Chapter 324 - 316. A Splash of Cold Water
Rexon, despite being the center of the Federation, was lacking in tourism since it was originally built as the strongest fortress.
Unlike Shiroin which kept the ancient cultural aspect as its selling point, or Althrea which became the mecca of commerce and entertainment industry, Rexon was rather bland in that commodity. It was made to look sturdy as well as elegant, housing wealthy conglomerates and politicians.
But it wasn’t like the Capital would be devoid of any entertainment. In this day and age, everything could be created and built artificially as long as there was enough money. Of course, everything was proportionately expensive, but the people who lived in Rexon had no shortage of money to spend.
One of those recreational places was a building offering several fishing ponds; from a basic rectangular pond to an artificial sea. It could be enjoyed with company, or rented privately for a steeper price. This recreational activity was especially popular among the elderly or those who had retired from any strenuous activity. The sense of serenity one could get as they waited for the fish to take their bait was oddly addicting, akin to meditation.
A particular fishing establishment in the southern part of Rexon had a regular customer who always came in on Wednesday. Someone in his sixties, who looked stoic and still bore the trace of his heyday as an active esper. He lived a life as a retired old man now, but most still knew him as the former Guildmaster of Celestia; Darleon Belthera.
As usual, the manager was already waiting for him in the lobby. The old man always came on the same day and the same hour, ten in the morning. He would always pick the same venue--an imitation yacht overlooking an artificial sea--and leave exactly at three in the afternoon. It had been the same for the past three years, after he relinquished the Guildmaster position to his son.
"Good morning, Sir. We have prepared your room as always," the manager greeted the old man as usual. "Would you like to order your lunch now?"
"...no, I’ll think about it later," Darleon said.
There was a slight delay in the old man’s answer, which surprised the manager. Not only the delay, Darleon also sounded a bit distracted and low in spirit, which was unusual. But the manager only smiled and bowed politely. "Understood, Sir."
Well, it wasn’t his business, although he made sure to tell his employees that the old man might be in a sensitive mood, and they had to be careful while sending his lunch later.
A wise decision, because the old man was indeed in a sensitive mood today. Or rather, his mind was a tangle of mess. He recalled the event that transpired a few days ago, when one of his disciples came to meet him.