Ty’s comment about the children in the business district earned him a nod of approval from the Lieutenant. "That is rather observant of you," he remarked as they re-entered the hotel, greeting the workers with a casual wave.
The Lieutenant took a moment to rescan his card, glancing at the clock which read 12:30 PM.
With a hand over his head and a hint of regret in his voice, the Lieutenant said, "Ugh, well there goes my time for a binge-eating session before bed.
Oh well, let’s go, cousin." He hastened his pace, following Ty as they made their way to the elevator and ascended to the second floor.
Upon reaching their suite, the Lieutenant swiped the key card and pushed the door open, stretching his arms as he stepped inside. "Now this brings back memories. I haven’t been back here in forever," he mused, a touch of nostalgia coloring his voice.
Ty noticed a small detail as he walked into the suite. The number plate on the door, reading 232, was made of pure metal while the other doors had wooden numbers.
The detail made the suite feel older than the rest of the hall, and somehow tied to the Lieutenant’s past.
Ty chuckled at the metal placard. "I like how this room is so old that you also have a metal placard," he said with a hint of amusement.
The Lieutenant, looking slightly puzzled at the comment, replied, "Wow, well, that is unique. Can’t say that was always there, actually."
Ty, his hand lingering on the metal placard, felt a sense of familiarity with it. After a moment, he shook his head, dismissing the fleeting thought. "Oh, well.
Time to grab some sleep," he said, punctuating his statement with a deep yawn before walking into the suite ahead of the Lieutenant.
As he entered the suite, Ty was taken aback by its grandeur. The space was surprisingly luxurious, with an expansive open area that looked like it could easily host a party of 20 people.
A large TV was the centerpiece of the room, and four separate doors branched off, presumably leading to bedrooms.
The suite was a blend of comfort and luxury, far removed from the chaos and danger of the streets outside. It was a haven of sorts, offering a peaceful respite after the night’s tumultuous events.
Ty’s astonishment was evident as he gazed around the suite. "Wow, how did you afford a place like this?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise.
The Lieutenant placed a hand over his head, his voice turning nostalgic. "Well, it was a group effort. I had some help from other recruits, way back when," he said.
"Some of them are still here, while others have retired and started families."
He then gestured towards the rooms. "You can go ahead and pick any room from 1 to 3, and I’ll sleep in room 4." His tone was casual, as if inviting Ty to make himself at home in this place steeped in memories.
The Lieutenant then outlined the plan for the following day. "I’ll be waking you up around 6:00 AM, or whenever daylight starts to break. We need to have you back to the jail cell before noon, so you can have your daily briefing about the Arena of Life."
Ty nodded and yawned, ready to find a bed. Before he could leave, the Lieutenant added one more comment with a warning tucked under the joke.
"But one more thing," he said, "If you ever run off like that again, I’ll chop your legs off."
Despite the laughter that followed, there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his words. It was a reminder of the danger Ty had recklessly thrown himself into and the potential consequences of such actions.
Ty understood the weight behind the Lieutenant’s half-joking threat and answered lightly, "Of course, I’ll keep that in mind." Respect for the Lieutenant’s experience sat beside a growing awareness of the risks in their world.
With that final exchange, Ty headed off to one of the rooms to get some much-needed rest.
The suite gave Ty one quiet pocket away from the chaos outside, a brief place to gather his thoughts and strength for the challenges ahead.
End Volume 8
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Begin Volume 9 (Due to WebNovel issues I can’t align the Chapter perfectly Sorry!)
Meanwhile, far away on the desolate and battered landscape of Planet Scyle, a scene of desperation unfolded. Nana, injured and bleeding, her face etched with distress, implored the tall vampire woman standing before her.
"Please tell me where they sent Ty!" she cried, fear and urgency breaking through her voice.
The vampire woman, trying to maintain composure despite her own emotional turmoil, looked down at Nanako with a somber expression. "I am sorry, young lady, but even I do not know where he was sent," she confessed, her voice heavy with regret.
"He always had a way of having dozens of hideouts across the 12 universes governed by the 12 deities."
Nana, her frustration and desperation mounting, clutched at a faint hope. "What if he took a monster from this world with him? Could that be tracked, possibly?" she asked, her voice quivering with hope.
The vampire woman, slightly taken aback, responded with concern, "What do you mean? I don’t recall anything of that sort happening."
Gathering the last of her strength, Nana explained, her words laced with exhaustion and pain, "Before he saved me from Erebos, I slipped the fairy that appeared when I confessed my love to him into his pocket.
She’s always been a sort of good luck charm, and I wanted him to have her for protection."
At this revelation, the vampire lady’s eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope. She clapped her hands together, an idea forming in her mind. "There might actually be a way!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing with newfound determination.
In that ruined place on Planet Scyle, even a fragile lead mattered.
Nana’s quick thinking and the vampire lady’s knowledge could create a path to Ty, crossing the distance between worlds and bringing them one step closer to reuniting.