I rounded the fourth consecutive corner, confirming that two local thugs were following me. They were trying to be stealthy even though one man’s gold-plated artificial arm made him stand out like technology in the jungle. I stopped at one of the food carts that sat along the sidewalks of the city streets, and ordered some Sarapa from the old man that manned the cart. Accepting a steaming bowl of rainbow-colored shellfish in a thick chunky orange puree, I walked to the small sitting area the city provided for these carts. I sat down, intentionally leaving my back to the street to encourage the two thugs to approach me.

  I shifted my two blasters to the small robotic arms built into my belt that allowed me to aim behind me. Slowing my breathing, I fought the rising urge to fire as the two men approached. I took a bite and let the old man know I was enjoying his food by letting out a satisfied grunt.

  It didn’t take long for the two thugs to move in from opposite sides so that I couldn’t shoot both of them if I tried to turn quickly. Glancing casually to each side, I used my peripheral vision to locate their pistols held close to their waists. Taking another bite of the thick stew, I chewed slowly before speaking.

  “My friends, you’re clearly new at this. If you’d be so kind as to look down to my sides, you’ll see that I have two pistols aimed right at your manhood. It’s set to track you and fire if you move closer or your trigger fingers twitch. I’d recommend that you put those pistols away and come join me. I’m sure you have a message from your boss, and I have a message for him as well.”

  For several tense seconds, the two thugs considered the offer before finally dropping their weapons and raising their hands in surrender to the situation. As the two men walked away, I used the wall-length reflective glass windows of a store that the gods would likely not approve of to watch them as they went, ordered food, and came back to join me at my table. When the two men sat across the table from me, I pressed a button on my wrist controller. I retracted the pistols, keeping them locked on the men under the table but removing them from visibility as I started the conversation.

  “Pleasure to meet both of you. My name is Everrune. I’m one of the new owners of the Moonlight Terrace. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your names?”

  I was surprised that the thug with the gold-clad mechanical arm was about to answer me after a brief moment of silence. He was cut off by an unintelligible growl from his partner before a word could escape his lips. With a shrug, I continued.

  “I hope I didn’t kill your appetite with that threat. I’m not violent unless I have to be. I wanted to get your boss’s attention, but I didn’t expect him to be so brash with his response. I’m sorry that you were dragged into the mess, though.”

  Taking another bite, I gave them a minute to sit and taste their food before continuing. “Tell you what, how about we have a civil discussion? Then you can return to your boss, whoever they are, and tell them that you did your job. I’m sure his demands weren’t unreasonable, and you can give them to me without the time-wasting posturing and threats. You do that, and you will get the friends and family price at our restaurant whenever you want. So how about we start with his demands, then?”

  Shifting uncomfortably for a few seconds, the giant thug spoke. His thick street accent was nearly impossible for me to understand through his mouth full of food. “Boss wants the ship back that you stole. We could have taken it, but he wanted to ask nicely first.”

  Smiling softly, I patted the big man’s hand, responding in a tone that most people used to explain things to small children. “My boy, that would have been suicide, and your boss knows it.”

  The visible contempt and concern on both men’s faces nearly caused me to laugh as they shifted from cocky to constipated-looking faces. I continued, not letting the men respond or fully get their thoughts together. “Do you want to go up against one of the veterans of the Crimson Orchard?”

  Rolling up my sleeve, I exposed the black tree that had been tattooed into my arm with a tattooed crimson river flowing from its roots. With a switch to the icy voice of an experienced killer I made sure to not veil my threats. I finished the reality check without worrying about either of the men’s feelings as they glanced between each other, trying to decide what to do.

  “If your boss still wants the ship, I’m open to a swap. I need a cargo hauler, so I will gladly trade with him if he can get me any cargo ship in good condition. I don’t need the firepower of the troop lander.”

  Taking the last bite of stew, I stood and carried the empty wooden bowl to the cart, putting it in the bin filled with used bowls and utensils. The two thugs stood where they’d been, not moving because my threat never actually released them. As I walked away, I used the mirrors of various apparel vendors to watch the two thugs as they walked away. I used my nanites to force my breath to come deep and slow as I walked, focusing on slowing my heartbeat and my scrambling mind as I listened to the two argue loudly behind me.

  I paused momentarily to enjoy the argument about what they should do. It took several minutes and even more bad plans to hide what I’d said before they finally decided to pass the message on and hope their boss was less scary than I was. When they finally decided, they quickly scarfed down their meals before leaving. Sure that I was safe, I moved on through the vendors to reach my final target for the day.

  After weaving for two blocks to ensure I wasn’t being followed, I turned to the furniture store that had been my real purpose for this journey. I couldn’t own much furniture in my last two apartments because they were so small. Now I had a much bigger apartment to furnish and needed some design advice on how it should look to match my new lifestyle. Stepping through the double doors, I moved to the far side where a beautiful young woman who seemed to be a few years younger than me was sitting behind a desk with a plaque that said she was the store’s interior designer.

  It had been five years since my wife had died, and the goddesses had tried to force me to date several times, but this time I decided to give it a shot. The last thing I wanted was more meddling from the goddesses. So I put on every ounce of my charm, which might have been too much in hindsight. I pulled up a seat and slouched into it, trying to look as charming as possible as I studied the designer that would be helping me out.

  The slender woman focused on her work as she played with a loose strand of brown hair despite my attempts to casually get her attention. Not seeming to notice me, she adjusted her glasses to get a better view of her screen. Instead of getting her attention like an average person, I studied how she scrunched her nose as she tried to focus. After several moments I sat forward, doing my best to catch her attention, flashing my award-winning smile. “Miss, I’m sorry to interrupt your work. Do you have a moment to help me out?”

  The designer sat straight up with a start as she spun towards me, nearly falling out of her chair. She stumbled through her words, her brown eyes locked on mine in more than minor surprise. “I’m so sorry, sir. I was a little too focused on what I was doing. How can I help you today?”

  Sitting back, I did my best to distinguish between flirting and professionalism. “Don’t worry, miss, the five-minute wait wasn’t bad. I’m sure you are talented enough for it to be worth the wait. I’m Everrune Shasagit, the new owner of The Moonlight Terrace.”

  I gave her a subtle wink, waiting for the always inevitable blush. After a few seconds without seeing it, panic gripped my chest, and I began to question my overconfident attitude. When it finally came, she tried to hide it by straightening her ponytail before speaking.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Shasagit. I’m Stesa Tanrit, the chief designer for the store. Are you new to the city and looking to furnish your new place or are you beginning a remodel on an older place?”

  Leaning forward to engage her further, I tried to bring out the more silky tones of my voice to increase the flirtiness while losing some of the arrogance. “You’re correct that I just arrived and need to furnish my home. When I got here, it was easier to sell my meager possessions and furnish my home anew. So would it be easier for you to see the site, or would a few pictures work for you? And please call me Everrune.”

  Pushing herself out of her chair, Stesa motioned for me to lead the way as she stepped around her desk.

  “With that much work, it will be better if I get a look at the location. While we walk, you can tell me more about yourself and what you want with this design. Let me grab my sketchbook, and we can go right now if that’s okay.”

  I waited for the young woman to grab her things before I led the way out of the store and let her pass as I held the door open for her. Stepping out into the street, Stesa shrank out of my peripheral vision as she slowed to walk behind me. I glanced back to watch her as she spotted the armed thugs that were all lounging in the outdoor seating of the bars and restaurants, still armed from the earlier raid despite doing nothing about it. Within seconds, Stesa shifted from the enthusiastic, bubbly attitude that had brightened my day to folded arms and the inability to meet anyone’s gaze.

  Pain and guilt hit me like a tidal wave that tied his gut in knots at the thought that I had been the indirect cause of this much fear for her. I couldn’t resist the urge to do something, so I dropped back to walk beside her. I spoke softly as I shifted my right hand to my pistol to make it clear that people better leave us alone. Feeling a mix of nerves and emotion that I hadn’t felt in a long time, I let my left shoulder touch hers to make it look closer than we were.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not actually going to do anything, but this will be the easiest way to keep them from harassing you, at least for today. If it’s okay with you, I will put my arm around you to make it clear that you are under my protection.”

  Her shoulders relaxed, and her arms fell to her sides as she processed my words. After a few more steps, she leaned into me a little to tell the story and make it clear that it was okay.

  “Thank you,” she whispered as her tension released into my arm. “I’ve only been up in the Over Cities for a few months, but I’ve already seen that this city can be a little dangerous for the average person after a fight. There’ve been incidents with some of my friends, which has me on edge. You should know what type of city you are dealing with now that you’re here.”

  Smiling slightly at her concern, I activated my comm link on my wrist and sent the connection number to Stesa. “I live and work less than four blocks from this store, so if you need help, just call me. I’m more than happy to make an appearance and keep people from harassing you. No one should live like this.”

  Seeing the flash on her wrist, signaling that she had received it, I decided to get off the bleak subject to something she might enjoy more. “Maybe we should change subjects and get back to the project so I don’t keep you away from your office for too long. I spent most of my younger years on the surface, so I prefer having as many orange plants and wood around me as possible. I like a little bit of a modern design twist, but I’m not too picky as long as it’s comfortable and functional.”

  Bringing her pencil up to tap against her lips as we walked, she began to think about potential design ideas as she responded. “Okay, I can do that. I lived on the surface for most of my life, which shouldn’t be a hard aesthetic, and I tend to lean in that direction in my designs anyways. I think we can get you a good plan together once I know the apartment’s flow and architectural elements I have to work with. Does that sound like it will work for you?”

  Giving her a thoughtful nod, I kept my eyes on the crowds, mentally marking every potential threat that appeared. I tried not to give into the paranoia that had plagued me since the Crimson Orchard, constantly seeing potential enemy assassins and spies in every face that looked in my direction or tried too hard to look away. For nearly half a block, we walked in silence. This was something I was okay with, but the nervous glances from Stesa told me she wasn’t.

  Finally giving up on waiting for my answer, she spoke again, asking the one question I always hated to answer. “So you said that you grew up on the surface, and what brought you up to the Over Cities?”

  Knowing how dangerous it would be to give away my actual story, I gave her the story that was true but carefully worded to make it look like I was far less important.

  “My family was part of the Quiet Island Clan. My mother died of illness, and then I lost my father. After that, I was taken in by Crimson Ancestors and trained as a Nameless. From there, I came up here on their orders, but I haven’t yet earned my way back down. That is why I’m here to build up my restaurant business.”

  While all of that was true, it also made me appear to be the son of a minor functionary and that my father was dead instead of the fact that he was still alive. I had used this same story with most of my friends and colleagues over the years since I arrived in the Over Cities, and it had been enough.

  Stories like this were all too common as those in power worked to keep the population down to protect the planet’s purity. My father had explained this balance when I was raised to take over for him, but I had never really liked it. This had eventually forced me and my late wife to flee our parents.

  Realizing that my mind had drifted, I continued the conversation as we reached the restaurant’s front door, opening it to let her in.

  “Welcome to my restaurant. Please forgive the mess. We are in the process of setting everything up, so it is a little bit of organized chaos. Upstairs will be a bit more barren, so it should be easy to design whatever you think is best. When delivering the furniture, there is an elevator and a separate entrance at the back of the building. Still, I didn’t want to take you down a dark alley just fifteen minutes after we met.”

  Laughing, Stesa slapped me softly on the chest with the back of her hand as she stepped through the door. Inside, Oclorth controlled the chaos, ordering several movers around as they changed out the old tables and chairs with the new ones we had custom-built for the restaurant. After a quick introduction, I led Stesa through the kitchen that was undergoing a similar change.

  As we reached the rear entrance, I opened it to show her where everything could be delivered and then took the lift up to the main living area on the second floor of the building. The opening doors revealed the spartan apartment with only a camping chair in the living room and a cot visible through the open bedroom door.

  “Don’t judge me too much. My clothes and kitchen supplies aren’t even up here yet, so it’ll look empty. When I’m done, this kitchen will function like the one downstairs. I will spend more time out front, but I still love to cook whenever possible.”

  Climbing the stairs to the kitchen on the second floor, Stesa ran her hand along the wood slats that lined the wall opposite the kitchen, seeming to picture the end result as she walked through the room. After she made her way to the bench that ran along another wall, she finally spoke as she focused on something out the window.

  “I really like this room, you have amazing bones. It won’t take much for me to make it look amazing. Let me know if you like this so that I can get a better idea of your style.”

  She turned and ran her hand along the wood as she described her vision for the room before pulling up pictures of what she was speaking about.

  “I think we use the wood and forest orange you love and the black stone of the countertop to dictate the design here. I have a black stone-topped table with holo capabilities built-in that would be perfect with this kitchen. We could also use forest orange padding for this bench and the stools to match with the island.”

  Checking out the images of the furniture, I couldn’t help but smile as I moved to lean on the island. “I like these. I think this is exactly what I’m looking for in this kitchen. I’m not the major social life type, but I enjoy having a few friends over for dinner or something like that. This setup would be perfect for those kinds of parties. It is also comfortable enough for a dinner date or something like that.”

  Stesa turned her back to me to try and hide her blush as she walked towards the window, running her fingers along the shelf below the windows. “I’m sure that would be a wonderful party. This is clearly your sanctuary in the home. We should probably keep this more calm and simple in the design. We can put a lot more of the designer details into the other living areas. If we do this right, I think this will also be an amazing place for a date night with your food. Is there someone special that you will have over for dinner?”

  Moving over to lean against the wall as I handed the datapad back to her, I met her gaze and responded with a wink. “No, I don’t have anyone to share a meal with yet, but I hope to remedy that soon. Perhaps once this place looks as good as you imagine, you might be willing to grace it as its first official guest?”