Arc I.5: “The Cosmic Guard”
Chapter I: “Restoration”
Episode III: “The Republic of Ron”
[Troy, Capital City of the Republic of Ron – Central Region]
“This is the capital city, Troy!” Asuka swept her hand across the bustling marketplace.
“Wow…” Akira took in the sight of densely packed vendors and the swirl of accents and colors.
A little boy hurried past with his parents, catching Akira’s eye. For a heartbeat, the scene fractured—
“C’mon, old man Haru, we’re going to be late!”
An older man shuffled along, a younger Akira orbiting him like a spinning top.
“All the good buns’ll be gone!” The little Akira grunted as he tried to push the old man to walk faster.
“Hmph,” the old man smiled— but not at the child.
Instead, he looked at something far off that couldn’t be seen.
“My… just look at you,” the old man said, “It seems it wasn’t in vain after all.”
A tear streamed down Akira’s face.
Haru…?
Asuka was walking down the street when she noticed that Akira had stopped moving.
She leaned, tilting her head to get a better look at his face.
“Akira…? What’s the matter?”
Akira covered his face with his forearm, rubbing his eyes.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Asuka frowned, “Alright…”
[Less than an hour later]
Asuka planted her feet, her hands on her hips.
“This is it. He’s in here.”
She was looking up at a large building on the corner of a busy street.
Akira looked at the sign mounted above the door.
‘The Buena Accord’.
He scrunched his face.
Buena? As in… Buena Island?
He looked through the large windows that were on either side of the door. Inside, he saw an assortment of jewels, trinkets, artifacts, armor, weapons, gadgets— you name it.
What is this place?
“Let’s go,” Asuka said, holding the door open as she walked inside.
Akira was still lost in thought, standing outside the door.
“C’mon, we don’t have all day, you know!” she pouted.
“Right, sorry.”
They walked in, shuffling their way past the customers who were lined up and down the aisles.
Once they made their way to the clerk, Asuka was able to inform them that they were here to see the guild master.
“Ah, so you two are the UFA members we were waiting for. May I please see your IDs?” The man behind the counter said.
He was a tall man dressed eloquently in an expensive blazer. He had circular glasses and a small silver watch hanging from his blazer pocket to match his short, refined black hair.
Yikes, how much gel do you have to use to get your hair like that? Akira wondered.
Examining their UFA IDs, the man said, “Thank you very much. Right this way, please,” he said, pointing to a staircase to his right as he bowed.
Once they got upstairs, they were seated in a comfy room with two sofas and a coffee table packed with treats.
“Ooh, don’t mind if I do!” Akira’s mouth watered as he reached out to grab some cookies.
Asuka swatted his hand with a lightning-fast strike.
“We didn’t come to relax,” she scolded, “We’re here on business.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, teary-eyed.
Within a few minutes, a young man in a suit walked into the room.
That’s the guild master? Asuka thought as she looked him up and down.
He’s… young!
“Why hello,” he said as he walked up to the sofa.
Asuka and Akira stood up to shake his hand.
“It isn’t often that there are visitors from the UFA in this country,” He chuckled, then looked at Asuka as he shook her hand.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“But, if it’s a woman as beautiful as you visiting, then I suppose it’s alright. If you don’t mind, would you grace me with your name?”
“W-who, me?” Asuka giggled as she blushed, “I’m Asuka.”
Akira’s face didn’t hide his skepticism.
Yeah… real smooth.
“Ah, and you are?” He asked Akira as he briefly shook his hand.
A small vein pulsed through Akira’s temple.
He pulled his hand back immediately… this guy…
“Akira.”
“Akira…?” The man opened his eyes to study him.
“Ah!”
“Ah? What, is there something on my face?” Akira said as he scratched his cheek.
Asuka elbowed him and whispered, “Don’t tell me you did something to offend him already!”
“I didn’t do anything!” he hunched over to whisper back to her.
“Tell me,” He said, gesturing towards Akira, “you don’t remember me?”
“Remember you? Have we met before?”
“Why of course,” he said with flaunting bow, “My name is Jonas, the guild master of the Buena Accord!”
Both of them looked at him, then looked back at each other.
Hmph! How’s that? He smiled confidently while maintaining his bow.
“You know this guy? That’s surprising?” Asuka said.
“Uh, nope. I’ve never seen this guy in my life,” he said flatly.
Jonas’ confidence shattered into a million pieces, the blood escaping his face.
“Ahem,” he coughed, putting his hand on Akira’s shoulder.
“Come now, Akira. If that was a joke, then I’m sure you could do better, haha!”
“Nah, I’m serious,” he brushed off Jonas’ hand, “We’ve never met before. Trust me, I’d know.”
A vein pulsed in Jonas’ temple.
“Hey, listen here, kid,” He leaned in and whispered to Akira, “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but try not to jack up my swag.”
He pointed towards Asuka.
“I’m going to work my magic on this girl and get her to marry me! So, stop making things awkward with your lame jokes, Akira.”
I wonder what they’re talking about, Asuka thought.
Seems like maybe they do know each other.
Akira exhaled, yeah… I don’t like this guy… at all.
“Listen,” he said, letting Asuka hear him, “I’m serious. I don’t know you. And either way, you’re not Asuka’s type.”
Huh!? Asuka’s face turned red.
“You little—” he turned red with rage.
“So, you’re telling me you’re not that kid that Haru took in?”
“Haru?”
Akira’s eyes widened.
“How… do you know that name?”
Jonas planted his palm against his chest.
“It’s me! Jonas! My aunt took you in after Haru passed away!”
Then it clicked, a lightbulb forming above Akira’s head.
“OH!” he slapped the bottom of his fist against his palm, “You’re the kid with the old lady!”
He thought back to when the old lady took him in after Haru died. He realized that Jonas was the old lady’s nephew whom he had lived with for a year.
“Oh, so you’re still alive! Wow, what a surprise, I haven’t seen you in seven years!”
Akira rubbed the back of his head.
“To think you’d become a guild master in such a short time.”
Jonas exhaled, walking around the table to sit on the sofa opposite them.
“So, what brings the two of you here?” He leaned back, his limbs splayed out as a butler came to pour him a cup of tea.
Asuka cleared her throat.
“We need your help getting access to the black market.”
His face sparked up.
“The black market? And what makes you think my guild has any affiliations with the black market?”
“Don’t play dumb,” Asuka’s eyes sharpened.
“The UFA has been keeping a close eye on your movements.”
“Woah, scary!” Jonas put his hands up like he was caught red-handed.
“You seem to be well informed. I suppose I should have expected as much. Beautiful and intelligent.”
Jonas closed his eyes and rubbed his chin in affirmation.
Yeah… now that I think about it, Akira’s eye twitched as he stared dead at Jonas. This is definitely the same guy I remember.
“Ahem,” Asuka coughed.
“This is urgent. We have reason to believe that someone is circulating illegal technology in this country.
But the UFA doesn’t have any jurisdiction here, and the government doesn’t get along with us either. So, that’s why we need your help to investigate this under the radar.”
“I see. That’s quite a dilemma. Bosch.”
He snapped his fingers, and the butler came forward.
“Arrange sleeping quarters for these two at the finest inn in the city. Then make preparations to get our hands on one of these ‘illegal technologies.’”
“Yes, right away, sir,” Bosch said, then exited the room for a moment.
Jonas looked at Asuka confidently as he said, “If we’re able to purchase one of these ‘items’, it’ll be much easier to trace it back to the seller. Don’t worry, leave everything to me,” He pointed to himself while looking at Asuka.
“Right, thanks,” Asuka got up, eager to leave.
“Yeah, thanks, Jonas,” Akira said, following close behind Asuka.
Hmph, Jonas smirked, She’s totally into me.
“Your rooms have already been prepared. Please follow me,” Bosch said as he led the two of them to the inn.
Once they were inside, Bosch left them to their own devices.
“At least the rooms are actually nice,” Akira said, jumping onto his bed.
“Okay, let’s come up with a game plan,” Asuka said, sitting on the side of his bed.
“Game plan? What for?”
“Don’t be an idiot,” She snapped, “We can’t just go around tearing the place up.”
“Why not? Not like there’s anyone who can stop us.”
“Well… yeah, but… it would cause problems for the UFA. Going to war with Ron wouldn’t be beneficial. In fact, that would be the exact opposite of the UFA’s purpose.”
“I guess so. Alright, so what’re you thinking? How should we handle this?”
“Let’s see,” she closed her eyes and tilted her head up as she brainstormed.
“Jonas said he’ll try to trace the contraband to the seller, and if he’s successful, that’s great. We can try to confront them ourselves and bring them back to the UFA.”
“What if Jonas can’t find them?”
“Then, we’ll have to do it ourselves. Let’s ask Bosch about some of the common locations, then we can go ask around. The contraband seems to be popular with slave owners, so we’ll start there.”
“Slave… owners?”
“Yeah… it sucks, but it’s still legal in this country.”
Akira’s face sharpened.
Asuka kept her eyes on him.
“Don’t get any ideas. Remember that we don’t have any authority here.”
“Yeah. Could you… Go back to your room? I think I’m gonna turn in for the night.”
“Sure,” Asuka reluctantly stood up, pausing at the door to look back at Akira lying down before she left.
I hope he doesn’t get himself into any trouble.
[Later that night]
Akira rolled out of bed and put his gi back on.
He went out into the streets, wandering around until he found some night markets that were still open.
“Hey, you,” He hawked someone down, grabbing them by the collar.
“You know where I can… get some slaves?” he said with a cold look in his eye.
“S-slaves?” the man panicked from Akira’s presence.
“Yeah… real obedient ones,” Akira’s eyes shone like daggers that pierced straight through the man’s soul.
“Uh, uh, y-you should talk to G-Gareth,” he said, pointing down a dark alleyway next to them.
“H-he always has something to satisfy folks!”
“Right… thanks,” Akira let go of them, and they ran off.
He looked down the alleyway, darker and grimier than any slum Akira had seen on Buena Island.
Down here, huh.
Akira slowly entered the alley, finding a downwards-leading staircase that led to a small wooden door.
He climbed down and pushed against the door, entering what seemed to be an old dungeon.
This place is a lot bigger than you’d expect, Akira thought as he looked around.
Why’s there a dungeon like this in the middle of the city?
“Ah, you must be a new customer,” A smooth voice said from across the sparsely lit room.
“And you are?”
“Around here, I’m known as Gareth,” The man stepped out of the darkness and bowed.
Despite wearing dirty, low-quality clothes, he seemed to be fitted with jewelry from head to toe.
“So, what may I do you for,” he grinned widely, revealing his yellow teeth.
This guy seems almost as disgusting as the alleyway itself, Akira sneered internally.
“I’m in the search for a slave.”
Gareth put his hand to his chin, shaking his head up and down.
“Ah, I see. 'Tis a common purchase around these parts.”
This guy is almost as colorful as Jonas.
“So, are you looking for something strong, perhaps for fighting or doing work? Or maybe…”
He leaned closer with a sly smile, “You’re looking for a bit of fun!”
He made gestures with his hands.
Akira paused before answering, trying to hold in his disgust.
“A fighter. I’m looking for a fighter. Who’s the strongest guy around?”
Gareth led Akira deeper in the dungeon, passing by dozens of cages.
As he stopped to look at each one, Akira saw nothing but desolate souls, devoid of anything remotely close to humanity.
There was a steady flow of blood dripping from Akira’s fists.
“Ah, here we are,” Gareth slithered, stopping before a cage at the end of the hall.
This cage was much larger than the rest, the iron bars covered in an elaborate web of chains.
All this just to hold one person? Maybe they’re actually a bit powerful… but this is the only cell I haven’t sensed aether from.
Akira glanced at Gareth, whose mouth was stretched wider than a clown’s as he stared into the dark cage.
“Are you sure this one’s alive? Seems a bit quiet over here.”
“Oh yeah, don’t worry about it. He’s alive, for sure. If anything, it's almost impossible to kill him. He’s perfect for doing any sort of fighting or labor that you might need. He just needs a little motivation!”
Gareth stomped on the bars of the cell a couple of times.
Then he pulled out an advanced-looking device— a remote of some kind. He pushed the button, and red electricity sparked from within the cage.
“GRAH!” A deep voice raged in agony.
A tall, lean man revealed himself from the shadows. He was bent over, panting from exhaustion and pain.
This guy… Akira viewed the man, covered in countless scars, bruises, burns, and more, spread all over his body.
“Let’s get him up so you can see what he’s capable of,” Gareth sneered as he got ready to push his remote again.
Akira reached out, catching Gareth’s hand before he could push the button.
“No, that’s alright. I can tell just by looking at him that he’s a fine warrior. There’s no reason to cause any more harm.”
Gareth chuckled, “You’re right, no need to damage the merchandise.
So, you’ll take 'em? It’ll be…”
He put his hand on his chin.
“Let’s say two hundred gold pieces,” he smirked, “That’s a good deal.”
Akira frowned, his brows furrowed.
Gareth looked at him, a bit frightened.
“Uh, if that doesn’t work, I can do one hundred. Yeah, one hundred, that’s as low as I can go.”
Akira’s aether started leaking out, fumes of pure white energy embodying his fury.
“F-fifty? I can do fifty!”
[The largest tower in Troy…]
A powerful man — clad in majestic gold armor — sat alongside the roof of the tower, looking over the city in the night.
Suddenly, his vision snapped over to the South.
What is that… there’s a massive source of aether over there!
He stood up, revealing his sturdy frame.
I’ll have to check it out. It may be those thugs in the black market again. If they have someone this powerful, it may be a problem.
He ascended into the air, then swiftly dove into the night sky— heading straight for the black marketplace.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Trouble in Troy”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 1b
- Suppressed (Idle): 1
Asuka: 5m
- Suppressed (Idle): 5
Jonas: 10
Bosch: ???
- Suppressed: 15
Gareth: 50,000
Ringleader: 50m
Supreme Guardian Ren: 1t