Yumiko, strolling through the Athvan streets. She kept her hands behind her neck and thought of the unimaginable. "Swords, swords, that's all I'd like..."
Surrounded by people, Yumiko blended in with the crowd while she tried to avoid causing mischief, but that would soon change. "I wanted to help Tim and his friends, but now I'm starting to doubt myself. How could I help them without using any durable swords? I don't have superpowers as they do, so there's little to no chance I can do anything."
She halted in her tracks, taking a glimpse of where a weapon store stood. The shopkeeper spoke to Leandre and didn't want to miss a single detail.
She snuck a peek around the corner of the building and listened in on the conversation. "Mr. Leandre and his secretary. I'm surprised. What are you two doing out here in the city? There's been a pirate breach. We were ordered to avoid confronting them."
Leandre continued to hold his beard, one arm behind his back. "Pirates? Yes, so I've heard. However, I have come here only to see your collection of weapons." Yumiko's ears shook, and her face turned blank. "Maybe... If careful, I could sneak past them and steal one of the swords. I'm sure the shopkeeper won't notice one of the swords missing, right? I just need one..."
She quickly became serious and waited for Leandre, Nicole, and the shopkeeper to focus their gazes on each other. "Now's my chance." She silently began to tiptoe over the concrete ground, doing her best not to be spotted.
"But Mr. Leandre. A president doesn't need to ask for my permission. You shouldn't need to be bothered in visiting me if you desire a weapon. You can just order it."
Leandre's eyes slowly rolled to the side and noticed Yumiko sneaking behind him. He became unimpressed, feeling the warm sweat drip down his forehead. "Almost there..." She called while Leandre took a deep breath and ignored her. "I know of my rights, but I wanted to take a break from today's work and see the store for myself, along with Nicole."
Yumiko gently shut the door behind her and quickly came into view of a massive collection of weaponry. Her eyes lit with excitement, sparkles floating around her as she couldn't keep her cool, and instead smiled.
She hurried on over to the sword's collection and began to examine each of their blades and handles with enthusiasm. Most of the swords cost over $70,000, which was obviously impossible for her to afford.
"These swords... are so cool! I can't believe they have Zanteksuken, Nadia, and even Kazeshini! These were one of the legendary weapons that 'Sukeru Samurais' used in the 1930s!" she gently slipped her fingertips on the handle only to soon learn its price.
The three swords each cost $600,000 due to their rarity so most people wouldn't be able to afford them. "I can't believe they are in stock!" although just at that moment, she noticed that the material around the handle easily cracked.
"Huh?" she questioned, swiping her finger on the handle and instantly noticing that the handle was made out of wood, with their names carved in as well as being colored. "These are fake!!"
Instantly the door behind her opened as the shopkeeper shouted. "Hey! You're not supposed to be here! The shop is closed at this time of the day!" Yumiko spun around, getting busted while seeing Leandre and Nicole standing behind the man.
"Are you trying to steal those swords?! Explain it, young lady!" Yumiko grew frustrated and became serious. "How about you explain this to me instead?!" she showed the sword to the others, only for the handle to quickly fall. "W-What?" the shopkeeper wondered, becoming anxious.
"All of these swords are fraudulent! The three fabled swords that the "Sukeru Samurais" wielded in their era are not these three! These are merely reproductions made of ordinary wood and steel. In order to get their money, you've been trying to deceive the customers with a fictitious name, but in actuality, these are just cheap unusable swords!"
The shopkeeper crossed his arms behind his back and looked away, whistling. "Y-You can't prove that. The swords are old, becoming scrap. The 'Sukeru Samurais' put them through legendary battles, so it would make sense for them to slowly start breaking."
Yumiko instantly dropped the swords to the ground. "Oh, really?!" in an instant, she stomped her sole on the steel and terrify the shopkeeper, where he saw the blades breaking into shards. "The three 'Sukeru' swords aren't legendary for them to break so easily! Even if put through hell, those blades were made out of proper material and would still have a big value! Don't try to trick me, you scammer!"
She looked at Leandre and Nicole. "Tell me! Aren't you supposed to be this city's president? Then, explain this to me! Are these weapon stores only made to scam people? Shouldn't you do something about it, Mister-all-cool-president?!"
Yumiko crossed her arms and waited, her foot tapping the floor. "You are correct indeed, young lady." Leandre looked at the shopkeeper, terrifying him. "Please, Mr. Daron. Care to explain why you've been selling fake swords for a such high price, not to mention that you were tricking people into believing those were the 'Sukeru' swords."
The shopkeeper quickly bowed in front of him and clapped his hands above his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Leandre! Give me another chance to keep the business! Please, I promise it won't happen again!"
Leandre sighed and turned his body in Yumiko's direction. "You're one of the crew members from the Phoenix Pirates, correct?" Yumiko's eyes opened wide and quickly became astonished. "Um... N-No?"
The man looked at her, unimpressed only to scare her. "Okay, yes, I am, but please! Don't see us as bad guys, we've only been trying to-" Leandre interrupted her. "Yes, I know. You came here to take down Niklas."
Yumiko tilted her head aside and leaned it onto her left shoulder. "I guess the words spread quickly, huh?" the shopkeeper became terrified, listening to Yumiko.
"We've heard of your arrival from Niklas's sidekicks. However, what I don't understand is. Why are you poking around weaponry stores if you're here for other purposes?" Leandre wondered, staying calm.
"Oh, well... I-Um... I'm not really a crew member, I only joined them to help since they saved my homeland. I want to help them, but not long ago my swords suffered and broke. I've been trying to find a new pair, but all of them are too expensive for our liking." She explained as she scratched the side of her neck.
"I see," Leandre added, "searching for swords. You must be a swordswoman, I suppose. However, I would expect you to have some kind of money to be able and afford the requirements for the crew."
Yumiko sighed and bowed her torso forward. "Despite doing good actions for other people, they are seen as pirates by the WPD, making them the enemy. We don't even have enough money to buy new supplies for the ship, which has numerous holes from the recent storm. Not even for the armory."
Leandre continued to scratch his sharp beard having his eyes closed. "I see you're aware of the new world government society. Say, mind if I know your name, young lady?"
Yumiko looked at Leandre bewildered but replied. "I'm not sure why my name is important, but if you want to know it so badly, it's Umesaki Yumiko."
Leandre nodded and then spoke ahead. "Ah, the moral opposite of the 'Sun Soldiers', the knightess that tried to protect her homeland; Moon Knightess, quite an interesting nickname that I haven't heard in ages."
Yumiko put her arms on her hips. "Sorry, what — Look, I know I did my best, but I didn't come up with that moniker. Because I disliked other soldiers and the fact that the moon is the polar opposite of the sun, the kids in my country thought of me as a knightess and gave me the title 'Moon.'"
"But Knightess, don't you think that's an excellent nickname? Combating the evil whose names were exclusively derived from the sun. The moon is a really comprehensible match to your title." Explained Leandre, ignoring her thoughts.
"Look, whatever, I don't care. I just want to get some new swords. If you have nothing better to do, how about you leave me alone so that I can help my friends?" she called.
Before she could walk outside, past Leandre, he quickly smiled and stopped her. "What if I told you that little old me has a pair of swords you can use to aid your friends? Would you reconsider and accompany me?" Yumiko's head turned around and quickly became irritated.
"If that's one of your ways of trying to make me pay for your swords, that are most likely fake, I decline." However, Leandre chuckled at her response.
"It's on the house. What would you say then?" Yumiko's interest quickly sparked from her distrust and she turned around, crossing her arms. "I'd say: "Now you have my curiosity"." Leandre smiled and nodded.
"Very well. Please, follow me to the city hall. I shall provide you with the blades there."
To be continued...