Aren adjusted his collar again, fingers catching the stiff fabric that refused to sit comfortably.
The suit jacket that looked more like a coat wrapped around him in a way that forced his posture upright whether he liked it or not. The coat itself was a dark charcoal layered over a slightly light gray inner layer, broken only by intricate gold embroidery that ran across one side of his chest and down along the length of the coat.
A crane with its wings outstretched was stitched in fine detail, so realistic that it might take off at any mont.
"You know...for an event that’s supposed to be about the holess. You’d think they’d be less...extravagant?"
He remarked as he stepped out of the car, still adjusting the collar like it might suddenly loosen if he tried enough tis.
The fabric obviously didn’t budge.
"Well, it is a rich man’s event for other rich n after all," Stella answered his question, stepping out from behind him.
She wore a sleeveless, deep crimson red dress that matched her bright hair. The fabric clung at the top, making two overlapping strands at her neck before cascading downward until it reached her ankles. Tiny glitter was embedded into the dress, causing it to glimr along with the sunlight.
"Let’s just...get this over with," ca Miu’s voice as she was the last to step out of the car.
Her outfit was completely opposite in feel from Stella’s. Whereas Stella was bright and attention-grabbing, Miu’s was gentle and peaceful.
She wore a fitted white gown that flowed down from her shoulders, only held up by two translucent straps. Silver buttons and embroidery ran along her right side, careful and deliberate in stitching. Each step that she took caused the fabric to ripple softly, almost like a liquid.
"Yeah," Aren replied. "We won’t linger any longer than we have to. Get the information and get out."
He turned to Miu, fixing his collar one last ti before he gave up entirely. "Could you disguise us?"
"Mm, I got it."
Miu placed both hands together, closing her eyes before she muttered.
"Refraction."
Instantly, Aren’s white hair had turned back into the ash-blonde color that he had been used to during his two years of stay in the Western Dominion.
Miu’s iconic pink hair turned into a soft baby blue. Aren had told her to choose a less attention-grabbing color, but she vehently denied until he gave up.
But still, as she was casting the Art, a part of him saw sothing within her. Miu looked like she was uncomfortable with being here, fidgeting every so often as her eyes dashed around.
"Co on, let’s go in," Stella nudged, already heading inside the venue first.
Aren and Miu followed just a few steps behind. He walked by her before giving the ex-idol a small nudge with his shoulder.
"Hey, you okay?" he said softly.
Miu blinked, as if she’d been pulled out of her Inner Canvas.
"Yeah," she answered after a bit of hesitation.
Her gaze drifted past him and into the venue. The building itself wasn’t extrely massive like everyone thought it’d be. It seed to be soone’s ho.
Even so, it was heavily decorated, with a grand garden and fountain that greeted them when they entered.
"I just..." Miu started, fingers tightening against the fabric of her dress as she crossed the gates. "This place feels weird..."
Aren frowned slightly. "Weird how?"
She shook her head almost imdiately.
"I don’t know," she admitted. "It’s like I’ve—"
"..."
"...Never mind. It’s probably nothing."
Aren didn’t look convinced, but decided to let the matter slide. Even if he wanted to know, this wasn’t the place to start probing and making her even more uncomfortable.
The closer they got, the more the illusion began to crack.
From afar, it looked like a normal high-end gathering. Guests dressed in formal wear, faint music playing in the background and an array of food being served plentifully, that sort of thing.
How the hell is this supposed to be for the holess? If this event is actually for the holess, then I might as well be Buddha himself.
They made their way to the front entrance, where a man dressed in full black stopped them. Stella quickly pulled out a badge. The man inspected it for a second before letting them in.
And without another word, they stepped inside.
Inside, the space opened into a grand hall with polished marble everywhere, so bright that Aren thought he might’ve stumbled into an echo chamber.
Guests were already in small clusters, talking amongst each other as so small laughs went up into the air.
Seeing that Miu was still on edge, Aren quickly held her hand with his. She was still trembling slightly, but the action seed to have put her at ease sowhat.
"Stay close," Aren said.
"Mmm, I will."
As they passed by the group and into the main hall, countless conversations brushed faintly against his ears.
"...Khan really outdid himself this ti..."
"...Funding must’ve doubled after the last initiative..."
"...He’s cleaning things up fast..."
Aren’s eyes narrowed slightly, sothing one of the guests had said caught his ears.
Cleaning things up? Definitely doesn’t seem ominous coming from these people.
"Stella," Aren turned. "I’m gonna poke around a bit, et up later?"
"Got it," she said. "Don’t cause any trouble...again."
"No promises."
Just as quickly as he said the sentence, Aren and Miu had already walked up to the source of the conversation.
A gaudy man was leaning against one of the marble pillars with a drink in his hand, talking to what looked like his equally gaudy wife.
"Excuse ," Aren said as he took a bow. "I’d overheard you guys talking about sothing interesting. Mind if we join in for a bit?"
"Why yes, of course! Any guest of Khan is a friend of ours," the man said, seemingly trying to eye Miu out.
Aren stepped in front of her, grabbing his attention again. "Ahem, we’re new to the city and ca from Hysian and wanted to invest in the initiative. Could you care to explain what it is?"
"Tch..." the man clicked his tongue under his breath, but otherwise went on.
"Director Khan, being the generous man he is, started the Disadvantaged Citizen Act three years ago."
"The aim of the act was to help those in...disadvantaged positions to apply for loans as long as they work it off in entry-level jobs to pay it back," the man continued. "Now before you might think differently, these loans are completely interest-free!"
Once again...all sunshines and rainbows for now. But wait...
"What type of jobs are these people working? And how do those jobs even exist?"
"Well, in conferences like this, of course! With Director Khan’s connections to various industries, we’re able to create jobs for these people. It’s a win-win if you think about it."
Aren gave a small nod, as if considering it seriously. "Though I’m curious...what kind of companies are backing sothing like this?"
"Well..." the man drew it out, almost like he was savoring the mont. "We’ve got logistics, construction, manufacturing..."
"But the most prominent one right now?" he added with a small grin. "...The Mystic industry."
Aren’s eyes narrowed just slightly.
"...dicine?" he asked.
"Exactly," the man nodded. "Research, developnt, treatnt—you na it. They’ve been heavily involved in supporting the initiative."
Sothing in Aren’s chest tightened, almost like he was expecting it. "...Which company would that be?"
"Aetherion Research."
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