Andrew stood at the entrance to Wander Bar, sizing up the Big Frog squatting by the door.
At noon—especially from Monday through friday—the Pedestrian Street saw particularly little foot traffic. Accordingly, even fewer people came to Wander Bar.
The commissioner remembered clearly that when he had still been a student, the frog at Wander Bar's entrance had looked exactly the same: short and fat, lazy, always seeming half-asleep. Though it was an Alchemical Creature, it was exceedingly crafty. If someone slipped it a can of fruit flies, the frog would never hesitate to secretly give the briber a higher-ranked wrist tag.
"Official business. Thank you."
The Trident Sword commissioner greeted it politely and waved his work badge before the frog. Squinting, the frog examined it for a long while. Once it had confirmed that the wizard opposite it, whose build strongly resembled its own, had no further offering to make, it impatiently opened its mouth and spat out a wrist tag covered in fruit fly residue.
Andrew accepted it without concern, slipped it around his wrist, and pushed open the door.
The corridor beyond was no different from his memories: deep and winding. The hall at its end was especially quiet, with no music, colored lights, or waitresses. A few scattered customers huddled in their respective corners, waiting for their own "business." Behind the bar, a Multi-armed People attendant polished glasses that never seemed to get clean, warily watching everyone in the hall.
Noticing the new customer's conspicuous build, several dark figures crouched in the corners swiftly rose and hurried out through the side door. The already quiet hall became utterly empty. They fled so hastily that one customer's robe hem knocked a chair over.
"Good afternoon, Commissioner!"
The Multi-armed People attendant behind the bar spoke in a gruff voice,