WebNovels

Chapter 178 - Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Eight: To Umego Island

"Death. Chaos. Darkness."

Images flashed. Kia, with dark black skin. Marachii, with black liquid pouring from his mouth. Takashii, with his eyes shifting to black, and finally, Kuroten, who stepped forward.

"Dachii. Do you know what you are? Your mother won't tell you. Your allies are wary of you. Can you find the truth for yourself?"

A scene flashed, of Kia and a house disappearing in shadow, before Kia appeared on a street a few hours later, holding her head, confused.

"Can you find out…who I am?"

Dachii's eyes suddenly opened, and he found himself being held by Akari, in front of the S-1 Mansion. Aoki banged on the door.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead," Akari taunted. "How are you feeling?"

"…Fine."

"I wonder what Mister Fujii is going to think of my new look!" Saori worried. "Do you think he's going to be scared?"

"He won't," Hikari reassured her. "I'm sure he'll like the new you!"

"If he opens this damn door," Aoki growled. "Why the hell would he lock it? Is he drunk again?"

Luca began to walk around. "Let's just try the back."

"Oh. Hmph. I was just going to say that."

They walked around the back door, finding it unlocked. Once they piled into the house, Aoki began calling for Fujii. "General? Sir? We're back! Hello?"

Akari shrugged. "He must not be home."

Dachii collapsed to the floor, and his teammates quickly rushed to help him up. Saori folded her arms. "I told you not to attack that guy, and you still did! Now you're all beat up!"

Dachii vomited and passed out. Saori covered her mouth, frantically checking on him. "Oops, I'm so sorry, Dachii! I didn't mean to stress you out!"

Hikari gently helped him up. "Let's get him to his room. He's been even quieter than before."

Hikari, Marachii, and Saori all helped Dachii upstairs, while Akari yawned and went to her room. "Time for me to get some well-needed rest. All that human stuff has really tired me out. Along with that stubborn old General."

She summoned her shield briefly. "Heh. Still got it."

She left, leaving Luca and Aoki downstairs alone. Aoki gripped her blade. "Mori. You must know something isn't right."

Luca yawned. "Why do you imply that?"

"Why would Fujii leave so abruptly? Why would he lock the front door, knowing we would come back?"

Luca dug in his ear. "I dunno. Maybe he was in a hurry? Wasn't thinking?"

Aoki grabbed his shoulders. "Think! You've got incredible senses! You know damn well he wouldn't just slip up! He's the strongest warrior in this nation!"

Akari walked past Dachii's room, right as Saori and the others laid him in his bed. "Night, you guys. Tell Dachii I said goodnight to him."

She walked into her room. After making sure Dachii was okay and saying goodnight, the other three went to their rooms as well.

Downstairs, Luca relaxed on the couch while Aoki paced back and forth in front of him. "Maybe I'm just overthinking. Maybe I'm just overthinking."

She stopped. "I'm not overthinking! We've got to mobilize!"

Luca yawned. "I think you're looking too deeply into this. You should get some sleep."

"I don't need sleep, damn it!"

Dachii came down the stairs, casually walking to the fridge and picking up a soda. He opened it and it sprayed all over him, and he dropped it without a word.

"Hey look, Dachii's up," Luca pointed.

Aoki approached Dachii, catching him as he fell. "Hey! You should be in bed."

"I should be dead."

She glared at him. "Don't say that! Also, does something feel off to you?"

"Everything is off," he stated. "My life is a mess. The bastard got away with the armor he and his people wanted."

Aoki slapped her forehead. "Dachii, sit down."

She helped Dachii to the couch, sitting beside him as Luca sprawled out.

"Dachii, do you believe General Fujii is the type to leave and not tell us where he's going?"

"Yes."

"Okay, fair. Do you think he's the type to leave, lock the door, and tidy up this house before he goes?"

"No."

"My point exactly."

She playfully nudged him. "At least one of you is smart. Great job."

He nearly collapsed again, and she caught him. "Hey! Easy, now. That Coldflame stuff is serious."

She let him rest on her while her eyes shifted to Luca. "See? Something's not right."

"What? Dachii being near death?"

She slapped her forehead. "No, idiot."

"Oh. You think Fujii's been kidnapped or something?"

"Bingo."

Luca got up, stretching. "Okay."

"Now you believe me?" she scoffed.

"Sure. Why not?"

"Hmph."

She laid Dachii along the couch. "Come with me. Let's scour this place for clues. There's something bigger at play."

"Lead the way, katana girl."

"Call me that again and I'll kill you," she threatened.

They started with the training room, looking around for any hints. When nothing surfaced, they continued down room by room, until they were finished with the entire first floor.

"Nothing," Luca shrugged. "No signs of a scuffle, no trace of an intruder. Just nothing."

"Exactly!" Aoki exclaimed. "Why would there be nothing? Fujii isn't known for being super tidy like Nakada or Toru! Look! Even all the weapons are put up!"

"What are you suggesting?" Luca questioned. "You think someone took him and cleaned house so we wouldn't question it?"

Aoki nodded. "We should go check upstairs. Maybe there will be something."

They canvassed the second floor, even bursting into bedrooms to the annoyance of the others, before returning to the living room, where Dachii was lying with Fido.

"Still nothing," Luca pointed out.

"We're missing something here," Aoki mused. "But what?"

Fido jumped on Dachii's back, wagging his tail. Aoki tapped her chin. "I should look around for more evidence. Whoever came here, they couldn't have gotten far. Come on, wolf!"

She dragged Luca outside, while Fido began licking Dachii's face. "Master Dachii! Master Dachii!"

"Yes, Fido…"

"Fido has something to tell you!"

"Okay."

Aoki and Luca came back in a little while later, sweating and tired. "Damn it! Whoever stole my General, they're good."

Luca yawned. "Are we done yet?"

"Nope!"

She began muttering to herself when Dachii reached out, tapping her and breaking her out of her trance. "Yes, Dachii?"

"The dog…he knows…"

Aoki and Luca stared at Fido, who began to wag his tail. "Master Fujii has been taken by my creator!"

Aoki and Luca immediately froze.

"What?" Aoki gasped. "Your creator?"

"Guess you were right," Luca acknowledged.

Aoki knelt down to eye the dog in the face. "Tell us everything, now."

"Creator took Master Fujii! Creator left!"

"That's not everything! Ugh, damn this dog! Dachii, where'd you get this thing?"

"From Umego," Dachii answered.

"Umego?" she inquired. "The closed-off nerd city?"

"Yep."

"Would someone take Fujii there?" Aoki wondered. "But all the people there are Voltians, why would they need to kidnap one of their own?"

Fido barked a few times. Aoki shook her head. "Doesn't matter! By my authority as Vice-General, I order that we go to Umego immediately!"

"Okay," Dachii and Luca replied.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Akari interrupted, coming downstairs. "You can't just GO to Umego without permission from the higher-ups. That means my mom and dad."

"I don't give a shit! They took my leader, I'm leaving whether they like it or not!"

"Leader?" Akari repeated. "What happened to Fujii?"

"Kidnapped, you idiot! Kidnapped!"

"How could he be kidnapped? This place doesn't even scream kidnapping."

Aoki motioned to the spotless living room. "Exactly. Whoever cleaned this place was trying too hard to make it seem normal."

Akari rubbed her eyes. "Fine, whatever. I'll go to my parents and see if they'll grant access for such a mission."

"We're all coming," Aoki insisted.

"That's not necessary," Akari rebuffed. "At all."

"Too bad. I said it is," Aoki growled.

Hikari came downstairs just as the two began to glare at each other, eyes glowing. "Girls! What is going on?"

"We're going to find our leader," Aoki declared. "Gather up everyone. The castle is our next stop."

Later, at the castle…

Akari walked in front of her squad as she led them through the halls and into the throne room, where they found Toru and Naito both talking with the King and Queen.

"I deeply apologize for the failure, Your Highnesses," Toru said. "It was a mistake on my behalf, and it won't happen again."

"That's alright," King Ayrad assured. "Lots of information has been learned from your encounter, and you beat an Elite!"

"Still. The objective was not completed, and I can't live with that."

Queen Ayame stood up. "Kaneko. You did well. How about you go home and relax for a while? We'll figure out our next steps."

He nodded. "I shall take my leave."

He walked up to the rest of the squad, staring at them with a stern expression. "You all. I don't know why you're here, but I must commend your survival and grit during that mission."

He looked at Saori. "Especially you."

She beamed.

Then he smacked them all across the head. "Also, that's for failing!"

"Ow!"

He turned to leave. "Dachii. Noriko says hi."

"Uh…tell her…I said the same."

Toru left. The King and Queen noticed them.

"Daughter!" Queen Ayame greeted. "Do you need something? Come to report? Kaneko has already done that."

"No, Mother," she clarified. "Miss Amasani here thinks our powerful leader has been kidnapped while we were away."

"I don't think, I know! Even the dog knows!"

"Yeah, trust the talking dog."

Aoki took a deep breath. "Your Highnesses, we have significant reason that clues to his disappearance may be in Umego. May we have the permission to visit?"

The King and Queen shared a look.

"Those are serious allegations," King Ayrad noted. "Are you sure of this?"

Aoki nodded.

The two rulers shared a look.

"They're hosting an event," Queen Ayame explained. "The reveal of their new invention, the Technodome. The biggest invention ever created by our people."

"This woman's talking too much," Aoki thought. "Can we go or not?"

Queen Ayame looked between them and Naito. "Since you have my daughter and our esteemed Dachii with you, I'll allow it. And if Kenshi really is missing, that cannot stand."

Aoki took a bow. "Thank you."

She held up her hand. "Naito! How about you accompany them, since they could use the protection, and you were planning to visit anyway!"

"Wait, SHE'S going?" Aoki blurted out.

Queen Ayame nodded. "Little Naito may not say it, but she does appreciate technology. She says it has a nice balance that people don't possess."

Naito stayed quiet.

"What do you say, Naito? Will you escort them?"

She briefly stared at the group. "Sure. Let me grab my mother."

"Aww, hell," Aoki moaned.

Naito walked past the squad. "Come. Departure is imminent."

Akari whipped around to face Aoki. "Congratulations. You got what you wanted."

Aoki shot her a glare.

"Seriously though," Akari worried. "I do hope General Fujii is fine."

After following Naito back to the S-7 Mansion, they watched her open the door to a bunch of soldiers doing handstands, maintaining perfect balance. They barely even acknowledged Naito when she walked in, and Yūsuke was among them.

"Yūsuke. Gear up," Naito ordered.

He immediately did a backflip, landing on his feet before heading upstairs. "Roger."

"Yuck," Aoki stated. "If Toru's gang is a bunch of crazy-serious jerks, this one is made up of lonely antisocials."

Naoki walked up, waving. "Hello, Dachii! Good to see you again!"

"Hi…Naoki…" Dachii waved.

She examined him. "Taller! Longer hair! Very serious demeanor. Have you been dealing with trauma and stress?"

"Yes—-"

Saori stepped in front of him, hugging him. "Dachii is not in his right mind right now! He needs time to heal!"

"I can tell," Naoki agreed. "In any case, it's great to see you again! Who are your friends?"

"The squad," he answered. "Aoki. Akari. Luca. Hikari. Saori. Marachii."

"Interesting names!" Naoki clapped. "Well, for all of you newbies, I'm Naito's mother! Naoki Kei! I'm your resident nurse!"

She eagerly shook all of their hands.

"So another Hikari," Aoki mocked.

"Hey!" Hikari exclaimed.

Yūsuke and Naito came back downstairs, fully geared up in their S-7 uniforms. Naito placed her fans into her belt. "Mother. We are ready."

"That's wonderful, dear. I'm sure you'll have a great time with your new friends."

Naito didn't bother to respond.

"Well, I suppose it's nigh-time we head to Umego! Come, young ones! I know just how to get us there!"

???…

"Status: Alive. Gender: Male. Age: Unknown."

Fujii opened his eyes, and he found himself strapped to a metal table inside a lab, with many robots around, scanning and recording his information.

"Creepy!" he shouted. "What sick game is this?"

"You're awake," a female voice said. "That's wonderful!"

Fujii craned his neck, finding the same girl that kidnapped him sitting in the palm of a large robot, still in a cloak. "Welcome to my workshop, Kenshi! I'll make sure you have a good time."

And then everything went dark.

—-

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