Bringing chaos to a city of tranquility

- I’m in tears. This food is delicious! - Nicholas exclaims in joy, devouring everything he gets his hands on.

- I haven’t eaten something of this quality in a long time - Lirika praises, savouring every bite.

- Your words warmly reverberate in my metal! Since my creator didn’t grant me the gift of taste, I was afraid all the food he stocked would go to waste.

Enjoying a feast made by Zalaxander, who is wearing an apron and a toque blanche, the party is in their house’s dining room. Sharing the same elegant design of the entrance hall and lacking the eccentricity of Isaac’s creations, this spacious room feels cozy with its antique furniture and fireplace. More focused on gathering information from the corrupter’s database than eating until now, Pietra speaks:

- I found something that could lead us to Giovanni.

- Really?! Where? - Kai asks in a worried tone.

- One corrupter recently reported to have found a church similar to the one we spawned in a city called Fesolgu. It is written here that Fesolgu is the capital of Ecino, a welcoming empire with a beautiful and rich culture.

- Oh? So we are going to a nice place this time?

- It seems it's not recommended to go there now because the emperor died a few months ago and the heirs are fighting for the throne in a bloody civil war.

- Lovely.

- If this is the only lead we have, we gotta go - Nicholas says as if it's already decided.

Pietra looks at Lirika and Asai.

- We understand if you want to stay behind. It’s going to be dangerous, and it’s a personal matter of ours.

- Asai! - she proclaims with confidence.

- Count me in. I still have a debt to you. Besides, tagging along has been quite fun so far.

The trio smiles at their loyalty.

- Ah, the excitement of a journey! I wish I could accompany you, but my whole existence is bound to this building to the point that if I leave, I’ll vanish in seconds. So I’ll stay… Forever - Zalaxander states, exaggerating his sadness.

- We will bring you a souvenir - Kai gives it a pat on the back.

- Wonderful! I will pray for your safe return, even though I have no real soul for a god to hear it.

- Our next mission is settled, then. We leave tomorrow morning, be ready.

–—//–—

The next day, at Suzuki’s domain.

- Yesterday, I got in contact with the corrupter who found the church. We will meet him at the other side of the archway to Fesolgu.

- So you made a plan beforehand? That’s our Pietra - Kai claps his hands.

Nicholas is afflicted, looking in the direction of Suzuki’s room.

- She didn’t come to greet us this time…

- What do you think? - Kai whispers to Isaac’s presence.

- Sadness is a recurring companion of an artist. Although I do not know how grief will inspire her, I do trust in her potential to create magnificent art, so her bloom will be extraordinary for sure.

- I didn’t understand at least half of what you said.

- Expected.

- Leave.

He vanishes temporarily.

- When we get back, we can talk to her - Pietra slightly comforts Nicholas.

- Okay…

The archway leading to Fesolgu features a pagoda situated behind it, surrounded by trees of various colors that create a stunning postcard-like scene of what lies beyond. Without taking a moment to reconsider, the party steps through the portal.

They find themselves teleported to the backyard of an abandoned building within the city. A small garden enhances the archway that leads back to Suzuki's domain.

- Where’s our corrupter? - Kai gazes at Pietra.

- He said people are too wary thanks to the conflict, so he’s disguising himself as a regular citizen in a tea shop nearby.

- What about us?

- There are some cloaks in that abandoned place.

- Smart. At least for once, we are meeting someone with a brain.

After getting ready, they head outside. Although an unusual number of patrolling guards can be seen, this area has yet to be afflicted by any battle. In fact, it seems that no war is happening at all, as citizens calmly come and go through these narrow stone streets. The buildings, adorned with intricate carvings and vibrant colors, exude grace and temperance. Gentle flames dance alongside delicate paper lanterns, illuminating the homes even during the day.

- It’s like we went back in time in the ancient far east - Nicholas admires his surroundings.

- Hmm, are those beautiful spirit ladies that I'm spotting giggling near that restaurant with my little eye? - Kai locks in.

- Don’t get distracted now - Pietra pulls his ear.

- Is that guy dressing like a clown, waving at us the one we are looking for? - Lirika points at a man, ridiculously more prominent compared to anyone else in the street, wearing a yukata featuring golden kois. The icing on the cake is his weapon, a katana.

- This is so culturally outrageous that if we started beating him to death, no one would interfere… - Kai looks at him in disbelief.

Pietra turns around.

- Let’s pretend we didn’t see him and find the church ourselves.

Before they could escape, the fancy dude caught up with them.

- Wait, I’m over here! Haha, so my disguise was so good you guys didn’t notice me? - he grins.

The group stares at him in silence. Exhaling a cocky attitude with his 5.4ft, he has narrow, green eyes and a samurai bun.

-  Yeah, yeah. I’m the Tobias. You guys can have an autograph or take a picture. I don’t mind~

A "the who?" in union is said by them all.

This shocks the young lad.

- What?! You guys don’t know who I am? I’m a legend among corrupters! I was one of the first to be summoned in this world, and I always make sure to post my renowned deeds!

- Don’t worry about it. We’ve been around for less than a month - Nicholas reassures Tobias.

- Phew! For a second, I thought you were mentally ill or something - he states with genuine concern.

- I’m telling you, if we punch him now, even the guards will turn a blind eye - Kai whispers to the others.

- Can you take us to the curious construction you mentioned in the database? A friend of ours might be there - Pietra, as usual, goes straight to the point.

- Of course! Follow me, fellow corrupters! - he happily declares out loud, leading the way.

- Should we, though… - Kai’s pessimism is noticeable.

- C’mon, if we survived Gadreas, we can handle this guy.

Just like where the party arrived, the rest of the city looks way too peaceful for a civil war to be happening.

- Tobias, the information about Fasolgu claimed that an internal conflict was occurring.

- And it is. It’s just that the heirs are more into politics than doing things with their bare hands. To my frustration, the real game is happening in the shadows, far from our eyes to see. If I knew things would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have come here.

- Your frustration? What do you mean? - Nicholas asks, curious.

Tobias sighs.

- I love a good battle. I was excited to offer my sword to one of the successors and help them achieve victory. Especially since Ecino’s army has the reputation of being the strongest on this continent.

- Hmm. I think I can understand that. Participating in a fight of this scale in a fantasy world is probably very cool - Kai nods.

- Right?! Now killing the emperor feels like a waste!

- That, on the other hand, I don’t understand - Kai reproves.

- Wait a second. Can you repeat it? I believe I didn’t hear you right - Pietra puts herself in the middle of the others, gesturing for the conversation to stop.

- Hmm? I killed the emperor.

- I probably won’t like the answer anyway, but… Can you tell me why?! - Pietra shouts the last part.

- How else would I incite rage and suspicion between the three siblings?

Pietra was about to argue back; however, she realized it was pointless.

- Do any of them know it was you?

- Haha, of course not! I made sure to plant fake proofs of each heir at the scene. Do you think I’m stupid?

- I'd rather not answer that.

- Oh, we arrived.

Now in a less populated part of Fesolgu, the group faces a tall gate with mythical creatures carved on it.

- Is it inside?

- Yes. Give me a second - Tobias starts to lockpick the entrance.

- What are you doing? - Nicholas scolds him.

- I see. You want to jump over the wall. I like your style.

- No! Why don’t we knock?

- Because it's a private temple. Does it matter, though? Aren’t we going to eliminate everyone except your friend?

Exchanging glances, the gang wonders how crazy Tobias actually is.

- Let’s talk first, okay?

- Urgh… Why do you care about diplomacy here? This world is ours to do what we want. Stop worrying about some NPCs.

Exchanging glances a second time, they are certain he is a psychopath.

Kai points to a distant, random direction.

- Ah! A bloodbath is about to start over there! - he says, monotonic.

- Where are you going? - Tobias runs swiftly toward a nearby crowd.

- Hurry up before he comes back. We can think about an excuse later.

- Corrupters never cease to amuse me - Lirika laughs.

Taking advantage of the door unlocked by their new insane acquaintance, they rush inside, hoping to find answers to their questions.