Moscow

Early autumn in Moscow was colder than Henry had imagined. Even with the daytime sun shining directly on him, there was still a lingering chill.

Local young people also wear thick clothes to keep warm during this season. Not everyone is tough enough to go shirtless and rely on vodka to keep warm.

The street scenes were certainly not as colorful and vibrant as Henry had imagined, unlike the United States. It must be said that the United States in the 1990s was at its most spirited and vigorous.

The atmosphere of the old era had not been swept away as imagined; the seriousness and restraint under the Iron Curtain still permeated everyone's mood. Clearly, embracing capitalism had not truly led the people of this land toward a better life.

Since his hair and beard were long and unkempt, and he lacked the means to cut or shave, Henry simply changed his hair color with dye. A cool-toned gray-chestnut, and after slightly adjusting his face shape, he became a very typical Slavic face.

He then used makeup to darken the color of his eye sockets and put on a tattered coat, making Henry look exactly like an unemployed young man from the countryside who had come to the city in this era.

He picked up bad habits again. Maybe it was alcoholism, or something even worse. Sooner or later, he'd be a pathetic figure lying on the street, dead.

Despite the deteriorating social environment caused by foreign capital, which triggered the Ruble Crisis this year, it's undeniable that some places still maintain an atmosphere of extravagance and decadence, and those living there do indeed squander their wealth.

For example, the Continental Hotel in Moscow.

Unlike the tranquil atmosphere of Continental Hotel in Los Angeles or New York, Moscow's hotels are quite extravagant, with waitresses dressed as bunny girls weaving through crowds and corridors everywhere.

The lobby was also decorated in a lavish style, filled with extravagant sculptures and paintings. The chairs at the counter and in the lounge area looked like antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries, from the Tsarist Russia era.

Those who didn't know better might think they had walked into a museum or art gallery, or even come to the romantic city of Paris; otherwise, they wouldn't have seen such an exaggerated scene.

It can be said that, regardless of the social atmosphere, Continental Hotel often present a completely different image, allowing those inside to experience a different ambiance. This contrast helps to change one's mood, which is quite important for assassins.

After all, few people who trade human lives are normal; they all have some inexplicable quirks.

In their external environment, they have to suppress their own existence in order to better complete their missions. The Continental Hotel is the place where they can release all of that tension, which is why an opposite environment is needed to help them.

Who can relax in a place that feels like work?

The hotel's service is, of course, impeccable; it's a five-star hotel, and there's no issue of the hotel abusing its size. Unless someone breaks the rules; once things turn sour, it's not just a matter of being handed over to the police, it can usually be fatal.

Henry walked in, and to be honest, his appearance was completely out of place in the hotel atmosphere. Even the page who opened the door seemed to struggle for a moment with the thought of politely refusing entry to the outsider.

However, refusing guests is not the waiter's job. That's the job of the hotel concierge; they are the professionals who screen and evaluate guests.

The receptionist at the Moscow Continental Hotel was a mature beauty, and possibly a psychopathic Mutants. At least, anyone who came into her presence was immediately drawn to her red lips, forgetting who they were seeing and what they wanted to do.

The female concierge spoke in a deep, magnetic voice, not exactly melodious, but still quite captivating. She spoke slowly and deliberately in Russian, "Hello, sir. I regret to inform you that our hotel is a members-only establishment. We regret that we do not accommodate outside guests."

A hotel Gold Coin was gently tapped on the counter. Although the sound was very soft, it caught the attention of the female concierge.

The Gold Coin was pushed out.

She moved her finger away. A single glance was enough for these seasoned professionals to identify the hotel's Gold Coin. The concierge maintained her usual polite, business-like smile—neither annoying nor rude. "How can we help you, sir?"

Henry, speaking in Russian as well, said simply, "Intelligence, weapons."

"Please follow me." The female concierge, who had accepted the Gold Coin, led the way. Her empty seat at the counter was immediately filled by another person.

The two arrived at a top-notch salon. Although it was an open space, the dim lighting and the towering, wall-like circular sofa backs divided it into sections.

The music playing was meant to soothe nerves and calm the mind, but the volume was a bit too loud. It allowed people in each area to hear each other clearly, but trying to hear what was happening next door was a problem.

Many men and women here weren't asking for information, but rather engaging in flirtatious activities in the circular sofa area. Both the sounds and the peculiar scents were stimulating the Kryptonian ' senses.

The female concierge, who first seated the guest, stood at the only entrance to the sofa area and asked, "Sir, would you like coffee? Red wine? Vodka? Or a cocktail?"

"Vodka." This wasn't Henry's choice because he wanted to get drunk; it was just the most common option here.

"Please wait."

A moment later, the female concierge brought in a bottle of vodka and an empty glass, and sat down opposite Henry.

The vodka bottle was unscrewed only in front of the guest. After the female concierge personally poured him a glass, she said, "Sir, the drink is a complimentary item. However, other services for the newlyweds are at a charge. Is that acceptable?"

This is true even in Los Angeles.

Hotel Gold Coin are just a starting point; you can obtain them from the hotel for free within a certain range. But beyond that range, there will be other charges.

This is why when Henry went to the Continental Hotel in Los Angeles to chat with old Charlie, the latter would often stop talking after a few words. Because if they continued, it would cost extra money.

What If...? you want more specific information, with detailed information, then there's a price to pay. You can pay with Gold Coin or real currency.

However, the scope of services offered by Gold Coin often depends on the individual's discretion. Some people have a lot of influence, and a single Gold Coin can get them a lot of things done. These extra services can also be seen as an "investment" by Continental Hotel in this particular person.

For newcomers like Henry, even with Gold Coin paving the way, the hotel, unaware of his background, wouldn't make much additional investment. The intelligence and weapons they provide would be rather basic.

Additional fees are required for more specific and detailed intelligence, or for more powerful and sophisticated weapons.

So Henry naturally didn't object to the female concierge's suggestion. He took out a stack of hundred-dollar bills sealed with a bank seal from his small bag and placed them directly in front of the concierge. He then picked up a full glass of vodka and downed it in one gulp.

Do you accept this?

He picked up the US dollar bills and swiped them with his fingertip to confirm that they were all of the same denomination. The female concierge looked satisfied and said in English, "This is much stronger than the ruble."