The chocobo carriage finally stopped in front of the brightly lit building they had seen when they first arrived, the Honeybee Inn.
Unlike the rough, bloody atmosphere of the Corneo Colosseum or the refined tranquility of Temomiya Massage, the Honeybee Inn radiated extreme luxury, extravagance, and… allure, from the inside out.
Its huge neon sign flashed with pinkish-purple light, and the fountain at the entrance did not spray water, but fragrant, colorful foam.
The air was thick with perfume and sensual music, and every man and woman entering or leaving the place was dressed in bright, polished clothing, their expressions suggestive.
“This is the place?” Tifa looked at the building in front of her, resistance written all over her face.
She was a traditional girl, and she instinctively disliked places devoted to pleasure and indulgence.
“That’s right.
This is it.” Aerith, however, looked full of interest.
She hopped down from the carriage and took Tifa’s hand.
“Don’t worry.
This place might look… well, very open, but it’s also the finest entertainment venue in Wall Market.
Andrea Rhodea is a true artist.
What he pursues is beauty in its purest form, not vulgar obscenity.” That was what she said, but when the three of them reached the entrance and saw the Bee Girls in revealing outfits warmly calling out to customers, Tifa still could not stop her face from turning red.
Cain looked around expressionlessly.
His sharp blue eyes made the Bee Girls who were about to approach him instinctively keep their distance.
The upright and powerful aura around this man formed a stark contrast with the passionate, ambiguous atmosphere here, making him seem completely out of place.
“Oh la la!
Look who’s here!
My blue diamond, shining with the radiance of a guardian!” Andrea Rhodea’s distinctive, theatrical voice came from inside the doorway.
He swayed out with his serpentine waist, and the moment he saw Cain, his eyes lit up as if he had seen his most beloved treasure.
“We gathered all three letters of recommendation.” Cain handed the three letters over and stated their purpose directly.
“I know, I know.” Andrea accepted the letters and casually tossed them to an attendant beside him.
His gaze was still glued to Cain, filled with undisguised admiration.
“I’ve already heard about Madam M and her old fox’s cunning, as well as Sam the gambler’s straightforwardness.
You are certainly capable.
However… if you want to obtain permission to ‘pass’ from me, these alone are not enough.” “What else do you want?” Cain frowned.
He was starting to feel that this man was even harder to deal with than the Hell House.
“What I want is art!” Andrea spread his arms, his expression intoxicated.
“That vulgar fat man Don Corneo holds his so-called ‘bride audition’ every year to satisfy his lowly tastes.
And I, Andrea Rhodea, the fashion godfather of Wall Market, the embodiment of beauty and art, have a duty to infuse this audition with true beauty!” He circled Cain, Tifa, and Aerith, examining them with a critical gaze.
“This lady,” he said, pointing at Tifa, “has a stunning figure and a resolute air, like a black rose covered in thorns.
Not bad.
Fine material.” Then he looked at Aerith.
“And this lady has purity with a hint of mystery, like a lily growing on the edge of a cliff.
She also has great potential.” Finally, his gaze landed on Cain, and his eyes became scorching hot.
“And you… my dear Cain, you are an undeveloped treasure!
You have perfect bone structure, golden proportions, and those blue eyes carrying the light of a guardian, eyes that could make anyone fall hopelessly into them!
Although your outfit makes you look like a mechanic fresh off a shift, it cannot conceal your diamond-like brilliance!” “Get to the point.” Cain’s patience was being worn thin.
“The point is,” Andrea said, lifting his pinky and pointing toward the dazzling stage inside the Honeybee Inn, “to show Don Corneo what true beauty is, I will be rehearsing a spectacular dance tonight!
And if you want my final approval, you must participate and become part of this work of art!” “Dance?” Tifa froze.
“Exactly!” Andrea snapped his fingers.
“Especially you, my dear Cain.
I want you to become the center of this dance, the brightest star of all!” Cain’s face completely darkened.
Send him to the arena to fight monsters with his life on the line, and he would not even blink.
But making him dance, especially in a place like this, in front of so many people, was harder for him to bear than death.
Every cell in his body was resisting.
“I refuse,” he said coldly, spitting out two words.
This had completely exceeded what he could tolerate for the mission.
“Oh?
Are you sure?” Andrea not only did not get angry, his smile became even more alluring.
“You should know that Don Corneo’s audition is not so easy to pass.
His standards are picky, and he is highly suspicious.
If you simply walk in like ordinary people, you may not even get to see his face.
But if you enter under the title of my, Andrea Rhodea’s, ‘principal dancer,’ then that will be different.
He will treat you as the most honored guests.” His words made Cain fall silent.
He knew Andrea was telling the truth.
Their objective was to infiltrate Don Corneo’s mansion and investigate the whereabouts of Avalanche’s branch members.
Any method that could increase their chances of success was worth trying.
“Come on, Cain.
Just try it.” Aerith tugged at the corner of his clothes, a sly light flickering in her eyes.
“Think of it as being for the mission.
Besides, I’m curious too.
What would you look like dancing?
A guardian’s dance must be something special, right?” Tifa also quietly persuaded him.
“Cain, if… if this is necessary, then… we can do it with you.” Although she herself also felt very embarrassed, she was willing to try for their shared goal.
Cain looked at the expectant eyes of the two girls beside him, then thought about his promise to Barret and the importance of infiltrating the mansion.
His tightly clenched fist slowly loosened, and in the end, he forced one word through his teeth.
“…Fine.” “Wonderful!” Andrea clapped excitedly.
“I knew you would not disappoint me!
Come, my artists, follow me!
Let us begin this grand training in beauty!” Without giving them a chance to argue, he brought the three of them to the backstage area of the Honeybee Inn.
It was a huge practice room, with massive mirrors set into all four walls and a floor polished until it gleamed like new.
More than a dozen Bee Girls were practicing their dancing inside.
“All right, before the formal rehearsal, we need some basic training.” Andrea clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention.
“First, rhythm training!” He turned on the sound system, and an electronic dance track with a strong beat filled the entire practice room.
“Follow the beat and move your bodies!
Let me see your passion!” Andrea took the lead and demonstrated first.
His dancing was professional and infectiously energetic.
The Bee Girls immediately followed the rhythm, their movements sensual and practiced.
Aerith seemed very interested in this sort of thing, and she soon joined in.
Although her movements were still somewhat inexperienced, her face was filled with a happy smile.
Tifa had a foundation in martial arts, so her physical coordination was excellent.
After a brief period of adjustment, she also danced quite decently, though her expression was still a little shy.
As for Cain, he was like a utility pole that had been forcibly planted in the middle of the dance floor, standing stiffly in place.
For the first time, an expression called “confusion” and “helplessness” appeared on that face of his, which was usually filled with a hint of determination.
His mind could instantly analyze the trajectory of an enemy’s attack, and his body could perform combat movements that exceeded the limits of ordinary people, yet at this moment, faced with the simple beat of “one, two, three, four, two, two, three, four,” he had absolutely no idea what to do.
He tried raising his arm, but the motion was as stiff as a rusty robot.
He tried stepping forward, only to nearly trip himself.
“Pfft.” Seeing his clumsy appearance, Aerith could not help laughing.
Tifa also pressed her lips together, wanting to laugh but not daring to, holding it in until her cheeks turned red.
“No, no, no!
My dear Cain!
What are you doing?
Are you practicing martial arts?” Andrea rushed over with a heartbroken expression.
“Relax!
You have to feel the music!
Let the music flow into your blood and command your limbs!” He grabbed Cain’s arm and tried to guide him.
“Come, follow me.
Left, right, turn around… Oh my god, your body is harder than a Shinra blast wall!” A fine layer of sweat appeared on Cain’s forehead.
This feeling made him more powerless than facing Sephiroth.
He felt as if he was not dancing, but undergoing some kind of torture.
Everyone in the practice room had their eyes fixed on him.
There was curiosity, sympathy, and most of all, strange expressions from people trying very hard not to laugh.
“Stop!
Stop!” Andrea finally gave up.
He held his forehead, looking as though he was about to faint.
“This won’t do.
It absolutely won’t do.
It seems we need some… special training.” He gave a mysterious smile and curled a finger at Cain.
“Cain, come with me.
I’m going to give you one-on-one private instruction.” He brought Cain into a separate small practice room.
“Listen, Cain.” Andrea’s expression became more serious than ever before.
“Dance is not simply imitating movements.
It is an expression of emotion.
The reason you cannot dance well is because your heart is too tense.
You’re always thinking about fighting, about protecting, but you’ve forgotten how to feel.” Cain said nothing.
“Now, close your eyes,” Andrea ordered.
“Forget that you are a warrior.
Forget those battles and killings.
Think about it… why do you fight?
What is it that you truly want to protect?
Is it a person, or is it a belief?” Cain closed his eyes as instructed.
In the darkness, his thoughts began to scatter.
Shinra’s laboratory.
The cold containment tank.
The endless battles.
Those had once been his whole past.
But now, new colors had appeared in his world.
He remembered Tifa in Seventh Heaven, bringing him a glass of water, her gaze gentle and complicated.
He remembered Aerith in the church, carefully cleaning his wounds and giving him a sly smile.
He remembered the heavy trust in Barret’s eyes when he entrusted Marlene to him.
He remembered the two gazes supporting him from behind in the arena, and the power that burst from his right arm as he answered that trust.
He did not fight because he had been ordered to, nor because of hatred.
He fought because he wanted to protect these fragile and beautiful things that had only just appeared in his life.
He wanted to protect their smiles and their peace.
This pure desire to protect, born from deep within his heart, was the source of his power and the entire meaning behind his actions.
“Have you found it?
The ‘soul’ of your dance?” Andrea’s voice sounded beside his ear.
Cain slowly opened his eyes.
In his blue pupils, there seemed to be a touch of indescribable light, gentle yet firm.
“Try again,” Andrea said, starting the music once more.
This time, Cain no longer resisted.
He followed the beat.
Although his body was still somewhat stiff, it was no longer the kind of rigid awkwardness that was completely out of sync.
There seemed to be a trace of… soul in his movements.
He poured that will to protect into every motion.
Andrea watched him and revealed a satisfied smile.
“Good.
That’s it.
It seems my blue diamond is finally beginning to release his true radiance.” …