Chapter 191. Settling in.
The heavy metal car moved smoothly through the streets of the eastern district of MadCity.
Aiden leaned back against the seat, resting his elbow on the door as his eyes looked out the window at the scenery.
MadCity did not have tall skyscrapers. It looked like a very large, modern urban town built right in the middle of the desert.
The buildings were simple,looking structures, mostly two or three stories high.
Neon signs in red, green, and purple hung over the shops. They lit up the streets under the night sky and cast long shadows across the pavement.
"The eastern district is mainly full of shops, bars, restaurants, and apartments, senior Turner," the enforcer driving the car said, looking into the rearview mirror with a polite smile. "It is much quieter than the slums in the western district. Every shopkeeper here is tough. They are all outcasts, retired criminals, and wanted mercenaries. They keep heavy concealed weapons under their counters just in case someone tries to rob them."
Aiden nodded politely and simply kept watching out the window.
The streets were full of all kinds of people.
Outcasts wearing long, dusty leather coats walked past shady vendors, mercenaries, and tough warriors carrying weapons like hammers, swords, and lances, among others, on their backs.
The air was full of burnt engine oil, roasted desert meat, and cheap alcohol.
Bars were open along the road, and loud music came from inside.
Outside one bar, a group of scarred men and women sat around a metal table, laughing loudly as they counted a big pile of money.
In a quiet alley, two women in sleek battlesuits were secretly trading a glowing metal container before walking away in opposite directions without saying a word.
Shops selling worldly energy recovery elixirs, healing potions, battlesuits, and cold weapons sat right beside crowded inns and small restaurants that served food to customers.
It looked organized on the outside, but everyone knew what kind of place this was.
"Everyone minds their own business here," Dickinson commented, remembering the words of the chief enforcer. His eyes were fixed on the neon signs of the inns. "As long as you pay your taxes to the district lords and don’t kill someone on the streets, no one bothers you."
As if to prove his point, Aiden saw two enforcers in battlesuits walk right past an alley where two men were beating up a guy.
The enforcers didn’t even turn their heads. They just kept walking as if nothing was happening.
Just as the chief enforcer had explained earlier on their way here, as long as people didn’t kill someone on the streets, the authorities didn’t care what happened.
It was a city run by criminals, but with its own set of strict rules.
"We are almost at the apartment, senior," the enforcer said as he turned the car into a quieter street lined with several low-rise apartment buildings. "I got a top-floor apartment for you and Mr. Eliot. It’s clean, private, and quiet."
Aiden nodded politely as he looked away from the window, and the car came to a complete stop in front of a three-story building made of dark metal alloy.
"We have arrived," the enforcer said, turning off the engine.
The enforcer got out first and opened the back door for Aiden and Dickinson.
"Follow me, senior Turner. I will show you to your room," the enforcer said politely.
Aiden nodded and stepped out of the car. Dickinson followed closely behind him, looking around the street cautiously.
Even though the area was relatively quiet compared to the main commercial road, there were still a few people standing near the streetlights, eyeing the heavy car and the newcomers. But when they saw the enforcer’s official uniform, they quickly looked away and minded their own business.
They entered the building through a heavy alloy door. The hallway inside was bright.
The floor was clean and made of concrete cement.
They walked up two flights of stairs and eventually arrived at the top floor.
The enforcer stopped in front of a heavy metal door at the end of the corridor.
He pulled out a keycard, tapped it against the electronic lock, and the door opened with a quiet click.
"Here we are," the enforcer said, stepping aside and gesturing for them to enter. "This apartment is reserved for special guests of the enforcers. No one will come here to disturb you."
Aiden walked inside and looked around.
The apartment was decent. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was spacious and far better than any room in the small desert towns.
There was a large living room. There was a large polished table and a small refrigerator in the corner of the room. There was also a flatscreen tv on the wall.
Beyond the living room were two separate bedrooms. Each bedroom had its own washroom.
A large kitchen stood behind a door that separated the kitchen from the living room.
A wide glass window in the living room gave a clear view of the eastern district’s streets below.
"This is good," Aiden said.
The enforcer smiled, clearly relieved that the mysterious powerhouse was satisfied.
"I am glad the senior likes it. The rent and all utility fees have already been taken care of for the rest of your stay here."
"Thank you," Aiden said politely.
"It is my pleasure, senior Turner. I will take my leave now," the enforcer said.
He nodded politely to senior Turner, walked into the hallway, and closed the door behind him.
The apartment fell completely quiet.
Dickinson let out a long breath he had been holding in. He walked over to the couch and sat down.
He scratched his chin. He looked at the ceiling.
"We are finally inside MadCity," Dickinson murmured, looking up at the mysterious senior, or Mr. Turner, as he said his name was. "I never thought I would come back to this place, senior."
Aiden nodded politely to Dickinson.
After that, he walked over to his room and shut the door behind him. He needed a shower.
"This senior is such an introvert," Dickinson murmured inwardly. He didn’t dare to voice such a statement out loud. Just because the man was polite did not mean Dickinson was stupid enough to think he could disrespect him.
He walked over to the fridge, grabbed a drink, returned to the sofa, and turned on the television.