Led by the tall and lanky manager, Yuri and I, along with Landis in tow, made our way to the rear of the clubhouse. Landis glanced around nervously. I wondered if he’d come to Salvatore straight from the mine after work. He was still wearing his dark green work uniform. He was of average height and build, but didn’t really fit the miner image. He just looked like a typical middle-aged man.
“I wonder how the bout will turn out…,” thought Landis out loud. After all that, this guy was most worried about his wrestling bet.
“Without a ring, there is no match. We have already begun sending everyone home,” the manager responded.
“But will it be ready by next week?”
Hearing that matches couldn’t continue sent Landis into a panic.
“Of course, we’ll be up and ready by then.”
“Really…”
Landis let out a sigh of relief. These were the symptoms of a serious gambling addiction.
We walked down a dim corridor for what seemed like forever, then went up in an oversized elevator before reaching what must have been the owner’s office door. It looked like a very expensive door. It was wood with fancy solid gold patterns inlaid.
As the manager stood in front of the door, it opened on its own.
The manager gave a reverent bow.
“I have brought you your guests.”
He stepped aside and gestured for us to come in.
I went in first, followed by Yuri, and then Landis.
Poor guy. He looked a little overwhelmed by the gaudiness and scale of this place. The manager did not follow us in.
“Well, I’ll be…”
Entering we soon saw the owner had stood up from his chair to greet us with arms outspread. He had a unique body type. He was almost as wide as he was tall. And I am not saying that he was short. I am saying that his waist, or his width, or his diameter was staggering. His triple-chin was a real sight to behold.
“More beautiful than the rumors I hear.”
Coming out from behind his desk, he put his hand out for a handshake. It took a few moments to return the handshake. The reason was that the room was so gigantic. Despite that, it held only his desk and chair. It reminded me of the chief’s office. Same amount of furniture, but this room was easily ten times as large.
After walking over to the desk, Yuri and I each shook Telestofarnus’ hand. For some reason he ignored Landis. Landis hung back behind us sheepishly, not getting near the owner. He stopped about halfway between the door and the desk, his shoulders slumped down.
“First of all, please take a seat and relax.”
A part of the floor rose up and became a sofa. A very fancy sofa, with a sideboard attached. In the sideboard were bottles of different kinds of alcohol. It was a portable bar.
Yuri and I plunked down on the sofa. For whatever reason, Landis kept his distance. To the Salvatore owner, the customer was his livelihood, and Landis should take advantage, but still, Landis remained reserved.
“Now, what can I pour for you?” asked Telestofarnus. Telestofarnus didn’t acknowledge Landis’ presence at all.
I ordered a sloe gin fizz and Yuri had a glass of rose wine. Telestofarnus poured himself a straight scotch. Landis got the cold shoulder.
We lightly clinked our glasses in a toast. The sofa Yuri and I sat on was plenty big for the two of us, but I bet it might not be big enough for Telestofarnus’ rear, even if he sat on it alone.
“All right, then…,” Telestofarnus said with a formal tone, and set his glass down. “I am hoping you can answer a couple of questions for me. What are WWWA Crime TCs doing on a remote mining planet? There haven’t been any major incidents here. But still, the Dirty Pair arrive and proceed to torch my wrestling ring. I would just like to know why.”
“You are mistaken on one point,” I answered.
“What are you talking about?”
“That the WWWA only respond to major incidents. Just because this is a remote and peaceful town doesn’t mean that nothing happens.”
I talked to Telestofarnus about the Landis incident. I also didn’t hide the fact that it was the mayor who’d made the request. It didn’t really matter, but I didn’t forget to let him know how handsome and capable Jeff was.
“Invisible jaws, you say…”
Telestofarnus pondered the concept as he stroked his thick eyebrows.
“Hey, what’s-your-name! Landis! Did you really get hurt that bad?” Telestofarnus suddenly turned toward the hunched over miner and asked rather directly.
“No, sir. It was nothing at all. It was just a little scratch, that’s all.” Little by little Landis’ head shook from side to side.
“Maybe so, but you have been shooting your mouth off about this little scratch to whoever will listen, huh?” Telestofarnus retorted sharply. His beady eyes narrowed and glared at the miner coldly. Landis’ face went pale.
“May I butt in?” I said, cutting into the two men’s conversation. I couldn’t let it go on like this.
“Mr. Telestofarnus, you are the nightclub’s owner, correct? And isn’t Mr. Landis a customer of yours? How can you talk to him in such a condescending manner? I find it more than a little hard to listen to. Why don’t you show some manners?”
“A customer? Landis…?”
The expression on Telestofarnus’ face changed. He looked bewildered.
“Did you two really come here without knowing a damn thing?” he asked wearily.
“Without knowing what?”
Now it was my turn to be bewildered.
“They call me the owner, but not because I am the owner of this nightclub,” Telestofarnus said dryly.
“Meaning…”
“Meaning I own all the ore on Chakra.”
Kyaa!
I screamed out inside my head. So… So then, when they say “owner”… They mean the owner of all the mines!