( BlueStar Motel, The Indoor Bar )
Leo and Ben were seated inside the indoor bar area of the BlueStar Motel, munching on cheap peanuts and drinking questionable beer while discussing their future plans.
It was a very regular evening for the duo and they never expected the leader of a major merchant group to come looking for them here.
As the master-student duo deliberated on the best way to negotiate a contract with Shane, Mr. Wade suddenly entered the bar with his entourage, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
The BlueStar Motel wasn’t a high-end establishment that catered to the affluent. Therefore, when Mr. Wade walked into the bar in his expensive suit, accompanied by his sizable entourage carrying luxurious gifts, he immediately became the center of attention.
Murmurs spread quickly among the bar’s patrons. Some whispered in awe, while others speculated about his identity.
“Is this fool lost? Or is someone here is rich and dumb son” one patron wondered as he made a joke on the sly, however, nobody laughed at his words.
“Are you here to try the shitty pie? Fat man? You look like you enjoy pie….” Said a drunk man as he snorted in laughter at own joke.
“That’s Mr. Wade, the leader of the Green Jade Merchant Group!” he exclaimed, causing a ripple of excitement and curiosity to sweep through the room.
‘The Green Jade Merchant Group?’ Leo wondered as the image of a huge store front in the capital crossed his mind.
He had indeed seen the Green Jade store in StrongHaven and judging by its grandeur he could discern that the Green Jade Group was definitely not a small merchant group and hence its owner was also sure to be formidable.
‘Is he here for me…?’ Leo wondered as he threw another piece of peanut in his mouth and waited patiently.
It was more likely than not that Wade was here for him as of all the people here, he was the only one worth meeting, however, Leo did not make the first move in-case the fat merchant was hoping to recruit Ben for some filthy assassination mission.
Glancing towards Ben, Leo raised his eyebrows as Ben blinked his eye assuringly, asking Leo to wait.
This way, the master-disciple duo conversed through only their eyes and arrived at the same conclusion of waiting patiently.
Mr. Wade surveyed the bar with a discerning eye before leaning in to whisper into the ear of one of his underlings.
The underling nodded and then walked briskly over to the establishment’s owner, who was standing behind the counter, nervously polishing a glass.
After a brief, intense conversation, the bar owner’s eyes widened in surprise and then gleamed with the promise of profit. The underling handed over a hefty sum of money, and with that, the bar owner announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, the bar is now closed for a private event. Please finish your drinks and make your way to the exit.”
Monetarily, there were groans and complaints, but the sight of Mr. Wade’s imposing entourage ensured that no one lingered. Within minutes, the bar was cleared of all patrons except for Leo and Ben, who exchanged curious glances, wondering what had prompted such a dramatic turn of events.
As the last guest left, the bar owner approached Leo and Ben, indicating they should stay. “Mr. Wade would like to have a word with you,” he said, his voice a mix of respect and nervousness.
“Well, ask Mr.Wade if he wants a drink? Tell him he’s our guest so we will pay and give him a chair…” said Ben as he played the situation very coolly, immediately assuming control of the room by taking up the role of the host.
As the nervous bar owner walked towards Mr.Wade asking for his drink preference, Mr.Wade only requested for ice cold water while he pulled his own chair over to Leo and Ben’s table.
“Mr. Leo Skyshard, it’s a pleasure to meet you here today–” Wade said, extending his hand for Leo to shake as Leo shook it back firmly.
Just like Shane, Wade also had a fake and merchant-like smile on his face as he put on the most amiable display in front of Leo.
“Likewise–” Leo said, as Wade then turned towards Ben and extended his hand equally politely as he did not know about the identity of the man sitting with Leo.
“Hello Good Sir, I’m Wade Prude, The owner of the Green Jade Merchant Group… can I have the pleasure of knowing your good name?” Wade asked politely, as Ben smiled evilly to this question.
“The name’s Ben Faulkner but you may know me better as the ‘KingSlayer’ “. Ben said without shame, as the moment Ben uttered those words he saw goosebumps running up Wade’s arms as his face turned ashen white.
*Clink*
*Crash*
Not just Wade, even the bar owner began to tremble when he heard that name as he finally realized that the guests staying at his motel were not ordinary at all.
“B-b-b-ben Faulkner!!!!!!!!!!” Said one of the men in Wade’s entourage as he dropped the luxurious gift in his hand and bolted for the exit”
“The boogeyman! The boogeyman is here–” he screamed like a scared little girl, as the villain of his childhood stories was finally in front of him.
The other members, although not as scared as the one that ran away, still trembled hearing Ben Faulkner’s name, as for the first time ever Leo got to witness the true terror behind the name Ben Faulkner in his life.
“Hohoho. Don’t worry, I won’t bite. I’ve just became a free man and I don’t intend to become a wanted man again anytime soon” Ben said, as he thoroughly enjoyed the reaction to his name and the fear he commanded.