A continuation of the previous chapter.
Ashia: "Princess, your hair! What happened?!"
Vena: "I sort of cut it shorter to conceal my identity, you know? I think this was a good idea."
Ashia: "Your... your beautiful long hair, it's gone!" He sniffed and cried.
Vena: "Oh Ashia, please don't cry, you'll make me cry too!"
Renzo: "I don't see a problem, to be honest. It suits you."
Vena: "Uh? Oh... uhm... thanks, Renzo." She blushed.
Akemi: "Master, your face is turning red."
Vena: "No, it's not!"
Victoria laughed.
Renzo: "Oh, I almost forgot. Hey Victoria, where can I find old man Gaizo?"
Victoria: "You wish to speak with the elder? I'll take you to him."
Vena: "Huh? Wait, what for?"
Ashia: "Oh right, well you see, Princess, this plain inhabited by the Elvians goes further than you could imagine. We're thinking about building a house and some other things here for us."
Renzo: "I don't think the Elvians would mind. You are their leader, and besides, here is a good place to lay low for the time being."
Akemi: "Master, that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. We could rule the plains as our own and develop it for our comfort."
Renzo: "Just for the time being, Vena. I need your head to be cleared before anything else."
Vena: "That's fine, sounds good to me."
Victoria: "Okay, then let's run the idea by Elder Gaizo."
The scene transitioned to Shira walking with Alzac.
Shira: "Run that by me again."
Alzac: "It's just what I think. You may have all the other clan leaders by your side, but not having Ren's power is a huge threat on its own."
Shira: "Ren's power?"
Alzac: "The contracted spirit of the Kurosaki Clan, Akimaru. You must have that power to truly control the kingdom. Ren could easily use that to destroy you."
Shira: "Akimaru, huh? Tch, you think too much, Alzac. I have the blessings of the other clan leaders, as you just stated. Getting Akimaru from Kurosaki is going to be easier than you thought. Gather the clan leaders; a meeting will take place in an hour."
Alzac: "Of course, My king."
The scene transitioned to Gaizo's office with the others.
Renzo: "A territory ID?"
Gaizo: "Yes, it's easier to start building infrastructure on land once you've obtained a territory ID. If you don't have one, your land can easily be bought by someone else with a Territory ID, even if you've already started the construction process."
Ashia: "Okay, so how do we get this ID?"
Gaizo: "That's another thing. That ID is only accessible by Nobles, not mere Elvians like myself."
Victoria: "We're really down the pecking order."
Renzo: "If the situation weren't as it is, the princess could easily get one of those."
Ashia: "Definitely, but since it's like that, we have to come up with another way."
Gaizo: "Oh, Master Renzo."
Renzo: "Yeah?"
Gaizo: "I forgot to tell you, our race of Elvians specializes in something quite unique."
Renzo: "Oh really? What's that?"
Gaizo: "Weapon craft."
Renzo: "Awesome!" He said, his eyes lighting up.
Ashia: "We should return now. We need to get the princess in on the situation."
Victoria: "Right."
The scene panned to the plains.
Renzo: "What the...?" Renzo saw a new breed of demihumans on the plain.
Akemi: "Oh, you guys are back."
Renzo: "Uh... Akemi?"
Akemi: "I was thinking about your plan earlier, about building housing infrastructure on the plains. So I went and summoned my loyal servants to help with that."
Vena: "And I said the more the merrier!"
Renzo: "They look so cool! Lizard people!"
Akemi: "How absurd, they're not lizard people. They're Dragonfolks."
Renzo: "Lizard people."
Ashia: "I say that was an excellent idea, Akemi."
Vena: "So, what did Yamato say?"
Ashia: "We'll be needing a Territory ID. Without one, even if we started building anything, someone with a Territory ID can lay claim and take it away."
Vena: "Wait, that doesn't sound right."
Victoria: "Frankly, that's how it's always been. The rules are set by the Sister Capitals, Gants and Igris. Humans are the more advanced species. The regulations set by them are to bring forth order. So we have to follow."
Renzo: "Sounds like a load of crap."
Vena: "We don't want to start anything without a solid foundation. Having a Territory ID would make things run smoothly. So how do we get one?"
Ashia: "That's the thing, Princess. From Gants or Igris. They're only available at those two Capitals."
Victoria: "Capitals are huge, lots of people go there to seek opportunities for jobs at the different guilds available."
Ashia: "We should mark Gants off our mind, going to Igris seems like the perfect place for now."
Renzo: "I think you're forgetting to tell her. You need to be a noble to obtain a Territory ID."
Vena: "I can act as a noble! Ou ou cosplay! Let me help!"
Ashia: "I'm sorry, Princess, but I must decline. Just showing your face at any capital would be dangerous as it is."
Vena: "Aw, c'mon Ashia! My hair's shorter, I'll wear glasses! Besides, I've never been to Igris before, so how would anyone recognize me?"
Renzo: "As much as I hate to agree with Ashia... I have to agree with him this time... wait, no, I don't. Forget what I was about to say."
Ashia: "You damned devil!"
Vena: "Please, I wanna see Igris and what it's like! I could learn a thing or two. My safety is always in your guys' hands, so I don't tend to worry much. Plus, now we have Akemi. I'm sure we'll be alright. And besides, I'm more of a noble than the two of you! I'll improvise and get myself that Territory ID!"
Ashia: "But Princess."
Vena: "Shut up, Ashia! As your princess, I command you to let me come!"
Renzo: "Yeah, shut up, Ashia."
Ashia: "I'll kill you!"
Renzo: "You wanna piece of me?"
Ashia: "Bring it on!"
Renzo: "Alright, let's go!"
Vena: "Will you two quit it? We have a capital to head to!"
Renzo: "You know, once she's made up her mind, there's no stopping her."
Ashia: "Sigh, sometimes I still like to try. That mentality of hers can backfire."
Akemi: "Master, I'd like to stay behind a bit to give some final orders to the Dragonfolks. Afterward, I'll join you on your journey."
Vena: "You will? But how will you know where to find us?"
Akemi: ("That's simple, I'll communicate like this.") Via telepathy.
Vena: "Wait, that's telepathy! So cool! Very well then. You coming, Vicki?"
Victoria: "I'm sorry, I can't. Demihumans aren't allowed near the capitals."
Vena: "Hhm, okay. Don't worry, I'll make sure that one day the capital will be free to visit by all species."
Victoria: "Uh? That'll be wonderful, Master."
Vena: "Okay, Renzo, Ashia, let's head to Igris!"
The scene transitioned to the kingdom of Gants. Along with Shira, the other clan leaders sat around a table. Alzac was also present.
Vishna - Wind clan leader.
Ozai - Fire clan leader.
Tengen - Earth clan leader.
Indra - Lightning clan leader.
Shira: "Welcome, gentlemen. It's an honor to be in the presence of such prestige."
Vishna: "Thank you, my king. But the only prestigious man in sight is yourself."
Shira: "You're most kind, Vishna. I won't keep you long, but I want you all to hear what I have to say."
Tengen: "Gathering us together on such short notice, my king, is something wrong?"
Shira: "The night my wife and friends vanished, along with the assassination of our former King, Ren Kurosaki was nowhere to be found. As the king's personal Guardian, he swore to never leave King Hazai's side."
Ozai: "It is quite suspicious, if you ask me. But he's been with the King since they were younger. Do you really have him as a suspect?"
Shira: "I'm afraid we have to take everything into consideration. He's refused to give me blessings as king, and he's reluctant to work with me."
Alzac: "I think our king is quite generous. He uprightly rejected our king before his face. All of Ren's actions back then could all be an act, waiting for the perfect time to strike."
Shira: "He refused to listen to my command, with a high expectation of treachery. He's a bane to the existence of this kingdom. Who's to say he won't attack again? His son is missing, and there's another chance that Ren kidnapped my wife and is now holding my queen hostage."
Indra: "What should we do about Ren then?"
Shira: "I need you four to retrieve him for me. I need to ask him some personal questions."
Vishna: "Are you sure Ren could do something like this, my king? Have you ever stopped to reconsider?"
Indra: "Vishna! The King has already spoken. We take action, and we do that now."
Ozai: "As you wish, my king. We will go and get Ren."
Shira: "Excellent. Please, don't treat it as a formal greeting. Our Kingdom's lives are at stake."
Indra: "Just what I wanted to hear."
Shira: ("Once they've captured him, I'll steal Akimaru for myself, then my rebuild of Gants shall begin.")
The scene panned to Ren meditating in a room in his village while a young man, his student, stood behind him.
Zora: "Master Ren, I'm sorry. We've found no traces of the princess or your son. We've looked everywhere but..."
Ren: "Don't apologize. My son is not dead. I can feel it. And if he's alive, then the princess is no doubt with him. You've done your best. Now, I think you just need to get some rest."
Zora: "Yes, sir! Please excuse me." He walked from the room.
Zora was walking on a path when he saw Tengen before him.
Zora: ("That's Tengen Miura! The master of the Earth Clan. What is he doing here?")
Tengen: "Hey, you, boy."
Zora: "Me, sir?"
Tengen: "I've seen your face before. You hang around Ren, do you not?"
Zora: "Yes, sir. He's my master."
Tengen: "Oh, in that case, tell your master it's nothing personal."
Zora: "What!?"
Tengen raised a hand as two golden hands appeared. They instantly spread to the side.
The ground cracked apart, and a huge shockwave blew the housing infrastructures and trees away.
Zora: "AHH!!!"
The village instantly turned into a rumbling mess. Zora was seen on the ground with blurred vision.
Tengen walked by his body.
Zora: "You! Wait!" He struggled to his feet.
Tengen: "It's best you stay down, kid."
Zora: "No! Why did you do this? Why did you attack our village?"
Tengen: "Lower your tone. Do you realize who you're standing before?"
Zora: "I don't care. Anyone who attacks my village immediately turns into our enemy."
Tengen laughed.
Indra and Ozai were leaping on the remaining housing infrastructures, heading toward Ren.
Ren walked out of his house. Indra and Ozai both simultaneously flew at him and delivered a punch, which Ren dodged by sidestepping.
Ren: "What's the meaning of this?"
Ozai: "No bad blood, Kurosaki. We're just carrying out orders!" He raised his other hand, which was engulfed in flames as he prepared to attack.
Indra backed off.
Ozai launched his flaming fist at Ren, who teleported away toward the rooftop. Immediately as he stood, Indra flashed before him to deliver a kick. His leg was covered with lightning.
Ren had already anticipated his actions. He instantly countered by parrying Indra's leg to the side and delivering a huge punch to Indra. A shockwave emitted on impact.
Indra flew downwards but was still on his feet.
Ren: "There are people here, and you chose to attack! Innocent lives are being placed in danger."
Indra: "Shut up, Ren. We've gotten word from His Majesty to take you in. You're the main suspect."
Ren: "Suspect for what?"
Ozai: "The killing of Hazai and the disappearance of Princess Vena."
Ren: "If you believe what you just said, then you both are a bunch of fools."
Indra: "I was going to say come quietly, but why would I? We've never fought before. In our interactions, because you were Hazai's personal Guardian, your ego led you to believe that you were superior to the rest of us."
Ren: "I can't believe in something that I already know, Indra."
Indra: "There you go again with that ego. I've always hated you. This is a perfect opportunity to put you in your place."
Ozai: "We've only come to detain, Indra. Don't get carried away now."
Ren: "I've always been aware of your hatred for me, but I have never hated you. Never have I sunk to the depths of hatred. For the only emotions I've felt for those beneath me is just pity. You will regret attacking me and my people. This goes to show your life means nothing to a boy on a throne."
And with that, the chapter came to a close.