1.14: Distrustful hope.
Franco and the others were in a waiting room, where they'd have to settle until they were sent to Legon City. Everyone was stressed and still confused about what would await them.
"Come on, guys. Let's cheer up! Do you guys know what we can get if we win?!" Franco said with excitement.
"And what if we don't?" Adrian said in disbelief.
"That was very reckless of you, Franco! You could have at least consoled us about this!" Ado said, honing at him.
"This was rather surprising…Who would have thought that we left Tedashii…for AN IDIOT LIKE YOU!" Makoto said while grabbing Franco's collar and slamming him on the wall. "YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ANY OF US THAT YOU WOULD GO THIS FAR?!"
"Yes, I did…Dazai and Yaryura agreed with me."
Everyone turned their eyes toward the two newcomers.
"Huh…Uhhh, hahahaha…" Yaryura didn't know what to say.
"YOU ASKED THOSE TWO PEOPLE WHO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WELL FOR A TEAM DECISION!?!?"
They all yelled at him, but then Dazai stood up. "Listen. I do agree that this was reckless, but Franco is right. Regardless of whether we do or don't save Legging City, we still need the support of the public. Since we will defend the Centre Digit, all the citizens will be gathered around the Vision Tower."
Rin and Ado understood his point, yet nobody wanted to correct him for calling it legging City…or Centre Digit. Bringing the City back to humanity's side was the objective, but that wouldn't save your reputation as a ronin.
"Makoto, he does have a point." Ado quoted. "If we succeed, that will take us one step closer to our main goal, don't you think?" Then, they all remembered their primary goal: becoming the most distinguished guild ever known. So Ado, Rin, and Dazai walked on the side of Franco. "If I am going anywhere, I'm following Franco."
"The more we fight, then the stronger we get. So I will use my light to win and only win!" Rin said.
Makoto was so disappointed. "You guys are aware that no guild succeeded for the past eighteen years? If-"
"If they couldn't do so, why don't we try to be the first?" Yuro said as he interrupted Makoto, then walked towards Franco's side.
Leah decided to go along with Yaryura, dragging her to Franco's side. And then the last two were just Makoto and Adrian.
"So Max. Are you with us or not?"
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Miku was still in her house while Tedashii remained motionless. She had tended to his wounds, but he seemed beyond saving. She relinquished her healing powers and sat down.
"Gaiyato, I don't think saving someone with such an injury is possible. What kind of being must have had so much strength to plow a wound this wide? It's not a stab; it must have been a foot or an arm. But with this much strength?"
She kept thinking to herself.
RING! RING!
Her phone began to ring. "H-Hello, Miku Aoi speaking."
…
"Kay-lee Blake. Yes, I'm off competition for today…a patient this time-"
"It is a girl that looks like your niece! She looks like she is losing a lot of blood…what should I do, sensei?!"
Kay-Lee was Makoto's little sister, working for the medical department under Miku as her intern. But she was dealing with one family member at the time, and she could not leave Tedashii alone. "Kay-Lee, listen to me. Write this spell down…"
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A knocking came on their door.
"Alright, you guys, it's time to go."
Franco and the others took all they needed and walked out the door. Makoto and Adrian had no choice but to follow them on the mission. Adrian was afraid, while Makoto was just afraid of failure.
As they turned around, they saw 50 men with well-assigned weapons ready to assist them in the mission. They were all from headquarters but unaware of the deviant plan Sir Williams plotted. Martin came by to give each guild the communication devices they were assigned. Out of all of them, the ones for the Elite Force were gold.
"Nice!! we get gold ones!" Rin said.
"Don't get over your head, Rin. These are just for this mission." Ado replied.
"I don't care whether it will be for today or never. I know I will sell this thing when we're done!" Yuro said.
Gaiyato walked into the area since he could not help them. But he was the only person capable of creating portals to different spaces. "Attention, everyone. Please listen carefully. We need you to be prepared as we will send you to the Central District immediately. Per our tradition, your fights will be broadcast on the Vision Tower for all the citizens to witness. Even though you will be aware of the audience's reactions, focusing solely on your performance is essential. Let's make sure we make this a successful mission."
A massive, blue fist suddenly emerged from behind Gaiyato and then opened into a portal leading to Legon City, where the final showdown would occur. All the ronins present took a deep breath as every other guild was also sent to their respective districts. Once the other eight guilds had left, a giant palm appeared, leading to the Central District. The Elite Force passed through the portal and could hear jeers and taunts from the other side.
"BOOOO!!!!"
"WE DON'T BELIEVE IN YOU GUYS!!!"
"SAVE THE CITY YOU BRATS!!!"
The citizens gathered to witness the eighteenth fight for the City. Despite their hatred towards all the guilds involved, the spotlight was only on the Elite Force, as their district faced the highest number of demoniacs and villains. The City is still functioning but devoid of human life. Gaiyato held Franco on his shoulder and spoke to him. "Franco, you're the captain. Don't let anyone die, okay?"
"Huh…alright. Thank you, sensei."
Despite how angry Gaiyato was, he remained their mentor. The people continued to insult them until they were out of sight, and then all the attention shifted towards the tower. The tower had a bird's-eye view of the entire City, with each quadrant's screen located where the district was. Franco then called a meeting with the Elite Force to communicate something important to them.
"Dude…why do they hate us so much?" Rin asked.
"Is this how every apprehension begins?" Yuro asked.
"We can't let their emotions slow us down…Franco, what's the matter?" Makoto tried to help them focus.
"Guys, we have a problem," he whispered as they got closer to listen. "It seems like the connection of the devices is only embedded between us. Sir Williams Pluto sabotaged ours, so we cannot communicate with the other guilds. Sensei gave me that hint before we left."
Everyone tried to keep calm but was not happy at all.
"So we can't hear them, and they can't hear us?" Makoto asked.
"It looks so. No wonder they wanted ours to look different." Dazai replied.
"So much for gold. I'm also selling mine when this is all done!" Yaryura said as well.
So they all turned towards the district and said it would be better for them to split into three teams. So they went to all three paths as team 1, consisting of Dazai, Yaryura, and Leah. Team 2 consists of Ado, Rin, and Adrian. The last team was Franco, Makoto, and Yuro. When they separated, a lady atop one of the buildings observed them.
"Boss, the brats have finally entered our city♡."
Then, a man lifted the phone to answer in an unknown area. It was none other than Motoroshi and Chiampa.
"Alright, Felicia. Let the battle for the City begin."