Lia and I separated ways for the day after I returned back and explained everything at the arcade. Of course, that explanation was 90% lie and 10% just the names and times, but an explanation nonetheless.
When I was leaving the office of New Engine Gaming, Adrian and Miles kept shouting words like 'do you think this would end here!?' and 'you have made a big mistake kid' and even 'you will regret this for a long time, nothing is going to be saved like this.'
Well, little did they know I had already read the entire insurance document. The things that were covered for Mrs. Benson were pretty clear, and she was also allowed to choose not to erect the arcade again and just take the money which was great.
I was excited.
Instead of going home, I made my way to Genge again. I had to take a bus since I was right out of school and couldn't properly change either, but my goal was still the same place.
Over the last few days, at Hit Parade, which was the largest of the arcades that this company ran, I had noticed many things.
First, the bouncers were quite competent.
Even as the neon lights of Genge flashed and the spirit of debauchery in the air floated to everyone's noses, the bouncers remained sharp in their duty. A few drunkards, in an attempt to try and impress some girls who were already ignoring them, tried to move to the gate once.
"Hey, hey, you kno' who I am? Open this damned door!"
"Yeah, move aside—UWA!"
A single of the two bouncers grabbed both the men and tossed them in the alley a shop over.
"Waah, how lame."
"Hey, that bouncer is so strong. Do you think I can get his number?"
She didn't get the number.
Second, almost all the people involved in New Engine Gaming came to this place. It was likely doubling as their head office. The three thugs aside, I had seen their boss Adrian before. And also some other peculiar sights…
"Hey kid," the owner of the restaurant I always sat at came over with a beer. Even though it was self-service, he seemed to have taken a liking to me. Of course, he was old as hell so him calling me kid was alright, he wasn't serving a minor in his eyes. At least I hoped so. "I think leave early today."
"Hm?"
"You are frequently looking across the road right. Fridays, those people from that arcade all run out with bats and rods for something."
"Or I can leave late."
"You do you. Just be safe."
This was good information. I peered outside with a hand on my chin, and looked at the gates of Hit Parade. As the streets became a little dead, a lull period that frequently hit places like these…
A bunch of bikes and cars 'returned' to the arcade. A whole group of people, clearly after having just thrashed something, stepped into the arcade. I thought they would be leaving at this hour, and not returning.
Strange as it was.
"It only happens on a Friday. I think they sometimes leave early."
"Next Friday… can you give me a call?"
"Hm?"
The third thing I had noticed was perhaps not that important. But it was a nifty piece of information.
A bunch of people, homeless, impoverished probably, would fill the streets and alleys of Genge as much as the ones who lived for the night-time and everything this place offered.
Most of these people were like dogs who had been thrown some meat. They would gather together, pile up whatever they had begged through the day, and try to enter shops.
The most popular one, of course, was the arcade.
It was practically a digital casino for the people who were not of that class of society. Playing with cards and giant spinning wheels was not everyone's cup of tea, but slots and pachinko were fairly accessible.
These homeless street-dwellers would try to enter for another try at turning their lives upside down.
There were a fair number of them, they barely gathered enough money to play even one round, and of course, since it doubled as the company's head office, no one wanted them inside.
And this was the best chance for a person to head inside. The bouncers were busy holding them back, and would take at least 15 minutes to get back to the gate.
In and out.
Click went the pen in my hand.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Tomorrow was a Friday.
The perfect day for some personal business.