Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths

They stepped onto Misarck grounds without much hassle, the train pulling away just behind them as they continued forward.

Compared to the quiet isolation they had just come from, the city felt a bit more alive. Not overwhelmingly so, but enough.

People moved through the platforms, but what Aren noticed most was their direction. Almost everyone was moving away from Misarck, and not many were entering the city.

"...Huh," Miu muttered as she tapped her train card against the gate scanner. "This place feels way more normal than I expected."

"Yeah," Stella replied, doing the same thing. "Misarck is part of the larger government of the Dominion, so it stays relatively maintained."

Aren remained silent, eyes moving across the station as he tried to check around for any suspicious activities.

Nothing really felt out of place, which only made Tigan stand out more in his mind.

They made their way out of the train station and into the main streets of Misarck. The city itself was more reminiscent of something they’d seen in the Eastern Dominion, a bit more modern and minimalistic as opposed to the historical architecture that a lot of the buildings in the capital of the Dominion, Hysian had.

"I’ll handle the car," Stella said, stretching her arms. "I’ve also gotta meet up with the branch director of the MLE here, be back in a few hours."

"Wait, you’re just leaving us?" Miu said, jaws wide open as she stared at Stella.

"Did you forget about the part where you’re supposed to be my mercenaries?" Stella replied without looking up. "And you already have a lead."

But almost immediately afterward, she looked at Aren and added: "Don’t do anything reckless."

"Why me—?" Aren started. "Actually, never mind. I’ll keep it down low."

"Good."

Stella nodded, already turning away before she rounded the corner and disappeared off into the distance.

For a moment, the two of them stood there in silence.

"Sooooo," Miu said, rocking on her heels. "Shen’s Noodles?"

Aren reached into his coat, pulling out the newer certificate once more. His eyes scanned the address before turning to his left.

"Yeah."

***

Misarck was relatively simple to navigate. Compared to the older quarter they had just come from, the layout actually made sense.

It didn’t take long for them to track down the street listed on the certificate. Aren slowed the moment they turned the corner.

"That should be it..."

Miu followed his gaze.

A sign hung just above the storefront, slightly faded but still intact.

Shen’s Noodles

From the outside, the place looked...fine. It wasn’t particularly new or old, just another small restaurant tucked along a side street. The windows were clean and the exterior was kept relatively well.

And yet...as they approached, one thing became evidently clear: The entire restaurant was empty.

Even if tables were fully set up with utensils and whatnot, there weren’t any customers inside.

Aren looked around at the street. It wasn’t like the entire district was empty, no. People were still hustling and bustling along the road.

"It was just this store...that no one went near."

Miu gulped. "Haha Aren...maybe, you know maybe we should wait for Stella! She’s actually part of law enforcement so she has rights. We’re just civilians!"

But Aren’s hand was already at the door handle, pretty much ignoring all of what she said. "Let’s go in."

But before he could put any force into pushing the door forward, a voice cut in from the side, causing Aren to pause.

A middle-aged man stood just a few feet away, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall of the neighboring shop.

"...You two aren’t from around here, are you?"

"Uh—" Miu blinked hesitantly.

But Aren cut in and answered first.

"No."

The man nodded slowly. "Figured. You might want to rethink going in there."

"...Why?" Miu tilted her head, but started probing. "Something wrong with the place?

The man sighed before pushing himself off the wall, stepping a bit closer to them so they could hear his whisper.

"That place used to be good. Back when it was in Tigan."

Aren’s eyes sharpened slightly. "Used to?"

"Yeah." The man let out a quiet breath. "People would line up for it. You couldn’t even get a seat during peak hours."

Miu glanced back at the empty interior. "...That doesn’t look like the case anymore."

His expression shifted slightly, eyes narrowing as a small uneasiness crept in. "They closed down a few years back without any explanation. Just gone completely."

"That’s why I was surprised when they opened another branch in Misarck. With the same name and owner too."

"Mmm."

"But the food," the man shook his head. "It’s not the same as it used to be."

Miu frowned. "Like...bad?"

"Not just bad."

"...It’s like whoever’s cooking doesn’t know what it’s supposed to taste like," the man shuddered. "Everything’s off. The broth, the seasoning...even the texture."

"And people still eat there?" Aren asked after a while.

"Not anymore," the man shook his head. "Most stopped coming after a few tries. Some complained about...other things too."

"...Like what?" Miu said. But at this point, she was pretty much hiding behind Aren, just peeking out enough to ask.

The man glanced at her before looking into the door which was now slightly ajar. "Strange cuts of meat...not anything you’d normally see in noodles."

"Could just be bad sourcing..." the man added quickly. "Or the guy losing his touch.

But even as he said the sentence, it didn’t sound like he believed that himself.

Miu shifted slightly. "...Maybe we should just—"

"Thank you for the information," Aren cut in calmly. "We’ll just take a quick look and leave."

The man nodded slowly before turning back.

Miu pinched him from behind. "Seriously?! This seems like an obvious death trap!"

"Every movie ever tells you to never walk into suspicious and shady restaurants! Especially ones with bad rumors lingering around them!"

Aren looked at Miu before placing a hand on her shoulder. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Right?"

Miu paused for a moment before sighing. "Now I know why you’re such a trouble magnet..."

But Aren had already turned and stepped forward, pushing the door open. The bell above it chimed softly.

And just like that—

They stepped inside Shen’s Noodles.