Earth: The Second

Let Us Get Some Action!

For Udeka, that morning feels the same as any other morning. He was just woken up when the day almost reaches noon after he once again wastes last night with boozes and women. His head is rather dizzy, but he commands all of his servants to prepare him with hot baths and new clothes to wear.

Today, once again he is going to meet with those Black Claws people that supposed to bring him his ‘gift’: Artifacts. To be honest, he did not have any urgencies with those remnants of the past. He just wanted those as a means to make his enemy envious, and to further associate himself with an image of Henriah kingdom.

After a whole week, this is the first time he finally taking a bath. His fat body quickly fills up the water in the tub, and he soaks himself with collections of expensive soaps and fragrances. He leans back to his tub and taking all the time of his life enjoying the hot water, inside his mind, all that he can think of are ‘what is the fun thing that I should I do next?’ and ‘I wanted to eat steaks today’. 

Ever since he was assigned to govern this city, Udeka always gives all of his jobs to his assistants. He commands them to once a day, reports the state of the city, which he would command them to resolve themselves with the budget from Udeka’s pile of money.

“Sir, the report for today already waiting for you,” said the head butler, the same one that previously reports to Black Claws audience with the duke.

“Can’t it wait? I’m taking a bath right now!” said he protested.

“I’m afraid this one cannot sir since they are supposed to report to you in the morning. Now is already in the middle of the day, and if they did not inform you anything, they probably just will going home.” the butler showing visible tiredness when speaking to his master. Probably due to how this noble not acting as a leader. Eating, sleeping, and playing seems to be one thing he only good at, and that head butler already worked enough on his life to understand the nature of people who lived and grow around money.

Uncommanded, 4 people come inside the bathroom. They wear a matching purple-ish outfit with various expensive ornaments that scream ‘i’m an important civil officer, respect me!’ to the people that seeing them. These fours greet Udeka and started their reports one by one. From the thieves cases in the lower districts, until sewages issue that started to contaminate clean waters around the city. But Udeka just decides to yawn it all off.

“Also, one of the newest rumors this morning is that Black Claws group seems to lose on a fight against this ‘man of iron.’” said one of them, which finally captures Udeka’s attention.

“Black Claws lost the fight?” he replied to make sure that he did not hear it wrong.

“Yes my Lord. This info comes from the outskirts, that some unknown dubbed ‘man of iron’ has won the fight against Black Claws, and even end up killing two of their men,” told the assistant.

“Impossible! how can that happen?” he asked, but the assistant just said that according to the rumor that circulating around, a ‘man of iron’ is able to outrank them even when fighting without a weapon.

This news in particular started to concern the Duke a little. As he is the one that commanded Black Claws to look for Artifacts, does this mean they finally got lead to which person they would steal?

But, if he is that strong, does that mean he has powerful Artifact either? Will I finally ascend myself to the same throne as King? 

Udeka’s inner voice could be reflected through all of his faces. He does wonder what would those Artifacts did to ‘man of iron’ that make him able to evenly matched against veteran mercenaries.

“Butler, I demand an audience with the Black Claws now!” he screamed, as he got up from the baths. His fat belly is bouncing, as he walked toward the head butler that prepared his towel. 

“But Lord, what about the other reports?” plead of the assistant.

“Bah! Just do it like any other day! I don’t care how you finished it, I’ll lend you my budget if you needed it!” he screamed as he leaves the bathroom with the towel that covering his rear.

***

Half an hour after that, once again, the Black Claws and the Duke held a meeting in that guest’s room. Cups of tea and snacks are served for the adventurers, while the Duke light up a cigar for himself.

“The rumors about your defeat are quickly spread all around the city,” commented Udeka.

He expected Boss to angry, regretful, or showed a disappointed face. But unexpectedly, the man just lifts his shoulder and smiling. ‘Why are you smiling? Aren’t you just lose a battle and your subordinates?” asked Udeka.

“All my subordinates know the risk of working with me. So does with Toby and Oddy,” he said. “More importantly, I’m glad the rumor has spread quickly since I’m the one that spread in the first place.

Udeka actually surprised a little, but he did not show it. Instead, he inhales the smoke deeply before letting them out of his lungs.

“But why did you do that? Are you not afraid that it would hurt your fame?” asked Udeka.

“I thought you already knew that we would do anything to get the job done,” replied Boss. “At first we also heard the rumor about strangers that are able to kill bear single-handedly. We interviewed every person that looked at it themselves, a family, a carriage driver, and even spend a huge amount on a piece of information from a merchant,” Boss chuckled as he remembers that Gon sells Adma’s information for price triples than the usual information cost. 

“All of their stories are correlating and similar to one another. That is where we got our clues.”

***

Boss and the crews then proceed to tell their employer the detail of what happened yesterday. That so-called ‘man of iron’ is coming from Kuliana city, but not an adventurer. Instead, he travels together with an orphan that lives in a village outside of the city. Just like the stories said, this person’s fighting capabilities are far better than what they expected. Even more, the fact that he always fighting without a weapon is proof that he is not a person you want to mess with.

“At some point of the battle, we are able to pierce our blade into him. But turns out, there is no blood coming from them,” Kaina added her information that lifts Udeka’s spirit.

“How come one can not bleed when being stabbed? That is impossible!” said the Duke.

“That is also what I think. After that, We manage to inflict more s***h to his body, only to find a body that is made out of iron.”

Udeka was mesmerized hearing that story. He even forgets that he is in the middle of smoking, making the ashes falling the carpet below, and dirtied that expensive tapestry.

“Is that an Artifact? That is certainly an Artifact isn’t it!?” Udeka’s enthusiasm goes out of the roof, he slammed the table, making the tea almost spilled.

“Calm yourself down, jeez,” asked Boss while showing an irritated face for the man in front of him.

“How can I keep calm! That is certainly an Artifact! The one that will strengthen your body, and make you immune to all of the attacks! If I have that thing right now, I will be the strongest person in the entire kingdom!” Udeka got up with a huge smile on his face. He forgot his cigars and tea and just skip around the room like a little child.

Again, Boss’s expression showed how much he is disgusted with the employer’s demeanor. He never considers this person as a man, duke, or government official. In his eye, he is just an overgrown child who happens to have a lot of money.

Boss thinks that those are certainly out of this world, and the possibilities of it being Artifact is also high. One thing that bothers him is how Adma is fighting against them. At first, he and Adma are able to match each other, either in terms of power, technique, and speed. But after they unveil whatever under his clothes, Adma grew fiercer, as far as killing two of their weakest member empty-handed. 

“It’s too soon to deduct that. But the possibilities are high,” commented Boss.

“Then what are you waiting for! Capture him quickly! I can’t wait to wear that Iron Armor myself!” Udeka jumped with joy, while once again Boss letting out a sigh. Eventually, he gave up and going to leave this place.

But right after he gets up, the head butler breaks into the rooms and warns them about the danger that is happening outside.

“Sir! Someone barge into the mansion! You have to get to the safety now!” screamed the butler. Everyone inside the room quickly caught his attention.

“What!? Who dare come inside my mansion uninvited!” screamed the Duke.

“He is… that person said that he is the ‘man in iron’ that has been rumored around the city!” replied the butler. After hearing that, Udeka’s angry face turned into a laugh, as he point towards the Black Claws member.

“Now this is what I call a fortune! Now you did not need to investigate further, just go outside, and fetch that Iron Armor for me!” he screamed to the Black Claws. “This is your chance to redeem your loss! If you manage to get that armor now, you will get the full price of what we dealt yesterday!”

“Alright! alright! Let’s go, guys!” Boss replied lazily as he commands Boran and Kaina to follow him. He took that giant sword that had been sitting in the corner all this time, and proceed to went outside of the mansion.

Eventually, Boss’s expression turned to a smile, as he is finally able to face Adma again. 

“I may be get paid to capture you, but before that, let us got some little action. ‘Man in Iron!’”

said Boss to himself.