With his hands in his pockets, Ha Ke strode through the storeroom's gates, then stopped and gave Blu an exuberant smile.
"I'm still alive, which is great, and seeing you alive too feels even better." Having said that, he let out a long howl, took a few quick steps forward, leaped up, and pounced on Blu, where they embraced each other.
After a while, the two sat in a corner of the storeroom, talking about their individual experiences.
"I found a hidden path ahead of time and returned to the lower residential area of Payin City, hid beside a garbage station for a week, then quietly relocated. After things settled down, I was safe." He was a smart man, slim too, easy to blend into a crowd, unlike Blu who couldn't easily hide.
"You're incredible, Ha Ke." Blu complimented, then asked about other things.
"I have no idea where the boss went, but I guess he's still alive. A tough guy like him won't die so easily." Ha Ke reassured Blu not to worry about that.
"Have you been working here lately?" Ha Ke looked around.
"Yes, the supervisor is quite nice."
"Forget it, he probably just thinks you're useful and cheap." The skinny Ha Ke understood much.
"I've been hanging out with a bunch of Night Wanderers recently, life's been pretty good. Why don't you come with me? I can find you a gig as a nightclub bouncer. It's a lot easier and you've got the build for it."
"No thanks, Ha Ke." Blu shook his head, having been taught in prison to stay away from such industries in the future.
"Uh..." Ha Ke scratched his head, momentarily at a loss with this big guy, after all, he wasn't Qiao Long, who would follow any order given.
"Anyway, let's not talk about this now. In fact, I've recently stumbled upon a clue about that task the boss left us with. When we're free, we need to go look for that young lady."
"Is it the matter of helping to find someone?"
"Exactly, the Night Wanderer crowd is a mixed bag, but I managed to sniff out some news. It's said to be information filled out during the settlement of residents years ago, and it includes details about the young lady's parents."
"Isn't that information kept in the archive? Do we need to inform the young lady?" Blu was puzzled.
"No, no, no, although the archive records a lot, there are things I think the young lady herself is unaware of." Ha Ke shook his head.
"When residents settle in, the local community committees conduct interviews and inquiries with the new occupants to get acquainted with their situations. It's not an official or serious process, so it's quite casual, but it's also easy to uncover some issues."
"For instance, her parents made a lasting impression on the interviewers back then, which I found out by spending several hundred Federation Coins to treat someone to a meal."
"Is that even possible?" Blu thought it would take another half a year to dig up any bits of information, but Ha Ke had results so quickly.
"I've only found out about her parents' past, as for her father's whereabouts, I'm not sure. In contrast, he left without a trace, making me suspect a professional's handiwork." Ha Ke gestured dismissively.
"Ordinary people, when drowned in huge debts, turn to unconventional methods when official channels fail, like usury, illicit labor, underground boxing or racing, and such."
"But her father left no such traces. It seems he suddenly came into some money, paid off his debts, and then left quietly. The process was too smooth, nobody in the gray sectors of Payin City had any contact with him."
"However, taking into account her mother's background, maybe a lot of things can be explained."
"The old man recalled that it was over 20 years ago, the young lady's mother was in her prime, with a voice and demeanor immensely different from ordinary people. Back then he didn't understand, but after traveling to other places, he guessed that the young couple might have come from the Northern Second District."
"That kind of demeanor is hard to describe, but if someone has been there, they would understand, that's what he told me." Ha Ke, with his head in his hands, leaned back on a cushion in the corner, the two of them talking freely until a delivery truck drove into the storeroom, and Blu had to get back to work.