Risky Tonight.

Not without receiving curious or malicious stares from the Oksidi, or hearing them gossip in either thick accents or some dialect he didn't understand, William reached Onissa's pub. The crimson building decorated with colorful paper balls and green and pink lanterns robbed his attention before he went inside.

But the hexagonal door spread before he opened it, two guards coming out, glaring at him from feet to head with dismissive faces. One of them shoved him off with his shoulder as he walked by. "What are you looking at?"

The other one followed behind. "And I thought we kicked these pale asses out of Reniram for good 50 years ago. We're not advancing. We're going backward."

"With that fleasy cat running a business while there are honest Oksidi people out there without a roof? You said it. We're going to shit. You can thank these rats governing us."

William saved his anger. Although he wasn't someone to tolerate such offenses, he was better off not getting in trouble with the local authorities. Especially now that he was alone, an outsider that stood out like a candle in the dark.

He entered the pub of fresh, sand-colored interiors and walked to the bar. Bottles and glasses clanked below it as a raspy, feminine voice cursed in a low voice. No one else was inside.

"Onissa? Are you there?" William leaned on the sand-colored bar.

"I already told you that's all I have. And no, I haven't seen anyone like—" she halted her words.

Her thick whitetail came out, followed by her head of silver hair, fluffy cat ears, and tanned complexion. Her enormous amber eyes with slit pupils looked at him with embarrassed surprise, followed by a mild smile.

"Hello, Onissa… It's nice to see you."

"Ah, William, it's you. I'm sorry about that," she rubbed her tribal-tattooed neck." It's just that these guards won't leave me alone. Always wanting this or that or wanting more of their protection money. And what can I do? Nothing. Who would listen to the 'filthy swampcat'? Untailed clowns. No offense..."

"It's... alright. I figure so. Those guards didn't exactly give me a warm welcome… How are you?" he sat on a backless chair, leaning to face her better.

"I'm not that fine," she sighed before simpering. "but thank you. No one asks me that around here. What about you? Isn't Artur with you?"

"Actually, no, I'm here by myself. I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"I'm sorry," she rose her voice in hesitation. "but I don't lend money. I barely have enough to keep this place up. And no, I'm no exotic courtesan either if those guards told you to—"

"No, it's not that, relax," he interrupted. She blushed with embarrassment. "I'm looking for something you might know about. It's called the 'Katosi Grail'. Any ideas where I could find it?"

"Katosi Grail?" she frowned. "Eh… doesn't sound familiar to me. Are you sure it's Katosi? No Katosi tribe uses grails as far as I'm aware. They are an outsider thing."

"Yeah," William passed her his paper note. "I thought you could know something about it."

"Eh, no, but judging by Artur and what he does, you seem to be some treasure hunter like him, and this must be some expensive, luxurious item. Even if I had it, the local governor doesn't even let us hold any relics or too expensive jewelry. I'm sorry."

The door then opened, and two Oksidi men carrying various sacks in their bags entered. Onissa said they had various goods and supplies she had an order on, and asked William to wait as she attended them at the door.

He sighed. If she didn't know anything, what was he supposed to do now? Go outside on the street asking the Oksidi people around? Yeah, like they were to know more than her, or they were going listen and talk with some nosy foreigner.

What was Zho thinking? What kind of test was it or what was he supposed to demonstrate?

The seat by his side creaked as it was pulled back. The person who sat on it wasn't Onissa, but rather another person he had met before in that same pub.

Adjusting her long, black hair, which matched her tight outfit in the same color, the pale girl crossed her long, thick, and feminine legs before speaking.

"Ah, William Amber, my outsider fellow. I didn't think I'd see you this early visiting Onissa. Ain't she just that cute?" she smirked.

He looked her in the eyes before looking down. Strange. He didn't see anyone inside when he got in, nor head Onissa receiving anyone right now.

"Oh, hi, Visidia. I didn't hear you coming in."

"Aren't the best surprises the ones you don't see coming in? Just kidding, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on your conversation and realize that maybe I'm the right person who can help you. It happens that I might know one thing or two about that old crock you're looking for…"

"Really?" he raised one eyebrow.

"Oh, c'mon, William. I know you're a gentleman, unlike those mean and rough Oksidi men. Why don't you get me a drink so we can chat more openly?"

Just as she made her playful suggestion, Onissa finished receiving her goods, dragging them behind her bar. And as she did so, a few pairs of customers —who didn't look with good eyes at the outsiders inside— arrived at the place, demanding her attention.

William bought her a drink, not knowing if he should feel flattered or used. In any case, it was better to play along as she probably now was his only source of information.

She ordered a glass of 'Sijokh' which was some kind of red drink with a strong smell of fermentation, and he got himself a tar of blue beer. With 15 stars less in his pocket, both moved to one of the farthest tables from the bar, near a dark corner in the same wall where the fireplace burned.

"Ah," said she with satisfaction, tasting her beverage. "It's strong, smells good, and quickly gets in my head. Just like any good man should, don't you think, William?"

He looked away from her smug, garnet eyes. "Eh… I guess so."

"Heheh, now you're shy. That's cute. Anyway, I guess we can have that kind of fun later. What were we on? Ah, yes. That thing you're looking for, it's being kept by a well-known and rather feared name here in Innana: Erish Dagrim: a disgusting man, leader of the biggest local mafia. They are the ones ruling here."

"Mafia? Isn't there a governor?" he asked. "Onissa says he doesn't let the locals keep expensive relics or jewelry."

She chuckled as if he had told a joke, sipping from her charged drink again.

"The governor? Don't make me laugh. That fat moth worm doesn't even live here. All he does is tax poor peasants and get drunk with disgusting Mauric liquor in his residence, right there in the capital. He has an agreement with the Dagrim mafia. They run the place, make him money, and he lets them do whatever they want. And you thought this colorful town full of mean people is all clear skies and flowers? This is the Oksidi for you. They've got dirt in their blood. I don't know why such inferior—"

She halted her bitter, resentful words before adjusting her hair, letting out a fake giggle, and drinking again. "I'm sorry about that. I got myself carried too much."

"Eh, it's alright," William hadn't touched his beer. "So, what about this man, Erish Dagrim? Does he really have this object I'm looking for?"

"What? Ah, yes, but my drink has gone dry! Why don't you get me another one, handsome? We were just getting in the mood. I can't remember well with my head cooling down. And I'm sure you would love to do that for such a beauty like me, spending joyous time with you and only you…"

She bit her lip, William frowning and feeling playful, yet irritated. Was she just using him for free alcohol? He had only 15 stars remaining from the 30 Zho gave him, the only money he had ever had in Reniram. She was about to make him go broke again.

Sigh. He accepted. It was obvious she knew much more about Inanna than him and what happened around the town. Having another 10-star glass of Sijokh, she delighted herself before leaning back with a smirk.

"Thank you so much, William, I knew you could satisfy my desires. It's time to satisfy yours. Take a look at these, they have everything you want to know."

She took out three folded pieces of paper from her black jacket and slid them through the table. William grabbed them, feeling skeptical. That was it? He just hoped she wasn't playing or doing some cheap trick on him.

Spreading the first one, he was unsurprised at the boring list full of objects with foreign names he didn't understand. His attention was grabbed when, at the bottom, the very words 'Katosi Grail' was mentioned, accompanied by a few lines of handwriting putting:

'I think I'm keeping this one. Put it in my personal safe. You know what to do with the rest. They are important and you don't wanna make me angry,'

—Erish Dagrim.

He read the next ones. One was a decree by the official governor, which put that Inanna's residents were indeed constantly checked each month for 'Dishonest, stolen goods' of high value and importance, confirming what Onissa said.

The last letter was a secret message from the mafia lord to the governor, which was a report of profits, the list of various names of people they needed to get rid of, and what could be considered blatant bribery for a quantity of 15'000 stars.

William's phylactery heart skipped a buzz at reading that quantity, feeling like a beggar with the remaining 5 coins in his possession.

"Where did you get this from?" he looked at her, incredulous.

She winked and sipped from her glass. "Heh, you're too naïve if you think that such a charming woman like me doesn't have her connections. You gotta play the cards life gave you."

He half-smiled, hoping she didn't ask for another drink; he wouldn't be able to afford it.

"So, where's it? This letter puts that he keeps in a safe this Katosi Grail I'm looking for. This place is big for a town. Any ideas?"

"A king wouldn't keep his crown anywhere but in his castle, William. I forgot you don't know Inanna. Erish Dagrim and his mafia run a brothel in one of the northeast districts, what you can call the local slums. It's a place full of stinky drunkards, drug dealers, and criminals. It always smells like piss, rancid cheap beer, and the guards don't go there except once a week to retrieve dead bodies. An Interesting place, don't you think?"

William drank from his blue beer, its strong bitter yet sweet flavor hitting quick. He responded. "So, anyway, why are you helping me? Why are you revealing all of this to me? Hard to believe it's just for free drinks. We barely know each other."

She giggled before leaning on the table. "Didn't I tell you when we met for the first time that we outsiders should know and help each other? Besides, Erish Dagrim also has something I want. I've been gathering information for weeks, and I've concluded that today is the perfect day to strike. With each other's help, we're getting what we want just tonight, Will. If you allow me to get comfy and call you that…"

"What are you planning?" he sipped from his beer.

"We kindly ask him to give us our objects for free," she giggled with sarcasm. "Of course not. I'm gonna be direct with you: are you ready to commit your first crime here? We're going there and stealing from that Oksidi pig and his stash. Don't worry about any petty morals, he and the governor have stolen more than both of us will ever do. We're doing this town a big favor."

Sigh. What was he getting himself into? From soldier to prisoner of war, to lich and foreigner, and now a criminal. Would something normal happen for once?

And was she trustable? Something made her oddly attractive, and it was not only her obvious physical allure. Her way with words had a special spice he couldn't help but crave for more.

And besides, even with that information, she was his best bet in trying to get that grail Zho wanted. He didn't put any conditions but to return victorious with it. Unless he counted with that Katosi Grail in his hands, he wouldn't be received back.

"Alright, Visidia," he gulped deep from his beer, finishing it off. "You win this. What's the plan?"

"Hehe, I knew you liked having fun. But let's get us off this place first. I'll lead the way to the brothel. I'll tell you the details while we're on it…"