In another scene, joy had coated the central park. Despite reports of more exsanguinated corpses, all felt it would never hurt to smile. Children waved bubble wands to and fro, and even parents joined.

What most became mesmerized with was a motorcycle. High in the sky, Hayato performed a spectacle worthy of a professional. He dove and touched the lake by a hair. Riding behind, Yukino giggled as V-crested grebes flew away. Her brother continued with his hundredth loop and barrel roll. For a moment, she forgot her age.

Hayato landed like a breeze and heard endless praises around. The usually senile elderly laughed, clapping with canes. Now, he had even more friends than hair. The kids cheered the most. “That was so cool, man!”, “Yeah, can you teach me?”, “Of course, he can. We just saw it!”, “You’re the best, Hayato!”, “Hayato!”, “Hayato!”

The parents caught wind and told them dinner had neared. They waved with smiles, crying his name out at a distance.

Yukino had more smiles to share. “You’re amazing, Lil Bro!” She hugged him. “Can I do it next?”

“Sure!” he nodded. “With your magic, I’d say you’ll surpass me, Sis.”

Her heart melted over and over. She had still forgotten her age and hugged again.

Kakunō spent most of his time on a bench. Upcoming duels at the Fools’ Theater always needed approval. He paid fifty thousand for each he had declined. Even his mage comrades that saught a spar.

He swiped down his Every Hub screen. Knowing the eldest brother’s mentality, he sighed. “I can’t believe you never walk out of fights. Give some a pretty penny, and they’ll keep quiet.”

Hokori chuckled, arms crossed. “That ain’t guaranteed no matter the digits in a check, fam. They’ll ask more and bite the hand anyway.”

As much as Kakunō sighed again, he found no error. The scars on both arms were not only from his sister. He held his upper right. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. Never be too soft. I’m no stranger to that, even back home. I knew but defied the rules.

“Still… you shouldn’t have shattered Grausames’ jaw. I hate him, too. But persecutors are right not to let minors drive. Archmage privilege, I guess.” He shrugged.

Hokori raised a finger. “Saint mage, fam. He’s higher than all of us. Literally.” Looking up, he smiled at Yukino’s turn with the motorcycle. Hayato remembered his age, giggling. The loops and turns were pristine.

Kakunō smiled faintly and felt some weight off his chest. It would never hurt at a time of golden sunsets. Thankfully, it had bolstered. Kenkō walked in, finally done with her research.

“Do you have a lead like the others?” he asked, still smiling.

She nodded with closed eyes. “Yup. And good ones, too. Brother and sister are dealing with the current suspect. He’s no slouch, either….”

Kakunō carefully listened to the enemy’s information. Within minutes, he sweated bullets, eyes widened. “Läufer? You’re telling me this now!?” He pulled out his katana. Horrid memories came flooding back.

He flash-stepped kilometers away—only for his older sister to pace ahead. She held his shoulder before he knew it. Struggling had proved futile.

“Easy there, soldier.” She held tighter. “You’re not gonna beat a nurse at a race.”

He had magic far beyond even Feuer himself. Yet, he also knew her grip was not calm. Too much mana than necessary covered her hand. He slowly turned, eyes of sheer worry.

Kenkō let go. “Don’t be like that, man. I know he tore the weaker you a new one. But never underestimate a Minagawa. Especially two of them. And here’s more right now.” She pointed above the sky.

Yukino landed the motorcycle a little rougher than Hayato. Still, he praised loudly and asked for more later. Their uncle walked from afar.

Kenkō kneeled and had open arms. Like instinct, her siblings jumped with giggles. She cared not for her back laid on the grass. “Heaven….” She stood and hugged further.

Kakunō raised a brow upon seeing her cuddling them like koalas. He heard her repeat their nicknames for the 215th time. Annoyed, he walked to the eldest sibling. “You comin’ to the black market or what? It’s our next clue.”

Hokori shook his head. “Nah, fam. I don’t deal with crackheads and random explosions.”

His eyes squinted. “Random? But that also happens when—”

Citizens nearby screamed as a thunderous roar came out afar. It had boomed even underground. Anybody two kilometers away would have had ears bled.

He chuckled again, pinky on his ear. “See, I told ya.”

Kakunō rolled his eyes, but he accepted. He could count on his other sibling any day. “What do you plan to do, though?” he gestured his hand.

“Simple, fan.” He walked past him and had open arms next. “Who wants pistachio, y’all!”

Yukino and Hayato gasped with smiles. “Me! Me! Me!” they exclaimed in unison, jumping with raised hands. So, their uncle held their hands. The latter had just learned flash-stepping three weeks ago. Other nine-year-olds would kill for such talent.

Kenkō walked toward him, hands on her waist. “You ready, Lil Bro?” She smiled with calm eyes.

Surprisingly, he smiled back and sighed. “I told you not to call me that. ‘Country boy’ would be a lot better.”

Her heart had warmed once more. She giggled. “Okay… No complaints.” They walked together to the city’s underbelly.

Far away, the two had waffle cones in both hands and sat on a bench. In the distance, Hokori’s eyes remained stern. He turned to the red horizon after looking at Hayato the most.

Pertinax’s location changed at a dime throughout the country. Most consensus likened it to a “cruise ship in a mineshaft.” The cuboid black market even had access to the fiery depths of Naraka.

Governments told its populace none would return once inside. Yet, Coelestis failed to cover up officials and their elusive vacations. Tired of doing it again, they found the next best thing. Pertinax would remain legal under their jurisdiction. The condition was persecution in any other state. King Harald loved taunting their hurry before the ropes caught up.

Either way, the market was available at any time. Kakunō led his sister to a massive gray boulder. Runes would not work—except made from one’s life. He placed her at the center, red dripping within grooves.

The arrays had glowed. Kenkō saw him pass out before him. She ran and caught his fall in time. “Lil Bro? Lil Bro! Wake….” She felt lightheaded, going dark. Twiglike shadowy hands moved to their chests.

She slowly opened her eyes and felt softness underneath. Getting up, customers had moved out of their bunk beds. Runes appeared on anyone who got transported in their sleep.

She sighed with closed eyes. “I really hate their methods.” She gently shook Kakunō in his bed.

He stretched and rubbed his eyes. “Did you just call me by you-know-what?”

Her cheeks reddened. “N-N-No!” She turned away with crossed arms. “Of course not, country boy. You’re the one who likes that name anyway….”

Her pouting was far beyond subtle. In the end, Kakunō brushed it off and led the way again. Kenkō’s eyes darted up, down, and even around. Every floor level looked like a vivid but grimy town. Naturally, the bustling would exceed sixty decibels.

To her left, a bird feeder demonstrated the loyalty of marshland swallows. The whole flock ascended at blinding speeds. No other merchant could see their products taken. “Hey! Get him!” A mob had formed. She watched the scene unfold; the owner ran to a one-way door to Lacus. Some threw hats down, cursing their failure. Others continued the chase.

90% of the areas roared with chaos. On the 20th floor, four had joined a deathmatch cage. The caveat was being a free-of-charge Fools’ Theater. One had lost an arm and a leg—another, all limbs.

The two walked past a “town” with nothing but stacks of cages. All ranged from purse-sized to mansions. Kenkō pinched her nose but found the braying of deciduous camels equally repulsive.

Bronze-headed gibbons swung at each branch several stories high. Some inflated their neck pouches to attract mates. Sadly, it only enticed silver-tailed eagles to thrash talons at the cage. Now, all the apes cried against the predators. Beyond notice, another made the shrubs rustle. A gold-fleeced tiger snapped the last bar with its teeth and pounced, roaring. A mother tried saving her son.

Twenty men went inside the cage, and the burliest stepped in. The cat roared again with teeth, but fists coated in mana made it lose six. “Get the fuck back inside!” He kicked its face, making it sprint where it belonged. He walked heavily to the other cage. More tigers roared yet would not dare to claw. “Enough is enough, cunts.” His knuckles clenched. “Deal with it!”

The others could not bear to hear the howls and their reddened fur. “Stop,” the owner blocked them. “Let him kill at least one. A customer’s aching for a new coat.” After the deed, he intervened.

The two siblings arrived at their destination on the 50th floor. Kenkō covered her ears; people had shot fireworks upward via flare guns. One looked and moved like seadrakes, and others appeared as mermaids. Sometimes, boxes would explode into a dazzling fireball.

Her fingers pressed deeper. “By the Gods! Why such noise!?” She could still hear the clanging of beer mugs and laughter.

Kakunō shrugged. “Yeah. I don’t like it, either. Here….” He threw her earplugs as they walked. “It’s getting close to Atlantis Day. Every Coelestian here buys cheap.”

She was not fond of the revelation. Countless addicts sat against walls. She only ever saw Ruffian’s pixie dust in presentations. Many shook in place with perpetual grins. Some stayed lying.

Three minutes had passed. They went inside a man’s emporium of evergreen macaws. Any film would typecast him as the shifty-robed seller with a hunch; he even had round glasses.

The bell rang. He stopped tinkering with his stolen Automodachi and grinned. “Hehehehehe… Welcome back, Kakunō! Glad to see you found the one for you, matey!” He pointed at Kenkō, who almost gagged.

He shook his head and tsked. “That ain’t funny, man. Even if we’re not related, that joke needs death.” He placed his elbow on the table. “Drop the act and give us the guy we’re looking for.”

The man gagged at his whiskey. “Whaaaaat? Whatever do you mean, matey? Surely you won’t turn me over to the—” He moved his head down by a hair. Several birds cawed and flew away. Kenkō scolded Kakunō loudly.

His halberd had pierced through another shop meters away. He stored it and sighed. “If you didn’t act, you wouldn’t have a head. It’s as you say: I am nevermore.”

The man grinned and slowly stood from crouching. He revealed a skeletal iron frame within his cloak, and the notches opened one by one. He took off his glasses. “So cruel of you, mate. I even thought the porkpie sealed the deal.”

It had been so long since Kenkō the striking gray blazer. Now, it was even more so. Alongside dollar signs, his suit had emblems of the keystone cities and Coelestis. She also saw postcards plastered everywhere.

He bowed, arm in his torso. “Pardon for the rather uncouth disguise. Call me Mr. Gatsby if you like. Or even Mr. Jay.”

Her mouth dropped. She could not move an inch and recalled the dreadful party crash a year ago. An eyebrow got raised. “H-H-Huuuuuuuuuuuh!?”