Filling gas in his bike, radio behind him playing good tunes, one comes knocking at his garage door, looking to see a friend of his with a bag sweating of something cold within, noticing Zhang Li who lifts the bag in the moment of him finishing with filling his bike.

"Yo, Alps. Still Busy? How about a nice, cold beer, huh? Since it's almost summer and all," Zhang Li suggests, shuffling the bag in tempting Adrian’s choice.

"Hah! Just in time," Adrian chuckles, his thousands of tattoos and piercings glistering from the sweat of his shirtless self, cracking the cold beers in bopping them together within his backyard after cooling himself off.

"Things are getting real busy, huh?" Zhang Li figures, sighing at the sip of his beer. "Looks like we won't be having as much free time for a while, especially with all the crap going on. Aw man, I can't tell of the last time the three of us got together. Alps, Zhang, and Edris: The two fucktards and prince charming"

"Relax. It's been only two weeks," Alps laughs. “But at least he can show people what he's made of though. Being Vice commander isn't an easy job, so I hope he's ready"

"God damn, aren't you one of encouragement. Don’t worry about it, he’s doing just fine already," Zhang Li chuckles with Adrian getting a little annoyed in shaking his head. "And what about you?... I hear that an old friend of yours came out of his hiding hole"

"Tch. Speak of the devils. Yeah, he has, and Commander Vernon is coming to the headquarters to help form a plan so we can find his ass," Adrian explains, sipping from his beer.

"I see," Zhang nods. “And you sure you alright? I heard he once beat the shit out of a wyvern, and drunk, with just his bare hands. We can switch if you ain’t up for the challenge. So?”

“Hm...God, I wish all of this would just be over with!” Adrian tells him, as Zhang Li slowly takes another sip in sensing his friend getting annoyed, seeing as he then gets up with cracking his neck.

“Aw man, don’t tell me you’re leaving. I didn’t say those things to scare you, you know that right? Well of course you do, and you didn’t even finish your drink”

"Sorry. I'm gonna need to get ready to meet our guest. See you later, dude," Adrian waves, walking away with sighing to the new day commencing.

"Adrian," Zhang stops him, turning Adrian around to eyes serious at the moment. "You know, if this is too much to bear alone, you can tell me. I hear these guys were really dangerous, and I'm sure there's a lot those old friends of yours would like to say to you. So lean on your best friends a little, will you?"

"...Yeah, I know. Tch! What are you talking about with bearing it alone?? Of course I'm gonna need that scary face of yours," Adrian scratches his head. "A matter of fact...come on, we're meeting the commander together"

"Hm. Roger that," Zhang grins.

***

Within the capital city of Vestland, Bjørgvin, comes the Commander of Strongcastle into the salty harbour town of seafood markets and other attractions that hold the land's headquarters, reaching to his destination to be greeted by Adrian and Zhang Li who salute in his presence.

"At ease," Vernon tells them, the two of them guiding the commander through the building, soldiers stepping out of their way in mumbling rising.

"Commander Vernon, what's he doing here?" A soldier asks.

"Who cares? It's freaking Vernon the white Wolf," A second says, onto viewing Zhang Li and Adrian. "Hey, that’s the ‘Demon Leaf’from the east. And that one with the tattoos, he's the 'Stormbringer', isn't he?"

"Yeah? So what"

"I heard he used to be a thug"

"Really? Where you hear that one from?"

"My sources are confidential. But what was that guild called again? Ah, the 'Blue Dogs'. I heard they were the worst guild to ever come about in this country; They often stole from their new members, bullied smaller guilds and exploited small business..."

"Holy shit," The second says, their skin calling a sudden spike of chill as they sense as eyes gawk into their flesh, turning their heads to Zhang Li stopped in staring at them, not believing he could hear them in being so far ahead. "That one is a little weird too, huh?"

“O-Of course he is...” The first answers.

Finally, the crowd disperse, as the two along with the commander make their way into the room of conference will take place, joined along by a couple of other captains who first salute Vernon in then greeting each other.

"Commander, thank you for making time for us," One of the captains tells him.

"Please, It's an honour to be welcomed here," Vernon tells him. "You are Captain Egil?"

"Yes, It pleases me that you know of my name, sire," Egil tells him.

"Yes, I've heard of your achievements. And that goes for you all too: Captain Sebast, Captain Tomrik, Captain Zhang Li, and Captain Adrian. It is my pleasure to meet you all. I've come here to discuss the reemergence of Kalf Hagen,"

"Kalf the Armoured. So he has returned. And I'm expecting that it won't be easy getting him behind bars either," Tomrik questions, his eyes stirring annoyingly in meeting eyes with Adrian.

"No actually, weeks ago, a captain of my province investigated one of the cases of drug dealing among a particular school. In under a week, he found perpetrators which led us to the name of the Blue dogs being called after they were interrogated," The commander tells them, Egil scratching his bearded jaw in his explanation. "After they came out, so did many; his own henchmen who are not so sure, his old friends, and his guild members of the past; they've also heard rumours of him possibly rebuilding his illegal businesses''

'"Hm. Go figures. Not surprised his own henchmen would rat him out easily," Tomrik says. "So, where is he now? And how are we doing this?"

"...In your very own yard, here, in Vestland," Vernon shocks them.

"H-Here??" Tomrik stutters.

"I am not surprised, as out of all the provinces, we have the most cases of drugs going around in our schools and other places," Egil explains.

"If it really is his main base of operation, then your strategy going forward will be to not draw any attention until the time is right. It's the best time to strike with all the craziness going on in our country," Vernon chuckles, lifting a briefing paper he had carried along the way. "It is great that you've already scouted points of their drug holdings. Each captain will be put in place to be ready to strike when the time draws near"

"Yes sir, and what of Kalf? Who will be in charge of his capture?" Egil questions.

"That mission will go..." Vernon stops, slowly raising his finger to the one he chooses. "To Captain Adrian, you will be in charge of his capture. You've worked for him before, you know his moves, his strengths, his weaknesses I’m sure, so the rest will be up to you"

"Yes, sir," Adrian bows, Egil and Tomrik looking at him in curiosity and confusion.

"Hold on, Commander! No offence, but are you sure we can leave it up to him? You said it, he had worked for him, and I hear he was very close to him," Tomrik tells Vernon. "Don't you think it'll be easy for him to just...switch sides?"

"Captain Tomrik!" Zhang Li chuckles in calling his name, frightening the captain. "As a fellow soldier, I don't think it's good that you're saying all that pointless crap. Switching sides? Come on! What do you think this is?... Watch what you say, buddy"

"Ngh! But how do we know he'll still be on our side after he finds him?" Tomrik questions, looking at Adrian who's hands rest calmly on the table as he looks down at the briefing paper.

"Tsk!" Zhang sounds, his eyebrow going up with eyes of menace.

"I have the same worries. Years ago, I read reports that suggest that Kalf was like a father figure to him," Egil joins, influencing Adrian’s into a mood of annoyance as he keeps his face down into the paper. "So yes, how are we sure he'll still be on our side? We have so many things going on right now, one of our captains going rogue is one we would not like to have right now...especially with the theory of one our own being a traitor to his country"

"Alright. A bit too far, Captain Egil," One raises her hand after being quiet since the meeting started, being the one who stops her fellow captain from going any further.

“Captain Sebast?” Captain Egil challenges.

"If that was the case, he most likely would not be in this meeting,” Sebast figures. “We were chosen because we were the most worthy of our bunch, and I'm sure it was not only Commander Vernon, but our own Vice Commander Edris who recommend us for this mission"

"You are correct," Vernon smiles.

"If Captain Adrian was picked for this task by both Commanders, then who are we to go against it? As his fellow soldiers, we will trust in his character and abilities, and I trust he will bring to us a victorious day. So, Captain Adrian, will you prove to us that you are our ally?"

The room goes quiet in suspense of an answer, Adrian lifting his eyes in facing them head-on, starting with meeting his eyes with Egil who is challenged by his stare.

"First of all, I won't need to prove anything to any of you. This is my job, to protect my country people from whatever harm that may come their way, so I'll do as I'm ordered, and that's to bring down the enemy that threatens our peace. So, if you have a problem with that, we can do this outside, that's the second thing. Just like everybody else here, I'm sure we don't want these people walking all over us, so we'll have to work as a team. If not, then shut the hell up and leave if you can’t do the same," Adrian challenges, Tomrik edging his teeth with Egil simply nodding his head, with Zhang Li, Vernon and Sebast agreeing to his words.

"Hm alright, then it is settled," Vernon tells them, smiling along with Zhang Li and Sebast. "And with that, a scout had witnessed a truck of men going in and out of a newly appointed point of interest every Thursday and Saturday. When he followed them back to their base of operation, he found that it was not a factory of their business, but a lumber shop supplying them with wood, and he was kind enough to add that this establishment has no need for wood supplies. A restaurant this time, a foreigner's establishment by the name of Django. That's when we understood that the other locations had similar deliveries. Thursday, this will be the day as every location will be raided and drugs seized. And that day is tomorrow"

"Yes, sir!" The captains salute.

"Ah, Captain Li," Vernon calls. How about you join in at Django? They'll need a capable captain by their side, don't you think?"

"I'm on it," Zhang Li nods.

***

And hence, that day has arrived, awaking a new Thursday for the men on their own mission as they stop by Django with crates of lumber that they take time in carrying into the restaurant, their task stop as they see unfamiliar faces that cause a tremor in their minds, looking to the many soldiers who come in unity behind by the one who holds the warrant paper to their faces.

"Good morning. Let's get straight to the point, shall we? Under suspicion of carrying illegal items, we are now obligated in searching this vehicle and establishment right here," Zhang Li explains to them, his aura creepy with his smile gentle. "Will there be any problems once we begin our investigation, mister truck man?"

"Hah. God damn it," The truck man sighs, moving out of his way in signalling him to go ahead.

Their search commences, the soldiers loading into the truck and restaurant in wanting to find what is really within them, pushing away the logs in searching for any possible sign of drugs within the truck, as within the restaurant, Zhang Li’s keen attention finds him a space beneath the floors, moving the table and chairs from above it with pulling it up, seeing a ladder that he and some fellow soldiers climb down. And behold to their eyes a warehouse of lumber that gets Zhang Li tilting his head to the sight.

"Already cut in half and no illusion magic??" A soldier questions as he flings wood across the room. "By the gods, where is it?! Don't tell me that scout got it wrong??"

"Hello, I am Karst. This establishment and our friends of the lumber company have partnered in the hopes of making lives better," A man comes, Zhang Li picking up one of the lumber in feeling for any fault within it, sensing as there is nothing wrong within them. "The lumbers are used in creating bowls we use in our own restaurant, and some are sent out to others as gifts. So tell me, why would our own countrymen disrupt our kind gesture like this? The keeping of illegal items? You should leave before your visit here worsens. What will occur if the media hears of this?"

"Tch. damn it," A second soldier grits his teeth.

"Hmm, alright then," Zhang Li laughs, scratching his head in lifting the piece of wood. "I guess we will leave. Pack it guys! Let's go get some pizza! On me!"

So the soldiers do, dropping whatever item that was in their hands in their mood darkened, with Zhang Li carrying up the wood with him as he passes the man who stands firm with hands behind his back.

"I'm taking this for safekeeping. What do you say?" Zhang Li questions, looking at all the other items in the building, searching for a sign of something odd.

"Do whatever you like," Karst firmly answers, Zhang Li smiling as he plays around with the log, staring into the man’s eyes with seeing as he then begins fidgeting and sweating. “What? What is it?? Have you not enough seen enough. Leave my business so we may open up and work in peace...Aren’t you listen-”

“Tell that Kalf guy he’s won this round for me-”

“Yes Yes. I’ll tell the boss whatever you like....ngh!” Karst disrupts Zhang Li, the captain stopped as a gust of wind flies through the window of the building, prompting all soldiers to stop as he did, Zhang Li turning around with a wide smile on his face.

"Huh, no wonder. Woo! were you all close," Zhang Li says, bringing a feeling of nervousness amongst the suspected men.

"I do not understand what you are saying-" Karst stops, as he witnesses Zhang Li breaking the already chopped wood into another half, all soldiers in his vicinity seeing the reveal of a couple of small bags falling out the wood.

"Already chopped wood with most of the inside still filled," Zhang Li says, taking up one of the pills in revealing them to everybody. "Someone who doesn't really pay attention would never have figured it out, especially to such a small detail of how it feels against the wind. Nice one, but unfortunately for you, I just happened to be the captain investigating this case"

With his words, Karst rushes against him in a sudden urgency, feeling as his stomach is caved by the flashing of the captain before him, with feeling as his body is then wrapped around by the feeling of a snake's clutch as he's thrown to the ground with a neck hold.

"Delta has located and ceased the illegal items. Status?" Zhang Li says over the radio, as Karst struggles to breathe under his leg.

***

Jumping atop the thug's shoulder, Captain Sebast flings him into unconsciousness, taking out her radio and also picking an action figure she smashes onto the ground, revealing to her the substance.

"Omega has also done the same, over!" She tells them, getting back into the action.

***

Creating a force through his war axe that knockdown multiple enemies, Captain Egil and his Alpha team also confirms their capture of the illegal substances that they find within the walls of their location.

***

And lastly, Captain Tomrik, hesitant with not believe they would go so far in doing their business, sighing as he shakes his head in wishing he had done something cooler than what he was chosen to do.

"Tomrik? Your status," Captain Egil asks for over the radio.

"I-uh..." Tomrik sighs once more, deciding in getting over it as he lifts the item they've hidden the substances in, plastic sex dolls with rather plush lips. "Have also done the same"

"Good," Egil says. "Wrap it up, and make sure to capture as many of these criminals as you can"

"Roger," All the other captains say.

And so the raids come to a close, as within the headquarter, Vernon is pleased with the news that reaches his ear, going by the window as he looks at the passing civilians with rubbing his chin.

"Now. It's up to you, Adrian. Now we can move on to phase 2," Vernon says, as riding through the land is Adrian who's bike roars in speeding to his destination.