Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 6
Chapter 25: Dumpling Days
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
Crowley was on a train to Anzu Village as he was more than likely to be going there for extra work just to get by. Even though it was raining outside, he was safe inside the train as he was expecting company. What he didn't expect was that Yukiwa was coming in here as he had a stack of books that were worthy to be brought back to the Universal Library on Essos, for they were very valuable so far.
"I take it that you're on your way back to the nearest spaceport just to get to Essos," said Crowley.
"I take it that you're still without your demonic mojo," said Yukiwa. "Therefore, I've got the motherlode of what's left of the Men of Letter Civil War arc in the bag in which I have the titles in store: The One You've Been Waiting For, Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox, Rock Never Dies, LOTUS, First Blood, Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets, Regarding Dean, Stuck in the Middle (With You), Family Feud, The Raid, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, Ladies Drink Free, The British Invasion, The Memory Remains, The Future, Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes, There's Something About Mary, Who We Are, and All Along the Watchtower. The next one picks up where Lucifer Junior grows in the appearance of a teenager at the end after you ended your life in the time pocket."
"Yeah, and I've been reborn just to rule Hell until those yellow-eyed stinkers took over with Milverton running it like Wrestlemania. It's a pain in the ass that I get shafted, but with Four-Eyes dead and sterner Four-Eyes still out in the fold, everything's gone to pot in which the Executive Division still keep those plastic figurines in their arsenal to do their dirty work."
It wasn't long until the train stopped in Anzu Village as Crowley got up from his seat and stepped out of the train with Yukiwa staying put. When he got there towards the station, he felt his stomach growling as he was going towards the dumpling stand to get something to eat. When he got there, he was ready to order until he noticed Gary sitting there enjoying some dumplings for lunch. Even though the former King of Hell was undetected by other angels and demons, he was caught in the radar of the demon in one of Darbus Toller's leftovers as he had to leave until he was spotted. What he also didn't expect what that Styre was also there as he was busy chugging down a pint of beer that went with his order of dumplings, for he was literally screwed after coming here.
"You didn't see anything, boys," he said.
"What the hell? Crowley?" said Gary as he was stunned to see him there.
"You were expecting Milvie to kick my ass again?"
"Do we look like we're working for Milverton?" said Styre. "The guy's been laying low since the Executive Division rolled into town. As for the sighting of Cain and Ailnoth, there's no telling when or where they will be."
"I'm not here to go after those two idiots. I'm here to pay a certain Moose a visit."
"Look, we're struggling just as much as you have, but I just busted up a satellite after taking it far away into space," said Gary.
"Yeah, but that doesn't make up for the loss of your job at Ruby's Knife."
"Dude, you're not the only person who wants to get rid of the Executive Division," said Styre as he took a bite of his dumpling. "Every single person, whether it's humanoid or not, bear a grudge against those ass-clowns for threatening to destroy the galaxy in the first place. Heaven, Hell, those time pockets, and the Middle Ground may be our homes, but what about our universe, man?"
"He's got a point there," said Gary. "If the Executive Division uses the means to capture Sam to use as their weapon, then we're done for, even for you, Crowley."
It wasn't long until Crowley noticed a newspaper headline on the front of it as he picked it up. The front page showed an image of Julilla in her cocktail dress as she was surrounded by a blend of Darbus Toller's leftovers and those from the Black Dragon Guild. From there on out, he despised the Executive Division's old toys after he nearly lost his life in Akatsuki when a suicide bomber entered and destroyed the teahouse he worked at. Even though he loathed that group, he was also wanting to rule Hell once again as he was also missing his demonic mojo during his glory days. In the end of it all, he had a part to play as he was also banking on the Destiny of Worlds to play out the rest of the way, for it was mostly painted and set in stone indeed…
I was up and about as I was feeling much better than normal. Even though I was still sane, I also had to deal with the torment of my inner demons as they were also a nuisance to me. It was the only thing that kept me from advancing as I also dreaded it on the horizon. As for the day I started up, I was busy taking care of the children as I was on hand into looking after the younger set of twins while the older ones were busy playing with their toys in the nursery. With the rain falling from outside, it was difficult for everyone to do things as I saw it pouring in droves. It was dreary as I also had to think of something for dinner soon. Staring at the clock, I noticed it to be four in the afternoon as I saw Reiko coming into the nursery. She stared at the younger set of twins as they were recently put down for their nap in which we were both grateful that they were there. As for Aora and Ghimru, however, they were tiring themselves out as I noticed them yawning just in time for a nap. Even though I was hard at work helping out, I was most likely to be preparing tonight's dinner as I was thinking about the dumplings that were made, for I wanted to make more during my stay on Drakonus.
"It's just about time to prepare the meal," I said.
"Isn't it the job for everyone else right now?" asked Reiko.
"You and Magda may be cooking in the kitchen, but I ca't just let you do all of the dirty work in there."
"You've been cheerful since you checked out of Menark's hospital, but Uncle Kazuo strongly forbids you to do anything else after what you've been through."
"Kazuo's got too much on his plate right now, but for the record, I'll go and prepare the dinner for everyone right now."
At that moment, I left the nursery as I walked into the hallway where the elevator was. When I got there, I was waiting patiently until the doors opened. Stepping in, the elevator was empty as I was taking it all the way down to the main floor as planned. When the elevator reached the main floor, I was ready to get out of it until the doors opened up in which I spotted Kazuo standing in front of me. In a moment of defiance, I gathered up my silver hair as I walked past him in which I was making my way towards the kitchen. Even though I didn't say a word, I let my hair down as I didn't have any problems at all until I felt a foot clamp down on it as I turned arund and saw Kazuo standing sternly in which he was not about to let me off the hook yet, for he was still hawkish about my surroundings when it came to dealing with my mental state.
"Don't you have anything better to do than step on my hair?" I said as I was getting irritated.
"You've been forbidden to do stressful tasks after what you've been through and your mental state needs to be stable," said Kazuo.
"I'm more than stable ever since I left that fortress of a hospital in Menark a week ago. Besides, I can't just be lazy forever while everyone else does my work. It's not fair for them to do so anyway, isn't it?"
"Dean gave you strict instructions not to overexert yourself in which you were on the brink of another bout of misery due to your onset of your clinical depression."
"Dean and his team are still fighting against the Executive Division's forces on a mission to liberate a Germanican outpost. He can't just play babysitter forever while maintaining his duties as a soldier to the Order."
"If Dean ever comes back intact, I'll be more than happy to have him kick your ass for disobeying his orders while he's away. Your mental state needs to heal thoroughly, Sam, not allow more stressors to add fuel to the fire."
"Then I would be useless to my family if I don't do my part." I yank my hair free as I was going towards the kitchen. "For the record, we all need to do our part, not just sit on the sidelines. It's what we were made to do instead of suffering from our mental fragility, are we good?"
I walked towards the kitchen as I found it to be scarce due to the state of the pantry in our new castle. All there was left was nothing but flour as I had no choice but to do some shopping for dinner. It wasn't long until I dressed in my coat over my clothes as I put on my boots. Stepping out of the castle, I noticed that it was still pouring as I grabbed an umbrella and wagon while taking off towards the town square in Anzu Village. The town itself was recovering nicely after being taxed for too long as I saw the numerous businesses selling whatever they had the most. It was a pleasant time for relief since the fall of Randall Derwent a week ago as I noticed the local butchers bringing out their finest cuts of meat. By the time I stopped inside of the butcher shop, I saw the meats in a blend of beef, pork, and lamb on display. I was most likely to be purchasing some meat for my family as I had my change pouch on hand with what I saved on a rainy day. When I was selected the meat that was suitable for cooking, I was ready to pay until the butcher refused my money for some odd reason.
"There's no need for you to pay today, my lord," he said.
"But I have the amount to do so," I said.
"After that surge of raw power that was above that tyrant's tower, there have been stories about how the new god of this galaxy even saved Alecrast from destruction above the reaches of space."
"Just because I'm on the verge of being a god, it doesn't mean that I can go without paying."
"Just take the meat… on the house. And for the recoed, your tab was paid by two men who were there at the dumpling stand before they set off to other places. They say that your raw power is more than just a surge. It was a rallying cry that unifies us against tyranny and other things."
Without any further say, I left with the meat that I got for free as I was leaving the butcher shop in which I had what I came for. When I was on my way towards the grocer for some vegetables and seasonings, I was looking at what was there as I went and and picked up some vegetables and other things to cook with. I was picking up what was there as I was ready to pay for them in which I was also barred from doing so, for the clerk in charge was more pious than what was perceived to be.
"No, kind sir," he said as he refused to take my money. "It is the will of the angels that I give you what you want."
"But I have to pay for this stuff," I said as I got out my change pouch.
"Do you know what I have been hearing all over the halls of Del Toro Shrine? I've been hearing of the calls for the Galactic Messiah to come here and not allow him to pay a single penny or else all of us would suffer with our eyes melted away."
"Then consider this a one-time only thing because the next time I buy things, I have to pay the decent amount like the rest of us."
Once again, I was made not to pay what I had as I left the grocery store and gone straight towards the poulterer to see some of the numerous types of poultry on display. There was also a selection of chicken eggs for sale as I was ready to pick some up. With the eggs collected, I was going towards the poultry counter as I was getting some of it to feed my family for a little while. By the time I was finished, I was ready to pay again as I saw the poulterer barring me from getting out my change pouch, for I never expected to get things for free in three shops so far.
"Not today, Silver-Hair," said the poulterer. "It's on the house for now, but your presence here is a sight for all of us to revere and see."
"This is the third time, but I can't go without paying or else I'll get busted for shoplifting," I said.
"What we see in front of us is a Messiah of sorts in which I've been praying at Del Toro Shrine until I was reminded about the teachings that the ancients once brought out. They have foretold of a man with a jeweled sigil on his forehead that will be the catalyst for the future that is waiting for us. They even said that his hair will turn silver just like yours, kind sir. Even the gods would punish us if we didn't give the new god the respect that he deserves."
"I know, but I'll pay the next time I come here."
Once again, I left with free eggs and poultry as I left the poulterer's shop and was on my way towards home. With the rain still pouring, I was pulling the wagon towards home as I made it back without any difficulty at all. By the time I made it back, I was spotted by Magda as she was aware of what I had as she was also not too thrilled at me for going outside against the wishes of the Medical Corps.
"Kazuo's not too happy with you," she said.
"I know, but I can't just sit in the castle like a rotting vegetable all the live long," I said.
"Well, you can't just sugarcoat it because you still have a nasty bout with clinical depression and it's not pretty."
"I know, but I can't just do nothing forever."
"There you are!"
I heard a familiar voice coming as I turned around and noticed Dvora arriving at the main entrance dressed in a rain poncho. Still, I had to deal with her as she was most likely to be giving me a stern lecture until I went inside with the groceries that I had. Taking off my boots, I took the wagon of groceries into the kitchen as I was most likely to be lectured for my behavior the moment I put up the things where they needed to be. Just as I was about to go back out for another grocery run, I noticed Dvora entering into the kitchen as she was not about to let me off the hook yet, for I wasn't ready to deal with her presence right now.
"Dean's pissed at you," she said to me.
"He's on Germanicus assisting the army on that planet," I said.
"Just because Dean's not here, doesn't mean that you can do as you please, Sam. That's when I come in 'cause if you're out there alone, then the Executive Division will catch you blind and you know how Julilla wants her man-meat to be caught in the wild."
"Her forces won't reach this village, not with the rain pouring."
"Is that so? The Executive Division and their allies are still on their petty little power trip and so far, they've expanded towards other places to suit their interests. You can't go it alone, no matter what you try to pull off."
"Sammy," said Reiko as she came into the kitchen. "Oh, Miss Dvora…, I never expected you to show up here just in time for dinner."
I was stunned to see Reiko here with a bigger wagon of goods to last us for a while. With the remainder of selected fish and seafood, dairy, and other things, we were good to go as I saw her put away most of the stuff that was needed. With my motive for making dinner looming on the horizon, I decided to take off my coat while hanging it on the wall as I dressed in a smock with a cap covering my silver hair. Washing my hands, I got out the cutting board as I was ready to get to work on making some of the dumplings that I was thinking about. I was most likely to be making the dough for the mandu I was about until I noticed a large urn-like container near the counter. Lifting it up, I opened it up as I smelled a familiar fermented scent that was there for a reason. It was the scent of kimchi that was brought here as I was more than likely to be making what was there. Even Reiko was ready to help me as we had so much dinner to prepare, for it would soon be worth it…
Kazuo was in his office in our home on Alecrast as he was not too happy with me for going off alone earlier. Still, he wasn't eager to let me off the hook as he was ready to report in to either Ginryu or Ryosuke if need be. When he was ready to go towards the mysterious room that connected the castle to the other one on Drakonus, he saw James arriving as he was there to report in, for he was also on point into dealing a blow to the Executive Division like the rest of us. What Kazuo didn't expect was that the leader of the Farragut Clan was on hand into bringing the usual Korean cooking as he was bringing in a hot stewpot the moment he opened it up to reveal a blended stew, for it was a very savory one indeed.
"You look pissed off," he said as he got out a ladle and scooped up some of the stew into a bowl.
"Sam needs to have boundaries due to the Executive Division's dangerous motives in the air," said Kazuo. "My failed attempt into stopping him from going out and about won't fall flat next time."
"He reminds me a lot like John, but he's still got that ball of energy that suited him once he ran off to some odd place before he left for Gehenna."
"Both you and John go way back, but that doesn't mean that one can go without boundaries."
"So you allowed Dean to dispatch that Draaza woman, Dvora, just to keep him from flying off the handle." James takes a bite of the stew with a spoon as he was savoring it very well. "You should try some of this, Kazuo. It's called army base stew, or budae-jjigae, but it packs a punch there. It's a mixture of spam, kimchi, glass noodles, pork belly, sliced cheese, cabbage, onions, kielbasa sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, rice cakes, radish sprouts, instant ramen noodles, and tofu all cooked with a hot paste and stock. It's really good, but it's also satisfying."
Kazuo felt his stomach growling as he grabbed a bowl that was near the pot of budae-jjigae that was there. With his bowl filled up to the brim, he grabbed a spoon and began toeat some of the stew that was in it. The taste of the noodles mixed in with the varied meats and such kept his mind off of flying off the handle towards me as he was most likely to be looking at other matters right now, for he had so much to do so far.
"It's good," he said. "Still, that doesn't mean that I can stop getting Sam under surveillance."
"He's not the type that can be caged completely," said James. "I know this because of the fact that his past self had his soul trapped in Lucifer's cage for a year and six months, which is a hundred and eighty in Hell years back in the Elder Days."
"It doesn't matter right now because of the fact that Julilla and her forces are out there and if she catches him, it'll be all over."
"Is it about that twisted Sol Project? We're both war veterans who fought in the brutal eight years of the First Galvanic Uprising and it wasn't fun. Luckily, we stopped Menelaus Marquand and his forces back then, but we have a bigger fish to tangle with. You fear for Sam's safety not just because of him being an easy target, but his mental state as well. We're both prophets, you and I, but we can't just-"
SLURP! MUNCH!
It wasn't long until Kazuo and James turned around and saw a familiar face sitting from behind while eating a bowl of budae-jjigae. It was Gabriel as he was most likely to be up to something on the sly, for he was typically on the move to help out against the Executive Division so far.
"This is better than watching the spam sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus," he said.
"Well, it does have spam in it," said James as he finished up his bowl of budae-jjigae.
"Basically, I came here to see Sam and Reiko, but they're in the other castle on Drakonus. For the record here, seven entrances to the central planets have been opened, but one of them is out of reach."
"Every first planet around the Ashizoka System is closest to the sun," said Kazuo. "The rest of them are hospitable and properly on the cusp of colonization."
"Well, Sam and his lady are gonna have to get it on in the designated locations that haven't been opened up yet. There's one on Atreides, one on Gehenna, one on Valinor, one on Targaryen, and one on Minas Tirith. They all need to be opened up 'cause that golden age can't stay in the fridge forever. We all know that Sam and Reiko must do their duty or else we all fall to the likes of those who don't give a rat's ass about the common man. It's not the first time that everything goes sideways, but we can't just let the pot boil over. It's our universe at stake, people. We can't just let the bad guys plunder everything in our path just to steal a certain up-and-coming god for his raw power."
"And we'll take the fight against Julilla for what she's done. She killed Lentulus Varus and his daughter, Penelope, in which Minara still vows to avenge them by gutting her for killing them in the first place. We can't back down this time because the bad guys don't justify their means so reasonably. In the Elder Days, the Old Guard came to America just to do a better job than the nearly extinct counterpart, only to have Jethro Braddock's ancestor betrayed and killed by her own comrade. This time, the Executive Division is following that rhetoric just to enslave this galaxy in which they will stop at nothing just to get what they want."
"Well, they already got the Tollers and the Black Dragon on board, but we can't let this crap slide like the Apocalypse. I died at the hands of my brother due to my meddling, but that didn't mean that I could be reborn and ready for the fight. As for the Destiny of Worlds, it's happening whether we like it or not."
Gabriel made his point clear as he was dreading the dangers of the Executive Division looming all over. As for what it all boiled down to, there would soon be trouble on the horizon as Kazuo stared out the window and noticed a white crow perched on a tree. There was an omen in the making as the sight of the bird meant danger indeed, for there was no end to this ongoing war anytime soon…
I was busy in the kitchen as I was hard at work making dumplings for everyone. The effort of me making all sorts of things in them was a good thing as I was hard at work into doing so. Even though we had a house full of company, I had to make variations of the dumplings as I noticed Reiko and Magda in the kitchen hard at work preparing the rest of the dinner for everyone. The smell of stir-fry and baked buns in the oven were fresh in the air as we were all hard at work making dinner for everyone. By the time we were all done, it was dinnertime as we set the food into the dining room in which everyone was stoked to eat what was there. Even with the children eating their food, they couldn't get enough of what was on their plates, for it was the food that was crafted carefully.
"The dumplings are good," said Gyatso as he took a bite of one of them. "It also has a mixture of sweet, sour, and spicy at the same time."
"Sam made the ones that were filled with kimchi and glass noodles," said Magda.
"I've tried some dumplings at that stand in town, but Sam's are a lot better."
"Those dumplings aren't the only ones there," said Dvora as she took a bite her food. "Sam's been experimenting on those things for a while now."
"I bet that Sam did plenty of cooking for a while, but where does he learn how to do so?"
"I've been looking at cookbooks and other things since I was little," I said. "It's also a godsend that I make some of those things I prepared for."
"It's like the dumplings that you made, but the ones with kimchi taste the best."
I was happy to hear the comments from the dinner table as I also took a bite of one of the dumplings that was on my plate. With the air of pleasantness filling the room, we were eating together as a family as we couldn't get enough of it so far…
Later on in the evening, after we all finished up our dinner and cleaned up the kitchen, I was in the backyard as I was looking into other places around the castle. On a whim, I was searching for strange places, I found a strange shed as I opened it up to see it to be empty. The room only had small altar and shrine as I noticed a metallic vial with a glowing red substance in it. It wasn't long until I picked it up in which I found it to be that of what Ippei siphoned from Crowley during the Army of Cain incident at the time. I never expected my late mentor to hide it here of all places as I heard wet footsteps approaching. Turning around, I saw Crowley entering as he was drawn to what was in the vial that I found, for he was wanting what was in it due to his reasons to get back at the Executive Division for acquiring Darbus' leftovers after the latter's downfall. He never forgot about the suicide bombing that destroyed his teahouse in Akatsuki as he was not about to go down without a fight yet, for this was also his battle just like ours.
"So, that is where Ippei hid my demonic mojo," he said. "Oh, it's been a whopping two years since I had it siphoned, but I want it back just to get revenge on those bastards."
"And you're eager to return to your bad habits after you acquire it," said Taraniel as he appeared out of nowhere. "I can see right through you, Crowley, but I also know that you would go and join forces with our enemies. There's no mistake that you would go in unannounced just to oust Milverton prematurely and half-cocked."
"For starters, Pretty Boy, I'm not in it just to mingle with my bad habits, but to snap Julilla's neck for having those artificial things in her arsenal. Even one of them destroyed that teahouse in Akatsuki that I worked in, but all I want is to return and do a lot more than anticipated."
"Then you'll get your wish," I said as I opened up the vial while using an Elven incantation to trap Crowley just to restore him. "What you get back will also have the usual warding sigil that keeps other angels and demons from following your trail, are we good?"
I began to use the incantation thoroughly as the red substance from the vial began to enter back into Crowley as planned. The power of it all made him return to his demonic abilities as he was feeling it bring him up to par. By the time the incantation was finished, I saw Crowley buckling under the pressure as he was back in swing once again, for he would soon go and fight like the rest of us or perhaps turn on us as unexpected.
"Well, boys, it's been fun," he said. "Of all the bad things I did over the years, I made dirty deals, I killed people, I even swindled my clients…" Crowley's eyes flash briefly into a crimson red as he was spotting me just to do his dirty habits. "and it felt good."
At that moment, Crowley was ready to use his telekinesis on me until he noticed a blunder of his own. He couldn't lift me up as I stood firm in which he was shocked to see me hold my ground like that. Even Taraniel was shocked to see me firm like that as my rising abilities as the new god were more powerful than ever imagined, for I was standing tall in a long time.
"What the hell?!" yelled Crowley as he was trying to lift me up. "Why can't you fly up in the air for once, Moose, or are you wearing lead shoes on your feet?!"
"You can't lift him up in his current status because he's achieved that level of being more than just a god, Crowley," said Taraniel. "He is a part of the Destiny of Worlds just as it was foretold in an ongoing prophecy."
"So, are you telling me that he's on the same level as God?!"
"It's not in my interest to have such power like that," I said.
"Well, your past self took a posh shot at me once!"
"It doesn't matter, Crowley!" I was feeling a rush of power coarsing in my veins as I was ready to put Crowley in his place. "You may have had your demonic grace restored, but be warned! You have a duty like the rest of us to stop the Executive Division or else we all fall, even Heaven and Hell."
"Well, Moose, I decided to take up on your offer… And another thing, if I ever live, I want to oust Milverton and his cronies out of Hell after that, are we clear."
"And if you die in battle?"
"Then I'll cement a legacy when I'm gone. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"
Without warning, Crowley's stomach growled as he was feeling the hunger of the past humanity that he once had. In a split second, he noticed an urn-like jar in the room as he opened it up and smelled the familiar kimchi that was in it. Even though he loathed it, he was craving it as he gobbled it up with gusto. By the time he was finished, he was full as he was off the moment he fled in a plume of red smoke. With Taraniel watching, he was aware of Crowley's grace returned to the former King of Hell as he also had mixed feelings that were unsettling so far.
"So, off he goes," he said.
"He may have his demonic mojo back, but he'll be in the battle with us against the Executive Division," I said. "He also bears a grudge against them for what nearly happened to him, but he's also an acolyte like those I've saved."
"Well, there's your Judas Iscariot running wild, but if he tries anything out of line, then he'll be smitten with an angel blade."
"In the Elder Days, he ended his own life in a time pocket just to trap Lucifer, but after his rebirth centuries later, he led an opposition against the demons who were running Hell and he took the throne once again for a long time. After that, he was ousted by the Children of Azazel and then deposed by Milverton in which they want him out of the picture soon enough."
"What the hell?" Taraniel sees a familiar mechanical bird perched on a stone pillar as he threw his angel blade at it while it smashed into pieces. "Those sons-of-bitches! The Executive Division were banking on you to restore Crowley's mojo to him, but they won't go forth and do so!"
I saw the mechanical bird on the floor as I picked up the SIM-Tron chip that was out in the open. I had to show those in the Order this piece of dangerous information as I had to bring it to them anyway, for it was vital into doing so…
Julilla was in her room at her hideout in the Drakonar town of Peddler's Peak, which was empty and abandoned. As usual, she was watching the feed coming from one of the mechanical birds until it was destroyed by one of my allies. A quiet anger filled her as she wanted to get back at those who were destroying the only window of information about me. She was not too thrilled in seeing those against the Executive Division destroy some of the mechanical birds that were on surveillance as she was more than likely to be calling the shots to go after our allied forces. Just as she was about to do so, she saw the door open as she saw Liesel entering with a report about the latest victory in the Executive Division's fight against us.
"You're response is too little, too late," said Julilla.
"We've taken the region of Heigus and executed their chieftain," said Liesel.
"It's too bad that Emperor Wan didn't see it, but you should be careful where you kill."
"That freak refused to bow down to us and look what led him there..."
"Emperor Wan will come after us and the chieftains and governors who run their regions will soon burn at the hands of the Tollers and the Black Dragon Guild. Therefore, if we all fall at the hands of our enemies, then we'll unleash Project Ra on this planet."
"And may the Sol-2 bring it..."
"There's one problem in which we need Sam to be a weapon to destroy our foes with one shot. When General Wetzel used him as a weapon for Project Apollo, he wiped the Alecrian towns of Sgriccia and New Hanover in one fell swoop. Sam's raw power is growing within him in which it's more than enough to have him become remade into a god."
It wasn't long until Julilla saw the rain pour down in which she hated it every step of the way. Still, it didn't sway her from acquiring the ultimate prize as it was none other than me in mind, for she would see victory in her favor once she coveted it against everyone's wishes. When she went outside, she saw the factory below as she saw the numerous artificial creations in the form of Darbus' leftovers being mass-produced. She was ready to take on the galaxy as she smiled with an icy demeanor, for it was her wish to keep this ongoing war alive in her favor...
The next morning, I was up and alert as I was cleaned up and dressed just to start the day. When I went towards the kitchen, I noticed it in disarray as I saw an empty bowl on the counter. What I didn't expect was that I found Crowley laying on the floor as I noticed some soy sauce on his mouth and a pair of chopsticks in his hands. It was an awkward encounter as I also notied that he had a bit of indigestion due to what he ate. In a moment of mercy, I went towards the pantry as I got out a box of ginger tea as I put the kettle of water on to boil for it. Making tea for a demon was something new indeed as I noticed the kettle boiling the moment I got out a cup and tea strainer to make the ginger tea. With a pinch of ginger tea into the strainer over the cup, I poured the water into it as I gave it to Crowley, who woke up as if he had a bad hangover. Sipping the tea, he was alert as he was more than likely to be leaving again, but for how long?
"It's an awkward day, Moose," I heard him say as he was up on his feet.
"You pilfered my dumplings," I said.
"So? No one else makes ones with kimchi and glass noodles in them better than you do, but I have my reasons to go for Korean food every once in a while."
"It seems that even though demons don't eat or drink, you know how to hold your food until you get a bad case of indigestion. Therefore, I have some ginger tea to calm that stomach of yours, so don't try to even go any further by binging too much."
"As usual, you have a big heart… for a god, that is…, but Julilla's biding her time in which she still pines for the operation of Project Ra on the sly instead of stale beer and a case of the clap. As for the rest of the Destiny of Worlds, there are five more entries that you and Reiko need to open before the Executive Division goes after you a lot worse."
"Everyone's always going after me, but I can't shirk my responsibilities right now. If the Executive Division takes over this galaxy, they will make their mark towards Heaven and Hell in which they will become unstoppable if we don't contain them."
"Then let me put a damper on the Ken and Barbie dolls that were out there after they destroyed my line of work in Akatsuki. Those stinkers will pay for what they did to me and the scars I have still remain."
"After this folly, you're getting rest, is that clear? Too much food in you can cause much worse in which you won't be able to hold any more. As for the food I cooked, it seems that you're into a dumpling addiction, which is better than that of blood; both demon and human. Still, you need to rest up after all that you ate, for you would also incur the wrath of Kazuo on the horizon."
Crowley didn't say another word as he crept out of the kitchen and went upstairs to one of the levels. With me remaining in the kitchen, I began to clean it up as I washed the dishes and put away what was there. After that, I went outside seeing a clear day for once. With the rain stopping, I found the weather on Drakonus to be very mildly warm as I saw the pink cherry blossoms in bloom where the trees next to the castle gate stood. I was more than likely to be grateful that I was there until I noticed a courier standing at the gates. The boy was carrying a letter to me as I got it in which I opened it up and saw that there was bad news on the horizon. Even though I never expected to get this letter from the Drakonar Army before, it seemed that one of Emperor Wan's closest allies was dead in which the Executive Division had taken over his region, for they were getting worse indeed.
"I never expected anything like this before until now…," I said.
"Emperor Wan is waiting for you at the Capital," said the courier.
"Then tell him that it has to wait. After all that has happened, I can't be let off my short leash right now."
"Orders are orders, Sam," said Dvora as she entered into the castle. "Besides, the Emperor's been wanting to meet you for a while now."
"Does Reiko know?"
"No, but there's a certain someone who arrived through the portal that connects this castle to the one on Alecrast."
I saw Kazuo approaching as he was most likely to give me yet another stern lecture that concerns the worst in me. Still, he wasn't swayed by my defiance as he was most likely to be telling me off for not doing what I was told so far, for I would soon regret my actions first. Still, he had a sterner protocol as he wasn't about to let me off the hook yet, for he was not too thrilled into seeing me behave badly on his watch.
"I knew that you would come forth," I said.
"You can't refuse an audience with Emperor Wan, Sam," said Kazuo. "If you did so, then you foresake your reputation."
"The Emperor can wait, Kazuo. Stil, he's got too much on his plate already in which he also has to make sure that we all go after the Executive Division once and for all."
"It can't wait forever because the captain of the Hunter Corps' seventh squad literally demands that you get your ass over there immediately."
"I had a feeling that you would say that…, but I have to decline for now. With Julilla's forces taking over parts of Drakonus and Claudius, there's no stopping her insatiable appetite for power on the sly."
It wasn't long until I saw a procession approaching the moment I stepped outside the gates of the castle. To my concern, I saw the numerous soldiers in Korean garb while riding on their horses in which they carried a banner of the Drakonar Emperor's royal seal on it. It was a very extravagant display for me to see as I also noticed a familiar face appear in the crowd dressed in a jester outfit. It was Gabriel as he was most likely to be beckoning me to an audience with the Emperor, for it was not something that I could pass up right now.
"Well, Sammy, it's time to get your ass to the Emperor 'cause he's been waiting for you to show up," he said.
To be continued...