A few hours later

Still the Republic of Topirika

Train and Eve walked up toward the mansion, along with the group of sweepers who had arrived together with them. Train glanced around the beautiful grounds, and his gaze became slightly puzzled before he looked back to the front as a voice called, "Welcome to my house!"

There, smiling in the doorway, stood Glin and he beamed at them, "I have been waiting for you for some time!"

Angry glares and silence met his greeting, and Glin scratched his head as he asked, "Hm? You're tired of the game already? Ooh, it was just a tiny joke!"

Eve glanced at the general killing auras that seemed to have been awakened in their fellow sweepers. Thinking back to the prattling, mocking magician character from the game, Eve concluded to herself, 'Everyone definitely found the game troublesome.'

Train meanwhile was glancing to the side, the puzzled expression still somewhat there, but he looked back at Glin as the information broker invited them all in.

"Until 3pm, please come in and have a rest. There's still about 30 minutes."

The weepers made their disgruntled ways inside, Eve and Train coming up behind.

"You finally came, Mr. Train." Glin greeted cheerfully, and Train glanced at the man.

"Is this really your house?" He questioned abruptly. "For an information broker, it seems a little too big."

Glin didn't reply right away though the polite smile never faltered.

"Isn't it nice?" Glin answered after his pause. "However, it's far from the cities."

Train stared at the other man for a moment longer before he shrugged.

"Is that so? Nevermind then! Come on, let's go in, little princess."

Glin watched as Train ushered Eve inside with him, and internally Xiao Li had to admire the older man.

'No wonder he's Black Cat.' He mused. 'This place was recently created from an empty house. I should have known Black Cat might see through it very quickly... nevertheless, just a small mistake.'

"Oh!" Glin called after Train. "A few moments ago, a man with an eyepatch came and claimed to be 'Train's partner'."

That caught their interest quickly and both Train and Eve rushed inside. Sure enough, in the far corner of the room stood Sven.

"Sven!" Train called, happy to see his friend again after being apart for over ten days while Sven went off to do some training on his own.

"Hey!" Sven beamed back, equally happy to see his friends and team. "You're here!"

"When did you arrive?" Eve questioned, and Sven put out his cigarette as he replied, "Not too long ago."

"How's the result of your secret training?" Train questioned, taking in the confident look and stance of his partner.

Sven smiled, but his reply was quite subdued.

"It's okay."

"Hey~ I'm really looking forward to it." Train grinned before he looked around. "Oh, where's Rins? She didn't come with you?"

"Yeah, we separated after she finished helping me train." Sven confirmed, before quoting the purple-haired beauty.

"'I'm not a sweeper. Plus, I have to go back to being a thief. Tell Eve that if anything goes wrong, use train as a shield and escape first!'... that's what she said."

"Oh..." Eve said thoughtfully, and Train cried indignantly, "You're actually considering it?!"

"Anyway," Sven interjected. "So this is the Sweeper's Alliance."

They looked around the room, taking in the other occupants, and Sven noted thoughtfully, "I thought there would be more people, but they're only a few."

"Anyone you know?" Train questioned, and Sven nodded slightly.

"So far, there's only two that I know."

He nodded toward a serious-looking, middle-aged man with a moustache and he explained in a low voice, "Tom Fudou. In the past three years, he has captured seven S-class criminals."

Train glanced at the man, who held a large weapon wrapped carefully in cloth though Train would bet that it was a spear of sorts, while Sven then nodded to another, younger man in the corner who was reading an action novel.

"Kevin McDougalll." Sven explained. "Even though he's only a beginner, I heard that he was the one who captured Esto, a large drug organization, three months ago."

Eve looked at the young man who looked more like a pretty boy model than a fighter, but she supposed that looks were deceiving. After all, she looked like a frail twelve-year old girl while Train looked like an idiot most of the time. Eve's eyes traveled to the other side of the room and she noted the only woman in the group, a pretty blonde with short spiky hair, sitting in the far corner.

Train meanwhile glanced around and he realized thoughtfully, "Oh yeah, that guy's not here."

"That guy?" Sven questioned, and Train elaborated, "Thunder head."

"The Garbell Commando master that you mentioned on the telephone?" Sven asked in surprise. "Maybe he didn't pass the game test?"

He then glanced at the clock on the wall as he added, "But, you never know… there's still 25 minutes."

"He was so arrogant… but could it be that he's not coming?" Train wondered as he recalled River's parting confident words.

"We will decide who's the winner as sweepers! Let's see who can catch Creed first!"

Twenty minutes passed, and it was almost three when the door to the mansion lounge burst open once more. Everyone looked over in surprise to see River, sweating and out of breath after having clearly run a long distance.

But with a proud smile, he declared in relief, "Almost couldn't make it! Damn, I didn't catch up to the bus...hm?"

He noticed Train, Eve, and Sven and he brightened up further, apparently immune to the dumbfounded looks they were giving him.

"Hey, you guys really came!" River said cheerily, and Train blinked.

"Did you run all the way from the town?" Train asked in disbelief, and River chirped back, "That's right!"

He strode off, heading for a seat on the couch to recover after the miles of running he'd had to do, and Sven said blankly, "Such a hot-blooded person..."

"Agreed." Eve intoned beside him and Train said bluntly, "Just an idiot."

Just then, the clock struck three and Glin announced loudly, "All right, time's up! I'm closing the door!"

Outside, the gates to the compound slammed shut at his signal… or rather, thanks to the signal from his remote. Glin faced the room as he announced, "The ten people that are here will form the Sweepers' Alliance!"

All the sweepers had gathered around the man by this point, and Glin explained, "Then… before I announce the location of Creed's hideout, let me make sure. Is everyone ready to catch Creed? We will leave tonight. Actually, in order to attack the Apostles of the Stars, I've already prepared everything."

That had the sweepers frowning, but Glin wasn't finished yet.

"Their headquarters is 10km to the southwest… on the Adonia sea."

"Adonia…?" Sven repeated, stunned by this new development. "Hey, isn't Adonia-?"

"That's right." Glin confirmed. "Made up of hundreds of islands, the popular 'Villa section' is where the villas of many of the world's millionaires are located. That is where Creed is hiding."

The sweepers all exchanged wary looks, and Glin smiled.

"So… is everyone ready?"

The next morning

2am on the Adonia sea

"Doesn't matter how beautiful a sea is, it becomes really scary at night." River muttered from his spot at the front of the speedliner.

The group gazed at the island that the boat was approaching under Kevin's guidance, and River continued in a low voice, "So, on the outside this island belongs to Ben Jerad, but in truth the Apostles of the Stars are using it as their hideout. I still can't believe they dare to put their hideout in a place near the city."

The rest of the sweepers remained grim in agreement… but a yawn broke the seriousness of the situation.

"I'm so sleepy." Train grumbled, rubbing his eyes where he sat with his team at the back of the boat and Sven grumbled in return, "This guy has no sense of danger at all."

The sweepers were silent again for a moment, before Tom Fudou finally spoke up.

"But I still don't understand." He reasoned. "No-one in this world could find the hideout of the Apostles of the Stars, no matter how hard they tried. How did Glin find it?"

Tom looked back at the harbour they had left as he continued, "And he was fully prepared, yet he said he's not interested in the reward for catching Creed. Sounds very strange to me."

"I've heard about this information collector, Glin." The woman, Silphy Deacroft piped up. "Even though he's very mysterious, his ability to gather info is very good."

"It doesn't matter who he is." A large, brutish male sweeper with blond hair (Gallom) replied. "The bounty is worth three billion!"

"That's enough for us, isn't it?" Gallom's partner, Lacdoll, added.

"I have a suggestion." Gallom continued as he looked around at the group. "May I say it?"

The others looked at him, a mixture of wariness and curiosity on everyone's faces as River asked, "What is it?"

"Even though we are all in the 'alliance', how about we go our separate ways once we reach the island?"

That had everyone's attention, and they listened with carefully neutral expressions as Gallom continued, "And the whole reward will go to whoever catches Creed. Even though it's three billion, if it's divided into seven parts, then the amount will decrease dramatically."

As the rest of the sweepers eyed each other thoughtfully, Lacdoll added, "Just the two of us is enough."

He indicated himself and his partner.

"Those who need partners should find their own."

"That's true..." Tom said thoughtfully, glancing around the group. "Every sweeper has their own way of doing things. Working together to catch creed might be troublesome."

"I think it's a good idea." River agreed, and Silphy added approvingly, "That way, there won't be any arguments."

"How about you guys?" Gallom asked, glancing back at Train's team.

Train smirked as he replied confidently, "We have no problems."

Meanwhile

Topirika

Xiao Li removed his Glin disguise as he stepped forward toward where a ramp was being lowered beside a private plane.

"Miss Sephiria." Xiao Li greeted with a smile as Sephiria walked down the ramp to meet him.

"Xiao Li." Sephiria greeted, her expression unusually solemn even for the normally serious captain. "Is everything going according to plan?"

"It is indeed, captain." Xiao Li confirmed and Sephiria breathed in deeply.

"Very well."

Her gaze turned to look back into the plane she had just stepped off of.

"It is time."

On the Adonia sea

"We're getting closer." Kevin noted from his place at the pilot's seat. "We should turn off the engine and change to plastic boats to reach the shore."

Eve looked over as the man spoke, but she frowned when she saw a small bug on the cover of the driver's seat. It was just a small thing… but…

Suddenly, there was a blast as if a strong gust of wind had suddenly blown their way. Everyone tumbled over slightly as the boat rocked wildly, several of the group getting knocked off their feet before they all regained their balance.

"Wh… what happened?" Lacdoll asked as he looked up from where he'd been sent tumbling beside Tom. "A strong wind…?"

He stopped as something wet splashed against his face, and he touched the droplets in confusion. "What the… is this sea water?"

His hand came back red, and Lacdoll stared at it in shock.

"Blood?!"

Everyone looked around sharply at that, before their eyes all became fixed at something strange on Gallom's face where the man was still standing right behind where Lacdoll had been. There was a thin line on the blond man's face, drawn right across from one of his head to the other, and it was slowly growing redder by the second… before the upper part of the cut slid right off his head and fell with a small plop on the boat floor.

"Wh… WHAT?!" Lacdoll screamed as the rest all stared in stunned silence. "What the hell happened?!"

Sven and Eve stared in shock as the rest of Gallom's body toppled over, but Train's eyes lifted to the sky as a voice hissed, "Finished one of 'em off..."

The remaining sweepers also looked up to the sky to see a giant bug-like creature coming their way.

"What is that huge bug?!" Lacdoll shrieked, while River gasped, "There's a person sitting on it!"

The remaining sweepers were now all on their feet, staring up at the heavily scarfed and bundled person sitting atop the giant bug though most were as yet hesitant to act as they were unsure what they were up against.

Shiki meanwhile stared down at them from the one eye visible between the layers of cloth that completely covered him from head to toe and he said contemptuously, "You are sweepers, correct? You actually found this place… I should congratulate you… However."

His tone steeled over and Shiki finished harshly, "You are too stupid. You came here to find your own deaths!"

The bug was now close enough that they could all see the blood dripping down from its blade-like horn, clearly what had been used to slice through Gallom's head.

"That shorty is one of the Apostles of the Stars?" River gaped, staring up at Shiki in disbelief.

But the Taoist ignored him as he said condescendingly, "You low-lives don't even think about stepping into the hideout. I will turn all of you into trash in the sea-"

"That won't do!"

Shiki started as a familiar, spiky-haired figure stepped forward, facing him head on.

"What you just did was very disrespectful, Taoist!" Train called as he stepped up on the front of the boat while Shiki stared at him in shock.

"It's you! Why are you here?!" Shiki demanded and Train scoffed.

"Do I really need to tell you?" He asked as he looked up with gold eyes glinting with promise. "I am here to deliver 'bad luck'. To Creed and all you Apostles of the Stars!"

Shiki's jaw tightened beneath his coverings and he repeated slowly, "You say you want... to bring us bad luck?"

"Yes," Train affirmed seriously. "I'll defeat all of you."

There was a brief moment of silence as Shiki stared down at Train while the former Black Cat stared back fearlessly. The sweepers glanced between the pair warily, some eyeing Train especially as they wondered how he knew Shiki seemingly intimately.

Silphy's eyes widened however when, without warning, Shiki suddenly dove toward them once more.

"It's coming!" She yelled, and Sven shouted, "Get down! Watch out for that blade!"

They all dove for the ground just as the bug flew over their boat, slicing the top part of the driver's compartment clean off the boat. Kevin barely avoided being beheaded as he dove down as close to the ground as possible, and he poked his head out to look back at the bug as it swerved around in the air and came back toward them.

"Damn!" River gasped. "He's fast!"

Train cocked his Hades, expresion grim, but before he could stand, Lacdoll beat him to it.

"You killed my partner!" He screamed as he held up his custom machine-gun. "You piss me off!"

Eve, Sven, and Train watched in alarm as Lacdoll stood up and fired continuously, screaming, "DIE!"

"Hmph!" Shiki scoffed. "Quit playing around!"

The bug he was riding spun rapidly in place like a top, the speed causing it to blur and the bullets to rebound off the bug without causing any harm.

The sweepers dodged rapidly, avoiding the reflected bullets in a panic. Sven barely dodged the rapidfire that went his way and he held his hat to his head as he gasped, "That was close."

Unfortunately, Lacdoll wasn't as lucky. The man was peppered with his own bullets and he choked out, "D-damn… you..."

And then he collapsed forward onto the boat railings. Dead. Eve stared at him, her brows furrowed and her lips tightly pressed, before she looked up again as Shiki shouted, "Two down! On the ocean, there's nowhere to run, you insolent fools!"

He came speeding back toward them, and Silphy yelled, "Look out!"

But Train stood up straight and tall, facing the bug headon, and electricity crackled along his Hades as he said darkly, "The one with nowhere to run..."

He lifted his Hades, pointing it right at the approaching bug.

"Is you!"

Train fired, and the impact of the railgun on the bug at such close range was explosive. The entire being blew up, pieces flying and falling into the sea while Shiki was thrown back from the force of the explosion.

"Wh… what just happened?!" Kevin gasped while the remaining sweepers also stared in stunned amazement.

"Good job!" Sven said triumphantly as he watched Shiki fall. "He's falling into the ocean!"

Unfortunately, he was proved wrong as the Taoist quickly recovered and created a new bug creature to carry him. It was smaller than before but it didn't stop the fact that this bug could also likely tear them to pieces… if Train's railgun didn't stop it first. Shiki seemed to be aware of this too as he remained out of direct range, eyeing the boat warily as Train continued to face him with electricity coursing through him and causing sparks to appear around him.

A strange sound caught Silphy's attention, and she glanced to the boat's engine… only to realize that it was on fire and about to explode.

"Oh no!" She yelled, catching everyone's attention. "The engine was hit by the bullets earlier and it's starting to smoke!"

Sven looked over as well and his eyes widened.

"The gas tank is going to explode! Everyone into the ocean!"

The alliance didn't need to be told twice as they all leapt off the boat, plunging into the sea. Train followed with one last look Shiki's way before he was swallowed by the waves. Shiki started forwards, hoping to catch someone - but the boat exploded and he was forced back away from the flames.

He watched the flames licking at the oil on the surface of the sea, and for a brief moment he wondered if they had been killed. But he quickly dismissed the thought - the group had been clever enough to find the island and they had mostly survived his first attack. They wouldn't die so easily. Least of all Black Cat. His fist tightened. He needed to inform Creed of their intruders immediately… and let him know it was time to deal with Black Cat once and for all.

Shiki flew off immediately, missing the slight movements in the dark sea below.

One hour later

Train let out a deep sigh as he pulled himself up onto the rocky beach of the island.

"Whew!" He gasped, exhausted after swimming the entire way to shore.

Glancing around, he muttered, "Looks like we were all separated... This is bad."