#39 – Phoenix Town
The east side town—also known as Phoenix Town.
They walked through the gate, which had a giant phoenix depicted on it.
Among the towns within the city, it stood out with a distinct atmosphere.
As expected from its name, it was mostly inhabited by easterns. And so that culture was very strong, making it a popular tourist attraction.
From Yukito’s perspective, it looked very similar to Chinatown.
“That informant was rather useful.”
“He was a reporter, Mr. Grafios.”
The two men walked down the street.
Between them, Yukito was the one who fit in quite perfectly. While not all easterners had dark eyes and hair, it was still more common.
On the other hand, Mr. Grafios stuck out a lot.
He had deep green hair and was a lumbering giant. And then there were his scars.
“Newspapers men and informants are the same thing. Well…I do understand how he feels.”
“How he feels?”
“He said he was in the news department, right? But Rock Collins doesn’t have one. In other words, he was let go from the parent company. He either messed up big time or…stepped into the shadows of the empire.”
And such a person wanted to know about this incident.
Well, it was easy to imagine how he felt.
On the outside, the place was a tourist attraction, and so it was quite crowded in the early morning. However, once you stepped away from the main street, it transformed into a dangerous-looking underground.
Grafios snorted.
“It is strangely tense.”
“…Yeah.”
Even though it seemed like an empty alley, they could feel piercing stares. It was not a very friendly atmosphere.
This place was inhabited by a community of easterners. Both in the front and behind the scenes.
And that ruled it behind the scenes, were the eastern mafia—the crime syndicate called Black Tower Dragon.
To the empire, these people were just foreigners. In a way, there were many people who lived here because they did not have a choice.
But that meant they had strong bonds, and did not like any meddling from the outside.
The reporter himself had not come here, as it was too dangerous.
Was this tense atmosphere because of Yukito and Grafios’s arrival
Or…
“Hey, misters.”
Suddenly, a man who was sitting on some stairs called out to them.
He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, and was wearing round glasses. He had a bright smile, but there was a sharpness in the eyes behind his lenses.
“What brings you to a place? Are you lost?”
“No.”
Yukito shook his head.
“I have some questions to ask Black Tower Dragon.”
“Huh…”
The man stopped smiling and inspected them both.
At the same time, several other shadowy figures slid out from the buildings. All appeared to be easterners. Sharp eyes, and in their hands…knives, guns and crescent blades.
“So you know this is our turf, but you came anyway. Now that is unusual.”
“I just want to talk a little.”
“Talk, huh.”
He glared at Yukito for a moment.
And after some silence, he chuckled and clapped his hands together while standing up.
“Yes, yes. It’s no good at all. You guys are no match for them.”
“…But.”
“That big fellow in the back.”
He pointed at Grafios, who had been silent this whole time.
“Surely you all have heard of Behemoth? It would be worse for our reputation for you all to have your asses beaten here.”
The other men seemed to ponder this for a moment. And then after glaring one last time, they dispersed.
“Sorry about that. They aren’t the brightest guys here. I hope you weren’t too offended.”
“No.”
“Well, since this isn’t a raid or anything. I suppose you can come in and talk.”
He said, pointing behind him. And then he turned around.
But before he started to walk, he looked over his shoulder at Yukito.
“Just now. I brought out the name Behemoth… But if my instincts serve me, I think you are a hundred times worse. Even though I don’t recognize you… What is your name?”
“…Yukito.”
The man with the round glasses smiled at Yukito.
“Nice to meet you. I am Ryu. Ryu Haoran.”
Thanks for the chapters