"I understand, but we're going to need to see the inside of your carriage." Ashrah, who was riding the horse leading the cargo, eyed the large gate carefully. Sensing trouble, the two uniformed centaurs placed themselves in front and to the side of her. The horse whinnied nervously, and she ran her warm hand against its mane to calm it.
Now at the gates of Sundo, Ashrah and the others were growing weary. They had traveled quite far from the forest outskirts by foot before they bought a carriage and horse from a local town. They needed to carry the chest into Sundo and go through the official portal before they could return to the Shaolin stronghold. Although they complied to follow the 'orderly' way upon entering Outworld, they now had a huge chest full of gold in their carriage.
Syzoth poked his head out from the carriage. "Excuse me, sirs." He stepped out of the car before morphing into Zaterran form. He carefully brandished a badge and some paperwork. "I am the official envoy for the Court to the Zaterrans. We - uh, I and two other companions, are traveling in haste, please look the other way. We must enter the heart of the city before nightfall."
The two soldiers shared a look between themselves. Behind their carriage, a line of other disgruntled travelers began forming. The centaurs looked at Syzoth expectantly. "Anything is possible, for a price." The other soldier wiggled his eyebrows. Syzoth was sweating profusely now. What? What do they want me to give them? Oh!
By the time he realized what they meant, Kung Lao had stuck his head and forearm out of the carriage. He threw the thick napkin he'd made into a pouch in the air. It shook violently and fell back into his palm with a swish-clink sound. He used an index finger to push up his hat before launching the money at the guards. "You can keep the change." Tomas shuddered with second-hand embarrassment. "WHAT?! I've always wanted to say it ok?!" Tomas laughed. "You could've saved it for Madam Bo's!" But then again... There was no way Madam Bo would take that kind of talk. Outside, the centaurs checked inside and then silently withdrew. The pouch had thick gold coins the size of their eyes. They grinned at Ashrah before moving out of the way.
"Well, sorry for the trouble."
Back at the Shaolin temple, they were faced with a new problem. How would they get this heavy chest full of foreign gold into Japan? They hadn't even begun to think about the currency transfer process. Tomas was currently digging his hand in the chest, trying to look for the bottom. Its trove of heavy coins pushed and pressed against his hands, making him grow weary. "It's so much..."
"Ashrah."
Liu Kang and the rest of the group turned back from the chest to look at Kung Lao, curious at his solemn outburst.
A sense of premonition made Liu Kang start to frown.
"Give me a couple of coins," Kung Lao said, pouting and clasping both his hands together. Ugh. They all turned to Ashrah, while the God of Fire squinted at Kung Lao from the corner of his eye. Remember, the Shaolin live modestly! He seemed to be warning him. Ashrah huffed and sat down next to the chest. "I hope one chest is enough." Tomas laughed. "Actually, it may be too much. It's so heavy...there's no easy way to take this to Japan." Liu Kang sighed. Syzoth's mind was racing at a mile per minute. "I can turn invisible! Maybe I can sneak it through some customs." Liu Kang placed a pitiful hand on his shoulder while Kung Lao scoffed in disbelief.
"Syzoth, you can only carry the chest in reptilian form, and barely at that. You think people aren't going to notice a treasure chest moving around 8 feet in the air?" Syzoth was immediately embarrassed. He wished he hadn't said anything at all. Tomas rubbed the sides of his head, the eye bags from when he first came yet to disappear. "I don't have my I.D. or my passport. We'll have to smuggle ourselves to Japan illegally on a freight, or fishing boats." Kung Lao, ever the scene stealer walked to the front of the room. "Heh. Unlike YOU guys, I have an I.D. and a passport. Thanks to going to see Johnny LEGALLY - "
Ashrah, Syzoth, and Liu Kang glanced around wearily. Wait what? Why does Liu Kang look nervous?! " - I have an international one too. It's common sense that I be the one to send it there." Before anyone could respond, Kung Lao had already begun nodding to himself. Liu Kang cast him a look of profound disappointment. "Do you think you're going anywhere else?" There was a chill in the room. Stepping towards the entrance of the room where Kung Lao stood, Liu Kang continued: "Those children are all being neglected right now. You are breaking all of the promises you made to that camp." Kung Lao began backing out of the room "What about Raiden?! He's watching the kids just fine - " It seemed like a light bulb went off in Liu Kang's head. "You're correct. I should send Raiden." It's not fair it's not fair it's not fair it's not fair!
Kung Lao's face grew stern. "I think an illegal freight isn't that bad."
"It's so... beautiful," Raiden gasped. From the forest, Raiden, Tomas, and an invisible Syzoth stared at the clearing. Ahead of it was a large Japanese estate. Smaller and larger minkas were spread out in an orderly fashion and seemed to be covering those that lay in the middle. Looking down at the map in his clenched fingers, Tomas was still worried about how they would enter peacefully. Syzoth's face broke out into another sheepish grin. Before they could stop him, he jumped forward, rolling maniacally through the snow. After a moment of horrified silence, Raiden and Tomas shared a look of relief.
Suddenly, 3 shots rang out, piercing the silence of the clearing. Syzoth yelped as he rolled and dodged, dashing towards the forest. Well crap. Tomas ran out this time, waving his arms in the air. Syzoth joined Raiden behind the chest, panting heavily, while the other shook his head, laughing and giving a sideways grin at him. Syzoth blushed shyly, happy that he wasn't getting scolded. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't contain his excitement whenever he saw snow. After a while, a few men in all-black attire stepped out from the foremost building. Their dark montsuki kimonos were a stark contrast to the blinding white snow. It was 1 pm, and the sun was blazing above them, making everything crystal clear.
Suddenly they rushed towards them.
Syzoth flinched and turned invisible. Tomas turned back towards his two companions and reassured them. "It's OK! They're probably going to grab and search for me first. Start bringing the chest!" Just as he spoke, the Shirai men descended upon him, pushing him down onto the snow. They searched him thoroughly before bringing him back to his feet. Smoke was trying his best to hold in his laughter. They had been so gentle while searching him that he had felt ticklish.
The current set-up of the room was very strange. In the center of the room, Scorpion and Smoke were kneeling, and in front of them were the chest, Harumi, and 7 excited elderly individuals. Of course, they were containing their excitement behind a stern facade, but one couldn't ignore how they were watching and plunging their hands into the chest, searching for its bottom. Off to the side, Raiden and Syzoth stood awkwardly. Syzoth began watching the black cat on the window sill carefully. It had jumped and attacked him when they entered the room but purred and curled around Raiden. The experience still hurt him. At this very moment, he was wondering how he could approach the creature and gain its trust.
Tomas and Kuai Liang were eerily calm. Tomas had completed his given mission, and Kuai Liang had set the first part of his plan in motion. Before this, the elders had courteously introduced themselves to the foreign strangers, understanding that they were simply transporters of the chest. As Raiden began fiddling with his hands, Harumi let out a stern cough. Hideo Shirai gruffly nodded. "Let us discuss." The elders graciously straightened themselves up, walking out of the sliding doors. They were still muttering to themselves excitedly in Japanese. Harumi cast a warning glance at the duo over her shoulder. Smoke flinched while Kuai Liang's ears began flushing a bright red.
Once they were alone with Syzoth and Raiden, Earthrealm's Champion let out a sigh. Meanwhile, Syzoth made his way towards the window, his eyes focused on the feline. Intercepting him, Kuai Liang bowed his head before placing his hand on Syzoth's bicep. "Tell Ashrah I said thank you. I will repay her somehow." The Zaterran shook his head quickly, and it was easy to tell he was distracted. Tomas stood up as well. Smiling, Raiden looked at the chest. "Ashrah was excited to help you out." He turned away from Syzoth, who was holding his breath as he gently smoothed the cat's tail fur. "Also, Kung Lao sends his regards." Raiden flicked his hat upward as he said so. Kuai Liang huffed, folding his arms across his chest in amusement. "How's his hand?" The group of men laughed uproariously as the cat sprang out of Syzoth's hands and onto the walls.