Imperial Frontier: Intelligence, Opportunity

Flames burned inside a battered gasoline drum, its rust-covered sides riddled with holes. The fire lit up the dim street around it.

Much like the abyssal environment here, the people were deeply unsettling in every possible sense.

Most of them had implants, all of them shoddy pieces of junk with uneven workmanship—cheap transmission shafts that clattered constantly, and rusted mechanical shells covered in all manner of blasphemous designs.

Even those without implants bore all sorts of contemptible blasphemous tattoos. One look at their outfits told you they were not law-abiding, upstanding Imperial citizens.

It had to be said, all criminals, cultists, and heretics were rather honest about it. You could spot them from a long way off, identify them in a millisecond, and then decide whether to shoot.

Vito arrived at the entrance of a bar. On this lightless street deep underground stood a bar.

Its sign was lit by striking purple lights, the violet glow illuminating the dim illusions around it. The darkness was draped in a strange shade of purple, making it seem even more dreamlike and bizarre, as if...

Vito still remembered that purple-skinned girl. That had been quite exciting. How long had it been since he had last seen her? Years? Months? Every time he was with her, Vito felt time itself become confused.

He chuckled, then shrugged, rubbed his neck, and pushed open the doors of the bar bearing the words "Silver Snake Bar" in Low Gothic.

Vito entered the bar. It was very well maintained. Unlike the chaotic, ruined abandoned industrial buildings of the Underhive outside, everything here was kept in immaculate order.

The tables were intact, the floor was clean, and tapestries and decorations hung from the walls. Naturally, the iconic Silver Snake emblem was embedded in the large bar counter.

For an Underhive bar, its condition and decor felt somewhat out of place. But business was booming, and the place was packed.

Most were locals. Without exception, they carried weapons and displayed their identities in the most direct manner possible.

Vito watched them, surveying each person from the corner of his eye. People with Coiled Serpent tattoos, hammer tattoos, and blooming flower tattoos?

He had not guessed wrong. These customers who were openly hostile toward one another were probably members of the three gangs.

How interesting. These Underhive gang members could actually force themselves to sit together—well, at least drink in the same bar—without drawing their guns and shooting each other.

With an amused smile, Vito walked toward the bar counter and the female bartender polishing a glass. She stared down at the glass in her hands.

Long eyelashes, delicate braids hanging beside her face, and some strange mask covering it. Some kind of respirator?

How interesting. The air here did not seem particularly difficult to breathe, at least not for most people who came to the Underhive. Yet she wore a filtration device?

Vito leaned against the counter and looked at the beauty before him with an amused grin. The cold bartender looked back at him, then set a glass in front of him after a moment. "What'll you have?"

Vito smiled and took several Imperial gold coins from his coat. "Something good. No gutter swill, and don't water it down." "Of course."

The bartender took down a bottle of golden-orange liquor from the shelves and poured Vito a full glass.

He raised the glass, inspected it, and nodded in satisfaction. "Gold Pirate? Interesting. This is a liquor that can't be seen in polite Imperial society, but because..."

"Because only pirates and heretics drink it. But it tastes good."

The bartender spoke with her hands on her hips. Vito smiled faintly and took a sip of the golden-orange liquor. Then he placed several more coins on the counter. Among them was something larger: a pendant, a Silver Snake pendant.

The bartender looked at the pendant in silence for a moment before lifting her eyes to Vito. He merely shrugged casually. "Pour yourself a glass. This stuff really is quite good. Also, Antonio asked me to send his regards."

The bartender gave a quiet laugh and expertly poured another glass. She picked it up and took a sip without clinking glasses with Vito. He shrugged helplessly, then took another sip himself.

"What's your relationship with Antonio?" "A business relationship. I helped him take care of something, so now he's helping me take care of something. More accurately, he believes you can help me, Miss Silver Snake."

Silver Snake leaned over the bar, her silver-gray eyes fixed on Vito's. He met her gaze directly, as though opening his mind and allowing her to examine his soul.

After a moment, Miss Silver Snake leaned back and took out another glass from beneath the counter, polishing it. "Go on. I can't promise anything."

Vito turned to look at the crowd behind him. Most of them were loudly talking, using every crude and ill-mannered expression imaginable. But this was the Underhive. What else could you expect?

"Interesting. The members of these three gangs can actually coexist peacefully in your establishment."

"Peacefully coexist? No. This is a neutral bar. No one is allowed to draw blades or guns on my turf, that's all."

"And they listen to you?"

Vito gave her a charming smile and raised his glass to Silver Snake. She shrugged slightly and picked up her glass, examining the crystalline structure within. "This is a place for intelligence and negotiation."

"Vito Constantine. Just call me Vito. No need for 'Mister.' I doubt people here are in the habit of addressing each other that way, are they?"

Silver Snake turned her head and looked at Vito with those extraordinarily captivating eyes before looking away again. "The three Underhive kings have no intention of destroying the only neutral ground, ruining their chances to negotiate and bargain, or obtain intelligence to use against one another."

"Sounds like you sell information to all three sides, Silver Snake." "As long as the terms are right, Vito. Now tell me, how can I help you? I'm guessing you didn't come here just to drink."

"Indeed." Vito took another sip. "Though this really is good liquor, I came for information."

"A few weeks ago, a shuttle crashed on Owen-4. Its survivors then came to Victoria Capital World. Care to tell me where they are?"

Vito wore a smile, while Silver Snake gave him a strange look and returned the glass to the shelf.

"They came to the Underhive. One person." "One? I heard there were six." "Is that strange? This is the Underhive." "Of course not. Please continue."

"They came here. They all bore Coiled Serpent tattoos. People from the Devout Society came to meet them, and then they left with them. If I'm not mistaken, they're still in the Devout Society's hands."

Vito stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Are you sure they were from the Devout Society?" "They didn't look like Underhive people, but yes, I could tell. If you want to find them, you'll have to get them from the Devout Society. I doubt that will be easy."

The young Inquisitor looked at the beautiful woman before him, then smiled. It was not a forced smile. "Then what do you suggest I do?" "Earn their trust. The Devout Society values that greatly, Vito. But I think an opportunity like that—"

Silver Snake stopped. She looked up as several young members of the Devout Society rushed into the bar. They said something quietly, and immediately every Devout Society member in the bar stood up and left. They all looked quite furious.

Vito smiled. "The opportunity has arrived."

Silver Snake looked at Vito with admiration in her eyes. Folding her arms, she gave a slight shrug. "Then good luck, Vito. I've repaid Antonio's favor."

"Don't worry, we'll meet again." Vito drained his drink. Silver Snake looked at him with confusion and suspicion in her eyes. "If you come to me for information again, you'd better bring something valuable, Vito."

He waved a hand and headed for the bar's exit.