THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE

CHAPTER 14: TANAKA

It was Saturday. I was hoping so much that we could meet Tanaka tonight, but neither me nor James didn't know what to expect. I was somehow even more nervous than on my date with Marysa. The disciples were respectable, fair, feared, and brutal. I never met Tanaka Shiburri in person, but I can imagine what kind of individual he was.

As we arrived at "Light Speed" we were not greeted by the lady bot as last time, instead Kenji was already at the bar, waiting for us. We were thoroughly searched by his men first.

"James, Marc – good to see you again." Kenji said.

"Hello Kenji, thank you for your invitation." James answered as he shook his hand.

"I am sorry about the rough search, but you know the protocol."

"Don't worry about it."

"Would you two like something to drink?"

"Yes please. Double whiskey on the rocks." Seems like James needs something stronger this time than just vodka with orange juice. Me too, if I'm being honest.

"I will have the same. Thank you."

The lady bot came ten seconds later with our drinks. Kenji looked at us.

"Gentleman, if you will follow me."

Okay, this could be something. He didn't take us to the poker room as last time, we walked through the store first, past the mechanics, some hallways and then we finally arrived at the office. We stopped in front of a large, reinforced door. Kenji pressed his hand on a scanner, and the door slid open with a soft hiss. Probably Tanaka's office. But it there was nobody there. Did he just take us here to talk? Or to threaten us? Aren't we supposed to meet him? I felt a slight disappointment start to spread inside me. Kenji told us to take a seat, but he himself was not sitting. The room was dark, with dim lights and residues of smoke, and filled with some decorations known in former Japan, probably very expensive.

For a few moments it was very quiet in the office, you could hear a pin drop. I think James didn't have the balls to ask Kenji what was going on. Should I say something? Nah, I should probably keep my mouth shut. The door almost startled us as a disciple opened it, and behind him, Tanaka Shiburri. If you believe the rumors, Tanaka was around 320 years old, most likely one of the first people to get all of the three switches, he was also one of the fewer people to be immortal, but he looked like he was around 60. He was wearing a red kimono with a black belt, wooden geta on his feet, and had a few wrinkles on his forehead. His slightly grey hair was falling onto his shoulders, with a bun at the top of his head. Since the majority of the Asian population died out in 2024, it was quite a sight to see somebody in a such a traditional attire.

The disciple was standing at the door, his hands folded in one another in front of him and Tanaka took a seat at his desk.

"Mr. Donovan, Mr. Davis, please relax. You both look as stiff as a plank." That was not the first sentence I expected from him. Both mine and James' shoulders came a bit down.

"Now, that's more like it. It came to my understanding, Mr. Donovan, you have come to discuss something of... interest."

"Yes, sir."

"And that the thing you're looking for is Uranium."

"Well yes, but it's not actually me who is looking for it, but a third party. I'm just the middleman."

"Mr. Donovan, do you often go into business with people you don't know?"

"Ahmm, I must admit that I don't know Astrix very well and I tried, but I couldn't figure out much about him. I even tried to..." Tanaka cut him off.