**Chapter 114: Conversation with Reiji Akaba**
With Hiyage's wave, a figure leaped down from the dining hall's crossbeam. It was Hiyage's younger brother, Tsukikage, which astonished Yūga Hōzumi.
"I think we need to strengthen our internal defenses," Yūga Hōzumi said, looking at Kiryu with an exasperated expression.
Kiryu's face was also grim. In such a short time, two people had infiltrated the base, and it seemed they had been there for a while, yet no one in the entire Revolutionary Army had discovered them.
"Sorry, we had no choice but to do this to avoid unnecessary conflict," Tsukikage explained.
"So, what was the purpose of deliberately revealing yourselves?" Yūga Hōzumi asked.
"I plan to have Tsukikage return to deliver a message and discuss a meeting with you two with Lord Reiji, while I remain here. How does that sound?" Hiyage inquired.
Yūga Hōzumi looked at Kiryu, asking for his opinion with his gaze.
After a moment of thought, Kiryu nodded. "Alright, but we'll decide the meeting place."
"Of course," Hiyage nodded.
After some discussion, Kiryu set the meeting place for tomorrow to be at the edge of Neo Domino City's southeastern corner, an area the locals called the Corner of Sin. It was the most chaotic part of the city, a haven for criminals that even Security rarely dared to enter.
Carrying Yūga Hōzumi's message, Tsukikage vanished in a few quick movements.
That night, after Yūga Hōzumi gave the members of the Revolutionary Army a lesson straight out of a mandatory high school political science textbook, they all came to accept him as their suddenly-appointed vice-leader.
Overall, everything was proceeding smoothly.
Early the next morning, Yūga Hōzumi and Kiryu, along with Hiyage, set off toward the agreed-upon location.
Yūga Hōzumi hadn't stopped frowning since they entered the southeastern corner of Neo Domino City, an area known to the locals as the Corner of Sin. The reason was simple: from the moment they stepped into this area, greedy gazes had been incessantly and openly sweeping over the trio's D-Wheels.
After Kiryu scared off a few restless scoundrels with a look, he led Yūga Hōzumi into a tavern located in an alley.
Inside the tavern, Reiji Akaba was already seated at the bar.
Around him, a group of people with wildly colored hair, who were clearly up to no good, lay sprawled about. Just then, Tsukikage knocked out the last punk and tossed him onto the pile.
"You arrived much earlier than I expected," Reiji Akaba said, putting down his glass. "After all, I encountered a bit of trouble when I came in, but thankfully, it's all resolved."
"This must be Kyosuke Kiryu, the leader of the Revolutionary Army in Neo Domino City, correct? A pleasure to meet you," Reiji Akaba adjusted his glasses and extended his hand toward Kiryu, who was beside Yūga Hōzumi.
Kiryu calmly shook his hand. "The leader of the Lancers from the Standard Dimension, hmm? You're certainly accomplished for your age."
"Let's find another place. This isn't the right setting to discuss serious matters," Yūga Hōzumi interrupted their pleasantries after glancing at the trembling bartender behind the bar.
"Follow me," Kiryu said, then walked out.
Leading the group outside, they wandered through the chaotic streets for a while before arriving at a residential building. After Kiryu knocked on the door with a strange rhythm, it opened.
"Leader," the person who opened the door greeted Kiryu briefly and led them into the Revolutionary Army's hidden base.
"Alright, now can you tell me why you came looking for me?" Yūga Hōzumi asked, looking at Reiji Akaba.
"Aren't you going to ask how your companion is doing first?" Reiji Akaba chuckled.
"With him following you, what do I have to worry about? Or are you looking for me to compensate you for the trouble he caused?" Yūga Hōzumi replied with a smile.
"Never mind, let's get down to business," Reiji Akaba shook his head and looked at Kiryu. "According to the intelligence Tsukikage obtained from Security's prison, it seems your Revolutionary Army is planning to launch a revolution during the Fortune Cup?"
"That's correct. Otherwise, given Shinji Weber's skills, he shouldn't have been caught by Security," Kiryu nodded.
"Do you have a way to stop him?" Reiji Akaba asked. "I've calculated the success rate of their operation. It's less than twenty percent."
*Actually, if you just kept that Tomato from proselytizing, their operation might have actually succeeded.*
Yūga Hōzumi grumbled inwardly, then spoke aloud, "Why the sudden decision to side with the Revolutionary Army? Did your talks with The Top Echelons break down?"
Reiji Akaba remained silent for a moment, tacitly confirming Yūga Hōzumi's words. "The Director of Security is from the Academy. The leadership of this Dimension has long been infiltrated by the Academy. This was something I hadn't foreseen."
"And that's not all, is it? Those five Old Geezers must have also proposed some rather outrageous conditions for an alliance, right?" Yūga Hōzumi said.
"Indeed," Reiji Akaba nodded. "For example, carving up the XYZ Dimension."
Upon hearing this, Yūga Hōzumi's gaze instantly turned dangerous. "And you agreed?"
"How could I?" Facing Yūga Hōzumi's undisguisedly dangerous gaze, Reiji Akaba calmly nodded. "We are Allies, are we not?"
"That's good," Yūga Hōzumi said. He trusted Reiji Akaba's words; with his pride, he wouldn't do something like backstabbing an Ally. Right now, he only wanted to backstab his own father.
"In that case, The Top Echelons have one more reason to be hanged from a lamppost," Yūga Hōzumi said, then looked at Reiji Akaba. "Tell me your plan. Knowing you, you must have already come up with one before seeking us out."
"Of course," Reiji Akaba nodded and took out two registration forms, handing them to Yūga Hōzumi.
"These are for the Friendship Cup."
"You want me to participate in such a boring competition?" Yūga Hōzumi frowned.
"If you don't want to go, then don't. Someone else can go, as long as they can stop Shinji Weber's hasty actions. He's no match for Jack Atlas," Reiji Akaba stated.
"Alright," Kiryu took the registration form from Tsukikage's hand. "I'll have someone contact Shinji Weber. What's the next part of the plan?"
"You should know that those who lose in the Friendship Cup are sent to the Underground Factory, right?" Reiji Akaba said.
Yūga Hōzumi and Kiryu nodded.
…
The three of them talked for a long time, until the sun began to set, before Reiji Akaba left with Hiyage and Tsukikage.
"Can that guy be trusted?" Kiryu asked shortly after Reiji Akaba had left.
"I'd trust him about halfway," Yūga Hōzumi replied.
"Halfway?" Kiryu asked, puzzled.
"He was set up by The Top Echelons, so we can be sure he won't side with them," Yūga Hōzumi said. "However, as for his claim of helping us complete our revolution, you can just assume he's spouting nonsense."
"He probably just wants to use this Friendship Cup as a training exercise for someone with a few screws loose. The true revolution can only be achieved by us," Yūga Hōzumi said. "As for these two registration forms, give one to Bruno and one to Kaito."
(end of chapter)
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