"we'll be violating the rule, you know,"he pointed out
"That can't be helped,son" I said,"If you can't take it any longer use this pill before your opponent get too much of a running head start on you."
"Blitz, maybe."
"Possible." He smiled.
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"Excuse me,"Ba yucho said politely"what really happened?"
"A confusion, honored yucho,"Jess told him.
"What kind of confusion?"
"A battle"
"A battle?" Ba yucho's eyes brightened.
"Sometimes it is,"I told him"but not always. Eight different footprint were discovered and there are only six bodies."
"I don't suppose it's just a coincidence,is it?"
"Not very likely, yucho,"I said.
"Excuse me again, please,"Ba yucho said in the different, self-effacing tone."If we're coming up on those, wouldn't the city Lord knows about it,too?"
"Inevitably,"Jess growled.
"We can't really surprise him,then, can we?"
"Not really,"Jess said."we're all more or less guided. Ikko was also investigating there."
"What? Ikko of the pun family in Nyorea village?"
"Does another exist,"
"Do you know what I think?"Jess said"I don't think that what happened there had nothing to do with battle or who is taking care of it. I think Gen Jor is related to the city Lord. I don't quite get it. killing of was nothing a..."she spaced out groping for a word.
"Diversion," Ba yucho supplied."you know, I think you hit the nail square on the head. Indeed, something crucial was going on and the history and enemies of the city Lord were slipping past us while our attention was distracted."
Jess swore."It fits, Ba yucho."she said to me-"it fit Salaro. How could we have been so stupid that we don't see it?"
"Natural talent, I suppose,"I replied glumly"I think we've been had. congratulations, Jess. you come up with an answer we'd have pounded our heads on the wall for weeks to discover. How did you manage to pick it out so quickly?"
"I can't take any credit, yucho, my tutors had started to teach me history since I was five."
"What a mind you have!" I marveled,"you put it all together in the blink of an eye!"
"And you'll have to protect that mind_ and what's going to come after it."
"What have you done, Jess?"
"Nothing, let's find the killer. We don't need any help and we don't need any interference, I'll make such decisions as need to be made. Don't hover over me, and don't try to tell me what to do. And don't, please, don't stand around staring at me. Just do your own work. Do we agree?"
Of course I agreed. What else could I do?"
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Brooding mile after mile,we hit ketan central.
"Ree..... what?" Drew hid damandes incredulously.
"Home away from away,dear boy."she'd explained with a somewhat superior smile.
That was Vovo, the city magistrate.
He took his time over breakfast at a handy diner before heading for the head office of magistrate Vovo. He'd care to know the towering steel-and-glass structure since he'd been hired as city Lord advisor just over six years ago.
At first he'd felt ridiculous, getting all mused up and hovering to speak all the solemnity of an important happening. After a while he got used to it, though, and now it was just another job- a job that brought in big rubies.
"Mr.drew!" The receptionist beamed at him"welcome back."
"Thanks, Mena. The boss lady in town?" He rolled his eyes towards the stairs that rose to the top floor where Vovo held Court.
Mena's smile revealed perfect teeth."not only that_ she's expecting you."
"She doesn't even know I'm in town," he objected startled by her comment.
She shrugged, eyes widening,"Don't ask me, I just work here. But I've heard it said she has eyes in the back of her head." Smiling, she returned her attention to the paperwork before her.
Drew crossed the lobby toward the stairs, his boot clicking on the marble. Vovo always seemed to know everything, his gaze wandering around the lobby, sensing a change.
Something new had been added, a blow up of the famous old tournament, The True champion tournament. Choram village had been on top for the past three years,they won three consecutive years, but Drew had these feelings it's going to change this time. His face scroll down to the second position last year tournament,Falul village_ no, not this one, maybe_ Los village. suddenly his eyes met the last on the list, the 24 years consecutive loser , the Brighten stone village_ feels like it. hehehe.
His eyes drifted away as he saw the new broadcast. The Brighten stone village elders massacre. Damn it, what does that has to do with the court. 'City Lord involvement'
Yeah,he thought as he stepped onto the stairs. Listening to Vovo was what had gotten him into this strange world in the first place_ that and a ton of rubies.
"You're only half the package, darling. When I become magistrate twenty years ago on a damn shoe string, I vowed never to let vanity,mine or anybody else's get between me and a strong bottom line.
She obviously never had. Today, her success is still flying high as magistrate and head judge. Aggressive and smart, she terrorized most of the people she dealt with.
Drew liked her.
Her secretary waved him through with a smile and he entered the plush office _ another shock considering that this is only a court.
Vovo rose quickly from behind a black desk, her sleek red dress the only touch of color in the room.
"Darling!"coming around the desk, she offered her porcelain cheek for his kiss.
"How are you doing, magistrate,"he pressed his lips to her clear skin.
"Do tell me about your adventures."she plucked a Manila folder off the desk before drawing him to hand a black leather couch near the wall.
"Saw a lot of things that shouldn't. Two different aura different from the former six."he sat down beside her.
"Aside from the six?" Vovo asked sharply.
Drew laughed,"more than six. I traced them back here."
"They're here in the ketan central?"
"Surely,they headed for the battleground, meaning they came for the tournament. This is a chance to win another favor from the city Lord,hehe."
"Take along six elite warriors, I'll meet you here."
"We take them with force."he pointed out.
"Who's talking force?" Vovo's head lifted and she grinned suddenly,as if she'd just puzzled out the problem to her satisfaction."I'm more subtle than that darling."
"You could'a fooled me," he observed dryly."How do you intend to pull off this miracle of exposure."
"Not me, love. You. You're going to expose them."
"No way!" He stared at her, appalled."how am I,a advisor supposed to_"
"That's the key, because you are a advisor, you are good with words. Why do you think I signed you on as the city Lord's advisor, Because you support charitable causes and a miraculous perfectionist."
"How did you know I'm ki_?"
"I have ways of finding these things out " she waved off his astonishment."with your decision making,they won't stand a chance."
"I can't just_"
"You certainly can, I want you to hightail it to the central and expose does fools. Claiming that glory to yourself ofcourse_"
"Bye!" Drew dashed out,he can't take it in any more.
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Opening his eyes little by little. Lapping voices and noise gave him a confused expression. 'where am I?'
"Oh boy you finally wake up"a familiar voice drew him back,cleavon's."Gear up, boy, you are in for it, can you fight with this condition?"
"I can try."
"Possibly Yes, your dantain is unstable, but elder Fa said you would.
[Fuck, it like I don't have a purpose. I don't like being ordered around and doing things to favor others. I want to explore the world and find that signal, ugh...]
********
The currency spent in this world are as_
Currency unit
100 copper coin»1 silver coin
100 silver coin»1 gold coin
100 gold coin»1 ruby
[ It's based upon the best available information, but it is not intended to be mathematically precise; like the measurement equivalents in the footnotes, it merely give approximate amounts and distances. Weight and measure differed somewhat at various times and places in the ancient world.]
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