"I, I didn't do anything." Facing the questioning of the long-haired man, the big man hurriedly answered, then quickly forced a smile, "Sir, our boss is Don Corneo; he knows quite a few higher-ups in Shinra Company, maybe you and our boss know each other too..."
"I don't know any Corneo." The long-haired man interrupted his words, his handso face full of a smiling expression. Then he lifted his finger slightly and said, "This is just a warning, understand?"
The burly man looked at the long-haired man sowhat not understanding why. Then he saw the Shinra soldiers behind the long-haired man surrounding them.
"Break their legs. At least within a month, I don't want to see them on the street." The long-haired man turned around and said while walking away.
"Don't worry, Director, we will treat them well." A young man with red hair took out a baton, said smilingly, and then kicked the burly man over, swinging the baton and smashing it down.
Listening to the screams sounding behind him, the long-haired man looked toward the direction where the bus left. A trace of complicated expression flashed across his face. Then he said to the burly man in a suit and sunglasses who followed beside him, "Go investigate that person. I want all his information."
"Yes, Director." The burly man nodded his head vigorously.
———
More than half an hour later, the bus entered Sector Seven.
After arriving at this district, Marlene obviously beca much more excited, continuously introducing things here to Aiden.
"In that street inside, there's a candy store. The lollipops inside are especially delicious, but my dad never lets eat too much."
"Uncle, look quickly, there lives an aunt who is especially nice."
"And here, Uncle, that bar is opened by a particularly good big sister."
Seeing the fleeting "Seventh Heaven" sign, a smile surfaced on Aiden's face. Although he quickly returned to normal, it was still noticed by Aerith, who was occasionally peeking at him with the corner of her eye.
Aerith thoughtfully glanced at him, then pouted and continued playing with Marlene in her arms.
Very soon, the bus arrived at the Sector Seven station.
The three of them got off the bus, and under Marlene's guidance, they headed toward her ho.
Marlene's ho wasn't very far; after walking for a bit, they arrived. Seeing the familiar building, Marlene excitedly shouted and ran to knock on the door.
After a series of urgent knocking, there was no movent inside the house. VThis made Marlene anxious, and she knocked on the door even harder.
"Marlene, you've been missing for so many days.
Do you think your dad would obediently stay at ho waiting for you to co back?" Aiden dug his ear with his finger and said with a frown, "He probably went out to look for you."
"Then what do we do now?" Aerith frowned and asked.
"There are two choices. One, we wait here for her dad to co back, but that would at least take a whole day." Aiden raised one finger.
"Although I don't mind waiting a whole day for Marlene,
I would like to hear the second choice,"
Aerith said helplessly.
"The second choice..." Aiden squatted down in front of Marlene and asked, "Is there soone you trust the most here?"
"Of course there is." Marlene answered without hesitation, "We can go find Sister Tifa, she's in that bar we just passed by."
"Alright then, take us to that bar." Hearing that familiar na, Aiden smiled and patted Marlene's head.
Marlene nodded, turned around, and walked toward the bar. Not long after, they once again saw the bar's signboard.
"Seventh Heaven," Aerith looked at the sign and softly humd, then followed Marlene inside.
As a bar opened in Sector Seven, Seventh Heaven wasn't as lively as the bars in Midgar's upper sectors. When Aiden and Aerith entered, what greeted their ears was soft music.
"Welco to Seventh Heaven." Seeing soone enter, a beautiful woman with red pupils and black hair standing in front of the counter slightly leaned forward.
But soon, she froze in place. Then she scread in surprise, "Oh my God, Marlene, you're back!"
She then supported herself with one hand and jumped over the counter, hurriedly rushing forward to hug Marlene.
"Thank goodness you're back safely." The black-haired woman tightly pressed Marlene into her chest.
"Don't be like that, Sister Tifa, I'm almost suffocating." Marlene cried out for help, "Uncle, Sister Aerith, save ."
Only then did the black-haired woman realize there were two more people watching nearby. She hurriedly let go of Marlene, stood up, and said a bit embarrassedly, "Sorry, seeing Marlene back safely, I lost my composure a bit."
"That's normal, just human nature." Aiden said with a smile.
"Uncle, Sister Aerith, this is Sister Tifa." At this ti, Marlene, who had finally caught her breath, pulled Aiden's and Aerith's hands to introduce them to the black-haired beauty, "They are the ones who brought back."
"Hello, I'm Tifa Lockhart." The black-haired beauty placed her hands together in front of her abdon and slightly bowed to the two, "Thank you very much for bringing Marlene back."
"It was just a small favor." Aiden shook his head, then pointed to himself and then to Aerith, "I'm Aiden, and she's Aerith."
After listening, Tifa again slightly bowed, "Nice to et you both."
"We're happy too," Aerith sized up Tifa, her gaze pausing briefly at Tifa's chest before nodding.
"Ah, I almost forgot, please have a seat, I'll get you sothing to drink," Tifa, not noticing Aerith's gaze, after her excitent, rembered to entertain them.
Returning to the counter, Tifa first poured a glass of juice for Marlene, then asked, "What would you like to drink?"
Aiden looked at the wine cabinet behind Tifa but didn't imdiately answer. Instead, Aerith hesitated, looked at the wine on the shelves, then at Marlene's juice, and sighed, "Better have juice too."
Thus Tifa poured her a glass of juice as well, and then looked at Aiden, "And you?"
"Anything is fine, just as long as it's not juice." Most of the wine in the cabinet Aiden didn't recognize, so after thinking, he simply left the choice to Tifa.
"Then... I'll mix a drink for you," Tifa said, pulling out the bartending tools.
After a dazzling display of skill, Tifa placed a glass of pink-colored liquor in front of Aiden.
"House specialty, teorfall Canyon, please enjoy," Tifa leaned against the counter, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Aiden picked up the glass and, through the pink liquid, could see Tifa's expectant expression.
"Very beautiful," Aiden praised. It wasn't clear whether he was praising the drink or the person. Then he took a large gulp.
"How does it taste?" Tifa asked.
"Very good," Aiden exhaled deeply and nodded.
"Is that so? Give one too," At the side, Aerith finished her juice and handed her empty cup to Tifa.
"Aerith, can you drink?" Aiden took another sip of teorfall Canyon and glanced at her.
"No," Aerith answered honestly. She knew a lot of things, but drinking definitely wasn't among them.
"Then don't waste it. Miss Tifa, another glass for ," Aiden finished the remaining liquor in one gulp and pushed the glass toward Tifa.
"Just call Tifa, no need to be so formal," Tifa nodded and started mixing another drink.
Hearing Aiden's words and seeing Tifa continue mixing a drink for him, Aerith grumbled unhappily, "Can you make a little more? I want to try so too."
"Of course, Aerith," Tifa readily agreed. To her, the more people liked her cocktails, the more it proved her skill.
Soon, two glasses of teorfall Canyon were placed in front of them.
Aiden picked up his drink and took a big gulp.
He had to admit, it tasted excellent, far better than tequila or brandy.
Aerith picked up her glass but hesitated. After experiencing so many things, this was her first ti drinking alcohol.
"You better keep drinking juice, Aerith, give your drink," Aiden said, reaching for her glass.
But Aerith suddenly tilted the glass and gulped it down in one breath.
"The taste isn't bad, not as bad as people say," Aerith exhaled deeply, very satisfied with the hint of sweetness.
"I'll have another one." Aerith raised her cup.
"I want one too, I want one too!" Beside them, Marlene, who was drinking juice, raised her hand and shouted.
"Marlene, no way, you're still too young. At least wait until you grow up," Tifa pinched Marlene's cheek and then started mixing another drink for Aerith.
While waiting, Aerith slumped onto the counter, tilted her head, and looked at Aiden with a dazed gaze.
Then that dazed look gradually turned into shock and surprise. At last, her eyes only showed fear toward the future.
"Why did it suddenly beco like this?" Aerith muttered to herself in a voice only she could hear, "Where did it all go wrong?"
"What's wrong with you?" Seeing Aerith staring at him with such a complicated look, opening her mouth but saying nothing, Aiden curiously asked, "Are you drunk already?"
"Not at all," Aerith propped herself up, pushed away the thoughts in her mind, and then glared at Aiden.
Just then, Tifa placed the newly mixed drink in front of Aerith, who imdiately picked it up and again drank it all at once.
"Slow down, this isn't water," Aiden tried to stop her but it was already too late. So he frowned, "What's with you? Why are you acting like this suddenly?"
"Nothing," Aerith shook her head hard, then turned away from Aiden and faced Marlene, poking her cheeks with a squint.
'So strange, is it that ti of the month?' Aiden couldn't figure out Aerith's behavior and could only bla it on her period.
"Want another drink?" Seeing Aiden's confused face, Tifa kindly asked.
"No need to trouble you, just anything is fine," Bartending was a skill, and Aiden was embarrassed to keep making Tifa mix drinks.
"It's no trouble," Tifa smiled slightly and picked up the bartending tools again.
But while Tifa was pouring drinks for Aiden, the bar's door was pushed open from the outside, and a man and a woman walked in.
The man was a huge guy, his muscles bulging and stretching his clothes tight. Just by his appearance, it was obvious he was a powerhouse. More importantly, his right hand was a chanical arm that shimred with a tallic light.
The girl was a beautiful young woman with a red scarf tied around her forehead, her ponytail tied with red cloth making her look especially youthful and lively.
"Barret, Jessie, look who's back!"
Seeing them, Tifa put down her bartending tools and waved excitedly.
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