We made our way to the home with Merideth. When we got closer we started to see more and more broken criminals, screaming and struggling to stand. Of course, I didn't let them stand and punched any of them healty enough to move without any excrutiating pain. After a while I forget to return and let the criminals bodies lead me. When I started to see a lot more I understood that this attack was of a much larger scale then I thought. 'Did they knew? Or did they just guessed? Maybe they send enough man to cut my way no matter what way I came from. No. They surrounded the forge to prevent anyone from running away. Me being outside was out of their plans. How did they knew how I looked though? They shouldn't be able to know if they didn't see me leave but maybe they saw and guessed that I would be there in time. Maybe they didn't care at all, thinking me as just another teen. That I could be caught easily.' I turned to Merideth. "What happened to Sophie?"

She punched someone at the jaw causing him to collapse to the ground without any resistance. "She is fine. She managed to run away with the help of Sora. What did she do then? I don't know."

I nodded and continue to walk the path of criminals. They were so numerous that we have to step on them most of the time. Something of an odd happening was that there were criminals, acting like they passed out and attacking behind me. Its odd because there is a tactic meaning they have a brain which was absent when they attacked us directly.

After walking for a while more we saw silhouettes moving about, crouching looking downed peoples faces. It couldn't be marines since they would take them instead. When I got a bit more closer I understood what exactly is going on. There was Sophie holding a stack of paper or more precisely wanting posters and stumping them to the face of their owner and Sora and Mary hauling them towards a place I guessed to be a Marine Outpost. I quickly made my way there running on criminals like a dirt road.

“Sophie! Are you okay?”

She looked at me then she grinned so bright that, I saw it, in that darkness without the need of the lanterns light she was holding. “I am great Ash! There was lots of wanted criminals among them. We already turned in thirteen of them. Sora and Mary carrying one each, which makes them fifteen. Here” She stumped a wanted poster to a criminal. “This is sixteen. You can take it.”

I did. I gestured Merideth to stay with her and went to the way Sophie pointed at. While walking, I saw Emerald looking towards me. I waved at her and she waved back. I walked as fast as I can with the weight of an adult person. I arrived in two minutes. 'It seems they choose to be closer to inner area then outer.' I went in and after asking for directions I saw Sora and Mary returning with a bag each. There was a few marines with them too. 'Good call.' I nodded at them and passed them by. When I am in the area I put the criminal down with a thud and waited for the officer.

Officer came after a few seconds and looked at the criminal with a wanted poster as a face, then me. She took out the wanted poster and looked at the criminals real face. She looked carefully and nodded. She then looked at me. “Are you the man they refer as Ash?” I nodded. “Well, congratulations. You and your friends did a great job at apprehending these criminals. You gained good money too. Now tell me, why did these people came after you?” 'Should I tell her.. No.'

“I don't know. By the way, you know my name but I don't know yours. What is your name?”

“You sure you don't know?” She said, ignoring my question completely. I shook my head. She raised an eyebrow and started looking at me.

“Well, can I get the bounty for him?” She closed her eyes then seemingly thinking something. “Hello.” I said waving my hand before her.

She opened her eyes and started looking at me again but this time she sighed and nodded. She went somewhere and came back with a bag. I held the bag and saw the screen saying it contained the money on the poster. I opened it up and acted like counting. I wore it and after a wave to officer, made my way out.

I ran towards home and after a few minutes reached there. There were still people moaning and struggling but this time they were bound. 'I just hope those ropes are cheap.' I made my way between the bound criminals and got inside the house. There I saw Emerald and oddly, Reena. She looked at me apologetically and said “Are you alright? I am sorry for this mess. It happened because I gave you this quest.”

I was surprised. 'So that's what they were talking about.' “What is so important about this sword that it could shake the all Kingdom?” She looked taken a back by question and she seemed to be looking for a way out so I pressed a bit more. “I was kidnapped because of this and I doubt they have noble intentions about the women here.”

She looked down seemingly embarrassed. “I didn't know they would go this far. They didn't acted this bold before. I- sigh I am sorry. The sword is the sign of the Kingdom's integrity. People see the sword like something made by the god. Its all because of that child.. If people learn about the swords current condition, their trust in this Kingdom will take a hit. I can't let this happen. Even now people are asking questions demanding to see the sword but we are postponing it. After this incident I am sure some people will ask questions.” She looked at me, alarmed. “Did you tell of this quest about anyone else. I shook my head and looked Emerald. I was about to ask but Reena interceded “We talked with her. Her friends can keep a secret. But you should be careful. After this incident, without a doubt, some nobles will come to inspect here and learn whats going on. If they learn about the sword, they might start something bigger.”

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“If they already didn't.” I noted which made Reena sigh again. She shook her head slowly. After she took a breather I asked. “We know they don't want sword to be reforged and that they can go great lengths to ensure that. They consist of criminals. Their commanders can use Haki.” Here her eyes gotten wide. I continued “What else do you know about these people?”

“I don't know anything I am afraid. I only know their boss has high personal power and cunning. Sigh It started five years ago when my husband was still the King. 'What?'” She looked at my face and chuckled a little. “He was healthy then and our daughter was just a normal kid.” She took a deep breath. “We heard of a criminal organizations emergence. It was called 'South Gale' and that its target was to took over the throne. My husband acted quickly of course. Criminals, even though they are used to running away didn't run then. They for the first time fought with our Kingdom's army. They even nearly took over the island. But just in time marines came and fought together with us and forced remaining criminals into hiding. After that, they came us with a proposition. This proposition was to disband our army and to get protection from marines instead. My husband didn't accepted it. Instead we kept a part of the army and moved remaining soldiers to other works instead.”

“And not everybody liked it.” She nodded. “If they started a riot, it would shake the respect people have for the army.”

She nodded again. “In that riot my husband, the king, died at the hands of his own bodyguard. The bodyguard he-, we heard he joined the South Gale. The person with the Haki, it must be him.” I nodded.

“Thanks for explaining this to us. What I understand is that if we don't deal with the people at the top, they will just come back after a while. I need you to give me this bodyguards name picture and whatever else you know about him.”

“Why? You don't intend to go after him, right?”

I shook my head. “I won't be going alone. I will go with everyone that can fight against him but for that, we need to be able to track him. If we can't preempt the attack here then we might fall.”

She looked at me surprised. She put her fingers together and nodded. “If you are certain you want this.” I nodded. “If you can do this service to the people and Kingdom, you will be rewarded accordingly.”

I took a deep breath. “Its decided then. We will deal with this.” I turned to Emerald to see if she will protest but she just smiled and nodded. I turned to Reena. “Forget what I said about the bodyguard. I want everything you have about this, South Gale and approximately ten million Beli.” I turned to Emerald. “Do we have that much?” She nodded. I turned back to Reena. “Do you know where can I find someone that knows how to forge guns?”

She looked confused. “Guns are convenient for people without training but a person with Haki can easily deal with pellets. Are you sure that's what you need?”

I shook my head. “I need to see someone forge a gun.” She looked like she didn't understand “I know a few things about gun making that I might be able to use to our advantage but I need training and knowledge on basics.”

She nodded at that.”Our royal blacksmith knows how to forge guns but he is a bit capricious. He will probably test you first. Do you think you can do it?” I nodded. “Then come to my house tomorrow morning. I will take you to him.” I nodded and she got out, heading her house.

“Emerald, how are you?” I said but instead of an answer I gotten a back crashing bear hug.

“How do you think I am? I am great to see you one piece of course!” She pointed her finger at me threateningly. “Never, ever got out without Sora again.” I acted to protest but she didn't let me. “Sophie doesn't count as a bodyguard. She might have the Skill but doesn't have the heart to fight.” I nodded reluctantly. “Now tell me, what will you do with that much money. And if you tell me you will be making ten more Sora, I will hit you.”

I shook my head and quickly relayed my plan about my next follower and guns. After the explanation, she seemed mollified and after the assurances that there will be only one more follower, she hugged me again and kissed me. She didn't go far though. She broke the kiss and asked “Where did you go today?” I quickly recounted the events including horny smith. She looked a bit sullen on that part but didn't say anything other then wanting to see the knife she gave me. When I was the last part she stopped me. “I know that part already. I learned it from Merideth.” I nodded. “Will you sleep tonight?”

“No. I will help with criminals. There are after all, lots of money to made.” She smiled and started going up the stairs.

I went out and there was more marines than before. Even though there was that much marines they didn't seem enough. 'Whoever dealt with this much people is sure to make me count as lucky just by being on my side.' Putting that thought aside I made my way towards Merideth. She noticed me when I got closer to her then smiled. I took out the knife. “Here, take this.” She took and twirled on her hand. “Keep this with you at all times.” She nodded. “Go, find the person with the strongest Haki there and shadow them. But remember, if you need to make a choice between your job and your life, choose your life always, okay?”

“Yes master. I will come back alive.” She said and gave me a kiss on the cheek then started running towards the way we came. I sighed and made to find Sophie. I expected posters to finish by now but they weren't. 'It seems these folk are a hardworking bunch.' I made my way to Sophie and started hauling people. That night went on like that. Marines took the ones without bounties and we, the ones with them.

It was going well until I saw three figures running towards us. I called for Sophie and went to intercept them. One of them stopped in front of me and two of them run around me, towards Sophie. Just when one of them was about to reach Sophie someone stopped them and separated their hand with their body. It was Sora. Knowing all is well there I focused on the person before me. I cut his way out, in case he tries to run away and started looking for openings. I tried a fast punch and they dodged it. Seeing this I took the smartest way, punched him faster. That connected, again, again. It didn't do much damage to their body, but did a lot to their patience. He tried a fast attack himself but somehow I knew it will come and saw it come too in slow motion. I hit him in the shoulder and felt his arm dislocated. He held his arm reflexively and I punched him, this time with all my strength at his jaw. That knocked him out. I turned around to look at Sophie and saw she was busy stumping a poster to one of the hooded figures. I saw Sora coming, looking at me oddly.

“Master. Your eyes were glowing.”

“Hmm? That must be my awesomeness.”

“I don't think so.”

“That I am not awesome?”

sigh