Katsuo ventured deeper into the southwestern section of Gosapor, the heart of the city's slums. This part of the city was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the central districts, where towering marble columns and scholars debating in the streets were common sights.

Here, the air was heavy with the smell of burning refuse, and the buildings sagged under the weight of time and neglect. The slums stretched far beyond the horizon, a sprawling maze of narrow alleyways and crumbling structures, where the city’s forgotten citizens lived. It was a place where poverty reigned, and lawlessness was the only rule.

Despite the grim and despair, the slums had a certain vibrancy. The residents of Gosapor's lower districts were survivors, much like the people Katsuo had grown up with in the Kuragari District of Milix. Memories of his time in the shadowy streets of his home kingdom stirred inside him. Back in Kuragari, life was a constant fight for survival, a place where the weak perished and the strong endured. Katsuo had been one of the latter, hardened by the harsh realities of life. The sights of Gosapor’s slums reminded him that no matter how grand a city might appear on the surface, darkness always lurked beneath.

“These people live the same way I did,” Katsuo muttered under his breath, feeling an unexpected empathy for the slum-dwellers.

“Surviving on scraps while the rest of the world turns its back.”

In Rokatheryl, particularly in a city as grand as Gosapor, social inequality was evident in every section. The scholars and nobles in the center of the city barely acknowledged the existence of the southwestern section. It was said that even the Aegis Guild didn’t venture here unless it was absolutely necessary, leaving this area to fester on its own. A place where power dynamics shifted like the wind, controlled by gangs, petty thieves, and those looking to exploit the helpless.

Katsuo moved cautiously through the streets, his hand resting on the hilt of his odachi. He could feel eyes on him, watching from shadowed corners and darkened windows. Here, an outsider was either seen as a mark or a threat.

As he walked, he noticed how different the buildings were compared to the grandeur of the city’s central areas. Here, the architecture was a mix of hastily constructed shacks, long-abandoned warehouses, and remnants of old structures from the city’s early days. This area of the city had once been a thriving district during Rokatheryl’s early expansion, but as the city grew, the wealth migrated inward, leaving the edges to decay. Now, it was a place where desperation bred violence.

Katsuo scanned the alleys and streets, looking for the thief who had eluded him earlier. The mission Grant had tasked him with, capturing the girl who had been stealing from merchants in southern Gosapor—was proving to be more difficult than he’d anticipated. The slums were vast, and trying to track down one person in the sprawling mess of alleyways felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Just as he was about to give up and search elsewhere, Katsuo heard a commotion from a nearby alley. His instincts kicked in, and he moved toward the noise, his hand ready to draw his sword. As he turned the corner, he saw a small child being cornered by a group of older kids. They were laughing cruelly as they shoved the girl, who was clutching a tattered stuffed lion to her chest.

The sight struck Katsuo like a lightning bolt, bringing memories crashing back of his childhood in the Kuragari District. He remembered all too well the feeling of being powerless, and how he had saved Yumi, his childhood friend, from bullies just like these. Without a second thought, he stepped forward.

“Hey!” Katsuo’s voice cut through the alley like a blade.

“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”

The bullies froze, their laughter dying instantly as they turned to see him standing there, his expression dark and his hand on his sword. His presence radiated strength and authority, something that the weak always recognized. The older kids exchanged nervous glances, and without a word, they turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the slums.

Katsuo watched them go before turning his attention to the small girl, who was trembling as she held her stuffed lion, which was missing one of its legs. He knelt down in front of her, softening his expression.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you,” he said gently, his voice calm.

The little girl looked up at him with wide, teary eyes.

“Th-Thank you,” she whispered, clutching the toy even tighter.

Katsuo smiled softly.

“My name’s Katsuo. What’s yours?”

The girl sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

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“Lilith.”

“That’s a pretty name,” Katsuo said, reaching out.

“Let me fix your lion for you. I used to fix things like this all the time back in my home.”

Lilith hesitated for a moment before handing over the stuffed toy. Katsuo took out a needle and thread from his pouch, a habit he had picked up during his years on the streets, and within minutes, he had repaired the toy as best he could. He handed it back to Lilith, who smiled brightly, her earlier fear forgotten.

“Thank you, mister!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with joy.

Katsuo felt a warmth in his chest as he stood up.

“You should go home now, Lilith. It’s not safe out here.”

Just as Katsuo was about to turn and leave, something hard struck him in the back of the head. He stumbled forward, his vision blurring for a moment as pain shot through his skull. Spinning around, Katsuo found himself face-to-face with the person he had been searching for all along, the female thief.

She stood in the alley, her eyes blazing with fury, and she held a stone tonfa in both her hands, clearly ready to strike again.

“Are you the one who raided my home and took my sister!?” she demanded, her voice trembling with rage.

Katsuo blinked in confusion, rubbing the sore spot on his head.

“What? No! I don’t even know who you are!” he said quickly, trying to defuse the situation.

“I just found this girl getting picked on and helped her, that’s all!”

Serena’s grip on her weapon tightened, her expression filled with suspicion.

“Yeah, right! You’re probably here to take revenge for what I did earlier. Well, I’m not going down without a fight!”

Before Katsuo could defend himself further, Lilith stepped between them, holding up her arms as if to shield Katsuo from her sister.

“Serena, please stop! He’s nice! He saved me from those boys, and he fixed my lion!”

Serena’s anger faltered as she looked down at her sister, the rage in her eyes slowly being replaced by uncertainty. After a tense moment, she let out a long sigh and lowered her weapon.

“Fine. I’ll stop. But if this is some kind of trick…”

“It’s not,” Katsuo interrupted, relieved that the situation had de-escalated.

“I’m just trying to complete my mission. I’m not here to hurt you.”

Serena narrowed her eyes.

“Mission?”

Katsuo nodded.

“Yeah, I was given a mission to find you. But I’m not here to arrest you.”

“Then what do you want?” Serena asked, still on guard.

Katsuo took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully.

“You’ve been stealing to survive, right? To take care of your sister i assume?”

Serena crossed her arms, her posture defensive.

“What of it? It’s not like we have a choice. No one in this part of the city cares what happens to us.”

Katsuo sighed.

“I know what that’s like. I grew up in the slums of Milix. I know how hard it is to survive. But stealing isn’t the answer. You’re going to get caught one of these days, and then what will happen to Lilith?”

Serena’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t reply.

“You’ve got two options,” Katsuo continued.

“You can keep stealing and risk getting arrested, or you can come with me to the Aegis Guild. I have a plan you just have to trust me.”

Serena stared at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and confusion.

“This seems very sketchy, Why would you want to help me anyways didn't I humiliate you awhile ago?”

Katsuo smiled faintly.

“Because I was like you once. Someone gave me a chance when I needed it most. I’m just paying it forward.”

Serena looked down at Lilith, who was still clutching her newly-repaired lion, and then back at Katsuo. After a long silence, she finally sighed and nodded.

“Fine. I’ll come with you. But if this is some kind of trick…”

“It’s not,” Katsuo said.

“I promise.”

With that, the three of them made their way out of the slums, heading back toward the Aegis Guild.

When they arrived at the guild, the difference in atmosphere was stark. The bustling, well-lit halls of the guild stood in sharp contrast to the dark and oppressive slums they had just left behind. Monica was at the front desk, her eyes widening as she saw Serena.

“Katsuo, you actually brought her here?” Monica asked, surprised.

“I didn’t think you were serious about making her a Vanguard.”

Serena looked bewildered. “Wait… you brought me here to become a Vanguard?!”

Katsuo nodded, his expression calm. “It’s a better option than getting arrested, right?”

Serena looked like she was about to argue, but then she glanced down at Lilith, who was smiling up at her. Slowly, she realized that Katsuo’s plan made sense.

Monica sighed, looking between them.

“You know I can’t just approve her, right? There’s a whole process—”

“I know,” Katsuo interrupted with a grin.

“That’s why I brought backup.”

At that moment, Zin stepped forward, his booming laughter filling the room.

“GAHAHA! Katsuo, you really pulled this off? Well done!”

Monica blinked in shock.

“Zin, you’re backing her?”

Zin nodded, his grin wide.

“Yep. I’ll vouch for her. I'll hold my end of the deal.”

Monica shook her head in disbelief but finally relented.

“Alright.. If Zin’s recommending her, I’ll approve the application.” She handed Serena a form.

“Fill this out. You’ll need to pass the Vanguard exam, of course.”

Serena filled out the form, still processing everything, while Katsuo watched with pride. Afterward, they sat down with Taka, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

“I still can’t believe you pulled that off,” Taka said with a grin.

“It would’ve been easier just to arrest her.”

Katsuo shrugged.

“Maybe, but she reminds me of me. Sometimes, people just need a second chance.”

Taka nodded, impressed.

“You’ve grown, Katsuo.”

As they waited for Grant to return for Katsuo’s combat exam, Taka leaned over.

“Your really gonna fight Grant aren't you?, you know he doesn't actually have the authority to force you”

Katsuo’s eyes hardened with determination.

“I will. Because one day, I’ll surpass him.”

Taka smirked, crossing his arms.

“You’ve got a long way to go, but I like your confidence.”

Before they could continue, Grant walked into the guild, his presence commanding attention. His cold blue eyes locked onto Katsuo as he approached.

“So, you completed the mission,” Grant said, his tone sharp. “I underestimated you, Katsuo. Let’s see if you can back up that confidence in a real battle.”

Katsuo’s heart raced with excitement. The challenge had been issued, and he was more determined than ever to prove himself.