[center][h2][color=BFBFBF]Zenkichi Hasegawa[/color][/h2]
Esaka, The Tiered City
Lvl 9 [color=BFBFBF]Zenkichi[/color] (72/90) -> Lvl 9 (74/90) 
Word count: 767 words[/center]



Splitting off from Azuma, Zenkichi began to wander the Mid Tier again, though this time he sought out not rumors or information, but the Banishing Flats motel. It took asking a few locals for directions, but after about three or four people he had his bearings and made his way to the motel. It bordered a park, from which Zenkichi could hear some live music being played. Taking a quick detour, he was bemused to find Big Band and much younger girl playing together, the former with his saxophone and the latter with a viola. He also caught sight of Harry and Kim dancing alongside the pair, flailing about like madman. 

Leaving the group with a chuckle and a wave, he made his way into the motel. The moderately-sized waiting area was adorned with a variety of wrestling-themed decor, from obvious replica championship belts to a tacky sign about [url=https://imgur.com/aZIovPc]”Wrestling Life Lessons”[/url] that was mostly just general life advice. At the reception was a [url=https://imgur.com/qvTxGil]robotic fighter[/url] that felt vaguely familiar to Zenkichi, and out of the corner of his eye he saw another walk into a door into an employees-only area in the back. 

Approaching the reception desk, Zenkichi smiled at the Mecha-Zangief working the desk. [color=BFBFBF]”Good Afternoon, I was just wondering what it would cost for a room for the night?”[/color] 

The robot stared impassively at the detective before answering. “One night’s stay at the banishing Flats motel is 6,000 Zenny. Will you be staying with us tonight?” Zenkichi blanched at the response, patting his pockets with a sigh. 

[color=BFBFBF]”Uhhh, I’m gonna need to get back to you on that one. Insufficient funds at the moment.”[/color] He sighed, though the Mecha-Zangief seemed nonplussed. 

“Understandable. Have an excellent day. We hope to see you at a time when you have sufficient funds to stay at the magnificent banishing Flats. Goodbye.” Without emotion are derision, what would normally have been an embarrassingly acerbic comment slid off Zenkichi like water off a duck’s back. He made his way outside before touching his linkpearl.

[color=BFBFBF]”Hey everybody, this is Zenkichi. I just checked out the Banishing Flats. It’s not super expensive, but you’re gonna want to get some cash. It’s about 6,000 Zenny a night. A little much for me right now, so I’m gonna try to sell a couple of things and head back. Good luck, everybody.”[/color]

So, it was with a bit more information-gathering and wandering that Zenkichi found himself at the workshop of one [url=https://imgur.com/8qRv9De]Doctor Bosconovitch.[/url] The eccentric man was elbow-deep in what looked to be a robotics project when Zenkichi entered, and he waited for the man to find a moment of pause before interrupting. [color=BFBFBF]”Excuse me?”[/color]

Doctor Bosconovitch jumped a little, whipping around to see a tall, dark man wearing a tunic in his shop. “Hmm. I don’t recognize you. Not many people come here that I do not know. What is it?” Straight to business, then, Zenkichi thought.

[color=BFBFBF]”I had some materials that I was looking to sell, and I heard that you’d be interested in them.”[/color] Producing the three machine cores that he’d been holding on to since Midgar, Zenkichi explained. [color=BFBFBF]”These are from the Machines that attacked Midgar. Since you work in robotics, they should be of [i]some[/i] use to you.”[/color] 

Taking the machine cores and beginning a preliminary examination of them, Doctor Bosconovitch quickly became hyper-focused, tapping them with various tools and looking at one under a magnifying glass, making sure to check as many angles as he could. After a few minutes of looking them over, he nodded to himself and quickly shuffled behind a door secured by a biometric lock and a keypad. 

Moments later, he came out with a small bag of Zenny, pressing it into Zenkichi’s hands. “Seven thousand and five hundred Zenny. Feel free to count it. I trust that you find this fair compensation? They are not unique materials, but from the Machines of Midgar…yes, I am certain I will find a way to make use of them.” Zenkichi gave the bag a quick look, but didn’t bother to count. It was close enough that a couple hundred Zenny wouldn’t matter. He had what he needed for the night, and then a bit more.

[color=BFBFBF]”Thank you.”[/color] He said to bid the doctor farewell, receiving a somewhat dismissive wave. Not taking any offense, Zenkichi left the doctor’s workshop and tapped his pearl again. [color=BFBFBF]”Zenkichi again. Got some cash, I’m headed back to banishing Flats now.”[/color] And with that, he made his way back to the wrestling-themed motel as the sky began to darken and fill with rainclouds.