"So, where do we begin ?"
Erza handed a list to him.
"We look for the city's underbelly. Places that no one watches, isolated spots at the bend of deserted alleys, seedy inns, unscrupulous artefact shops, anywhere where fugitives might find refuge."
"You know, make me dream."
" What does the lady want ? "
"A cup of tea will be perfect."
"Sorry, chick. We don't have this type of drink here"!
She tried to not send her fist right in the face of this man. She really, really tried, but after the third misogynist comment, she had no choice anymore.
She left the bar before the giant brawl. She took her phone, Lacrima, and called Grey. He was right; they would be more efficient together.
"It seems to be this one."
Wendy and Carla entered the hotel and picked up their key at the reception. According to Erza's text, the two girls had their proper room. They were on their way to the upstairs when they noticed Lucy and Natsu enter the building.
"the name of the reservation, please "
"Scar…"
"Wait, Natsu." Lucy swiftly read the message that Erza sent her. "Dragneel"
"Oh yeah, you are with the other couple! Let me a second. hum. And voilà, this is your key".
"Thanks!"
Lucy joined the girls to take a shower in their bedroom, waiting. Erza arrived with the key to their bedroom.
"What do you think about this one?"
Grey looked at the shop she was pointing to: a pawnbroker who opens at all hours and only accepts cash and magical artefacts. That was precisely what they searched for.
"Definitely the target audience."
"Do you have any news from Erza or Grey?" asked Lucy, closing the door of the bathroom behind her.
"Not at all."
Lucy nodded. She was brushing her still lightly wetted hair while she packed her toiletry stuff in her suitcase.
"How do we do for tonight?" asked Wendy, who was preparing her pyjamas on her bed before she took her shower too.
"What do you mean?"
"Erza had the key to the third room. I was supposed to sleep in this one with Carla, but if you want, we could share it."
"No, it's your room; keep it. Me and Natsu will just wait for these two to come back with the key."
"Good night, Lucy."
"Goodnight, girls."
Lucy smiled and closed the door behind her before knocking on another.
"Yes?"
Natsu opened his bare chest and was only wearing a towel.
"Sorry." She turned her head before continuing, "The girls sleep together, and I'm waiting for Erza to come back with the key to our bedroom. Can I wait here ?"
"I owe you for all the time you welcomed us."
He smiled, taking her suitcase.
"Take the bed of ice, princess. I'll put on some clothes and brush my teeth."
"How can I help you?"
The man addressed Erza while Grey was sweeping the goods with his eyes : a lot of trinkets and decorations. Nothing valuable. He assumed that a back room must house the most precious lots.
"We are looking for five men."
The man stiffed, and suddenly the desire to do business seemed to have passed him.
"I'm sorry there is a mistake; I'm just an honest pawnbroker. I don't know anything about wanted mages."
Erza raised an eyebrow. "We never talked about 'mages', but you did, so obviously you've met them."
The man started to back away behind the counter; he was obviously looking for a weapon. Grey chose this moment to join in the conversation.
"Let's stay calm. No one is accusing anyone; all we're asking is if you've seen these men and what they told you. You answer, and we'll leave."
"I answer, and you'll leave " sounds like blackmail to me." Who do you think you are? You enter my shop and threaten me, and you also expect me to confide in you." The man mocked.
"Listen, we are patient, but we still have our limits. I am offering you a chance to tell us everything you know. Take it. "
"Sorry, I'm just an honest merchant."
Erza sighed. This man was starting to get on her last nerve. Grey looked at her; he didn't speak; it was useless. She looked back; she was fine; she just needed a break. He then reported his attention to the man.
"Perfect. Since you are that honest, just tell us what these men wanted."
And during ten more minutes, all his attempts to initiate a conversation fell on deaf ears until the chime rang again. Erza was back.
" Ok. If I believe the information I've been given, you were a mercenary until your guild was disbanded. True or false"?
"That's exact, but that doesn't mean that I'm still… "
"I have no doubt that you have an honest profession now, but I know that you still owe favours to some doubtful people. I can close my eyes on that if you give me what I ask. I want names.
The merchant hesitated, but Erza was intransigent, and the death stare of Grey, whose patience had been severely and obviously exhausted, persuaded him.
"They were only four; one of them had been injured, and they needed caring sorts. They called their chief Stinger… Bluenote Stinger. Two of them called each other by a weird name and repeated what the other said. Something like Gatow or Zatow. The last one was wearing sunglasses and spoke with a very precious register. It's all I know, but if someone learnt that I collaborated with the council, I'm…"
" No worries, we are not the council, only head hunters who fill out a contract, and we paid well. " She put a purse of gold coins on the counter one day.
"But the information you found on me."
"Goodbye, Sir."
And just like that, they were gone.
"When do you think they will come back?"
Natsu came out of the bathroom, now wearing a light grey pyjama pant. Lucy didn't answer, and he realised she was asleep. So he approached her bed, replacing the blanket on her, and switched off the light before joining his own bed.
"Good night."