The group departed from the restaurant to carry out the plan. Avryn and Valoche asked other Ordellians directions for the slums. They were met with some confused looks but gave them the directions to where it was. They made some light chit chat along the way.

  Avryn asked Valoche if he ever visited such a place. He replied stating he hasn’t. The closest thing to a slums in Veilund were the out-dweller huts far away from the established tribes. They were usually exiled people but oddly never bothered anyone. Perhaps they were content with the hermit lifestyle.

  “For our people, a lonely death the worst fate one can have for themselves,” he explained.

  Avryn nodded. He remembered his close brush with death. He convinced himself he was ready for that, but was reminded of his mortality that day. God saved him, a privilege not everyone could have. Who knew how many unjustices happened that went unnoticed. He was lucky indeed.

  A powerful and wretched stench assaulted both their noses. Valoche flinched but not Avryn. Piles of junk decorated the floor, and looked brushed aside to make a path. Rusted, twisted metal and decayed wood were the foundations of a makeshift wall.

  “By the spirits, this smell,” Valoche took a second to acclimate.

  “Deep breaths, big man,” Avryn patted him on the back.

  A light shone on the two of them as two guards approached. They pointed with their surplus guns at them,

  “What do you want?” one guard questioned.

  “Just…visiting, I heard they serve some good drinks here,” Avryn fabricated.

  “There’s plenty of god damned restaurants in the city proper, what’s your real reason?” Their suspicion was roused.

  “Too fancy for my liking,” Avryn assured them.

  He added he didn’t live the same way the city folks did. The guards looked to each other and nodded. They had them enter and surrender their weapons.

  “We have our laws, kid. Don’t go causing any trouble,” the guard warned.

  They walked into the proper part of the slums, getting a few stares as they went. A woman approached them. She had short, orange hair. Her demeanor betrayed her feminine frame. An air of authority seemed to surround her despite her size.

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  “Never seen you around here, before, mister…?” She crossed her arms.

  Avryn introduced Valoche and himself. The woman introduced herself as Haley. They had a chat on the sidewalk. She leaned on the wall as she probed them with her questions. Who were they? Why are they visiting the slums? Did they had any nefarious intentions?

  “I’d feel better if we discuss it in a more…social place, maybe at your local bar. My treat?” Avryn proposed.

  Haley processed her thoughts and accepted Avryn’s proposal. She led them to the Slumps Bar. It looked like a giant mess, almost like its held together with dreams and duct tape. A neon sign was the main attraction of the establishment. It was a depiction of a woman in a bunny suit beckoning customers with her finger.

  “Three of the Welcoming Committee, it’s on their tab,” she sat by the bar.

  The man nodded and made a cocktail for three. It looked to be a modified Old Fashioned. He handed them their drinks and continued his duties.

  “Now talk,” she finished her drink in one swig.

  Avryn leaned pretty close and whispered,

  “We’re looking for whoever runs a loan shark gig.”

  “You cops or something?” she stood firm.

  Her voice was a signal to the bartender to be ready. He faced away but his hands were ready to grab a hidden weapon. Avryn showed to her his I.D. Her eyes widened for a moment upon seeing the Academy insignia. It was definitely a look of recognition but she brushed it aside.

  “A couple loan sharks were giving a friend of mine some trouble. I’d like to talk to the man or woman in charge about settling his account, if you catch my drift,” Avryn explained.

  “Money pays for information here, stranger. Not bleeding hearts,” she negotiated.

  Avryn nodded. He respected her hustle. He reached into his pocket, produced a thousand credits, and placed it on the bar top. She maintained her poker face, and eyed Valoche expectantly. Avryn looked to him, Valoche sighed and matched the money. Haley took the money, and handed it over to the bartender for checking.

  He ran it through a testing machine. Results were positive and he confirmed them all to be legitimate. Haley gave Avryn the info. The loan shark boss they were looking for was named “The Flicker” Felix Fenley. He ran the loan shark gig around the city, and looked like the stereotypical greedy type. Dirty blonde hair and an obnoxious looking mustache.

  Two strangers appeared as she finished. They stood on business. One of them hollered at the bartender. Avryn shared a look with Valoche. He stood ready.

  “So, have you settled for our offer?” he leaned forward.

  “No, and you can tell your boss to piss off,” the bartender scoffed.

  “Wrong choice or words, you wretch!” he moved to take a swing.

  Avryn turned around quickly and caught his punch. Valoche followed up with an elbow to his face. It was enough to buy the bartender some time. He produced a double barreled shotgun from beneath the counter. Electric slugs shot out of the barrel and shocked the second stranger. He quickly aimed to the first who surrendered.

  Haley stood over the unconscious body of the second stranger. She reached for his inner pocket and procured an ID. She raised her eyebrow and showed to it Avryn. He took a closer look.

  “Flicker’s Loan Services,” was written on the card.

  An address was also written. He took note of it in his Scribe.

  “Thanks for the help,” the bartender offered his gratitude.

  “No problem,” Valoche assured.

  “What are you even planning to do?” she prodded Avryn.

  Avryn had the stranger retreat, but not before making him deliver a message to their boss, He intended to stop his operations. He advised for Felix to either turn himself in or pack up and never come back.

  “You…you’ll regret this, kid!” they retreaded.

  Avryn called Rinna using his Scribe, and informed her they found the address. Bullets whizzing past were heard from her end. She and the rest were in the middle of a fight. She suggested they meet by the police station. She and Leifren managed to get some backup.

  “Alright, I’ll meet you there,” he ended the call.

  He turned and thanked Haley for her help and hoped they would meet again. The bartender gave them a couple more drinks on the house.

  “Here, for the road,” he slid the glasses across to the bar near them.

  They thanked him for the drink and booked it for the Ordellian Police Station.