CHAPTER 19: CAFE

Silva looked at Riker, ’Could this be the person that was following me around? No, not possible. Why would the leader of a gold branch be following someone like me?’ Silva thought. He stretched out his hand and shook his hand.

"Your name is Silva, right?" Riker suddenly asked. He gripped Silva’s hand hard enough to make him unable to pull it out, but not hard enough to hurt.

When Silva heard him call his name, he tried to pull out a little, tugging his hand back, but the grip didn’t let him.

"How do you know me, and what do you want?" Silva asked, his eyes cold.

Riker let go of the hand and then faced the gauntlet. "I just want to talk, preferably in a different place. Now, don’t be hasty to refuse. I’ll get you the gauntlets and you’ll come with me to the restaurant a few meters down the street. How does that sound?" Riker asked.

’He wants to talk? About what? Have I been found out? I need to be careful. Still, he is strong, and a branch leader. If he wants to force me, he definitely can. I’ll go with him, at least I get the gauntlets for free,’ Silva thought. He looked at Riker. "Fine, I’ll go with you."

"Great, then let’s get the gauntlets," Riker responded. He took them and walked up to the counter, paid in gold, and then handed them to Silva.

Silva looked at them in his hands, feeling the cold metal on his palms. He was itching to use them right now, but first he had to have the talk with Riker.

Riker led the way, opened the door to a sleek black car with tinted glasses. He got in while Silva walked to the other side and got in.

When he got in, he noticed that the car didn’t have a lot of the flashy parts of the current-day cars. Riker noticed him looking around and explained,

"This car is made by a company that loves to recreate the look of cars from the age before the gates. I never knew those cars, nor does anyone, but the antique feel to it is what I like," he said before turning on the engine and driving down the street.

They got out of the car and it was a café. Silva looked at him. "You said restaurant, not a café," he stated.

"Same thing, just come in," Riker said and walked in. He immediately headed for an open booth, sat down, and Silva sat down opposite him.

The waiter, a young girl of similar age to Silva, came with a notepad, asking what they would have. Riker ordered two cups of coffee.

"You didn’t even let me order," Silva said.

"You got the free gauntlets," Riker responded and pointed at the gauntlet on the table. "So I’ll be the one ordering," he said in a calm voice.

He placed his hands on the table, clasped them together, and placed them under his chin, then looked outside the café through the glass.

"Silva, let’s be real. No friend gave you gauntlets worth five thousand credits twice in the span of two days. Your story doesn’t make sense. I looked into you and everything about you. You only have one known friend and a little sister," Riker said.

The moment Silva heard him speak of his sister, there was a glow in his eyes and a strong killing intent. Riker immediately raised his hands, showing surrender.

"Don’t get hasty now, I don’t have any bad plans for you or your family. As a matter of fact, I want to help you out as much as I can," Riker said.

"And why would you do that? What could you possibly gain from that?" Silva asked.

"Discovering a new talent. There will be promotions, and more money for me. And that’s the thing — money makes the world go round. So I want you to be my investment while I help you from the background. I know you somehow got stronger after your little accident. I don’t want to pry and know what happened exactly, I simply want to invest now that you are still budding, so that I can make my gains," Riker said.

’This man, he is very clear with his intentions. He isn’t even trying to hide the fact that he wants me for his personal gain. I like that, but still, what does he really have to offer that I need?’ Silva thought.

"And what do I gain from this?" Silva asked.

Riker glanced at the gauntlets. "Things like this are simply just the beginning. Because beyond working this crappy job in the guild, I also work for the Rising Phoenix guild. Though it’s an undercover type of thing, I can make you a member if you—"

"No," Silva cut him off before he could finish saying that. "I don’t want any guild issues. I’ll take the gauntlets as a small gift for now. I’ll work alone, and maybe I’ll think about your offer. Though it’s unlikely," Silva said and got up before the coffee even arrived.

Riker watched him as he left the café with the gauntlets in hand. He didn’t say or do anything to stop him, but that didn’t mean that he was done.

He pulled out a phone and dialed a number. "Hello, yeah, he’ll be heading to the goblin gate, the E-ranked one," he said and then cut the call.

The waitress came with the coffee. She was confused when she didn’t see Silva, but Riker took both drinks, drank them, and placed a few credits on the table before leaving.