Chapter 1443: Penthouse
Ning and the rest walked past bars, taverns, gambling houses, information sellers, and many street peddlers until they came across a somewhat good-looking building that was a couple of stories high.
This was in the section of the city that Stillwater ruled, so Ning understood this to be her hotel if anything.
Ning walked inside with the four of them and walked up to the bald man who stood on the other side of the counter.
His eyebrows perked up when he saw them walk in and spoke, “What are a bunch of younglings doing in this city?” he asked.
“Well, currently, we’re looking for a place to spend a few nights,” Ning said.
“Is that so?” the man asked. “You got the money for it?”
“I do,” Ning said. “What’s the most expensive room you got?”
“Most expensive, eh?” the man asked before looking around the room and getting in closer. “A small tip for newbies like you, you don’t want to take the most expensive room. Puts a target on your back. I’ll put you all on a good one.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Ning said. “The most expensive please.”
The man shrugged. “Your funeral,” he said and flipped through a small book. “We got penthouses available, 120 gold coins a night. That is the most expensive one we have. Comes with free service and dinner, and protection of the Stillheart pirates, so long as you stay within the area.”
“That would be wonderful,” Ning said. “We will take that.”
“Suit yourselves,” the man said. “What ya name?”
“Ning,” Ning said.
“Never heard of ya lot,” the man said and wrote down the name. “What pirate group are ya from?”
“We’re no pirates,” Ning said.
The man paused and looked at Ning and then the rest. “I was wondering why you were fucking mental to look like a bunch of rich twats. Turns out you are fucking mental and you are a bunch of rich twats,” the man said and laughed to himself.
He threw the notebook toward Ning and the pen along with it. “Sign by your name and the number of days you wish to stay. And if you want my suggestion, use a pirate name to go by around this place. Don’t tell people you are not a pirate.”
Ning smiled and wrote down as he was asked. He then brought out 400 coins and placed them in the notebook, pushing it toward the man.
The man stared at the gold coin with eyes of wild hunger and grinned. He took it and started counting, he was only halfway through before he realized there was too much.
“You gave too much,” he said.
“Just a bit extra for your troubles,” Ning said. “It’s not every day you see a king pirate. Would you show us to our rooms now?”
“I’ll get you someone,” the man said and screamed, “Oi! We got guests.”
A young woman quickly rushed out of the back room, frizzly hair all around her head that seemed very unkempt. Her skin was very tanned and she looked quite malnourished as well with her skinny body.
She wore jeans and suspenders with a red shirt underneath.
“Yes?” the young girl, barely the age of 15, asked.
“Elisa, We got guests. Show them to the third penthouse,” the man said.
Elisa nodded and then paused. “Wait, the third penthouse?” she asked, looking toward Ning and the others, not believing what she heard at all.
“Did ya hear me stutter, lass?” the man asked. “Quickly do as I say.”
“Yes, uncle,” she said and started walking. “Please follow me.”
Ning started walking with the girl and the rest of them followed as well.
After they left, the man took all the gold placed it onto a chest by the side, and looked at the note where Ning had signed.
“It’s not every day you get idiots coming to kill themselves over beliefs that their parent’s money can save them anywhere,” the man said softly and shook his head as he sighed.
He looked at Ning’s name and then the days he was staying. He was about to close the book when he noticed the pirate name they had given themselves.
The man chuckled to himself. “The hell is supposed to be a Zurin Killer?”
* * * * * *
“Your name was Elisa, was it?” Jasmine asked as she walked up the stairs alongside the other men
“That is me,” Elisa said.
“And you work in this place?” she asked.
“Yes,” the girl answered.
“How long have you worked in this place?” Jasmine asked.
“How long?” the girl pondered the question for a few seconds. “4 years? No 5. Well, I wasn’t working until last year. Captain Stillwater gave me this actual job. Without her, I would’ve been in the back washing dishes for scraps of leftover food all day.”
“That man at the reception, he is not your real uncle?” she asked.
“Nope. I just call him uncle because… well, what else would I call him?” she asked.
“And your parents?” Jasmine asked.
“My parents? Hmm… don’t know,” Elisa said. “Must’ve been a pirate in this city and died somewhere. I can’t remember much about them.”
Ning looked back to look at Jasmine, and so did Tim. They both knew how she felt toward orphan children.
“How long have you been in this city?” Jasmine asked.
“For 10 years,” the girl said. “No wait, for 12? I don’t know. Why do you ask?”
“I just wanted to know, that’s all,” Jasmine said.
“Well, you are guests of one of the penthouses, so you can ask me whatever you want, whenever you want. Just give me a call and I will come sprinting right up,” the girl said.
They arrived before a large metal door with two giant guards posted right outside.
“These four are the guests for this room,” Elisa said. “Remember them.”
The guards turned their heads toward Ning and the other 3 and remembered their faces. They nodded, and opened the door, allowing them all to walk in.
The inside of the penthouse was a massive room with decorations all around. There was expensive furniture, designer mantle pieces, large paintings, tapestries, and many other impressive things in the room that made them all surprised that there was something so incredible in a town so bad.
“The City does not let you think there could be a place this good in here,” Tony said softly.
“We’re spending 120 gold coins a night,” Ning reminded them. “One would expect such a thing, wouldn’t you say?”
“I suppose,” Tony said.
“Everything you need is already here. If you still need something more, write what you need on that piece of paper by the door and slide it down that tube. Someone below will receive that note and aid you with what you need,” the girl said.
“Oh, that’s quite the system you have here,” Ning said.
“Only for the penthouses. We know how important your guests are,” Elisa said. “If you need me or anyone else for anything, please do call us. I will let you be for now.”
The girl walked out and the large metal door shut behind them.
“How many rooms are in this place?” Jasmine began searching through the entire place.
Tim pulled out his horn and gave it a soft blow. “Wow!” he said as he placed it back on his belt. “Not a single rat in this room. They’ve kept the vermins away.”
“Now that I quiet something,” Tony said. “No rats in a pirate hotel. Not something I would’ve expected.”
“Well, you three do what you want to do,” Ning said. “I’m going to go rest. I haven’t slept the entire night and I don’t have anything else to do.”
“Okay,” Tony said. “I might go take a nap as well. I fear I don’t want to visit the city on my own later on.”
“You can come with me if you want. I can take you,” Ning said.
“What about us?” Tim asked.
“I gave you a job,” Ning said. “If you come with me, will you have time to do it?”
“Won’t we have time?” Jasmine asked, peeking out from one of the many rooms.
“You do know what your task is, right?” Ning asked.
“Recording 10 treasures,” Jasmine said simply.
“And where are these treasures?” Ning asked.
“Aren’t you going to tell us?” Jasmine asked. “You should know.”
Ning shook his head. “That’s your job to find out. And I suggest you do it quickly.”
“What?” Jasmine was flabbergasted. “How are we supposed to find out where the 10 treasures are and then go find them ourselves? That is an impossible task!”
Ning shrugged. “It’s your task to complete,” he said. “As I’ve said, you can always say no.”
“I’m not saying no,” Jasmine said quickly. “I’ve regretted not getting to know what his treasure was. I would’ve worked for it harder.”
“Then work hard,” Ning said and left them alone.
Jasmine frowned and continued looking throughout the place.
“There are 9 rooms in this place, not counting the main hall and the 4 bathrooms. Seeing that thing makes me want to take a bath. This city is filthy enough that walking through it once forces you to take a bath.”
“I should bathe too,” Tony said. “I’ve been stuffed in that park owner’s shed for days.”
“Maybe I should too,” Tim said.
“You should,” Jasmine said. “The sooner we can start working on this mission of ours, the sooner we will complete it.”
Tim nodded vigorously. “We must complete this mission no matter what.”
pronovels.com
