[i]Kuhn...[/i]

As that name echoed in her mind, Lina walked along the routes of Kesrizu's fringe with Macario at her side. They weren't far from the shore, but they were still a mile or so into the dead outer city.

"Where have I heard that name before?" Lina muttered.

"Hmm?"

"I think I...ah! I did meet that Kuhn guy! And the drunk!"

"I thought you knew Chester."

"No, the other drunk! The swordsman!" Lina reiterated. Thinking for a moment, she realized, "He didn't seem like a bad guy, and Whitney liked him...what's doing in the Quartz Company?"

Macario stated, "Well, the Quartz Company hires a lot of mercenaries. Most of the grunts have some fighting skill but their mostly expected to manage some form of money. That's power in their structure, I've heard."

"Hmm...." Lina replied. Stopping, she looked up at the large building. It was less dilapidated looking but there were clearly two guards posted outside. One of them caught their eyes and waved his hand, implying Macario and Lina should move along.

"Well, this looks like a place they might be hiding something important," Lina said, quoting Whitney.

Macario added, "And something about Goldenrod not wanting Kuhn snooping around, right?"

"Sure, sure. I'll look around the upper floors. I want those winnings!"

"If you see my briefcase, hold on to it will you?"

"If you see my idiot..."

"Yeah, yeah."

One pair of eyes unknowingly at their back and two at their front, Macario flexed his arms as Lina drew her sword. The two goons drew their weapons and moved forwards, a good few meters between them.

Pulling back his fist, Macario held it for a second, before punching out. "Xun!" The air rippled, and the two goons, lined up neatly, were blasted back, hurtling into the door and smashing through it.

Lina blinked, wondering, "H-how did you do that?" Shaking her head, she insisted, "Never mind." Leading the way, she charged in, Macario running after her.

---

Eyes glinting from the previous corner, Whitney watched as Macario and Lina broke in. She frowned: Whitney wasn't the smartest, so she couldn't tell exactly what was going on, but...