"Bro what are you doing here!?" Tatsumi asked with a face of shock as he realized who was standing infront of them.
"What?!" The group said in unison as they realized what he just said. "It doesn't matter who you are. How did you get in here?" Asked a soldier behind Zander as he and everyone else in the room drew their weapons.
"The hole in the ceiling." "What ho..." The man began to say but stopped as he saw a glowing red hole leading into the holding cell above them.
Suddenly there was loud thud catching everyone's attention. Orge had slammed down his drink and stood infront of Zander. They both were about the same height but Orge was more bulky. "You made a big mistake coming down here." Orge says as there was a small shift in the crowd around them.
"How about you set up arena space so we have more room. Then everyone can join in maybe even the runts." "Sadly you will have to settle for the curb." Orge said as he cracked his knuckles. "I wasn't talking to you meathead." Zander says before swiftly snapping his neck. "Now that is handled. What will it be?"
"Well I don't see how I can't arrange that. It will be a entertain even for the public. " A man in the shadows said as he stepped put revealing his face. It was General Budo. "General Budo! Let me handle this criminal." Seryu yelled as stepped forward trying to hold her tears as had just watched Orge's dead body hit the floor.
"Little girl stand down. You can fight him tomorrow. This will certainly make some entertainment for the King and Prime Minister." Budo said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I will arrange for the fight to be held tomorrow at noon. I hope you don't miss it." "Oh I won't." Zander replied as he turned and head for the door.
"Tatsumi what is wrong with your brother? Is he insane?" Run asked as they watched Zander leave. "Yes, but he's not an idiot. What ever you do don't get pulled into the fight tomorrow." Tatsumi said as they all watch as Seryu broke down crying over Orge's body.
After some time Zander pulled off his hood and bandanna and walked down the market area of the city to find Leone playing with some kids in the street. "Wewe." A little girl said as Leone swung her around.
When Leone spun around to see Zander watching her. "Amy how about you go find Grandma." She told the little girl as she sat her down. "Aw, but I want to play more." The girl says as she begins to cry, but is cut off. "I know, but I have to go to work. I'll come back soon." Leone said as she walked over to Zander who was leaning up against a market stall.
"The mission is complete and some extra information was given to me." Zander says as they walk into one of the street restaurants. "Good let's celebrate!" She yells out then orders two large cups of beer.
"You grew up on the streets. Didn't you?" Zander asked as he spotted scars running under her tub top. "Yeah I did. Most people when they get an out of that life. They stay as far away as they can, but everyone showed me extremely kindness. So I help them out when I can." Leone said with a faint smile as she looked out the window into the part. "Anyway let's get some drinks!"
-xXx-
"You want to what?" Yelled the Prime Minister as he heard General Buko's request to have a fight in the area the next day. "Yes brother. A man broke into the bar under the precinct then before killing Captain Orge proposed that we fight in the arena for space." Buko said as he stood infront of the Prime Minister and King sitting at a table with a map of the Empire's territory.
"Well why didn't you just kill him then!? Any breaking of the law can be punishable by death! If word gets out that you were hesitant to some suicidal street rat" The minister said only to receive a glare from his brother that peirce his soul. "That so called street rat has power equal to the Empire's elite assassins."
"How do you know this General Buko?" The little king asked. "Because he sensed my aura as soon as I entered into the room. Only people who have received high level training can achieve this."
"Well in that case tell this man to enter into the tournament tomorrow. There we can see if he is really what you think" Esdeath said as she revealed herself.
"Very well. If he proves to be a problem then do not let him leave that area alive." The king said as he looked out a large window and looked toward the area gates. A large banner hung from the stone pillars. It reads "Fighting competition. Winner receives secret prize from General Esdeath. Tomorrow at noon"
-xXx-
"WOOHOO" Leone drunkenly yelled as Zander carried her on his back with his jacket pulled over her. "If you don't stop I'll burn you." He said in an irritated tone. "Ha you look so sexy when you are frustrated." She said as she tightened her grip on Zander's neck pushing her melons against his back.
'Why am I so nice to sexy crazy women?' Zander thought to himself as he recalled to him and Tatsumi helping a hot woman who turned out to be bat shit crazy on their trip to the capital.
"Zander." Tatsumi called as he turned a corner to head out of the city. "What do you want?"
"General Buko has arranged for you to fight tomorrow. In the competition tomorrow at noon. If you defeat all of the fighters then you will be relieved of all charges and given a high ranking military position." Tatsumi said as he handed him a flyer for the competition.
"Very well. Tatsumi I'll ask you once go back to the village and take care of Sensei. Don't make me kill you if it comes down to it." He told his brother as he walked past him.
Leone lowered her head as she heard their conversation. 'Does he really want to fight General Buko?' She thought as Zander carried her back to the base.
They reached the base to be greeted by the team waiting in the meeting room. "What did you do to her?" Mine asked as he sat down Leone in a chair. "After I completed the mission she wanted to celebrate by getting drunk." He answered bluntly before turning back around to see Najenda putting out one of her cigarettes in a ashtray filled with fresh ashes.
"Rebel informants in the police force said that you challenged General Buko to fight! What the hell were you thinking?! Your mission was only to eliminate Orge " She yelled before slamming her metal fist in the arm of her throne.
"And he is dead. The rebels only have low level informants and not any living high ranking officers. That is why I wanted to fight Buko to get the Esdeath's attention then join into the imperial army as a mercenary." Zander answers as he looked out an open window. "And it worked they invited me to join the fighting competition tomorrow as a reward for winning I will be given a high ranking position in the army."
"That doesn't matter! You can't go off and do your own thing." "I can do what I want. You either have the choice to follow my plan and gain information or lose me as an allie." Zander says sternly as his and Najenda's eyes locked.
-xXx-
Tatsumi stood with Esdeath as they stood next the Prime Minister, General Buko and the King in the royal booth of the arena watching as the seats began to fill with people.
"Tatsumi tell us why you and your brother came to the capital." The King asked as they waited. "If you wish so my lord." He responded with as he began to tell them the reason for their journey and Zander's ruthlessness on criminals on the way to the capital then their experience with Night Raid and Aria's family. "So he is the Demon King! He must be executed!" Yelled the Minister as Zander's identity was revealed. "Gather all imper.."
"That is wrong he isn't." Buko said cutting off his brother. "If he is the real Demon King both me and Esdeath would sense him by now. The only way to know the truth is to wait."
"General Esdeath my brother is here." Tatsumi said as he saw Zander with out a mask walk into the arch entrance of the arena.
"All competitors hand over any weapons. They will be returned to you after the tournament." A captain yelled as they directed them into the arena. "Sir hand over your sword." The man said as Zander was the last one with a weapon. "Here." He said as he handed his sword after wrapping it with his jacket. "Don't burn yourself." The soldiers who took the sword were confused by the comment but soon found the meaning as one of them touched the hilt of the sword and received 3rd degree burns on his hand. The other competitors looked over confused as nobody else was asked for their weapons.
"Welcome everyone to the capital's fighting tournament!" The announcer for the competition said. "There has been a change in plans for this competition. Fighters with matching numbers will join into pairs for the duration of the competition. Also this leaves a single competitor by him or herself." He said following the instructions he was given.
"Now will competitor numbers 38 and 99. Proceed to the area." The crowd roared to life as Zander and 2 people wearing cloaks walk out into the arena.