The Great War of Rhodesia

20. Port II City

The sound of the crackling wooden floor was heard getting louder as they arrived at the intersection in the middle of the pier area.

The intersection of the road looks narrow and crowded by the number of people passing through it. Although in fact the size of the road is quite wide. About 3 horse carriages.

And therefore neither chariots nor iron chariots were allowed to pass over it. Besides also because of the problem of load limits that can be accepted by the dock foundation.

Only cars or trolleys that are pulled by people manually are allowed to pass.

Large and heavy items that need to be moved from the ship or into the ship, are transported using special biogas-powered trolleys that directly connect the ship's port with demolition areas around the fort.

"Oh, Shipyard, Pier, Red District." Aksa read the directional marker attached at the crossroads. "So here you put the adult entertainment area. I've been curious since yesterday," he said later.

"really. The road to the left leads to entertainment areas such as Bars, Gambling Houses, Cakela, and other adult entertainment venues." Nikolay answered.

"Do you want to visit him, Mr Aksa?" Anna suddenly asked with a mischievous smile on her face.

"No! No need, Miss Anna!" Luque and Rafa spoke almost simultaneously.

"So Mr. Aksa said he was curious about the place." Anna is still trying to flirt.

"Yes, I was curious because from yesterday I was traveling around the other region, I didn't find the area." Aksa answered without thinking.

"Are you really looking for an entertainment venue like that, Aks?" Luque asked with a face like he did not accept.

"Yes. Why why?" Aksa asked back innocently. "That place is needed" he added later.

"need?" Luque was seen frowning and narrowing his eyes as he looked at Aksa.

"Prostitution and Gambling are impossible for us to lose. Prohibiting this would instead make him move in the shadows. And it will be a very troublesome problem if it goes wild beyond our radar and control" Aksa explained later.

Everyone just fell silent not expecting the response Aksa gave.

"So it is only natural that we create a place to accommodate and control and monitor it. After all, the tax from that sector is quite large and very useful to increase income." Aksa continued his explanation.

Rafa, Luque, Anna, and Nikolai nodded silently after hearing Aksa's explanation. While Lily only looks a little smile staring at Aksa.

"And I don't think we need to go to that place right now. Because it's still morning" Aksa said later. "Let's go to the Ship Pier first" he added then as he walked straight ahead of the others.

-

After walking down the straight road towards the sea, where there are many buildings such as large warehouses on the left and right side of the road, which is, and people who look busy input boxes and wooden crates of various sizes, finally Aksa's entourage also arrived in front of a large building at the end of the pier.

Several merchant ships of various shapes and sizes are seen being anchored not far from the building.

"That's the ships from the outer region?" Aksa looked at the merchant ships with interest.

"really. Some were from Cilum, and some were from the region at the western end of Elder." Nikolai replied as they were already in front of the entrance of the large building.

The building with double doors that are wide open is the Licensing Hall which is also the Services Exchange Hall. People look busy coming in and out almost without a break. There were more soldiers standing guard around the place.

"Oh, so this is the permit?" Aksa stopped right in front of the entrance and began to observe the front side of the building. Starting from the basic foundation to the formation of the roof while nodding small. It was as if he was making a judgment.

"True, besides the Licensing Hall, this place is also the Service Exchange Hall and the Bintang Api branch headquarters" Nikolai explained.

"It's very big. Who's in charge of this place?"

"This Western Exchange of Services is under the responsibility of Miss Margaret. But he rarely was in this place. Usually Miss Shuri who often comes to replace when Miss Margaret has to do other tasks," replied Anna this time.

"But now Miss Shuri and Miss Margaret are in the North Garrison with Mr. Nata and Her Majesty the Queen." Rafa added.

"Maybe you still remember Miss Maeve and Mr Carl who helped take care of the south first?" Nikolai asked a question.

"Oh, that cute short-haired girl and that blond young man under Mr. Matthias is not it?" Aksa looks excited when he hears there is someone he knows.

"Since when is Miss Maeve sweet?" Chirrup Luque sounded inadmissive.

"really. The two of them are now in charge of the Licensing Hall in the region." Nikolai replied to Aksa's reply.

"What are you waiting for then? Let's go inside," Aksa asked as she walked ahead of the others entering the building.

"Hey, Aks? So you think short-haired girls are cute?" Luque asked as he hurriedly caught up with Aksa.

-

The inside of the building is almost like the Service Exchange Hall located in other areas in the land of Rhodesodia. It was just that once entering the main door, there was a barrier that split the middle hall into two parts.

Right side for the place of submission of Service Request. Complete with a board containing a notice paper patch. On his left side to do the clearance.

There were more people lining up in the left side of the hall. The long snaking led to another room with a dull crimson door.

The guard soldiers and some bounty hunters immediately greeted Anna and the important party of people walking into the building. Only a few people who know and look surprised when they see the figure of Aksa among the group.

Some seemed to dare to greet and greet Aksa. While the others looked just bowing respectfully with faces that looked radiant. Their shadows began to be filled with hopes for a promising future.

Anna immediately led Aksa's entourage and the others into the red door at the end of the room, regardless of the queue.

Behind the door there is a spacious room with four tables in each corner. In front of the tables sat the people who were in charge of recording the permits and the people who were taking care of the permits.

Anna again ignored the busyness in the room and walked to the other door in the room. Maeve and Carl's workspace.

-

"Mr Aksa?!" Shouted in shock a chin-length Narva girl who almost jumped out of her seat when she saw Aksa and the entourage enter her room. Without even knocking first.

"Mr Aksa?!" This time a well-built Narva man was standing in front of a wooden shelf next to the girl who was screaming in shock.

"Good day, Miss Maeve. Mr. Carl." Aksa.

"You're really back, and it really hasn't changed at all" said Carl, visibly in disbelief and immediately shaking Aksa's hand. "Hard to believe." His eyes look sparkling.

"I never thought I'd see you again, Mr. Aksa." This time it was Maeve's turn to greet Aksa with a big smile on her face. The Narva girl was unable to cover her feelings of joy.

While Luque was seen staring cynically full of probes at Maeve and Aksa alternately. Which was then followed by a harsh dehumanization, when he felt Maeve shook Aksa's hand for too long.

Rafa and Lily just smiled slightly looking at the Holy Girl's behavior.

"Oh yes, Good morning Primaval," said a surprised Maeve who hurriedly greeted Luque. "Miss Lily, Miss Rafa, Miss Anna, and Mr. Nikolai," he said. And then followed by Carl who also greeted the others.

"Didn't Mr Nata come with you?" Carl asked who was still waiting for someone to appear from behind the door.

"He was with the Queen and the others in the North Garrison" replied Aksa who was seen still busy observing the environment of Narva's second workspace.

"Oh, yes. Have seat. I will prepare a drink first," said Maeve then who hurriedly moved out of the room to the kitchen.

-