“Hmmm. Not really. I haven’t come this far off my ship on a job before, but most drops are somewhere with lots of people. Maybe the restaurant just isn’t…doing well?” The concept of having food prepared and delivered to your table didn’t appeal to Light much. Some QV still had a deep-seated desire to capture or cultivate their own food. Hence why he had his own little aquarium farm on the ship. That tube of paste earlier was obligatory nerve-sustenance, not a happy choice.

“I think if they were suspicious they probably would have dealt with us before we got here. Let's go to the front and use the handshake I was given. Remain vigilant of our surroundings and be ready to flee.”

It wasn’t until they got closer to the front of the building that you saw it was all shielded. They passed through an almost imperceptible barrier just before vaulting a short set of steps to the doors. They slid open for them, and a comfortable warm breeze rippled Light’s suit as they ventured inside.

They were in a well-appointed reception chamber. Seats for various species littered the walls, soft rugs covered the floor and sumptuous artworks in relief laden the ceiling. They mostly depicted Humans and other unrecognisable organics.

A Human man and a woman stood magnetised to the floor. They were dressed in what Light presumed were smart suits of this particular style. They both had their heads bowed when they entered, but the woman looked up and offered a friendly smile as they approached.

“Welcome to the Guangzhou club and restaurant. How may I help you?”

“Only if the cherry blossom is in full bloom?” Light replied, repeating the phrase he’d been told.

“Very well, sir. My colleague will show you to your table.” The woman replied, her smile not faltering. The man looked up and nodded to them both, gesturing for them to follow.

Light looked at Senjen and gave the QV-equivalent of a shrug, then followed.

The building was roughly rectangular, with an enormous atrium in the middle. Four more floors opened out above them, with guide ropes for diners to safely navigate between them. Attached to the ceiling of this atrium was an object that at first glance looked to be a giant chandelier. But it didn't look quite right somehow. It was gunmetal grey and too bulky to just be a set of lamps; some of the appendages weren’t even emitting anything perceivable. Light pointed it out to Senjen.

“That's how I know we’re in the right place.” He said, cryptically referring to the VC. There was always some strange, dangerous looking tech hanging around where they were involved.

The waiter took them up a guide rope to the top floor at the back. Dining areas ringed the atrium, all with large plate windows out over the city and numerous different seating configurations. Light did spot people of different species eating, but only enough to fill one in every twenty tables. All the wait staff were Humans dressed in smart red waistcoats over crisp white shirts and dress trousers.

On the back of each floor was an expansive open kitchen ringed by VIP seating and more large windows. The receptionist led them towards the chef’s pass, where another man in a dark suit, white bowtie and white straw hat ate hungrily from a bowl. He looked up as they touched down nearby.

“Notice anything untoward yet?” Light messaged Senjen privately.

“Help you?” The man asked, putting the lid on his bowl. He had slicked back hair and a small growth of hair around his mouthparts.

“Umm…Only if the cherry blossom is in full bloom?”

The man laughed.

“Hand it over.”