[Melas] Chapter 102: Party (Patreon)

The logic was simple.

We chose only one brothel to camp out simply because the number of brothels were too numerous for us to watch without splitting up into groups of two or even one. That would endanger us, especially if a single group got caught.

I, personally, thought it was better if we stuck together. But it was also sound logic that once we were together, we stayed in one spot rather than constantly moving around. If we kept switching between brothels, checking different ones in different days or different times of the day, we would potentially miss Didar if he arrived in one just as we left.

So, that led to my plan.

“The brothel which Didar is least likely to go to is in the northwestern part of the city,” I said, placing a finger on the map. It showed an less developed part of Jahar’taw, although it certainly was quite densely populated as it was. “He has the least influence there, and I doubt he would risk going there unless it were the most extreme of circumstances.”

Crossing out the area with a marker, I moved down, to the southwest.

“The southwestern section is considered a popular red light district. That’s why there are three of his most luxurious brothels within that part of the city. However, this also means it’s the ones we’ll least likely find him in.”

“Why’s that, Melas?” Elda asked, furrowing a brow.

Gennady snorted and smacked the woman in the back. “Because if we’re going to catch him mingling with politicians, they won’t want to be caught in a place that’ll ruin their reputation. Especially not those Miners Party bastards— there constituents won’t forgive ‘em.”

She shook her head in disgust. “Politics.”

“That’s why,” I said, tracing my finger across the map to the last two locations, “we’ll be going to one of these last two spots.”

“In the midwest,” Lisa confirmed. “There’s the Merryview Tavern which is disguised as an ordinary bar, but actually a brothel underneath with a smidge of drug dealings. And then there’s the Blazingheart of Aizat. It’s a lot less subtle about what it actually is, since brothels aren’t exactly illegal in Jahar’taw, just looked down upon.”

“Between these two, I believe it’s best for us to keep a lookout on the Merryview Tavern.” I nodded at the young woman. “Especially since Didar probably would not want to attract too much attention to himself. Even if he’s got a few politicians in his pockets, he’s still a criminal at the end of the day. He does his business discreet— that’s why he disguised the brothel as a regular bar in the first place.”

Gennady agreed, “I think Melas is right. If we’re going to catch a crime lord, we’re only going to do it in his den. Especially if he’s entertaining these politicians as often as I think he is.” He glanced over at Elda who just shrugged.

“I’m fine with anything.”

“I think so too.” Lisa nodded.

Then it was left to Jack. The gruff man had his two shortswords sheathed by his side. He grunted as he stood up, placing both hands on the table. “As long as I get to kill Didar myself, I don’t care.”

“It’s settled then,” I said with a nod. “Now, we get to the boring bit. Waiting.”

It was more than just the five of us who went to scout out the Merryview Tavern; Elda got some of the other pirates to help out. A few of them which I was barely acquainted with like Mason or Avery lent a hand by keeping watch when we couldn’t.

Because of the possible threat of Lilith, I decided to spend the week hiding out not in the warehouse, but in my own bunker I was dubbing the “Witch’s Hut”.

“But it’s not a hut!” Gennady sputtered, stalking after me through the underground lair I was furnishing with my earth magic.

I grinned and waved a finger back at him. “It’s not, but with magic, anything is possible.”

“...that’s not how it works at all!”

Ignoring the angry Dwarf, I resumed working on my Witch’s Hut. It was very crude and ramshackled for now. But it was expanding. And I was using just a tiny bit of the gold I’ve been earning on making it nice and neat.

But most of my time spent outside of the bunker had been lurking the streets of the inner city of Jahar’taw. The hustle and bustle of the city life brought miners, factory workers, and other laborers busying about made it difficult to move, but it made my presence a lot more subtle.

Even if I was a little Human girl.

All I did was pretend to be a Goblin. Which didn’t earn me any respect from the Dwarves passing by me.

“Oi watch it ye stinkin’ Gob!” a man yelled as he bumped into me.

I rolled my eyes. I tried moving but you still came my way, I thought as another shoulder clashed with mine.

Elda, Lisa, and Jack were off in an alleyway to draw attention away from themselves as Humans, but Gennady stuck close to me as I walked up to a nearby cafe. I stopped, slightly adjusting my masks as I met the eye of the waiter out front.

“Table for two, please,” I said.

The waiter spat. “Fuck off.”

I wiped the saliva off my mask and opened my mouth—

But Gennady came in and saved me. “Oi, this is my friend. Watch who ye’r talkin’ ta, ye bastard.” He spoke in a heavier accent than usual, while dressed in leather-y clothing, almost like a miner.

The waiter glanced at him up and down, and stopped at the dirty marks on his face as well as his hair tied into ponytails. He scowled. “Fine. But she can only stay as long as you’re around. The moment you leave, you’re taking her with.”

And we found a seat with a good view of the Merryview Tavern moments later. We stayed until evening fell, and the moon rose above. The city located in the caldera of the volcano grew dark, but was lit up by the dim street lights that cast an orange glow across the brick streets.

The streets cleared out for an hour, before the factory workers, laborers, and miners returned. This time, they were dressed in different clothing. Clothes for their night out.

They filled the taverns and bars closely interspaced from each other, only amplifying the riotous clamor from each one as they were multiplied. I followed Gennady out of the cafe and into a nearby side street while the other three relocated to a different spot. Avery and Mason arrived some time ago, but they were mostly keeping watch on us. To warn us of anything. They weren’t getting involved otherwise.

Some time close to midnight, just as we were starting to think nothing was going to happen, Didar finally showed up. It had been a week’s worth of waiting. And now, by pure chance, he was finally here.

A subtle procession ran through the crowds moving through the streets. It seemed like they almost parted for the gilded car that rolled gently to a stop in front of the Merryview Tavern. I watched as a fancy looking Dwarf stepped out of the car followed by a group of Dwarves in suits, each accompanied by a woman. And they weren’t just Dwarven women too— some were Beastkin, and others were Humans.

No Goblins though. Racists. I shook my head. Or is it speciesist?

Well, I didn’t really think it was racist or speciesist. I just didn’t like these people and would insult them for any reason possible. After all, from the reaction Gennady had on his face, I was fairly certain these were some of the ministers he mentioned that Didar had in his pockets.

“Let’s go, shall we?” I nodded at him and we slowly left the alleyway and sunk into a side street around the building. We met the others there, all waiting for us already. Jack and Elda. Lisa was with Avery and Mason, as she couldn’t fight.

They had already secured the back entrance, taking out the bouncer there. Our plan was simple. It really was.

All we had to do was kill Didar.

We walked down the single stairwell that led to a storage room in the tavern. From there, we proceeded to make our way to the secret brothel in the basement. They were directly connected, so it was not that difficult. The problem was not standing out.

The way we entered led us through various hallways, all lined with private rooms to entertain the customers in. It wasn’t the main room for the regular customers, and a handful of the brothel workers were milling about.

We had to wait for each of them to pass before continuing on. And when one came our way, we broke up further into two groups once again. We split off down different hallways, looking as inconspicuous as could be. Fortunately, we weren’t in any staff-only areas so we weren’t questioned.

Finally, we found the room Didar was in. He had taken the biggest room for himself, of course. And had multiple escorts entertain the guests with him.

We eavesdropped on the conversation. Briefly. Gennady’s face furrowed as he heard what was being said. While I didn’t really understand or care, it seemed important.

“All this gold you’re offering us, Didar, and for what?” a voice asked, seemingly amused.

“Oh no reason at all,” Didar, I assumed, said casually. “You just have to convince your party to go against the bill. If they pass it— just imagine the amount of labor they’ll force out of the already overworked miners? Your constituents, Ruslan, think about them.”

“Certainly the Inventors Party will gain more influence from this. And that only gives the Builders Party more power with their coalition.”

“I never liked that idea of a superweapon in the first place. I can’t believe Adileth has let that mad scientist go this far with his projects.”

“Exactly.” Didar spoke in a triumphant tone. “And if his proposal on an increased golem presence in the city passes— which, I remind you is the main part of the bill which he’s using to tack on that nasty project of his— my businesses will… suffer. And the gold which I could possibly give you all will dry up.”

“We wouldn’t want that.”

Didar laughed, sounding as though he was settling into a more comfortable position. There were some moans and a few other explicit sounds I’d rather not describe. (A/N: A little meta, but yes that’s me the author self inserting into Melas for a moment.) I turned to Gennady, raising an eyebrow.

“They’re trying to reject the defense budget proposed by the Inventors Party,” Gennady whispered. “It has received almost unanimous support so far, except from the Miners Party. Even the Farmers Party agrees that the Puer Kingdom’s increasing aggression needs to be checked. What are these bastards doing?”

I hadn’t asked. And while I wanted to comment on it, I didn’t want to take any risks. So, I just shrugged. “Then let’s take that Didar out and bust these corrupt officials.”

“Wait, are you saying we just barge in now?” he asked, frowning.

“Why not?”

He narrowed his eyes. Jack grunted in agreement. But before either of them could act or disagree. Someone in the room made a sound.

“Did you hear—”

I stepped into the room, and flashes of light appeared above me. A few guards jumped into action, but the Magic Missiles blasted them back. I pointed straight at Didar who was fumbling for a weapon underneath a table. But a snare wrapped around him before he could grab it.

I grinned.

“Party’s over.”

Author’s Note:

I know what I want to write in my head. But when I write it on paper… I don’t know. I just can’t get the same feeling that I have in my head.

I don’t know how this chapter went. It didn’t go the way I wanted it to, at all. Like the events are the same, but it's just... sighs. 

Thanks for reading as usual.