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Autumndusk, The COU Castle: Asmon's Office, Time: 3:20 AM
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"How should we approach this?" Bada inquired, settling himself onto a couch and stretching his back, his fatigue from the evening's events evident.
Nick, his playful demeanor temporarily fading, spoke up with a serious expression. "I believe we should let him go," he suggested, pacing thoughtfully around the room. "Consider this, Sugar may appreciate it more if he's given his freedom."
Asmon, his brow furrowing with consideration, addressed Nick's proposal. "But wouldn't releasing him put him in danger?" he questioned, his tone cautious as he weighed the potential risks. "Especially when the other kingdom could simply put a bounty over his head."
Nick responded with a playful wink, sticking out his tongue in a carefree manner. "Oh, come on, he's not alone out there. He'll manage just fine," Nick reassured them, a hint of confidence in his voice.
Asmon and Bada exchanged a knowing glance, recognizing the truth in Nick's words.
"Especially when that someone is the ruler of hell..." Nick muttered to himself, cursing under his breath that Lucia got to him.
With a thoughtful expression, Bada leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "Nick does have a point," he mused, his gaze fixed on the floor as he weighed the options.
"Sugar has always been resourceful and skilled at getting himself out of tight spots." Bada points out that his mentor is always dealing with a situation that is overwhelming for him.
Asmon nodded in agreement, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he considered the implications.
"Releasing him might indeed be the better choice," he admitted, a hint of reluctant approval in his tone.
"However, we can't simply let him roam free without any oversight." Asmon rests his elbow on his office desk, pondering on what he should do.
Nick's mischievous grin returned as he leaned against a nearby wall. "Don't worry, I've got an idea," he chimed in.
"We can assign someone to keep an eye on him from the shadows. Someone he won't even know is there." Oh, this is absolutely what Nick wanted, he will show that smug Lucia that she can't put a leash on his brother-in-law like this!
Bada's interest was piqued, and he turned his attention to Nick. "Like a silent guardian," he suggested a hint of intrigue in his voice.
"Someone who can guide him when necessary but without him realizing it." So, this is how Sugar felt when he planned out an idea.
Nick nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. We'll make sure he's safe while still giving him the sense of independence he values so much." Making sure that his second objective would fall like a domino along with it.
Asmon sighed, a mix of concern and resignation in his expression. "Very well, let's proceed with that plan," he said, finally giving in to the notion.
"But Nick, I think we already found a silent guardian for Sugar." Asmon continued as Nick looked at him with confusion.
"Nick, you will be the silent guardian for him. A spy if you will. You will give us all the information that Sugar has been doing." Asmon stated, giving Nick the position he would be in.
"Bada, you would try to cover up the situation as much as you can. I presume that you can do that with your alliance with Black & White Time." Asmon ordered, gaining a nod from his son.
"I do want one thing, though," Nick stated, wanting a composition for all this.
Asmon was ready to hear what he wanted, "Make me an ArchSentinel."
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Autumndusk, Stoneglen: Sapphire Inn, Time: 6:20 AM
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"The second day was canceled?!" James exclaimed, his words muffled by the mouthful of meat he was devouring. It seemed like a new day for the Lucky Inquisitors with they woke up to a shocking turn of events.
"Yeah, King Morgan was found murdered yesterday, and the detective is still on the case," Ezra explained, showing everyone at the Lucky Inquisitor the freshly printed newspapers.
The headline read, "King that tried for peace Found Murdered & The Rise of a New Terror." The news had spread like wildfire, prompting some kingdoms to consider attending his funeral scheduled for today.
"This is unbelievable. Who could commit such a heinous act?" James said, flailing his arms in frustration. He was planning to do a lot of things today but that was ruined.
"It was done by a new group called 'S Enterprise,' " Ezra continued, his mind already wandering about what the 'S' could signify.
Mianne sighed as she slumped down onto the table, her disappointment evident. "It's such a shame that the festivals had to end abruptly like this."
Ace leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. "Well, we can't stay here dwelling on it. We'll need to move on to another place."
The group fell into a momentary silence, lost in their thoughts about what their next move should be.
"Anyone has any suggestions?" Ace finally broke the silence, looking around the table at his companions.
As they continued to discuss and share their ideas, the atmosphere in the Lucky Inquisitor was a mixture of concern, curiosity, and a sense of camaraderie, from the other table however.
"Well, well, mission accomplished, am I right, fellas?" Dy'va exclaimed as he stretched his meaty arms.
"Yup,"
"Agreed,"
"Mhm," the rest of Sugar's Enterprise chimed in, all of them donning brown trench coat disguises along with wigs to complete their cover.
"I've got a feeling we're going to be the talk of the town soon!" Dy'va, sporting a white wig, added with uncontainable excitement.
"Don't let that excitement get to your head. We'll be in quite a bind if we're caught," November, who had an orange wig on, chimed in with a hint of amusement, her fingers idly playing with the cartridges she had used in yesterday's operation.
The group sat at a round table of the Inn. All of them have a typical, mundane breakfast meal while November fancies herself with a steak.
Toodies, wearing a black wig and a fake mustache, leaned back in his chair, his skeletal fingers tapping rhythmically. "Well, I must say, the chaos we've caused surely stirred things up," he remarked with a chilling grin.
Rosco, donning a blonde wig and a pair of glasses, nodded in agreement. "It's quite the diversion. Keeps everyone on their toes."
"Exactly what we needed to distract them from our true objectives," added November, her orange wig slightly askew as she adjusted her glasses. "And with the kingdom rulers in disarray, they won't be focusing on our next moves."
Dy'va let out a hearty laugh, his white wig bouncing slightly. "That's what makes us Sugar's Enterprise! Always a step ahead, creating chaos and confusion."
"Good morning, everyone," Sugar greeted as he took a seat among the group, wearing a straw hat, sunglasses, and a Hawaiian shirt that added a touch of casualness to their serious discussions.
"Looks like we came out on top this time, huh?" Sugar chuckled, his amusement shared by the rest of Sugar's Enterprise. There was a sense of accomplishment in the air – a feeling of triumph over the challenges they had faced.
As Sugar lifted his coffee mug for a sip, his sharp eyes caught something intriguing. His gaze settled on Mianne, who was wearing a delicate moon charm around her neck. Recognition flickered in Sugar's eyes.
That moon charm held a significance he hadn't forgotten. It was a key to unlocking the Sacred Frontiers, a place of limitless wishes and dreams come true.
Sugar leaned in, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "Isn't that…" he started, the memory coming back to him.
The moon charm was the key, and it meant that someone was on the path to unlocking the Sacred Frontiers.
The place was hidden, its gates separated into ten pieces scattered across the realm.
Once all the pieces were collected, the gates could be reopened, granting access to the realm of boundless possibilities.
"Hey, boss! Got your eye on someone?" Dy'va teased, nudging Sugar playfully as he wiggled his eyebrows. Sugar responded by shoving Dy'va's face away with a mock scowl.
"I've got a perfect plan for our next move!" Sugar declared with excitement evident in his voice.
His mind was already racing with ideas, and he couldn't wait to share them with the rest of Sugar's Enterprise. James, in his heart, was grateful to him for sparking this inspiration.
As the group gathered around, eager to hear Sugar's plan, he began to lay out his strategy.
"We're going after The Lucky Inquisitors for their charms, of course!" Sugar announced a devious glint in his eyes.
The idea was bold and daring, perfectly aligned with their adventurous nature. Also, this would please Lucia by a long shot.
Dy'va's face lit up with excitement, November adopted a thoughtful expression, Rosco maintained his characteristic stoic demeanor, and Toodies, as always, looked slightly confused.
"So, what's the scoop?" Toodies asked, scratching his head in a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Sugar leaned forward, ready to spill the beans. "Listen up. One of The Lucky Inquisitors possesses a moon charm – you know, one of the key pieces to unlock the Sacred Frontiers. And here's the kicker: We already have one of those pieces." November chimed in to emphasize Sugar's point, her expression focused and determined.
Toodies couldn't resist his cheeky nature. "Wow, thanks for the lecture, Grandma!" he quipped, earning himself an amused yet mildly exasperated look from November. Even amid their serious discussions, Toodies always had a knack for injecting a dose of humor.
"I've got an idea for our next destination!" Mianne exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
"We could head to Diremaw! It's close to Sylvanwood, so it's a reasonable journey," she proposed, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Ezra, known for his quiet demeanor, couldn't help but interject with a touch of humor. "Just for the library, right?" he teased, drawing a slightly flustered response from Mianne.
"Well, yes, but also the scenery," she admitted with a sheepish grin.
Ace, chiming in with his thoughts, added, "Diremaw is truly a breathtaking place. I wouldn't mind revisiting." His nonchalant demeanor reflected his genuine enthusiasm for the idea.
James, seizing the momentum, declared with excitement, "Alright then, it's settled! Diremaw it is!" He took a hearty gulp of his drink before adding another suggestion.
"Maybe we could invite The Haunting Travlervania to join us!" he mused, his enthusiasm contagious.
Ezra, however, brought them back to reality. "I hate to break it to you, but they've already left. They mentioned they were headed to Argenville," he informed James, causing a slight dip in his excitement.
"Well, that's their loss!" James retorted, his pride unfazed by the missed opportunity.
Sugar's Enterprise had been silently observing the conversation, curious about their upcoming adventure. "Just like a star – they're heading to Diremaw," November commented, conveying the plan to Sugar, who was intrigued.
"The place where pinecone dragons reside? Hm, an interesting choice," Sugar mused aloud. He watched as the group left the inn with sudden determination, their departure catching him off guard.
"Hey! They're about to set off! Move quickly!" Sugar exclaimed with a hint of panic in his voice.
The members of Sugar's Enterprise sprang into action, moving as a unified group with an almost comical urgency.
November, though, found herself briefly crushed beneath the enthusiastic rush. She decided to dispatch her royal bird, The Watcher JR, to keep an eye on the group's destination.
With their impromptu plan set in motion, Sugar's Enterprise was ready for their next adventure – one that promised enchanting landscapes, unexpected encounters, and the thrill of the unknown.
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