The girl points her sword at Liu Ming and says, "You mercenaries... You're stronger than you look."
Hikari steps forward, his eyes cold and piercing. "What mercenaries?"
The girl falters, sensing the weight of his aura. She takes a step back, lowering her sword cautiously. "You… you're not mercenaries?"
Kael steps in with a disarming smile. "You've got it wrong, miss. By the way, why were the people in the bar so tense? What's going on here?"
The girl exhales, glancing at Hikari and Liu Ming. These two… they're too strong. If they were mercenaries, I wouldn't stand a chance.
She straightens up, finally introducing herself. "My name is Sumire. I'm the princess of this planet."
Liu Ming raises an eyebrow. "A princess, huh? That explains the attitude. So, you're the king's daughter?"
Sumire nods solemnly. "Five years ago, a group of mercenaries came to our planet. They posed as allies and earned my father's trust. But once they gained power, they accused my father of treason. Now they've taken control of the planet, ruling it with fear."
Hikari's expression remains cold. "How did the people react to this betrayal?"
Sumire hesitates. "Many believed the mercenaries' lies and turned against my father. But there are still those who remain loyal to him, working in secret to resist their rule."
Liu Ming crosses his arms. "Where is your father now?"
"In a prison deep within the main kingdom," Sumire says, her voice trembling.
She looks at the three travelers and asks, "Will you help me? Please…"
Without a word, Hikari, Kael, and Liu Ming walk past her. Stunned, Sumire watches them leave. Then Hikari glances back over his shoulder and says, "Yeah. But don't forget to buy me some booze later."
---
The Resistance
Sumire leads them to a hidden meeting place, tucked away in the back streets of the city. They stop in front of a small, rundown barber shop.
Hikari looks at the shop and frowns. "What the—?"
Inside, an old barber is sweeping the floor. He looks up as they enter. "What do you need, sir?" Then his eyes land on Sumire. "Ah, Princess. It's been a while. How are you holding up?"
Sumire gives a small smile. "I'm fine, Bachi. These three are… friends."
Bachi's gaze shifts to Hikari, Liu Ming, and Kael, lingering on their imposing presence. "Friends, huh? Well, you don't look like the locals. What brings you here?"
Kael glances around the empty shop. "Is it just you here? This doesn't look much like a rebellion."
Sumire sighs. "Bachi is the only one in this part of the city who openly supports my father. There are others, but they're hiding in the main kingdom, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Bachi chuckles. "Name's Bachi. Nice to meet you, strangers. But if you're thinking of taking on the mercenaries, you should know—they're not pushovers."
Hikari smirks. "We've handled worse."
Kael grins. "Yeah, I doubt they're stronger than us."
Liu Ming steps forward. "How many of them are there?"
Bachi's expression turns serious. "There are ten of them. The weaker ones are named after the days of the week, and the stronger ones go by colors. Here's the list:
1. Mr. Monday
2. Mr. Thursday
3. Ms. Friday
4. Ms. Saturday
5. Mr. Sunday
6. Mr. Red
7. Mr. Blue
8. Mr. Green
9. Mr. Gold
10. Mr. Black
"Mr. Black is the leader. He's the strongest of them all."
Hikari leans against the wall, his arms crossed. "Tch. Sounds like they'll be fun to fight."