Inside the Tomb
-Yes, we should leave.- Percival agreed with Ann, using her as support to stand up. He staggered a couple of times, his legs feeling weak and wobbly from all the energy he spent powering up Gianni and Ann. The Old Knight smiled, at long last his long journey was about to end, or at the very least his quest for redemption. -Let’s hope things are less dangerous now that the undead abomination is dead.- Percival rubbed his eyes, clearly tired, but for the very first time in a long while he was optimistic about the future. -We need to pick up the charms of the Jiangshi along the way, we need to get paid after this mess.- He glanced at Gianni as he talked, and then, slowly, his eyes locked on Ann. -And we need to split our earnings, or at least that’s what I’m going to do, with Ann, she was vital for this mission.- He nodded at the Virtual Warrior, as a sign of respect.
Gianni looked to the corners of the vast room. It felt empty with the coffin upturned and the monster within dead. A thousand year life, ended in a couple of minutes. “And where are they…” The thought of the drained man on the surface still dangled in his mind. He had companions, but they weren’t to be found down here. He sighed and turned back to the entrance. “It doesn’t matter I guess. Not if we didn’t meet them. They could be dead in a trap or drained by Jiangshi in some dark corner we didn’t see.” It was as satisfying as the lich’s end to him. Questions without answers.
Ann cheerfully smiled the moment Percival suggested splitting the money, she felt proud of herself as she finally was part of something. -I’m glad i met you both in here, Percival, my offer still stands, i will help you until your journey is over.-
Outside the Tomb
If the crew re-traced their steps they will find that most traps were deactivated upon the death of the Jiang Lich. With luck they managed to find 15 undamaged Talisman, more than enough to pocket a hefty sum from Minister Hou. -I think we should get the reward for 5 of these each, to make things, fair, what do you say Gianni, you’re in? Or should I split mine, I don’t care either way.-
Gianni dismissively waved. “We all did our part. I’ll split it even.” He fought the instinct to scream yes to Percival’s generous offer. He had enough money and experience now it probably wasn’t a real risk, but he could still taste the ramen on his lips from when he was broke.
-Yeah, that would be for the best.- He turned to face Ann.- So, do you need a lift back to civilization or your fancy powers have a quick exit ability or something like that, like a “Escape Rope”- The Old Knight made a reference to Pokemon games with little to no effort from his part or a “Fly”.
“Did you just referenced pokemon? pftt hahaha, well, I am kinda stuck in here, so I guess I will have to go with you guys as well”, Ann’s comment was interrupted as she heard a sound in the distance, two humbees got closer to the entrance of the tomb, she was cautious, but perhaps they had come to get Percival and Gianni, after all, they were government agents.
A large woman with black hair and pale white skin stepped out of the first vehicle, much to her surprise, Ann perfectly recognized her.
“Akane?! is that you?!”
Ann ran towards her friend, jumping on her as she hugged her with all her strength,
“What are you doing here?! How?!”
Akane looked at Ann with nostalgia,
“Don’t worry, it’s all ok now”,
Her hand reached for Ann’s right cheek as she looked at the scar.
“Who did this to you?” She stared in anger at Percival and Gianni.
“You’ve got it wrong!, these are my friends, they saved my life”, Akane immediately bowed as an apology, she then walked towards them in order to introduce herself.
“My name is Akane Musashi, heir of the Musashi clan, I came here to get Ann Parker, she is part of our faction now.”
Ann looked at Akane wondering what was she talking about, it was the first time she ever heard Akane being part of a faction or being the heir of a clan.
“What is going on?, what do you mean I’m part of your faction?” the dots in her mind immediately connected, it had to do with her powers.
“I’ll explain it to you when we get to a safer place, Ann will you come with me to Japan?”. The whole situation was puzzling to Ann, she didn’t quite understand what Akane was talking about, but she knew one thing for sure, she couldn’t leave her friends just like that.
“I cannot go just like that, I can’t abandon Percival and Gianni just like that!”
-I don’t know what’s happening, but I heard of the Musashi clan.- He turned to Akane, ready to introduce himself, it took some effort, as he was pretty banged up, but he managed to more or less attempt taking a bow. -I’m Percival Peregrine, member of the Hong Kong Branch of the Bounty Hunter Association, pleased to make your acquaintance.- The Old Knight had to make an even larger effort to get upright after bowing. -I didn’t know she was part of your cohorts, but my treatment of her, as a comrade of arms, wouldn’t have changed.- Percival had to lean against the wall of the Temple, just to stay standing. Tired he checked the inside of his coat, pulling out a small leather case, given to them by Minister Hou.
-I hate doing this, considering the high respect I hold for your clan’s reputation but you’re bringing several individuals into a restricted area, one that is being protected and quarantined by the Chinese Hidden World Affairs Office.- He opened the small case, revealing a badge. -Mr. Arachne, whom I’m working for as a bodyguard, and myself, were deputized by Minister Hou, of the CHWAO, to handle this situation and I hope you understand that.- Percival left his words hanging on the air, waiting to see what Akane would reply. -I understand I’m not exactly fighting fit, but I took this job and I have the duty to enforce it, even if I’m a bit under the weather.- He let out a faint but sly smile appear on his face. -I think you, out of a lot of people, can understand things like duty and honor, am I right, lassie?-
-”It is not my intention to intervene in foreign affairs, Mr. Percival, Ann Parker was dispatched without our consent, and we have come not to extract any treasures or materials of value, but to retrieve our agent, should we face any charge, the Musashi clan will cooperate with the CHWAO to the fullest of our capabilities.” Akane further looked at the warrior, it was clear the tomb had proven to be a bigger challenge than expected.
“In any case, I expect your agency to be somewhat forgiving on the matter, as it is clear your client wouldn’t have made it alive without the help of our agent, the virtual machine technology is of exclusive use to the Musashi Clan, I shall expect words of praise from Minister Hou in the following weeks.”
Ann looked at both Akane and Percival as if they were some type of bureaucratic robot, she stopped their exchange
“Ok, that’s enough!, I am not “your agent” and you need to take a rest! So stop arguing!”
-Is not arguing, Ann, I’m just following the protocols I was given by the Office, a BHA member lives and dies, and most importantly gets work, by his reputation and I cannot avoid my duties, even if I’m basically half dead and the moment and about to keel over without warning.- As if by saying that he jinxed, he staggered, his legs turning to jelly below him. Luckily he was already leaning on his side against the wall and he placed his fullback against it, holding his body from falling to the floor like a ragdoll. -Gianni, be a pal and get the buggy, I don’t think I can move from this position unless moving means falling.- Percival knew that the Musashi clan were honorable, so he didn’t mind revealing he was currently running on fumes.
“No need for that, we shall escort you both to safety, you have helped a friend of mine and I am more than grateful for that” Akane helped Percival recover, it would be their decision whether to take her help or not.
-I thank the help, we shall talk about your assistance to Minister Hou, I bet he will be more than happy to pay any kind of reward you require or the traveling expenses. -Any objection Gianni?- He asked, realizing he had taken a bit too much of the lead, maybe out of reflex.
Gianni, who had just been staring in confusion at the scene, finally spoke. “...wait, like Musashi Miyamoto?”
-Yes, to my knowledge the clan is composed of his descendants and the descendants of his students, or I had bad intel?- He started talking to Gianni but then turned to face Akane, asking her.
-That is correct, Miyamoto Musashi, previously known as Shinmen Takezo is my ancestor”, Akane looked at Ann trying to explain things a little bit better.
“Ann, you are now part of the hidden world, I saw part of the footage recorded while you were inside the tomb, you need to learn further how to defend yourself, you were very brave, but can’t just expect to rely on the virtual machine every single time, the eye you lost won't ever recover, you need to be ready and learn how to protect yourself before you can protect others, please come with me, I will teach you how.”
Ann looked at Akane as she thought about it, despite her not liking what she was saying, the truth was obvious, she wasn’t strong enough.
“Percival, you said you had to go East right? in that case, we will definitely see each other again, I will go with Akane and train hard, when you get to Japan I will have grown a lot, trust me.”
Ann gave both Gianni and Percival a hug and then got into the Humvee.
“Are we going or what?!”
Her first adventure was finally over.
1 Week Later
Percival, still reeling from the wounds he received, was letting nature handle the scars, rather than taking his canteen. He was on the common area of the Hong Kong BHA building, after coming here for the first time since he was allowed to leave the hospital, he didn’t like staying in hospitals too much, too many questions would come from a keen doctor with enough curiosity. As customary, he bought everybody in the room a round of drinks, as the Hong Kong Bounty Hunters usually did after a successful gig. His bank account, already pretty crowded, had more company thanks to the money they got from the mission. With sleepy eyes, dark lines under them, as he was having some bad dreams relating his past, always happened after revealing his past to others, he was checking the BHA database, trying to find anybody in Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Sapporo or Kyoto who seemed to be related to the vision given by the sages. As he scrolled down, he suddenly stopped on one archive.
<Callis Nomene> Silver Star Bounty Hunter - Kyoto Branch
Classification: Drifter
Affiliations: JHWAB - BHA Kyoto - Kingdom of Centris (Origin - AU)
Skills: Advanced Swordsmanship, Weapon Generation, Enhanced Physical Abilities.
Percival studied the face of the man on the screen and without thinking it twice turned it off and stood up, picking up the cane he was using to move, as his leg was still sore. -I’m leaving for a couple of weeks, send any requests to my email.- He said to the clerk. And with that he left the building, traveling to Kyoto.
Gianni sat cross-legged on his bed, sticking together pieces of cloth with his threads. He threw another eyepatch on the small pile he had built up, each with their own unique patterning. He was working on his last now, black with three yellow lines shaped like scythes meeting in the center to form the impression of a circle. It was the Musashi symbol, found in his research after seeing Ann taken away by one of their members. If she wanted to proudly display her affiliation, she could wear it right on her face. He finished the eyepatch and put it in a small box with all the others. He hopped to his feet and grabbed his laptop. It was time to do more research. How did you send packages to the Musashi clan of all people?