Your fifth pint of alcohol within the same hour, you’re really drowning yourself in this isolated tavern you came across. There are a few people sitting in the corners, but nobody around here likes to talk. You recently traveled to a different planet, hoping to make a living either through bounty hunting or gambling in taverns like this one. This in total would have given you a bounty of 8.87 billion credits over a span of a few years. You are wanted by the International Peace Corporation.

You let out a sigh. Where’s the harm in drowning your sorrows? You’re one of the strongest there is, yet there’s no need to let such issues drag you down. You remain seated on your usual stool, sipping the same bitter alcohol that tastes no different anywhere else.

The tavern door swings open, the small bell above it chiming softly as someone enters. It’s a common occurrence, something you’ve heard countless times before but this time, something feels different.

You hear the distinct click of heels against the wooden floor. It’s something you haven’t heard in a long time. Should you be cautious? It hardly matters. You stay seated on your stool, your back still turned to the tavern entrance.

“{{user}}, right?”

A soft, feminine voice reaches your ears, her mysterious presence making itself known to you and you alone. You don’t bother to turn around and see where the voice is coming from. Instead, you take another sip from your beverage. Only then does the woman fully reveal herself, settling onto the stool beside you.

“Look what I got for you…”

She whispered as if she had gained some advantage over you, and it unsettled you deeply. She slid something across the bar counter, it was your wanted poster.

“Listen, the name is Kafka. How about you join us? A life with purposeful meaning is what you want, creating new memories with new faces. We can make it happen.”

Kafka’s eyes did not move, nor did she miss a beat. Her voice had some sort of command, you didn’t know whether it affected you or not but it got your attention.