Interstellar Bar

Richard rose, ready to leave the bar, but someone called out to him again.

This time, it was the owner behind the counter.

"Wait, hold on," the old alien said. "That girl you said you were looking for? I think I remember her... I may really have seen her."

Richard raised an eyebrow.

He turned and returned to the bar. "Are you sure?"

"She had a huge guy who looked like a barbarian following behind her, and another guy who was covered in flames, right? Those two looked like her subordinates."

That did sound like Tyrant and Firelord. Maybe this owner really wasn't just making things up?

"If you saw them yourself, then it should be right." Richard sat back down. "Where did they go? Or did they say anything? Anything you overheard will do."

As he said this, Richard suddenly remembered what this bar owner was like. He guessed the information probably wouldn't come free and that he would have to show some goodwill. After thinking for a moment, he reached for his money again.

He was loaded now, after all. Galacta had given him more currency than he could spend. If a problem could be solved with money, that saved him the trouble.

But unexpectedly, the owner refused righteously this time.

"Don't judge me by appearances, sir. I'm an honest businessman," he said. "If I can help you, I'd be very happy to do so. No additional payment is necessary."

Richard looked at him strangely.

That wasn't your attitude when I first walked in. How did you suddenly change so much in just a few minutes?

Still, since the man did not want it, Richard was not going to force him. "But you just said with certainty that you hadn't seen her?"

The owner smiled. "As you know,