Every time Suto opened his mouth, Kimi thought about the reward from the worm... <> It sounded incredibly useful, especially for... particular people. Was she really that mad? No. Was she really that embarrassed? Yes. Every time she felt him looking over, even if he wasn't looking toward her, her eyes sharpened and met his with incredible ferocity. In response to Jason, she shook her head, "[I]Planning[/I] is different from warning. But yes, I'm ready when you are." The group formed up for the walk back to town. However, partway there, the trio split away from their "knightly" party-mates and the party was thusly dissolved. Once in town, the Knights headed straight for the teleport plaza where Kazaro told Suto and, surprisingly, Nero to go on ahead. After the day's events, particularly Nero's, he figured they both needed some time off. He, on the other hand, needed none. In a flash of light, he was gone and Nero looked to Suto with some unease... This was awkward. Pulling out his Menu, the "Squire to the Vice Commander" (oh, how he [I]loathed[/I] having the official title, but dared not say a thing) changed into 'normal' attire. Rather than a long coat, he decided on a cape, gilded in a dark honey-gold. Primarily it held the crimson signature to the Knights of the Blood, with their insignia embroidered in solid white at the center. His boots remained, but his armour was swapped for more plain equipment - low-level leather armour of black with royal blue accenting... Plain by Nero's standards, anyway. As he swiped his menu away, having spent literal minutes sifting through his items, he noticed Suto's clear impatience and preparedness to move into the nightlife. This was [i]where[/I] the awkward would begin. After the day's events, he'd really prefer not to be seen... by anybody... for days. However, he knew that Suto was one to enjoy the more festive sides of Aincrad. Especially with the main town being so recently found, it was nigh impossible for Suto [I]not[/I] to host yet another party. Of course, his shenanigans had decreased heavily since joining the nights, but he wasn't forbidden from fun. Besides, if Nero, resident Stick In the Mud, was around, what could possibly go wrong? NPCs were far less interactive than live entertainment... But players who took up an Instrument skill were far between, those who did well with the skill were even fewer, and still there were those among them who didn't sound quite so well... Perhaps the game, at times, could read somebody's real skill and merit their real life abilities, but who could honestly tell for sure? The one person who could was waiting for them, seventy floors away. It made Nero's stomach drop just thinking about it. He stood beside Nero, hands behind his back, beneath his cloak as his eyes moved over the dimly lit tavern. It was a nice evening, actually, not too busy... Knowing Suto, however, there would likely be dozens of people showing up, one at a time, to his party. He may have started partying [I]less[/I] since joining the Knights, but he certainly partied harder and had become more popular since as well. Nero couldn't quite understand why anybody would waste time trying to stay current on Aincradian news and politics. But to each their own. Then, from nowhere, he heard it. Oh dear god, where could he hide? "Uh... Suto, I think Lu-" too late. He was cut off and boxed out as Suto had an angry girl shoved in his face. Nero looked around a bit awkwardly before pulling up his friends list and deciding that if Suto was about to throw a party, he ought to at least help... He may not be the most popular, but he had the deepest pockets, and that certainly didn't hurt when it came to a party that he was attending. It was hard to concentrate with the music and Luna and the commotion, but it didn't take long to get the message out to the one person he figured would be the biggest selling point to the party. He'd met her a few floors back and she was suddenly seeing a spike in... fame, he supposed. Whatever this place called glory for skillers who avoided combat. And of course, she agreed to attend, for the right price. [I]Thank god, I'll pay anything to shut the NPC band up...[/I] --- As the band of misfit warriors tread across the dessert and eventually found the small dwelling of whoever it was they were looking for... Kazuma? The name Crona rung a bell for Kimi, but she'd heard very little of Kazuma. Where had she heard Crona before, though? It itched at the back of her mind and balanced precariously upon the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't place it. That is, until the door opened up and a blond, stunning girl stepped into view and invited them past. Crona, the information broker, and one of Sasayaku's competitors. Lately the Information Broking field had grown tough, with the few remaining ones having to work on their price schemes and available information to keep up. Kimi couldn't keep up with the drama, but Sasayaku still managed to maintain her position as top dog... Only because she had been the first to start spying on [I]people[/I] and working as a private investigator. She kept business because she lived dangerously. Kimi had only just recently found out where the girl was living, and even so, she was not often there. The small rapier user didn't say anything, however. The brokers weren't putting bounties on each other, after all. It was just a way to make a living and it was not the kind of business Kimi stuck her nose in unless she was acting as escort.