"Haha!"
A low but hearty laugh came out of Haide's mouth, which left me confused. I didn't think I said anything funny, all I did was demand my lighter back.
Holding his side as he laughed out loud, he spoke between his breaths.
"Are you that petty over one lighter?"
"Yeah, I would get petty because I have to. I was lending it to you, not giving it, am I right?"
"Haha!"
Haide laughed even harder. He wiped the tears forming on the edge of his eyes and sighed.
"Ahh, you're such a killjoy, and here I thought I could easily obtain your heart."
"So you're courting me."
"Yeah, I'm trying to."
He handed me my lighter as he hummed in joy and gazed into the streets. I also did the same, enjoying this silence between us. The red hue from the sunset and the sound of vehicles passing by became our background noise.
'It feels calming.'
It's as if we had been friends for years even though we only met yesterday. The feeling where you instantly click with someone as if they had been a missing piece of your puzzle and the relief that came with it.
That's what I was feeling from Haide since the first time we met.
"So, what's your reason to skip today's shooting training?"
"I injured my shoulder."
"You did? You don't give off a reckless person vibe though."
I inhaled my cigarette, replying to him. "It was a miscalculation, my body couldn't keep up with my mind. As a result, I have to rest for at least a week before I can get back to training again."
"So that's why you've been using your left hand…" Haide mumbled under his breath before raising his voice again.
"What a shame, I was going to ask you to teach me all I need to know about a revolver." He sighed, then raised his gaze to me. "Then I'll visit your apartment every day."
"What for?"
"Well… To give you company? I'll help nurse you back to health, it must be difficult to move around with an injured shoulder, no?" He then grinned widely, "We're now friends yeah? And friends have to help each other in need, am I right or am I right?"
I scoffed at his choice of words. He didn't even give me any room to reject, just pushing his opinion through like a bulldozer, making a smile unconsciously formed on my lips.
'What an unsympathetic bastard.'
"You look best when you smile."
Haide commented, to which I replied with a smirk.
"At least hide your obvious intent of flirting if you want to compliment me."
"Is it that obvious? But I just stated what I honestly thought of you."
I wiped the smile off my face and stubbed out my cigarette. Standing up, I glanced at him.
"Sure, we're friends now, but I want my friend to accompany me somewhere rather than visiting me at my house every day."
"Oho, and where could this place be?"
Narrowing my eyes, I gave him a playful look, "Some place I was really familiar with."
.
.
Bright neon billboard, flashing lights and the clatter of slot machines. The place we stepped into was the place where people could spot it big or lose all of their seven generations' inheritance all at once.
Shouts of frustrated gamblers and the sight of people throwing chairs or flipping the table were common things to happen in this place.
Even now, as we entered, there was someone crazy enough to point their gun at innocent staff over the loss of their money.
"Careful of the shards that might come your way."
I warned Haide as we stepped in. And sure enough, a log came flying out of nowhere. Already anticipating it, I ducked my head.
THUD!
"Agh!"
"Told you."
But the man behind me didn't, so the log knocked him directly on the face. It wasn't sharp, so it didn't injure him, but being slapped by a log instantly brought his mood down.
I chuckled at his dispirited face, then motioned him with my hand.
"Come closer, I'll warn you in case something comes our way again."
"Only warn? You're not going to protect me?"
I just quietly smiled at him and continued my steps. Stopping in front of the bartender, I leaned on the table and asked.
"Quite a lovely day we're having isn't it?"
"It sure is. What drink would you and your friend have sir?"
"I would like to have one Mccatti please."
"Sure, I'll bring it to you shortly."
The bartender bowed to me and quickly disappeared to the back. Haide took this opportunity to strike up a conversation with me.
"I didn't know you had this kind of secret."
"I just know a channel here and there. We both know what kind of country we live in. You also have one of these secrets yourself, don't you?"
Haide chuckled, "You trust me enough to share your information with me?"
'I don't, that's why I brought you to the easiest information broker I could discard.'
I kept the thought to myself as I smiled at him. My purpose here was to try to gauge Haide's true intention.
My instincts kept flaring at me, telling me that this man was also someone like me. Someone whose morals were twisted and broken by this world. Leaving us drifting between the world of 'good' and 'bad'.
And to make sure of it, I brought him here.
"Please follow me."
The bartender showed up again and guided us toward a door behind the counter. The door led to a basement, which held a completely different place from the casino upstairs.
"Shooting range?" Haide whispered behind me.
"A death bet shooting range to be precise." I replied to him under my breath.
Among the crowd of omega and beta women, a fat man with a flushed face was drinking wine. Noticing us, he lazily propped his chin.
"Haven't seen you guys around here, you new?"
"Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Mccati."
The owner of this casino, Beck Mccatti, real name Joseph Haul, was a businessman who became an information broker as a side gig.
As a casino, flow of information in this place was huge, but most of it was rumors so the credibility was low. I and most other people usually used these kinds of places to know what's going on in the underworld rather than to get accurate information about something.
And this place was relatively 'cheap' as you can trade information not with money but with a show of skill.
Mccatti was a unique person, he was someone who appreciated art in shooting. I was sure he would like the price I paid him.
"So, what do you need?"
"I need general information about the Vassandra family."
"Vassandra? That ruined family?"
I nodded at his dubious gaze. Vassandra was a mafia family famous for its illegal drug distribution. Having evaded the police's watchful eyes for years, they finally got caught precisely 5 months ago because the last patriarch was an incompetent leader, which led to betrayal from his subordinate.
That was also the family Cassius was adopted into.
'I'm sure Cassius is currently on the run right now.'
I didn't want to involve him in the War of Throne again in this life. I just wanted to make sure he was safe.
"Let's see… I will tell you, but what prize could you offer me?"
Mccatti eyed Haide and me as he rubbed his chin. I pushed Haide upfront, presenting him to Mccatti.
"He's going to show you one-in-a-lifetime shooting skills."
Haide glanced at me, his blood red pupil gauging my intention. I met his eyes and tapped his back, encouraging him.
"What a sly fox you are." Haide muttered, which made me smile, "Yes, I am. And I'm proud of it."
I could hear his muffled chuckle before he turned his attention to Mccatti again.
"Can I borrow a gun? Just like this guy said, I'm going to show you a once-in-a-lifetime shooting skill." Haide asked.
"Ohh~! Hey you, hand him your gun."
He ordered one of the guards and motioned Haide to start. Haide gripped the gun in his hand for a bit before taking his stance in front of the shooting range.
BANG!
The first bullet was shot. Haide readjusted the gun in his hand again, exhaling a deep breath.
BANG! BANG!
Then rapid-fire the rest of the remaining bullets.
CLICK!
The sound of empty magazine signaled the end of this show. Soon, gasps of amazement and claps of celebratory came from Mccatti.
"Ohhh~!! Eme~zing! Such an eme~zing shooting skill! What precision! What a speed! How could you reach such level of inhumane accuracy?!" He was so in awe that he slurred his words.
Haide shrugged, "I just have the talent for it."
"That was such an eme~zing display of skill, I'm impressed. Alright, I'll give you the information you need, I'll even make you two VIP customers, but be sure to come here often okay? The sight of you shooting still brought chills to my spine. I want to marvel at it more often."
"Sure." I answered on Haide's behalf, completely going to do the opposite.
"Hmm, where do I start. You must have known that the family is ruined and the patriarch and his wife were killed on the spot, his three children were currently on the run with the eldest almost being caught a few times. None of the three could run their parents' business in the meantime, so there's no sign of the Vassandra family rising to power soon."
"How about the adopted child? Is he also on the run?"
"Ah yeah, I have someone claiming to have spotted him near our city. It was at the Bluestone Park, I think? He seems to be injured as he is limping when he runs."
'Cassius is injured?'
I guess it made sense, at this time, he was at a dire situation where he was being hunted.
'Even though he was practically innocent.'
Cassius was adopted to be the scapegoat in case a problem like this arose. But the plan backfired and he was now free to roam the world.
"Alright, thank you."
I said my gratitude and took Haide out of the casino. Walking to an alley nearby, I gathered my thoughts.
Having a bit of information made my mind relax for a bit.
It's not like I didn't want to check Cassius' condition as soon as I regressed in time, it was just not the right time as my mind was focused more on training my body to face the kidnapping incident.
"You're searching for the adopted child of Vassandra?"
"Yeah."
I pulled out my packet of cigarettes, I really needed a dose of nicotine right now. But Haide took the packet from me, leaving my empty hand hanging in the air.
"Don't. It's bad for you. I'll give you something better."
I scoffed, "What's better than a cigarette when you're stressed?"
Haide rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a round object wrapped in plastic.
"A candy?"
He nodded, but instead of giving it to me, he ate the candy and asked.
"Can I kiss you?"
'So that's what he means.'
Without replying, I wrapped my arms around his shoulder. Seeing my gesture, Haide smirked, planting his lips onto mine.
Soon, sounds of gasping breath were heard in the dark alley.