Crowded by nick-knacks, the walls stretched overhead with gaudy colors. An internet cafe with a noodle stand, which also by pure happenstance, also sold fairy floss. Dressed in all black silk was a giddy gentleman, leggings that curved over heels, sleeves that slid by his knees. A hood to obscure his eyes, that’s right.

  Sucking on a caramel, Horst shouted, “twenty million!!!”

  What the? Fester thought whilst slurping their noodles.

  “It really was twenty million…” Horst clasped his face, the left side of his face throbbed. “The last Zodiac Palace, that was how much the trophy money was. You're sure he said twenty million?” Horst asked Taiga.

  “Yup…” Taiga replied.

  “Incredible!” Horst sifted through documents on the hidden web. “That’s like seventy percent of the state lotto. If they award that much, they need to earn at least a hundred fifty, all in one night. Hard to believe, an illegal event could bring in that much…”

  “Don’t you think the Zodiac Palace may be state-ran?” Taiga proposed.

  “Nonsense…” Horst almost laughed, rather he wanted to. “…No damn way.” Mail popped up on the screen. A photo of Cherry and Urjohar being taken by a group of unsavory folk was plastered on the screen.

  “Kidnapped! That guy…” Horst’s right eye widened, the man he stared at like a beam from outer space, had tatted sleeves up to his neck which coincided with a gnarly scar that ran along his left side up his face. “That’s…Ben Krow, also known as Krow the Benevolent.” Horst gritted his teeth in dismay.

  That grinner… Fester thought.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Taiga held his cool, but even to Horst he noticed a slight resignation from the words he had just heard.

  “Ben? What’s so special ‘bout him?” Taiga asked.

  “Since eleventh grade…no longer, since Maitai Mountain Middle, he’s been the leader of the Lao Shu youth syndicate, and…head of the Avomen gang that’s in control of about a third of Ontiganel.”

  “And that Ben guy is supposed to have written that mail? Sucks out loud!” Taiga said.

  “Yup… How’d anybody know we were using this PC at this moment exactly? That means the one who sent it has to be here. Whatever! Urjo and Cherry are in danger, so let’s go!”

  “Tch…”

  “Taiga? I know, but just this once, use your fists.” Horst closed his eyes in frustration. “Fine… How much, how much will make you come?”

  “It doesn’t matter… Hah, to help that idiot, even if we go there, that guy can’t be helped.”

  “Cherry’s with him, don’t forget that… And, there’s another reason we need to be there. It’s thanks to those Avomen that I lost the left side of my face.” Letting his hair fall away showed the burns on the top left of Horst’s face, as well as where his left eye once was; now just a black cavity. “Even if you think I’m selfish…please join us. I need your power!”

  Pushing up his glasses let glare shine off, Taiga held his breath for a moment before speaking once again. “It’s gonna cost… It’s gonna cost ya a lot.”

  Hysterically Horst jumped forward, his face close enough for Taiga to feel his breath. “Didn’t I say how much?! So tell me!! How much?”

  “…” Taiga looked up to the non-existent heavens. “An iced caramel frappē, extra whip, not shaken, coconut milk…” He said with his face turned away from Horst. “Is that all right with you?”

  Horst let out the lightest chuckle… “You’ll get it. And damn, you’ll get one every day of this summer vacation!” Horst declared with his chest raised high.

  “Feeling generous today?”

  “Let’s go!” Horst ended with a smirk.