Chapter 224: Chapter 190

The four of them met back up as agreed a short while after their fun and made their way to the hotel, dropping off their purchases. Sonya and Marta had left a note stating that they’d gone back out to see more of the city after getting changed along with a proposed schedule written by Bandit for their upcoming outing into the local dungeons. Lillian tried not to think too hard about going back to fighting with the easy atmosphere she’d been enjoying throughout the day.

After a brief rest they hopped onto the subway heading towards Ueno. From there it was a short walk to the Tokyo National Museum. A beautiful building with a reflecting pond stretching out in front. A fresh chill had settled in the air as they made their way along the side of the pool towards a small crowd that had begun to gather to the right of the entrance. People were holding their phones out and what looked like reporters were taking pictures and filming. Lillian rubbed her neck, wondering if this was the kind of treatment she should start getting used to for when she got back home.

They all heard the name being repeated over and over.

‘Sapporo’

Lillian glanced at Alex who snorted out a laugh, “Man, he can’t go anywhere can he?”

“He is crazy tall,” Cass pointed out, “Hard to miss a guy like him.”

The crowd parted abruptly as the man-mountain that was Sapporo pushed through. He held a hand up in greeting to the four of them as people continued to take pictures. Static filled Lillian’s ears, “Lose the hat,” Snow whispered.

Lillian waved back at Sapporo, “You sure?” she asked out of the corner of her mouth.

“Definitely, Sonya would be pissed if you didn’t,” Snow said.

Of course, to make a show of it I guess, she sighed and reached up to pull her cap off her head, revealing her short black hair and the red and green streaks running down one side. I wish I could have brought Alphonse with me, she griped a little as the murmuring intensified and more photographs were taken. They met Sapporo halfway and he extended a hand for her to shake.

“Well met, Crusader,” he grunted with the faintest hint of a smile.

“Good to see you, Sapporo,” she replied.

Sapporo nodded gruffly and then turned to the others, “Snow, BLF, Harbinger, I hear the four of you took some time this morning to assist,” he said.

“No problem for us,” Alex chuckled, flexing an arm, “We’re here, we’ll help.”

The big man grunted in approval and gestured towards the Museum, “A proper welcome to my homeland is in order, I think. This is my apology for the unpleasant greeting you were given by those who represent us yesterday. It was shameful,” he said with a slight bow of his head. “After this I would like to introduce you to the guilds operating in the city. Several of the other heroes are very excited to meet you.”

Lillian and Alex exchanged looks and grinned. She had been looking forward to that part of the visit in particular. A chance to test herself against some of the best Japan had to offer. A chance to see where she stood not just among the American heroes, but compared to other nations. Some of them were no doubt trained by Sapporo himself. With how often people compared him and her teacher, the idea was more than a little enticing.

Sapporo glanced around and frowned before reaching into his pocket and checking his phone. “Hm. Takehara was supposed to join us,” he said before putting his phone away.

“He’s probably just on Committee business,” Cass said with a shrug, “I’m sure it happens.”

The big man nodded again, “Quite. Let’s get the tour started.”

–

The headquarters of the Ishtar worshiping cult hadn’t exactly been hard to find. They made no effort in disguising where they were or who they were. Located in one of the northern wards of Tokyo, the large building was framed with a high wall of off-white concrete. The walls themselves were coated in graffiti, harsh words in Japanese and other languages decrying those that supposedly prayed to the enemy of the world. Sonya sat in the back seat of the dark taxi, her legs crossed as she watched the building go by, twirling an underworld coin between her fingers.

“Not exactly a subtle bunch,” Charon said through his puppet driver.

She snorted, “Nope.”

“I don’t like this,” Marta said next to her, shifting a bit in her seat, “Something feels off.”

Sonya turned her way and frowned, “I can’t just leave them be.”

Marta crossed her arms and glared out the window. She looked back to Sonya with a tension in her shoulders before nodding quietly. Sonya shot a look towards the zombified puppet, “We’re good here, dear,” she said and placed the coin on the console next to him.

The zombie nodded with a rickety smile, “Pleasure doing business, ma’am. I’ll have your souvenirs brought to the hotel promptly.”

She smiled, “Thank you,” she said before raising a hand and snapping her fingers, activating her augment reality ability. An illusion washed over herself that distorted her appearance slightly. Black hair hung around her shoulders and her eyes were a brilliant blue. Her clothing turned dark. She didn’t change much about her face, it wasn’t necessary. Subtle changes were more effective with a disguise. Marta on the other hand changed her own appearance entirely to be closer to Sonya’s facial structure and looks. A cousin or some sort of distant relative. Instead of her usual maid gown, she wore a white shirt and black tie with a pair of black slacks.

“Looking good,” Sonya said with a laugh as the driver came around to open the door.

Marta frowned down at the shirt and tie, tugging on the fabric, “I hate it.”

“Bet Barry would like it,” Sonya laughed, stepping out of the car and shooting a winning smile at the zombie who offered a bow. Marta got out behind her in a huff. The two of them made their way towards the gates of the building without another word, the taxi departing. When they arrived they found it shut tight, graffiti all over it and one of the security cameras hanging above it heavily damaged. She turned to look up at the sole working camera and then down to a doorbell intercom plate. Just as she reached towards it, the door opened with a noisy hiss and grind of machinery.

Sonya glanced towards Marta who popped her neck in readiness.

On the other side of the door there were three men. Two of them wore masks over their faces and white jumpsuits. Each carried a naked blade in one hand. Their postures were hostile. The individual in the middle, however, only wore a partial mask covering the lower half of his face. His dark eyes were flat and cold, the expression of a warrior. His dark hair was cut short and simply with no attention to style. He had an air about him that demanded respect. An aura of command.

“You look like someone in charge,” Sonya said with a wry smile.

He narrowed his eyes, “Who are you? Why are you here?”

“I’m here to speak with your boss,” Sonya said brightly, extending her hand as she tilted her head, “Nice to meet you, mind letting me in?”

He scowled, “You didn’t give your name.”

“No, I didn’t,” Sonya confirmed.

His eyes grew harder and he rest his hand on the hilt of the katana on his belt. Marta shifted slightly but Sonya raised a hand to stop her. “Now there’s no need for that,” Sonya said politely, “I just want to talk. Further decisions can come after that.”

“I asked for your name, give it and this conversation can proceed,” the young man growled in warning but he did seem wise enough to remove his hand from his weapon. His eyes shifted towards Marta and there was a brief moment where Sonya could see hesitation in his eyes. Sonya wondered if he could pick up on Marta’s strength or if he was just nervous around pretty girls in suits.

Her lip twitched with amusement, “You don’t watch a lot of news, do you?”

“I watch plenty,” he said and crossed his arms, the muscles beneath his sleeves rippling slightly. “But I was told to ask you to identify yourself when you arrived.”

Sonya raised her eyebrows, “What answer are you expecting?”

He tilted his head forward, “Not the one you use on television.”

Marta moved. One moment she was standing behind Sonya, the next he was off the ground with her hand around his throat. His eyes went wide as he reached up to grab at her fingers. The two men who had come with him raising their weapons, startled. He gripped and pulled, but nothing short of another mythic was going to pry Marta’s fingers away as she added a little pressure. Sonya kept her expression placid as she strode forward with her arms crossed behind her back and looked up at his reddening face. “Put him down.”

Her companion dropped him unceremoniously to the ground and he moved to get to his feet only to look up into Sonya’s eyes. She held his gaze as she loomed over him, “I suggest,” she said quietly, “You think twice about trying to expose me in a private place. If you were hoping to get recordings…” she tilted her head and they all heard the cameras around them short out, even his phone made a crackling pop inside his pocket. Only his earpiece was spared, “...you are going to be disappointed.”

Her smile widened as she willed one of her Astral Eyes into being in front of her face, hidden from the two bystanders. Only he could see the floating disk of pink light that crackled and fizzled, distorted, but still clear as to what it was.

“It is you…” he breathed.

“Are you going to let me in?” she asked and dismissed the Astral Eye. She stood up straight and brushed herself off.

He swallowed but managed to compose himself enough to speak calmly, “Yes, of course.”

She smiled, “See? No need for unnecessary things, isn’t that great?” she said and held out her hand for him to take. He shook his head and got to his feet on his own, offering a slight bow as she pulled her hand back, her lips curled a little. Tsk.

Are you okay? Ishtar asked.

Sonya kept her face still, Just moody for some reason.

That came on suddenly. Right when you used your powers.

I’m fine, Sonya grumbled and slid her hand into her pocket. That odd spot of sensation that she’d felt back when she’d used her powers in the backrooms ached. She felt Ishtar’s frown but ignored it as Shuta turned away. He gestured to his companions and they led the way down the short concrete path towards the main doors of the building. Sonya took a moment to glance around as she flexed her fingers, working a little sensation back into them. The grassy garden on either side of the path was serene. Just a single tree on each side.

“Your boss likes it quiet,” she said.

“The leader thinks this environment is best for those with troubled hearts,” Shuta said quietly, reaching up to subtly rub at his neck. Marta had left a few marks.@@novelbin@@

Sonya glanced at Marta, her friend had already returned to her position a step behind her with her eyes partially closed. She did spy Marta’s hands clench a bit tighter as those brown eyes opened and she shot Shuta a warning look from behind. Sonya smirked at her and shrugged. She let out a breath and tried to calm her heart. Her temper was going through another swing. She’d been feeling so much better after that fun day with Cass and the others, and now she was irritable again.

Is there… something wrong with me? She didn’t feel Ishtar react and closed her eyes. Just calm down.

They arrived at the doors of the compound and Shuta turned around. He gave Sonya a polite bow before resting a hand on his sword in a comfortable stance, “Please understand, the people here are seeking sanctuary after their lives were upturned by the flash,” he said, “If you could, do not disturb their meditation.”

Sonya shrugged, “I’m not here to talk to them.”

He nodded, “Understood, the Leader is waiting down below. There is an elevator inside.”

She gestured magnanimously, “Lead the way then.”

The doors opened and she had to stop and catch her breath. She had expected grey concrete like the exterior of the building. Instead, what she saw was far more than she’d expected. White walls and low soothing lighting over the shiny stone floor. The scent of incense washed out to meet her nostrils as the warrior stepped to the side and gestured, “Please, come inside.”

–

In a hall made of steel, a pair walked briskly towards a pair of heavy doors. One was a woman with long black hair in a lab coat and the other an older man in a pandora committee uniform. The two came to a stop as a guard at the doors checked their badges before turning to press a key into a panel. The doors, a darker color than the rest of the hallway, hissed and parted to reveal a small chamber with another pair of doors a short distance away. The doors shut behind them before the second set opened, a wave of heat and something else washed over them and they glanced at one another.

“Why am I just now hearing about this?” Takehara asked.

“It was need to know,” the woman said flatly as they stepped through the second set of doors.

They entered a large room filled with equipment. The outer parts of the room were dark save for the screens where numerous researchers were observing readouts and talking amongst themselves. The inner part of the room was slightly recessed with steps leading down. Numerous spotlights were fixed into the ceiling and pointing down at the main point of interest. Two pillars engraved with strange runes and the rippling portal between them. A dungeon portal.

Two men stepped into the room carrying a crate. They set it down and opened it to reveal rows of large glowing crystals. One of the men pulled a crystal out and set it in front of a portal pillar. The light within the crystal began to dim as the portal rippled and pulsed.

Takehara tensed, “What is this?” he demanded, rounding on the woman.

The woman in the lab coat smiled, most of her appearance enshrouded by the low light. Her glasses shining in the reflections cast by the spotlights focused on the portal. Behind her, three figures stood, their glowing eyes fixed on him.

“Progress, Mister Takehara.”

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