The Golden Hao Tower

Zenpo City: The Fountain of Azures. Money never stopped moving in the Blue Kingdom’s capital. Whether it be a CEO at the top of their skyscraper or a street vendor shouting their wares, nobody could satiate the hunger for wealth. After all, if one were to be stagnant in an overflowing sea of azures, they would drown among the sharks.

Amid the bustling streets and rushing crowds, the invisible B-et cruised in the air. It didn’t matter that it was now two in the morning; there was never a dim moment in the city. Even though the moon and stars were hidden behind a thick layer of smog, the city’s bright lights bounced off the clouds, illuminating the night sky.

The B-et weaved around pillars of skyscrapers, each at least a hundred floors high. At every corner, holographic advertisements fought for even a sliver of attention. A model flaunting the newest fashion trends, a luxurious hotel with a package deal for the holidays, the floating head of a politician spouting their convictions and ideals nonstop, or simply just rotating food. No matter where Hiro turned, there was always something dazzling and shiny to stare at.

He leaned back and massaged his forehead. His mind spun. Flashing lights still poked through closed eyelids. His mind spun. To think the shopping district in Ushiro was already bad enough. An ordinary night in Zenpo City had it beat a hundred, if not a thousand, fold. And he wasn’t even walking among the crowds.

Shinji rubbed Hiro’s arm. “Not feeling so good, buddy?”

Hiro shoved his hand away. “Don’t try to console me after dragging me in here.”

Maki burst into laughter. “I forgot! You were just a lil’ country bumpkin not too long ago, huh, hobo? Takes a certain type of willpower to be in a place like this.”

“And you would know?” Hiro draped an arm over his eyes to try and block out the lights, but it was futile. “You’re just in your hole all day, aren’t you? Surely, you wouldn’t last here either.”

“Oh, you’re absolutely right! It’s why I left in the first place. But if you think I can’t hold my own against these stuck-up fancy pricks, you’d be sorely mistaken.”

“Heh. So you were a city girl, huh? Hard to imagine.”

“Ya got no idea how good it feels to hear that.”

Shinji handed him a bottle of water. “We’re almost there. Maybe we can hurry up, Mak— I mean, Ma’am?”

He was awfully nice for someone who just threatened to kill him an hour ago, Hiro thought.

“Okay, fine. I’m already gettin’ sick of this place anyway.” Maki stepped on the throttle, which only worsened Hiro’s headache. A short period later, the B-et stopped midair. “Alrighty! Take a good look, folks. This is what we’re dealin’ with: Hao Tower.”

A golden spiraling building stood far above the rest. Three helicopters circled around it, while guards in full black tactical armor and red visors patrolled the perimeter. Hao Corp’s crest—a red “H” topped with a diamond crown—was brandished front and center.

Hiro stood up. “Yeah, we’re going back to the base. Now.”

“No, we’re not,” Shinji immediately replied.

“The hell you mean, ‘No, we’re not’?! We’re gonna die!”

“Calm yourself. I’ve gone through many well-protected systems like this. It’ll be a breeze.”

Hiro gripped his shoulders. “Shinji, you have to listen. This isn’t worth it.”

“You take that back! She is worth everything!”

“It’s not even her! It’s just a poster!”

Shinji jabbed a finger into his chest. His eyes burned with conviction. “A poster she signed just for me! And if you don’t wanna die, I suggest shutting up.”

Hiro clawed at his own hair and screamed. “Why drag me into this, then?! Just kill Maki instead!”

“I…” Shinji exhaled deeply, bordering on a whimper, like he was about to cry. “I can’t. It’s too risky. No matter where I hide my precious treasures, she always ends up finding them. She told me the moment I harm her, they’ll all burn in flames.”

Once again, Hiro couldn’t believe such a spoiled brat could have this much power. Perhaps this was what raw talent could merit a person. He shook his head in disappointment.

Shinji looked up at him, eyes wide and glassy. He pressed his trembling lips together. “It’s not like I wanna kill you, either. You’re my pal. My buddy. But what choice do I have?!”

This was a cry for help. Hiro could only come up with one sane conclusion: what a complete and utter loser. Even so, Shinji’s desperation pierced his heart. He pitied him. But most importantly, if Hiro was to truly prove himself a worthy member of Lionheart, he’d have to see their safety through to the end.

“Will you two shut it for a sec?” Maki, equipped with yellow goggles, examined a hologram of the tower.

Hiro placed his hands on his hips. “Okay, princess. So, what’s the plan?”

She shushed him. “What part of ‘shut it’ don’t you understand? They’re almost back. Just wait a bit.”

“Who’s ‘they’?”

The B-et’s windows slid open, and robotic bees buzzed inside. One by one, they plugged their stingers into a socket on the side of Maki’s goggles. After tapping on a keyboard that popped out of the dashboard, the tower’s projection expanded. The interiors of each floor were revealed, culminating in a luxurious lobby at the top, labeled “Floor 200.”

Maki rubbed her chin, deep in thought. “Hm… As I expected. Hao Tower’s floor plans are supposed to be public information, but the ones online aren’t very accurate. There’s eight entire floors below the three underground parking bases that weren’t accounted for. Wonder what they’re hidin’ in there.”

“P-Pardon me for intruding, Ma’am.” Shinji lowered his head. “But I think we should focus on the task at hand: retrieve the fiery ball and make a clean exit.”

“Ooooo, Fireball! That’s a cute nickname for it!”

“Well? Where’s it at?” Hiro asked.

“That’s what I’m about to figure out.” Maki pressed a button on her goggles, and a beam of light shot out. As it swept over the projection, several red pulses flashed. The largest of them all, many times greater in intensity, was located at the middle of the tower. “Wew, crazy heat signature. That has to be the one.”

“Great.” Hiro shrugged. “All the way up there. Awesome.”

Shinji got up and tightened his gloves. “We’re lucky it’s not stored in the underground floors. Less chances of escaping down there.”

“Okay, but that still begs the next question. How do we get inside?”

“No need.” Shinji walked toward the door. “Only I need to sneak inside. Ma’am can just guide me from here.”

Maki wiggled her finger. “Nuh uh! You’re not goin’ alone. I’m comin’ with!”

“Aw. You care about me that much?”

Her cheeks puffed. “Hmph! I just don’t want any of your filthy hands touchin’ my soon-to-be baby!”

Hiro raised his hand. “I mean, as much as I’d hate to join you, isn’t it dangerous to go solo? What if you end up in combat? We can back you up.”

Maki waved him off. “Please. Worry about yourself first. You haven’t even proven your own worth on the battlefield yet. Just be our eyes, stay behind us, and keep us out of unnecessary trouble.”

Hiro’s expression fell, his hand dropping to his side. “Can’t I just do all that from here?”

“No. I forbid you. That’s no fun.”

Shinji crossed his arms. “You’ll only hold me back. It’ll be hard to babysit both of you if I ever have to fight.”

Maki pounded the dashboard. “We’re all comin’. Final. And don’t worry. I already have a plan.”

***

With the B-et parked on a convenience store’s roof, the trio began their trek to Hao Tower’s rear entrance. Their primary goal: to gain access to the surveillance room on the second floor. Shinji disappeared into the darkness, while Hiro pulled up his hood and walked out to the street. He tried to blend in with the crowd, but Maki following him around and mimicking his movements made that an insurmountable task.

Even at this late hour, hordes of people still filled the streets—some in suits rushing to work, groups sitting on the sidewalks in drunken laughter, and food trucks with long lines that wrapped around the block. The air had a constant buzz of life, filled with thundering footsteps and muted conversations.

At last, after getting through the busy main roads, they snuck through the alleyways. Once they got close enough to the tower, the two hid behind an overflowing dumpster.

“Status report. How are things looking?” Shinji’s voice asked, but they couldn’t determine where it came from.

Maki put her goggles on. “Two guards at the gate. About a four-minute drive from there to the entrance, where five more are waiting. Damn, that’s more than I expected.”

“And your bees, Ma’am?”

“Excuse me. Robobees. They’re almost in position. Give it a sec. What about you, hobo?”

Hiro’s eyes glowed green as he surveyed the area. “Uh oh. Looks like they got a delivery coming.” Some seconds later, just as predicted, a truck turned around the corner and stopped in front of the gate.

“No wonder there’s a bunch of ‘em,” Maki said. “Is there anyone else comin’?”

Hiro closed his eyes and clenched his jaw to focus. When he finished, he let out a quick gasp of air. “I looked as far as I could. We’re in the clear for now. I’ll keep you updated. But what about the truck? Do we wait ‘til they’re done? With so many of them—”

“No, this is perfect.” Maki pressed a button on her goggles. “Okay, my robobees are loopin’ current footage to their cameras right now. If we wait too long, they’re gonna know somethin’s up. Servant, go!”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Smoke soon rose from the ground. As the targets looked down, indigo light flashed. Their heads flew into the air, and a masked Shinji appeared out of thin air to catch them. He shook the blood off his blade.

The driver, a portly man with a blue cap, poked his head out the window. “Hey, what’s the hold u—”

With blinding speed, Shinji drove a knife into his forehead. It slid through the skull like butter. “Phew. Forgot one. I’m getting rusty.”

“Go! Go! Go!” Maki whispered as she pulled Hiro by the jacket and crossed the street. She knelt down beside the two dead guards. “Tch. They’re too big for me. Quick, while no one’s watching!”

Hurriedly, the boys carried the bodies to the back of the truck. The whole time, Hiro turned his face away, trying his hardest not to breathe in. Blood trickled down from the severed neck onto his hands. The metallic smell of fresh blood lingered under his nose. It took everything he had not to squeal.

They lifted up the roll-up door to reveal a wheeled metal crate fitted with a cooling system. When Maki climbed up for a closer examination. It was about twice her height. She scanned the crate with her goggles while Hiro and Shinji dumped the bodies inside.

“Well? What is it?” Shinji asked.

“Patience,” she said. “It has a heat signature. Damn, plated with chromium too.”

“Oh? Maybe it’s another solarium core. That’ll save us loads of time.”

She shook her head. “Nah. The crate would’ve melted easily. And why such a big container? But that’s not the wacky part. Kinda faint, but… it’s movin’. Whatever’s in there, it’s alive.”

Shinji glanced at the crate, then at her. “Did a background check on Hao Xiue. He’s got a collection of exotic pets. This is probably one of them.”

Her hands flopped down. “Oh. Well, that’s booorin’. Back to the mission at hand. Chop chop, boys! Put those clothes on!”

Hiro inspected the guard’s outfit. It was definitely too small for him. “This isn’t gonna fit.”

“Well, make it fit. We can’t afford feelin’ comfy now, can we?”

While they spoke, Shinji had already slipped into the uniform. Being much smaller, he easily wore it over his armor. He concealed his blades beneath the bulletproof vest. “Hurry it up. I’ll help.”

Together, they stripped the guard and wrestled the ill-fitting clothes onto Hiro. The fabric stretched awkwardly across his shoulders, and the sleeves ended well above his wrists, but it would have to do. At least the utility belt was adjustable. After squeezing the helmet and mask onto his head, Hiro rolled his jacket to a ball and jumped out of the truck.

“It ain’t nap time yet, hobo. Don’t get distracted,” Maki told him.

He buried the jacket underneath a hedge by the gate. “This one’s important to me. It’s a gift. I can’t lose it.”

“Okaaay, just hurry it up!” Maki snatched the driver’s blue cap and hopped in front of the wheel. After Hiro climbed up the back, she stepped on the gas.

Trekking from the gate to the main building felt like traversing through a manicured park. The entire area was bathed in light. Thick bushes and towering trees framed the spacious grounds. At its heart was a fountain crowned by a diamond fish statue that endlessly poured water from its gaping mouth.

Not even the back entrance shied away from the rest of Hao Tower’s extravagance. A golden arch adorned with pearls stretched above the sliding door. Large, vibrant koi swam underneath the glass steps. One of the five stationed guards signaled for the truck to stop, while the other four walked to its rear.

A guard knocked on Maki’s window. As she rolled it down, he said, “Alright, Taro. Just got a bit of paperwork to go through and— Huh?!”

Maki shrugged. “What?”

He stared at her cap. “Who are you? Where’s Taro?”

She tapped its brim. “He’s feelin’ sick. I’m pullin’ in for him today.”

“What? But he just called us earlier. And why’d the guys at the gate let a kid in?”

She let out a deep sigh and snapped her fingers. “Not even gonna bother. Time’s up, boys. Get ‘em!”

Shinji tilted his neck from side to side, giving it a quick crack. “When we get back home, she better make that frame extra polished,” he whispered to himself.

Smoke erupted from his feet as Hiro lifted up the door. In an instant, Shinji was gone. He glided between the guards in a blur. Each slash cut through a vital organ with surgical precision. They all fell in quick succession, silent and lifeless.

Hiro’s jaw dropped. He thought he’d seen it all with Haruka, but Shinji was a different type of monster. So clean and effortless—this was the type of strength he aspired to have. When, or if, they returned, he was determined to seek out his training.

Maki scurried to the bodies and clapped her hands. “Hiro, we still clear?”

He gave her a thumbs up.

“Great. Get it movin! Tick tock goes the clock!”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Shinji, with Hiro’s help and none of Maki’s, tossed the guards inside and locked it shut. He then sliced the handle off and lobbed it at the grass.

In her excitement, Maki punched her own hand. “Finally, time to get inside. Ready, boys?”

Hiro, to his own surprise, was the first to nod. Everything so far had gone quite smoothly. He couldn’t help but feel a triumphant grin tugging at the corners of his lips. If they pulled this off, maybe he could prove his own mettle after all. Daydreams of Leo’s praises as he brought the two idiots home filled his mind. All he had to do was stay away from unnecessary fights from here on out, completely safe and risk-free. Even so, as he took his first step forward, he couldn’t shake off the nagging thought.

From here on out, there was no turning back.