Chapter 4 - Black Market

The Underground City

There's nothing special going on now, as a young boy, probably the same age as N04H, seems to be celebrating something alongside some of his friends. It's actually pretty common around this city anyway, so why bother. But it doesn't seem to be happening in the present, more like some months ago, being simply a small memory.

As for who the boy is, hard to say for sure. He seems to be a student, or maybe a graduate from the schools. But that doesn't matter for now, as it doesn't take long before the boy notices a strange closed area as he wanders around the city. Curiosity might kill sometimes though, as he separates himself from the group he was with and goes towards that area alone, without entering it at first, having the feeling that something is waiting for him over there, so as he gets closer, he hears a voice calling for his name, RY3. He gets even more curious and enters the closed area in the end, looking around the walls of the buildings to find the person.

But as he finds himself at a dead end, the person he was trying to find finally makes his appearance. A strange looking figure, wearing very long clothes in order to hide himself from the light, or what these beings call them, crevaator clothes, wearing also a weird insignia on his arm representing him as a part of that group. Even his face is almost impossible to see, but you still can if you struggle for a while.

[Crevaator]-RY3!

The boy looks behind, noticing the figure that stands to block his path out, getting all of a sudden terrified because of it. As you look at the face of the figure though, you can actually see blood all over his mouth, with such a look that can paralyse you the moment you see it.

[RY3]-W-What do you want??

[Crevaator]-Oh, nothing special, little boy. I was simply wondering...

The figure looks straight in the boys eyes, almost as his true intention is to terrify him till he faints. But it doesn't take long before he decides to speak again.

[Crevaator]-...are you interested in a deal?

21.02.1642

The Southeast Military Base

17:23

But now we are finally arriving in the present days, where it seems that N04H started training as he finally got his approval on the role "Investigator" from the Leader. LUK3 is helping him learn martial arts, as now he is his teacher for a year, while KYR4 is watching them and adds some things whenever she thinks it's needed. LUK3 seems pretty good in fighting techniques actually, but he can't help but make himself a fool sometimes. N04H, on the other hand, seems exhausted.

[LUK3]-Good, good! Come on! At least five more minutes and we take a break!

[N04H]-I can't... hold... another... minute.

[LUK3]-Man, you sure don't do physical exercises very often!

[N04H]-We are training continuously... for one hour! Without any... kind of break...

[LUK3]-Then what the hell were you doing during the P.E. classes??

[N04H]-...We had breaks even back then!!

[LUK3]-Oh, gods... Okay, take a break, you little baby! These are literally the simplest exercises, I can't even imagine how you would act at the others later!

[N04H]-Simple in my ass! It was simple what the teachers were showing us at school, not these!

[KYR4]-Oh, I've never imagined N04H getting angry. You sure have a talent to awaken what's worse in people, LUK3.

[LUK3]-Shut uuuup! ...Okay, yeah, the exercises from school are easier! But this is military level, N04H! You compare it to the kids' games they teach you at school??

[N04H]-Yeah, but without any kind of break!? I can't even have two seconds to breath!

[KYR4]-Well, LUK3 doesn't know how to teach.

[LUK3]-HEY!!

[KYR4]-Of course you need breaks because you aren't used to our style. We trained like this for years, we don't even realise if we are tired or not from the effort. But you are used to the school style, which is "kids' game" as LUK3 said. You have to learn to endure it sooner or later, even if you don't like it.

[N04H]-*sigh* Okay, okay... Let's start the training once again.

[LUK3]-Okay then! Let's see how good you are at fighting this time!

[N04H]-What!?

[LUK3]-Hahah! Don't worry! I won't attack you at all! You just need to hit as hard as you can, okay, buddy? I wanna do a small test to see your level of fighting!

[KYR4]-Eventually, pretend he is your biggest enemy! Don't hesitate to knock him down if needed.

[LUK3]-Yeah, thanks for the help...

LUK3 puts his arms to form some sort of shield in order to defend himself and the little recruit starts fighting him. He doesn't seem to be the best at it, but at least he tries. Meanwhile, a figure enters the room. It seems to be the Great Leader, CHE5TER, looking for someone.

[CHE5TER]-Officer KYR4?

So as the girl hears her name, she stops watching the two boys training and looks at her Leader.

[KYR4]-What is it, Master?

[CHE5TER]-The Council has contacted us. There will be a meeting in some hours regarding a problem. They didn't give the details yet, but we need to be present to discuss with them about it.

[KYR4]-*sigh* What could it be this time?

[CHE5TER]-I don't know. I guess we will have to wait until the meeting comes. I already informed Officer RY4N, so make sure you will be ready for our leaving.

He stands a bit and wonders of what could possibly be the meeting about. But then He looks at the recruit fighting.

[CHE5TER]-How is the training going so far?

[KYR4]-I guess... it is going well. He is still weak, but we just need more time for him to get in touch with everything. That's all.

[CHE5TER]-Very well then... Hope that LUCAS doesn't go too hard on him though. I understand that he never taught anybody before, but the recruit is still learning.

[KYR4]-He's gonna do whatever he wants anyway. It's not like someone can stop him from being himself.

[CHE5TER]-Even so...

Then, LUK3 stops the little man and points at the Great Leader. He observed them both chatting for some time now, so he probably just wants to be the center of attention again.

[LUK3]-And now, for a real demonstration of martial arts... I challenge you, Great Leader CHE5TER of the Underground City... to a duel!

[KYR4]-LUK3!

The Leader doesn't seem to be bothered by LUK3's challenge though. When you look at Him, He is actually smirking.

[CHE5TER]-It's alright, KYR4. I enjoy a little training myself. It's been a while since I've made some exercises anyway.

[KYR4]-I don't think it's a good idea...

[CHE5TER]-One time. Just for the fun. Let's see what you're made of, LUCAS.

A smirk appears on LUK3's face when the Great Leader's words are spoken, as he gets into his position and runs towards his Leader in order to attack Him. CHE5TER doesn't seem as He wants to move from His though, neither to take a position of fighting, He just let's His opponent get closer to Him. LUK3 finally makes his way close to the Great Leader and starts attacking Him, but even as experienced as he is, not even he can touch the Great Leader Himself. CHE5TER easily dodges his attacks, and when He sees His opponent in a weak spot, He strikes down at the legs in order to knock him down. It was a pretty quick fight, nothing interesting. He then pulls his hand in order to make him scream in agony and the man begs for surrender. N04H does seem as he wants to laugh about the situation as he finds it funny, as well as KYR4.

[CHE5TER]-So... will you dare challenge me again in the future, LUCAS?

[LUK3]-...No! Not at all, Boss! You win!

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* What a pity... I do so enjoy a small fight, no matter the opponent.

[KYR4]-Master?

Yet it seems like from the fun KYR4 had watching LUK3 kissing the floor, she switched it into a more terrified look all of a sudden seeing her Leader.

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

She points at His face as she notices blood flowing from His nose. It looks like the Great Leader stretched out a bit too much when knocking His opponent, but why would that cause blood to flow? CHE5TER looks at her pointing, putting His finger under His nose and looking at the blood taken on it after.

[KYR4]-...You should take a rest before the meeting. Enough with the training.

[CHE5TER]-It's just a drop of blood, nothing serious. If anything, I had my plans of paying MY4 a visit now anyway. Continue with the training, recruit N04H! I do hope you learnt something from this short demonstration.

So, the Great Leader leaves before anyone could say another word while also trying to wipe out all the blood under His nose. N04H was a bit confused after seeing Him like this for the first time, yet the others seem pretty used to it.

[N04H]-...Why was He... bleeding?

[KYR4]-*sigh* Let's say He has His past. He just needs some time to recover, that's all.

Yet LUK3, still standing on the ground, does make his own affirmation.

[LUK3]-...Recover or not... He could still take me easy while fighting next time... It hurts like shit!