Chapter 35 - Trouble on the Imperium Front

Gonzalez, Mike, and Remy walk into the infirmary, placing Carrie down on one of the beds as she moves around.

Carrie: I'm… not… drunk…

Mike: This seems too planned to be natural.

Gonzalez: Who even let her near the alcohol?

Remy: She kind of ran ahead of me since she used to do a lot of running back home. She left my sight pretty quickly and probably drank while I wasn't looking.

Mike: So it's all your fault we're left with this drunk!

Remy: It wasn't on purpose!

As Mike aggressively walked up to Remy, a woman in a maid outfit opened the door. Her eyes were closed, but she immediately got the attention of the three men.

Maid: Hi guys, King Oneiroi wishes to have everyone meet near the rooming area. I will remain here with Carrie.

Mike: Thank god, I don't want to deal with that drunk.

Gonzalez: Thanks for your help.

Remy: These are her blades. I took them off her so that she didn't hurt anyone while drunk.

Remy placed two knives in the maid's hands as the trio walked out of the room. The trio made their way out of the building, and to the hotel that was a small walk away from the main stadium.

Remy: They really made this place huge.

Gonzalez: Probably to have it fit everyone that would come here and any spectators live here as well. I mean, this isn't even the only building here.

Mike: How does the Eclipse even have this much money?

Gonzalez: I dunno, probably plenty of business deals. It's easily one of the strongest underground fighter rings in America.

Mike: Yeah, the only other one near our ranks is Pulsar, right?

Remy: I heard there was one called Titanomachy. It's been getting a lot more popular since I heard many of its matches get streamed on specific sites online.

Mike: There are places that actually upload their fights online?

Gonzalez: I guess that's an effective way to get investors that aren't willing to come all the way to a stadium to watch a fight.

Remy: Yeah, it's pretty smart. Each of these three has major appeals to their fights. Ours is our allowing of weapons, Pulsar is terrain-based combat, and Titanomachy is about their accessibility.

Mike: Thanks for the history lesson, nerd.

Remy: So I do my research, so what?!

Gonzalez: Hey, look.

Gonzalez pointed in front of the building where Theodore was talking to several people that surrounded him. Angel and Abraham stood to his left with Daniel riding on Theodore's shoulders, playing with Theodore's hair. Standing on the other side of Theodore were Moll and an African man standing at 183 centimeters tall. He wore a military outfit that was decorated with several badges while holding his hat in one hand. From his left eye down to his grey beard was a scar, his left eye shut.

Mike: Isn't that General Ziyad Mostafa?

Remy: What's he doing here?

Mike, Remy, and Gonzalez got closer, overhearing the conversation.

Ziyad: If I had any idea it would be this hot, I would've worn something more casual.

Theodore: It is almost summer after all.

Ziyad: I don't get how you youngsters are able to wear all this heavy attire in such heat!

Moll: C'mon, Mostafa, we're nearly the same age and you're telling me this is enough to wear you out?

Ziyad: You're more than ten years younger than me. Plus, I'm not as active as I used to be… Sure I'm wearing this outfit, but it's from my glory days. I'm far too used to taking care of this meddlesome king of ours!

Theodore: Aww, you don't have to word it like that, haha.

Angel: It's great to see you around, Mr. Mostafa. Is the wife treating you well?

Ziyad: Oh, she's as worried as always. She really didn't want me to come to America, but I couldn't just miss out on Theodore's matches. I knew he would make it without issue, but who knew that so many of our country's own had made it too!

Theodore: Some more are even coming now.

Mike, Remy, and Gonzalez met up with the group, with two more maids coming up with drinks on trays.

Ziyad: Thank you, ladies.

Theodore: I wish for you to prepare some of our bathing suits. I want to go swimming later.

Daniel: Water!

Mike: Does he do nothing but hang around you all day?

Theodore: I don't mind it. He's a great boy, after all.

Another maid walked up to Theodore, holding a container in her hands. Daniel's mouth began to water as Theodore reached into the container and pulled out a slab of meat. Theodore threw it up in the air, Daniel catching it with his mouth before finishing it in a few bites.

Abraham: It amazes me how he is considered my brother.

Ziyad: Little Daniel here was always a wild type. I think he just got too used to living the life of an animal to be able to return to being purely human.

Gonzalez: I guess that isn't wrong, but I can't help but feel that sounds wrong.

Theodore turned to Ziyad, Ziyad taking a sip of his drink before meeting Theodore's eyes.

Theodore: I see that even after all the treatment, it hasn't gone away?

Ziyad: I respect the hospitality you and the royal family have given me, but this scar seems to wish to remain where it is.

Theodore: If only I could have done something that day…

Ziyad: Don't worry, my king. For we have a much larger issue at hand.

Theodore: You're talking about…

Ziyad: I've entrusted Actun, the lords, and the special divisions to deal with it. But it seems the drug trafficking is still finding its way into the country.

Theodore clenched his fist as an angry look grew in his eyes. Mike looked with concern at Theodore's face as Daniel's head poked up.

Theodore: Brook Silva… We need to find him and take him down.

Ziyad: We did try several methods to try to find out more about Silva. I had hired an informant to hire assassins to deal with someone we assumed to be one of Silva's distributors.

Theodore: Who did you get?

Ziyad: I hired a man named Marvin. He has as small of a profile as possible to make sure he doesn't raise suspicion. And he was able to get two people to apply for the job, but their mission did confirm that the man, Rinsel, is most definitely connected to Silva.

Theodore: Who were the two that accepted the job?

Ziyad: From what I was told, it was a boy named Thong Tran and your fellow top ten member, Jason Bellthorne.

Theodore: Thong I am impressed with, as he is a new member to the Eclipse. Jason, however, is a mystery.

Ziyad: Truly. The job was not paying as highly as regular jobs would. Mr. Tran wouldn't have noticed it, but Mr. Bellthorne surely should have.

Theodore: It makes me wonder what exactly Jason is hiding. He wouldn't take a job just for the money. He needs a reason to get involved.

Ziyad: Precisely. So I do believe Mr. Bellthorne may have more to him than he may be letting on.

Theodore: What else has been done to track down Brook?

Ziyad: We're trying our best to have him dealt with, but it seems that he has connections that are able to assist him in being hidden at all costs. There are guesses as to who may be assisting him, but too many bring deadends.

Theodore: What's the best guess you have made?

Ziyad: The only answer one of the operatives has reached is a group called The Serpent. Nothing is known about them, and the operative died shortly after he was hospitalized. Whoever this group is, I don't think we're prepared enough to deal with them to find Silva amongst their ranks.

Mike's thoughts: Serpent? I've never heard of those guys. Does anyone in the Eclipse have an idea who those might be?

Angel: You know, with that little tangent you two went on about, the maids were able to get here.

Moll: They even brought swimming shorts for me! If only Zenzo, Hamadeen, and Joseph were here, they'd love it.

Remy: Who's Zenzo?

Moll: Ah, he's basically my aide. He surely helps the Collective when he can. I think he's busy trying to make connections with the incoming guests.

Ziyad: Playing political games before the tournament even starts. As I expected from Zenzo.

Moll: You still remember him? Now that's what I like to hear!

Mike: Enough talking, let's get to that pool.

Theodore: I agree, I need something to refresh myself…

…

The members of the Imperium left the building, now wearing their swimwear. Theodore still wore his black, skin-tight clothing underneath his shorts, half his face still obscured.

Daniel: He he he, water…

Theodore: That's right boy, let's relax.

The Imperium made their way to the pool, all talking to one another. Remy looked ahead of them, noticing Carrie holding up a peace sign as the maid stood beside her, both wearing swimsuits.

Carrie: The Imperium's number one secretary has recovered from her drunkenness in record time.

Mike: That is literally impossible!

Carrie: You say that, but Veronica June here is a master at helping drunks recover.

Veronica: I do my best to serve.

Remy: That's scary and impressive.

Theodore: The Virtus Imperium does ensure the pinnacle of healthcare. So it's no wonder that Carrie was able to recover so quickly.

Carrie: And you boys thought you could go to the pool without lil ol' me? How heartless can you be?

Gonzalez: If it was up to me, you'd probably be tied up in your room than in the infirmary.

Carrie: Ewww… I didn't know you worked like that, Gonzalez.

Gonzalez: Wait, no, that's not what I meant!

The group made their way to the pool, Mike's eyes opening wide as they all made their way to the pool.

Theodore: Isn't that your friend?

Mike: Yeah…

The Imperium watched as Thong was being held back by Hugo and Li, across from them stood Tristan and Violet, who both exited the pool. Blood dripped from Tristan's nose.

Tristan: I didn't know the Eclipse was full of savages.

Thong: You're the ones… You're the ones that made my life this living hell!

Violet: We don't even know you!

Silvia: Thong, what's gotten into you?

Li: Thong, you aren't like this. Calm down!

A shadow moved in front of the trio, Thong's face went flying in another direction. Mike's foot fully extended as Thong's head dropped.

Mike: This idiot really has to go around making things harder for everyone, huh?

Li: Thanks, you really made things easier.

Hugo: Don't think I'm gonna thank you, rude guy!

Mike: I don't need your thanks, just get him out of here. He spoke big, but it seems he really isn't ready for this world.

Violet: Thank you for taking care of that absolutely barbaric man.

Tristan: I have no idea what was going through his mind.

Mike: Let me tell you, then. It's because of you that he joined this organization. Your Kaisuto group made him look for ways to get out of his debt.

Tristan: It's not like we told him to join this place!

Violet: Yeah, don't go trying to push the blame on us!

Mike turned away from them, biting his lip.

Mike's thoughts: Yeah… I was the one that told him… His pain… is my fault.

Li and Hugo carried Thong away as Carrie and Veronica walked up to the front.

Carrie: Does this mean our pool day is over?

Veronica: But we got these adorable suits on!

Carrie: Right?

Remy: I think that's the least of our worries.

Mike: I'm not much in the mood to swim, I'll just stand to the side.

Theodore: That confrontation was a minor setback, let's continue our break before the tournament begins.

Remy: Already ahead of you!

Daniel: Go splash splash!

Remy and Daniel ran towards the pool before both jumping up and splashing right in. Carrie and Veronica giggled before water splashed in both their faces.

Daniel: Hehehe…

Remy: In the domain of water, we stand supreme!

Carrie: Why you little…

Veronica: We're gonna get you!

Carrie and Veronica jumped into the water right after, Theodore rubbing the back of his head as Moll patted his shoulder.

Moll: Ziyad's resting and that small argument is dealt with. No need to stress out now, Mr. King.

Theodore: You're right. I'll relax while I can.

Mike sat down, watching the Imperium enter the water and play around. He then moved his gaze to watch Violet place a napkin in one of Tristan's bloody nostrils.

Mike's thoughts: The Kaisuto Group he was after for so long is right here and I did nothing but stop him. But attacking them won't fix anything. I'll help, Thong. I promise.

Ryan sat atop the guard's tower, his sunglasses covering his eyes. His mouth opened as he let out a snore.