Its been six days since the talk with Reena. This is the day marines will relocate the criminals and we are of course will be in their escort. Now I don't know our enemies plans but these criminals are just sitting there waiting to cause trouble. That's why they have to go before long. I was afraid they will be attacked and rescued on the sea but when I saw the ships they will be going with, all worries flew away. Those ships were huge.
Our formation was like this. Merideth went first to look at our route if there is an ambush at the front. Sora stay at the front of criminals, me and Aiko were each side and Mary was behind. The others stayed at home since they weren't needed. Since I didn't really expected and attack I didn't take everyone here. Even if we were attacked, we could easily defend ourselves.
We started walking from Marine Outpost with the criminals that are tied firmly and head towards the dock where ships were waiting. We walked like that for a few minutes and reached the docks without any problem. We then started waited for criminals to be loaded to ships. After that's done, we stayed at the docks and watched the ships leave. Then the girls went their business and I headed towards the forge.
When I was passing by an alley someone cut my way. He was a tall and handsome man. He smiled at me and started getting closer. Thinking a fight will ensue, I gotten my fighting stance. Seeing this the man smiled wider and said “No need to be afraid. I am only here to talk.”
I didn't relaxed bodily but I still gave him a smile. “Well then what do I owe this honor mister.. “ He didn't gave me a name, just smiled. “Then what do you want to talk?”
He leaned on the wall of a house at his side and took out a coin and started playing with it. “I am here to make an offer.” I gestured him to go on. “I need you to reject reforging that sword.”
“Why?” He just shrugged. “What is your offer then?”
He looked at me seriously. “If you become my underling, I will give this Kingdom to you. What do you say?”
“You are assuming you will have it.” He nodded. “This Kingdom doesn't as week as it looks.”
He started laughing then. After a while he stopped and wiped his eyes. “Its not. Its even weaker. All I need is to get that sword and people's trust on the royalty will shake so powerfully they will fall down.”
“Why is that sword so important anyway?” Another shrug. “Lets say I trust you won't kill me like you did to that noble, your condition, is bullshit.”
“Its the best offer you will get. Do you think the royalty give a shit to what you say when you finished reforging that sword? They won't. They will just kick you out and forget all about you.” 'This guy.. What is he talking about? Lets play along.”
I squeezed my fists. “They will kick us out?” He nodded twice while smiling. “Why would they do that? We did a lot for them after all.”
He shook his head. “What you did doesn't matter to them. Trust me, I would know.”
I folded my arms while discreetly looking back. There was no one. “And how do you know that?”
“I have spies among nobles. They all know about you and the faith that waits you.”
I couldn't help but smile. “That's ridiculous. Tell me. How many noble did you offer the Kingdom to hm?”
He lost his smile. “Who do you think I am?!” I shrugged and smiled. “You will regret the decision you made today.” He said and turned around to run away but I was on him in a few seconds. Just I was about to kick his back he dodged right. I followed that with another kick to his side but he dodged that too. He looked at me, afraid. There was sweat on his brow. I attacked again, he dodged that to and started running away. I ran after him but couldn't prevent his escape to the street at the and of the alley, so I stopped attacking, since I didn't have any proof of his involvement with rebellion other then what I just heard. He didn't stopped running when he reached the street, so I had to leave his tail. 'I know his face now. He won't be staying hidden for long.'
After the encounter with him I made my way towards home. I reached there in a few minutes. Inside Sophie, Emerald and Katelin. In this six days Katelin moved in here. Though I didn' understand why. I didn't understand why others accepted her this easily either. 'Anyway, it happened.'
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I smiled while walking towards the table which they sat together. “Hello girls, how do you do?”
Sophie answered while smiling back at me. “Good. I am guessing criminals went without any problem.” I nodded. “Then I will be going out. I have things to do. She stood up came closer and kissed me on the cheek. “See you all.” She said while waving and went out. That left me with Katelin and Emerald.
I turned to Katelin. “I see you don't intend to go with Sora today.”
She shook her head. “I am tired. I will rest today. I am only human after all. I am not like your girls.”
“Its okay. You have better stamina.” She smiled widely at that. I turned to Emerald. “Do you have something to say to me?” She shook her head. “Then I will try to reforge one of the swords you made as we planned.” She nodded so I went towards the forge and started working.
I finished the sword I was reforging in about an hour. After quenching the blade I put it at the side and turned around to look at the people who was watching me work for a while now. When I turned back I saw Reena and her daughter. When they noticed I was done Reena's daughter came closer to me and raised her head towards me for a handshake. I held her hand. She looked at my eyes. “I am Leia.”
“Its a great name. You already know my name right?” She nodded. “So tell me Leia, what do I owe this honor?”
She stopped holding my hand and put her arms behind, which accentuated her chest. That made in return, my son to raise. Luckily, she was too closer to notice but I saw Reena noticed it. 'Oh well. Its natural after all.' She started talking then. “I am here to ask you to finish reforging the sword as soon as possible. We don't have much time.”
“What about that sword is as important anyway?”
She shook her head. “Its a symbol of our Kingdom's stability and past. We have to maintain it or peoples trust to us will drop. This drop will in return will weaken our Kingdom. So we need you to do it.”
I nodded. “I will, when I am ready. You wouldn't want the sword to be of a inferior quality right?” She nodded. “And don't worry, I am close. I will reforge the sword soon.” Her face lightened up. I got closer to her, enough that our face nearly touches together. Then I whispered. “You didn't forget about your promise right?” She shook her head. “Good. Now there is something I need to talk you about.”
Reena who stood up when I got close to her daughter talked. “What is it? I hope there isn't any other bad news.”
I shook my head. “Its not quite bad. Someone I suspect to belong the third party made contact with me.”
Reena got closer. “What did he say?”
“He said you will get rid of me as soon as I reforge the sword.” Reena opened her mouth to protest but I stopped her with a gesture. “I know you wouldn't. Don't worry.” She nodded to me. “He then offered to give me the Kingdom if I don't reforge the sword.”
“What did you say?”
“I sad no, of course. Then I tried to kick him but I think he had Haki if the fact that he managed to feel my attack while his back turned towards me is anything to go by.”
Reena nodded thoughtfully. “Did you see his face? How did he look?”
“I saw his face. He looked.. “ Then an idea came to me. I gestured for them to wait and went upstairs to get paper and quill. After finding what I was looking for, I went downstairs and sat on the table. Seeing what I did Reena, Leia and Emerald too sat on the table, close to me. Then I started to draw the man I saw. It took about an hour. When I finished, he barely looked like a human. I turned to look Reena, she seemed to know who is he. “Reena, do you know who he is?”
She nodded. “I know.” I tried to ask who but she gestured me to wait and headed to the door. I turned to Reena, she was thinking of something so I didn't call for her. I shrugged once and started meditating on my observe.
Now you may ask, why would you work on your observe when there isn't anything to use the skill on. My logic is this. When I finish with this world I will lose all my skills. If I can then find a way to keep at least one of my skills, which the fact that I thought about it makes it sure it exists. Because of the perfect wish. Then the best Skill to take would be observe, because I can use it to learn things by observing. Only limit for skill is that it should be something physical after all. That means better adaptability. It may be start of an Op Skill chain too. Thought its possibility is low since Observe Skill doesn't have Basic on it and its capped on Level 100. No matter, its a great skill.
If I can take a second skill with me, it would be, without a doubt, reading skill, for the same reason.
I finished one iteration of meditation and looked at the screen.
Skill Observation Leveled Up By 1
I was about to start next iteration when I heard a knock. I opened the door. It was Reena and someone behind her.. it was the man that offered me the Kingdom. He looked at me behind Reena. I tried to open a clean path towards him but Reena stopped me. “He is not an enemy.”
“What? Well, if you say so. Come in then.”
They went in towards kitchen and I followed them. The man still looked weary though. I shrugged and continued to followed. Reena and the man sat side by side. I sat beside Leia and waited for them to talk. Reena started by clearing her throat. She pointed at the man. “This is Dusti. He is my son.”
I couldn't contain my surprise. “What?” She nodded. “Then why did he..” I took a deep breath. “He tried to test me.” Dusti nodded reluctantly.
“Yes. I wanted to see what would you do if I offer you something big. I never thought you would attack me like that.”
Leia looked at me seriously. “Attack?”
I sighed. “Yes. He acted like an enemy you know. I couldn't have let him walk away like that. So I tried to catch him.”
Dusti looked scandalized. “Catch me?” He took a deep breath. “That kick could have merged me with the wall!”
I raised my hands. “That didn't happen though did it. Even if it did, you should be powerful since you know how to use Haki.”
He folded his arms. “I can't use Haki, yet.”
I was surprised. “Then how did you dodged my attacks?”
“I was looking at your shadow.”
“Oh.” He nodded. Leia was, for some reason trying to open a hole on my head. I turned to her. “How could I knew he wasn't the enemy when he was acting like that? Rather then my fault, it should be his success at acting.” She didn't seem convinced but stopped trying to pierce me with her eyes. I gave the breath I was holding and turned to Reena. “So why didn't you told me about him before. We could have used his help with the things.”
Reena shook her head. Dusti talked instead. “I am a marine trainee. I wasn't here until this morning.” I nodded. “I came here for vacation. Though I didn't expect a rebellion to be brewing of all things that could. We were always a peaceful country after all. When Leia told me about you theory for third party I decided to look in to it.”
“Well okay. Since everything has been solved and” I looked at Leia “ there is no bad feelings we can end this conversation. I need to get ready for reforging.” They nodded and stood up. I waved them away and headed to the forge.