alisson spoke of was sourced from a document which had been distributed to all Sidonian envoys in Ahvaratsu. That was to say, it was all lies.
Alisson couldn't tell exactly how much time had passed thanks to the fact the club had no windows in it, but it was starting to fill with more and more patrons.
"Well it's been a pleasure, Alisson. Like I said, you don't need to keep up this whole act you've got going on, I know there's something going on beneath those eyes of yours…" Ilodith stared into Alisson's gaze, smirking. "You look like a man that'd be ready to throw the whole world away to get what he wants. I like that."
Ilodith put down a business card on the table, and slid it to Alisson. "Give me a holler if you need something, I think you're the kind of guy to make it worth my while…"
With that, Ilodith and his bodyguard took their leave. Alisson sat for a few moments in the club, staring at the business card. He had learnt through his conversation with Ilodith that he was engaged with all sorts of enterprises in the underworld of Ahvaratsu, from trafficking kitsune to running brothels and the like.
Alisson pocketed the card. He had a thorough understanding of the architecture of this room, but the rest of building could do with more 'sightseeing'. He called over a waiter in the same way that Ilodith had. Apparently this one was from the midnight shift.
This waiter in particular was familiar looking. For a moment, Alisson had thought that Celis had followed him and infiltrated the club, that was because the girl shared her likeness, remarkably so. Her hair was longer but the colors and complexion and the face, it was all the same, but Alisson could tell she wasn't his Celis.
"Something catch your eye?" She smiled at Alisson. Forgetting for a moment that the girl was not Celis, his faced blushed red, though in the darkness of the club, it was probably obscured.
"…Yes actually. You." He motioned with a finger for the girl to lean closer and asked what her name was.
She giggled a little and replied, "Utsuru. It's Utsuru."
"That is a Kitsune name, is it not?" He looked to the top of her head, noticeably absent of any fox ears.
"Well…" Utsuru appeared to become uncomfortable, and Alisson rose his hand to silence her. He withdrew some coins from his tailcoat and placed them against her body. "Go tell your supervisor that you've been bought for a while. I'd like to have word with you in private."
Utsuru's eyes seemed to gleam with greed upon seeing the coin. "Of course, Milord." She bobbed her head and hastily went off.
It seemed Alisson was correct in assuming this establishment was also a brothel of sorts. He had heard another patron say the same sort to another waitress. Utsuru was quick to return, and she seemed to be forcing down a smile. He rose and started walking toward the backdoor he had come into the club from.
"Um…Milord, the private rooms are over there…!"
Utsuru tried to grab hold of Alisson, maybe thinking he hadn't heard her mumble over the music, but he grabbed back at her hand and dragged her along with him.
"Let's go for a walk, first."
He said into her ear, and she came quietly after that.
Finally with booming music behind them, and the door to that hedonistic pit closed, Alisson started walking down the stone hallways, which were only dimly illuminated with sconces.
"So, what's your story? You are a Kitsune are you not? Why be in a place such as this? Were you forced here?"
"I, um…well…no…I came here because it's good money. My clan was dissolved pretty recently so I haven't had any family or place to call home…"
"So you threw in your lot with humans?" She tepidly bobbed her head. "Is that why your ears and tails are gone?"
Alisson asked as they walked around the perimeter of the building, circling the center clubroom. He probably wasn't supposed to be here. A few employees passed them by, but seeing Alisson's fancy attire and the woman following him were enough for them not to ask questions.
"Well, they said I'd get more business if people didn't know I was a kitsune so…" She averted her eyes in shame.
With healing magic, her ears and tails would grow back. If Alisson remembered correctly, the Kitsune could regrow their tails all on their own given time. So it wasn't exactly a permanent scar.
"You kept your name, however?"
Alisson asked, only partly interested, his eyes gazing over the walls.
"I couldn't bring myself to go that far…"
"If this is just for money then why did you seem so happy back there? Does wealth bring you such pleasure?"
Utsuru fell silent for a while. "Well…I've never been called up by a patron like this…And I know its good money compared to the usual but…I'm just happy the first time is with someone like you…"
Alisson eyes opened a little. "How's that?"
"You're well…handsome…and, much more gentlemanly than any other man I've seen visit here…You look out of place."
They came up on the same door they had exited the club from, making it apparent that he had just walked around the entire outer hallway of the floor. Alisson slowly stopped, closing his eyes.
"You're right. I don't belong here. I'm sorry to cut our talk short but…" He turned to Utsuru, "I must take my leave now."
"W-what?" She looked up at him, mouth agape. She really did look just like Celis. He bet if he took her to a barber he could make the two look almost identical.
He withdrew the business card that Ilodith had given him, and flipped it on its blank side. "Would you mind writing down where I can reach out to you for later?"
"L-later?" Her face blushed red. "O-of course! Right!"
She took the card and sped into the club, in search of something to write with.
Alisson stood, his arms crossed, gazing down both ways of the hall. There were eighteen on this side. Eighteen on the side opposite, and twelve on the adjacent sides each. The main room hosted a dozen or so as well. That amounted to seventy-two total visible.
Utsuru soon returned, and bowed, handing Alisson the card where she seemed to have jotted down an address. "Thank you very much." Alisson slipped the card into his coat.
Before Utsuru could raise her head, Alisson reached out to pet her without thinking, seeing only Celis, but stopped himself, frowning.
"This is all really sudden and I don't really get it but…" She looked into Alisson's eyes.
"Don't think too hard about it. I'm not fond of such places. I was only here for business, after all. Here, for indulging me," Alisson slipped her some extra coins and started off down the stairway. "I'll be in touch, Utsuru."
"Safe travels, Lord Ilodith!" She bobbed her head quickly.
Alisson stopped, and careened his head at her with a smile. "It's Alisson. That card was from someone you would do well to stay away from. Good day."
"A-alisson…like…"
Alisson walked down the stairs and heard her faintly, "Alisson Vi Nuam!?"
After walking away and sure that she wasn't following him, he frowned to himself. It was a mix of multiple things that compelled him to do that to her. Part of him was disgusted at himself for dragging an innocent girl into potential danger just because he saw something useful from her.
Alisson sighed. It was hard to have morals. Tasks are more easily accomplished without them, and morals only complicate situations. Such was the foul reasoning that a Nekomata of Sidonia would use to act bereft of guilt when disposing of their morality.
It was also hard to say one's real name to people. Alisson had always used aliases, but this time, it was on official business that he was here. The reputation his name brought served to both haunt and dignify him.
He stopped for a moment and gazed at landing. The columns' placement shifted over every other floor. He looked up into the stairwell, before continuing on.
"Had a fun time, Alisson?"
The bull outside said mockingly as Alisson walked out. It seemed many were on a first-name basis with him and his companions. Alisson kept walking down the dimly lit roads toward the embassy. That was because of course, there were eyes watching him whenever he was out and about. Although Ilodith never openly admitted it, it was clear that he was in contact with whoever was watching Alisson.
…
Later that night in the embassy, a cloaked figure kneeled before Alisson in his room. He had drawn the curtains – Something that would seem suspicious to any watching from the outside, but he figured at least some suspicion was better than none at all. Celis stood nearby, her arms crossed, in full combat gear. He had instructed her to be on guard during the night. Alisson's room bore little resemblance to the state it had been given to him; boards reinforced the walls and furniture was tipped and laid out against sides of the room. The room had also been soundproofed. This was thanks to the envoys who doubled as specialists.
"You called, Alisson?" The cloaked Nekomata said, a hand on his heart.
"The Davoss Industries main warehouse is a nightclub, teeming with Irinian patrons; a hotspot of their meetings. Make note of what I will tell you."
"I will inform Ardinand and mark this location, my lord." The cloaked man said, withdrawing a sheaf of a paper and a writing utensil.
Alisson withdrew the business card from Ilodith. "There is a minimum of seventy-two supporting pillars across the building, which alternate in placement every other floor. I would wager that knocking down two-thirds of them on the first and third floors would be sufficient to collapse the building, but the more charges the merrier."
The cloaked man scribbled down notes as Alisson continued to speak, "I'll inform the other envoys to pick that location for later talks – They should be able to sneak in a good deal of the explosives beforehand. I believe VIP patrons are allowed private lockers."
Alisson flipped over the business card in his hands. "Then, there is Count Ilodith, an influential Irinian instigator. I want him arrested."
"I believe he's been flagged for termination on multiple occasions, my lord, very good." The cloaked man responded, writing down a death warrant.
"I said arrested, not dead. He should be restrained and handed over to the authorities, the law should handle his kind of ilk; He is not so foul as to warrant immediate death, it is up to the people to decide how he should answer for his crimes."
The cloaked Nekomata looked up at him, puzzled. "…It will be harder to apprehend someone, I don't believe many will share your opinion, but I will make it known."
This had been an almost nightly routine for the past week. They were so quick to jump to assassination.
After the Nekomata was finished writing, he stood and placed his hand on his heart. "I will ensure that Ardinand receives word of these updates. The Lady protect you."
Alisson bobbed his head and watched as the Nekomata cast an invisibility spell on himself using an item and disappeared from the embassy.
"So…" Celis's eyes were locked onto the card Alisson held. "An address…? Why are there hearts on it…?"
Alisson closed his eyes with a sigh. "The kitsune I told you about, that's their home address."
Celis sourly look away. "Is there any reason you decided to 'hire' a courtesan from some whore house?"
"I told you, she bears your likeness…I believe a body double is quite useful, in a variety of circumstances. I thought to plant the seeds of attaining her as an asset sooner rather than later."
"…Whatever." Celis responded.
Alisson smiled gingerly, and closed the distance between them. "Rest assured, seeing your likeness only made me acutely aware of the fact that you weren't by my side." He put his hand on her shoulder.
Celis smiled at Alisson with his words. "I really should have been…You know I don't like leaving you alone, and here in this place it's really dangerous too…Oh, by the way, that captain guy paid a visit to our floor while you were gone…"
"Versatsu?"
Celis nodded. "He wanted to take a look around or something…but I think he paid more attention to me than the building…"
Alisson looked away, thinking. "Probably just scouting out the area while he knew I wasn't present."
Celis smirked at him. "I wonder why that is."
"Why indeed." Alisson said blankly, "But we shouldn't jump to conclusions."
Alisson peeked through the curtains across the city, knowing he wouldn't be able to spot anybody watching the building, but he fruitlessly scanned the rooftops despite it.
***