NOVPUBSlam!
Flora got out of the car and raised her hands for a good stretch.
"You sure like driving," She commented while looking at the time on her wristwatch. An hour had elapsed.
"Normally, I don't, but this was my first time handling these fast cars, so I enjoyed it a lot," Jin said, getting out of the driver's seat.
"So, how was the experience?" She finally asked.
"Excellent. The fact that I don't feel any engine vibrations as the car accelerated above 120 kmph is both a thrilling and frightening experience," Jin said and continued, "And also the sensitivity of the car was impeccable…."
Seeing Jin lay down so many good points about the car, a satisfied smile formed on Flora's face.
"I'm delighted to hear such good words just before the car's release," Flora said after Jin had stopped.
"So when are you releasing it?" Jin curiously asked.
"After a two-week-long advertising campaign, I'll release all the models on the market," Flora told him as they walked back towards the factory's entrance.
"An advertising campaign? Want me to help with it as well?" Jin asked.
"I'll be more than grateful if you could. I'll be needing all the help I can to make a big impact in this industry," She said.
"Great, I'll message you my manager's number. Tell your staff to contact him, and we can do some ads before I leave for Umroi," Jin said.
"Thank you," Fora said with a grateful smile.
"No, thank you. Today was a great day, and I had a lot of fun," Jin said in return.
The two soon left the facility and entered a café for a change of pace.
"So what are your plans in Umroi?" Flora asked while slowly enjoying her cold coffee.
"Rest and Recovery," Jin answered. His cup was already empty since he couldn't hold himself back.
"Rest and recovery, huh? I wonder when I get to experience that…" She muttered.
"Maybe in the next life," Jin commented with an amused expression, which made Flora chuckle.
"Yes, that indeed seems to be the case," She added with a sigh.
After catching up on some more things, Flora dropped Jin back at the hotel. When Jin came to his room, he called Dylan and told him about this advertising campaign and that someone from Flora's company would be contacting him soon.
"Alright, I'll keep an eye out," Dylan said.
The following week, Jin was fully busy with advertising for GA Electric, and it was finally time for him to leave for Umroi.
Five days before the said date, he boarded an early morning flight from Valeyria to Alkaran and landed in the Umroi thirteen hours later.
He booked a room at a nearby hotel. By the time he was freshened up, it was half past eight. Jin soon had a plentiful dinner, and when night deepened, left the hotel.
He changed his appearance to a person in his late twenties.
His steps soon led him to a secluded alley. Although it was his first time coming here, he was familiar with the path.
Jin soon took a right turn, and in front of him was a wooden door.
He knocked on it a couple of times.
A door slit was open and a pair of eyes observed Jin from top to down.
"Buying or Selling ?" He asked as a familiar smell of alcohol entered Jin's nostrils.
"Buying," Jin said and handed out the requested money to the man.
The door was soon opened, and Jin was soon guided to a group of people who were sitting around a table playing cards and smoking cigarettes. They had an irritated expression when they looked at Jin.
"Since you've come at this unwelcoming hour, we'll charge you double for whatever it is that you want. So, tell me what do you want?" One of the men asked impatiently.
"Your lives," Jin grinned, and with a gun in both his hands, he shot everyone except for a particular person.
"YOU MONSTER!!!" The last remaining man exclaimed in fright and backed away only to fell on his butt.
His pants were soon drenched in the warm blood of his comrades, and fear gripped his heart.
"NO! Don't kill me, please...money yes! I have lots of money, I can give you lots of money….so don't kill me," The man begged when he saw Jin's deathly figure slowly making its way towards him.
"A purplish gem that can manipulate others…tell me everything that you know about it and I'll consider leaving you alive," Jin said in a brotherly manner as he knelt on his one knee and thus was on eye level with the man.
"Yes! Yes, I'll surely tell you everything I know about it. I'll also give you the few samples which I have with me, so please don't kill me," The man pleaded.
"Of course, I'll keep that in mind," Jin said and gestured for the man to speak.
Seeing Jin's trustworthy expression, the man was finally relieved and told everything that he knew about the gem.
"The purple gem, locally we call it 'Devil's Crystal' because of its devilish properties. It is found in a mine which is in the eastern part of the country…It is found at great depths and is near a magma vein, so the miners go through extreme difficulty…even losing their lives just to get some chunks out to the surface…" The man stopped and glanced at Jin.
"Continue," Jin gestured with his hand, which held the gun.
"Y-Yes…The gems are then shipped out from the western port. People like me with some contacts with the miners can get our hands on few leftovers and sell them to make a profit…that's all I know, I promise," The man said dreadfully.
"Hmm, so where are they shipped?" Jin asked curiously.
"I-I don't know. I've never been to the eastern side and have only a few contacts there, but let me give you the gems which I possess. They are worth in millions…in return, please let me live," The man pleaded once again.
"Hmm, alright," Jin smiled. Seeing this, the man too smiled in a relieved manner.
Phut!
A bullet pierced the man's stomach the next moment.
"W-why…" the man groaned out in pain as he looked at Jin with eyes filled with anger.
Jin just stood up from his position and shot another bullet straight through the man's face.
"Just blame it on your luck, Patrick," Jin muttered under his breath and left the scene.
