Chapter 003

Missadventures part I

"I'm tired." Rilury stated as she was trying to stuff her clothes in the backpack. "Can't we just sleep more?"

"We have to hurry to our destination." Said Hao as he was dissembling the tent. "But I suppose you haven't slept half a night have you?"

Her face borrowed a red color and a consternated frown.

"I was too scared to fall back to sleep! Plus that daylight sleeping is so much better!"

"If you can't even remember your dream, then what were you so afraid of that you fell asleep only in the morning?" he asked with a straight face.

Her eyes went a bit thoughtful.

"I don't know, but that sensation was terrifying. It felt like a huge warning, but in a telepathic way…"

"Hmm…Ok then. " he gave her a reassuring smile. "Then today we'll camp earlier so you'll get plenty of sleep." He came closer to her and kissed her shortly on her cheek.

"Wait…that's it!|

"Hm?"

"The reason why I can't sleep properly is because I don't sleep comfortably enough! Let's buy a hotel room!"

X

The sun has risen once with the people from the city. All though it was a small town from South Korea, it was still developed enough and the streets were full of rumbling noises and agitation.

"Aw come on! Why don't you agree trying to make money at least once so we can afford a hotel room! It'll be easy, we can do with our shamanic abilities amazing stuff for the economy, y'know?" Rilury was trying to convince Hao, who seemed already tired from her constant mumbling.

"I told you, I dislike anything which has to do with capitalism. A society based on consumption is the main reason for our planet's damages."

"But, but. Just today…pleaseeeee-"

She was begging him for almost the whole morning and it already got tiring. But she maintained the sound of "e" the whole road until they arrived at a small fair, where item exchanging was quite a common practice. They still needed to obtain food and other necessities. As Hao was completely ignoring her, he made some good trades with the merchants, perhaps because they felt quite intimidated by him.

"Ugh, fine then! If you don't want to help, I'll make my own money and live like a princess from now on! Just wait and see!"

Hao slightly chuckled.

"Good luck with that then. Just keep this furyoku charged garnet so I can track you in case you'll get lost."

"Psh…of course I won't! But I'll take it, just in case…"

X

It has already been past noon and Rilury still hasn't shown up at their camping place. With a sigh, Hao went and followed the trace of her furyoku, until eventually he found a weird local in an infamous slum.

Paradise Bets.

Inside the room which was a bit under the ground level was a dim light and the décor was mainly in hot dark red covered with glaring lights and machineries which seemed like arcade machines, only that they had stupid simple games which made grown up men addicted to them. In the center of the room there was a big, fancy table where people would play card games with serious faces. It seemed to be called poker, as the men from their backs who were only assisting pronounced the name loudly several times while drinking whiskey and sake.

Deplorable. Such a miserable way to spend their mundane lives...What was even more saddening was that this vicious trap actually worked for many adults…

And apparently his girlfriend.

He didn't notice the first time, but Rilury was actually at that table, with her face all red and probably having no idea what she was doing.

"Rilury, what are you doing here?! We were supposed to meet up five hours ago!" Hao approached her a bit annoyed.

"Oh, hey lovely-dovely sweetheart!" her breath was smelling like alcohol. "Guess what?! I'm rich! And I will be even more richer!" she said out loudly while balancing on the chair.

"No, you're just drunk." He added with a sigh. "Let's get moving before you'll do anything-"

"She's right." An older man from behind added. "She had a huge luck when she played at the gambling machines and now she bet all her money in this poker game! She's crazy I tell you!"

Hao sighed again. Of course! With her electricity powers it was easy to hack the idiotic machineries.

"About how much she ripped this casino off?"

"About fifty thousand."

He had a little surprise but maintained his composure. After all, they were just numbers.

"He-heh, you wished me luck didn't you, sweetheart? " Rilury was balancing again on her chair…"Look at me now! You want a drink honey?"

"How about leaving?" he said without being able to hide his little indignation.

"Are you kidding? Now that I'm playing with Doctor Finger, the biggest moneylender in this town?"

"You're just crazy." He said more for himself.

"She is. Because she really had challenged him! Look at that man! He can murder you only with one look."

Hao looked at a fat, bald man who had a sly look indeed, but also winner fingers.

The tension rose up. They needed to show up their cards next round. He looked at Rilury, who looked really nervous. She had an awful hand of cards.

Normally he wouldn't agree with this. A part of him didn't want to involve in this pathetic game because it was against his principles, and also that girl needed to see on her own that she was wrong, more exactly he was right about all this. But, merely because he couldn't stand at all that man's greasy face who was looking with a smirk at his cards and with a smirk at her breasts, Hao might or might have not slipped an ace into Rilury's hand, who was even staying with her eyes closed. In a few moments, she folded.

"Ugh, I'm sorry Hao, it seems that I've…

Won?! Hah! Suck on that, Doctor Fingers!"

The man was mad as hell. With a single hand gesture three massive guys stood up. They were beaten of course by Hao, who moved only a finger and their bodies were already slammed on the wall by an invisible force. Everybody was terrified.

"Man, that was intense!" Rilury stood up, without even noticing the scandal. "Hey old man, come with me!" she said to the one behind her.

She rapidly went at the bar, so fast that the others were just looking confused at each other. From the other side of the bar could be heard the whining voice of the old man.

"Oh thank you miss! You saved my wife and children!"

"No worries, old man! Do you know where can I buy a truck?"

X

"Rilury, I've promised myself that today I won't ask you anymore what you're doing. But this is far too absurd, so allow me to break my promise."

They were both standing in front of a pile of paper money thrown in a hole, outside the town. Apparently they were brought by a truck.

"Quite simple." Said Rilury while pouring gasoline. "I'm getting rid of my problems."

A sparkle. The whole pile broke out in a huge marvelous flame. It was glowing in the night and reflecting in the eyes of a slightly confused boy and a girl whose cheeks were still red. They both seemed to enjoy the spectacle.

"You never cease to amaze me." Hao looked at her with a warm smile.

Rilury placed her head on his shoulder and her soft voice accompanied the sound of fire sparks.

"I'm sorry. At first I was materialistic, but after a short while I've figured that many people hopes and dreams are deceived by this crappy piece of paper. Also, that old man really surprised me. You know what he said to me?

That he hasn't seen his wife and children for months. That he had to work in this town to sustain his little family at the countryside. And eventually he got caught by gambling, lost all his money and was afraid to come back home."

"So you helped him?"

"I only gave him half of it. Anyway, he sort of reminded me of my father… I remembered that today is his birthday…Would you imagine? How did I forget that?!" her eyes went a little in tears.

He kissed her forehead. He realized that there were still many things he didn't know about her, and she didn't know a lot of stuff about him.

Eventually, she fell asleep because of the too much drinks she had.

X

When she woke up, Rilury yawned a little bit bothered by a headache and stretched herself in the big and comfy…

Bed?! They were in a hotel room?

"Good morning, sleepy head." Hao smiled at her, bringing a breakfast platter. "Apparently if you pay them, everyone is polite and friendly to you. They even bring you food."

"Ugh, thank you, but I think I'll pass. I have a strong headache and my stomach hurts a bit."

"I think it's called a hangover." Hao replied with a bright, innocent winning smug.

"Okay, maybe I've exaggerated a bit yesterday…You were right about all this…" she lied again in her bed. "Oh, and thanks for bringing us in this hotel room." She kissed him on the cheek and had the same smirk, thing which made Hao chuckle.

"And maybe you haven't been all wrong. Those beds are indeed more comfortable."

A lighter chapter. After all, the characters also need to have their fun, right? They're traveling the world, after all!