A few minutes later of walking around the town, Kai and Ray were OFFICIALLY lost.
Apparently, while the two were walking; Ray say a small squirrel stuffed toy. And as he saw it, he stopped in his footstep and his mind drifted to Nino, imaging her holding that stuffed toy and thanking him.
And at that moment, while Ray was daydreaming, Kai had already walked ahead and took a right turn. Kai too was looking around, so he didn't notice Ray's absence. By the time Ray realized that he was just standing in the crowd, it was too late. And it was the same for Kai, when he turned back to ask Ray if they should buy some local specialties for Elysia; he too then realized that Ray was not with him.
But since Ray had his earpiece, they both were able to contact each other and locate their location.
"Must have been daydreaming about Nino I guess,"
Kai thought to himself as he walked back to get to Ray. At the same time, Ray too began to walk towards where Kai was, with the map showing in front of him through Eva; only visible to him. As Ray made his way, he bumped into an old lady by the turn; all the objects the old woman was carrying scattered around.
"Ah- I'm so sorry!"
Ray quickly began to collect the things as he apologized with a famine tone. With all the things gathered, Ray asked if the old woman needed any help carrying all the stuff.
"You are such a kind, and strong young man.
I'm sorry for taking up your time, and thank you for helping me," The old woman expressed her thanks, while Ray wondered how the old woman found Ray was a guy; even after being dressed so well as a girl.
"Maybe because of my voice. Unlike Kai, I can't have it perfect," Ray thought so while holding onto the stuff.
While Ray helped carry the stuff; on the other side, Kai was walking his way to their meeting point, when someone called out to him.
"Excuse me lady," the voice, sounding a bit tired called to Kai from behind. To response, Kai stopped in his track and turned back; only to be surprised at the person who called out.
As he looked up at the person, the man apologized for suddenly calling out to him and thanked him for responding to him. The man was wearing a casual brown coat, with a bit of slightly long-black hair. The man bowed to him, as he stated that he was looking his way for a store, but maybe he got lost.
According to him, his wife came to that store, but forgot to take her pouch. So, the man himself came out to find that store but he is now lost.
The man continued to explain his situation, as Kai listened to him attentively. But in his thought, Kai was confused as a question lingered in his mind;
"Why is uncle Max here…?"
Apparently, the man asking for location is none other than Maximus. Even after dressing like that, his voice and eyes were caught by Kai; and after asking Eva if Maximus really came out in the city in disguise, he was certain. But the main question was, why was Maximus out like this…
As Kai was wondering, Maximus pulled out a paper with the name of the shop written in it. And as Kai saw the name of the shop; all the answers to his questions were clear. First, Kai simply gave the route to the location and parted ways with Maximus. But as Maximus slowly vanished in the crowd; Kai entered the ally in the corner and came out to the other side of the city.
But as he exited, he pulled off his disguise and started to walk around the town in his casual appearance; wearing a regular set of clothes as the people around him so he could blend into the crowd. Though he appeared the same, but he made his hair greyish in color and his turned to his eyes a bit blue as he walked among the crowd.
As he made his way, he quickly caught up to Maximus as he began tailing him. On the way, he contacted Ray and told him about Maximus being in the city as well. And just like Kai, Ray too had question to why Maximus was here as Kai responded.
"Well, seems like uncle Max isn't as lazed off and relaxed as he appeared to us."
To this, Ray questioned asking what Kai meant by that. Kai simple responded with a soft chuckle as he said that Maximus is here for the same reason as them.
Back when Maximus was asking for route, the name of the shop Maximus had showed was the same one, which Ray and Kai had came to investigate about. To this, Ray thought for a while in silence as he continued to carry the stuff of the old woman. After a while, he asked if they should go back now then, since Maximus is here and for sure; there would be some imperial guards who would be in disguise in the crowd.
Kai agreed to his words about the guards being around in disguise, but he said that it's still best for them to do some investigation as well. Ray sighed and gave in, saying once he's done helping the old woman, he too shall reach the location.
Kai continued his tailing, until Maximus reached to the shop where Kai wanted to investigate. Outside, the store had it's usual line of ladies waiting to enter and enjoy the service of the shop. Pausing at a stop, Maximus looked around as he stood outside the shop. Kai took his place at a corner by some random shop while sipping some strawberry milkshake which randomly appeared in his hand.
"Seems like uncle Max is waiting for the other party who went in. I wonder who it might me, a female knight? A palace maid like Setz or maybe someone from some secret uni-"
But as he was wondering, a figure came running to Maximus; stopping right in front of him as the two began to converse. But as the figure came to view, Kai chocked on his drink as he coughed, while looking at the other person. A woman with straight red hair and red eyes, wearing a casual dark green dress.
"No way… Is that who I think it is…,"
Kai wondered as he studied the woman's facial feature. As he observed, he did his calculation and came up with the final outcome.
"If the color of her hair and eyes would be different, then that lady there is for surely… aunt Celestina…"
For the last confirmation, Kai asked Eva for Celestina's location showing it was right next to Maximus confirming Kai's conclusion.
Kai watched the two converse animatedly, but at the same time; Celestina carefully passed a small glass bottle to Maximus containing some kind of soft-pink liquid.
Kai stared at that bottle, as Eva's system began it's working; scanning the bottle and the liquid inside. After the scanning was done, Eva concluded that the liquid in the bottle was some fruit juice drink, but with a substance which shouldn't be there: LSD drug.
Checking on the report, Kai found the drug was more unstable than the one in the modern world. And there seemed to be something more added in it but couldn't get on what that substance is.
"So, the people in the café put small doses of this drug in the drinks. And since the amount is small, consumers drink it without any suspiciousness. But why LSD…?
And what is that other substance I wonder. It's best if I come tonight and check out the store when no one is around."
Slowly he turned back, walking away as he called to Ray through the ear piece and told him to return to the palace. Sipping on his drink, he told Ray about discussing the matter later in the palace as he said that even Celestina was here in disguise. Half-jokingly, he said that before anyone else who they might know is seen here; it's best that they return back.
But as he walked away, behind him stood a figure by a flower shop. A woman dressed plainly as she stared at him with wide eyes; her mouth slightly open as she whispered to herself.
"…Kai…?"
-To be Continued