Location: Sacred Temple, Arthur's Floor
The place was silent, but filled with countless items: a television, table, door, and other furniture all gilded in gold. Jack lay on a couch in this opulent setting, having fainted after the power test. He breathed as if asleep. He moved his finger, and his eyes slowly started to open. When he opened them, they were staring at the ceiling. He looked at the ceiling for a few seconds, then glanced around he was surrounded by sheer wealth. He didn't react at first, then wiped his eyes, blinked, wiped them again, and thought to himself:
Jack: Am I in heaven?
Jack's mind was very confused. Suddenly, the door opened, and steam poured out from it. Someone emerged, wrapped in a towel meaning they had just come out of the bath. Jack looked back and said:
Jack: No, I must have fallen into hell.
- - - : Finally awake, huh? You've been sleeping for a day and a half.
It was Arthur, still wrapped in a towel. A few minutes later, Arthur dressed properly and then addressed Jack clearly:
Arthur: Just so you know, your ranking is 0.5.
Jack: Pardon?
Arthur: I told you that you have great potential, and also…
Jack raised his left hand as a "wait" gesture, and covered his face with his right hand, as if to say, What's going on here? My head is spinning… and sighed.
Jack: How is my ranking so high? And why am I here?
Without any expression, Arthur said:
Arthur: This will be your training ground, and you'll be living here too.
Jack froze instantly, as if question marks were spinning around him. Then he exclaimed:
Jack: What? What? WHAT?!
Arthur: You heard right.
Jack: But… there's no room here for training! And would my guardian even allow me to live here?
Arthur made a "I don't know" gesture with his hands, as if to say, Where would I know? Jack put his hands over his face, but suddenly, a phone started ringing, sounding like someone was ringing a bell at medium speed. The sound came from Jack's pocket. He pulled out the phone, swallowed, and answered:
Jack: Hello?
- - - : Where have you been, fool!?
The voice on the phone echoed. Jack covered one ear from the shouting, but Arthur thought:
Arthur: A familiar voice…
The voice immediately demanded:
- - - : A test can't take this long! Where are you? Answer me now!
Jack: Uh… Aah… I'm at the market.
The place fell silent. Even the person on the phone went quiet. The silence was so complete, it seemed not even a bird chirped. Arthur made a face that said, Seriously? Who spends a whole one week and one day at the market?
- - - : What are you plotting behind my back? Did you get a girlfriend or something?
Jack: No way! Not at all!
Arthur suddenly moved behind Jack. Jack turned, his face silently pleading, Please don't, but Arthur's expression looked like he'd been waiting for this moment to be mischievous.
Arthur: Jack, shall we continue from where we left off?
No sound came from the phone for a moment, then the voice spoke nervously:
- - - : Jack… Are you interested in men?
Jack got angry and started throwing anything he could at Arthur pillows, chairs, whatever was nearby. Arthur, however, grinned mischievously after saying it.
Jack: No! Arthur, I swear I'll kill you!
??? Wait… Arthur?
Arthur's mischievous grin disappeared instantly, though he still smirked.
Arthur: Do you remember me? Leonardo.
The person on the phone was Leonardo. Jack was shocked how did Arthur know Leonardo? He had thought Leonardo was just a regular half-robot. Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the window. It was human, but there was a problem: Arthur and Jack were on the 99th floor of the Sacred Temple. The human launched at the window, kicking it. The glass shattered. As the pieces fell, the mysterious person managed to enter, immediately approaching Arthur and grabbing his shirt.
Arthur: Nice entrance, Leonardo.
The intruder was Leonardo.
Jack: Uncle Leonardo?
Leonardo looked angry, but as soon as he saw Jack, a sad expression appeared.
Leonardo: Jack, uh…
Arthur: Well, at least Jack has a strong uncle. Hahaha.
Leonardo: Don't you dare speak.
Arthur: Fine.
Leonardo released Arthur, but Jack was astonished. He had assumed Leonardo was an ordinary person. Jack's secondary purpose was to protect Leonardo because Leonardo was the only one he accepted him but he also knew Arthur and Leonardo had terrifying physical strength.
Jack (thinking): Wasn't Uncle Leonardo an ordinary person? Was my purpose for nothing?
While Jack was overthinking, Leonardo lightly tapped Jack on the head, as if to say, Don't overthink it.
Leonardo: Sorry, kid, I stopped using my powers to avoid remembering the past.
Arthur immediately supported Leonardo.
Arthur: Some things happened in his past. That's why he retired. And thank goodness he did he seems to have raised a treasure.
Leonardo looked at Arthur with a disgusted expression:
Leonardo: You're the last person I'll support, you know that, right?
Arthur looked downcast, sitting with his back turned in the corner. Jack was sulking because his uncle had been lying to him all along.
Leonardo: I'm sorry, I did this for our good.
Jack: Well, there's nothing to do… sulking is really silly, so I'll forgive you.
Leonardo made a thank goodness expression, while Arthur sat in the back.
Leonardo: You can stay here, but if Jack gets hurt, I'll personally kill you, Arthur.
Arthur was slightly scared and quickly replied:
Arthur: Understood…
Leonardo walked slowly toward the broken window. When he reached it, he held the frame and turned to Jack.
Leonardo: Don't even think about getting injured, Jack!
Jack raised his hand in agreement.
Leonardo was about to jump, then turned to
Leonardo: If you're training Jack, have him make a weapon go see that dwarf!
Arthur immediately turned to Leonardo, stood up, and nodded. Leonardo got the message and jumped out the window as if nothing happened. While falling rapidly, he bent his leg, kicked into the air, and as if there was ground there, he hit with his leg. Instead of falling downward, he flew forward. Watching this, Arthur said:
Arthur: As always, the Air Step Art looks amazing.
Jack knew his uncle was cool, but not this much. He was thinking of two things: how Arthur and his uncle knew each other, and what did he mean by "go see the dwarf"?
Arthur: Jack, come on, we're going to see this dwarf to get started.
Arthur turned and headed toward the exit room. Jack followed. While walking, he asked:
Jack: Who's the dwarf? Does he look like those dwarves in fantasy worlds?
Arthur: His name is Bob. He's the best blacksmith we know, but his personality is… rather filthy.
Jack was confused and asked:
Jack: Filthy, how?
Arthur: When you meet him, you'll hear the filthiest words ever, Jack.
Jack and Arthur left the area, walking straight to the elevator. When they reached it, they pressed the call button, waited a while, then the elevator arrived. As soon as the doors opened, they got in. Arthur pressed a button, and the doors closed.