Once he expressed his intention of accepting the job, Shui was informed to expect a meeting with the client in the next day or two. He didn't know what sort of person the client was, but anyone who could become a director of Windwave City couldn't be simple. Since the city ran as a meritocracy, the directors and city lord were determined through various tests and an election. Though it generally ended up being the same set of families, there was no rule against one family occupying more than one seat so faction disputes and competition was frequent and deadly even among families. These succession battles were comparable to the battle for the throne so every person who managed to survive was certain to be cunning and dangerous.
Shui was curious about the client, but as he thought about his next destination, his focus began to change. Sunset was fast approaching, but he figured there was enough time to buy a ticket to the idol concert for himself and maybe the twins as well. Shui was about to search for a mecha-car to get him to the amphitheater where the tickets were being sold, but then Alia left his pocket.
"I'm going to explore for a bit. I should be back before midnight."
"Are you sure? It might not be difficult for you to sneak into places, but it'll be hard to enjoy this city without an access card."
The access cards worked similar to a worker's ID or underground guild ID, and was just as hard to replicate. This was because an ancient inventor from Windwave City, that lived before the age of the airship, made the base design and it was so long ago that no one could fully explain how it works. Even so, it can still be produced thanks to the relics that the inventor left behind. Shui knew that Alia had unfathomable means, but he wasn't sure if she would be able to mimic the functions of the access card.
"You don't need to worry about me. If I can't have fun then I'll just come back earlier. By the way, I took some of your spirit gems, thanks."
"Huh? Yeah that's, what?!"
Before Shui could respond, she vanished, leaving a red trail of starlight behind. He was burning with the desire to ask so many questions like when she robbed him or what happened to the leftover spirit gems she had, but she was already out of his reach. He knew that if anything happened she could handle herself, but this time he kind of hoped she got into inescapable trouble.
When he reached the amphitheater, night had fallen, but lights were still vibrant because Section C2 was where most of the entertainment facilities were. It was said that there was something fun for every type of person here, even shops that allowed simulations for the most taboo fantasies. Albeit at a steep cost, the experience would be almost indistinguishable from reality. Unfortunately, the stronger one's soul, the easier it would be to see through, so it wouldn't be effective on Shui.
There were many times when Shui felt tempted to enter a store either because of what he could see, or the excited cheers he could hear, but his idol-loving self kept his feet on the right path. When he reached the amphitheater, there was still a fairly long line to get tickets to the concert. Naturally, Shui became worried that he wouldn't be able to secure a ticket, so he checked to see how many were left. They were being stored in space expansion bags protected by Sky Realm experts, but Shui's skill in soul techniques allowed him to slip in wisps of his spiritual sense under their noses.
'Hmm, it's cutting a little close, but that's fine.'
As there seemed to be enough tickets, he went to the back of the line and waited for his turn. Unfortunately, they were only selling one ticket per person, but at least he didn't have to worry about the tickets running out faster than they should. Shui thought he could just buy his ticket and go home, but that was no longer the case when there were three people in front of him. Shui heard a commotion a couple cales away from the line. He wasn't interested, but because of his sharp senses he ended up hearing what was happening anyways.
"You can't do this!"
"Says who? You?"
"You bastard! And you call yourself a fan?"
"I don't actually. I just know fans who will pay a way lot more for these than you losers."
A group of men that had been lurking in the area began attacking those who bought tickets and stealing the tickets. Shui couldn't tell if the organizers knew about it, but he doubted they would do something unless they had to. Those in the line with sharp senses or intuition had also noticed the danger, but they thought that it would be fine as long as they avoided the trouble. Perhaps there was a past event that made them act this way, but Shui didn't plan on acting differently.
If trash like them dared to do anything that disrupted the concert, then he would show no mercy, but there was no reason for him to get involved here.
Once he got his ticket, Shui left in the opposite direction of the thieves, but the net was spread wider than he thought. A couple cales away from the line, he faced a similar but quieter robbery. If this was all, he would have chosen to go in a different direction, but as he couldn't solve the root problem that way, he attacked the source.
"What?!"
A child that appeared to be around ten years old, exclaimed as his target vanished from the street. He was about to leave the alley he was in to try and find them, but a hand on his shoulder held him back.
"Are you searching for someone?"
"Huh?"
As he turned around, the boy's face changed from bewilderment to fear.
"N, no. I'm just going home."
"Oh really, where do you live, I'll walk you home."
"No, my mother said I shouldn't bring strangers home."
"Kuku, that's a good advice. But did your mother also tell you to help rob people?"
"..."
The boy knew that his intentions had been discovered, but he couldn't imagine a way to escape. Therefore, he had to refer to his last resort. He hurriedly reached into his shirt to pull out a whistle, but Shui took away the whistle before he could blow on it. Unfortunately, the child had outwitted him. Despite his lips never touching the whistle, Shui could sense that groups of men were approaching.
"Not bad."
Shui had to admit, this was a good move by the boy, but he didn't feel worried. After all, the more their attention was attracted to one place, the easier it was to disappear.