Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 30: Swanford

 --- The designed day came by at an unbelievable speed, enough to make the brave soldiers that were about to leave, think that the last Zodiack meeting was yesterday. In front of a large flying ship were standing now, Kein, Shouko and Shizuo, Sarus and one of the commanders in his squad that was also the one driving the flying ship, Colt, and of course, Yoso and his new recruit, Minase Akira.

"Everyone's here?" asks Yoso while facing Kein, who was standing next to him.

"Yes..."

"Okay, let's do this then!" shouts Yoso

"Take care and good luck..." says Laure that was seeing them off from the ship's garage.

  While Yoso was quickly embarking on the ship together with Kein and Shizuo, Minase was watching carefully from behind him, with a melancholic face. Out of nowhere, Shouko quickly grabbed her by the shoulder and faced her with a smile.

"It seems that we are the only girls coming!" says Shouko and quickly follows up with:

"Let's get along well, Minase!"

"Y-Yes... Let's get along..." says Minase with her usual shy tone.

 After getting on the ship, their next destination was the deserted territory at the border of the Kingdom of Swanford. While inside the ship, their places were the following. Sarus was facing Yoso that was standing between Kein and Minase. And Sarus was standing between Shouko and Shizuo, with Colt being the only person, not present, since he was the one piloting the ship.

"Mister Yoso, I feel like it's time I explain the details of the mission or at least make you understand what we're dealing with..." says Sarus

"I'm all ears..."

 Kein also took a serious position, since he wanted to get the grasp of the mission in more detail.

"Taka Tsubasa isn't just a fugitive that chose to merely spend his life quietly in Swanford... He abused Swanford's system, and joined their military lines, becoming... One of the Zodiacks of Swanford..."

"What?!" Yoso was at a loss for words.

"How is that even possible?" asks Kein

"The Kingdom of Swanford doesn't care too much about one's past... They like him, he was strong enough, so he climbed fast. Afterwards... He became the leader of a guild he created, and in one year prior to its creation, it became the strongest guild in Swanford, hosting a high number of Zodiack-Class fighters..." continues Sarus

"That is... And we are fighting this guy?" asks Shizuo

"We are not merely fighting him... I won't say that we've got no chance to defeat him one on one. Dinsfurd's Zodiack evolved substantially in the past months, making it from my point of view, a dark horse of the war. Sir Yoso probably can defeat Taka alone... The problem is that his guild has over... Five thousand competent fighters..."

"F-Five thousand..." quietly mutters Minase.

"Huh...? It ain't that much after all... I can wipe them out of this world with my Blast Burn..." says Yoso with a confident smile on his face...

"That would be the case if they were as weak as the Black Cross soldiers... But all of them are probably as strong as the Black Cross leaders... With Taka Tsubasa being almost as strong as Percival Dalais..."

"As strong as that guy, huh?" mutters Kein

"So, what's the plan...?" asks Kein

"We are going to negotiate. We'll ask him if he's willing to give up his seat in Dinsfurd's Zodiack by himself, or if he's going to leave Swanford altogether."

"I see... And if that doesn't work?" asks Yoso

"Then we'll attack his pride... He considers himself the best, so he would lose it if we say that Yoso is the first Zodiack which Taka couldn't achieve, while Yoso is still a 16 years old boy..." says Sarus

"Oh... I like this. So he's going to demand a duel, where we'll make him accept our conditions upon losing," says Kein

"Yes, that's it. We are going for a written contract, so we have the proof for when we come back to Dinsfurd."

"Good idea... But I have a request..." says Kein and then starts explaining.

 Not long after, the ship arrived in the deserted territory in the vicinity of Swanford. Disembarking, the group could see an unknown face, waiting for them on the ground.

"Long time no see, Arthur..." says Sarus after waving at the person who proved to be his vice-captain, and former Street Cat... Arthur Leon

"Yeah... You've sure changed a lot, leader," says Arthur

"Let me present you... He is the current number five Zodiack, Kein Shimada, and he is... the current number one Zodiack, Yoso Edroch..." 

"N-number one?! He is so young..." says Arthur with an astonished look.

 Minase, Shouko and Shizuo also presented themselves, while Colt stayed at the board of the ship, protecting it until the end of the mission.

 Following Arthur, they were already seeing the border of the kingdom of Swanford. Everyone fell silent upon seeing such big walls surrounding the entirety of the kingdom.

"What is this? They are bigger than the ones in AOT!" says Kein

"What is AOT...?" asks Yoso

"You wouldn't get it..."

 Arriving close enough, a huge gate through which everyone was entering and leaving could be seen. They were just entering the kingdom, and no one would ask them anything. This is the kind of place Swanford is... A pretty lawless place to say the least...

 "So... Where are we heading to?" asks Yoso

"The guildhall of the Light Ray guild... It's not far away from here..." says Arthur

"I see..."

"We are going to put a mission announcement on their billboard... One that we prepared in advance, asking to see the guild master in person, at the deserted place, close to where our ship is at the moment."

"So that's how we're going to make him come out..." says Kein

"It's the perfect place to fight him if he doesn't want to give up on his own, after all..." says Sarus

 Arriving at the guildhall, they could hear cheerful laughter from inside, as well as music. Everyone was drinking, with their unusual equipment on, after a long day of missions. This is how fighters and mercenaries were earning money in Swanford after all...

 All their glances quickly diverted to the small group that just entered the building, heading towards the billboard. It was Yoso's group that was conducting their mission quietly...

"Yo~ Ladies!"

"Wanna come home with us?"

"Come drink with us~ We've made a lot of money today!"

 Many of such men approached Minase and Shouko, close enough to make them feel uncomfortable. Turning to face them, were Yoso and Kein that glared at them with all their killing intent...

 Even though most of them gave up upon witnessing Yoso and Kein's murderous looks, some were as confident as ever...

 One person extended his hand towards Minase... Resulting in Yoso's hand reaching out for his.

"What's up, kid? Wanna fight?" says the cocky man.

 Yoso doesn't say anything and just tightens his grip, making the old man kneel in front of him.

 A small crack was heard, leading to an exasperated cry...

"M-My arm... Crap!"

 Yoso firmly took his hand off and told his companions to continue their way, after just breaking the mercenary's hand...

 They placed the mission announcement on the billboard, and slowly walked away, with every gaze that was directed at them changing from curiosity... to fear.

"T-Thank you, mister Yoso!" says Minase while bowing in front of him.

"It wasn't much of a deal. Those idiots just seem unredeemable..." says Yoso while slowly walking towards the ship, next to Kein.

"So... You think he's going to come out tomorrow?" asks Kein

"At first, he might have refused... But if someone is to tell him what sir Yoso has done before putting the mission there, then he might get an interest of this..." explains Sarus

"Yeah... That might be true..."

 And like this, the group slowly walked towards their ship, to set up their camp...