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It clicks. No fucking shit, of course the big building with a literal red carpet would be where they held them. You call your drone back over. Maruyama and Gregory approach you and Kiara as soon as you do so.
"You owe me." Maruyama seems even more exhausted than he normally does. <<span class="mu-b">"If I had to hear about his granddaughter's dating life again...I don't CARE that she's dating some naive nerd."</span>> "Tell them, sir."
"Our dear mutual friend had a long conversation and he's right. You should know a bit more. It would be foolish to ask you three to go in blind, especially since I am of no help to assist you." Gregory flashes a smile that rubs you the wrong way. It looks crooked, you think? "I am here for...personal reasons. Reasons you do not need to know the details of." The smile vanishes immediately.
"Due to said personal reasons, I'm looking for buildings that once held the pizzazz of this place! The sparkle, the shine, life! Age has long since washed away most evidence of their beauty!" You can't really deny that. All of the buildings besides the one you just saw look the fucking same at this point. "But I knew this place once. They have their signs."
"Well, cut to the chase. We don't need a long lecture. We're here to do a job." You tap your foot on the ground. The old man deflates a bit but he nods in understanding.
"Don't bother with any buildings with boarded up windows. Those weren't any good, even before the accident. Same with any buildings missing a front door." Some actual information, good! "There is one exception. To the north, there was an old studio that used to make a lot of the old classics. Look for the sign of a crocodile. You'll know it when you see it."
That would be a decent place to start. Could even be some old equipment you could steal to help in your mission. "Is there any buildings you would say are a good place to start beyond that?"
"Mmh. I doubt it would have much value to your mission but I do recall an old apartment block to the west. There might be some old items I still have sentimentalities with there. If you could, I would like you to bring them back to me."
You nod your head. "Alright. That's good enough for now. Thank you." Before you leave to check out the buildings, you ask him a question. "Uh, you seemed to recognize my name? What's the deal there?"
Gregory tilts his head in confusion before a faint light of recognition flickers in his eye. "Oh, it was nothing. My granddaughter was complaining about losing a game. You probably just share the same name."
<span class="mu-r">Otherwise, I would've killed you for humiliating her."</span> The sheer lack of malice in his tone almost makes what he said WORSE. "Her mood perked up anyways. It is a waste of time to find whoever did it now."
"R-right." You nod your head. You quickly gesture at your allies to follow you to make distance with the weird rich coot. They are more than willing to follow along after what he said.
"See you soon!" He waves you goodbye.
