The Blue Eyes

Rodein District was the district in Serein City that was located right in the country border. It was a border between Calenta and Primea. The two archipelago countries were only separated by a narrow sea. The sea was probably just hundreds of meters wide.

When the two men arrived in the city, it was already noon. Kris drove his red car on the road at a slow speed. Their eyes couldn't stop looking at the buildings around them.

"It seems like this district is not too much different than Nozheic District," Kris stated as his eyes from time to time glanced at their surrounding. He had to be cautious since he was driving now.

"That's right," Kevin replied. "From the surface, it's similar with Nozheic, but the inside is totally different." His index finger pointed at the buildings they were passing by. "So many illegal businesses in those buildings. This district is not as simple as its look."

Kris nodded understandingly. If it was about the city's knowledge, then Kevin surely knew better than him.

"Anyway, this district is famous for its abalone since it's in the coastal area. Do you want to eat first before we start our investigation?" Kevin suggested.

Kris shifted his gaze a little, and he peered at his lover. He smiled and asked, "Are you hungry, Kev?"

Kevin's fair cheek reddened at the question. "I only had cereal for breakfast. It's normal to get hungry now, right?" he defended himself.

Kris chuckled while shaking his head in amusement. "Alright, where should we have our lunch then?" He then asked.

The scientist's eyes brightened at the question. He immediately grabbed his phone that was idling on the spot beside him. "I've done researched about some recommended tavern in this district," he replied as his hands were busy with his phone.

"You only researched the food and not for our case?" Kris naughtily teased his lover.

Hearing the mocking tone from his lover, Kevin looked up and glared at him. "Stomach is also important. We can't think clearly with an empty stomach," once again he defended himself. "I've opened the map. There's a cross-section ahead, and you need to turn left."

Kris giggled but no longer rebuked. He just focused on his driving. When they arrived at the cross-section, he brought his car to turn left.

"Have you ever come to this district, Kev?" The taller man asked after he finished following Kevin's order.

"No, I've never come here," Kevin answered. "We only visited the districts that have a lot of werewolf's trace on it. We didn't find many traces of werewolf in this district."

That answer made Kris frown. "And, why aren't there many traces of werewolf in this district," he asked again.

"I don't know." Kevin shrugged while glancing at his lover. "You're the one who knows more about the war against werewolves in 2021. You should know better than me."

Kris's eyes widened at the statement. "It sounds like you're accusing me to be the mastermind of the war," he replied.

Kevin giggled, but his expression looked languid. "I'm not accusing you. We both know who the real mastermind is."

It seemed like Kevin remembered his parents again. Kris seemed to notice it and decided to change the subject. "Where's the tavern? You don't forget that we're going to eat, do you?"

The shorter man blinked his eyes in confusion before he remembered their plan. He then looked down on his phone again. "Keep going for two hundred meters. The tavern is on the left side," he instructed again.

Kris just hummed as a response. His eyes narrowed at a spot on the left side. "The name of the tavern is 'The Sad Sea'? Why does it sound so sad? Are you sure it's a recommended place to eat?"

Kevin followed Kris's gaze and nodded. "Yes, that's the tavern. Let's stop the car," he said. "We can't judge a restaurant from its name, can we?"

As soon as the car stopped in front of the tavern, Kevin immediately unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door. He then jumped down from the car enthusiastically.

Kris could only shake his head seeing his lover's adorable behavior. He then turned off the car engine and unbuckled his seatbelt. It was not long before he caught up with his lover.

The tavern was just a simple tavern. The place was dominated by faded blue color. The wall was painted blue with a sea painting on it. If they came to the place ten years ago, they probably would feel like they were inside the aquarium. The painting must be great at that time. The blue seawater and the colorful fish surely would please the eyes.

But, the quality of the painting was no longer pleasing the eyes now. It was likely due to the painting's old age. The blue seawater was no longer blue. The color had faded and it turned to white. And the fish died. Ah, no. It was just that the fish's colors had also faded that they looked pale as if they died.

Kevin and Kris sat at a table near the entrance. Kris couldn't stop examining the old place. "Are you sure the food in this place is good?" He asked doubtfully once again.

Kevin just rolled his eyes and didn't give him any response.

An old lady hurriedly walked over to their table with a big smile on her face. "Two handsome men visiting me on this sunny day. It will surely bring a good fortune to this old place," she said in a friendly tone.

The black-haired man returned the smile while staring at the old lady. Her age was probably around 60, and she was no longer young.

"How may I help you today, young men? We have any kind of seafood here. You just name it, and we'll prepare it for you in no time."

Kevin was about to answer the question, but Kris was faster than him. "Why is this place name 'The Sad Sea'?" He asked curiously at the lady.

The lady's smile vanished after hearing the question. "If you just want to hear a bedtime story, then you better leave," she replied in a cold tone. She was just about to leave, but Kevin's voice held her steps.

"I'm sorry, we just want to eat here. Please forgive my friend," the scientist said as he glared at his lover. But the said lover was also glaring at him. It looked like he wasn't pleased to hear the word "friend" from Kevin's mouth.

"If you really want to eat, then just order some food. The business is slow after the war last time. Don't waste my time," the old lady answered with a little bit harsh tone.

Kevin smiled sympathetically at the woman. "We'd like to order your shop's specialty, please. Anything is fine," he then replied.

Kevin's sincere smile seemed to lessen the lady's anger. She sighed and nodded her head before excusing herself to go to the kitchen.

"A friend, huh? It's like a déjà vu," Kris stated in an annoyed tone.

"Don't cause any trouble here, Kris. We're far from home, so you better behave yourself," Kevin warned his annoyed lover.

The said lover could only sigh and leaned his back on the chair's back. "That grandma is just so sensitive. I just asked her about this place's name, not asking her about her bitter past or something," he defended himself.

Kevin frowned at his lover's defend. "This place's name may have something to do with her bitter past, Kris. I know you're in a bad mood lately, but please be sensible."

Kris seemed to be stunned by Kevin's words. He just blinked his eyes without saying anything. Apparently, his lover's words were right that he couldn't retort.

"Alright, I admit that I was in the wrong," Kris admitted as he straightened his back again. "But I'm not just your friend, Kev. You have to remember that."

Now Kevin chuckled when he heard his lover's warning. "Did you expect me to say that you're my boyfriend to the lady? We don't know if she's the open-minded type or not. It's not like I'm embarrassed or something, but I just want to eat peacefully."

What Kevin just said was not wrong. The older generation tended to be more conservative and narrow-minded than the younger generation. They didn't know the lady stood on which side. If the lady was the narrow-minded type, then she would feel uncomfortable, and they also would feel the same.

The lady just needed thirteen minutes to prepare the food. After thirteen minutes passed, she came back to their table with two plates in her hands. She then placed the plate on the table.

"This is our specialty, 'The Blue Sea Soup.' I use the local abalones, and no one in this district can copy the taste. You two are lucky."

The two men looked at the dish in mixed expression. It was the first time they saw a blue-colored soup, and the feelings in their hearts were indescribable. They felt weird but amused at the same time.

Kris couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked the lady, "What material did you use to color this soup?"

The lady looked at Kris with her piercing eyes and answered, "I used my tears to color it."