Note: Wow, when it comes to this story, my muse in on a roll! Rainwalker, I have no problem think up plots with Plasmashock; my big brother helps me. As for Ryouta Kajiki, yep, he's a character from Yu-Gi-Oh, as he's known as Mako Tsunami in the English dub. As for Ryu Mutou's sister, you'll know her fate later in this story. And thanks so much for the advice on how to break a writer's block, this authoress needs it! That's right, authoress. I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier Rainwalker, but you can call me Miss Kender20. Anyway, for you and for all the other fans of my stories, it's time for the introduction of this chapter. In this chapter, the story of the smugglers is revealed, as well as their leader's role in what would become the downfall of Kyoki. I must mention this ahead of time that I made a Bioshock character, Peach Wilkins, a female in this story... I always considered "Peach" a very female name, thanks to the princess from the Super Mario series. Sullivan, who is also from the Bioshock game, will also get a different appearance, to match the modern day setting of this story. Finally, Frank Fontaine will be replaced with a certain Yu-Gi-Oh villain from the Doma, or Waking of Dragons, season. Remember the earlier changes that I've mentioned in the earlier chapters, like the fact that I replaced "Atlas" with "Raiden"? For those who have already played through Bioshock, I bet you're thinking, "Hey, Now it's starting to make sense!" With all that out of the way, Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 14: A Smuggler's Tale

Atem, Jonouchi, Honda and Mai all stared at Ryouta with disbelief. "No way…" Jonouchi said, "You? A smuggler?"

"Kinda hard to believe," Ryouta said grimly, "But yeah… we're honest fishermen by day, and smugglers by night."

Mai slams her hands on the bar, stands up and raising her voice, she says, "You're not a member of that fucking cartel, are you?!"

"What are you talking about Mai?!" Atem asked, shocked at her near-outburst.

"Mai is referring to the original smuggler's cartel that started it all." Honda explained, "Its founder is famous for his various business ventures—and infamous for destroying people's lives just to heighten his own power!"

"Indeed, he has caused more problems than he has solved them." Pegasus added with disgust, "He's definitely the quintessential con artist, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah! Yeah! Nasty-bad con man!" Blossom piped up with a cute little glare, blowing a raspberry to add to the effect.

"My dad used to be a part of that cartel in the past." Ryouta explained calmly, "But not anymore. Now he leads one of a few splinter groups here in the Neptune Safehouse. My cartel is one of those splinter groups, and even today my crew and I want nothing to do with that silver-tongued bastard." Mai's eyes widened in surprise, and quickly sat down.

"That cartel founder must have been an evil man if you think of him with such hatred." Atem said, "But what does he have to do with Kyoki's downfall?"

Ryouta glared, and said, "Everything. He was so cunning and devious he became Ryu Mutou's first archenemy. If Kyoki were the Garden of Eden, he was the Serpent. Long before I was born, my dad traveled to Kyoki in 1984. Back then, this city was truly a paradise. There were no safehouses, nor are there any splicers, Hunters or Scavengers. There were no priests, temples, or items of any religion either, for science, art, and industry were the main foundations of Kyoki's society. Nevertheless, there is tolerance toward religion. Ryu Mutou said that all of its citizens are free to believe in whatever faith they have, and that there is no need for symbols and icons to uphold them. It was like this since its founding up until that point, but as it turns out, even paradise had its share of dark secrets. Dad always loved to go fishing, and he came down here to try out a new way to catch tuna and other denizens of the deep. Now it so happened that he was assigned to work his trade in Dragon King's Bounty with a group of low class fish workers led by this southern belle from America, Peach Wilkins by name. In spite of the very low income, Dad was happy with his lot in life; the rest of the crew, not so much. And it didn't take long for him to find out why."

"Hey, my friends! Why the long faces?" Kajiki shouted cheerfully to his crewmates, who were busy cutting up scores of fish near the fishing pool by their cabin and looking miserable while doing it. "Don't you like to go fishing? C'mon you need to think positive, have fun with what you're doing!"

A middle-aged woman rose up from her work and snorted grumpily. "Easy for you to say Kajiki." She said with a southern accent. "Your reason for comin' down here is much different from ours! You wanted to discover a different way to go fishin'!"

"Well, what's your reason then, Peachy?" asked Kajiki.

The woman, Peach Wilkins, gave him a glare before she explained, "We all came down here, figurin' we'd be a part of Ryu Mutou's 'Great Chain.' Hmph! Turns out his chain was made o' gold, while our are the kind with them iron balls around the ankles. And its all thanks to those goddamn businessmen who managed to slip their way into the city with their sweet talk. I mean, Mutou ain't a bad kid, but I don't think he has enough brains in his head to pinpoint those greedy fat cats and kick 'em out like he was supposed to. So now he's up in Fort Frolic banging on pop stars and fashion models, with bureaucrats abusin' their power from right behind his back, while we're down here in this dump yankin' guts outta fish, with no way to rise up in the economic ladder!" Suddenly, a smooth tenor voice chuckled from a dark corner, grabbing the attention of the crew. "Who's there?!" Peach shouted angrily. The chuckle continued, and soon a figure stepped forward. His face remained hidden in the shadows, but it was obviously a young man with a thin build, dressed in a Chinese-style robe, which was deep turquoise decorated with dragon motifs, and a strange, circle-star symbol on the chest.

"You poor fools…" the man said, "Just like many of your kind, you come here to Kyoki, thinking you would be captains of industry. But you forget. Even in a society of the world's elite, someone had to scrub the toilets. How else can you explain that there are no robots being built to do the dirty work you're doing now?"

"Who are you?!" Peach roared, "What do you want from us?!"

"Don't be alarmed, my lady." the man replied, "I was just like you at one time; I've worked a day in my life. But I have managed to pull my way out of a life of drudgery and into the lap of luxury. If you want, I can help all of you do the same."

Peach gave him a look of surprise, as did all the other fish workers who were listening in. "You really mean it?" she asked.

"Of course. Would I lie to you?" the man said, "What is your name?"

"I'm Peach Wilkins, sugah, and I came from the heart of Texas in the US of A." Peach replied.

"Very well Miss Wilkins," the man said, "meet me at Atlantis Fisheries at 11 p.m. and bring some members of your crew with you. I have the perfect money-making job, just for you." And with that, the man walked away.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to trust that guy?" asked Kajiki, his voice showing his suspicion. The fish lady put a hand on his broad shoulder with a reassuring smile.

"Hey, it's not like things are gonna get any worse!" she said.

"So Dad decided to follow Peach and her crew to the newly built Atlantis Fisheries that night." Ryouta continued, "Once there, the man introduced himself as Dartz, and told them, 'Even though the people of this city are free to believe in their own religion, items that uphold those faiths are prohibited. This is because Ryu Mutou believes that you don't need such symbols to express it. But as you know, there are a lot of people here who feel that their lives are empty without something… tangible to strengthen their faith. That's where you come in.' And that was how the first smuggler's ring was formed. You see back in those days, contact with the surface is extremely limited. Mutou wanted to keep his city a secret, yet he also wanted to keep it ahead of the times. The only imports allowed in Kyoki were technological advances and cultural trends, and even they had to get past Mutou's council, who nevertheless had an open mind. That's why you're able to see this place as a city adapted for the present day, but anyway, back to the story. The smugglers' wages were better than their day jobs, and Dartz seemed like a nice enough man at first glance; he used some of the money to build the Atlantis Home for the Poor, a place where the lower class can stay. But even Dad had to admit it, he was a scary guy at times. Then around Midsummer's day, he invested in the research of two scientists who had just made an incredible discovery: the substance that came to be known as Nagi."

"Nagi?" Atem asked.

"Together with those scientists, he formed a new business organization called Orichalcos Futuristics. There, with the help of a third scientist, Dr. Yi Suchong, they began making the first plasmids and gene tonics, which gives humans supernatural powers." Atem tensed up at Suchong's name as Ryouta continued, "When the plasmids were released to the public, it was an instant success. Three days after that, Mutou and his General contractor, Bill McDonagh, went over to check out this new trend…"

Ryu Mutou, now in his twenties, and an Irish man with a thick mustache looked over the crowds of people gathering at one of the stores which was selling the new plasmid and gene tonic products.

"Are you sure you don't want us to regulate this new plasmid business, Mr. Mutou?" the Irish man asked, "I mean, there could be some side effects to this stuff, blindness, insanity—maybe even worse, l-like death!"

"I understand your concern Mr. McDonagh," Mutou replied in reassurance, "but what good is our ideology if it is not tested to its limits? The market doesn't respond like a baby, crying at the first sign of displeasure. The market is patient, like the monks who travel upon the long and difficult road to enlightenment. Even under the ocean, patience is a virtue, so we must be patient as well."

McDonagh let out a sigh and said, "As you wish Mr. Mutou. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

"Within three years, Nagi revolutionized Kyoki. More of the population began splicing up more and more plasmids and gene tonics in order to make themselves better. They demand for the substance grew as a result; at that time, the supply was rather small. Orichalcos Futuristics responded, and in 1985, they created the first Scavengers, who were referred to as Nagi Factories at the time. The supply began to multiply soon after."

"Did they know about those kids back then?" Jonouchi asked.

"No." Ryouta replied, "They were kept secret until 2002. Even my dad and I didn't know it until that year. Even so, Nagi became a big part of life down here, all thanks to the smugglers who made it possible. But as more and more people started using plasmids, the long-term effects became more apparent. It was discovered then that there are two different kinds of people in the city: those who are compatible with Nagi, and those who are not. The ones who are not compatible are the ones who risk becoming splicers. It was a fact that Dartz quickly used to his advantage, and it was then that his evil intentions were revealed. The Poorhouses he made in Amaterasu Square began to double as recruitment centers, and he forced many lower class citizens to overdose on Nagi, taking away their free will, and transforming them into an army of splicers. But that's not all. He supports families of every status, giving them everything they want and need in exchange for some favor or another. Then when he's finished with them, he betrays them with no remorse. Some were left financially crippled, other were wounded physically or mentally. Some even had their homes destroyed. Many others died, sometimes by his own hand. Those who managed to survive often described him as someone similar to the devil straight from the pages of Faust. As his wealth and influence grew, so did the casualties. Finally in 1987, Ryu Mutou finally became aware of Dartz for who he really is: a political threat, his ideological antithesis, and most importantly the source of his people's misery."

Mutou and some police officers were in the main office, along with a council of advisors, taking part in what would be their most important meeting. McDonagh was there, along with a plump African American officer who originally came from New York. "Something must be done about Dartz!" Mutou said to the council, "While we were busy buying buildings and fish futures, he was cornering the market with genotypes and nucleotide sequences. And as he did so, he was killing innocent people, demolishing homes, cheating families out of the things that would fulfill the dreams of children, and even changing innocent members of the lower class into monstrous slaves. Kyoki is changing before our very eyes! Not only is the Great Chain pulling away from us, people are getting hurt in the process!" he paused before he said with determination, "Perhaps, for their sake, it's time to give it a tug." The council nodded in agreement, and Mutou turned toward the African American officer. "The fate of Kyoki's citizens lies in your capable hands Sullivan. We are depending on you, as the chief of police, to put Dartz and his smugglers to justice."

The officer, Sullivan, simply replied in a deep bass voice, "Not to worry Mr. Mutou. I won't let you down."

"Though they didn't realize it yet, that was the beginning of the War of Smugglers, which predated the Kyoki Wars. This war lasted for sixteen years, especially throughout the 1990's. In the early years of that war, it didn't start out as a war. Police officers arrested many groups of smugglers working in different parts of Dragon King's Bounty. Sullivan, the chief of police, made it his personal mission to take down Dartz by any means necessary, and with reluctance, he even resorted to torturing smugglers in order to find the main cartel. Unfortunately, Dartz was even smarter than they thought… "

"I'm closing in on the whole ring Mr. Mutou." Sullivan reported.

"Good work Sullivan." Mutou replied. "Once we get the location there will finally be justice for the people of this city."

"Yeah, I'd pat myself on the back too," Sullivan said, "But let's face it… these aren't exactly bloodthirsty street gangs we're talking about. Kyoki's full of poets, artists, environmentalists and soccer players, not hired ninjas. But that leader of theirs, Dartz… he seems to know his way around a tight squeeze. He keeps his pretty nose clean, but not so clean that the right people don't know that he's not to be trifled with."

Mutou turned his back towards the chief of police and stared out the window to the undersea world outside. "So, its seems that Dartz is somebody to watch. Up until now, I thought he was just a mere menace to be convicted and executed. But from what you're telling me, Sullivan, he always manages to be where the evidence isn't. Is that correct?"

"Yes Sir, it is." Sullivan replied.

"I thought so. That means he's the most dangerous type of villain… the kind with a vision."

"Then one day, in the early autumn of 1997, Mutou started to change. He enacted the death penalty despite the disapproval of the council. I was still a small child when that happened, and Dad was beginning to realize that life as a smuggler is about to become even more dangerous. Especially when Dartz revealed even more of his cutthroat personality."

Dartz, his face still in the shadow, came up toward Peach's crew. "Listen well, Smugglers." He said with a hint of displeasure, "Ryu Mutou is starting to take this battle upon himself by bringing about the death penalty. I am disappointed in all of you for letting this happen. So from now on, 80% of the sales will be cut from your wages."

The other members of the crew gasped in shock. "What?!" exclaimed one smuggler, "Y-you can't do that! That's not fair!" Immediately, Dartz grabbed the smuggler by the collar and lifted him off the ground.

"Life isn't fair Togashi." He replied calmly, though his anger is evident in his tone of voice. "You have a problem with that?" The smuggler choked, before Dartz growled, "Now listen carefully, if you disobey my orders, then Heaven forbid I will turn you in to Mutou myself." He dropped the smuggler onto the floor, and shouted to the other smugglers, "The same goes with all of you! Now get back to work!"

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Later that night, Kajiki and a few other fishers were packing their things, when Peach Wilkins and her assistant, a young man with sunglasses, street clothes and an American Flag bandana, happened to come by. "Kajiki?!" Peach whispered, "What are you doin'?!"

"I'm leaving Peachy." Kajiki said solemnly. "Once I find someplace safe, I'm going to set up my own smuggling ring."

"Me too." Another smuggler said.

"Are you crazy?" cried the assistant quietly, "You can't leave the cartel! Dartz will find you!"

"Ah, fuck Dartz." Said a third smuggler confidently.

"You fuck Dartz!" the assistant insulted in anger, "I'm telling you, if you try to escape the ring, Dartz will fuck you!"

"Keith is right, Kajiki." Peach said, "It's too dangerous!"

The fisherman looked up at Peach with determination. "I never told you this until this very moment Peachy… but I'm a father now. My son has just turned six, and if I stay any longer in this cartel, I'll end up putting him in danger. So for his sake, I'm quitting this job and packing my bags."

Peach gave a worried look, and after a moment of silence, she sadly said to him, "Then I guess there's no changin' your mind. Good luck Kajiki. And be careful."

"Dad was one of the lucky ones who made it out of the cartel without getting caught." Ryouta finished, "The years passed by, and as Ryu Mutou fell from grace into insanity, the Safehouses were starting to emerge. When the Neptune Safehouse was built, Dad took me here and we made it our home. And they weren't called Safehouses for nothing! The prying eyes and ears of Mutou and Raiden can never penetrate the electrical barriers and reach the inside. In this way, all the refugees here are able to live their lives without fear of persecution. And my crew can smuggle in religious items without risking our lives."

"Where is your father now, Ryouta?" Atem asked.

"When the Kyoki Wars started two years ago, My dad told me he was going out to help some friends who were going to take part in a raid against Mutou's soldiers." Ryouta explained, then he suddenly grew sad. "I haven't seen him again since. I don't even know if he's dead or alive."

"Have you tried asking some of the people around here?" Mai said.

"Yes I have." Ryouta said, "But even they don't know where they are, or what happened to him. With each passing day, I get more worried about him."

"…Then maybe we can help." Atem suggested, earning a surprised stare from the fisherman. "We're heading to Atlantis Fisheries tomorrow, and if you come with us, then maybe we can help you look for your father."

"Really?!" Ryouta said, growing excited, "You'll do that for me?!" But soon, there was a bit of worry on his face. "But who's going to take care of the sushi restaurant, or the fishing expedition?"

"Hey, I'm sure one of your crew members is capable enough to take your place until you get back." Jonouchi said. "Besides, You want to see your dad again, right?"

Ryouta looked at the sandy blonde in amazement. Then, not only did he smile again, he let out a hearty laugh. "You're right! I may not be a Plasmund myself, but I'll be happy to come with you! Once I see him again, I'll be in your debt for life!" Ryouta quickly finished plating the sushi he was making then handed it over to the team and their guests. "Anyway, here you go! Tuna sushi fresh from the sea! Dig in my friends!"

"ALL RIGHT!" exclaimed Jonouchi and Honda with joy, "FEEDING FRENZY!" Then with chopsticks in hand, they tore into the sushi like sharks. The others just stared in bewilderment.

"AAAH!" Blossom screamed, climbing onto Pegasus' collar as she cried alligator tears, "Save me, Master, save me!! Don't let them eat me, PLEEESE!!"

"Ha ha, don't worry Blossom," Pegasus chuckled sweetly, "They're not going to eat you."

"Aw man!" Honda said happily, "Now that hit the spot!"

"Honda," Julie said, when her nephew paused in his meal. "I know this is sudden, but I have a little present for you."

"You do?" Honda asked, "What is it?"

"This!" Julie said proudly, and she took out a certain object and placed it in Honda's hand. Everyone gasped in awe.

"A Shockwave Video Phone!" Hawkins said.

"But why are you giving this to me?" Honda asked.

"Well, Honda, let's just say that you're starting to grow up." Julie said, "You're a part of your own team now. And when it comes down to it, two Video Phones are better than one."

"What are you talking about?" Honda asked in confusion.

Julie placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can be such a nimrod sometimes." She said with a wink and a smile, "I want you to go with Atem and his friends and accompany them in their journey."

"B-but Aunt Julie," Honda protested, "I thought you want me to escort you back to the lab in Arcadia!"

"Don't you worry about me, Sweet Cheeks!" Julie reassured, "I can head back to Arcadia on my own from here. Besides, with all the turn of events going on today, your new friends had gotten attached to you. They need you, Honda. So you should be there for them."

Honda immediately saw the wisdom in his aunt's words. Then finally he smiled. "All right Aunt Julie. Thanks."

"Well, since you're planning to spend the night," Hawkins said, getting up from his seat. "Let me get you some rooms, and I'll make sure they're a five-star rating!"

"Thank you again Professor Hawkins." Atem said gratefully.

"Don't mention it!" Rebecca said, "You're the ones who saved me after all! See you later!" And with that the little girl and her grandfather headed to the front desk of the Tavern, leaving the team to finish with their sushi dinner.

Note: In the next chapter, after a moment of rest, our heroes head over to Atlantis Fisheries, where they end up meeting Peach Wilkins and get an interesting request from her... one that brings excitement into the heart of Mai Kujaku. Until next time!