The man emerged with an air of mystery, his presence demanding attention the moment his boots touched the ground. Piercing red eyes glowed faintly from behind round glasses, and his sly smirk cut across his face. Dressed in elegant black robes laced with crimson trim, a wide-brimmed hat tilted over his brow, he looked more like a vampiric noble than a simple merchant.
His voice was calm, smooth, carrying a weight that was both alluring and dangerous.
"I happen to own a couple of apartments downtown," he said. "If you're interested, I can sell one to you."
He walked toward them with deliberate steps, every movement graceful and confident.
Lucy's tone was sharp, unwavering. "Don't come any closer. Turn around and take us to the best among the apartments you own."
The man's smirk widened, flashing the charm of someone who knew exactly how much power he held. "Such serious words… and such confidence, from a beautiful young woman. I like that." He tipped his hat slightly before turning on his heel. "Very well. Follow me."
Lucy touched Alfie's shoulder, and Sasaki touched Jackson's. In perfect sync, they began switching, teleporting continuously behind the man as he led the way through the winding streets with switch mode. The rhythm of their footsteps echoed softly each time they reappeared, shadows flickering across the dim-lit town as if the night itself moved with them.
Minutes later, they arrived before a massive building surrounded by tall fences. Its frame towered proudly, walls reinforced and windows glimmering faintly in the moonlight.
"This…" Sasaki said, his eyes widening, "this will be perfect for us."
"Yeah. I agree." Lucy crossed her arms, impressed. "Name your price, dealer. I'm not renting—this is too good for that. I'll buy it outright."
The man chuckled, his crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "Hmmm… you must be from a wealthy family, Miss. This building will cost you a lot. But…" he leaned in ever so slightly, "…I'll sell it to you for just ten million gold coins."
"Ten million?!" Alfie and Jackson shouted in unison, their voices cracking with disbelief.
"That's way too much for just a house!" Sasaki muttered.
"It's worth it." Lucy cut them off coldly. Her expression didn't waver. "No need to be surprised."
She extended her hand, and with a flick of her fingers, bags of gold coins shimmered into existence. Dropping them before the dealer, the sound of clinking gold filled the air. "That's ten million. Now give me the pass to this house."
The dealer's smirk returned, sly as ever. "Sure thing, Miss."
He snapped his fingers. A small, round portal bloomed into existence before him, swirling like a miniature vortex of Renshi. He reached in casually, as if pulling something from another world, and withdrew a gleaming badge. He placed it in Lucy's hand.
She examined it carefully, her sharp eyes studying every detail. Satisfied, she gave a slight nod. "It's original."
The dealer tipped his hat again. "It was nice doing business with you." His figure began to blur, his form melting into the air itself until nothing remained but the fading echo of his words.
---
"Let's explore our new home for the next few months!" Alfie shouted excitedly, dashing toward the gate.
Lucy switched instantly, appearing at the gate before him. Sasaki followed, while Jackson walked calmly behind. Yet as he trailed, Jackson's sharp gaze caught something unsettling.
Far in the distance, near the edge of a shadowed alley, a man was sinking slowly into a Renshical portal. His body vanished piece by piece until nothing was left.
Jackson's expression tightened, but he said nothing. Silently, he followed the others inside, keeping the sight to himself.
The group settled into the mansion, choosing their rooms and preparing for the days to come.
---
Midnight descended, and the mansion was silent. They slept undisturbed until morning. When dawn finally broke, Lucy gathered them again.
"Where the hell are we going this time?" Sasaki asked, half-irritated, half-curious.
"Quiet. Just follow my lead," Lucy answered, her voice cold as ever.
They all wore the same Shinra-style outfits from the day before, each of them resembling official Shinras. But the truth remained: without a kingdom badge, none of them were full-fledged Shinras, Lucy was one before but not anymore.
"Wait… isn't this the same road we took while returning from the other town?" Jackson muttered, scanning the area.
"Now you're making sense, Jack," Alfie said, pointing ahead. "I recognize that stone face statue from yesterday."
"Smart observation." Lucy stopped and turned, her expression unreadable. "But this isn't about the path. From now on, your training phase will change. No more practice fields, no more simulations. Starting today, your growth will come from life and death combat."
Her words hit them with the weight of steel.
"There's a nearby town where darkside spirit jobs are posted. We'll be taking jobs there for the next three months."
Alfie's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Whoa! That's amazing! I can't wait to kick some darkside spirit butt!"
Sasaki frowned, his tone steady. "Hey, Lucy… don't you think this is too sudden? You know jobs aren't always what they seem. Sometimes the situations are far more dangerous than described."
"Fear not, Sasaki." Lucy's voice softened slightly, though her eyes stayed sharp. "I'm here with you. Nothing will happen to any of you. This is our first bold step since the journey began. You must grow stronger. Remember—we still don't know what awaits us once we rescue Rebekah."
The group fell silent. The weight of her words pressed into each of them.
"Master," Alfie finally broke the silence, "what do you think of my combat skills? Do you think I'm improving?"
Lucy glanced at him and gave the faintest of nods. "Of course. I never expected you to find your combat style so quickly. Don't forget—just a few months ago, you were a naive boy who couldn't even hold a sword properly."
Alfie smiled softly, pride swelling in his chest,my father was a black smith of course I could hold a sword, Alfie shot back.
Lucy knocks his head making him groan in pain holding his head as they all head to the job town
---
An hour later, the group arrived at the bustling town where jobs were posted. Unlike ordinary towns, this one overflowed with Shinras—tough, battle-worn
walking the streets with weapons strapped to their sides.
"This isn't what I expected, Master," Jackson said, scanning every direction. "The number of people here is insane."
"It's the job town, Jackson," Lucy replied firmly. "What else were you expecting? In Ashura, you don't fight, you don't eat. That's how it works."
Suddenly—
"Watch out!!" a voice thundered from behind.
The ground trembled as the sound of pounding hooves filled the street. Horses raced forward, and every Shinra stepped aside instinctively, making way.
Three figures rode past with commanding presence.
The three Savages
Each brother radiated an icy aura, their eyes glowing in different colors—yellow, blue, and red. The eldest, his yellow eyes sharp as blades, wore his cape in a way that allowed his sword to rest across his front rather than his back. Their capes were plain, unadorned, yet their aura was so oppressive that no one dared to even whisper.
The atmosphere thickened instantly.