Chapter 1444: Big Jack’s
“Ning, can we have some gold?” Jasmine asked as she and Tim were ready to head out.
“Gold?” Ning asked. “Is it for the mission I gave you two?”
“Yes,” Jasmine said. “Is it alright if we ask you for money to help us?”
“Yes,” Ning said and brought out a small pouch. He handed it over to Jasmine. “Now, don’t get swindled or robbed. Go have fun.”
Jasmine grabbed the bag and it immediately disappeared from everyone’s view as she made it invisible and pocketed it. She then walked away Tim, leaving the penthouse to go down to the hotel.
She arrived at the front desk where she saw the man from before look at her as she approached. “Hi, would you mind telling me what is the best place around here to buy information? I saw a bunch of information sellers around when I was coming here.”
“The best one would be Big Jack’s Intelligence office,” the man said. “It’s down the road next to a pink gambling house. May I ask what this is about?”
“We are just looking for some information,” Jasmine said.
“But what information?” the man asked.
“Must we tell you?” Jasmine asked.
The man paused. “No, you don’t have to. I was just trying to caution you in case it is something dangerous,” he said.
“Something dangerous? What sort of information would be considered dangerous if it is up for sale?” Jasmine asked.
“Any sort can be dangerous,” the man said. “Many pirates have the information sellers in their pockets, so if you end up asking something that could be dangerous to them, they will end up learning immediately. And you’ll have brought us a headache since we’re supposed to protect you.”
Jasmine grinned. “I hope you will do a good job then,” she said and walked away.
Tim was about to walk out when the man spoke up. “Take this,” he said. “It will save you some trouble. Not much though.”
It was a small silver coin with a silhouette of a woma on one side and a skull on the other.
“Come on!” Jasmine called out and Tim quickly thanked the man before following her.
He walked out with her to the streets, quickly pointing to the pink gambling house. “That must be the shop then,” he said, pointing to another smaller shack with little signs of what the shop exactly was.
Tim and Jasmine arrived and they looked around the inside of the place. They were taken aback to realize that what they had arrived at was in fact a small empty bar with a few people scattered around the room, drinking some alcohol.
“Are we in the right place?” Tim asked her slowly.
“I don’t know,” she said. “But that other building is clearly a whorehouse. No way that is where we will get our information.”
The bartender turned to look at them as they walked toward him. He was a large man with the sides of his head shaven, wearing a white shirt with its sleeves folded to his elbow.
“Welcome to Big Jack’s. What are you two looking for?” the man asked as he pointed toward the alcohol behind him.
“We’re not here for alcohol,” Jasmine said. “We’re looking for information.”
“I’m sorry, but we sell alcohol only in this place,” the man said.
Jasmine frowned. “Are you sure?” she asked. “The guy sitting at the front desk in Stillwater’s hotel said this was the place to come.”
“Oh, you guys are staying in that hotel, huh?” the man said. “Still can’t help ya lot. This is a bar, and I’m a bartender. I sometimes spill a few things when I drink, but I don’t really sell information.”
Tim looked at Jasmine and saw a look of understanding come upon her.
“Are there any non-alcoholic drinks?” Tim asked.
“Non-alcoholic drink? In a pirate city?” the man laughed. “You’ve come to the wrong place, I fear.”
Jasmine sighed. “Fine, give us some rum,” she said and saw by the bar.
“Coming right up,” the man said with a smile and quickly left to get them their drink.
He returned with 3 glasses and a large bottle of rum and poured into the 3 glasses. He lifted one of the cups and gestured toward them.
“Thanks for buying me a drink, cheers,” he said and downed the glass in one swig.
Jasmine and Tim watched in stunned awe when they heard what he said. “Wait, we didn’t—”
“You’re welcome,” Tim said quickly and shook his head toward Jasmine to not say what she was about to say.
It took only a moment for Jasmine to realize what was happening.
The man poured himself another glass of drink. “So, what are you two doing in this city? Rum helps me loosen my tongue right up,” he said.
“We’re looking to know about all the Zurin treasures that people have on this island,” Jasmine said. She took the drink in front of her and sipped a little. The taste of the rum was simply horrible compared to the many alcohols she had tasted over the past few years.
It was as though it was the worst of the lot. She wondered how much it would cost her.
“Zurin treasures, eh?” the man said and took another swig. “This drink is gonna cost you a bit.”
“We came prepared,” Jasmine said.
“It is dangerous too,” the man said. “I would suggest not doing something so stupid.”
“We only want to know what it is and who it has,” Jasmine said. “We do not need information about what it does. Do you know anything about that?
“I do,” the man said. “I can tell you all of those things if that is truly what you wish to know.”
Jasmine and Tim looked at each other for a moment before nodding and turning around. “Go ahead,” Jasmine said. “Tell us what you know.”
The man poured another glassful of rum and tilted his head back to down it all in one go.
“Very well, I’ll tell you.”
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