Bravehearts Bar

"It feels like ordinary ways of making money won't be nearly enough to cover a Beyonder's expenses..." Young and inexperienced, Alice began to worry about what lay ahead for a Wild Beyonder.

At dusk, Alice stepped into Bravehearts Bar.

The bar had only just opened and had yet to reach its busiest hours, but Alice could already smell the strong scent of malt liquor.

The good news was that, perhaps because there were still few customers, the bar was not particularly lively. Alice caught few strange smells, and the noise was bearable for now—though that did not stop her from frowning in discomfort.

Her air of not belonging there clearly drew attention, and some of the looks directed at her even made her feel sick.

Alice silently reminded herself to change her appearance the next time she came somewhere like this.

Uncomfortable as she was, the bar opened Alice's eyes—especially the Dog-Catching-Mice Competition and the black boxing matches.

Shen Yinghuan's memories could hardly have contained anything like this. At most, she had read similar descriptions in web novels, but words were vastly different from the real thing. If Alice had not remembered the warning, "Use luck sparingly; never squander it," she might have considered making money through gambling.

After all, "Lucky One" sounded like a Sequence suited to gambling. At the time, Alice did not yet know there was another Sequence even better suited to a gambling addict: "Winner."

When she reached the bartender, Alice spoke before he could. "I'm looking for Caspars Canning."

The bartender did not look particularly disappointed at losing a sale; Alice plainly did not look like a bar patron. He studied her for a few seconds, then pointed to the side. "Room 3 Billiards Room."

Alice promptly left the area and walked to the door of Room 3 Billiards Room. She raised her hand and knocked lightly—then the door creaked open.

Two men holding billiard cues stopped and looked at Alice, who stood in the doorway with her hand still raised.

Alice abandoned her next knock and lowered her hand. She recalled how she felt whenever she recovered her memories and shifted into a state of mind in which she seemed to be watching someone else act. It helped her expression remain calm. She knew she could not become someone who concealed every emotion in a short time, so she had decided to keep them from showing too clearly this way.

Only in front of strangers, of course.

To her surprise, Alice slipped into the state she wanted with ease. She heard herself say calmly, "I'm looking for Caspars Canning. Old Man sent me."

The advantage of a place like this was that no one asked where you came from. Neither man reacted strangely to Alice's appearance. The older man in a linen shirt gave her a once-over and said, "Come in."

Alice guessed he was Caspars Canning.

A huge, ragged scar ran down Caspars's face from the corner of his right eye to the right side of his mouth. His nose was a classic drinker's nose, almost entirely red.

After what had happened with Megose, such a face did little to shock Alice. Besides, she was still in that peculiar state. Everything before her felt like an immersive film she was watching.

Alice stepped into the room with a calm expression. The other man left as though it were routine and shut the door behind him.

Caspars limped around to her and asked, "What do you want?"

"A specially made, high-powered revolver and fifty bullets," Alice heard herself answer calmly.

"Three pounds and ten soli," Caspars quoted. "That's more than you'd pay at a licensed weapons shop. It covers the costs I bear."

Alice took out four one-pound notes and handed them over.

Caspars gave her several surprised looks. After checking the notes, he said, "I don't often have ladies come looking for me."

"I didn't come here to chat." Certain she had her feelings under control, Alice let go of the state she had entered.

"Give me five minutes." Caspars set the notes on the billiard table, propped up his cue, and limped out of the room.

Alice looked at the billiard table, both familiar and strange to her. Familiar because billiards existed on Earth; strange because Shen Yinghuan had never played it.

Alice guessed Roselle had brought it over, just as he had playing cards. But she no longer felt the way she had when she discovered playing cards in Tingen City. For some reason, a faint sadness came over her.

"Like a traveler who can't go home, desperately searching for familiar traces in a foreign land..." she told herself in Chinese.

Alice suddenly wanted to make herself a pair of chopsticks. Why not make Chinese food, too? The answer was obvious: she could not cook.

While she was thinking, Caspars returned with a package and two five-soli notes.

Alice opened the brown-paper package and found a beautiful silver-white revolver and fifty neatly arranged bullets inside.

After trying the unloaded revolver, Alice deftly loaded it and slipped it into her holster. Then she looked at Caspars and asked, "Where should I go if I want to find gatherings held by people with special abilities?"

Caspars's gaze turned icy at once.

"So you do know." Alice smiled. "You should know I mean no harm. Otherwise, I could simply interrogate you. You're clearly not one of them."

"And I clearly don't have the authority to decide that," Caspars replied evenly.

"Ask for me." Alice dropped her smile and hardened her expression. On her current face, it was far more intimidating than it would once have been.

Caspars was silent for a moment before saying, "You're in luck. Someone happens to be here tonight. I can take you over to meet them, but I can't guarantee they'll agree."

"Do I need to pay you for that?" Alice asked.

Once he was sure Alice genuinely intended to pay, Caspars answered, "Two pounds."

Alice took out two more one-pound notes and handed them to him.

Caspars produced an iron mask that covered only the upper half of the face and gave it to Alice.

She put it on. Then, under Caspars's astonished gaze, she changed her brown hair and blue eyes to black hair and brown eyes. The line of her jaw grew rounder as well.

Why do you all seem even more certain than Alice that Little Snake approached her to invest in her from the start...

Little Snake has been a Sequence 1 for years, after all. Little Klein belongs to a different Pathway, but Alice is on the same one. Wouldn't investing in her outright be the strange choice?

I mean, Little Snake fought Ouroboros for so long without admitting defeat. Alice isn't even doing as well as Ouroboros right now, so why would he back her...?

There are other reasons, but explaining them would be a spoiler...

My story goes up for a recommendation tomorrow, so please show it some support! (holds out hand)