Chapter 10: The Bounty Hunters

Ricky, Saber, Ben and Wall-E walked through the crowded streets of London. If they are going to stay in London for a while, mind as well visit some of the places around the city. Ricky and Ben both smiled as they look around the city. After all, they both couldn't remember when the last time they have been to a different country was.

They all walked through the streets until they all stopped when they spotted four thugs surrounding a boy named Mac.

"You have wandered too far, Mac. We warn you not to leave the sector but you wouldn't listen." The leader of the thugs said.

"How about we break his legs? That way, he won't leave the sector again." One of the thugs asked his leader.

"Good idea."

"No. Please, you guys can't keep us trapped in the refugee sector forever. We can't survive there! We'll die without proper food and water!" Mac begged. Just then, one of the thugs spotted Ricky and his group standing nearby.

"Hey! What are you looking at?" The thug scoffed.

"What are we looking at? A group of cowards surrounding an innocent boy, that's what!" Saber said.

"Oh, so you think you can take on us and save this kid huh?" The leader asked, making the other thugs laughed. "Alright then, give me your best shot!" However, when the leader of the thugs got close enough, Saber moved like lightening, her fist colliding into the side of his jaw with a resounding crack. The leader stared at her in amazement for a brief moment, then his eyes rolled back until only the whites were showing as he collapsed into an unconscious heap.

Saber then looked up at the other thugs standing, who had as of yet failed to move. Saber smiled grimly at him as she cracked her knuckles.

That was all she needed. Instantaneously the terrified thugs turned around and sped off while carrying away their unconscious leader, running as fast as their legs could carry him and wanting nothing more than to get away from the avenging blonde haired demon.

"Whoa," Ben whispered.

Mac then walks over to Saber and said, "Thanks for your help. They would have cripple me for sure."

"Hey, we couldn't just stand by and let them harm you." Saber said with a smile.

"Why were they hunting you anyway?" Ricky asked.

"Well, those thugs work for the Falcone Mob. The gang that runs the underworld of London. They were under command by Falcone's second-in-command, Porter C. Powell. The only language the Falcone Mob respects is money. So Powell is trying to increase the gang's profits by using slaves and refugees here in London as a cheap labor force. We're only good to him as slaves and merchandise. He wants to keep us in one place so that he can take control of all of us. That's always been the way…well, except lately."

"What do you mean?" Ben asked.

"The Falcone Mob has been clamping down on the Refugee sector hard and I have no idea why. They're starting to kidnap other people, hurting others…but there is no reason why. That's why the British Royal Army is now hunting for Carmine Falcone to put an end to this madness. But till today, they couldn't find where Falcone is hiding."

"Where can we find Powell?" Ricky asked.

"Huh." Mac chuckled. "You don't. He finds you. If he's got reason to, either it's because you can help him out…or it's because you're making trouble. Either way, it's not a good thing."

"I think you better leave or you will head into more trouble." Saber suggested.

"Good idea. Thanks again for saving my life. All of my friends will know of your bravery." Mac then runs away from the group.

The group continues walking until they see another boy named Manny Rivera who is sitting on the pavement.

"Spare me some pounds, will ya?" Manny asked.

"Okay sure." Ricky said as he gives Manny some coins. "But in return, can you tell me anything about London?"

"Um…okay. Just give me a question and I'll tell you what I know." Manny said as he arched an eyebrow.

"Tell me about the city then."

"Well, the underworld of the city is run by the Falcone Mob. I heard that they have a bounty for any surviving Templar but I guess you know that after the battle of DC, there aren't any Templars anymore. Even if there were, we will never know where they are now."

"Well, whether you believe it or not…I'm a Templar." Ricky said.

Manny shook his head. "Nah, you're lying…you probably just-" But he stopped when he widens his eyes as he saw ricky holding a Carsomyr sword on his back. "My God…you're telling the truth. What are you doing here? Have you come to help us? Please! Help us! You don't know how life is here in London!"

"Well, if I can help, then I'll try." Ricky said.

"Oh thank you. You are a very nice boy. I'm sure everybody will praise you one day." Manny said as he smiled.

"Oh, please tell me we got time to do this…" Ben whined, rolling his eyes.

"But Ben, Saber did say she came here to help the people of London, right? So we're going to help her do that right now." Ricky said.

"You know what?" Saber perked up and smiled. "That's a great idea. I think we should save these refugees from the Falcone Mob. Maybe that will help us owe up for not helping the British Army during their resistance against the Faction."

"Wall-E!" Wall-E agreed.

"Great. Then let's go!" Ricky said, smiling as well.

"Oh great. So much for having a peaceful trip around London." Ben groaned.

A few minutes after the group left, another girl walked over to Manny.

"Um…spare any pounds, ma'am?" Manny asked the girl.

"Never mind that. Tell me. What did those people said to you?" The girl asked. The girl has short red hair and wears purple robes, dark green skirt, dark green and light green striped socks and purple boots. Her name was Will Vandom.

"Nothing. They just ask me for answers." Manny shook his head.

"Don't worry. It's okay. I already know he's a Templar." Will smirked.

"What? You do? Then why-"

"Trust me kid. London just got complicated."


Ricky and the group continued walking down the pavement until a girl walked over to them. Ricky and the group can tell that the girl is a soldier of the Royal British Army as she is wearing a black and white coat, black and white skirt and black boots. She also has long blue green hair, tied to two pigtails. Her name was Lenalee Lee.

"Hi there. I just saw what you did to the thugs and save that boy. I was about to call for reinforcements until you guys show up. That was very brave of you. Anyways, my name is Warrant Officer Lenalee Lee and I know you guys are Templars and I think you just met my friend." Lenalee said.

"What friend?" Ben asked.

"You know, the one with white hair and a scar at his left eye?"

"Oh, yeah, right. That guy." Ricky frowned. "Who is he and whats his problem?"

"His name was Lieutenant Allen Walker. He's our lieutenant of the Royal British Army and Roy's second-in-command. He has a hate on Templars."

"Why is that?" Saber asked.

"Because well…during our resistance against the Faction, he and his father fought together against the Faction. And during the battle well, his father got killed in action and Allen cried over his father all day when he came across his father's body. Even though we did win the battle in the end, Allen never got over his father's death and he blames the Templars for not aiding us in the battle and responsible for his father's death."

"Oh…I'm sorry." Saber said in pity.

"Hey, it's okay. To me, I don't blame the Templars. I can understand that they have no choice but to scatter after their tragic loss during their battle in DC."

"Okay anyways, can you tell us anything about the Falcone Mob and their bounty on Templars?" Ricky asked Lenalee.

"Oh right. Well, all I can say is that you guys really have to be careful while walking through London. I heard rumors that the Falcone Mob are now hiring all the bounty hunters in London to hunt you guys down." Lenalee warned.

"Tell me about the bounty hunters."

"Well first, there's Akatsuki. A team of bounty hunters made up of Deidara, Kisame Hoshigaki and their leader Itachi Uchiha. Each of them are skilful assassins and even more deadly as a group."

"Who else?"

"Second, there's Kadaj and Loz. They are both brothers and rumor has it that they are slaves who both kill their own masters and have developed a taste of it. They have mastered a dance of death. Very beautiful. Very dangerous. Then, there's Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke. But most people simply referred him as Slade. He's a master swordsman and no one ever saw how he really looks like. Rumor says that he was a descendant of the terrorists from Kazakhstan who came to attack Britain decades ago."

"Yeah, I heard about them. Next?"

"Finally, there's always Cedric Hoffman and Will Vandom. Although they are both bounty hunters, they are also both rivals. They will hunt each other until the sun of our solar system dies, and beyond."

"Tell me about Cedric Hoffman."

"Cedric Hoffman is a skilled swordsman from Hungary. He moved to Britain after his nation was attacked by the Faction. When he first arrive, he was a refugee and he singled-handedly killed the slavers who attempt to turn him to the Falcone Mob. He now walks across London, hunting. He takes bounty hunting as an excuse to maim and even kill people, much to his delight and pleasure. He is very dangerous and almost unstoppable when he's angry. Rumors say he kill his own parents. But no one knows for sure."

"Now tell me about Will Vandom."

"Yes, Wilma 'Will' Vandom. She's not really a bounty hunter, or should I say she's an 'unofficial' bounty hunter. She became a refugee when she was only a 5 year old child and became a slave of Cedric when she was a teenager. But she escaped and trained herself to become a fighter and a shooter. Although she's not really a bounty hunter, she's the best hunter anyone ever seen. Even the army is amazed by her."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't kill except when she has to. She respects the hunt, not slaughter."

"Thanks for the info, Warrant Officer Lee."

"No problem. And remember, be careful alright?"

"We will." Ricky and his group then walk away from Lenalee. She sure was nice to them for a soldier of the Royal British Army.

END OF CHAPTER

Ryo: I hope you enjoy this chapter. This chapter has a brief introduction of Will Vandom from W.I.T.C.H., who is another main character of this story. Also, I hope you find Lenalee's information about the bounty hunters in London and Allen's background story interesting.