Genasha familia was singular in its one goal. Serve and protect the populace. From the freshest newborn to the oldest senior, from the poor pauper to the rich noble. Everyone and anyone fell into that protective umbrella that the familia strived hard to maintain across the city.
Takeru greatly respected such individuals. Dedicated so much to protecting so many. She knew firsthand that such a thing may sound foolhardy and even self-destructive but here in Genasha familia, it was a shared belief and practice amongst comrades. Hard to feel foolhardy when you're with similar company and hard for it to be self-destructive when you have allies to help carry the burden with you.
All in all, Genasha familia was well earned for being considered one of the great pillars that held up Orario. Well earned indeed.
Now if only someone else appreciated them like Takeru did.
"We've been walking for hours," whined Black General, trudging along behind Takeru as they walked to the meeting place that Shakti had said to meet her at, "can't we take a break?"
"I did let you have a break," replied Takeru, "about thirty minutes ago and we're almost there. Try to hang on a little bit longer."
It was a long walk, Takeru had to admit that, but considering where they were going, Black General may want to be grateful that they could at least navigate these streets well so far.
When they arrived at their destination shortly, that will no longer be the case.
Soon they saw a group of people wearing the usual garb of Ganesha familia city guards.
Takeru noticed something was off immediately. For one, there were quite a lot of Genasha familia members here just for some community service. Another, is that they were all armed. Spears, swords, axes, and whatever else were in the hand or sheathed at their side or back. Definitely not something you would need for community service.
"Woah," whispered Black General, seeing the group herself, "now I'm curious what kind of community service are we doing," a though seemed to cross her mind and she began looking at the ground with anxiousness, "we're not hunting rats are we? I don't like rats! That's why in my old world we had a genetically engineered cat to deal with them…whenever he got off his lazy butt."
Takeru tapped the side of her sword and heard the yelp from Black General as it connected to her side, "Not so loud," she said, "keep our 'origins' to ourselves."
Black General nodded, looking abashed. It had been thoroughly drilled into every new arrival of the familia that their origins were to remain a secret. Black General still had to get used to that. Her nature as a loud, charismatic, cunning, and proud leader made that difficult.
The two approached the group, Takeru received nods and words of greeting amongst the crowd. She knew some of these people, having worked with them in maintaining a watchful eye over the monsters they tended to. Who she saw next surprised her.
"Shakti?" Takeru asked, surprised at seeing the blue haired captain of the Genasha familia, "What are you doing here? I was under the impression that this was a community service meeting," she looked back to see Black General greeting some of the elephant mask individuals herself, seemingly unaware of the dips in their gazes as they caught glances at her generous chest, "and I have the culprit from the park incident right here."
Shakti looked over Takeru's shoulder and saw who it was. She returned her gaze to the purple haired samurai and gave her an apologetic look, "My apologies Takeru," she said, "it was my intention to just send our community service members here to overlook," she trailed off, as if struggling with the name, or more accurately, questioning the name itself, "Black General's activities and to make sure she completes the assigned duties to the letter," she gave a sigh, one that told Takeru that what was happening was an unexpected surprise, "but we got a lead on something that we have to capitalize on."
"What is it?" Takeru asked, genuinely curious. She knew Shakti pretty well from their past interactions. Which was why she was curious as to what has the firm captain so stressed.
Shakti looked at Takeru for a moment, debating what to tell her. Eventually, she decided that hiding information right now was counterproductive.
"We got wind of a smuggling ring operating in Daedalus Street," she began, "one that we, the Genasha familia, cannot ignore," Shakti turned to look at the entrance at what many considered 'The Dungeon on the Surface', "if the info is to be trusted, some group in there is smuggling monsters outside the city."
Takeru's eyes widened at that. She had not expected 'that' of all things. Smuggling was as much an expected crime in such a large city like Orario as anywhere else. It was what was being smuggled that surprised her. Monsters of all things.
Shakti must have seen her expression and further elaborated, "A horrible surprise, I'm sure, but not as uncommon as you might think. It's a fairly common enough crime in other large cities but here in Orarior, it's far more severe considering where the monsters came from."
"The dungeon," Takeru answered.
"The dungeon," Shakti confirmed , "monsters from there are on a whole different scale than those on the surface. Making the illegal trade of them both lucrative," her face darkened with a scowl, "and incredibly dangerous."
Takeru didn't need to hear more, she understood completely why Genasha familia were out in force today. After working with the familia offhandedly since Monsterphilia, Takeru understood the dangers that a monster from the dungeon could inflict on the surface world. It was a night and day difference in strength between those monsters born in the dungeon and those that spawned at the surface. Should even a single monster escape into the world at large, at best it could destabilize a local ecosystem and attack small towns, at worse it could devastate large swaths of land and attack cities. Granted those results depended on what monster made it to the surface. Takeru was confident a hardy group of farmers could take down a dungeon kobold with effort. A minotaur however would be a different matter entirely.
Takeru didn't want to imagine what damage beasts from the lower floors could do. It couldn't come to that.
"Which is why I have to ask," Shakti's words brought Takeru out of her thoughts, "would you mind in aiding us in smoking out the perpetrators? I know it is sudden but we could use some extra hands," she gestured to her group of fellow familia members, who were being amused by playing some card games with Black General. They had formed a circle and were apparently playing to pass the time. Black General looked frustrated as she held her hand out and waited for another person to take a card blind. When they took said card, Black General pouted, clearly she was on the losing end of the game.
"Would this potentially count as community service?" Takeru asked curiously.
Shakti looked to Black General, a thoughtful look came over her features. She turned to Takeru, "Do you believe she's capable to help?"
Takeru nodded, surprising Shakti, "Despite her past actions," Takeru began, "General is a surprisingly capable fighter. I've seen it firsthand."
She wasn't lying, she remembered the first journey she went into the dungeon with both Black General and Hakufu. To her surprise, Black General was more than a capable combatant. A martial artist like Ibuki and Chitoge, though far more reliant on brute strength than the other two. Add in the rather strange skill she possessed and Black General was a significant force to be reckoned with.
Shakti looked again at Black General before sighing, "If you say so," she tapped the butt of her spear on the ground, immediately garnering the attention of her fellow familia members, who stood at attention.
Black General looked around her in surprise before moving beside Takeru, her arms crossed. She looked at Takeru with a raised brow, an unspoken question in her gaze.
"Consider what is about to happen as part of your community service," Takeru said, readying herself to listen to Shakti, "a better alternative than picking up trash for thirty blocks."
Black General paled at that before nodding rapidly, "Indeed," she agreed with a false smile, her relief palpable, "a agent of power, like myself, is ill suited for such degrading work," her smile turned into a frown as she now focused on Shakti as well, "but I imagine this alternative comes with some…severity."
Takeru didn't reply, her silence a confirmation in and of itself. Together they listened.
"Everyone," Shakti called, "I know we have gone over this briefing before but I want to go over it one last time for both ourselves," she gestured to Takeru and Black General with a nod of her head, "and to our newcomers. Now, we have a total of five groups surrounding the suspected area. An area that we believe is host for a monster smuggling operation. Intel has confirmed it is mostly upper floor monsters but it is suspected that there may be middle floor monsters as well. Regardless, we will strike at the center of this operation ourselves and our fellow squads will surround and apprehend anyone attempting to flee," she tapped her spear on the ground with force, "understand this, we are to apprehend, not kill if possible. Remember though, your life has worth as well, protect it. But do try and incapacitate them if at all possible. A feat that should be easy enough, given our intel suggests their highest member is level two, three at worst."
She turned to face the entrance of Daedalus Street, her shoulders set and posture one of pride and determination, "Ganesha familia," she continued, "this city is under our sworn protection. Every man, woman, and child depends on us to protect them from forces they cannot imagine and we do so willingly," she looked back at her squad, "are you going to stand back and let them come to harm?"
"No ma'am!" came the response.
"Will you flee at the first sight of risk or danger?"
"No ma'am!"
"Then what will you do?"
"We will protect the people! We will protect the city!"
"And our foes?"
"Will fall in the face of our duty!"
"And what is our duty?"
"To serve and protect the masses!"
"And who serves and protects the masses?"
"Ganesha familia!"
"And who are we?"
"Ganesha familia!!"
Shakti looked at her squad and smiled at them all, proud of their response and their words.
She looked ahead at the street, preparing to venture forth. With a raised spear, she gestured to an unseen destination.
"Then let us go," she said calmly but loudly enough for everyone to hear, "for Orario and Ganesha."
"For Orario and Ganesha!" her squad replied before moving out ahead of her.
Shakti watched them with burning pride in her heart. It always moved her soul seeing her comrades in high spirits, especially when performing tasks like this.
She looked back to Takeru and Black General, realizing something. She walked up to them and reached to her side.
'Never in my life did I think I would need these one day,' she thought as she pulled out a set of Ganesha familia masks. She held them out to the two once she was near.
"Here," she said, "wear these. This is a Ganesha familia operation and I won't have your familia caught in any blowback this may cause. Wear these and the enemy will assume you're one of us."
Black General took the mask, looked over it curiously before smiling and putting it on. Once it fit in place she smiled and Shakti thought a smile that sharp and a mask that ridiculous made an insane combination.
"Behold the might of Black General Elephant!" the now disguised Black General said with flair and a ridiculous pose, "fear the steps I trod for an earthquake follows!"
Shakti gave a sigh at the performance. At least she was enthusiastic. She held the mask for Takeru to take but the purple haired samurai raised a polite hand in refusal.
"Appreciated, but no need," Takeru said, reaching for her side pouch, "whenever I find myself working with your familia, I always keep this near just in case it's needed."
She drew out a familiar mask, one that was nearly a mirror to the one Shakti held in her hand.
Only it was golden.
"You kept it?!" Shakti said, genuinely surprised. She knew that Takeru had accepted the mask from Ganesha after Monsterphilia, but she thought the thing would have been thrown out by now.
Now here it was, being put on by an otherwise serious person she respected.
Takeru let the mask fit into place before looking back to Shakti, "Ready to begin," she said, her voice firm.
Shakti decided it was best to move on and turned away to follow her squad, "Right, let's get moving."
"Hey, wait," Black General's voice trailed from behind her, "why don't you wear the mask? Complete the experience!"
Shakti gave a laugh. Like hell that will ever happen, "I'm the captain of my familia and I'm already well known in any case," she said, "wearing a mask would be redundant."
"That sounds like an excuse!"
It was, "It's not."
"C'mon! Put the mask on, it'll look so cool on you!"
Never, "No."
"Please!"
"Definitely not."
"Complete the set! Black General Elephant demands it!"
"You got nerve to demand anything considering this is your community service, technically. Perhaps you need another day, week, and month of it instead?"
"…sorry, I'll be good."
It was not the greatest time to be a criminal. Though the accused would rather be called an entrepreneur and if not that…
An opportunist.
"Get moving you dumb shits!" a voice called, "they're on our asses out there and we need to get these sacks of meat moving before they show up!"
The man who spoke was tall and up there in years. Built whipcord thin, with graying hair, and missing a few teeth, he shouldn't be able to strike enough fear into most individuals who could stand up to him.
That's what the magic axe on his back was for. To cause fear and get results.
But fear only went so far in the face of inevitable doom. Which was why he was desperately rushing his score of subordinates to move the products as fast as possible.
He heard snarls, barks, hisses, and even a few roars. Thankfully they were in a deep and wide basement underneath the abandoned building they set this operation in and little to fear from noise escaping. Nevertheless, he watched as his men and women pushed rolling wagons with cages down large underground tunnels dug into the foundation, each one would lead to a different safe house location where further tunnels would lead them somewhere else.
Unfortunately their safe houses were growing smaller and smaller with Genasha familia tightening their nose around them. Already they were forced to collapse several tunnels to avoid immediate capture and who knows how long that will keep them away.
Now there were confirmations that the last few safe houses were being cleaned out and his subordinates and products apprehended. They only had one large tunnel left that led to a place that Ganesha familia hadn't even suspected to investigate.
They had to move everything and move fast!
He heard someone scream followed by a nasty snarl. Looking down from his bannister, he saw one of his men clutching at his hand while staring fearfully at a kobold in a cage that had some blood dripping down its claws.
"Gotta be fucking-hey! Dumbass! In case you forgot, you're not supposed to stick your hand in the cage," he saw something on the ground near the injured man and saw it was a dagger, a thin blade that was less used for killing and more for causing pain. He turned and glared at the man now, who cowered under his glare, "do you think now's the time to play 'poke the beast'? We got Orario's finest about to jump at our throats and you wanna play amateur torturer?" he spat down at the man bellow, his spit landing near his foot, "get your ass up and get pullin the cage," he thought for a moment before adding, "with that bleeding hand of yours," he raised his voice to a shout so everyone could hear him, "and no one help him! No healing potions either! This idiot wants to play stupid games!" he gestured at said idiot, "Then he gets to win stupid prizes!" he renewed his attention on the man, a snarl on his face that made the injured man take a step back, "I see another hand on that wagon besides the red one, I'll just cut both them off and feed them to the kobold," he looked to the monster, "it looks like it could eat."
The injured man paled at the threat and moved to comply. Heading to the front of the wagon that the cage was on and pulled the long handle with his injured hand. He barked a shout of pain before reducing his agony to hissing, his hand dripping blood along the handle and onto the ground.
The overseer stood back from the bannister, somewhat satisfied. This wasn't the first time he caught that particular bastard doing that. It was a nasty habit that he told him to curb. His little poking and prodding damaged the merchandise and reduced the price from those who wanted their monsters 'healthy and whole.'
He would have to confront him about it again, in private, only this time will be the last time.
The last time he would even bother to talk to that idiot as well.
"Effective. You don't suffer fools. I can respect that."
He turned to his left and looked to the darkened half of the floor he was on. There were no candles or even magic lights illuminating the area, leaving it nearly completely shadowed. An intentional choice by who was lurking in there.
He scowled at the darkness, "You always pick the time to talk during the worst times," he looked back to the proceeding evacuation, "the times when I'm pissed off."
He heard a chuckle come from the shadows but didn't look back there, "Ha ha ha! Only because you're honest when you're angry. Otherwise I wouldn't trust you with anything at all."
He hated how true that was but didn't reply with anger or anything, instead he asked, "How soon before they're on us?"
The figure in the shadows hummed before replying, "I'd say about five minutes. Maybe far less if they know exactly where we are. Our neighborhood decoy buildings are pretty convincing but I doubt they'll fool someone like 'Ankusha.'"
"Too damn right," the man agreed, reaching back and grabbing the magic axe. He looked down at the purple blade, seeing his own reflection stare at him back from the mystical weapon, "We're not gonna get everything out in time."
"You will not," the figure said, the voice neutral.
"We should all leave. Dump the merchandise and run down the tunnels ourselves."
He felt a chill then. One that made his whole body shake from the sensation. He looked up from his weapon and into the shadows themselves, just barely making out the figure within.
The one he knew was staring at him.
"That," the figure said, its voice dripping with lethal poison, "would be a mistake."
The man didn't need to say anything else. Anything more and they just might be his final words.
The figure's message was clear, 'The monsters are worth more than you. Don't think otherwise.'
He lowered his head, gripping the axe in his hand to calm himself.
Soon, the chilling sensation left him and the world became a bit more breathable. He raised his head and looked back over the bannister, not once looking at the shadows again.
"You've done well," the figure said, "if it's any consolation, you've been giving us the best haul of upper to middle class monsters than anyone else in the city. I wish you were stronger to go after the significantly lower floor beasts like the Minotaurs and liger fangs, but I'm more than content with the results."
The man didn't say anything to that at first. He rubbed at his gray stubble awkwardly before replying, "You're welcome…you've been…a great client. Not many would pay so high a price for these beasts, surprised me that you and your friends would," he glanced over, not turning his head, "makes a man wonder, what you got in store for these things?"
Ten heartbeats and the figure didn't answer. The man was about to move off and go down below before the figure suddenly replied.
"More…these monsters need to be more than what they are… and my friends and I can make that happen…for what's to come."
The man started at that. After months of working with this person and his apparent friends, this was the first time he was hearing anything about what they were doing with the monsters.
"What's going to come-"
He was caught off guard by a loud crash from down below. Looking down, he saw one of the doors that led to the upper floors had been knocked off its hinges and thirteen figures now entered the area, armed and ready to fight.
He immediately recognized one of them, standing foremost in front with a spear pointed at the crowd in front of her.
"Attention!" Shakti Varma shouted to the crowd of smugglers, who had or were reaching for weapons of their own, "You have been discovered to be in possession of and trading in illegal and dangerous materials," she looked at some of the cages in carts, seeing malevolent glowing eyes looking at her from behind bars, "actions that threaten the very safety of Orario and the world as a whole! Turn yourselves in and you will be treated fairly! Resist," she got into a combat stance, an action mirrored by her squad, "and you will be brought in by force! Choose wisely!"
"Damn it all," the leader of the smugglers said, gripping his magic axe with renewed anger, "they found us too quickly," he looked down at his subordinates and the monsters, "we barely have half of the supply gone."
He felt the figure in the shadows gaze lock on him and for a moment, the man thought to just jump over the bannister to escape such scrutiny.
He knew he wouldn't make it. He'd be cut down before a single foot left the earth.
"It appears the operation is at its end," the figure said, emerging out of the shadows. Even no longer obscured, the man didn't turn his head to look at the figure. He was focused on the action down below, wondering how he was going to salvage this operation.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he nearly jumped off the bannister at the touch. Normally he would have chopped the hand off anyone else who would have done that without prompting. Not to the figure next to him. His instincts didn't tell him to fight or strike out.
They told him to run like hell.
"It appears we have little choice now," the figure said, "you are right, we have to leave what we can't take with us and collapse the tunnel when we make our exit," the hand left the man's shoulder and the figure walked back into the darkness, "distract the intruders as long as you can whilst I make preparations."
The man turned fully to look at the darkness but could not see the figure anymore. With a groan he lifted a foot on the bannister and prepared to jump down.
He looked down at the purple two-handed axe on his hand, "Let's see if you're as strong as they say!" and with that he jumped from where he was and down into the soon to be skirmish below.
Takeru and Black General watched as the smugglers got ready to battle, hastily pulling out weapons or grabbing the nearest thing close to one. It was honestly foolish for these perpetrators to even consider fighting now.
Looking over them, Takeru could tell at a glance that though these men and women were tough in maybe back alley fights and occasional robbery, they lacked the experience and deadly practice of a soldier or warrior.
These foes were not fighters. They were opportunists, eager to jump on the injured or weak to secure an easy victory.
The man that landed on the ground in the midst of them was a different story.
Hitting the ground with a thud and kicking up some dirt, Takeru and her allies saw it was a lanky older man that landed in front of them, carrying a large purple axe despite his thin size. He looked like a veteran, face full of scars and eyes that told the stories of each of them. Takeru immediately recognized him as the leader of this group of smugglers, an observation confirmed by Shakti herself.
"General Diomedes," she said calmly in recognition, looking at the old man with calculating eyes, "I hadn't seen you in a long time. Not since Ares last attacked a few years ago," she looked him up and down, as if unsure if he were really here, "I thought you died in that encounter. When you and your company crossed blades with Freya familia's 'Dainsleif' and 'Hildrsleif'."
The man identified as Diomedes laughed at Shakti's words, "Hahaha! Believe me, Freya's 'White and Black Knights' had me dead to rights! Only by chance did my head remain on my shoulders," he spat on the ground and grinned at Shakti and Takeru and Black General could see teeth missing, "heard they got in trouble for killing my men. Don't see why, we were at war."
"To call that a war would be…complimentary," Shakti said, trying to find the right words but not trying to be too friendly. Rakia's invasion of Orario, or attempt at invasion, usually ended the same way. Complete annihilation for the aggressor. A fact that has yet to seep into the heads of Rakia's leadership as a whole regardless of how many times they lose.
Given how their top leader is a God of war, it sort of made sense that they would keep coming back to attack again and again every few years, sometimes twice a year if they were really confident. But their God, Ares, was the God of war, not victory. No matter how earnest they fought, no matter how many times they tried, an army of level ones with a few level two officers and a scant level three generals, could not stand against a city force where the average level is three and the highest is seven, and that's not accounting for the unique individual skill and abilities of Orario's finest.
Diomedes scoffed at Shakti's attempt at 'subtlety' with her words, "I'd call in an all out slaughter," he said, "the last time our forces clashed, Freya familia must have had a bad day, because the second my company and I hit the field, it rained lightning and that cursed sword was whistling through the air and through our flesh," he brought a hand up and rubbed at a nasty scar near his eye, "that dark elf laughing like a maniac all the while."
Shakti didn't let any sympathy seep into her expression, "I heard that you and your forces were jeering quite loudly about Lady Freya before contact with her familia," Shakti said, "a testimony collaborated with several other familia's. Some of the things you and your men were reported to say…bares not repeating. Frankly, I'm surprised you're still alive right now, in spite of that."
Diomedes laughed, full of spite and bitterness, "Trust me, had to work real hard to stay alive," he grinned, taking the axe in two hands, "when I got back to base, my superiors and even my God were ashamed of me! Said it would have been better if I died with my men, at least then they could argue better compensation from Orario for the excessive use of force," again he spat at the ground, "but no, because I was alive and well and in direct command of my company during that little massacre, I was made an example of. My rank stripped, my name dragged through the mud, and my honor tarnished," he took a breath and seemed ready to spit again before regaining some sense of control and exhaled, "so I left those fools and that accursed city and," he shrugged, looking around himself and his fellow smugglers, "well, here we are."
Shakti looked at the magic weapon in his hands, "With some parting gifts from your home by the looks of it."
Diomedes followed her gaze and shrugged again, "Gift, is a strong word," he said, "unpaid repetitions for my years of service is more accurate, "he hefted the blade over his shoulder, his grin made ugly by his missing teeth, "granted, took some effort to get, the guy who had it last definitely had some problems with me taking it. Problems that didn't last long, same as him, thanks to some help."
"Foul," Takeru muttered, hearing more about this man made her want to split him from head to navel. She somewhat sympathized with his plight with his former allies but this man voluntarily decided to sink lower and lower.
"Diomedes," Shakti said, "you and your group are surrounded. My familia is covering every street and alley that surrounds this building. Save yourself a trip to Dien Cecht and come quietly."
Diomedes made a show of looking underneath his fingernails, as if the order bored him, "And if I don't?" he asked.
Takeru decided now to speak, "Then we take you in by force," she unsheathed her sword, its unique shape drawing some eyes, "be warned, there may not be enough left of you to prosecute."
Her words had the desired effect, she saw several smugglers look uneased by her words and even Diomedes looked put off by the threat, his grip tightening on the magic weapon as a nervous response.
"Nice," she heard Black General whisper, "I would have put more flair behind it but that was a good threat."
Takeru looked over at her fellow familia member. What kinda flair would she put on a threat like that?
"Damn," Diomedes said, bringing attention back to him, "didn't know Ganesha was recruiting cut-throats. Would have joined up if that were the case."
"We would have rejected you in any case," Shakti said, "but my ally is right. Surrender before you make things worse for yourself and your associates."
Diomedes just stood there at the ready in response, his grip ever firm on his weapon, an action soon mirrored by those around him.
Nobody did anything for a few moments, waiting for the inevitable response to come. Shakti was absolutely confident in herself and those she brought with her that they could handle this group rather well. Sure, they were outnumbered three to one but she was a first class adventurer and her fellow Ganesha familia squad members were near-first class adventurers and could definitely handle this lot. She also had Takeru and Black General and despite not knowing their levels, she was confident they could hold their own.
"Huh? Weren't there more wagons and cages just a minute ago?" Black General asked, not seeming to notice or caring about the tension in the air.
Her comment got Shakti to look around and indeed, Black General was right, there were fewer wagons and cages than just a moment ago. This made her take her focus from Diomedes and look around at her environment more closely. She managed to just see a wagon quietly roll away and down one of the tunnels dug out in the basement.
Diomedes was distracting her, she was being misled!
The leader of the smugglers saw her expression and knew the time to talk was over. He readied his axe to swing.
"Everyone, scatter!" Shakti shouted, "Disable the wagons and the smugglers! Try not to kill anyone!" She dashed to Diomedes, intent on subduing him, "unless you have to!"
Diomedes grinned and swung the axe down.
The basement was bathed in light and the roar of thunder.
Black General watched as Shakti dodged an orb of pure force. Its size dwarfed the female warrior and nearly clipped her were it not for the woman's quick reaction. The purple halo-like orb of sound and energy passed by and impacted against the wall, sending rock and debris flying alongside a shockwave.
"So that's a magic weapon," Black General muttered, "kinda scary…and loud."
She turned her attention to the other smugglers and saw they were already clashing with the other members of Ganesha familia. She saw the elephant masked adventurers standing firm against the tide of enemies stacked against them but were definitely holding back somewhat in terms of attack. They were definitely taking their captain's orders to heart and trying to apprehend their foes without harming them too bad.
She saw that a few of the smugglers were already unconscious and tossed aside and out of danger, whether by the Genasha members or their fellow cohorts, but it was definitely slow going with how many there were.
She had an idea and turned to see Takeru disarming and knocking out a smuggler with the pommel of her sword, "I'm gonna break the wagons. Cover me?"
She was used to giving orders, somewhat, in her old world but she knew that it would be rather bold of her to do so to Takeru, who outranked her by all accounts in time spent in this world and her Tier.
Besides…the purple haired samurai scared her with how intense she could be.
She was relieved when Takeru nodded and swiftly did they move.
Maneuvering around the crowded fight between Ganesha and the smugglers, Black General reeled back a fist when the first wagon was close. With a shout, she punched one wheel to splinters before following it up with another strike, taking out the other one. She jumped back as the wagon tilted and fell over, its caged monstrous payload falling over, followed by a series of snarls that sounded indignant if one listened carefully.
Takeru dispatched another wagon, cutting the wheels cleanly on one side and letting the wagon tip over as well. Together, the two made work of a few more before they were noticed.
"Hey! Stop those two!"
Takeru and Black General turned to see a large group head their way, at least half of the remaining force that was fighting Genasha.
'Foolish,' Takeru thought , 'it would have been wiser to stick together with the rest,' she readied her sword and adjusted her stance, Black General at her side sporting a sharp grin , 'far less painful too.'
If the crowd of foes thought to overwhelm the two with numbers, they were in for a disappointing experience.
Black General launched a hand out and stopped the charge of someone by their shield. Bringing her arm back, she launched a punch that broke through the shield and smashed into the torso of its wielder. Launching both him and four others behind him back with enough force to impact against another wagon and tip it over as well. Making the caged Almiraj inside squeak and claw at their captors, wherever they could reach.
Black General readied to fight again but soon found herself in an awkward situation. Namely the shield that was stuck around her arm. She tried to shake it off but the wooden object held firm by her wrist.
She saw a smuggler running up to her with his sword raised high.
'This is bad! This is bad!! This is bad!!!'
Her panic thoughts thankfully didn't seep into her features, which still held her confident smile. In a barely disguised act of panic, she raised the arm that was stuck through the shield. She nearly jumped when the sword impacted against the edge of the shield and stuck itself. She heard the man curse and try to remove his sword but it was held firm.
She moved her arm so she could see the man's frustrated expression. He met her eyes and she smiled all the wider.
Then she uppercuted him in the jaw with her free arm, launching him into the air and landing amidst the wreckage of a wagon she disabled.
She gave a satisfied huff and turned to look at a few others who were staring at her in shock and fear at her strength.
Good, she could use this.
She raised her shield trapped arm high before bringing it down with a clenched fist and a flexing of muscles, breaking the wooden shield and freeing her arm.
"Who else dares?" she asked the small audience, "Who else dares to challenge the might of Black General Elephant!" she ended with a shout and a mighty tilt of her head. With her mask on, she could be seen as a proud and mighty elephant challenging any would-be rivals.
The group of smugglers looked at her in shock before trading looks with each other. Slowly, as one, they laid down their weapons and dropped to their knees, hands on their bowed heads.
Black General nodded, satisfied. All the more when a few members of Ganesha familia came from behind the smugglers and quickly secured them with rope. Looking behind the new arrivals, she saw the last of Ganesha familia beginning to suppress the larger group of smugglers. Not one of them having an injury that wasn't above a cut that needed a stitch or two.
"Guess they're doing well," she said, "wonder how Shakti is doing?"
She was answered by an orb of thunder and force passing by her and demolishing a few wagons in its path. Reducing wood to splinters and unfortunate monsters stuck in cages to less than dust.
"…that was terrifying," Black General whispered, a confident smile still on her face but slightly ruined by the river of nervous sweat falling down her face, "I could have died."
She took a breath and wiped at her sweat with the back of her hand. At least her question was answered, Shakti was still engaged in combat with the leader of this bunch. It looked like she was struggling with closing the distance, the magic weapon of her foe keeping her back.
She wondered how Takeru was doing now as well. Only to be answered by a sudden flare of warm light and the sounds of shocked and fearful gasps.
Black General looked and saw Takeru standing amidst a trio of burning wagons, their cargo was knocked over, leaving the wagons bare. She looked and saw lines where the flames were forming from cut into the wagons. Takeru was standing tall with her own sword enveloped in a steady blaze of orange and red flames, with specs of golden light dancing as embers between the colors.
Her gaze was stern and her eyes held the focus of a soldier, ready to cut down any foe in front of her.
Given the five smugglers on the ground holding wounds and bleeding quite a bit, Takeru did just that and more.
Soon the other smugglers realized that they were not going to find victory here and laid down their weapons, watching dourly as the last of the wagons were disabled and the caged monsters were removed.
Black General huffed in both satisfaction and mild disappointment, having expected this encounter to be somewhat…more.
She had to remind herself that they were a considerable force. Ganesha familia alone could have handled this, given besides Shakti, who was a level five, the rest were mid to high level threes or level fours. These smugglers were probably high level one to low level two at most. Practically a negligible threat in the face of such force.
Black General returned her attention to watch Shakti fight. Seeing her finally get close to Diomedes and land a sharp strike to the man's knee with the back half of her spear. Black General could swear she heard something crack just before the lead smuggler erupted into curses and started to swing his magic axe with far more recklessness.
Shakti danced around the attacks in an amazing display of skill that made Black General feel she was nearly watching a dance rather than a battle. She wished she had some popcorn or something as she watched the near finale of the battle before her.
"She is impressive," a voice came to her side. Black General jumped and turned to see Takeru beside her, watching the fight as well, "I have had the honor of seeing her fight on several occasions. She is definitely deserving of the title of captain in her familia."
"I'd say," Black General commented before looking behind her at the surrendering smugglers and wreckage of the wagons, "so…you think my community service is settled?"
Takeru didn't turn to her to reply but said, "That depends on Shakti, as she was the one to assign you it. Though I would say you performed well."
Black General gave a joyful laugh and puffed out her chest, making it bounce, "'Performed well'? I kicked ass! Only to be expected as the vice-captain of the evil organization, RX 2.0.!"
Takeru did turn to look at her then before looking behind her at the Ganesha familia members, "Maybe don't go announcing your from an…evil organization," she said 'evil organization' with clear skepticism, "less you want to end up doing 'actual' community service."
Black General paled and made a zipping motion across her lips. Takeru imagined she would only last so long before talking and bragging again. But for now, she'll enjoy the peace.
Another orb of force slammed into the side of the basement, sending a few tied up smugglers squirming away from attack and their clearly enraged leader.
'Relative peace,' Takeru corrected herself mentally. She watched as Shakti leapt over another orb of force that was launched at her. Shakti saw an opportunity to end things there and launched her spear right at Diomedes, the man jumped back from where the spear impacted, cracking the ground around it. He raised his axe to take another swing but miscalculated. Shakti was falling right on top of him and he couldn't angle his attack to properly direct the next strike.
Something Shakti knew as well.
As she descended, Shakti dropped her heel down on the axe, knocking it out of Diomedes hands. As she landed, she followed up with a quick one, two, three punches that impacted with devastating force, the level three former general was nearly folded and bent in half by the force of the blows from the level five captain, spitting out a glob of blood in a final act before collapsing backwards on the ground, the fight now out of him.
Shakti stared, fists still raised, ready to deliver the next attack should Diomedes rise up and continue, the pitiful groans of pain coming from the man told her he was no longer a threat and she lowered her hands but not her guard.
Her time as an adventurer and a captain had drilled into her a sense of caution that has remained with her since Orario's Dark Age and has served her well since.
Shakti turned to look around the basement, seeing the unconscious or subdued smugglers around her. She gave a smile when she saw the remaining wagons were subsequently destroyed as well. Retrieving her spear, she made her way to her subordinates and drafted allies.
"I'm glad to see you all fared well," she said aloud , "any injuries?"
One of her men stepped forward and gave a quick salute, "Nothing serious on our end, ma'm," he said, "a few cuts and bruises but nothing a bandage can't fix," he gestured to the tied up smugglers around them, "all culprits have been apprehended and their cargo secured," he smiled proudly, "I know it may be a little presumptuous but I believe this is a successful operation."
Shakti nodded but lost her smile. It wasn't in disagreement with her subordinate's words, it was simply professionalism, the mission wasn't over yet.
"Go and get everyone around the building," Shakti said, gesturing to where they came in from, "we have a lot of prisoners but not enough hands to take them up. I want them all taken and processed before the day's end."
"Yes captain!" the man saluted again and ran to do as he was ordered.
Shakti turned her attention to Takeru and Black General who were watching her as well. Shakti walked to them and said, "Well done, the both of you. Thanks to your assistance, this operation went all the smoother."
Black General put her hands on her hips and thrust her chest out in pride, "As only appropriate," she said, "these amateurs were little more than fodder. They have much to learn if they ever want to reach the rank of 'minion'!"
Shakti blinked at the exclamation, "'Minion' is a rank?" she asked.
Black General nodded, as if the answer was obvious, "Indeed," she replied, "it goes as follows. Traine, someone who needs the basic lessons. Intern, someone who you can tell what to do and they have no way of refusing. Stooge, someone who does what you say like the last one, just with the occasional comment here and there for comedic purposes. Lacky, trusted pack mule and occasional meat shield. Finally, Minion! Your arms when you're tired, your legs when you can't walk, your voice when you're too tired to talk, your heart, liver, and lungs when you need a doner!"
"What was that last part?!" Shakti asked aghast.
"A minion is truly the pinnacle height at what a henchmen can be!" Black General said proudly, "Truly, any self respecting organization of evil must have the standard minion on hand," she frowned and waved a dismissive hand at the captured smugglers, "something they appear to fall flat on!"
Takeru watched as some members they captured seemed to have heard Black General's words and looked down with lowered heads. Some even lying flat on the ground face first to hide their expressions.
Were they feeling…depressed at Black General's words?
Shakti shook her head and regained her focus on the task at hand, "Regardless, thank you again for the assistance," she looked at Black General and graced her with a smile, "you can consider your community service served. Just don't start any juvenile rebellions again or otherwise your next punishment will be far more severe."
Black General smiled and gave a crisp salute, "Understood! No more rebellions or pyramid schemes!" she exclaimed.
Shakti blinked and asked, "What was that about a pyramid scheme?"
"Back to the matter at hand," Takeru interrupted, not wanting to risk any more trouble due to Black General's careless word choice, "is there anything else we should be on the lookout for," she gestured to the cages that held monsters from the dungeon. Each one looking like they would naw through the cages if they could get to the people outside, "I know you wish to apprehend the monsters but other than that, is there anything else we should look out for?"
Shakti looked around and shook her head before her gaze settled on the large tunnel dug into the wall, "There is really nothing else here to go on," she gestured to the tunnel with her spear, "that, on the other hand, could provide us with some valuable information. Namely, where does it go and what will we find on the other side?"
Both Takeru and Black General looked down the tunnel seeing only a faint mote of light somewhere far down it along the wall. Suggesting this tunnel was far longer than any had expected.
It may very well lead to outside the city itself. Which brings up another question.
Where does it lead to exactly?
Takeru turned back to Shakti, "Would you like us to accompany you?" she asked. If there were potentially more threats down the tunnel, then Takeru would be willing to lend her aid again. Especially if her instincts were right.
She had only noticed it faintly when she was taking down the smugglers but now that was over and done she could sense it more clearly.
Her instincts told her there was something dangerous down the tunnel.
Black General looked down the tunnel a bit longer before turning to look at Shakti herself, "If we do go down there," she said and Shakti could see a few drops of nervous sweat forming on her brows, "I hope you bring enough light."
Black General's instincts weren't as honed as Takeru's but she knew something was off about the tunnel and she would be damned before she went into a place like that without proper illumination.
Besides…it was dark and scary!
Shakti could see past the calm visage of Black General and graced her with a gentle smile, "Not to worry," she said, "Once we get these people out of here and turned in, we shall be coming back with plenty of light and manpower for this journey."
Black General seemed mollified by that and nodded. She was about to say more when-
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
A new voice cut through the air.
Shakti, Black General, and Takeru turned to where the sudden voice came from, weapons and fists raised. They saw someone standing near the incapacitated form of Diomedes, leaning down as if to inspect the barely lucid man.
"Disappointing," the figure said, the tone of voice dripping with poison and tinged with a rasping quality but distinctly masculine, "I expected more out of you. To distract them a bit longer while I get more of the wagons moving. You were doing so well at first too," he let out a sigh, "I suppose that is what I get for investing somewhat poorly," he brought a hand to his chin, "she will not be happy about this but not angry at least. I was warned not to rely too much on you and in a way I didn't," his gaze traveled to the magic weapon laying on the ground a short distance away, "and in another I did."
The trio looked at the figure, taking in his appearance. He was tall, very tall, coming close to Ottar's height by Shakti's guess but while Freya's strongest was built like a mountain, this man in front of them was built like a reed. Thin but flexible, with long limbs that almost seemed too long. He wore a rather ragged ensemble of clothing. A dark poncho covered his upper torso, looking torn at the ends of it. He wore similarly styled pants with black cloth wrapped around damaged portions that hung off him like they were torn by the wind. His arms were completely covered in dark gray wrapping that were similarly ragged, with parts looking like they were missing at some point but were wrapped up again with no care for appearance. Shakti looked closer and saw he wore a cowl as well, making any features of his face difficult to identify. In terms of equipment, two large daggers strapped to his sides by his ribs, their unique curve in the sheath telling they were from one of the nations in the Kaios Desert, the long wrap of rope around the man's waist was the strange finish to his attire.
"Are you affiliated with these smugglers?" Shakti asked, her voice cold, "If so, I ask you to surrender or be forced to otherwise."
The man was silent for a moment before a chuckle escaped from his cowl, the laugh sounded dry and venomous, as if the act itself was a parody of what it should be. Shakti and the others tensed, somehow sensing something was very off and very wrong about this man.
"Forgive me," he said, "it's just…you asked me a obvious question that I couldn't help but laugh," he gave a few dry chuckles, the sound of which made Takeru and Black General's ears hurt, "I thought it was clear, a shadowy figure in a dimly lit basement underneath an abandoned building with several tunnels leading to somewhere else equally dreary and shady," he gave a pause, as if allowing his words to be processed by his audience before continuing, "it should be without question that I am with these fine upstanding folks," he ended his explanation by tapping his foot on Diomedes hand, making the smuggler twitch in response.
"Your explanation is a sound one," Takeru said aloud, "but my instincts are telling me otherwise. You are not 'with' these smugglers. You're something, just not a smuggler," he gaze sharpened and she got ready to call upon her Imperial Flames again, feeling her hands warm at the focus, "I'll ask this time. Who are you really?"
For a moment, the man didn't say or do anything, he simply stood there besides Diomedes. At this point, the other members of Shakti's familia saw what was going on and moved beside their captain in support, weapons at the ready.
Eventually, the man replied, with an ominous tilt of his head, "I suppose if you could call me anything, you could call me an agent," he gestured to Diomedes, who was gradually coming to again, "I and my…benefactor recruited this man for his skills and talent at procuring certain resources that we find beneficial."
"I find it strange how anyone can look at these," Black General suddenly said, looking into the red eyes of a growling monster, "and call them beneficial."
"And I find it audacious that anyone can look at any blessed child in this city and call them 'hero'!" the man suddenly spat harshly with a voice that dripped with spite and anger.
Shakti and the others admit to being caught off guard by this sudden change and she saw some in her familia take a step back from the vitriolic words this man spat, as if they were scared of him spitting those words their way.
The man took a deep breath, "But that's enough," he said, "I've stayed here too long as it is and my exit is already prepared," he stepped over Diomedes and Shakti suddenly saw something that shocked her.
He was carrying the magic weapon Diomedes had in his hand. When had he retrieved it? She and the others were watching him the entire time!
"There is just one last thing to do before I go," the man said.
"C-Cluny," a voice from the ground said. Everyone in Shakti's group turned and saw it was Diomedes who spoke. He reached up a hand at the figure, "help me," he said, his voice hoarse from the damage to his torso.
The man, Cluny, stood stiff for a moment before a tired sigh escaped from the cowl, "I suppose that was on me," he said, "I thought you'd be unconscious for much longer after facing a level five. I suppose I underestimated you, well done," he relaxed a bit and let his arms drift to his sides, "of course, I would also prefer that you didn't reveal my name," he directed his cowled head to the group and his next words were tinged in annoyance, "given the odds are stacked against me, I suppose I can leave with just this one blunder."
"Help me," Diomedes said, his remaining teeth gritted in pain, "Help me get out of here, you bastard."
Cluny clicked his tongue in a chiding gesture, "Diomedes," he began, "I could have left you long ago when this little skirmish began. Why else would I come back for you?"
Diomedes smiled, relief touching his features.
"It wasn't to help you," Cluny said.
Diomedes frowned and was about to curse at his so-called ally, mouth full of blood and all.
"It was to sever the thread between us."
The rope around Cluny's waist unwound, quickly and smoothly and with a gesture faster than the Rakian could see, it flicked out to him like a whip.
Something glinted in the air but before Diomedes could say anything, a cold pain erupted in his neck and he found words and air itself a rare thing.
But the blood spurting from his neck was all too abundant.
Everyone watched in shock as the leader of the smugglers, the rogue soldier of Rakia, Diomedes, met his end by a large cut on his neck.
Shakti blinked in surprise at what happened. She didn't even see a weapon drawn from this Cluny character. His daggers were still in their sheathes, so what happened?
The answer came in the form of the rope that was twisting and turning in the air. At the tip of it, a portion seemed cut off and another dagger was situated perfectly parallel to the end of the rope.
Only it wasn't a rope, Cluny remained stationary and wasn't even holding it in his hands. Looking closer, everyone could now see it for what it was.
A tail, a long and whiplike tail danced in the air around Cluny. Its color a dark brown that could easily be mistaken for a rope in the right light.
Like a barely illuminated basement for example.
Cluny flicked his tail, sending a few drops of blood flying to the ground. He never turned to look at his once ally now victim. Never even seeing the last hateful look the man sent him as the last lights of life left his eyes.
Eventually, Cluny sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "Well I suppose that's it then," he said, "congratulations, Ganesha familia. You've succeeded in stopping this smuggling operation. I'd applaud you but I really must be going."
Shakti, Takeru, and Black General stepped up after hearing that, each with stern faces and weapons or fists at the ready.
"After all of that, you really think you can just walk away?" Shakti asked, spear pointed at the man's chest, "You only raise more questions about this situation. Questions that I intend to get out of you."
Takeru renewed her focus upon her sword for a moment, her unique katana igniting with flames along the length thanks to her spell, "I would encourage you to surrender. Before you find running difficult without any legs."
Black General sweeped her coat out with a wide gesture of her arm, "You sully the name of 'villain' with your actions," she said, her gaze hard, "a villain with a minion is as essential as the moon and the sun. While his associates were not up to the par as minions themselves, he at least was," her visible pink eye seemed to glow with unspoken fury, "and you killed him, for what? Speaking your name? You are no villain," she pointed at him, as if an eternal judgment was set, "you are but a monster! Surrender, fiend!"
Cluny moved his tail through the air with careless ease, taking in the words while looking admiringly at the curved dagger at the end of his tail and the few specks of blood that were still on it.
"My. You all seem to have a strong opinion of me," he began, his tone neutral but tinged with sarcastic mockery, as if he was doing his best to keep a smile out of his words, "you tell me to surrender, you call me a monster, and you expect me to be conciliatory after all that," he turned his gaze back to them, "I'm afraid I'll have to decline," he gave a laugh then, this one undisguised mockery, "respectively of course."
Everyone tensed at his words, ready to fight and incapacitate the man.
He wasn't done talking though, "I have to disagree with you about one thing, Miss," he said, turning his attention to Black General, "I am not a monster, difficult as that is to believe."
Black General narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists in preparation. If it came down to a fight she was certain she wouldn't get in trouble for breaking a few bones in capturing this man.
Suddenly, the man raised the magic axe high overhead and the weapon began to glow with power.
Shakti's eyes widened, knowing what was to come next, "Everyone!" she shouted, "Out of the way!"
"I'm a scourge!" the man cried as he swung the weapon down, launching an orb of force out towards them, this one larger than any other launched by Diomedes. Shakti, Takeru, and Black General, along with everyone else in Ganesha familia, dived out of the way of the attack, even several smugglers rolled out from the path of destruction.
Takeru watched the powerful orb of force go past her and everyone else, its trajectory aimed towards the large tunnel entrance. Something else soon caught her eye. Amidst the dust and debris kicked up by the magical attack, someone was following the orb in a dead sprint.
Cluny was running just behind the Orb of magic keeping up with the attack at an astonishing pace.
'He's no mere smuggler," she thought.
"He's running to the tunnel!" Shakti shouted, seeing the same thing, "Cut him off with arrows or magic, don't let him escape!"
Ganesha familia acted swiftly upon their captains orders. Several took out bows and arrows and took quick shots at the retreating figure of Cluny, while others began to chant spells in preparation. Unfortunately the spell casters could not ready their spells in time, the intensity of the situation heavily affecting their chant capabilities.
Soon, Cluny was just past the tunnel entrance, stopping while his previous unleashed attack continued on, though looking like it was getting weaker as it travelled down the tunnel.
Cluny stood and faced them, magic axe in hand. Takeru couldn't see his face but could tell from the man's posture that he seemed amused about something.
"I'll give you credit, Ganesha familia," he said loudly, his voice traveling around the basement thanks to the tunnel, "you are truly experts in your field. You set out to disrupt or destroy something that would endanger the populous. Risking your lives to save others just like the deity you serve is supposed to represent," he said these things with clear pride in his voice but Takeru and Black General could tell there was something else besides pride in his words, something that was bleeding through them, something venomous.
"Alas," Cluny continued, "as of now, you must concede defeat. At least in any further attempt to capture me."
Shakti dashed forward, spear in hand. Ready to bring this man in and settle this matter in its entirety, as well as something else.
Something she intended to extract from Cluny somehow.
Cluny saw her coming and wound up his arm to swing the axe one handed. It wasn't a good grip to attack with, he was holding the axe near the bottom and his arm was way too far back to deliver anything but a heavy but slow strike. It would easily be countered and…
He wasn't going to strike with it.
With glee written in the motion, Cluny swung the axe up and overhead above him, aiming at the top of the tunnel. Shakti found her focus directed at the magic weapon and its trajectory.
Then she saw the bundle of red stones that were attached to the wall of the tunnel. Their color gleaming from the light produced by the incoming magical weapon.
She recognized those stones. From long ago when she lost someone dear to her.
She jumped back and turned to look at her allies, "Get away from the tunnel, now!"
Her shout came just as the axe made contact with the ceiling of the tunnel, then the room exploded in a sound of thunder, shaking everything around them.
Takeru watched as the entrance of the tunnel collapsed in a mess of stone and dirt. She saw Cluny faintly behind the falling rubble, having leapt a safe distance back as the tunnel's entrance collapsed. He seemed to notice her gaze for a split second and raised a hand as if he were bidding her goodbye. Then the rock and stone covered the last visible sign of him and soon the entrance was truly sealed.
Everyone watched the now sealed tunnel, both Ganesha familia and their allies as well as the captured smugglers, who were looking scared and confused, as if they couldn't believe the situation they were in right now.
Shakti watched for a moment more before sighing and standing straight. She brushed some of the dirt off herself from the blowout of the collapse and turned to address the others.
"Anyone hurt?" she called, "Sound off if so."
No one did so. She then asked for a roll call and was relieved to hear all of her familia members were alright, "Takeru, Black General, you two alright?"
"Barely any more than a stain on my attire," Takeru answered, walking up to Shakti, "I'd say you're probably the most injured," she looked her up and down, not spotting so much as a scratch but saw her clothes were a bit torn in some places, "and that's using the word very generously."
Shakti smiled, spotting the humor, "Unfortunately, no operation is without its casualties," she said, "these clothes survive though but they'll need a leave of absence to the nearest seamstress," she flicked out her long orange skirt, seeing a end of it was significantly torn, "casualty of fashion most literal."
Takeru smiled and nodded at the joke before turning her focus back to the once open tunnel, "A shame we didn't capture that person."
Shakti too followed her gaze and nodded, "Yes, unfortunately," she turned and looked at her captives, "we at least have a great amount of smugglers to interrogate, that's something to be proud of," her gaze eventually landed on the cooling body of Diomedes, she frowned, slightly remorseful, "mostly," she ended solemnly.
She would rather this operation not end in death. There was a reason she brought such powerful familia members with her. Strong enough to take a hit, smart enough to deliver an incapacitating one. Perhaps it was too idealistic of her to expect no casualties but it was still something she wanted.
And out of any fatalities they could have suffered, losing the obvious ringleader was a severe one. Without him, finding information on any other smuggling routes, names of clients, and what resources they had to pull this off became significantly more difficult to find out
Still, maybe they could somehow salvage this. Surely one of the other captured smugglers knew something useful. Given the amount they caught, it was practically a guarantee.
Not to mention the magic weapon-
"Where is the magic axe?" Shakti asked, looking around suddenly, "that is a critical piece of gear we can ill afford to lose."
"I saw it blast out from the tunnel entrance," Takeru said, looking around herself, "it has to be somewhere in here. Now where could it have landed-"
"Buahahaha!!! At last I have a weapon that is worthy to wield!"
Takeru cringed, she knew that voice.
Turning her masked face to the sound of the voice, she saw Black General holding the magic weapon up with one hand, as if claiming a precious treasure from a conquest.
"Haha! With this I'll be more powerful than ever before! I'll crack mountains, push aside rivers, and split the very heavens themselves with but a swing of my new blade. Fear me world, for Black General Elephant is no more!" she raised the axe higher and tilted her own masked face to the heavens, "You may now call me Black General Elephant Shockblast! Hear my name and tremble!"
No one trembled but she certainly got a few looks that said, 'is this crazy chick for real?'
What happened next gained Black General looks of pity.
"Return that piece of evidence," Shakti said from behind Black General, bringing down a hand.
"Gya!"
And chopping down smack dab in the middle of Back General's head, knocking her out.
Shakti watched the blond troublemaker collapse on the ground with exasperation. She turned to look back at Takeru, who was looking down with a hand over her face.
"You know, I could revoke her community service activity today," she said, her tone flat.
"I believe that you can," Takeru replied, not meeting her gaze.
"But she did a good job up until now so I'll let it go."
"Thank you for your mercy."
"Just be sure she curbs this behavior of hers."
"…I can only promise to try."
Shakti sighed and looked back down at Black General, who was undignified with her face down and her ass up, her face sporting a dazed and stupid grin, "I believe you."