[color=bc8dbf][i][b]"Please put the table's order on my tab and give us a meal for dinner and as much as bottle of sake."[/b][/i][/color]

The bartender Lucas froze for a brief second upon hearing that. He eyed the host, Jazdia, and obviously, there was confusion between all parties until the elf shooked her head and suggested that he might take the tip.

[color=#9FE2BF]"Good sir, there is no need... to compensate."[/color] said the bartender embarrassingly. If you look at Jazdia, you can see her face souring a bit. [color=#9FE2BF]"Milady had arranged the accommodation for her esteemed companions, please don't trouble yourself with the arrears and enjoy our service to the fullest."[/color]

Deliberately trying to avoid more banter and confusion, he turned to Kaito. [color=#9FE2BF]"Mister Kaito, you are known to us. But still, what can I get you?"[/color]

[color=#93FFFF]“Well, I can think of a few ways. but…Jaz always demands of me that I am on my utmost best behavior when I’m here so I’ll just have to settle for the chicken and fried tofu again. And don’t listen to this angry lady over here, she has no idea how great your hot leaf juice tastes.”[/color]

[color=#9FE2BF]"[i][b]Iced[/b][/i] leaf juice." Lucas insistently corrected as if the mistake of guessing the serving temperature bothered him more than a blatant transgression referring tea as leaf juice, but then, he was a jovial man again. "An iced tea, a bottle of saké, fried tofu, and dinner for two. As soon as may be!"[/color]

																[center]***[/center]


[color=#93FFFF]“Wow, that swimsuit looks good on you, Jazdia.” The fox chirped. “I never expected you to be into such stuff. I guess you have a wild side after all.”[/color]

The compliment was as genuine as it gets, but the timing couldn't be any worse. She tried to evade this when Rosenving daughter brought it up but, now... not so much anymore.
Sipping audibly, Jazdia gulped down more of the chamomile tea that it was advisable to drink in one sip. She should have known she won't be getting away from this 

[color=ec008c]"There is nothing daring or wild about wearing swimwear."[/color] Jazdia was more embarrassed when she realized her voice was getting squeaky. Clearing her throat, she tried to deepen her tone.
[color=ec008c]
"It was one of our marketing team's bizarre ideas. Making photoshoots sessions for every stakeholder's daughters as models and having the result printed on a special calendar. Now, don't look at me like that. I was just doing my part as the owner of the company. I can arrange such session for Yvonne Rosenving if she wished so." [/color] 



The noblewoman almost spurted her whiskey. [b][color=#a4161a]"No way!"  [/color][/b]

There were jokes and hearty banter between the two, and it would be a while until they can discuss the more important matter. But Jazdia let them have their laughs. After all, they were on a break right now, and might as well use the time to lighten the mood after this long day. 

[color=#93FFFF]“So, about The black Serpent guild.[/color] Kaito began. [color=#93FFFF]Friendly bunch of people, except when you want to get a share of the spice trade. Then you end up six feet under. They practically own the streets of Rascade. Most shops, traders and artisans pay them protection money. If you don’t, you will get in trouble. They walk a fine line between enforcing their rule and attracting too much attention from the guards.”[/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]"Hmmm... I didn't think I'm going to cross swords again with this type of Syndicate."[/b][/color] this was Chounan now who spoke [color=bc8dbf][b]"Not just they run spices, they also run other filthy businesses around here in Kinderance. Slavery and Smuggling.[/b][/color]

He then described his findings about their warehouses and his method to spy on them. Quite a fascinating story and Jazdia would be having a hard time believing his story until he pulled a map. 

[color=bc8dbf][b]"I'm sure Kaito-san will know the rest of it."[/b][/color] he concluded. 

[color=#93FFFF]“Indeed. I think they have around 500 members in and around Rascade. Many of them get recruited from orphanages at a young age or where homeless kids. The guild offers them protection, purpose and a family like bond. They let them start out with running small errands, pickpocketing and later on enforcing their rule on the markets. Some others were recruited at later ages because they offer specific skills. The organization is strictly hierarchical. Their top brass are called dragons. There are 3 dragons, each has their own area of responsibility.”[/color]

And the top dragon was now a man called Gerrald Grey. White-haired, with a unique snake tattoo; The tail end starts at his left hand and the head of the serpent was at his right hand. Jazdia tried to remember this. 
Needless to say, they needed to get into their HQ to capture the man.  

[color=ec008c]"It will be like storming a fortress. 500 people and we don't have any reinforcement, no thanks to Mr. Delving."[/color] Jazdia forked the last piece of vanilla spekkoek before continuing. [color=ec008c]"We need a distraction. A big one, something that can lighten the security in their HQ. And I think I have an idea."[/color]