"Rin of Hirohasm."
His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm but edged with steel, every word deliberate. The flickering lantern light danced across his features, casting shifting shadows that made his presence feel even more commanding.
Aefrine immediately stood up and was about to grab a weapon when he saw several black clothed men appearing from the roof. They landed on the far sides of the room. There were only four that Aefrine could see from where he was standing. But, he could feel like that same number were on the opposite wall.
"Step down, kid. That will be better for the both of us."
Aefrine slowly sat down again, but he used this chance to use his soul hearing. There were exactly eight other men, other than Rin and the owner, who was hiding behind the door, which he entered. He was full of fear. The others were only anticipation, including Rin.
"What do you want? The keys ? I lost them."
I don't have time for this, I fear what Mary would do in this situation, I can't predict her, unlike Larry. But first, I need to deal with this...
"It's too early to say that. Don't worry, I am only here to have a civil discussion."
Rin said as he finally sat in a more respectable position.
The young leader sat with practised composure, his posture straight and disciplined. His piercing eyes locked onto Aefrine's with a gaze as sharp as a drawn blade, revealing both confidence and an air of authority beyond his years. His white attire was pristine, every fold and crease meticulously in place, yet it exuded a quiet menace that suggested the agility and precision of the man wearing it.
Embroidered on his chest was the emblem of a white tiger, its fierce eyes, and bared fangs seeming almost alive against the stark fabric.
Think, think, Aefrine, what can I do... what does he have ? He doesn't seem like a sword user like Ryuji and the orange man...
"I said don't worry, I am not here to harm you."
"How can I trust you?"
"Well, you got a point, but if I wanted anything else, then have a talk, then I wouldn't have the chance to ask me that..."
Is he that strong?
"Then...what you want to talk about?"
"Good, I am here to give you an offer."
"What offer ?"
"Well, our great shogun Ryuji ever since his encounter with you has been interested in you. You offer you an honorary position in his army."
"What..?"
Aefrine wasn't confused this time. He just found the idea so funny that he wanted Rin to rethink what he said. Yet, Rin just continued.
"... You will have a well-respectfull name. Wealth, frame, prosperity, and women will all be yours beyond your wildest dreams..."
I swear I am going to slap you out of that mask.
"And all he asks in return is loyalty, honour, efficiency, and the return of his keys."
"I would like to remind you that the keys aren't his."
"Well, technically, the keys are of no one. So, what do you say?"
"What if it is just a trap ?"
"Again, if we had bad intentions, I would have kidnapped you in the middle of your midnight brawl in Olson."
"What ? You were there ?"
"Yes , and I know that you are travelling with a wanted serial killer, which is now on the other side of town."
"...'
"Don't worry, if you fear her, we can take care of her. If you join us, you will be like a brother to us. Our great shogun will even give you a key for yourself as a gift and a guarantee that he won't betray you. If you read the ancient scroll, you know that the power of the keys can be split -"
"Aren't you the ones who sent an offer for my head ?"
"What ? Oh..."
"You Hirohasmeans offered 3 million duvats for capturing me. "
"No, absolutely not. That is the opposite of our intentions. Somebody has used our name to make that quest. I assure that we definitely don't want you dead as I have already explained. "
"Then, who did it?"
"I honestly don't know, but since you stayed at Monastadt for a long time, maybe somebody wanted you dead. However, that is very unlikely since they barely have money for themselves, Tabollba is very poor nation -"
"Shut up."
Like they would ever betray me in the first place, like who would do such a thing- Rudolf? No, still where would he get the money, 3 million is still too much for him.
"I apologise if I passed a line, I was just stating facts -"
"You are still the most likely to have done it, plus you even gave one million duvats for my dead body.'
"If that is the case, I can assure you that we absolutely need you alive above all else. Our shogun would never do a bounty. He is more honourable than that. We can offer you protection from such dangers, so, what do you say..."
"What are you fighting for ?"
"Pardon me ?"
"What are you fighting for? You aren't invading other nations for nothing, right?"
"We are going to unite the world."
"Huh?"
"We want to make the world united under one rule, no nations stronger than others, no upper council, no lower council. A world where only one nation exists where everyone has an equal chance at this life. That is our goal. And you have a chance to be part of this amazing future."
"By uniting the world, you do mean destroying the other nations?"
"Yes, we must destroy the old regime to build the new one. And anyone who resists us will be dealt with. So, what do you say?"
What do I say ? You destroyed my village and have the guts to ask me to join you ? You want to take the world for yourselves and، want me to join ? You want me to forget my promise for Hans and Alma? Ryuji is just scared at this point... a sword that can cut through everything...what a lie...I am sure that he just doesn't want me to tell everyone that he is a fraud. Yeah, he knows that he is a joke. That is why he needs the keys. He is going to cheat his conquests, isn't he ? Then, I am glad that I stole his keys, and I will make sure that he doesn't get them back... no, no, focus Aefrine, how I am going to get out of here...I can't just say no, right ?
"What happens if I say no?"
"Well, then we will treat you like an enemy. I think you understand that."
Well, what was I expecting... I need to think... what would they do if I say yes...what would Mary do? Wait, I am sure she will be finished by now, ... right? Should I just buy some time? How? Think, Aefrine, think...
"So, what do you say?"
"I need another guarantee..."
"Are you sure? I think we gave you enough, what else do you want?"
"Errrr, ....the second scroll?"
"What?"
Errr, it was the only thing I could think of...
"I need a guarantee that these aren't all lies ...so if you could tell me about the second scroll, so I know how the keys work, that will let me know that there isn't some catch that you are hiding from me..."
"I guess you have a point, but what is your guarantee that you won't decline the offer afterwards and get away with such information?"
"I think you got that secured..."
He looked at the men in the back.
"Fair, enough...the second scroll contains information on what to do with the keys once all the eight have been collected. We haven't spread it, so people don't get ideas when they finally get all the keys. "
"What does it say?"
Rin took a concerning look at the men behind Aefrine and then replied:
"Back in Hirohasm, there is a giant mountain, the mountain of Hakkōda. There are giant gates, and the gates of Unmyeong will appear amf open. These gates only appear once five hundred years. To open them, you will need the eight keys. And once they are opened -"
"You can change your fate?"
"Not that easily, there is a maze which would have to pass in order to get your wish."
"What is the maze like?"
"Only our great shogun Ryuji knows about the details of the maze. All I know is that it will challenge your strength and honour. It will simply get rid of those who aren't worthy. That is what the shogun has told me."
"So, anyone who wants to activate the keys will need to get to go to Hirohasm and climb a mountain and pass a maze ?"
"Not any mountain, our highest mountain. That is why the most logical option for you is to join us. Even if everything went perfectly for you, you will be forced to enter our domain and go through a mysterious maze without any preparation. I assure you that the shogun is the only person who knows everything nessecary for the keys of Fate. So, what do you say ? Honestly, I can't see a reason for why you wouldn't accept such an offer..."
You can't see, huh? You forgot what your shogun did ? I will not join. "And those who betrayed their parents, people, and broke their promises out of mischief and greed are the worst ot people. Whose shall be exiled to where they shall never return" "And those who think that power is of them, and take over other's people property with no excuse than I can, I tell them God can before you can. Indeed, God is disappointed with such creation." These are two verses that Aefrine had read before, from the holy Baal. It was clear what needed to be done.
"So? I don't have all day, you know..."
"Ok, just give me a second..."
Damn it, think, think...God please, help me
Suddenly, the door of the exit slammed open, and standing there was the Duke with a bizarre looking wooden stick with iron.
"Hey, where's my potion? -Oh..."
He looked around. The basement didn't look anything he would have expected.
"Err, sorry, I will be leaving -"
It was too late. Four men in black had already jumped on him. The next moment, the only thing that Aefrine could hear was the echos of a huge BOOM, which almost made him deaf. And the only thing he could see or smell was dust. He hastily used soul hearing. Everyone was away from him. He immediately pulled his bow, shot a strong around Rin, and then pulled himself to the door, passing by the Duke, who was still standing in the doorway, coughing the dust out of his throat.
He jumped through the house's window, breaking its glass, and pulled himself up to the rooftops and started running to the fountain. He had no time to look behind and see what damage he had done.
"Hey, get back here, you cheater !"
He looked behind. It was the Duke, holding to what seemed like a floating long iron axe in one hand and his stick in the other. He was aiming at him with it. And he shot, faster than Aefrine could react, a huge explosion knocked him off. He didn't know where it came from. Yet, he shot an arrow and pulled himself to the next building. Once he landed, the Duke had flown to that roof and tried hitting him with his axe but not with the deadly sharp head but with pole. Nevertheless, Aefrine blocked it with his bow. Looking more carefully at his foe, his stick was really a rifle with a sharp iron end for piercing.
The Duke quickly prepared a second attack and swang her axe hard, but it never landed as a strong back kick pushed off the roof. It wasn't Aefrine's kick. It was Rin's.
"Going somewhere?"
He then proceded to punch Aefrine several times in his stomach before finishing him off with a punch to the face that made a tooth go flying. Aefrine had tried to block his attacks using his bow, but it was too thin to defend from any blitzing hand attacks. So, in this desperate moment, Aefrine pulled his shield and activated it immediately. The impact, however, sent him flying instead. He desperately pulled himself to another building and prepared his shield for another assault. Rin was about to jump to him, but he got blown off by a big explosion. The Duke was back, and he was riding his axe like a broomstick while aiming his rifle.
"Hey, I am not done with y-"
He got interrupted by a couple of small explosions mid-air. He suddenly flew upwards very fast, avoiding them. It was the men in black. Five of them were throwing explosive balls at them. Aefrine tried to run, but he got ambushed by the remaining three that appeared behind him. All of which were wielding short katana swords. Aefrine used phys magic and blocked the first and pushed him with a straight kick on the second. Then, he dodged the third with ease and shot him with multiple arrows to the head, making him lose conscious immediately. Then he covered his head with his upper arm as Rin reappeared out of nowhere and punched him hard.
The paulton absorbed most of the damage, but he didn't keep his balance and the impact threw him into a the neighbouring wooden roof that he fell through, and fell on his back. People were screaming and running in all directions from all the destruction caused.
So his arrows don't hurt physically ? Interesting. Wondered Rin.
Aefrine went running quickly, all he could hear was the explosions in the air and on the ground. As he reached the fountain, he could a huge explosion not far from him, he fell with the impact. He looked behind and there she was. Bloody Mary in full armour with both of her hook swords drawn out.
"Aefrine..."
"Yes?"
"Get out of here. I will take care of this..."
"Errr, thanks..."