(Amarti): On the bustling streets of Brister, the kingdom is always moving forward to provide a better future for its citizens. We believe in that future and doing our part for a better tomorrow. Whether it’d be providing a hot morning beverage, new clothes and jewelry for that special someone, a bite to eat to feed that hungry stomach, entertainment after a long day at the office, or something as simple as providing financial advice. Cloudsfall Industries is here for you. Where excellence is always guaranteed.
*A TV monitor gets turned off and we see the members of Shadow Eye in a conference room at the Internal Affairs Office. The group just got done watching a commercial for Amarti’s new company. The commercial started with an overhead shot of the kingdom with pleasant elevator music playing in the background. It then cut to the streets of Brister with people going about their everyday lives as Amarti provided the voice over. The commercial would cut to various establishments that Amarti owned such as a bistro, a jewelry store, clothing stores for both men and women, a diner and restaurant, Le Garden, and finally an office where Amarti was sitting at a desk smiling at the camera with windows open and the sun out giving him a complete view of the kingdom. The next shot is Amarti outside and standing next to him are various races wearing different uniforms that represent the establishment they work for. The camera then pans out to give us an overhead view of the kingdom before the screen turns white and the words Cloudsfall Industries appears in black letters followed by the company’s logo which was the outline of a cloud wearing a black top hat and it was in a black outlined circle*
(Amarti): Well, what do you guys think? It’s great isn’t it?
(Ryuuji): I’ll say, that was impressive. You managed to show off all your businesses and what you do without really having to say anything. The music was also very soothing, and the camerawork was great.
(Dust): Thanks. The music was my contribution to the project.
(Hibana): And my drones did the camerawork while I did the editing. You still remember our deal, right Amarti?
(Amarti): Of course. A copy of the famous and rare Hero’s Quest 5 game for the VS5. A pleasure doing business with you, Hibana.
*Amarti pulls the game up from under the table and hands it to Hibana who screams excitedly and grabs the game. She hugs the game closely in her chest as she smiles happily*
(Morgan): So this is the big business venture that you’ve been working on as of lately? Even I have to admit this is pretty impressive.
(Jin): I’ll say. I knew you owned a number of businesses, but I didn’t think they were this many and varied.
(Amarti): And now they’re all under one roof. With this company I’ll be able to better manage them, make more money, and increase my intel network.
(Raika): This is all impressive, but won’t the company interfere with your other duties?
(Amarti): Not to worry. Everyone practically runs the businesses themselves. I’m just here for financial assistance, business consulting and other business-related stuff. Even if I do need to step out of the office my staff is able to cover for me. I even left Le Garden in the hands of someone I can truly trust to maintain order.
(Zia): And I of course will be there as well to provide assistance.
(Sanada): So if you’re not going to be working out of Le Garden anymore, where will your office be?
(Amarti): I’m glad you asked. Why don’t I show you?
***
*About fifteen minutes later, Shadow Eye was in the heart of Gavivi district, a business district that was just outside of Aloe Park, the biggest park in Brister that had a lake.
*The group was in a building about five stories tall and were on the top floor in Amarti’s new office. Amarti’s office had wooden floors with beige painted walls, a ceiling fan, a brown couch, two love seats, a desk and chair for him to work at, and a good view to look outside*
(Jade): Damn, this is nice. I thought you just rented this place for the shoot.
(Zia): Originally yes. But we discovered that the whole building was up for sale. Master Amarti and I liked it so much that we decided to just buy the whole building rather than rent the office space.
(Amarti): It cost me 65 million credits but it was worth it. I mean just look at this view.
(Saber): You’re right. The view is marvelous.
*Everyone’s attention turns to the door to see Saber wearing a black short sleeved buttoned-down shirt with black pants and short heeled shoes*
(Saber): Making it all a shame that the view inside is very discomforting.
*Saber said this while staring at Dust*
(Dust): Amarti, you might want to call pest control. This building has a giant rodent problem.
(Saber): Shut up Dust. I’m looking for the owner of this building. I was told they were up here. Now where are they?
*All of a sudden a man with spikey light blue hair and red eyes wearing blue jeans and a short-sleeved collared shirt that was light blue with white birds flying on it came running into the room*
(Spikey haired man): Captain! I just found out that the owner of this building is-
(Amarti): Right here. How can I be of service to you, Miss Kay?
(Saber): You’re joking? You own this building?
(Amarti): Yep. Made it official not too long ago. I have the documents in my desk if you would like to see them.
*Amarti heads to his desk followed by Saber who wanted to see the documents*
(Sanada): It’s been a while, Wato.
(Wato): Grand Master Sanada, it is so good to see you again.
*Wato bows to Sanada*
(Sanada): There’s no need to be so formal with me Wato. You’re a wind master now.
(Wato): Yes. But I still have a long way to go before I can achieve the level of grand wind master like you.
(Gael): You two know each other, bro?
(Wato): Ah yes, where are my manners. My name is Wato Musashi. I am a fellow knight like you and a member of Javan. It is a pleasure to meet you as well as see some of you again.
*Wato bows once again*
(Sanada): Wato and I go way back. He was my junior back at the wind school. Always used to follow me around wherever I went.
(Wato): *Chuckles* I was simply inspired by your hard work. You became the youngest person in the school to earn the title of Grand Wind Master. I was envious but at the same time amazed at what you accomplished and wanted to surpass you one day. When I heard he settled in Brister I followed and got scouted by the captain who invited me to join Javan. So these are the two young knights that Captain Leon has been talking about? Impressive work on your recent activities with Dawn Nexus.
(Jin): Thank you.
(Gael): Was nothing special.
*Back at Amarti’s desk. As everyone was talking Amarti pulled out the documents giving him legal ownership of the building and showing them to Saber. She analyzed the documents entirely to make sure it was real. She could find no faults or errors in the document and was forced to accept that the building was in fact owned by Amarti*
(Saber): Son of a gun. You do own this building. Alright, how much did you pay for it? I’m prepared to pay you the same amount.
(Morgan): Why are you so interested in this building?
(Saber): I want to use this area as a new base for Javan and the White Tiger Knights. We’ve already brought up the other buildings in the area. However, this final spot of land is the only one that’s remaining for us to acquire. I didn’t think the building would be owned by you lot. Now let’s talk price.
(Amarti): Sorry, but the building is not for sale.
(Saber): Name your price! I’ll even double however much it costs you to buy this place.
(Amarti): Like I said, not for sale. This building is going to serve as the office of Cloudsfall Industries as well as serve as an information network for Shadow Eye.
*Saber slams her fist on Amarti’s desk*
(Saber): I want this building. I’m not leaving until I have it, so what do you propose we do?
(Amarti): I propose. . .Kragnarok.
*Amarti’s comment got a shocked look out of Saber as well as a few others. Dust on the other hand was smirking and Gael had a confused look on his face.
(Gael): Kragnarok? What’s that?
(Jin): It’s an official battle between knights to settle disputes amongst themselves. I’ve only seen a few of them done in school. I didn’t know official knights did them as well.
(Ryuuji): Oh yes, we do them quite a bit. And since we are all honorable knights here, I’m sure Saber will have no problem accepting.
(Saber): Interesting. What did you have in mind?
(Amarti): A raid battle, eight on eight. Your team against my team. You win, I’ll sign the building over to you. If we win, we get to keep the building and you have to hand over all the property you bought in the area.
(Saber): Hmm~, fair conditions. However, I have two of my own.
(Amarti): Name them.
(Saber): First off, Ryuuji Kazuchika and Zia Aeberos cannot participate.
(Zia): What!? That is unacceptable!
*Zia prepares to walk over to Saber before she gets held back by Ryuuji, Raika and Jade*
(Saber): If a celestial elf and the legendary knight participate the sides are going to be uneven. Is that a victory someone like you can accept?
(Amarti): Fair enough. That’s fine by me. I already had a few people in mind anyway. What’s your second condition?
(Saber): After we win, I want Dust Balor to be my squire for one month.
(Dust): Say what now?
(Saber): Nothing would be more therapeutic than shutting this pitiful excuse for a knight up and forcing him to do what I say when I say it without any back talk. I look forward to breaking you and making you kneel before me like the dog you are.
(Dust): Oh yes, I’m sure I’m the perfect candidate to live out whatever crazy sex dream you had and wrote down in your dairy last night. I’ve got to warn you, the first time hurts. . .a lot.
*Saber bangs Amarti’s desk with her fist while staring angrily at Dust’s comment*
(Saber): You know what?
(Amarti): I accept your conditions. We shall hold the battle a week from now in Brister’s forest training area. Deal?
(Saber): Deal!
*Amarti and Saber shake hands*
(Saber): You may be a talented businessman, but this is one deal you will regret. Wato, we’re going!
(Wato): Yes!
*Saber walks out of the room followed by Wato who does one final bow and leaves with her. Amarti sits down in his chair smiling happily*
(Amarti): Ahhh~, that went a lot of better than I expected.
*Everybody except Zia stared at Amarti confusingly until Morgan gained a stern look in his face as he was piecing everything together*
(Morgan): It was all a setup. You knew the rest of the area was bought by Saber and the white knights. You planned this, didn’t you?
(Amarti): I suppose my ladies at Le Garden may have overheard some of the knights talking about their new acquisitions some weeks ago and I might have swooped in at the last minute to buy this building and stop them.
(Dust): Figures. You always did look at the small details before focusing on the big picture.
(Morgan): Bastard. What the hell are you planning? What goal could you possibly have that you would pick a fight with Saber and Javan? Is this building really that important?
(Amarti): The building itself is not what’s important. Rather, it’s the land in which it was built on and the surrounding area. Did you even pay attention to the area we’re in?
(Morgan): Oh I’ve seen the area. It’s very nice.
(Amarti): Indeed. Did you also notice how this is a hot tourist spot? How the closest hotel is two districts over? How the surrounding area is just office buildings meaning if somebody were to swoop in and buy a nice plot of land-
(Jin): They could build whatever they want and go unopposed because of the other corporate buildings.
(Jade): So that’s your plan. You want to turn this area into a hotel.
(Amarti): Not just any hotel.
*Amarti presses a button under his desk and from the floor pops a model of what looks to be a glamourous hotel*
(Amarti): The Cloudsfall Industries’s Cloud 9 Hotel and Casino. Picture it. A luxury hotel, the best casino games, live entertainment for kids and adults and of course. . .waterpark. The corporate building stays off to the side while the hotel and casino rakes in the money and serves as a good cover to spy on tourists from other kingdoms.
(Morgan): So that’s what you’re after. Hmph, I have to admit. . .this is a very good idea.
(Amarti): Thank you. I knew that if I bought this building and took it off the market Saber would come by demanding to buy it and once she did I would have her in my trap.
(Gael): Now all we have to do is win?
(Amarti): Yes, and I have the perfect team for the match.
*Amarti stares at everyone*
(Dust): *Smiles* Sure, I’m in.
(Jade): Same. If there’s a fight I’m always ready to go.
(Dust): You can also add rookie to the mix as well.
(Jin): What, why me?
(Dust): Just think of it as good training. I’m sure you want revenge against Saber for insulting you.
*Jin thought about it for a minute. It was true, he did want revenge against Saber for looking down on him. This battle would be the perfect way to make her eat her words*
(Jin): Alright. I’ll do it.
(Amarti): Excellent. That’s four down and four to say yes.
*Amarti looks at Morgan, Raika, Sanada, and Gael*
(Morgan): And why should we get ourselves involved in your fight?
(Zia): Oh my, are you forgetting how Amarti represented you in Gael’s trial and charged you nothing? What would normally cost people an arm and a leg was given to you for free.
*Morgan started to sweat a little bit and grind his teeth in anger while Raika and Gael laugh and Sanada just smiled*
(Raika): Well that explains why he never charged us.
(Sanada): I was waiting for him to call in a favor sooner or later.
(Gael): I’d like to fight but this collar won’t let me leave the city.
(Amarti): We’ll work out arrangements to get you to come out. For one day of course.
(Morgan): If you don’t fall to Hell, I’ll PUSH you down myself. I swear.
(Amarti): I look forward to it.
(Gael): What’s the big deal, Morgan? We can take out a bunch of knights. I took out a bunch of knights in Orion. If they’re anything to go by then this’ll be a cake walk. No offence.
(Hibana): Don’t get too careless. I don’t think you fully understand just how serious the situation we’re in. The knights we’re about to face are much different than the knights you fought in Orion.
(Gael):. . .Enlighten me.
Author’s Note: So it’s civil war within Brister? You guys are in for a real treat in this arc. We’ll finally be expanding on the knights with Brister. One of the characters I was looking forward to exploring in this volume was Saber and her relationship with Dust. What’s the cause of this deep-seated hatred and who are her teammates? We’re going to be exploring that in the next chapter and look forward to a lot of good fights in these next chapters. I can’t wait to show you guys how my choreography and handling of the fights have improved. I think you’ll all be impressed with what you see coming up soon. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.