In the Imperial City, Colgate met with renowned Blade Engineer Lin Shao in his workshop. Lin Shao was an elderly man with wispy white hair and eyebrows. Despite his age, his eyes were sharp and focused as he inspected a sword on his workbench.
"Good to see you, Colgate," Lin Shao said, not looking up from his work. "How goes the hunt for our rogue thief?"
Colgate shook his head. "No sign of the brat yet. He's slipped through our fingers more than once already."
Just then, the Chief Curator of the Imperial Storehouse entered the workshop with his long grey beard sweeping the floor as he walked.
"Greetings, Master Lin Shao," the Chief Curator said with a slight bow. His piercing eyes shifted to Colgate. "Still obsessed with chasing that bothersome boy? We have more pressing issues at hand."
Colgate frowned. "With all due respect, I won't rest until Judgment Day is back in its secure vault where it belongs."
The Chief Curator stroked his beard contemplatively. "Admirable, but further confrontation may only drive the boy into hiding. We must bide our time for now."
Two more Imperial Guards arrived - the sultry Diana, and tech expert Wiz. Diana sidled up to Colgate, leaning into him flirtatiously until she noticed the stern gaze of the Chief Curator upon her. She quickly straightened, cheeks flushing in embarrassment at her unprofessional behaviour.
Wiz, meanwhile, inspected the workshop eagerly, fascinated by the advanced tools and equipment. "Incredible set-up you have here, Master Lin Shao. I can see why you're regarded as the best Blade Engineer in the city."
Lin Shao nodded appreciatively at the compliment. "I've honed my skills over decades. But we all must stay sharp - speaking of which, I have need of your services."
He beckoned them over to a long object wrapped in cloth propped against the wall. "As capable as you Imperial Hounds are, even you would struggle delivering this alone. It must reach the docks in Cutterbaath by dawn."
Unwrapping the cloth revealed an enormous broadsword with a wide, heavy blade. Strange symbols were etched down its length. Diana let out an impressed whistle.
"No wonder you need help transporting that beast of a sword," she remarked. "But why the rush to Cutterbaath?"
The Chief Curator stepped forward. "I'll explain en route. For now, just know it's urgent this arrives in time for a client's Palace raid."
As they moved to load the oversized sword into a transport carrier, another Imperial Guard arrived - a tall, strapping woman named Condense Milk. She was sucking on a bottle of milk while her short white hair framed a stern face.
Noticing Diana, Condense Milk flashed a flirtatious smirk and pulled the other woman into an abrupt embrace, burying Diana's face in her ample bosom.
"Condense! Control yourself," Diana sputtered, extricating herself from the other woman's grip.
"Sorry, couldn't resist," Condense Milk said with a chuckle. "So what's this about a special delivery?"
After loading up the sword, the Imperial Guards boarded an armoured airship with the Chief Curator. As they flew towards Cutterbaath, he briefed them on their task.
"That sword you're transporting is Guildmaster Roneesh's prized possession - the mythical blade Silvery Moon Song. It was badly damaged in her last Palace raid, so I commissioned Master Lin Shao to repair it using our rarest metals and ores."
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He went on to explain that Roneesh urgently required her sword for an upcoming raid on one of the Tokyo Palaces newly discovered. This mission was being undertaken by the combined forces of the top three Tokyo hunting guilds.
"With Silvery Moon Song restored to full power, Guildmaster Roneesh's abilities will help ensure success against the Palace's vicious defenders," the Chief Curator finished. "We cannot fail this delivery."
The Imperial Hounds listened intently, understanding the importance of their task. Condense Milk, however, seemed distracted by Diana sitting across from her looking alluring. A warning glare from Colgate made Condense Milk grudgingly focus her wandering gaze elsewhere.
***
As dawn broke, their aircraft descended towards Cutterbaath. The sprawling city soon came into view. There was a hive of activity even at this early hour. An ear-splitting siren split the morning air, signalling the opening of the gates to Mirror Lake.
Even from high above, they could glimpse crowds heading for the bustling docks district - menacing warriors and hunters prepared to brave Mirror Lake's treacherous waters in hopes of breaching a Palace.
At the High Tower suite, the siren jolted Hao abruptly awake. "What is that abysmal noise?" he exclaimed, his sensitive hearing pained by the shrill sound.
"It's the morning siren for Palace raiders," Vicky explained, already dressed and equipped for the mission. "We need to get moving. The transport barges depart in less than five hours."
After washing up, Mentos and Hao retrieved their beast companions, Acadian and the Sword Fish siblings, from the tower's stables. The group then hurried on foot through the busy streets towards the docks. They narrowly avoided running straight into the notorious crime lord Rector and his new muscle, VCM.
Along the way, Hao's attuned senses picked up a unique aura - the elegant Master Roneesh from the Sword Whisperer's Guild. Her gaze lingered on Hao's odd entourage as she passed by.
"Hurry it up, blind boy!" Scar snapped from up ahead. Hao bit back an annoyed retort and focused on guiding the Sword Fishes through the crowds.
At last the bustling docks came into view. Hao was amazed by the sheer number of armoured transport barges arranged along the long wooden piers. Teams of hardened raiders from every guild were boarding vessels and loading up cargo. The air buzzed with anticipation for the coming battles and treasures awaiting inside the dreaded Palaces.
"These ships are enormous!" Mentos exclaimed as Vicky led them aboard their assigned transport barge. "Are we taking them into the Palace with us?"
Scar scoffed loudly. "You really are clueless about how this works, ain't ya?"
Vicky explained as they boarded, "These ships, otherwise known as Blade Voyagers stay moored here for our return. A Blade Voyager is comprised of modern engineering and traditional craftsmanship. Its sleek, streamlined hull is made from Mystic Steel, a material known for its strength and resilience. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and defence systems, including a powerful energy cannon and a rapid-fire arrow launcher. The interior of the ship is designed with a fantasy aesthetic, featuring intricate carvings and glowing rune symbols. It is protected by a globular shield known as the Aegis Bubble, which creates a protective barrier around the ship, allowing it to safely cross the beastly waters of Mirror Lake."
Her words reminded Mentos of an earlier worry. "Hold on - you've never actually gone to a Palace before, right? So how do you know so much about these Blade Voyagers and the lake's dangers?"
"Let's just say I'm skilled at extracting intelligence from my many connections," Vicky replied vaguely.
Mentos looked unconvinced but dropped the issue as they got settled on deck. "Say, any chance we can grab some breakfast? I'm starving over here," he said, rubbing his rumbling stomach.
"Is food all you care about?" Scar snapped irritably.
"I could eat too," rumbled Boulder in his deep voice.
Overhearing the complaints, Ciara spoke up eagerly, "I'll whip up a hot meal if you show me to the galley kitchen."
Eager to show off her own skills, Lanor quickly offered to assist Ciara. The two young women hurried off, already bickering over ingredients and cooking methods.
Raven shook her head in exasperation, which caused the men to look. "Don't look at me, I don't do cooking or cleaning."
While waiting to depart, Mentos noticed some grunts carrying a large barrel aboard, grumbling at its weight. A red ribbon was tied around it. Mentos watched curiously as they set the mysterious cargo down near some crates.
But Hao didn't notice the new arrival, he was too absorbed in using his Vibe Sense to analyse the lake's churning currents. An eager humming from Vibe Edge told him the sword could feel impending battles ahead.
Down in the galley, sparks flew as Ciara and Lanor vied to out-cook one another. In the end, they presented a mouth-watering feast for the crew, though neither would admit the other's skills.