The Ember Bar is a completely neutral place in the underground fighting scene. It's where fighters, casual spectators, talent scouts, and wealthy investors come to rest.
Compared to the outside of the bar area, it's a calmer place.
Currently, at the bar, there are two important figures for Alen—Little Bear and Snap—each focused on doing their own thing.
While Little Bear wanted to rest after a night of defending and expanding his territory—with mixed results—Snap was enjoying a lovely date with the barista girl.
Despite her tall height and ample musculature, the barista girl was an absolute damsel. She giggled and hid her face behind her hands with each of Snap's compliments.
"That melodic giggle is like hearing the most soothing lullaby, my sweet barista," Snap said, stroking her cheek with his finger and displaying his most confident smile.
"Th-thanks, Mister Snap... this break is the best moment of the night thanks to you," the muscular barista girl blushed and lowered her gaze.
"Nonono, you're the one making my night better. If it weren't for you, I'd have left this place a long time ago."
Their date carried on as expected. Snap took extra care not to let his cocky and sarcastic side show around her, and the barista girl, despite being easily flustered, was surprisingly talkative.
But the atmosphere in the Ember Bar changed once a group of four individuals entered, accompanied by their guards.
The loud and chaotic energy of the bar died out in an instant. Everyone fell silent and sat at their respective tables, attention fully fixed on the four newcomers.
These four individuals were known as the Cardinal Lords—the wealthiest figures in the entire arena. They trained the biggest fighters and controlled the most territory.
"Such an unsophisticated place. I swear, having to share it with these vile beasts makes me sick."
The first Cardinal Lord to speak was a man in his early-thirties.
"Yer really annoying, ya know that, East?"
The second lord, a forty-year-old bear demi-human with grey hair and a face full of scars, spoke up. His muscular physique made him look younger than he actually was.
"Shut up, North! Hey, West—when will the exclusive bar for people like us be finished? It was your idea, after all," East complained as the four lords sat down at a table.
"It takes a lot of work to build a new bar for our kind, East," West replied, taking a long sip from his beer mug.
"It's taking so long because you waste your time looking for new talents to add to your team," East shrugged and rested his arms on the table. "I can lend you a couple of my workers if your team is that incompetent."
West yanked the mug from his mouth and slammed it onto the table, beer streaming down his crusty beard.
"Don't you dare talk as if you're any better than me, kid. You've got a hundred years before you can dream of reaching my ankles."
"I may be closer than you think, old man. I've heard from reliable sources that you struggled with one of your talent-hunting quests," East grinned mockingly.
"I've heard that too. But what I care about is the part where the kid you liked kicked you in the balls," North said with a rough laugh.
"You, more than anyone, should know that not every fighter is cut out to make it big, North," West shot the demi-human a look full of anger.
"Maybe, but this is the first time it's happened to you. Someone finally stood up to your abusive training—and it was a kid!" North cackled loudly, clearly trying to piss off West.
"It is quite humorous to see that happen to you, West," East added with a grin, joining in on the teasing.
The last of the four lords, a woman, had remained silent. She scanned the room, looking for a barista to take their order.
But no barista approached the group.
"Oh... Mister Snap. I'm sorry, but I'll have to go if no one else will," the muscular barista girl told him.
"Y-yeah... you should go. It's best not to mess with the lords," Snap said with a sad tone as his date came to an end.
"So, those are the Cardinal Lords?"
"Ah!! Little Bear, you... you scared the life outta me!" Snap said, trying to catch his breath.
"Sorry, Snap."
Snap sighed as his heartbeat returned to normal.
"You didn't know them?"
"I'm a casual here. I've still got a lot to learn."
"If you're a casual, then never get involved with them. They play a completely different game."
"I think I already failed that."
"What do you mean?"
"That lord," Little Bear pointed toward the Lord of the West. "That's the old man who was with Alen."
"What!?"
Meanwhile, the muscular barista approached the Lord of the South.
"What can I get for you, Lord of the South?" she asked, ignoring the three men arguing at the table.
"I'd like this one," the Lord of the South said, pointing to a specific drink. "I want it in less than two minutes." She set the menu down.
The barista nodded nervously and hurried off.
"Hey, South!" the bear demi-human called loudly, gaining the attention of the three other lords. "I heard there're two kids making a name for themselves in your territory. Got any info?"
"I only heard about them before arriving here. You won't get anything useful out of me. I know as much as you do."
"What're these two kids about?" West asked, chugging his beer at an impressive pace.
"One keeps fighting Rumble over and over again. The other's gaining fame by introducing rules and restrictions to his matches."
> "I say, South, you better recruit those two before these old men get their rusty hands on them," East said with a smirk, not taking the conversation seriously.
South didn't answer. She glanced to the side, waiting for her drink.
> "One of them's famous for losing? Sounds useless to me," West said, covering his mouth to stifle a burp.
"That one's actually more impressive. He fights with a clear goal—to defeat his opponent. The other one relies too much on tricks to win."
"The trickster—I've heard he's never lost a fight since establishing his territory," East mentioned with a yawn.
"Hey, East. Fuck you!" North pointed at him. "Stay away from the one who never gives up. He's mine."
"Ah... such Neanderthal ways of claiming people, North." East waved a hand with refined arrogance. "I plan to take neither. They both sound like brutes."
"And you, South? Interested in either of them?" North asked, a defiant look in his eyes.
South ignored him. She was focused on paying the barista, who had just brought her drink.
"South doesn't need more than she already has," West scoffed.
East chuckled and suddenly had what he thought was an amazing idea.
"Since South and I don't care about these promising kids, why don't you two fight for them? Loser gets a handicap in their next champion match."
"Ha! Finally speaking my language, East!" the bear demi-human slammed a hand on the table, excited by the prospect. "What d'you say, West? Up for a challenge?"
"Already lost one today. Hope this one ain't as disappointing."
"Then let's go. I need to see that one kid!" North shouted, standing up. He rushed out of the bar, eager to win the bet.
"That fucking beast. I swear I'll hang your head on my wall next time," West muttered as he stood and followed, drinking as he left, leaving the other two lords behind.
With two lords gone, the bar felt less tense.
"I suppose I should see what the fuss is about for myself," East said as he stood, pushing his chair back.
Now, only one lord remained in the bar.
She looked toward the door, making sure the others were truly gone.
Then, she snapped her fingers. The bar fell completely silent.
"Anyone with information on those two kids—tell me everything you know. I'll make sure you're well compensated," she ordered.
A line of fighters and spectators had formed next to the woman, who took a small sip of her drink.
She glanced at the massive line and sighed.
"I'll give those with useless information a chance to leave—if you don't want to pay for wasting my time."
As soon as she said that, the line shrank to fewer than ten people.
"You... if my memory serves me right, you're Snap, aren't you? From my territory," the woman said, pointing at him.
She didn't just recognize Snap—she recognized all of them. Each person who had stayed was part of the southern territory, her dominion in the underground arena.
"Y-yes, Lady South. I don't have the full picture, but I know some key details about the trickster one," Snap said, assuming the trickster kid was Alen, since the other had been described by the lords as the one repeatedly fighting Rumble.
"Anything is useful—as long as you're not lying or wasting my time," South said, then pointed at the remaining people, silently inviting them to share everything they knew about the two kids.