Chapter 9.1: Back-alley Meeting

After the rather life-threatening first experience there, Toadenise was ready for a comeback on her second visit at Encreport. The moment all three of them returned on its streets, Le Port instinctively looking around him with a nostalgic look on his face.

"Man, how long is it been? Yet not much seems to have changed since my academy years."

"You studied at Iris, Boss? I thought only insufferable rich snobs went there." Toadenise and Whistley started following thier leader who, in the meantime, kept rambling about his youth.

"Come on now, only 60% of the students fit in that category. But us sons and daughters of countrymen stuck togheter and pushed through their thick hot air of vanity...but i digress. Now let's put all of our focus on the mission."

"The objective?"

"Finding the location of the Glimmering Stone and retrieve it, Whistley. And at the Rock Salt District they sell the information of the former like fresh water."

"Let me guess, one of those "you want to stay under the radar? We'll roll the red carpet at the entrance for you." kind of places?"

"Er...not too far off. I mean, i'd value my privacy too if i had stuff like info selling and illegal gambling in my neighborhood...which i never participated in after sneaking out of dormitory at night, obviously."

"I totally believe you, Boss." After shaking her head in amused disbelief, Toadenise noticed that her temporary new partner was still a little tense, so the least she could do was try to calm her down somehow.

"Hey, relax. You look like you're afraid a meteor is gonna hit you at any moment."

"Trying my best to not be so on edge, i swear. It's just...lived until few days ago in Ruralille, seen only five streets all my life. Everything i see new to me."

"Man, can't even start to imagine having to deal with that kind of dejection. But, with all due to respect, keep moping about it won't make you feel any better, now would it?"

"Guess not. Got any tips?"

"Try seeing more the positive aspects of things. Having to jump to one place to the next for your missions is a good excuse to see more of Everbright. See? Stupid easy."

"(sighs)Can only try, but i guess nice having someone to actually care for a change. Thank you...partner."

"Denise. I hate formalities." The two exchanged a rather awkward fist bump, where Whistley needed a couple of attempts to land her hand onto the female toad's.

"Alright, BFFS. Down this bottleneck and we should be there."

The Future Believers took the indicated, spray arrow plastered way. The smell of fried was an easy trail to follow, leading them inside the Rock Salt District without any difficulty. It was the major joint of a system known in the Everbright Kingdom as "The Rails" where information is the main value. The Rails have a "Station" in every major city of the reign, the district and the Filthy Obsidian being two of them. The one in Encreport is distinguished for the weird cordiality of the people living there, as long as you don't try to scam anyone, and the fake jewelry that every single one of the locals wear.

"Ugh, place smells like trashcans back at cottage."

"Fortunately, we won't take long, otherwise we would bring this stench all the way back to the factories. Now...to turn the corner and our guy's stand should be right h-" A surprise most unexpected shocks the Warpid, as another group already occupies the afromentioned stand.

"What in the world are you doing here? Were you following us?"

"Who's to say you weren't the one on our tails, Princess Peach?"

In thier desperate search to find a safe place, our crew ended up in the little back-alley town due to the towering buildings hiding them and for the info-sharing nature of the place, but they would never have imagined to see the one who basically started this whole new journey.

"I still owe you for almost killing my minion, short stuff."

"And i would have never guessed the fearsome King of the Koopas to be a petty grudge-holder...or still retain long-term memory, for that matter."

"Want to say that to my face?" As Bowser was ready for a workout, the Pianta responsible of the Station butts in to avoid things to get messy.

"Look, could all of you take a hike? If you want to start a brawl, do it a couple of kilometers in any direction away from my tanning spot." The incredibly polite broker had covered himself in some cream that made his skin turn from yellow to an unnatural orange, noticeable by the difference under his fake diamond-covered sunglasses.

"Hey, you still have to hand us what we paid you for." Peach wasn't going anywhere without getting the location of the stone.

"If anything, it's good to see you still carrying on the family tradition, Bolin."

"Aaaaahh, the former prodigy turned coffin-stealing criminal. How can you look yourself in the mirror without feeling disgusted?"

"Stressed out as always, i see. At any rate-" Mario stopped the Warpid in his tracks to ask why the receptionist of the cottage back at Ruralille is behind him, guessing that he probably resorted to kidnapping, brainwashing or worse.

"Here on my own volition. Please don't make assumptions out thin air."

"After that Beanerang Bro. insulted you out of nowher-" Kamek tried to reason with the young Whittle, but to no avail.

"Oh, i'm sorry. Didn't know you lived my life together with me-oh wait, you didn't. So you can keep uninformed opinion to yourself."

"Whistley, please. As much as i would like to continue this lovable conversation, we have more pressing issues to deal with. Bolin, the same thing you gave these Mushroomners." The female Toad gave in his boss's hand a punch of one hundred and fifty coins perfectly aligned on his stand.

"Great, gotta repeat the same exact thing. In short, the white Glimmering Stone is no longer inside CertainRuin Gallery and the movement around Iris Academy, togheter with rumors of strange lights coming from the top of the building suggests it's been stolen and brought there. Satisfied? Don't care if you are not, i've been way too charitable for one day. Now scram, will you?" The Pianta then resumed his tanning session in the hope that he will be left alone soon.

"Does this match with your information?"

"Isn't that a little presumptious, assuming that we will tell you like it's some weather chat, tick?"

"Boss, their denial says it all, don't you think?" Toadenise felt pretty smug about that. She knows it's not good sport, but if it's to get back at the nosey Mushroomners who butted in on her partner's personal matters, then one transgression to her code it's not going to kill anyone.

"Indeed. Hopefully you'll take the smart decision and not show up your ugly mugs at the academy tonight. In the opposite scenario...i suggest you feast on the famous street cuisine of Encreport before heading there. It will probably be your last meal. We have no more business here, let us prepare properly."

"Yes, Boss. "Yes, Boss!"

With that ominous warning, the leader of the Future Believers left the scene without even the decency of looking in his enemies's eyes beforehand. The first true step towards Everbright's ultimate fate was rapidly approaching.

A.N: I gotta say, i'm actually kind of excited for what will start in the next chapter, partially because there will be finally some action again and for the rest...guess you'll see for yourself. With that being said, thank you for reading and i'll see in the next chapter.