Canton, city of trading and rich nobles, place where Europeans are all around as best dealers and strong political partners and welcomed. While we outcasts are not as welcome as them. Ayame got us more details we will stay three days after third day it will organized ball on Loius residence I am not really sure where that is but Ayame said she can get us in and we need prepare proper clothes, only me and Ayame will sneak inside and look for Eric and according to Ayame he will lead us to some sort of treasure that she is after. Party will be held by a British commander who invites a lot of nobles from Britain, Germany and France. Some man could get us only two invitations that were assigned Rosa, Hannah and Jasper to pick up, we need to secure our way in. Clothes should be made by day, Hassan could find us some silk we could use and pay someone to make us dresses to look good enough. And last on our list is to rescue a man named Carlos who got sentenced to be hanging in a few days, Ayame said he is a merchant who owns Ayame and she won''t let him die before he repay debt to her. More than this Ayame hasn''t told me but I hope we don''t get into trouble.
DAY 1
[Rosa`s POV ]
Ah, I feel so damn sleepy, Ayame send me with Hannah and asshole. I mean Jasper gets HER invitations like she couldn''t do that herself. I want to sleep or drink, not to do someone else''s work. At least Hannah is here.
“Ayame said the man we are looking for is called Leo. He should be near the blacksmith waiting for us.”- Said Jasper like I already forgot our task. As we passed by the tavern I looked at the window, seeing the place was pretty much empty, wondering if I could sneak and get inside but I know there is work to be done first. Ayame mentioned she has some work to do with Eleanor to get more clues where Carlos'' guy held or whatever.
“Are you okay Rosa?”- Asked Hannah.
“Yeah I am fine, why?
“You spaced out more than often.”
“I just feel sleepy, that''s all.”
“You drank a lot last night.”
“Ha, did I?”
“You really can drink a lot of Rosa.” - Said Hannah as I hoped we could talk more until we reach our destination as there is a small alley and a man waiting there. Jasper tells us to stay back as he approaches the man.
“You are Leo?”- Asked Jasper as he looked at the man whose back pressed against the wall and looked up to face Jasper.
“You must be Ayame`s dog?”- Said Leo.
“Whatever we have your money and these invitations…”- Leo cut off Jasper.
“Sorry man but the deal changed, you need to pay double.”
“What?”
“You heard me pretty boy.”
“That was not part of the deal.”
“Well, the deal changed.”- I heard footsteps as I looked around. Four more men from the shadows already surrounding us.
“Or I could take your heads instead.”- Said Leo as Jasper stepped back.
“If you want to fight, bring on.”- Said Jasper as he charged a man to his right side, punching him to the face from impact blood that ended up on Jasper fits. Other men started to rush to us. I pulled Hannah behind who is not a fighter, a man from behind tried to grab me but I crawl from it and I jumped over his shoulder ending up behind him and kicking in his knees making him collapse then I kicked in the back of his neck making him kiss the floor. Two of them were fighting Jasper and he was giving them a hard time but I took my throwing knives and aimed at their legs and stabbed them in their tights and they just fell down, damn I am really precise. We look at Leo who was looking for a way to escape but Jasper grabs him by his collar and pulls closer.
“Give us these damn invitations.”- Said Jasper.
“I…I…Sold them to someone else and he offered a lot of money for them.”- Said Leo in fear.
“Who!”- Jasper pins Leo closer to the wall.
“Elliot, that''s name, he said there is a plan for him and his wife, that''s all I know, I swear!”
“Where do we find him?”- I stepped forward as I asked.
“Ship… there is a ship on dock not that big, it is a porter of a woman on the right side.”- With this info, Jasper punches him making him unconscious.
“Hannah go back on ship this might get ugly.”- I said.
“Stay safe, I will tell others what happened.”- Said Hannah as she walked away. Me and Jasper make our way to the docks to find that ship. It was not that hard to spot it.
“Be ready.”- Said Jasper as he reached for his sword and I had my throwing knives ready. But something felt off, we made our way on ship and saw blood slipped everywhere and dead bodies.
“What the heck?”- Said Jasper.
“What happened here?”
“I don''t know but let''s find what we came here for.”- Me and Jasper started to search bodies and decks until we found papers with invitations.
“Let''s head back. I don''t know what happened here.”- I said while we rushed from the ship.
DAY 2
[Eleanor`s POV ]
Mia and Ayame took me to a shop where we could get our dresses. We had prepared a lot of silks just in case.
“Eleanor, have you ever worn a nice dress?”- Said Ayame while walking in front of me.
“It''s not my style.”
“Well I need you with me at the party thanks to your accent.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well no one in the crew has the same British accent as you do.”
“I have grown to speak native English since I was little.”
“I did learn English and Chinese in my homeland. My town had a lot of visitors from around the world.”
“You never told me which region of Japan you come from.”
“That''s a story for another time and a less important part.”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“You don''t really like your hometown.”- As I said Mia walked next to me while poking me under ribs with her elbow like I was not supposed to say that but we continued our walking when we saw and heard coward cheering.
“There is probably a duel.”- Said Mia.
“I thought duels became forbidden?”- I asked.
“They are still allowed but some see them barbaric while some see them as fun.”- Said Ayame.
“What do you think?”- I asked Ayame as she was making way for a coward.
“Fun.”- Me and Mia followed Ayame behind. Two men standing opposite each other have curved swords. I could hear in cowardly someone saying this bloodshed is for hand in marriage, while some whisper it in question something more serious. Man on my left is really young, who really looks confident while his opponent is a middle aged man.
“Who think is going to win, Eleanor?”- Ayame asked me.
“This older guy looks more experienced.”
“Wanna take a bet?”
“40 silvers.”
“Make it 50”
“Deal.” - I stand closely watching the judge making sure they are ready to fight to death and giving them last chance backup, the only legal way to kill a man is a duel that everyone can witness, only one is going to walk home alive. Tenses start to rise as both of them reach for swords, and can hear snobs and cries of their loved ones who stand behind them begging to stop. As they charged to each other, the coward cheer even more when suddenly someone yell out.
“STOP! Are you all out of your mind?!”- Everyone went silent and the duel suddenly stopped. Young woman was maybe a little younger than me. Blond ringlet curls hair that hangs on her hair and waves to each step she walks closer to duelists. She wore blue fitted riding jacket
and under white tunic, black breeches and black boots that show off how small her feet are. Rapier hangs on her waist while her hands crossed and gloves protect her skin, and dark blue eyes scan around.
“This is barbaric.”- Said a mysterious girl.
“Back off! What you know?”- One man yells out.
“I know enough not even your stance is poor, he could slide your neck easily, you are not a fighter but a thug.”
“What did you say bitch?”
“Face me and see you have no skill to fight me.” - Young man stands in front of a girl while a middle aged man steps back and the girl puts her right foot in front while rotating left foot, slightly bending knees and having straight back. She unleashed rapier holding firm and gently in front herself. Man strikes with curved sword, girl parries elegantly cutting man on his hand crawling under his arm getting back in same stance, while man drops sword and snob from pain and girl points sword to his neck.
“I said you are not skilled enough to face me, but I haven''t fought to kill you but to prove my point.”- Girl chuckled loudly making sure everyone heard her. Everyone sounds amazed how this nameless girl defeated someone in just one strike without breaking sweat.
“Whatever conflict you two had, maybe you could restore it without killing each other or I may come for your heads.”- Girl turned to a middle aged man who apologized while the young man was still on the floor embarrassed. This girl is a genius when it comes to fencing. The Cowards got clean away most of them got disappointed for some reason while the nameless girl walked away.
“Damn it! I wanted to see blood, but that girl was not bad herself.” - Said Ayame. We got back to our original task.
DAY 3
[Ayame`s POV ]
“You have a nice room here.”- I said to Carlos who is behind metal bars. I went by myself to the detention house where Carlos just arrived ready to be hanged.
“Shut up and get me out.”
“Not so fast, fatboy.”
“I haven''t forgot our deal, get me out and I will tell you where are Aeatherwing hiding.”
“That''s what I like to hear.”- I couldn''t help but smirk, I like when I get what I want. I walked out, on my way out I greeted the sheriff who was busy and on the wall hung a wanted poster with a lot of money.
“Sir, about this man that is here closed up.”
“He is sentenced to death ma`am there is no way you have enough to pay off.”
“I saw this wanted poster. He killed a lot of people probably if I can get his head will you let my friend free? I don''t need money from a bounty you can say you caught him and get famous.”
“Ugh, well if you can do that in the next 24 hours I could let him go but no one has a word.” - I grab poster from wall and walk out, I know this man Jesse the throat opener, he is very famous between criminals as someone who kill for own fun, law cant caught him from how dangerous he is. I search my pocket to find golden coin that on backside have skull, many criminals have this coin way to find Jasse to buy his service, and law have no idea in front their nose he have bar. I walked inside a bar that is very close to the north gate. Inside is really cowardly as I show my coin waitress immediately show me to follow her upstairs far away from everyone. She knocked on the door before she unlocked the door. Jesse is in the room lying on bed with two young women who looked bothered when he saw us but they left the room as a woman who showed me the way.
“What do you want?!”- He said while I closed the door behind my back. I threw Jess'' head on the sheriff''s counter.
“How?! Only a few hours passed…”- Jesse tried to run away but I sliced his head like butter I would get here earlier but I needed to wash blood from my clothes. Me and Carlos walked out of the sheriff office, he told Carlos to never show face in Canton.
“You will find them in Cebu, there is one of their bases that all I can tell you.”- Said Carlos with the info I needed.
“Don''t get yourself killed.” - We want separate ways.
FINAL DAY
[Eleanor`s POV ]
Day of the party finally arrived, we were ready, sneak on the ball and find Eric Montgomery, sounds easy enough. Ayame and I wear matching modern dresses, mine is blue while hers is crimson. It''s weird to see Ayame wear something else or without her hat. We made our way to the residence, tall walls that covered the garden and a big gate that was well guarded checking everyone''s invitations. Hannah gave me a few instructions how to act but I hope we don''t stay for so long this dress is not comfortable.
“You look good.”- Said Ayame complimenting my dress. I changed my mind. Guards checked our invitations and we walked inside, a big greenish garden with a house in the middle, guests all around and me and Ayame went separately to find Eric faster before something unexpected happened. I scanned the guests when I saw a girl from a few days ago who stopped the duel. She wears pretty much the same clothes, is she a guard or guest? Or she don1t like fashion like me? Well there is plenty of time I could use that to talk with her.
“Rapier, nice choice.”- Girl looked at me confused until she processed the situation.
“Not many girls from my homeland show interest in steel.”- She said.
“Homeland?”
“England. London to be more specific.”- Ah another fucking British dog.
“What makes you come this far away?”
“My father was invited to this event and I decided to accompany him and learn about family business.”
“Um, how rude I haven''t introduced myself. I am Veronica.- Ayame told me to use a fake name just in case.
“I am Alice Montgomery, no second name? Are you not proud of your family or something?”
“Ah no it''s just I preferred to be called only by my name.”- This reminds me I forgot my second name as I forgot my actual name.
“I hope everyone has fun tonight, pirate activity increased around here. I hope my father can finally get rid of them.”- Hate as anyone like her likes to do, pure monster no different than others.
“I should go back. It was nice meeting you.”- I politely bowed my head as I walked away, Montgomery, could her father be Eric? Doesn''t matter. I noticed a staircase that leads to some sort of house or dinning room. I wanted to get higher to maybe be able to find Ayame at least. I noticed there are two more staircases from the left and right side connecting to the other entrance. As I got closer I heard a loud sound like someone fell I rushed up on stairs to see what happened and then I saw Ayame holding knife that is covered in blood dripping on floor while man lying down holding for wound but he already look dead.
“Ayame?! What happened?”- Ayame didn''t even turn but before she could even say anything, guards rushed inside with guns ready pointed and the general who commanded them walked on the door on the right side while Alice at the same time walked on the left side.
“Father!”- Alice yells out with snobs as she unleashes a sword striking at Ayame from the furry. Ayame blocked her attack with bloody knife grabbing Alice for waist spinning around and Ayame put arm across Alice chest holding her firmly and pinning knife to her neck and Alice dropped own sword. I needed time to process but I took Alice''s sword from the floor holding straight and we slowly walked away as guards didn''t dare shoot at Montgomery''s daughter.
“I-”- As Alice tried to speak, Ayame pin the knife closer to Alice''s neck, already making blood to escape. We made our way to the gate but then guards stopped following us and Ayame grabbed Alice by the arm making her run.
“You are coming with us.”- Ayame dragged Alice all the way to our ship. It was hard to explain what happened but Ayame told us she didn''t kill Eric, she only found a knife and was already dead. Of course Ayame told the same story in front of Alice who did not believe it. We had to run because the law for sure wouldn''t listen to us but Ayame wanted to explain properly to Alice and maybe find who would do such a thing. Jasper tied Alice to a chair and put her in the Ayame cabinet. We have the same second left port and start head as far as we can and to find a place we can drop off Alice. I walked on the ship deck at night and there was Ayame who looked troubled while she stared at the sea.
“You can''t sleep too huh?”- Said Ayame as she stared at the sea.
“Why did you kidnap her?”
“It was in a blink of an eye, but I have a feeling she knows something but who cares, she is no use for me.”
“Ayame what are you truly after?”
“Revange.”
“To who?”
“I can''t tell that yet”
“Sigh… Well I will follow you for now but I can''t put that much trust in you.”- I said as I left Ayame to her thoughts.