Chapter Thirteen – A Nighttime Meeting
The day of the CPU of Leanbox's visit to the Eastern continent is almost near now. And her purpose of visiting there is to boost ties with the various, independent cities that reside on the continent, some of which Leanbox is already allied with in terms of trade.
Leanbox's last stop, however, is the city of Dorfa. The reason is that it will do more than just visiting there. Leanbox will also promote a lot of businesses there and that includes introducing an even larger investment for Dorfa's gaming industry. The CPU of Leanbox also wants to personally introduce her own hardware based on the outgoing Cross 128 console that was previously developed by their Research and Development team. And she will introduce it via a special convention that is to be done in front of the city's Main Hall.
It has been over a week now since the city has set up preparations for the upcoming visit, especially at the Main Hall. The general has also advised his defense force to be on heightened alert during the visit.
However, while others are busy with the preparations….
"You had one simple task, Zenke, and you failed miserably."
"Shut it…. I do things my own way. I don't need orders from anyone else including you."
The scene is in a small, narrow prison cell with no windows and with only a cushion and a small table near it. It is a prison located at the basement of the Main Hall and one if it it's cells is occupied by none other than the Fencer who got considered as rogue: Zenke. And the one talking to him is none other than the defense minister of Dorfa: Bernard.
"We only require a vessel, Zenke. A vessel to use to revive the disciple of the vile goddess." Bernard told Zenke quietly. "But I never said that you take action immediately. Now look what happened. Our plan got compromised."
"Why do we need to revive someone who already got defeated by the CPU anyway?" Zenke asked as he continues to lie down on his cushion with arms underneath his head as if he's completely relaxed despite his current standing.
"Because she is the only one capable of reviving the vile goddess as of now…!" Bernard can't help but raise his voice a bit. Fortunately for him, there was no one around there after he ordered the guards to leave them be for a moment. "The disciple, lady Magic, is our only key in reviving our dear goddess…."
"But really? Revive the dead back?" Zenke asked with sarcasm. "But didn't she got eradicated by the CPU of Leanbox? As in nothing left in her physical body?"
"True. She was completely annihilated during their battle at the Western continent." Bernard said to clarify. "However, the disciple was clever enough to device a backup plan."
"A backup plan, huh." Zenke repeated. "So in short, she expected her ass to get kicked by the CPU, eh?"
"Not accurately true, Zenke." Bernard said. "I was there along with other followers when she talked about our impending defeat after she felt our three strong felons slowly but surely fell and met their demise. However, what she didn't told to all of us was this backup plan of hers."
"Hm? And that would be?"
"The disciple has concealed a part of her dark soul within a piece of dark shard." Bernard answered. "Everyone thought that she has used both shards on herself and against the CPU. But what a fellow follower has told me that the disciple has cut an already small piece of shard into half and she used that against the CPU while keeping the other one safe."
"Heh. No wonder she got herself killed." Zenke muttered in humorous disbelief. "Instead of using the whole shard against the CPU, she held back and got herself killed."
"Alas, it already happened." Bernard lamented. "However, I do believe that the reason for her actions is that lady Magic was confident in defeating the patron of Celestia for the CPU got badly weakened during their battle. What she failed to see… is the true potential of Fencers."
"Oh?"
"As I can remember, the soul of the first disciple, the leader of the Legion, was split into four." Bernard recalls. "One of them possessed a true follower of the vile goddess; an unnamed woman who became the second disciple, lady Magic. And the rest of the remaining souls, lady Magic used them to give three Furies their own physical forms. True that it gave the weapons independence and strength, but even with dark souls possessing them, they still proved weak against the powers of a Fencer wielding a Fury. Hence, their defeat."
Bernard then paused for a moment to look at the imprisoned man because Zenke seems uninterested in listening to his words anymore.
"Hmm…. Very well, then. Seems your uninterested in my objectives that could benefit even the likes of you." Bernard said calmly but obviously coldly. "So be it. Although sadly, you won't be able to enjoy the spectacle that will occur next week since you will still remain…confined here."
"Hmph. Who cares about a damn convention? I certainly am not." Zenke said coldly.
"Hmhm. I'm not talking about the convention." Bernard clarified before turning his back on Zenke and started walking out of his cell. "Now excuse me. I have to meet someone."
"And also, why not use that girl named Marianna as the vessel?" Zenke suddenly asked before Bernard could completely leave. "Why bother with the other fencer girl? Won't any other girl do?"
Bernard then looked back at Zenke before answering his question.
"It is because miss Mariano still has her use to me. And as for using any other girl, no. Because I don't want to just use any other average human girl to revive the disciple."
And so, the defense minister of Dorfa left the rogue Fencer to his own self.
And as midnight fell, the defense minister takes his leave from the Main Hall. And when the guards ask where he was going, he just casually answers by saying he's just going to a nearby pub to have a little drink since he's having a hard time sleeping.
After a few minutes of walking, Bernard was able to reach the pub. Inside, the place has about ten round tables with about four chairs around each of them. At the center of the pub is the bar with a row of eight more chairs in front of it. There wasn't any person inside it except for a plump, old bartender on the counter and a person sitting on one of the chairs on the bar. This person is wearing a brown robe that seems to cover the entire body along with a hood, completely concealing the identity of the person.
And as Bernard goes in, he signals a gesture to the bartender indicating that he should get him his usual drink.
As he takes his seat right beside the hooded person, that person seems to have jumped off his or her seat a bit in surprise before recognizing who sat nearby.
"Hmhm. I was surprised when I heard of your whereabouts, you know." Bernard started to talk to the person beside him. "But what I am surprised about though, is the item you possess."
Then the hooded person gave off a big sigh before replying.
"Yeah, I freaking know. It's not really easy being in hiding for too long especially that some of our brethren are being killed one by one. And also, is it really okay to talk about this here? I mean it's clear but, you know, you never know."
"Relax. The owner of this pub is also a fellow brethren of our cause." Bernard told the person in assurance. "So you can put down your hood if you like. At least we can do a better conversation if I can see your face."
"Seriously? *sigh* Fine, then." Said the hooded person before lowering the hood of the robe.
"Hmhm. Look at you. A decade has passed and you never changed looks now, huh Linda."
"Well you look swell, Bernard." The hooded girl named Linda replied with smugness. "To think that you'd get a government position here. What trickery did you do, eh?"
"I'm just good in convincing people, Linda." Bernard replied before taking a sip on his glass that contains rum with ice.
"Heh. I wish I was like that." Linda snorted out. "A freaking decade worth of hiding in the shadows and dodging attacks from either your Fencers or the Leanbox forces…. Man, that almost drove me nuts, you know…! But I am surprised that there some of our brethren like you who are able to live freely outside and wander about. What gives?"
"Linda, you just don't know how to blend in your surroundings properly." Bernard mocked at the girl as he takes a sip off his glass containing rum. "A true follower I may be, but I never let that show obviously when there's a lot of people around. It was difficult to do so after two consecutive defeats of our legion but somehow I managed to get through without so much of a notice."
"Well I think it's because you're pretty loaded with wealth in that damn pockets of yours." Linda said with a tinge of envy. "Heck, if I were also loaded, I'd be not hiding around like a darn rat now, huh. Because the last time I hid along with some of our brethren, I almost got killed along with during a hunt…! If you ask me, I'm already beyond the freaking edge of my luck."
"Well for now, I can assure you your safety within the walls of this city." Bernard assured her. "As long as your cooperation with my plans is assured, that is."
"Cunning as ever, huh you punk." Linda mocked at Bernard. "Everyone to you is only worth it if you benefit from them."
"I'll do anything to revive our beloved goddess, Linda. And I will do so by any means possible." Bernard told Linda with pure intent. "And as of now, only you have the most use for me among our brethren, Linda."
"Heh. Is it because I have this?" Boasted Linda before taking out a sealed, small glass cylinder from her pocket. Inside it contains a tiny piece of crimson crystal shard that emanates a dark mist. But since the glass tube is sealed on the top, the mist is unable to escape.
"Yes. The piece of the dark shard containing the soul of the dark disciple." Bernard mentioned as he looks at the item in Linda's hand in awe. Even the bartender of the pub was mesmerized by the item's dark energy circling inside the small container.
"Speaking of this thing, found a vessel where we can possess this shard to?" Linda asked before tucking the small container back into her pocket.
"I almost had one. Sadly my…acquaintance failed me." Bernard mentioned with disappointment.
"Well if you ask me, any chick will do, you know." Linda said nonchalantly. "I'd have done the hunting if it were that easy. I mean, I already tried on others before but this frigging thing does not respond. Heck, I even pricked it on a girl follower who gladly volunteered to become lady Magic's new body. But, meh, her body wasn't able to handle all the power and it gave away. The broad died in front of me in an instant."
"That is why I choose the proper vessel for us to use." Bernard said. "I am fully aware that not all women can be…- what's the word…? Ah yes…, compatible for the disciples powers."
"But still, you almost managed to find someone that could be compatible?" Linda asked in curiosity.
"More like I assumed that she will do for the disciple." Bernard answered.
"So, finally decided that that Gothic broad is a suitable vessel?"
"Oh, Marianna, huh." Bernard mentioned after hearing Linda's curious question. "No, she's still quite useful for me."
"Man, it only we've met a lot earlier. We might have been able to revive lady Magic more earlier and we might have conquered this city by now. Grrr…then I might not have been hiding for more than a decade now. Rotten luck…." Linda scowled at her fate.
"Anyway, have you brought what I need, my underling?" Bernard asked, not a tone of teasing in his voice.
"S-seriously? You're calling me 'that' now?" Linda muttered, taken aback with what the defense minister just called her.
"Yes. From now on, you will work for me and under my supervision if you want to your life as an outlaw to end." Bernard declared to the baffled girl. "So again I ask, have you brought me the item I told you to look for last week?"
"Jeez. We've only met for almost two months and you're already bossing me around. Bastard…." A disgruntled Linda muttered, saying the last word with a whisper as she picks something out of her other pocket.
She then procured another small, glass container also containing a tiny piece of crimson colored, crystal shard inside. But unlike the previous one, this shard doesn't emit any dark mist. However it does glow an ominous crimson color, showing just how much dark energy is contained within such a tiny piece of crystal.
"I will have that now, thank you." Bernard muttered before suddenly yanking the small container off Linda's hand, surprising the girl.
"Tch. Well you're welcome, a**hole…." Linda hissed at the minister. "What are you going to do with that shard, anyways? I doubt that you'd use it for yourself."
"Hmhm. Actually, this a last piece of the prop needed for the…spectacle that I have prepared during the visit of the CPU." Bernard mentioned as he tucks in the small container into his pocket.
"Wait, what? You're planning on doing something bad during the visit?" Linda asked, grinning a bit after finding what Bernard said amusing.
"Hmhm. If you say it's bad, then I guess I have to agree with you on that." Bernard said as he stood up from his chair, indicating that he is about to leave. "As for you, Linda, the owner of this pub just kindly offered you a room to stay for a while. Rest here if you like, but be prepared when I require your aid or I have something for you to do. And when I do ask, you cannot object. Do I make myself clear?"
"Seriously, who are you to boss me around, huh?" Linda argued with Bernard, standing up in protest. "You may be one of the big brass of this city but you're one and the same with me, a follower of our cause! And you don't have a higher rank amongst us like I do!"
"Oh well. I guess you can just go back into hiding around small holes like the rat that you are." Bernard said coldly. "Since you're going to be like this, then I suggest that you get away from here and leave the shard with the Disciples soul in it here."
"Tch. As if I'm gonna leave it here after lady Magic entrusted me this." Linda said in defense. "Grrr…fine. I'll do as you say."
"Now that's a good underling." Bernard said before turning around to leave the place. "Cooperate, and live. But defy me, you may wish that you haven't met me at all."
"Heh. Wise guy…." Linda muttered as she sees the minister off.
And as she looks around the now empty pub, she wondered what will transpire at Dorfa during the visit of the CPU of Leanbox.
"Hmm…I wonder what kind of crazy plan that bastard has in mind. But since I'm staying here for a while, I might as well see what will happen. Heh…, it could be fun."
To be continued….