Chapter 14

As the Baron’s group retraced their steps they came across a problem. Their previous path was now blocked by burning debris. The Baron kicked a piece of wood into the fire.

“Well, that’s not gonna work. You guys know any way around?”

One of the ashigaru gestured towards the open street.

“We live here.”

The Baron shrugged and gestured for him to lead the way. On the way to where the ashigaru led them, they passed a weapon shop. It appeared to be intact, at least mostly intact. The Baron pointed to the store with his thumb.

“Should we take some stuff? Our friends seem to be lightly armed.”

Tobias nodded emphatically.

“We should go to the weapon’s shop! I want a spear or something! Don’t like these weird Wako swords.”

The rest of the party nodded with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The ashigaru shrugged their shoulders and followed in after the Baron. The shop was filled with various weapons, all from different countries. The sign out front was broken, but indoors the Baron found some branding.

“Hojo’s eastern weapon emporium. Eastern weapons, huh? I guess the Empire is to the east, isn’t it?”

The Baron was impressed with the wares what he assumed to be Hojo’s shop offered. There were various different weapons, sabers, longswords, short swords, spears, warhammers, crossbows, longbows, shortbows, firearms, everything one could think of. It was amazing to the Baron that this place had yet to be looted.

After finding a cavalry saber and attaching the sheath to her waist, Adèle grabbed a flintlock musket and inspected it, nodding after pulling the trigger to make sure the mechanism worked properly.

“An elven made musket. Can’t believe they ‘ave one ‘ere. Without the bayonet, though. Per’aps an older model? ‘As no bayonet mount.”

The Baron perked up a bit.

“Bayonet mount? Do you elves not use plug bayonets?”

Adèle shook her head and began to load her musket. Seems she doesn’t want to go into it. Fair enough, we are technically at war.

Tobias found a boar spear from Orcland.

“Not my first choice, but it’s the closest to what we got at the watch.”

He muttered out loud as he checked the sharpness of the spear. Francesco grabbed a warhammer and nodded, impressed as to the quality.

“Ia almost feel bada abouta stealing dis!”

Chad grabbed a rather unusual weapon. It was a weapon named the zhua, an iron pole with a fist at the end. The fingers were curled forward and the nails were sharpened. He looked ecstatic.

“I fuckin’ don’t! Dis fing is awesome!”

Everyone looked at Chad’s new weapon with great interest. Tobias walked over and tapped a sharpened finger with his own finger.

“What in the name of Frau Abhilfe is that?”

The Baron gestured towards the weapon like a salesman might gesture to his wares.

“This is what is known as the zhua. It’s a weapon designed by the Hou for their human allies.”

Adèle tilted her head to the side.

“Who are the 'ou?”

“A race of monkey men who live in Der Dschungel. They have different word for it but I can’t for the life of me remember what it is.”

Adèle looked at the Baron incredulously.

“Monkey men? Like, sentient monkeys?”

“Yes. Is it any less strange a concept than the Brayherds?”

“Bray’erds?”

“Half man, half goat. Lovely people. I work with one, his name is Gaius. Truly a massive creature.”

Francesco looked at his feet and then looked up at the Baron.

“Larger dana youa?”

The Baron nodded sagely.

“Yes. He stands around a foot taller than I.”

Francesco looked almost shocked.

“I did notta realize dat wasa possible…”

An arrow lodged itself into the wall farthest from the party. Ursula was testing a composite bow from the Assai’id. She nodded happily and twanged the bowstring a couple of times. One of the ashigaru raised his voice.

“Well, we should really get going.”

He spoke good Reikers, which the Baron felt he should really expect by now. Almost everyone he had come across had. Ursula’s eyes widened and she nocked an arrow.

“Get down!”

She yelled as she fired at a window and dropped to the floor. Everyone else dropped a few seconds later, everyone but the ashigaru that had spoken up, that is. Four bullets ripped through him, sending him tumbling down to the floor. More bullets whizzed over the heads of the party. A few seconds after the volley, around ten katana-wielding pirates rushed into the shop. They all wore red haori of various states of disrepair.

The Baron and Chinmoku rolled to their feet. The Baron drew a pistol and fired, nailing a pirate through the chest. As he holstered his pistol Chinmoku rushed forward and engaged with the nearest pirate. As he swung down Chinmoku parried the strike, moving his sword to the side and sliding their own blade up the length of the pirate’s arm, slashing his neck. Chinmoku sidestepped another strike, cutting the pirate’s leg off at the knee in the same motion, swiftly following up with a thrust through the heart.

The Baron rushed forward and raised his saber. Just as he brought it down to parry a pirate’s strike, an arrow appeared in the chest of his attacker. The Baron slashed his throat and moved on to the next target. Much to his chagrin, he noticed four more pirates enter the store. He ducked under the strike of a pirate and pulled his ankle forward, stabbing through the bottom of the pirate’s jaw. As he stood up he blocked a strike from another pirate. Just as he began to chamber a kick, the pirate was run through by Tobias’s spear.

Chad roared and dashed forward, swinging his zhua with unbelievable force. It crashed right through a pirate's sword and bit into his face, ripping off the right side of his jaw. He quickly recovered from his strike and thrust the zhua forward, punching a charging pirate with the knuckles, knocking him to the ground, his head smacking into the floor with a loud crack. Chad smashed his head in with the zhua, just in case he wasn’t dead, and dashed forward to continue the fight, howling incoherently the whole while.

Adèle fired outside into the firing line, dropping one of the dozen or so gunmen outside. Adèle leaned the musket against the wall and drew the saber, taking a deep breath before dashing forward. Next to her an arrow flew past, killing another of the reloading pirates. The Baron blocked a strike aimed at Tobias and before he could retaliate, Adèle thrust through the pirate’s neck, severing his spine, killing him instantly. He nodded to her appreciatively and ran forward, slashing through the unarmored stomach of a pirate as he dodged a strike, coming up behind him and delivering a beautiful sidekick to the pirate’s back, sending him flying forward, landing in a heap on the floor.

Ursula nocked another of the four arrows she held in her knuckles and loosed it, piercing the heart of another pirate gunner. They were beginning to spread out even more than they already were, but that was no problem for her. She drew back and loosed, dropping another pirate. Just a second later she again drew back and loosed, sticking in another pirate’s neck. She nocked the last arrow in her hand, facing the tip downward and drew back. The arrow curved around Tobias and stuck in the heart of the pirate he was engaged with. Tobias looked back at Ursula and nodded, impressed.

The pirates, noticing that they were getting decimated, turned tail and ran. One of them had their foot grabbed by Chad’s zhua and swiftly had his head caved in, but the rest of them got away. The Baron turned to look at Francesco, who was hanging back with Ursula.

“Why didn’t you fight?”

Francesco looked almost offended.

“I ama medic! If I fighta something hasa gona wronga!”

The Baron shrugged his shoulders.

“Fair enough. Well then, shall we get going? Just in case those pirates bring friends.”

As the group traveled through the burning city, things were beginning to die down, the Baron began to ask questions.

“You people seem to be incredibly competent. How did you even get here?”

Adèle spoke up.

“I was overwhelmed on patrol duty. There were only four Marines on our patrol boat and twenty pirates.”

Everyone else nodded their heads, minus Chad.

“I don’t really ‘member ‘ow I got ‘ere. Don’t really care doe, just ‘appy to knock ‘eads. An’ I got dis sick punchstick! I wanna make dis popular in Orcland! It’s sick as ‘ell!”

The Baron slapped Chad’s back.

“I hope you do! I also think the zhua is awesome!”

The Baron and Chad shared a hearty laugh.

As the walked through the somewhat empty streets, stepping over broken piles of wood planks and dead bodies, they came across a broken bridge with a pillar strewn across it, allowing one to walk over it. The only problem, however, was that the bridge was occupied. On the pillar was a single man, a pirate wearing a samurai chestplate. Behind him fanned out on the other side of the bridge were four pirates, each of them holding a massive yumi.

“Right! If you want to pass by, you’re gonna have to pay the toll! And all the bridges ‘round here are broke like this one, so don’t even try and go around!”

The Baron looked back at Ursula and Adèle. They all shared a wordless agreement as to what they would do. The Baron stepped forward and gestured broadly with his hands, trying to get all eyes on him.

“Come on now! I am sure we can come to an agreement!”

The pirate drew his katana and pointed it at the Baron.

“25 koku for each of you!”

The Baron put his arms up in surrender.

“Yes, of course. Let me get that for you.”

His hands dropped to his side and drew two pistols, firing both of them one after the other. The first shot went through the leader’s eye and the second through an archer’s chest. Adèle quickly aimed and fired, dropping another pirate. Ursula grabbed two arrows in her fist and shot them both with lightning speed, killing the last two archers before they fully drew their arrows. The pirates' arrows flew harmlessly in random directions, nowhere near the rest of the party. The Baron laughed loudly.

“Well! That was easy! Should’ve had firearms you clown!”

I’m sure it has something to do with my late father, may he rest in peace, but every time I shoot an archer I feel so smug.

One of the ashigaru sighed and walked across the pillar.

“I haven’t even shot my gun yet. You guys are too strong.”

Chad laughed heartily, as did Tobias. The Baron slapped the ashigaru’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’m just old and experienced.”

Finally, the group made it to the docks. Unfortunately, just like at the bridge, there were red clothes pirates waiting around there. One of them, a huge mountain of muscle and fat wearing a red jinbei, giant wooden beads, and a huge nodachi slung over his shoulder. As the Baron’s group got closer, he slapped his nodachi across his chest.

“You! You look like you’re from the Empire! My brother was killed by an Empiresman! Hey boys! Kill him! And his friends!”

The Baron drew his saber and took up a standard saber fencing stance.

“Come on, are you sure you don’t want to try diplomacy? You and your men are hardly battled hardened samurai, so far as I can tell.”

The man performed a shiko, the stomp that sumo wrestlers do before a match, and stayed in his extremely low horse stance.

“They’re just pirates, I’m a samurai. Or at least I was. The name of your killer is Yutaka! And I shall mount your head on a stake!”

The Baron shook his head disappointedly.

“Well, it was worth a try.”

The Baron rushed forward and ducked a slash aimed at his head. As he came up and tried to slash Yutaka’s exposed chest, he grabbed the Baron’s wrist. The Baron punched Yutaka’s wrist with his off hand, and nothing happened. Yutaka didn't let go. He didn't even flinch.

“Good effort.”

Yutaka turned and flipped the Baron over his shoulder, sending him flying into a group of his pirates. Yutaka turned just in time to block a strike from Chad’s ‘punchstick.’ Their weapons clashed as they blocked and parried each other’s strikes. Chad swung horizontally at Yutaka’s head, and he ducked under it, coming up and grabbing Chad around the stomach, flipping him over head and slamming him head first into the ground. As Yutaka got up from his suplex, he frowned at the three guns and a bow aimed at him. His eyes began to glow dark green and he stomped on the ground, erupting a wall of earth just as they began to shoot at him.

As Yutaka turned around and raised his nodachi to finish off Chad, who was just beginning to scramble to his feet, an arrow curved around the wall and stuck itself in Yutaka’s arm. He barely noticed it and slashed down at Chad, and dodged to the side and slammed the iron shaft of his punchstick into Yutaka’s stomach. Flesh rippled out around where the strike landed, his fat absorbing a lot of the impact. The strike would leave a bruise, but nothing more.

The Baron rolled to his feet as he landed, coming up completely surrounded by pirates. He smiled and began signing with his hand. His eyes began to glow red and he stuck up his pointer and pinky finger. I've been wanting to try this! He took in a deep breath and breathed out, a plume of firing erupting from the point in between his fingers. He turned and the fire spun around with him, forcing the pirates to move back. As he finished with magical flamethrower, he dashed forward, bursting through his flame and severing the head of the pirate on the other side. The pirate next to him slashed at the Baron’s back, but was deflected by his armor. The Baron swept his legs and swiftly followed up with an axe kick to the head, denting the pirate’s skull in with his heel.

Adèle sighed and plugged the bayonet into the barrel of her musket. So antiquated. She thought forlornly. She turned to Tobias and yelled.

“Im going to ‘elp the Baron!”

She dashed past the wall and Yutaka, slamming into a pirate who raised his sword at the Baron’s exposed back. She withdrew her bayonet from the pirate’s side and blocked the strike of another pirate, his blade sinking in to the body of the musket. She wrenched the blade to the side and slid the gun up along his sword, sending the bayonet into the bottom of the pirate’s jaw, ripping it out and slamming the butt of the gun into his face.

Tobias thrust at Yutaka, who grabbed the spear with his offhand and pulled it towards him roughly, dragging Tobias into the pommel of his nodachi, sending him to the ground. Yutaka lifted his leg and slammed down, Tobias rolling to the side at the last second, barely avoiding being crushed like the rock under Yutaka’s foot. Chad rushed at Yutaka and swung down. Yutaka parried and used Chad’s momentum to push him face first into the ground. Tobias stood up and Yutaka thrust at his head, just barely grazing Tobias’s neck as one of Ursula’s arrows impacted his bicep.

Yutaka looked over in her direction angrily and his eyes glowed green. He punched forward at the wall, cracking it and sending the pieces flying over towards her and the ashigaru. They all dropped to the ground, barely avoiding the larger boulders, but still getting pelted by the smaller rocks and pebbles. Not lethal, but it hurt quite a bit. One of the ashigaru’s muskets got broken, a larger rock impacting the mechanism, bending the hammer at an odd angle. He punched the ground in frustration. That was definitely coming out of his paycheck.

The Baron and Adèle tore through Yutaka’s lackeys, it was not even close to a fair fight. Even though they were outnumbered almost ten to one, a group of men who could very well have been fishermen a couple of months ago could never hope to defeat an elven marine and a battlemage with decades of experience.

The Baron delivered a beautiful frontkick directly to a pirate’s chin, knocking him out cold. He turned around and slapped aside a thrust with his off hand, returning with a thrust of his own through the pirate’s heart. Slashed the throat of a pirate with her bayonet, ducking under another strike and smashing the butt of her gun into the pirate’s face. As she turned to find another target, she saw the pirates running off, finally deciding that there was no way they could be her and the Baron.

Yutaka parried a wild strike by Chad and swung his sword in a wide horizontal strike, cutting clean through Tobias’s chest and knocking Chad to the side, sending him flying into a crate. Yutaka walked over to Chad and raised his nodachi. Just as he began to swing his torso was pushed over slightly by some force, his strike missing by less than an inch. He looked over to find the source of the force and found the Baron, smoking pistol in hand. As it finally began to dawn on him that he had been shot, Chad sprung up from the ground. He swung his punchstick up in an arc, catching Yutaka in the jaw. The force of the strike ripped his jaw completely off it’s hinges.

Yutaka, not one to take a strike like that lying down, chambered a thrust aimed at Chad’s now exposed chest. Just before he could let loose his strike, two spears pierced him, one through his heart, and one through his skull. As he fell backwards, Tobias had to let go of his spear, Yutaka’s mass snapping it in half like a toothpick. Tobias soon after collapsed to the ground, the wound across his chest bleeding profusely One of the ashigaru came over and kicked him in the ribs.

“You broke my fuckin’ gun! That shit’s expensive! You fat fuck!”

The Baron came over and grabbed his shoulder.

“It’s alright, I’ll bully Saito into not taking your money.”

The ashigaru nodded gratefully and took a deep breath to compose himself.

“Thank you, thank you. Ok, the docks are right there. They can take any of the ships marked in red.”

The Baron scruffed his beard and turned towards his group. Francesco was healing Tobias, the huge slash across his chest was stitching itself together in front of the Baron’s eyes. That never ceases to amaze me.

“Alright, so, do any of you know how to sail?”

Adèle saluted the Baron.

“I do, sir! Standard training for Marines!”

“Excellent. So, I want you to sail to Bickenstadt harbor. It should be roughly straight east from here. If you have trouble, any other ships in their area should be able to point you in the right direction. And there will be ships in the area, do not worry. When you reach the harbor, tell the police that the Baron sent you here. They should take you to castle Bickenstadt, and my son will help you get home. If he complains, tell him I said shut it.”

Adèle saluted again, Chad gave the Baron a slap on the back, Francesco was busy with healing, and Tobias was busy being healed. Chad looked kind of sad, his never faltering smile faltering slightly.

“So, dis were we part ways? Just like dat?”

‘Well, you could join my mercenary company. I told my son I wanted to expand it. He’ll most likely hire you if you ask.”

Chad looked genuinely excited.

“Yoooooooooo! We take doeeeees!”

Francesco finished and walked over to Chad.

“Carry Tobias to da boata!”

Chad nodded and picked Tobias up like he weighed nothing.

“Roight. Let's get outta ‘ere!”

The Baron looked around to find the ashigaru and Chinmoku, and found that they had already left. Wait, I think Chinmoku left before the fight even began. I didn’t see them fighting at all.

The Baron sighed and went about retracing their steps.

The Oshan headquarters was a large Japanese style estate. Over the medium sized black walls the Baron could spot the building itself, a fairly standard looking Japanese estate, and the top halves of a few cherry trees dotted around the place. The large doors at the threshold of the estate were a deep, dark red. In the middle of the doors was a giant white diamond with an eye in the middle. As the baron walked over to the doors, a bunch of Ashigaru weird bows and guns popped up around the walls.

“State your business.”

The Baron rolled his eyes.

“I’m here to see Saito Oshan, surely he informed you that I was coming?”

The man who spoke up nodded and gestured to the gate. After a few moments it opened, slowly, making the great creaking noise that massive doors make as their hinges protest the movement of such a heavy object. As soon as the door was fully open a servant girl wearing a black kimono with intricate gray wave patterns came out and ushered the Baron into the estate.

The courtyard was beautiful. On one side was a massive rock garden, small bonsai trees, rectangular rocks, and stone lamp posts placed around to break up the massive sea of intricately patterned gravel. On the other side were three koi ponds, each one with two cherry trees placed around them. A small pier extended out a few feet into each pond, a small tatami mat placed on the end to allow for a picturesque meal or tea time.

The servant bowed to the Baron and opened the sliding front door and gestured for him to go in. On the other side was a different servant wearing a similar kimono, who bowed to him and gestured with her head to follow her. This feels like too much ceremony for what is most likely going to come down to me yelling at Saito.

She guided him to a room, bowing to him and opening the door, gesturing for him to enter. In the room was a large, round, black lacquered table. Around it sat Saito, Chinmoku, Raijin, and various others the Baron had yet to meet. Saito gestured for the Baron to take the seat across from him.

“Baron. So nice of you to join us. Did your quarry leave Dokutsu-cho alive?”

The Baron sat and thanked the new servant girl who poured him sake into a small black glass. After downing the sake, and being confused as to why one of Saito’s inner circle had to stifle a laugh, the Baron responded.

“More or less. We killed plenty of those Takodin pirates you told me about, if it makes you feel any better.”

Saito smiled and nodded.

“It does. It does. Now, time for business.”

Saito maintained his smile, looking like somewhat of a used car salesman, though looking much more respectable. The Baron nodded and gestured for a servant to pour him more sake.

“Yes, we have much to discuss, I imagine.”

“Yes, of course. Since you killed Shirahama, I am now in charge. And since I am not a gifted one, Takodin and their allies have decided that it is not time to strike. I imagine they wish to weaken our clan so that they can begin calling the shots around here. You have offered to help us maintain our power, and in exchange we will abide by our old agreement. Does this sound correct?”

“Yes. I keep you on the top, and you stay out of my hair.”

“Good. So, how exactly are you planning on helping my clan? Will you provide the help of your famous mercenary company? I am sure your honored veterans would make short work of the rabble Takeshi Takodin keeps on his payroll.”

The Baron waved his hand dismissively.

“No, the men are on vacation, and those who are not are vetting our new recruits. I will provide assistance personally, and possibly call over one of my lieutenants.”

“But Baro-”

“This is hardly an issue worthy of my men. This is a clashing of Yakuza clans over a pirate colony, first and foremost. If you were a country I would consider it, but at the end of the day you are no more than criminals, no matter how professionally you train your pirates.”

Raijin reached for his nodachi and Saito cut him off with a sharp glare.

“Raijin! We are in the presence of an Imperial noble. If you even attempt to strike him down it would mean the destruction of Dokutsu-cho and the mainland as well.”

“He’s-”

“He’s correct. Now stand down.”

Raijin slowly retracted his arm. Saito took a sip of his sake and smiled at the Baron.

“My sincerest apologies. We feel very strongly about our clan, I am sure you understand.”

“Oh yes, of course. I think nothing of it. Now, I suggest we simply kill the leader of Takodin and whoever his heir is. That should throw them into chaos and make your position stronger.”

Saito’s face twitched slightly.

“We can’t simply murder Takeshi and his sons. That would destabilize all of Dokutsu-cho.”

“Move fast and break things, that’s my motto.”

“If you throw Dokutsu-cho into absolute anarchy, I cannot promise that I will remain in my position, and I also cannot promise that anyone else will take your deal.”

“Well, what do you suggest then?”

“Simple. We hit Takodin where it hurts: Their purse. All we need to do is kill their combatants, torch their businesses, steal their cargo, that sort of thing.”

“My plan seemed much simpler.”

“Simple does not necessarily mean effective. A rock is simple but we hardly go around beating people to death with them.”

“Touché. So what? Will you have me torch a storefront or something?”

Saito’s smile intensified.

“No, I would prefer you duel his top lieutenants. To the death, of course. Losing them would be akin to you losing your advisors.”

The Baron smiled. Saito knew exactly how to use him, and what he would most enjoy doing.

“Say, you wouldn’t happen to know a man named Yutaka, would you? He’s a large, kind of sumo looking man, carries a nodachi?”

“Yes, he happens to be one a Takodin lieutenant.”

The Baron’s smile turned smug.

“Well then, I’ve got a bit of a head start. He tried to kill me and the people I was escorting, so I killed him.”

Raijin laughed raucously.

“That fat fuck is dead? Praise the sun! The sake supply will quadruple!”

The whole table laughed, minus the Baron. After the laughter died down, Saito spoke up again.

“So, do you accept my plan? All you would need to do is shoulder check them on the street and they will duel you.”

The Baron downed his third shot of sake. He barely felt it. I think my tolerance might be a tad high.

“Of course. I would never turn down the opportunity to duel. I will kill those who need killing, and after I am done you will keep your piracy out of Bickenstadt waters. I shall stay here a few days as I decimate the Takodin inner circle.”

Saito stood up and walked over to the Baron.

“Then with the Earth as our witness, let us close this deal with a handshake.”

They shook hands and a flurry of servant activity started up just outside the room.

“Your temporary residence shall be ready shortly. In the meantime, allow me to inform you of the men you’ll be killing.”

He spoke to a servant over his shoulder.

“Makimono o Tsukamu! Hayaku!”

The servant bowed and ran off to grab the scroll. Saito turned to the table and address his inner circle.

“I want Hayato, Junpei, Hijikata, Raijin, and Chinmoku to organize a few raids on Takodin store houses, and burn down a couple of their businesses. I’m sure the fires did not reach Takodin turf.”

Around half of the table stood up and left. Raijin grumbled a bit as he passed by.

“The rest of you work with the spy network and keep track of Takodin lieutenant movements.”

The rest of the table got up and left, leaving just the Baron and Saito. Shortly after, the servant returned, a jumble of scrolls tucked in their arms. They set them down on the table and began to straighten them out.

“These are general likenesses of the Takodin lieutenants.”

The Baron was, to put it lightly, unimpressed. They were prints done in the ukiyo-e style. Not very realistic.

“How are these going to help me identify them?”

“What? These are accurate likenesses.”

“Do they…do they look like ukiyo-e paintings?”

“No, they’re quite normal.”

The Baron looked vaguely unimpressed.

“Right.”