-10-

Dōng mén is the Qin Empire's largest city in both area and population; importing and exporting several types of goods, ranging from raw material to finished products, through a network of railroads. The fabled trade city is currently the only way to enter and exit the Qin Empire, because of this there's a large variety of people from different nations, clans, factions, and professions. The diversity was mind boggling for the husky and panda as Milla welcomed them into the metropolis, "Welcome to Dōng mén!" the hound ecstatically announces to her dumbfounded companions.

"I know I've been here before, but I've never noticed how… different it is from the rest of Qin. If anything it's more similar to the origin kingdoms." Kai observes.

"I bet there's all sorts of stores! Though I'm just as surprised as Kai." Norah admits.

Milla responds with a nod and explains, "It is the only legal way in or out of the Qin Empire."

"Exactly how do you know this much about this city?"

"I've stayed here for seven months after leaving Shang Mu, anyways I guess we can relax before we head over to the dojo."

"Dojo?"

"Jin told me to inform the master of the Dōng mén Dojo, Jie Jilu, of what happened last week at Zhōngyāng."

"He must be important. So what was this about relaxing?"

"I assume you would want a break after… you know… fighting giant robots, resolving political corruption and traversing wild forests, I didn't mind the latter though." Milla explains.

The youths remain silent until they all nod in agreement.

"Alright, I'll be getting supplies and some more ammo, otherwise I'll be either at a shooting range or a metal shop." Kai informs.

Norah begins to whistle as she slowly collects one thousand gems in total from both canines, who notices the panda counting several crystals in her pouch, "I'm just going to borrow some money, and go shopping!" she confesses in joyful tone.

"Alright, see you guys later." Milla says as she quickly leave without explaining her plans, leaving both Kai and Norah perplexed.

At the commercial district a mysterious serpent-like person slithers down the road, "I can't believe the humiliation that bitch put me through!" Serpentine grumbles wearing a black cloak so no one can recognize him.

"If I was given another chance to get revenge, I would certainly take it!"

Serpentine notices a familiar figure, heading towards the the local gunshop, walk past him; the viper slowly turns his head and sees Kai, his eyes burning with anger, however the serpent felt satisfied with the husky's appearance.

"Kyaa, it's that other dog with the rifle!" Serpentine acknowledges, "Shyahahahaha, this is perfect, ABSOLUTELY PERFECT… I can take my revenge by starting with that boy.", the viper slithers his way into the gun shop in pursuit of the siberian husky.

Kai walks up to the counter, "I need some physical and energy bullets, how much for them?"

"Two gems per round for the physical bullets, ten gems per container for the energy bullets." The shop owner confidently informs.

"That's a bit expensive, but I guess Dōng mén is quite the wealthy city. Just when I thought Běifēng was expensive."

"Běifēng and Dōng mén are the two largest cities in the empire, Běifēng provides us with raw material and we create the finished goods to be distributed throughout Avalice, last time I checked Dōng mén's best trading partner was Shang Mu. In general we have a surplus of supply."

"Somehow I'm not surprised."

"Ironic, huh? If anything the people of Dōng mén are closer to the origin kingdoms than their own empire."

Serpentine eavesdrops on the conversation as he hides in the shadows making an intrigued smirk, Interesting, this is the kind of information I could use.

As Kai exits the store Serpentine seamlessly follows the supposedly unsuspecting husky, he was careful not to make any noise or seem suspicious to any bystanders so that no one would contact the authorities, after all the viper was now at large and if anyone would discover him, he would have to fight his way out of the city.

Serpentine continues to follow the canine to the Dōng mén park, where immediately the husky draws his pistol directly at Serpentine, out of reflex the viper draws his own pistol at Kai. Both marksmen gestures with cold stares as bystanders flee in terror.

Norah was carrying several shopping bags around her arms, as she ate a danish she bought at a bakery.

"I may be a mercenary, but I still got to make a living!" The panda cheerfully expresses to herself as she quickly looks through her remaining gem supply after eating her danish, I should be more careful how much money I spend…

Nah, Milla said to enjoy ourselves, who am I to deny such a request.

The panda girl continues to stroll down the sidewalk, whistling a popular tune, remaining calm, composed and under euphoria.

"Excuse me, miss." Norah hears a voice as she strolled through the city, she turns around in response and sees a fourteen years old tibetan wolf boy with red/orange fur and white hair; wearing a beige gi and was barefooted while holding twin blades on his back.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I came from the Dōng mén Dojo to an old friend who's suppose arrive here today." The boy explains, "By any chance have you seen a basset hound girl, about two years younger than me with orange hair, beige fur, wearing a beige top, pants and brown gloves with asymmetrically colored symbols like the anklets she also wear."

Norah was surprised to hear the detailed description of Milla from the wolf boy, as though he knew her personally, "eh… yeah… you're describing Milla Basset, aren't you? I know her."

"Ah! So you know her?! My name is Zhao Shi"

"Norah… you can just call me Norah, you said your name is Zao?"

The wolf drops his head in mixture of exasperation and shame, "Why do most people mispronounce my name like that… It's not like Zao and Zhao sounds similar…" he mumbles.

"Oh, sorry."

"It's fine." Zhao shakes his head to focus on subject at hand, "You said you knew Milla Basset?"

"Yeah, I came here with her."

"So you're one of the people whose traveling with her?!"

"Pretty much, you're from the Dōng mén Dojo, right?"

"Of course… I thought that was the first thing I said."

"Out of curiosity how well do you know Milla?"

"C-come again?" Zhao hesitantly responds, aware of what Norah meant by that question.

"Oh nothing, nothing… nothing! Let's just find Milla."

Zhao responds with a short nod, as Norah assists him on his search for Milla. As they browse through the city looking for the elusive hound they notice a large crowd of panicking civilians retreating from the Dōng mén park. Norah and Zhao agrees to investigate, after running against the chaotic crowd they find Kai and Serpentine with their pistols drawn against each other.

"What the heck are you doing?!" Norah demands, still holding the several bags around her arms.

"I should say the same for you, what's with all the shopping bags. Anyways I'm not doing anything special, just dealing with prying snake" Kai retorts.

"Snake?" The wolf aks before noticing the armored yellow-eyed viper pointing it's own pistol against the husky, "So this is Serpentine."

Meanwhile Milla was at the outskirts of the large metropolis sitting on a bench which overlooks the city, the hound sat calmly as she makes a deep breath, It been more than a year since I've entered the Dōng mén Dojo, I also haven't forgotten that promise I made with Fang back at Běifēng…

"Milla I want you to promise me something"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"When you go back to Dōng mén, please tell Zhao and Ginger that I really miss them and that their big sis is trying her best to give them a better life, that she's always looking out for them; that I haven't forgotten them."

"I think that they will understand, I wish I had a sister like you."

The basset hound makes a warm smile as the calm breeze passes her, however the soothing sound of the wind is broken by a familiar sharp and violent sound, like a gunshot. Milla recognizes the gunshot, it was Kai.