Legendary Detective at the World's End (Volume 1)

Legendary Detective at the World’s End

By

Kaye Wagner

Text copyright © November 2013, Kaye Wagner

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission from the author.

Contents

Story One: A Tale with Two Endings

Story Two: A Day is a Lifetime

Story Three: An Empire and Its DJ

Author notes

     When all legends were to be broken, many endured in the bustling city of Teigen. However, one myth grew beyond all others. It was the tale of the legendary detective—the myth of a skilled investigator keeping his watchful eyes on the streets and attentive ears open to the idle chatter of the crowd, always gathering information on his environment as he analyzed and solved the impossible riddles created from a world forever changing.

     It was this simple attention to detail that had kept the boyish detective Kirin strong. Dressed in a dull black trench coat, he leisurely stood on a walking bridge above the bustling market square, perusing through the many nameless faces in the crowd as they went on with their day trading and selling goods as if all was right with the world. Looking at the blurred masses, one face stood out for a brief moment. A young man dressed in the plaid shirt and jeans of a street hustler making bargains with an elderly vendor. 

   “A thread?” Kirin said raising an eyebrow on his baby face.

     Watching closely as the young man ended his negotiations with a joke and a laugh before departing, Kirin pushed himself away from the guardrail and into the passing crowd on the bridge. There, he took solemn, yet wide steps down its concrete paths, turned and stepped downward its stairs until he reached the crowded sidewalks. Sifting through the quickened footsteps of the people around him—he began to stalk the unaware young man down the streets. With his eyes locked on to his every movement, Kirin followed at a distance the young man as he moved from the top of his daily routine down to its last task. Kirin watched as the young man made deliveries to the butcher and herbal shops in the market, he listened in on his loud and crude negotiations with an artisan for tables and chairs in the Downtown Sector, and he stalked him as he gleefully cut through an alleyway and snuck into the Red-light Sector, a place where the Ladies of the Night lay in waiting for the men of the evening.

     Slipping through a crack in the wall, Kirin followed him. Exiting the small space, his eyes widened as the clenched fist of the young man he was chasing pressed against the heavy threads of his trench coat and clutched onto his collar.

   “What are you doing, brat?!” the young man shouted as he pushed Kirin against the wall. “I don’t know who you work for or what game you’re playing, but I’m not buying it.”

   “Take it easy.” Kirin said poking a vein on the wrist of the young man, immediately causing him to pull his hand back in pain.

    “What is that?” the young man said holding his wrist in pain.

   “Pressure points. Every part of the human body has them, and I see you’ve reached your own.” He said fixing his clothes. “How did you know I was following you?”

   “Easy,” he said with an overconfident grin on his face. “Everyone in the Market Sector was asking me who’s that little boy… or girl following you across the Sector. Yeah,” he nodded. “After hearing that a few times, you start looking from the corner of your eyes.” He chuckled as he focused his eyes on Kirin’s baby face, slender frame, and short stature. He then sighed heavily. “Listen kid—tell those loan sharks that I’ve paid all my debts. And another thing,” he said looking at Kirin unimpressed. “Tell them to get some men to keep an eye on me, not a little boy. Am I not that threatening to the Sharks at the Gambling Den?”

   “Apparently not.” Kirin nodded his head. “They didn’t even bother to give me a name.”

   “Seriously?” the young man shook his head in frustration. “Wow, the Sharks have been getting careless ever since the boom in tourism from outside came. I guess they’re too busy to keep an eye on their lower level customers. Haha.” He chuckled before lifting his head up and extending his hand. “By the way, my name is Jake. What’s yours?”

   “Kirin.” He replied not extending his hand. “Sorry, never been a fan of shaking hands.”

   “Well, Rin,” Jake said lowering his hand as he chuckled. “You better get used to being friendly around these parts—it’s the only way you get ahead around here.”

   “Exactly…” A shaking elderly man’s voice said leaping over the shoulder of Jake. Kirin and Jake both looked over towards the back end of a fancifully decorated building. Standing nearing a back door was a grizzled old man holding a package.

   “You boys, are you looking to earn some extra coin?” he said pulling out two gold pieces.

     Jake’s eyes lit up at the sight of them. “I’m always looking for new opportunities my good friend.” he said walking over to the old man with a beaming smile on his face.

   “What’s the catch, old man?” Kirin said unconvinced.

   “Hey, don’t be rude to my friend.” Jake replied.

   “Don’t worry,” the old man said. “That boy is quick, and he’s right, you can’t get something without giving something in return. But I promise, what I ask of you is just a little favor for a poor man wanting to give a gift to his daughter.”

   “Daughter?” Kirin asked.

   “Yes… She… she is a courtesan in this house. I haven’t seen her in ages, but I want to give her this package.” He said raising a brown box with a faded white lily painted on its side. “It’s something belonging to her mother.” He continued. “She wanted me to give her this after her death. Unfortunately, family cannot see a courtesan in the Red-light Sector. So I ask you young boys, would you mind going up there and giving this to her?”

   “Sure.” Jake said. “It’s always a pleasure to link families together.”

     Kirin laughed under his breath briefly. “You sure this is something you want us ‘youngsters’ doing for you? After all, it is a brothel you’re asking us to go into.”

   “I know…” The old man nodded. “That’s why I’m paying you young boys so well.”

     Kirin nodded his head as he walked over to the old man with a cocky smile on his face. “As long as you pay upfront, I don’t mind.”

   “Thank you.” The old man said handing Jake and Kirin each a gold coin.

   “Hah!” Jake said letting a gasp of joy escape his lungs. “Looks like my luck is turning. You know,” he said looking over to Kirin. “You might be my good luck charm. Hey, you mind going to gambling den with me later, I think your luck might carry me to a jackpot winnings.”

   “Maybe.” Kirin said holding the coin between his fingers as he analyzed its engravings.

   “Don’t worry,” Jake nudged Kirin on the shoulder. “I was just joking.”

   “Here.” The old man said handing a box to Jake. “I’ve already had a maid servant open the back door for me. Just make your way inside and go straight up the stairs until you reach the second floor. She should be in the far end of the room, the door should be slightly open.”

   “Don’t worry old man.” Jake said wrapping his arm around the grizzled man. “We got this.”

   “Thank you.” The grizzled man said clasping his shaking hands as Jake waltzed right into the open door beside him. Kirin soon followed, but kept a keen eye on the weary old man until he fully entered the building.

     Walking inside between the white and silver walls of a steamy kitchen, Jake took long wide steps through the spacious cooking area that had the activity of a popular restaurant. Moving through the hectic sounds of clanging plates and shouting cooks as they mixed and sprinkled in herbs into their pots, Jake sniffed the aroma floating around him with glee as he shimmied his way to a counter filled with baked chicken and pasta.

   “Whoa!” Jake smiled as he nibbled on a piece of meat he nipped from the table. “Now this is paradise. I’ve heard the Courtesan houses in the Red-light Sector had the best restaurants, but no one told me the food here would taste this good.”

     Kirin shook his head at Jake’s distracted banter as he walked ahead towards the exit and into the next room. Noticing Kirin walking ahead, Jake quickly pulled himself away from the abundant meals surrounding him and gripped the box underneath his armpit as he ran to catch up with him. Making his way out the door and into the rose-colored hallway, Jake looked around at the beautiful fixtures of the building. With its dim lights, animal skin carpets, and sculptured works of women doing awkward poses, Jake was enthralled, but ever more annoyed by the hurried steps of his new friend. Catching up with Kirin as he ascended the first few sets of stairs, Jake tapped his shoulder.

   “Wait up.” he said grabbing Kirin by the coat. “No need to rush, we should enjoy any opportunity to eat food that high in quality.”

   “Hmm…” Kirin hummed as he ignored him and continued upwards, moving onto the second floor.

     Jake, unnerved by his unfriendliness, charged forward and passed him as they reached the final floor of the house.

   “Hey,” Jake said standing in front of Kirin, stopping him in his tracks. “You know you could thank me for bringing you here. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have the duty of following me tonight.” He said giving him a cocky smile. “That gold coin is probably what you make in three months of work as a scout for the Sharks, right?”

   “And no doubt that’s how much you would lose to them in a minute in a quick game of cards.”

     Jake furrowed his brow in anger before showing a reluctant smile. “Hehehe, you’re kind of right though.” he laughed. “But with some of these poker games, it’s like you’re living a whole life in one minute, so many ups and downs in the game. Losing a little coin might be worth the feeling for some, don’t you think?”

   “Rather bleak outlook on life. I say no need to rush. Do what you can with what you have now.”

   “I know, I know.” Jake said scratching his nose. “I was just talking about a friend. Contrary from what you heard from the Sharks, gambling was just a onetime deal gone wrong for me.”

   “Right…” Kirin said with doubt, stepping by Jake as he headed down a narrow corridor filled with closed doors painted in the color of white lilies against the backdrop of a rose-colored corridor.

   “Lilies they are not.” Jake said as he looked across the doors smelling a chocolate aroma floating in the air. “Whoa, when I make it big in this city, the first thing I’m gonna do is come back here for a trip and take a lily, maybe two.” He said rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Reaching the head door the old man had instructed them to get to—Jake stepped forward and knocked on it lightly. “Hello.” He said as the door slightly opened with the pressing of his clench fist against its wooden frame.

   “Huh?” Jake said surprised. “Is it supposed to be open?”

   “Yeah.” Kirin nodded. “You would know that if you actually listened to the old man rather than stare with adoration at the gold coin he gave you.”

   “Well, excuse me for being excited at a bit of luck.”

   “Not too sure you can call it that yet.” Kirin said brushing the tips of his hair with his fingers.

   “Wow, forever pessimistic, aren’t you? You really need a few laughs.” Jake then snapped his fingers. “How about we go to a dance hall after this, I’ll show you around, maybe get you close to a few willing girls.” He said nudging him on the shoulder with a grin on his face.

   “…” Kirin stared at him blankly before heading for the door, but as he neared, Jake kicked the stump on the floor holding the door open and entered in as if he triumphed over him.

   “First.” He said triumphantly holding the top edge of the door for Kirin.  Kirin let his eyes peruse the outer frames of the door for a moment before walking under the arm of Jake.

   “Wow, you’re really short.” Jake said as he let go of the door. “How old are you?”

   “Seventeen.” Kirin replied as his eyes searched the spacious and luxuriously decorated interior of the bedroom.

   “No, that can’t be true.” Jake said loudly as he followed Kirin inside, letting the door slam shut behind him. “I’m sixteen and I look older than you. You’re lying.”

     Kirin ignored his prodding as he looked over every corner of the space they entered. Listening to the slow jazz song spinning on a record player at the corner of the room by the fireplace, Kirin looked over the white pastel interior with its shaded dividers between a bed area and a small garden by the window. Noticing no activity inside, Kirin wondered where the person to receive their delivery was. Turning his attention toward the small garden surrounded by a cool flow of water washing over a small handcrafted mountain, he noticed a hand poking out from one of the dividers.

   “Hey,” Kirin said tapping the shoulder of Jake mid-sentence. “Go check our lady by the divider.”

  “Huh?” Jake said looking over. “Oh, she’s here then, why didn’t she say so?”

  “Because she can’t…” Kirin said walking back to the door while Jake shook his head in confusion before trotting his way towards the bedside divider.  “Excuse me Lady, delivery for you.” He said. As he walked by the incense burning on a stand, Jake felt his foot stepping into damp and muddied floors. “Eww… What is this?” he said raising his foot up a bit to look at the dark liquid seeping through the matted ground. “It’s red…” he noticed. Glancing at the dividers, he saw more of this red liquid staining its wall as it dripped down languidly between its folds towards a cold body lying on top of white satin sheets. A woman laid there dressed in a beautifully designed kimono sullied with her own blood. Half way near death, the woman had one hand wrapped around her own neck, pushing in a wound that would not stop bleeding.