Harry Dillinger

Kou was on a stroll, alone. "Go search for Yumiko, they said. What am I to them? A cat trying to catch a mouse?" he lifted his arms over his head while trying to release anger.

"If I was Yumiko, where would I go on an island full of craftspeople?" for a moment he thought and then crossed his arms, coming up with a decision. "How should I know? I'm not Yumiko! I have only known her for a few days!"

He observed the district, packed with people. There were craftspeople around, and because Yumiko was swordless, he thought one of them had seen her. He asked more than one, but not one of those ten he asked knew about her or claimed they'd seen her.

Until he approached one and asked. "Hello, could I ask you if you, by chance, have seen a girl around this area? It's not hard to miss her. She's a young girl of age 18, wears a very complex battlesuit, with blue eyes and hair."

The craftsman dropped the hammer to the side, once finishing his hammering, and then looked at Kou. "Sorry, kid. We don't sell weaponry to those under the age of 18. If you want something that isn't a weapon, that is different."

Kou immediately became unamused, a droplet of sweat slipping down his head. "I'm not here to buy anything! I'm just asking you about a girl if you've seen her!"

The craftsman sighed and pressed both of his palms on his table. "Can't I have a break with this nonsense today? Look, I don't know if that's the girl you're looking for, but earlier she came to me and asked about the cost of forging two swords." Kou smiled and then nodded to agree,

"Yeah, that's her! She's been trying to buy the new swords she lost at the Castlemania. Do you think-" before Kou finished, the craftsman interrupted. "Wait, Castlemania? Hold on." Kou looked at the craftsman, confused.

"There was information in the newspapers about something happening on that island lately.

"There's been some kind of a battle for the island, and it turned out that a pirate, more iconically, 'White-Haired Pirate, Tim' of a bounty of $100,000 fixed the craziness and defeated a 'Black Hand, Pirate, Muro' of a bounty $189,000, with some additional people. The newspaper also mentioned there was a kid who helped him.

"And based on the information we received in the newspapers, you kind of look like the kid from a wanted poster." Kou flinched for a moment and then tried to avoid it. "I think you have the wrong kid. Um, I don't remember having a bounty on my head."

Then the craftsman reached for a poster and slipped it in front of Kou; his eyes popped out instantly as he read the wanted poster. "Phoenix Pirate, Kou, $35,000." Kou pulled the poster in front of him and immediately became frozen on the spot. "What?!" he screamed for everyone in the vicinity to turn their attention to them.

"You can't be serious?! Why did they make me look like I'm 10?! I'm 14!!"

The craftsman looked at Kou and crossed his arms, only to bust him. "So, it is you. That must mean you're a member of the 'White-Haired Pirate, Tim. Honestly, I should've known that his whole crew was on the island, not to mention...

"Phoenix Pirate, Ayuka, $67,050, Phoenix Pirate Codey, $28,000. You sure know how to make your names shared across the world." Kou picked up the posters of Ayuka and Codey and became frustrated. "They made them look just fine! Why am I the one getting the worst treatment? And why do I even have a bounty in the first place?! I haven't even been on their ship for long!"

"So you admit it, kid. These are all the people you're friends with and on the crew, not to mention the Phoenix Pirate, Ralphie, $75,500. I sure didn't expect him to become a pirate after all these years."

Then Kou ended up impressed. He realized and then looked up at the craftsman. "Wait. You know, Ralphie? Then, you've gotta be... You've gotta be Harry Dillinger, right?"

Harry became surprised and looked at him as he realized that Kou stated his name. "You know me?" Kou dropped the posters and quickly started explaining. "Yeah, we do know you! You're the reason we came to the island in the first place! Empress Oriyana mentioned that you've been taken captive by Niklas Weindorf!"

Harry's eyes shivered, and in a moment the whole street locked their gazes on Kou. Before Kou could continue, Harry immediately hammered the metal and shut him down. "Don't say his name in public, moron!" he shouted as Kou felt his hands covering his mouth. He blinked as he soon realized that continuing would come to a problem.

"People on the Urban Craftsman Island see him as the biggest threat in existence. He's changed this whole island to be afraid of him, and when somebody mentions his name, they'll do their best to get rid of them. I'm warning you. If you say his name, you may as well be asking for death."

Kou remained silent, making sure to never say his full name again, and slowly he noticed the people returning to their activities. Harry finally let go of Kou's lips and then continued working.

"He's a dangerous man, trust me. Many pirates tried to confront him but never did one overcome him. He's a master of two out of four Forbidden Techniques, Inspection, and Migration. If you think you're safe on this island while he's above everyone else, you'll most likely regret your choices, no matter how strong you are."

Listening to Harry's summary of Niklas caused Kou to skip a heartbeat. "How do you know so much about him?" Kou asked, dropping the second half of the posters on the table's side.

"He was once a normal craftsman just like me, but then developed his ability and became selfish. He utilized his powers to threaten the people of Urban Craftsman Island and decided to create a place for the best craftspeople around to work. Me and everybody else became slaves and were committed to forging weapons for him.

"I can't leave this island, because it's impossible. Even if you came here for good deeds you should not be risking your lives on the line to try and make this island a better place.

"You'll never be able to do it. He's unlike anyone else you've fought before. And his high bounty tells you enough. In comparison to Muro, he's on a whole different level.

"I'm telling you to return to where you came. Nobody's safe while on this island, not even pirates like you." Kou crossed his arms and sighed.

"Don't be ridiculous. We've already agreed with Ralphie to help you. If we require to take him down, so be it. I might not be the right person to tell you this, but even I understand how it feels to work as slaves. I've experienced harsh deities like that too. And, let's not try to avoid the fact that there's no way we can change Tim's mind when he sets on something."

Harry seemed to freeze for a moment and hardly had the urge to believe Kou. "Come on, kid. You must be insane to think you can fix this island. If I were you, I'd already leave the island."

"Tell me, Harry. Would you rather stay here on this island and work as a slave? Or would you rather return back home and work freely without limits?"

Harry hammered the metal one final time and paused; his arm shivered. "I think working here in peace is just fine for me. For as long as I do my duty, I shoud be good enough." Suddenly, a familiar voice resounded from behind the crowd.

"And watch innocent people suffer? Is that it?" Kou and Harry turned in the voice's direction and spotted Ralphie approaching them. "Ralph..." Called, Harry.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, friend?"

To be continued...