“So this is the Soutou estate huh?” Jin asked aloud. Looking the manor up and down he focused on its Iborian style. Tall stained glass windows placed every few meters with perfect symmetry on the red brick walls. The rich wooden arches overhead hung low revealing the dark brown clay shingles which reflected the sun. "This style brings back bad memories.” He thought aloud in a mutter.

  “Are you satisfied now?” Asara asked with a hiss. “Have you humiliated me enough? Do you want me to get down on all fours and wag my tail; bark like a dog as well?”

  Jin turned to the man with a frown. For the two only being four years apart the gap in maturity was staggering. “I should have brought your grandma.” He sighed, shaking his head slowly.

  “Do you understand what it means to be me? You certainly don’t care about the prestige of the Lutece clan but the Hojo must uphold its image! Me, heir to one of the big 3 clans of Edoland riding public transport!? It’s preposterous! Should I stand on a street corner with a sign in hand and my hat on the ground for coins next? The Hojo must not be seen as mortal Jinen Lutece! Our image will not survive long with your backwards ways!”

  Jin sighed deeply once more trying to tune the man out. He’d even bought him 1st class tickets for a ten minute train ride hoping it would make him complain less. Now he tried not to shudder at the thought of if they'd rode economy like he’d first thought they would.

  “And why did you not just teleport here? You went from my estate in Kamitou ward to Sarukou ward to drop off those two wenches in but the snap of a finger! And yet you made me ride a train from Shibuchu to Ouji ward?”

  “Warping around isn’t as easy as you seem to think it is. I can’t just go wherever I want without having already set up a [Waypoint] there.”

  “Then what about a chauffeur- A limousine? I’d settle for even so much as a nice sports car like something from the Heidi company. Those vipers are treacherous but they can make a nice car. I'll give them that much.”

  Jin decided to just ignore the man completely and reached his hand out, rasping his knuckles on the translucent red barrier which guarded the Soutou estate just beyond its iron spear crafted fence the entire air seemed to tremble with the movement. His knuckles sizzled as they touched the barrier but it was nowhere near as potent as the Hojos barrier thankfully.

  “WOW WOW WOW!” A screaming voice came from the intercom just over the fence line as it clicked on. “What the hell do ya think you’re doing ya stupid bastard!?” The man screamed his voice loud enough for the speakers to screech with painful grating. “And you! Hojo Asara ya stupid bastard what the hell are you doing bringing this stupid bastard here ya stupid bastard!?”

  Asara snorted and lifted his chin up high as he looked to the camera built above the intercom. “Enough Tatsugara, we’re here to speak to Sosuke and only Sosuke. Fetch him for us immediately."

  Not even a please. Jin thought with a deep frown as he looked at Asara. The man certainly was in need of being humbled, though it was already rather late in his life it would be better to have it done soon rather than later. But that’s not my job. He agreed to himself with a nod.

  “And why the hell should I listen to you Hojo Asara ya stupid bastard!? I don’t remember a stupid bastard like you being made my boss ya stupid bastard-”

  There was a sudden surge of blood red aura blasting from Jin, taking the shape of an arrow, his aura sliced through the barrier as if made of butter and continued onto the estate itself through a window on the left wing's seconds story where it hit its target.

  “!”

  There was the sound of a deep grunt followed by a bang before the intercom clicked off with ear piercing static hum.

  “W-what did you do to him!?” Asara gasped looking at Jin with eyes wide as saucers. “Did you kill him?”

  “What- No, of course not!\” Jin argued back, putting a hand to his chest as if the accusation had hurt his heart. “I just put him to sleep for a while, as long as he doesn’t hit his head on anything he should be fine…” The last part was no more than a mutter which Jin meant for only himself to hear.

  Asara could only grind his teeth and flex his hand as he stared at Jinen Lutece. He knew he was dangerous but to do something like that. To use [King of Kings] aura was something else entirely. Even as beautiful as he was, Asara had never been able to hold such a sense of self as that kind of thing required to be awakened. Only those who had the sense of self- no the gaul to walk before a council of Kings and declare himself above them could hold that title. “King of Kings…” The words almost burned his tongue as they rolled from it.

  “!”

  The static cut off with a crackle and a new voice came over with a click. “I’ll be out there shortly.” With that single sentence the channel was cut and pure silence followed.

  “Was that Sosuke?” Jin asked, turning his head to Asara with a brow raised.

  “That horrid voice could be long to no other.” Asara scoffed with a snort, lifting his chin up high. If me and Sosuke were to attack him at the same time could we win? No, Sosuke has never had a knack for anything magical, he’s purely squandered potential. If it was Inruashi then perhaps- no, we would still be crushed before even managing to knock a hair from the top of his overblown head! Why did Grandmother send me here? What did that old hag think I could gain from this!? There is no such thing as politics here, only pure power!

  Jin watched the manor's front door with his hands in his pocket and a thin lipped frown. Tapping his foot he waited for any sign of life and it took only but another minute before that sign came. The estate's door flung open and exiting was a man of average appearance.

  Blonde hair split down the middle and curved to eye level around his somewhat handsome face exposed the black roots of his crown. His eyes were sharp and thin but with long lashes and red iris. His lips were bright pink and well shaped, his clothes consisting of a plain black button up shirt with grey slacks below that followed by white sneakers. His figure was well shaped aswell, not too thin nor too muscular, perhaps athletic would best describe him. His golden yellow aura was sharp and honed though it slipped with a slight spike every few steps, something only someone like Jin could have noticed.

  “Hello, Asara.” The man said as approached the fence, hands tied behind his back.

  “Don’t greet me so plainly Sosuke! You owe me much for making you clan head!” Asara bit back immediately.

  “Jeez, is this how you introduce yourself to everyone?” Jin asked with a grimace. “I think I know why you don’t have any friends.”

  “That is not true!” Asara protested fervently, flicking his head to Jin, face bright red. “I do too have friends, Lutece Jinen! Many in fact and all of them are those who I consider to be the utmost beautiful!”

  “The prettier the skin the more bitter the fruit.” Jin said without thinking. He nearly flinched at the saying, it was something his mother had always said.

  Sosuke, as if just realizing Jin existed, gave a start before spinning on his heel to greet the man with a shallow bow. “I apologize for not introducing myself properly. I am Soutou Sosuke, current head of the Soutou clan.” He ran out with an almost robotic caidence.

  Jin recoiled at the way the man's voice and tone changed completely when speaking to him compared to Asara. “Jinen Lutece.” Jin said with a shallow bow of his own, one hand crossed over his heart and the other extended to the side.

  “Your Edogo is exquisite Sir. Jinen.” Sosuke said with a nod, hands still tied behind his back.

  “Just Jin is fine.” Jin answered, waving his hand through the air. “Do you have a moment to talk about something important?”

  “I’m a busy man these days, but if someone such as yourself comes asking for my ear I don’t think it would be proper to refuse.” Smiled Sosuke. A hollow smile with shining white perfectly straight teeth.

  “I appreciate the gesture." Jin said, holding back a scowl. He truly did not like the man, something about him was off. “But there’s another person needed for this discussion so I’d like for us to go there right now if possible. Should only take a moment.”

  “And who would this other person be?” Sosuke asked, titling head to the side.

  “Sosaki Ryoku.”

  Sosuke raised his brow and turned to Asara who looked just as confused. “What is it you wish to talk to us about?” He added.

  “An Alliance, one between the Venator Society, Hojo, Soutou and Sosaki.”

  Sosuke nodded for a moment and brought his hands to his front, putting them into the pocket of his slacks. “An alliance against the Toumeikan Yakuza I’m assuming?”

  “Bingo.” Jin nodded. “If you have a problem with it, blame this idiot for getting you involved in his schemes. Now you’re tangled in a whole new mess of a web of alliances and betrayals so you have him to thank for making you clan head.”

  Asara frowned, a bit of sweat dripping down his brow as Sosuke turned to him. Would the man who was normally more hollow than a vase expose a rare moment of anger?

  “I see then, well thank you very much Asara,” Sosuke bowed deeply.

  Asara sighed in relief and ran a hand through his silver hair pushing it out from his eye line. “It humbles me to gain such gratitude from someone as high ranking as yourself Sosuke-Sama.” He said sarcastically with the most shallow of bows.

  “You don’t need to call me Sama Asara, I still value our friendship highly and think of us as equals.”

  “I-I was being sarcastic you daft bastard!” Asara argued, going red in the face. “I would never call you such a thing!”

  “You understand sarcasm? I thought Edoland lacked that.” Jin frowned, shaking his head. “Wait, no we’re getting off topic here! Sosuke, I want you to come with me to the Sosaki Corp right now. To put it short I, Jinen Lutece, Captain of the Venator Societies Alpha Division and the leader of the Edoland Liberation campaign have entered an alliance with the Hojo Clan. Said Alliance being based on Asara and his Grandmother forcing my pupil to make you clan head. The reason being that if you're a clan head you’ll be more likely to agree to an alliance against the Toumeikan that your father would. Also with you joining the Sosaki would be soon to follow. It’s truly not a bad idea nor proposal.”

  Asara nodded his head while listening to Jin and rubbed his chin in thought. “I understand the logic and it is air tight.” He agreed to which Asara beamed at hearing. “However, my father would have joined the liberation if asked…” He said; so matter of fact it was almost forgetful.

  Asara's face turned ghost white and dripped with sweat as Jin turned to look at him with an expression of not anger nor confusion or even annoyance but rather the same expression you’d make when seeing a dog yelp after biting its own tail. The way one looks at a complete idiot.

  “Yeah well, we can figure that part out later.” Jin sighed, ruffling his light blonde hair. “But I’m assuming you're as willing as your father to join us?”

  “I don’t see why not at this point.” Sosuke agreed with a shrug. “When is this liberation occurring and what is it you want from me?”

  “The Liberation is tomorrow.” Jin said with a frown. “I think you can see why I’m in a bit of a rush here to iron the details out. As for what it is I want from you- it would be easier to say it just once so we can discuss that with Ryoku here in a moment. I will say however that it’s not even close to as difficult as what you're imagining.”

  He can read minds too? Asara wondered as he played with the cream white obi sash which kept his Komono fasted around his figure. Looking at Sosuke they exchanged glances. Those red hollow eyes of Sosuke, eyes more like a camera lens than a human's, seemed to be processing everything said at a lightning speed. His expression as plain as a mannequin's, it took only a few seconds for him to nod his head and turn to Jin.

  “If you can guarantee to me the Soutou clan will reap only benefits and suffer no consequences from this event then I find it agreeable.” He said.

  Jin held back the urge to recoil and instead satisfied himself with a deep sigh. “I can’t promise anything but the way I imagine things to play out your clan won’t be harmed from this. But I’ll explain how with Sosaki. I’m not a man to repeat himself.”

  “Then let us go.” Sosuke grinned with a bow.

  # # #

  “!”

  The feeling was unlike anything Norosuke had ever before in his life experienced. It was akin to the scream of a dog whistle in his ear as he sensed the incoming danger. The black mane of hair which hung shoulder length on him stood up like that of a cat's back fur in distress. Lips curled into a snarl so wide his gums were glistening in the sun he leapt out the nearest window in the building with a spray of glass.

  Falling over seventy stories from the Sosaki towers mid point he stuck his hand out and dug his finger nails into the metal paneling on the buildings side. The sound like nails on a chalkboard; he left a deep groove as he slid down to the fifth floor upon which he released his grip and slammed down to the concrete sidewalk below. Bits of rubble flying up around him and his black Otachi sword over twice the length of a normal katana writhing with power. The sword's inky black color matched his own eyes' sclera, those which he’d inherited from the Akami clan he partly descended from. Red iris constricting he heaved out a deep guttural growl. Saliva dripped from his pale chin to the ground below.

  “Talk about an entrance.” Jin whistled as he raised a brow. The man was truly remarkable, no doubt at least equal to a Hachibuto in strength, likely greater. A powerful asset to whoever held his leash.

  “It’s always a pleasure to see your beauty Norosuke-Kun~” Hummed Asara with a wide grin as he strode forwards, one hand out stretched as it to caress the man.

  “!” Norosuke glared at Asara with such venom the Hojo was forced to recoil.

  Though he tried to hide it, every muscle in Norosuke's body was trembling and true fear rattled his bones. The thought of attacking the man who shone as bright as the sun, the one he didn’t recognize, a man who looked strangely similar to Asara made his blood turn to ice. But the urge to slice him down right then and there might have been just as potent. He was a threat, one of disastrous proportions to Sosaki Ryoku. And all threats were to be dealt with by HIS sword. He towered over the strange man, his blade as long as the man was tall it should have been quite easy to just slice him clean in two. But Norosuke felt that it would simply snap over the man's crown without leaving so much as a bruise is brought down upon him.

  “Well I surely wasn’t expecting this.” Ryoku said as he walked through the Sosaki towers' front sliding door entrance. He was a handsome man with black hair split down the middle roughly and roughly ear length. His dark green eyes were sharp with the same cunning nature of a fox present. As for the clothes he wore they were rather bland for a man whose net worth would rival small nations' entire GDP. A simple baggy black sweater with the Kanji [蘇崎社: Sosaki Corp] Written across it in bold red letters. Below that he had on blue jeans not too at all baggy but not tight either. And finally a pair of black sport sneakers, without a doubt the most expensive article he wore but even then not so much as something someone middle class could not afford.

  “Ryoku-Sama!” Norosuke rasped, turning to his master who stood to his side.

  “It’s fine Norosuke, I trust that my friends wouldn't bring anything or anyone to the tower which would hurt me.” He said, patting Norosuke on the shoulder softly. “Am I correct?”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Both Asara and Sosuke nodded their heads deeply at the question with only Jin looking bored of the situation.

  “...” Norosuke ground his teeth behind closed lips but obeyed and straightened his posture, blade returning to the sheath at this side. Crossing his arms his black eyes focused solely on Jin who didn’t even seem to notice him any longer, his full attention turned to Ryoku.

  “I apologize about Norosuke, he’s very protective of me and seeing as you appeared so suddenly with such a loud bang he surely assumed you came with every intention to take my life. I’m sure you already know who I am seeing as it seems you’ve come seeking me out but for the sake of manners; I am Sosaki Ryoku 6th CEO of the Sosaki Corp. and current head of the Sosaki Clan.” The man said with a half deep bow.

  “Jinen Lutece, Alpha division captain of the Venator Society." Offered with a shallow bow of his own.

  Though Ryoku raised a thin brow at the mention of the Venator Society he didn’t let his confusion or anxiety show, his expression not at all changing. “Well this is certainly troubling, I assume I’m not in any kind of trouble now am I?” He asked.

  “Not that I’m aware of.” Jin answered with a shrug and snide grin. “But that might change based on what you have to say here in a moment. Would you mind if we went inside, talking in the open can be dangerous.”

  “If you so desire Lutece-San.” Ryoku nodded.

  # # #

  “I see, now this is quite the predicament that Asara has put me in…” Ryoku sighed, rubbing the space between his brow with a finger.

  “Should I kill him?” Norosuke asked, turning to his master.

  “Y-you wouldn’t!” Yelped Asara, looking to Norosuke as if the latter has just admitted to infidelity.

  “Of course not Norosuke, don’t suggest something so ridiculous. Ryoku scoffed, cocking back his head. Norosuke looked more disappointed at being told not to then being scolded but Ryoku paid no mind and continued to speak. “Well in the end an agreement such as this is beneficial to me. I never wanted nor intended to be a lap dog of the Orochi Kingdom nor do I care much about the Toumeikan. I just simply have never had the means to defend myself from them or sever those connections before. But now that I have a chance- I’m more than happy to take it!” Ryoku chuckled, opening his arms wide. “The Venator Society is a much better business partner than a dictatorship and or criminal organization anyways. I can already imagine how numerous the profits and benefits will be.”

  “Well I’m happy you're so agreeable this time seeing as how much of a pain in the ass you’ve been with us in the past.” Jin sighed.

  “Why of course I’d be more on guard then Jinen. When you come to my tower asking to inspect my products and manufacturing I’ll obviously refuse. Such things are closely guarded trade secrets. I’m sure Kusig was not much more open, no?”

  “Kusig had their own problems with the Tsuchigaryu of course. But It’s not like we’re ever gonna steal your stuff. We have Grendle Coldhammer and Stephen Gate after all. They’re enough for us.”

  “Gate’s passable I’ll admit.” Ryoku nodded with a shrug. “As for this Coldhammer fellow, well you know how Dwarves could be. Masterful in construction and forgery but cursed with pride and anger even if he’s only a Halfling the blood of demons runs strong in men. Though I guess every country and culture has their own unique races. We have the Oni after all.”

  “Are we not getting off topic here?” Sosuke asked with a frown. “You’ve yet to discuss what it is this alliance will require of us all.”

  “Oh, yeah you’re right.” Jin said, snapping his finger. “Getting to that I think you’ll all be happy to hear that we really don’t want much from any of you. At least not right now that is.” Jin added. “The main point of this alliance afterall is to just make sure you don’t end up against us. Your parts won’t be played until after the fighting. That’s when the hard part begins. Rebuilding."

  The three men who listened to Jin each had their own reaction to the words, Ryoku with a grimace, Asara a scowl and Sosuke with a thin lipped neutral glance.

  “Even then you won’t need to worry so much about spending a fortune, you're merely there to rally people. If the Hojo and Soutou Clans along with the Sosaki Corp. make any kind of attempt at rousing people and national pride to rebuild the damages this liberation caused, it'll work.”

  “Well I’m relieved at that.” Ryoku sighed deeply. “Even if I don’t want to admit it, the Sosaki isn’t quite as wealthy as the Tsuchigaryu, to fund the building of a ward let alone an entire city out of your own pocket is still incomprehensible to me.”

  Though Jin didn’t say it allowed he agreed deeply with Ryoku, the Tsuchigaryu of Saharis were the richest family on the planet, and the current head of the family ōro had took over and spent his own personal funds to rebuild Azhar proper. An insane feat but one many were thankful for.

  “But enough about that, you interrupted me during an important conference so I’d like to return as quickly as possible. Let’s move onto the blood pact as you said, shall we?” Said Ryoku.

  “Sure, I’m in a rush myself.” Jin nodded. “This is only going to be between me, you and Sosuke so it shouldn’t take too long.”

  “Me?” Sosuke asked with a start. “I agreed to no such thing.” He frowned.

  “What!? Have you not listened to a work I’ve said this whole time!?” Jin asked, turning to the man with a scowl.

  “Of course he hasn’t. That head of his would put a Komuso to shame.” Huffed Asara. “Go and do it Sosuke, I already have as well.”

  “You agreed to such terms beforehand I did not. I only assumed this would be a verbal pact or a soul pact at most not a blood pact. That is far beyond my comfort level.”

  “I’ll give you $3 Billion if you agree to this.” Ryoku said looking at Sosuke who nodded his head without question and nearly leapt between Ryoku and Jin.

  $3 Billion? That’s my entire net worth thrown away like nothing… “Alright then you first Ryoku?” Jin asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the same small knife he’d used for the Hojo pact.

  “That’s fine.” Ryoku agreed, pulling out his own instrument. This one however immediately caught Jin's eye. It was a small, flat and red rectangular thing with a single orange button in the middle which Ryoku tapped lightly with his thumb. From the end of the thing came out a box cutter like, shining purple blade which vibrated though the air.

  A plasma knife? Jin wondered. No it’s too solid for that, It’s almost as if he’s turned plasma into a solid. I don't think Stephen could copy that even if he had the basic idea… He frowned. Ryoku truly was the man who invented the future as his name implied.

  “Do you need one as well?”

  Jin realized he was gawking at the contraption Ryoku had made and shook his head quickly. “No, I'm fine.” Jin muttered. Using the knife he slashed his fingers tip quickly and with a shallow cut, fresh rich red blood oozing from the wound he extended his hand which Ryoku mirrored the twos blood intermixing as their finger tips met. “Follow my lead he instructed.”

  [I vow to offer my whole and complete loyalty to the Venator Society and its members before, during and after the Edoland Liberation on August 1st.]

  Is what Jin said aloud, each word said slowly and deliberatly.

  “Wait a moment, does this include things which are not related to the Venator Societies Edoland liberation in the [After]?” Ryoku asked, raising a brow.

  “Excluding those things which are not related to the Liberation of Edoland Liberation.” Jin added with a frown.

  “Perfect.” Grinned Ryoku. “I vow to offer my whole and complete loyalty to the Venator Society and its members before, during and after the Edoland Liberation on August 1st. Excluding those things which are not related to the liberation of Edoland.”

  With that there was a flash of light and a strange feeling struck Ryoku making him flinch. It felt as if someone had stabbed him in the heart with a dagger but there was no pain. Only a sense of penetration followed by a new weight laid upon him. “Is it done?” He asked, pulling his finger away and quickly spraying it with a small can of liquid he’d pulled from his pocket.

  “Yeah.” Jin nodded, turning to Sosuke. They repeated the same process and Sosuke too felt that same strange sensation. Pulling his own hand away, Ryoku offered him the spray which he took. Said spray seemed to form a sort of article scab over the wound.

  “I don’t believe my vow included that last part.” Asara muttered with a scowl.

  “I believe that wasn’t part of the agreement your Grandmother and you forced upon Kanashi. Blame her.” Jin argued back, using his hand as a puppet to mock Asara whose face turned red. He was fun to tease Jin must admit.

  “Well then.” Ryoku interrupted, clearing his throat and clapping his hands together. “I do believe it is time to end this chat, correct?”

  “Actually, I happen to be quite a fan of your video games Ryoku. I was wondering if you’d maybe be willing to give me a special little tour behind the scenes?” Jin asked, with a grin and hands on his hips. “Totally optional of course, I’d just like to maybe sneak a peak on the next [獣戦廻: Jusenkai] Games even? I promise I won’t leak anything.” He winked.

  Ryoku sighed and threw his hands up weakly. “I normally don’t allow such things… but what right do I have to deny someone such as yourself just a little look? Though I must admit that I'm even excited to play the finished product.”

  “You’re only making me more excited!” Jin laughed. “Do you mind if we go now? I’m in a bit of a rush actually, as long as you’re comfortable with it.”

  “Sosuke, Asara. Why don’t you stay here and wait for me. I’m sure this won’t take too long. I know exactly the spot Jin is interested in seeing.” Ryoku said, turning on his heel towards the exit.

  “I didn’t expect things to take this long.” Sosuke sighed. “I only became the Clan Head yesterday. I still have many things to attend to.”

  “I agree, I also had plans scheduled for today. I’ve tolerated dancing to your rhythm so far but the limit is nearing.”

  “It’s fine, it’s fine, I'll take you back as soon as this is over, all right? Just quick favors from you guys.” Jin said with a wave of his hand, he left no room for arguing however as he followed Ryoku who’d already begun to walk to the conference room's door.

  Norosuke moved to floor Ryoku, putting himself between his master and Jin however Ryoku paused and put up his hand. “Norosuke please remain here and make sure those two do not get into any trouble un-befitting their age.” He said looking to Asara and Sosuke who frowned at the suggestion.

  “B-but-!”

  “This is an order Norosuke, don’t worry I will be safe with or without you.”

  “If you so command.” Norosuke said between grit teeth with a bow. His black eyes seeming to be on the verge of tears he shot a glare which could kill a man at Jin who only ignored it.

  “Follow me Jinen, it can get quite confusing to those who don’t know the towers layout.” Ryoku smiled.

  # # #

  “I wouldn’t mind if Norosuke had joined us.” Jin said as the two rode down the elevator, they had already descended deep underground many stories below the surface level.

  “There are two reasons I denied him.” Ryoku replied, holding up two fingers. “First being that his presence means nothing here. If you decide to kill me for what I will now show you, his death would be meaningless. I care for Norosuke despite what rumors say.” Putting one finger down Ryoku continued. “Second, not even he knows what I’m showing you. Only myself and a few others have seen this and I intend to keep it that way.”

  “I’m trembling with anticipation.” Jin sighed, ruffling his hair. He tried to ignore the headache he was getting from his [Pure Eyes]. Whatever the elevator; slick oily black in color with white tile floor and a mirror atop its roof was made of it was making his [Pure Eyes] blur. Even more strange Jin could tell it wasn’t due to any kind of magic such as runes. This was pure technology and that only worried him more. “I thought Ryoku was the Green Dog, I didn't expect you to care for him so much.”

  “He is not my dog.” Ryoku frowned with a scowl. “He is my only friend…” He ended with a mutter so quiet only he could hear it.

  The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open quickly. The smell of chemicals and the freezing cold air immediately assaulted the two men. It was a chamber of roughly super market size with a roof at least three stories high. Pipes, vents, engines and vats hummed as electricity pumped through cables and lights which flashed many colors. Mist as white as snow and equally as cold spread across the air like a haze of fog after a storm. Each breath was almost painful; like daggers in your throat and lungs due to the chilled air.

  Stepping out the Elevator after Ryoku; Jin looked around at the massive glass tubes which held what appeared to be a man in many stages of life. From a chunk of cells and flesh clutching onto a silicon scaffolding to an infant, toddler, adolescence and finally an adult of what might have been twenty five or so years of age. The vat filled with liquid had many tubes pumping into it from all directions, a slurry of nutrients and hormones. Above each tube and connected via a hopper there sat a centrifuge which spun in cycles at seemingly random speeds with flashes of colors across the colorful screen.

  “How did you do it?” Jin asked, as he approached one of the glass tubes and inspected the man inside. He was of rather average appearance standing some 6 feet tall with a wide frame and dense muscle. His head bald and a mild amount of hair across his body you’d assume him to be a normal man. The kind you walk pass in the street without notice. His eyes however no longer encumbered by whatever the Elevator had done could see that the man- no clone inside of the vat was far from normal.

  “Your eyes truly are something else are they not?” Ryoku said with a shrug. “As you can guess the Emperor Orochi had quite high expectations of me when I was… let’s say under his care.” He scowled as the last words rolled off his tongue as if tasting something bitter. “He wanted the ultimate soldier! So he said at least, of course already having the ability to create Clones that wouldn't be too difficult to accommodate. It would take time but I could raise an army in the near seven figure range within a decade give or take.” Ryoku said, shaking his open hand through the air.

  “...”

  “But Orochi wasn’t happy with that, he wanted something more, something that had never been done before. He already had [Terracotta Golems] as he put it, whatever he meant by that I do not know.”

  “...”

  “So what he tasked me with- was these. Clones imbued with an artificial blessing.”

  Jin barely managed to keep a shudder from shaking his body as he heard what Ryoku explained. He almost regretted asking, but oftentimes the things you don’t want to hear; the things you never wanted to think existed were the most important to hear.

  “I’d thought of it before, but what would I use them for? I have no use for an army, so I put it on the shelf. However when the Emperor Orochi demanded it of me- well who was I to deny him?”

  “Someone with their head on right.” Jin scoffed, he felt the urge to simply destroy the place at that moment, to rain down lighting and use fire to burn the very tower itself to the ground. What Ryoku had created- Is more dangerous than any nuclear bomb… He thought.

  “Perhaps for you Jinen Lutece, But I’m a man, you wouldn’t know what it’s like to be human and feel fear now would you?”

  Jin grit his teeth but let Ryoku continue.

  “Well continuing on with my story; I quickly got to work on the project. Separating a blessing from the soul was not that difficult surprisingly. At least after finding out how to recognize the soul. People with blessings aren’t exactly existing en-masse, though thankfully the ever generous Emperor Orochi provided me with enough samples to examine... even if a few didn’t survive the process."

  Jin felt his hand twitch and he breathed between his teeth. “So you experimented on humans? Do you understand how much trouble that could get you in?”

  “They were treated well, and said they were willing to, even saying they understood the risks. Though I’m not sure if they were being blackmailed into such agreeable behavior, nor do I care in truth. As for my crimes, I’m sure they would be forgiven if I- though begrudgingly shared my finds with the Venator Society. would they not?”

  “Continue.” Jin growled.

  “Well, with great pain I found the soul; something which exists outside of logic is not easy to measure with science after all. Once I did however the blessing was as obvious as the trunk of a tapir hanging from a man's face. Copying the blessings was also rather simple. Time consuming yes as it required copying it exactly to the finest detail but with time it was doable. Though simply engraving the same pattern onto a new soul wasn’t enough to grant a blessing. It seems the [Vault of Gifts] does not give the same blessing twice.”

  Jin could argue with him on that, It was possible for a blessing to appear twice, though never at the same time. As for why he wasn’t sure, the tree of life had strange ways of working.

  “So in the end the blessing ended up as nothing more than a tattoo on the soul; It did nothing. So I had to improvise. I tried multiple methods but they all proved… ineffective at best, deadly at worst. So I looked towards history and culture and found myself intrigued by Grimmores. Or more specifically those which the Witch Cult create. So I had an idea; why not graft the blessing not onto the soul but the flesh.”

  “To create a living grimmore.” Jin finished. “But you ran into a problem, it was as powerful as a blessing but they were born without the affinity for it. The clones would die just trying to cast it.”

  “Close, but not quite there. I found a way around that, slightly at least. Once I found the soul the rest seemed as easy as the human body itself to map. The aura nodes and mana circuits were as easy to find as tracing the arities through the body when starting from the heart. I could easily edit their genetics then to produce more mana for less aura cost. However you are correct in that it still wasn’t enough, after only casting the blessing once or twice they would die. And with that I’ve hit an iron wall with no clue how to get around past that issue. I’ve edited their genetics to be as efficient as possible while still maintaining function yet it isn’t close to enough! Not to mention that the blessings I’ve created are useless! He gave me the bottom of the barrel! Blessings that are more like curses than benefits!” Ryoku spat his face contorting into veins and wrinkles as its color shifted to tomato red.

  “How many know of this?” Jin asked, not letting the rant continue any longer.

  “Only myself and the clones." Ryoku said, his composure snapping back to the same almost sleazy casual sense it had before. "But there are only ten of those and when not in use they’re kept in a hibernation-like state.”

  “Did you send Orochi a prototype?”

  “Of course not! He doesn’t know a single thing about this other than that I was working on it under his command. I refuse to let the vipers hiss in my ear and complain like they do with their own companies!”

  Jin let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders and back slightly. “So at least it’s contained.”

  “Yes, very contained.” Ryoku agreed. “And you can keep it that way, Jinen Lutece. What you see here is everything that exists involving this project. The servers are locked, not even Keiten could get into them if they knew the password. So if you were to destroy this room, burn everything in it to ashes and then eliminate those ashes with plasma; well the fear you wear as obvious as your ivory flesh would be removed. Am I not correct? So then what will you do Jinen Lutece, will you kill me and destroy this or will you let me continue my work, even under your snooping eyes if I must. To further society, to further the growth of evolution? To invent the future!”

  “...” Jin didn’t speak at first, he put his hand rippling with veins to his chin and squeezed it as he tilted his head to the ground in thought. “No, I won’t.” He said after what seemed like hours of thoughts. Ryoku let out a deep sigh but Jin continued, "What you’ve done here, no matter how foul I find it, is nothing short of the greatest innovation for humanity since fire. You might only be inferior to Digonese Apostle of Dagon.”

  “Well I don’t know who that is nor what being an Apostle of Dagons means, but I take that as praise with open arms.” Ryoku bowed shallowly. “But what is it you want me to do now that you know of my work?”

  “Keep your hands out of here for a while, don’t do anything other than maintain this- and keep it between us. I don’t want another soul knowing about it.”

  “As you command, Sir Lutece.” Ryoku bowed this time a full proper deep bow.

  “Well, we’ve been down here for a while- so let’s head back up stairs, unless you have something else to show me?”

  “Do you want to play the Demo of [獣戦廻: Jusenkai] Jade edition?”

  “I’ll pass for now.” Jin frowned, “I still have to play the first one.”

  “I see, is anything you say the truth?”

  “...” Jin paused at that statement for a moment before speaking. “Let’s go.”

  “As you command~” Ryoku hummed once more following Jin into the elevator; and though he could not see it, the shining [Way Point] Atlas placed on the floor of the room was as clear as day to anyone with observation. The man Sosaki Ryoku, while the smartest human alive failed at one thing, to assume others might be smarter than him in some things.

  I’m at the very start of the Wheel of Times Book 6 Lord of Chaos. Can’t wait to see the peak of the series!

  Kanji:

  [土我龍] Tsuchigaryu - “Dirt, Ego, Dragon.” The richest family in the world housed in Saharis their net worth is equal to many small nations combined.

  [王朗] ōro - Current head of the Tsuchigaryu post fall of Azhar. His name means “King” and “Melodious.” All of the Tsuchigaru have [王] for King in their name

  [呪助] Norosuke - “Curse” and the common name Suffix 助 meaning “Help” or “assist.” He is part of the Hojo clan and Asara though through a different grandmother one from the [赤見] Akami clan meaning “Red” and “See” a clan notable for their dark sclera and red eyes. They were inter-married with the Kageki Clan, the 3rd and currently extinct 3rd great Clan of Edoland who was killed by the Toumeikan Yakuza 14~ years ago.

  [蘇崎] Sosaki - Meaning “Revived” amd “Cape” as in a mountains edge over the sea. They’re the 2nd richest family in the world and own the Sosaki Corp. [蘇崎社] which is a tech, medicine, gaming, agriculture and market titan of a business.

  [緑] Ryoku - His name means “Green” each Sosaki head is named after a color starting with the companies founder [紫] Takauji. Who is the 6th generation ancestor of Ryoku.

  [獣戦廻] Jusenkai - Beast, Battle, Round (In a Fight) I might write about this one day, I’ve always wanted to do a monster catching, card game mixture perhaps as long as I have project 17 if not longer.