Another Stupid Isekai

I had no idea where exactly Bratstvo’s headquarters were located. I only knew they had to be somewhere in the vicinity of Bushido’s. Fortunately, Will knew the exact location, and he led us there. It was a bit further from the city center.

The buildings didn’t look that much different from what I was used to, except one. There was a freaking garden in the middle of the city, with a lovely house in the middle of it. Black tiles covered a roof and worked pretty great with a beige plaster. At least for me.

– I’ll go grab Boris, and he will show you around – said Will, and jogged for a couple of steps, then marched the rest of the distance to the previously mentioned house.

He knocked on the door, and Irina showed up soon after, holding the hand of a young boy.

– Boris! It’s Will – I heard her shouting deeper into the building.

The man showed up quickly, and they exchanged a couple of words, before joining us.

– It’s nice to meet you, everybody. I’m Boris – he grabbed his hips with a wide smile.

– Hi Boris, I’m, Peter – I said to him, extending a hand, but he ignored me.

Will just shook his head. My joke didn’t work well and the rest turned a deaf ear to it. Boris was greeted by Will’s family and the agents. The handshakes got exchanged, as per usual. Then he showed us around, we met his guys in the gym, trained by Nil, who was quite tough on them.

They had a bunch of punching bags, some weights, a bench to press on, and even a boxing ring. We got invited to another late dinner, but since we ate with Bushido, we had to pass on any more food.

The evening was approaching, and the normal people seemed tired from all the walking, that’s why we decided to go to Velvet Lotus, so they could relax a bit, and sit down.

I was caught off-guard by how the building has changed. It was now at least four floors tall with bright, colorful light shining on the walls decorated with murals showcasing dancing people. They were changing their colors synchronically, from purple to red, to yellow, to green, to blue, and back to purple.

The door was made out of glass, so you could see the lobby inside, brightly illuminated by electric lights. Further inside two hunters were guarding the entrance to the main hall. Black two-winged door. On the left side of the lobby was a counter with Alice sitting behind. She was waiting for us and waved. Will waved back, but I was too consumed by checking out the new look.

The left side had a table and two couches where the pink-blue duo was playing cards, with a freaking black panther lying comfortably under the table.

There was no line inside, probably because it was still too early for that.

We went inside. There was music coming from the main hall, a bit muffled because it had to pass through the closed door. The regular drum and bass stuff, but for me, it was totally unexpected.

– Hi – said Alice.

– Hi – both I and Will replied at the same time, with the others soon following.

Dusting couldn’t take his eyes of the giant cat. For the kid, the animal was awesome Elain, and Josh too, but they tried to be as far from it as possible.

– This is my family. Elaine and dusting. This is Josh, and those two are agent Wolf and agent Zander – Will introduced the crew.

– I’m Alice. It’s nice to meet you – she said with a big smile, end shook people’s hands. – You might come inside, but please leave any weapons here.

– We are not armed… – said Elaine.

Alice was looking more at me and Will while saying that, and she gave us both a long look. I turned the pockets of my hoodie upside down, showing they are empty.

– Yeah, like you would hide anything in your pocket – she said after I did that.

– Does it matter anyway? I don’t need a weapon.

She nodded to that.

– I guess you are right, but still… No summoning, ANYTHING, ok?

– Ok. By the way, why the hell do you have a panther here? – I pointed at the cat.

– It’s Razzle. Don’t you remember him? – she said.

The cat rose his head and looked back at her since she mentioned his name.

– Go to sleep sweety, it’s nothing – she changed her voice to sound cuter.

Since nobody had anything to leave in the lobby, we went inside. The guards even opened the doors for us.

[0)ᴠʟ The main hall also looked different from what I remembered. First of the light was bright, shining through many electric lamps located on the walls, and under the mezzanines. It was completely modern.

The bar was still on the left, but it was more like an island right now, with tables behind it, while straight forward from the entrance was a dance floor with a stage at the end. On the right side of it was a door leading to some back rooms.

There was a DJ stand on the stage and a band was also setting up, and clearly working with some sound guy, while the music was coming from the tape.

On the right side, just like before, were stairs, leading up, to a mezzanine, with VIP rooms on the second floor. Just above the stage, on the second floor were another stairs, leading further to a staircase that ended on the third floor, with more VIP rooms, another mezzanine, and a visible passage to a fourth floor. Another set of stairs, vanishing in the dark.

The ceiling was reaching all the way up there, with only the last floor being separated from the main hall. Beautiful chandeliers were hanging from there. They looked like clusters of small crystals. There weren’t too many of them, to not block the view from the above.

I noticed Vesa warking behind the counter, preparing with few other girls. I recognized Shavonne, but not the others.

– Welcome! – shouted Aisha from the second floor’s mezzanine. – Please come up here. I have a room prepared for you.

So we did.. One by one climbing the stairs, and admiring the amazing view of this place.