To Varian's relief, a few patrolling guards did enter the street after half an hour.
But they didn't ask anything about the murder nor did they seek to collect any evidence.
They just collected the DNA samples of the corpses and left after informing someone on the comm.
A few minutes later, a man and woman in green clothes arrived in a vehicle.
The man swiftly located the corpses and the woman controlled a bot to collect the corpses and threw them into what seemed like a dumping van.
It was only then did Varian's keen senses picked up that there were at least fifty corpses in the van.
"Oh, new waste collectors?" Edwina raised a brow. "The old ones bribed their way out of this district, huh?"
"Waste collectors?"
"Think of it like your sanitation workers. For corpses."
"…."
"I forgot, you don't have those. Must be troublesome."
"Did you really visit Earth or any other planet ever?" Varian asked with a serious expression.
"Well…only once. And none of these incidents happened. So I assumed it's a military district."
"Dear Heavens." Varian shook his head. What disturbed him more than the conditions of the city was the way in which people were accustomed to them.
They treated it as 'normal'.
Even Edwina, someone who knew things like this were wrong and joined Shadow Guardians couldn't completely see them as 'abnormal'.
"You'll be on a grind from tomorrow. Try out a meal. I know a good place."
"Sure." Varian also wanted some quiet space to think about the mission.
A good eating place would be perfect.
Or so he thought.
"Hey boss! Three more servings!"
"Aye! Coming!"
"You slob! Why the fuck are you cutting my portion!"
"Aye! Stop measuring the portion after eating half!"
"Serve my brothers some good drinks or I'll rip your head off!"
"Aye! Strong and spicy wine incoming!"
As Varian and Edwina were seated in a rather classy but boisterous and borderline chaotic restaurant, he realized that there was no such thing as peaceful environment here in Valos.
The upside was that they were sitting in a private box on the first floor.
The downside was that it wasn't insulated properly and with his hyper senses, he could hear everything happening in the restaurant.
He looked at Edwina who was enjoying her food with a complicated expression and asked.
"If the Nial family is weak, then what about the local forces? They should at least try to maintain the order, right? This is 520 YAB!"
Edwina finished the aura rich steak with relish. Despite looking like this, this restaurant's head chef could handle level 1 ingredients to make spiritual food.
"Nial family had vassals in Valos—Weiss Family. But they too participated in the war and they're incredibly weakened."
"Oof~"
"Nial family, despite its problems can maintain a good grip on Uranus. But Weiss family lost its position and is now replaced by three new families. These three have connections to the underworld. So, yeah."
"What about the military? The other side of the city is completely a military base, right? They must have enough power." Varian recalled the first scene of Valos City.
A disc shaped city with residential city on one side and military city on the other.
"Military?" Edwina wiped her mouth and looked at him quizzically. "They're preventing Shadow Order, the Chaos Families and sometimes, truly dangerous attacks from the gangs. Their hands are full."
Varian sighed and gave up. Valos is what it is.
"Besides," Edwina continued. "If they spend manpower here and something happens in the military base, they'll face severe punishments."
"And," She raised her voice, but it was filled with desolation. "The army did try removing the gangs once.
They paid a big price, but they did it. And you know what happened?"
Naturally, Varian shook his head.
Edwina smiled in contempt, at her own answer. "The gangs sprang up in matter of months.
The Shadow Order and the Chaos families are the root. They will keep creating gangs."
Varian was about to question about the Chaos families when the door sprang open and a little boy walked in.
"Big brother, do you want to order anything more?" The kid was only 10 years old and was wearing worn out clothes.
"…" Varian couldn't speak and simply sighed.
"He's full. He really likes it here, Billy." Edwina ruffled the boy's hair and smiled.
"Hehehe." Billy smiled sheepishly and turned to Varian who simply nodded. "Sister Yumi, thanks for bringing him here."
"Oh? How did you recognize me? I am wearing a mask you know?" Edwina asked lightly.
Indeed, before moving in public, Edwina and Varian wore two face masks. They were rather simple, but even level 3 awakeners would find it hard to find the differences.
"Hehe. Only you will ruffle my hair and call me Billy." The boy said with a smug smile.
'Yumi?' Varian squinted his eyes. So, Edwina was using a fake identity for such occasions. Not unexpected.
Fake names. Fake faces. Fake identities.
"Big brother, what's your na—"
Boom!
Boom!
The entrance to the restaurant was knocked open as a green-haired man stepped in.
"Boss, this month's protection fee. Are you giving it or should I take it?" The man yelled.
There was a clear shark tattoo on his neck indicating his affiliation. Cosa Brotherhood.
"Aye! I was about to visit you, Peter. You just showed up." The restaurant boss, a chubby man with an amicable smile ran out and presented a small pouch.
"Hmm?" The green-haired man, Peter rummaged through the small pouch and frowned. "Why less?"
His body exuded a level 2 aura causing the boss' face to pale. "I-I need a bit for my daughter's midschool tuit—"
Pa!
A clear slap rang across the restaurant as the boss clutched his swollen cheek.
Peter retracted his hand and snorted. "Listen up, you worm. You don't need shit. I protect your restaurant from being trashed. I'm the reason you are able to earn anything."
"Y-Yes, yes." The boss nearly had tears in his eyes, but he kept nodding vehemently.
"Now beg me. If I'm satisfied, maybe, just maybe I'll let you off this time.." Peter crossed his arms and smirked.
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