Chapter 45 - jason
“I think we’re getting better at navigating the city,” Kaiden says as we make our way up the street.
“What makes you say that?”
“We actually found the place, and took the right bus this time.”
“We haven’t found it yet,” Kaiden points down the road, “okay we’re not too bad.”
I expected a convince store from the outside, but inside looks like more like a general store that happens to have a pawn shop attached. There is nothing convenient about this place. Candy, chips, musical equipment and electronics all jammed into this small shop, seemingly at random. One Orc sits at the counter, behind a bulletproof screen, not even noticing us walk in.
“Is that the guy,” I point to the Orc.
“Yeah, that’s him.”
I make my way over to have a conversation. The Orc is asleep, unbothered. A little pudgy for the Orcs I’ve been fighting, but I suppose every Orc isn’t trying to live the warrior way still. This guy is trying to live the relaxed fit life. I knock on the window and he almost falls off his stool.
“What do you want? Hurry up and buy something,” he’s obviously upset.
“I’m here to talk about your brother.”
“I don’t have a brother,” he denies it. An obvious lie.
“The one who goes around extorting business along the river. You know, the one with the two-bit criminal organization that used to be in the abandoned building,” I try to refresh his memory, the calm way.
“Doesn’t ring a bell,” he stays firm.
“Do you have any of those lemon-flavored cupcakes you used to bring to us,” Kaiden leans from behind a shelf to ask.
“Yeah, right over by the….shit,” he knows he messed up by acknowledging Kaiden.
“Thank you,” Kaiden smiles and points his fingers at him. A goofball.
“So, now that we have that out of the way. I need to know where your brother is,” I bring us back on track.
“Why do you want to find him? That your kid? You want revenge,” he jumps to the worst.
“Alright, let’s start this again. I’m Jason, that’s Kaiden. Nice to meet you,” I introduce myself properly this time.
“The name is Blazr from the clan Valthurg. I don’t participate in the current family business,” he’s calmed down a little.
“What was the old family business,” Kaiden asks with an arm full of snacks.
“Legit business, manual labor, construction. My brother thinks he leads the mob. We never did this crap under our father. My uncle had to have gotten into his ear,” Blazr stops, as if he’s said too much.
“If you tell us where he is, we can get you back on track,” I make the offer.
“I can’t do that,” he answers.
“Well, why not? You want him stopped. Jason can do it,” Kaiden is bad for interrogations.
“Because if I told you where he was, you’d try to go kill him, and my entire clan would fight back. They would kill you and I can’t have that on my conscience. Then again, you might kill them all, and I would have to avenge them, even if I don’t agree with their life choices. Everyone who has gone bad just needs one person to bring them back to the right side. I’m trying to be that person so I can’t tell you where they are. Even if we’re not fighting wars anymore, we still have our honor as Orcs. Good or bad. Sorry.”
“Are you fucking serious? Your brother is beating up old people and stealing their restaurant profits but you want to talk about honor? You are one ass backwards Orc,” we’re going to do this the hard way now.
“Jason, I think we should go,” Kaiden pulls at my hand.
“Not until we get answers.”
“He’s not going to give us anything. Look at him, he’s on the verge of tears right now. We’ll find the place another way,” Kaiden pleads with me.
“I owe you for the hobgoblins, so we’ll leave.”
Outside the shop, I’m pissed. I can’t bring Kaiden along if he’s going to stop me every time he thinks I’m being too mean. Sometimes you need to be mean to people so things get done. Especially in this line of work. You can’t just hug it out with everyone. Sometimes you need to kick in the door and make them understand you mean business.
“Why did you stop me? I wasn’t going to hurt him,” I need to know his reasoning.
“Because we got what we needed,” he shrugs.
“What?”
“You said that the Orc Clans all have their own communities, right? Well, we got their family name. Valthurg. We just give it to Sorkina and let her do the rest.
“I’m sorry, you made the right call. I let my emotions get in the way. Good job.”
“What’s that? I can’t hear you. Almost sounds like you said sorry,” he mocks me.
“I can still beat you up.”
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