"What kind of bet, Nobu-san?" she asked, her tone respectful despite her higher status.


    Respect for the elders was deeply ingrained in their culture, a sign of their disciplined upbringing.


    "Seki-sama, someone called Alfonso, an Ex-tinum Mercenary, is fighting an unknown individual," Oda Nobu answered.


    He wore a simple ck jacket with a minimalist design, his appearance reflecting his straightforward nature.


    They came from an ind nation in the Far East, one of the few ces that had not yet been conquered by the Demons.


    The East was known for its tough and strong willed people who never gave up, even when things were really hard.


    "tinum? Is that rank renowned for their strength, Nobu-san?" she inquired, showing her unfamiliarity with Western rankings.


    Having been sheltered in a temple, her exposure tomon knowledge beyond spiritual teachings and martial arts was limited.


    The concept of this new hierarchical rankings in Western territories, particrly regardingbat power, was intriguing to her.


    "Seki-sama, their rankings here are also unfamiliar to me, but observing the battle will allow me to gauge theirbat power," he responded without sounding too confident.


    Coming from a family of Shinobi, he held the rank of Master, but even he was unsure how he would fare against a tinum Rank.


    It wasn''t because he doubted his own skills; rather, his culture ced a high value on respect and honor.


    In his training and doctrine, he had learned that underestimating an enemy was a grave mistake.


    He understood that withoutprehensive knowledge, making assumptions could lead to catastrophic failures.


    ''To know your enemy is to be prepared; to underestimate him is to invite defeat.'' he muttered to himself.


    "Very well, Nobu-san, let us observe. I am curious to witness the ability of those from the West as well," she nodded in agreement.


    People might think that the Easterners were weak because they had lost much of their territory to the demons, but that was far from the truth.


    In reality, the demons had focused on the East first because it was a ce where even a simple drunkard could be a formidable martial artist.


    And despite the Demon''s aggressive invasion, some nations still stood strong, showcasing their enduring strength and readiness for battle.


    These nations had a collective power that was in no way inferior to the numerous cities of the West.


    Unlike their western counterparts, the people of the East had higher averagebat power because their environment was more brutal.


    While the West had the luxury of time to develop, the East was forged through bloodshed and endless war, a ce akin to hell where resources were scarce, and only the strongest survived.


    There was a famous saying in their hometown: ''Where life is more terrible than death, it is then the truest valor to dare to live.''


    "I think it''s wise decision, Seki-sama," Nobu nodded in agreement, sharing her curiosity. He was equally eager to observe their abilities firsthand.


    "Speaking ofbat power, do you find their Demon yerscking in strength, Nobu-san?" she asked, her voice devoid of any hint of mockery, just recounting what she had observed during the incident in Green Valley.


    She had been present when a wolf demon rampaged on the highway.


    Despite the fight being rtively easy, she found their techniques severelycking inpetence and discipline needed to fully unleash their potential.


    "Seki-sama, they''re called Demon Hunters here, and yes, I believe those fighters we saw before were weakerpared to our Demon yers. Their use of the Breathing Technique is an embarrassment to our ancestor, Satoshi-san," he sighed, expressing his disappointment in the contrast in skill and respect for traditional techniques between their cultures.


    "But we can''t judge solely based on what we saw. I''ve heard that Tier 1 cities have individuals powerful enough to match our Demon yers," he added.


    "Well, I hope they prove stronger than our assumptions, or humanity may truly be doomed, Nobu-san," she sighed, unconvinced by fighters who merely copied their techniques.


    Nobu remained silent, understanding her perspective well.


    He had not been impressed by the Demon Hunters in Green Valley as well;paring them to the Demon yers of their nation was likeparing a pebble to a gemstone.


    However, he knew that underestimating the Hunters just because some of them were weak would be foolish.


    "By the way, Seki-sama, I''m uncertain if it''s appropriate for me to ask, but what exactly are we searching for?" he asked cautiously.


    He hesitated to pry but believed that having a general idea might help in their search.


    She paused, considering Nobu''s loyalty to her n. Hehailed from a lineage of loyal shinobi, his family having served faithfully for generations under her family''s banner.


    After a brief moment, she decided to share the details with him.


    "We are here to investigate leads regarding a pair of relics, Nobu-san," she exined. "There are rumors suggesting they may have been smuggled into this region. Our objective is to determine who took them and get them back."


    "A pair of relics, Seki-sama?" he repeated.


    "It''s important for our people''s survival. Sadly, some greedy individuals only saw them as two expensive-looking pendants, Nobu-san," she sighed.


    "Do you believe it''s linked to the recent surge in Corrupted activity around here, Seki-sama?" he asked, his tone reflecting concern.


    "It''s possible, Nobu-san," she nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought.


    Those pendants were made to store a single soul, which goes against the natural order. It could very well be the cause of all this. If that was the case, then Brentwood was their best bet.


    As Seki and Nobu discussed their next steps, they finalized their n to investigate Brentwood thoroughly. They knew they had to tread carefully in unfamiliar territory.


    "Perhaps we should consider hiring a Westerner, Seki-sama," he suggested, acknowledging the practicality of seeking assistance.


    She hesitated, uncertain about involving outsiders in their mission. "But how can we be certain of their trustworthiness, Nobu-san?" she questioned, her brow furrowing with concern.


    He reassured her calmly, "Seki-sama, we can keep our intentions a secret and reveal only what''s necessary. A trusted individual could offer invaluable insights without attracting unwanted attention."


    She nodded slowly, recognizing the wisdom in his words. "Very well, Nobu-san. Let''s proceed carefully and find someone who knows Brentwood well but can keep our mission confidential."


    As the train continued its journey, various agendas began to form among its passengers—not just theirs. Many others where here for a purpose, all converging on onemon destination: Brentwood.


    But despite the tension brewing on the horizon, one person was sound asleep in his bed, his dog resting on his stomach out of sheer boredom from waiting.


    "Is it still far?" Reign asked aloud, itching to stretch his wings but holding himself back.


    "Woof! Woof! Woof!" Wick barked yfully.


    "You''re hungry again? Want to go grab dinner?" he asked.


    "Woof," Wick replied, tongue out.


    "Alright, let''s go to the Diner," he chuckled and gestured Wick to follow.


    As they walked through the long corridor, he noticed two mysterious individuals wearing hoodies and sunsses.


    ''What a bunch of weirdos,'' he thought to himself.


    Then, with a sudden realization, he burst outughing—realizing he, too, was wandering around with a blindfold on.