As we journeyed back to the present, Colgate and Diana's feelings of betrayal and anger resurfaced. They couldn't believe they had been so naive to trust Hao, hence they vowed to make him pay for his deception, rather painfully, but first, they had to attend an informal meeting.
The night still bravely expanded its presence as we transitioned to where an authoritative figure was poised. Inside the Imperial Storehouse, the Chief Curator's office was a masterpiece of elegant design. Intricate wood carvings adorned the walls, depicting ancient battles and legendary Sword Masters. A heavy, wooden desk took centre stage, topped with scrolls, quills, and an assortment of small, peculiar trinkets. A floor-to-ceiling window offered a magnificent view of the cityscape beyond.
In the room stood the Chief Curator, an elderly man with a beard so long and sharp, it could have been mistaken for a sword itself. His face was sculpted with the passage of time, but his eyes sparkled with a fierce intelligence that demanded respect. He stood with an air of authority, his displeased mannerisms conveying a sense of urgency.
Colgate and Diana stood before the esteemed elder. Diana, her red hair cascading over her shoulders, found herself cowering behind the muscular Colgate.
He cleared his throat and addressed the old man, "We've lost the weapon, sir. It's been stolen."
“This is upsetting news.” The Chief Curator's vision narrowed, "Who else knows about this robbery?"
"Only the two of us and Coulson, sir. He's recuperating in the infirmary as we speak," Colgate replied. The memory of the hijacked aircraft, when his friend got kicked into the dirty drain, was playing through his mind while the bitter taste of failure lingered in his mouth.
"Good, keep it that way," the elder responded sounding grave. "I want this matter settled covertly. If word gets out that the X-class weapon has resurfaced, it could have far-reaching consequences. Consequences that we are not equipped to handle right now."
Diana's face portrayed shock, "Is it that dangerous?" She tried to imagine the consequences the Chief Curator spoke of.
The elder remained silent for a moment before asking, "What do we know about this thief?"
In response, Colgate activated a digital document within a device known as S-Catalogue. The S-Catalogue was shaped like a miniature broadsword with a retractable design. Its outer shell was a light green material, resembling a thin plastic, while the inner content was blue with lighter writing. When the S-Catalogue was fully unsheathed, the blue part expanded into a larger, easy-to-read screen.
The screen which appeared in the room was displaying Hao's private details. Colgate conveyed, "His name is Hao Vee, a 19-year-old Blade Engineer who works freelance in Portal Bay. He's blind and known to use an Uncommon sword type called Vibe Edge to see using vibrations. Also…"
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The Chief Curator listened intently as Colgate revealed more about Hao's background and skills. Exploring deeper, the S-Catalogue screen displayed various images of the young man, including places he had worked with in the past and a snapshot of his sword, Vibe Edge. Diana found herself mesmerised by the strange weapon, wondering how Hao managed to utilise it effectively despite his blindness.
“Hmm, so he’s related to that person?” The Chief Curator’s brow raised slightly upon seeing a familiar imposing figure on the screen who Hao had blood relations with. With his vast knowledge of the sword industry, he overlooked this and posed a question that revealed his concern. "Does he possess any unique abilities that we should be aware of?"
Colgate frowned, scrolling through the information on the screen. "We only know about Night Tamer at the moment. It's some sort of dark energy slash that allows him to teleport short range. But he might have more abilities hidden up his sleeve."
Diana chimed in, "We can't underestimate him. His unconventional skills and the fact that he managed to steal Judgment Day is proof enough that he's not your average sword wielder."
The Chief Curator nodded gravely, acknowledging the valid points. "We need a plan as soon as possible to find this youth and retrieve the weapon without causing unnecessary panic. I suggest you both keep a low profile while investigating his whereabouts. Use your connections and gather information discreetly. We can't risk other Sword Masters finding out about this."
Colgate and Diana exchanged a glance, understanding the gravity of the situation. They needed to act quickly and efficiently to prevent the chaos that could ensue if the X-class weapon fell into the wrong hands.
"Furthermore," the elder continued, "I will make arrangements with the Blade Engineering Guild and the Tokyo Hunter Guild to provide support if needed. But remember, this is a delicate matter. We can't involve too many people."
Diana agreed and added, "We'll get the weapon back, sir. You have my word."
As they discussed the finer details of their plan, the Chief Curator provided valuable insights and strategies to help them track down Hao Vee. Each step of the operation was carefully plotted, ensuring they left no stone unturned in their search for the elusive thief and the stolen sword.
With their resolve strengthened, Colgate and Diana were aware they couldn't afford to fail again. The future of Crossblades and the delicate balance of power within the world of swordplay hinged on their success.
When the meeting drew to a close, the elder reassured them, "We still have ample time to track him down. Unsheathing Judgment Day is like trying to cool the fiery pit of hell with a lone extinguisher. Now dismissed."
With their orders clear, Colgate and Diana bid farewell to the Chief Curator and exited the room. The tension in Diana's chest eased as they walked away, however, her mind was occupied with other thoughts. ‘Vee… I hate to admit this but during the weeks we spent together, watching you polish that old relic, I genuinely fell in love with your skills and thought that you were an ok lad, attractive even. But when you stole that X-Class sword, you didn't just betray my trust; you betrayed Colgate's as well. And you made us lose face.’
“Hmm.” Colgate noticed Diana’s pensive demeanour and asked, “You ok?”
“I’m fine, just a little bit annoyed by all that has happened.” She also mentioned how intimidating the elder had been and lamented the droids she lost in the pursuit of Hao. "If I had brought my linked sword with me, that thief would have never escaped," she berated herself.
Colgate clenched his fists and growled, "Stop finding excuses. We failed. Own that shit. Next time will be different. That little punk can run, but he can't hide." His rough mannerisms made it clear that Hao Vee was now a top priority, and there would be no room for error in their pursuit.