Bounty Regression

The outskirts of Anzicalis were quieter than the capital itself.
Not quiet.
Just less crowded.
The polished roads of the inner districts had gradually given way to rougher stone paths and patches of dry earth. Buildings became more spread out. The enormous walls of Anzicalis remained visible behind them, rising above the horizon like a reminder that civilization was never more than a few minutes away.
The 13th Gate Guard had followed Tatsuchi's group through the southern checkpoint and now occupied a stretch of rocky ground beyond the last major cluster of buildings.
Thirty-two soldiers.
Four squads.
Enough manpower to deal with a group of ordinary mercenaries.
Not enough to start a war.
Tatsuchi stood at the front of them, one hand resting casually against the hilt of Shinkoku.
The morning sun reflected off the silver blade guard.
She looked toward the distant hills.
Somewhere beyond them, according to the information they'd received, a group of mercenaries had been distributing bounty notices connected to the Revolutionary Army.
The fact itself wasn't surprising.
The Revolutionary Army had been active for years.
What concerned Tatsuchi was how close they were operating to Anzicalis.
Too close.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Captain."
Zhenyu stood beside her.
He had his hands resting loosely at his sides, but his eyes were constantly moving.
The hills.
The road.
The soldiers.
The rooftops in the distance.
He had been checking everything since they left the city.
Tatsuchi glanced at him.
"What?"
"You've been staring at the same hill for five minutes."
"I'm thinking."
"That's usually when you become dangerous."
Tatsuchi looked at him.
Zhenyu smiled faintly.
"I'm joking."
"I know."
Asumi walked up behind them.
She had somehow acquired a pastry from one of the vendors near the checkpoint and was eating it while carrying her sword with the other hand.
Zhenyu stared.
"Where did you get that?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Actually, yes."
Asumi took another bite.
"I have connections."
"You bought it."
"Those are connections."
Tatsuchi sighed.
"We're about to approach suspected mercenaries."
Asumi swallowed.
"I know."
"And you're eating."
"I get hungry."
"During missions?"
"Especially during missions."
Zhenyu shook his head.
"I don't know how you became Second Seat."
Asumi smiled.
"Natural talent."
Tatsuchi glanced at her.
"She bribed the examiners."
"I did not."
"You considered it."
"Considering something isn't a crime."
"With you, I'm not sure."
Asumi laughed.
Tatsuchi's expression remained mostly unchanged, but there was a slight amusement in her eyes.
The tension in the group eased.
Then Zhenyu's expression hardened.
He looked toward the hill again.
"Enough."
Tatsuchi followed his gaze.
A small movement.
Something behind the rocks.
Then another.
People.
At least twenty.
Tatsuchi's hand moved away from Shinkoku.
"Positions."
The soldiers behind them immediately responded.
The joking stopped.
Thirty-two Gate Guards spread across the rocky ground.
The front line lowered their weapons.
The rear line prepared ranged weapons.
A pair of soldiers moved to the flanks.
Tatsuchi remained at the center.
Zhenyu stood slightly behind her.
Asumi moved to the left.
The mercenaries had not noticed them yet.
Tatsuchi studied the terrain.
Open ground.
Several rocky ridges.
A narrow path between two hills.
No civilians.
Good.
"Captain," one of the soldiers called quietly.
Tatsuchi raised two fingers.
The soldier stopped speaking.
She listened.
Wind.
Loose gravel.
Birds.
Then voices.
The mercenaries were close.
Tatsuchi looked at Zhenyu.
"How many?"
"Thirty-two."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're sure?"
"Thirty-two."
Asumi looked impressed.
"That's creepy."
Zhenyu shrugged.
"I counted."
Tatsuchi looked forward again.
"Nobody kills anyone."
The order carried across the formation.
Several soldiers nodded.
"Yes, Captain."
Tatsuchi's voice became colder.
"Capture them. We need information."
Zhenyu nodded.
"Restrain first. Ask questions after."
Asumi finished her pastry.
She wiped her fingers against a cloth and drew her sword.
"Sounds easy."
Tatsuchi looked at her.
"It won't be."
Asumi smiled.
"That's why it's fun."
A voice suddenly shouted from the hill.
"Gate Guards!"
The mercenaries had spotted them.
Everything changed.
Weapons came out.
Some men reached for guns.
Others drew swords.
A few immediately began running toward the rocks.
"Spread!"
Tatsuchi shouted.
The 13th Gate Guard moved.
The first volley of bullets cracked through the air.
Zhenyu stepped forward.
His palm opened.
The air distorted.
"Gravity."
The bullets slowed.
Not stopped.
Slowed.
Their trajectories bent downward as the invisible force around them increased.
Metal rounds struck the dirt.
A few ricocheted harmlessly into the rocks.
Zhenyu's eyes narrowed.
"Move!"
The Gate Guards surged forward.
Tatsuchi disappeared into the formation.
Asumi followed.
The mercenaries charged down the hill.
There were more than expected.
A lot more.
But Tatsuchi wasn't worried.
She was smiling.
Not because she wanted to hurt them.
Because finally, there was something she could solve with the thing she trusted most.
Her own ability.
A mercenary rushed toward her with a sword raised overhead.
Tatsuchi stepped to the side.
The blade passed her shoulder.
She rotated.
Her elbow struck the man's wrist.
The sword dropped.
Before he could recover, Tatsuchi kicked his knee sideways and sent him crashing onto his back.
She didn't finish him.
She didn't need to.
Another mercenary came from behind.
Tatsuchi ducked.
A second blade passed over her head.
She spun low, sweeping the man's legs out from underneath him.
He hit the ground.
Tatsuchi moved again.
Three attackers.
One after another.
She didn't overpower them.
She dismantled them.
A wrist.
A knee.
A shoulder.
A weapon.
Every movement was precise.
Every opening was immediately punished.
She fought like someone who had spent her entire life learning that wasted movement was weakness.
A gunshot cracked behind her.
Tatsuchi twisted.
A bullet passed where her head had been.
Zhenyu's hand moved.
"Gravity: Bind."
The shooter suddenly dropped to one knee.
The dirt beneath his boots cracked.
He tried to stand.
Couldn't.
His entire body had become heavier.
"You're staying there."
Zhenyu closed his fist.
The gravitational pressure increased.
The mercenary's weapon fell from his hand.
Zhenyu looked toward the nearby soldiers.
"Take him."
Two Gate Guards rushed over and restrained him.
"Yes, Vice Captain."
Another mercenary charged Zhenyu from the side.
Zhenyu saw him.
He didn't turn.
"Behind you!"
Asumi's voice came from across the battlefield.
Zhenyu smiled.
"Already know."
He stepped backward.
The attacker swung.
Zhenyu tilted his body just enough for the blade to miss.
Then he raised one hand.
"Gravity: Shift."
The mercenary's body suddenly lurched sideways.
His feet left the ground.
He flew several meters before crashing into a patch of dirt.
Two soldiers immediately moved in.
Zhenyu looked over.
"See?"
Asumi stared.
"You could've punched him."
"I could've."
"But you didn't."
"Captain said nobody dies."
Asumi blinked.
Then smiled.
"You're really taking this responsible thing seriously."
"Someone has to."
Tatsuchi heard them.
"Are you two finished talking?"
Zhenyu looked toward her.
"Mostly."
Tatsuchi turned.
A massive mercenary was approaching.
He was taller than her by nearly a head, wearing reinforced armor and carrying a heavy metal club.
He swung.
Tatsuchi blocked with Shinkoku.
The impact drove her boots backward.
Stone cracked beneath her feet.
The mercenary grinned.
"Got you."
Tatsuchi looked up at him.
"No."
She pushed the club aside.
Her foot slid forward.
One step.
Then another.
She entered his range before he could swing again.
Her blade flashed.
Not toward his throat.
Not toward his heart.
Across his chest.
The silver edge cut through his clothing and armor just enough to knock him backward, leaving a deep but controlled slash across the front of his armor.
The man staggered.
Tatsuchi caught his wrist.
Twisted.
He dropped.
She kicked the weapon away.
"Stay down."
The mercenary looked up at her.
Fear replaced the confidence in his eyes.
Tatsuchi turned away.
She didn't need to kill him.
She'd already won.
Across the battlefield, Asumi was having a different problem.
Three mercenaries had cornered her.
One came from the front.
Two from behind.
Asumi smiled.
"That's cute."
She stepped backward.
Her shadow moved with her.
The man in front swung.
Asumi ducked.
The blade passed above her head.
Her shadow stretched.
"Umbrerum."
The darkness beneath the mercenary's feet suddenly rose.
Black strands wrapped around his ankles.
He fell.
Asumi spun.
The second mercenary raised his weapon.
Her shadow caught his wrist.
She pulled.
He stumbled forward.
Asumi slammed her shoulder into his chest and sent him rolling across the dirt.
The third attacker came at her.
Asumi turned.
Her shadow rose between them.
The sword struck the darkness.
It stopped.
Asumi's smile disappeared.
The mercenary pushed harder.
"Got you."
Her eyes narrowed.
The shadow around his weapon tightened.
She could feel it.
She could end this.
One command.
One movement.
She could force her shadow through his body.
She knew exactly how.
Her fingers twitched.
For one second, the battlefield disappeared.
There was only him.
The opening.
The power.
The choice.
Kill him.
Asumi's expression changed.
She hesitated.
Just long enough.
The mercenary pulled his sword free.
He swung again.
Asumi flinched.
The blade came down.
Tatsuchi appeared between them.
Shinkoku flashed.
The mercenary's weapon flew from his hand.
Tatsuchi didn't look at Asumi.
"Focus."
Asumi swallowed.
"I was focused."
"No."
Tatsuchi stepped forward.
The mercenary backed away.
Tatsuchi raised Shinkoku.
The blade struck across his chest.
A clean, controlled cut.
The man fell backward, conscious but stunned.
Tatsuchi lowered her sword.
"You hesitated."
Asumi stared at her.
"I know."
"Why?"
Asumi looked at the fallen mercenary.
Her expression became quieter.
"I don't know."
Tatsuchi watched her.
Then turned away.
"Figure it out later."
Zhenyu approached.
"You okay?"
Asumi nodded.
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Zhenyu looked at Tatsuchi.
Tatsuchi nodded once.
He understood.
No need to push.
A gunshot cracked again.
Zhenyu immediately turned.
"Down!"
Gravity expanded outward.
The force pushed the nearby soldiers toward the ground just as bullets passed overhead.
The mercenaries tried to retreat.
Zhenyu raised both hands.
"Gravity: Compression."
The air seemed to fold.
The mercenaries stumbled.
Their bodies became heavier.
Weapons slipped from their hands.
Several dropped to their knees.
The Gate Guards moved immediately.
One squad restrained the nearest group.
Another secured the weapons.
A third surrounded the remaining mercenaries.
Tatsuchi walked through the center.
The fight was ending.
She looked around.
No bodies.
No blood-soaked battlefield.
Just thirty-two captured mercenaries, several unconscious, many bruised, and a collection of confiscated weapons scattered across the dirt.
Tatsuchi sheathed Shinkoku.
The sound echoed through the hills.
Click.
Done.
She looked at Asumi.
"You almost killed him."
Asumi's shoulders dropped.
"I know."
"Don't let it happen again."
Asumi looked at her.
"You aren't angry?"
Tatsuchi frowned.
"Why would I be?"
"You sounded angry."
"I'm a Captain. I sound angry."
Zhenyu snorted.
"That's not reassuring."
Tatsuchi ignored him.
She looked toward the captured mercenaries.
"We're not here to punish them."
Zhenyu nodded.
"We're here for information."
"Exactly."
Tatsuchi walked toward one of the men.
He looked up nervously.
She crouched.
"Who gave you the bounty notices?"
The man didn't answer.
Tatsuchi tilted her head.
"You don't need to be afraid."
The man looked confused.
"You just cut through my armor."
"You were attacking me."
"You nearly broke my chest."
"You swung a club at me."
The man stared.
Tatsuchi stared back.
Zhenyu covered his face with one hand.
Asumi whispered, "This is going great."
Tatsuchi stood.
"Take them back."
The soldiers began gathering the mercenaries.
One Gate Guard approached with a collection of bags.
"We found these."
Tatsuchi looked down.
Wallets.
Phones.
Paperwork.
Several bounty notices.
Zhenyu took the papers.
His expression changed.
"These are the names."
Tatsuchi reached for them.
Zhenyu handed them over.
There were dozens.
Noble families.
Provincial officials.
Military administrators.
Several names had already been crossed out.
Tatsuchi's eyes narrowed.
"These aren't random."
"No," Zhenyu said.
He looked through one of the phones.
"There are messages too."
Asumi leaned over his shoulder.
"Can you get into it?"
"No."
She smiled.
"Want me to?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you'll probably somehow make the phone explode."
"I've only done that twice."
"That's two times too many."
Tatsuchi looked toward the captured mercenaries.
"Take everything."
One of the soldiers nodded.
"Captain?"
"Photograph every document. Copy every message we can legally access. Record every name. Then return to the office."
The soldier hesitated.
"And you?"
Tatsuchi looked toward the road leading south.
"We're going to Saltmere."
Zhenyu looked at her.
"That's seven hours."
"Eight, depending on the road."
"You're aware we could take a vehicle."
Tatsuchi paused.
She looked toward the soldiers.
Then toward the capital.
Then south.
"...We'll walk."
Zhenyu stared.
"Why?"
Tatsuchi smiled.
"Because I said so."
Asumi laughed.
"That's the worst reason I've ever heard."
"It's still the reason."
Zhenyu sighed.
"Fine."
Tatsuchi turned toward the soldiers.
"One more thing."
The entire group straightened.
Tatsuchi pointed toward the capital.
"Take the prisoners back to Anzicalis."
"Yes, Captain."
"Then return to my office."
The soldiers nodded.
"You'll compile a full report."
Another nod.
"Every name. Every weapon. Every piece of evidence. Every statement from the prisoners. I want timestamps, locations, photographs, copies of the bounty notices, and a record of exactly how many people were involved."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And once it's finished, send it to every Gate Captain."
The soldiers exchanged glances.
"Every Captain?"
"Every one."
Tatsuchi smiled faintly.
"If someone is placing bounties on nobles across Phoenixis, I want the entire Gate Guard hierarchy aware of it."
The soldier bowed.
"Understood."
Tatsuchi turned away.
The soldiers began organizing themselves.
Some looked nervous.
They had seen their Captain fight.
They had watched her dismantle opponents without hesitation.
Even though she had ordered them not to kill, Tatsuchi's reputation was enough to make some of the younger soldiers uneasy.
Others looked toward Asumi.
Not with fear.
With something closer to awe.
Asumi noticed.
She raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
One soldier immediately looked away.
Another whispered something to his friend.
Asumi glanced down at herself.
Her uniform was slightly disheveled from the fight, her pink hair messy, her figure naturally striking beneath the loose combat clothing.
She had always been noticeably attractive.
Even without trying.
The kind of person who drew attention simply by walking into a room.
Her proportions made her look almost unfairly elegant for someone who spent most of her time fighting, joking, and eating whatever food she could find.
Asumi caught another soldier staring.
She smiled.
"You okay?"
The soldier turned bright red.
"Y-yes, Second Seat."
Asumi grinned.
"Good."
She turned toward Tatsuchi.
"Did you see that?"
"Yes."
"He was staring."
"I noticed."
"Do you think I'm intimidating?"
Tatsuchi looked at her.
"No."
Asumi's smile dropped.
"Wow."
Zhenyu laughed.
"You asked."
"I was expecting support."
"You've got plenty of that."
Asumi looked toward the soldiers again.
Several were still sneaking glances.
She shrugged.
"Maybe I'm terrifying in a different way."
Tatsuchi shook her head.
"You're impossible."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I accepted it as one."
Zhenyu stepped between them.
"Can we leave before this becomes another argument?"
Tatsuchi nodded.
"Let's go."
The soldiers of the 13th Gate Guard began marching back toward Anzicalis.
Their captured mercenaries were secured.
The evidence was collected.
The bounty notices were sealed away.
Tatsuchi watched them disappear toward the city.
She didn't wave.
She simply stood with her hands behind her head.
Asumi stood beside her.
Zhenyu stood on the other side.
The three looked toward the southern road.
It stretched farther than any of them could see.
Saltmere was somewhere beyond it.
Garudon waited beyond the horizon.
And with it came the first real clue to a mystery that would eventually become much larger than any of them understood.
Zhenyu looked toward Tatsuchi.
"Ready?"
Tatsuchi smiled.
"Obviously."
Asumi adjusted her sleeves.
"Do we get food when we get there?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm ready."
Zhenyu sighed.
"That's all it takes?"
"Food is a powerful motivator."
Tatsuchi started walking.
"Keep up."
They followed.
...
Seven hours later, the landscape had changed completely.
The road had carried them far from the orderly outskirts of Anzicalis.
The stone paths of Phoenixis had gradually disappeared beneath rougher roads and dry earth. The air had grown warmer. The terrain had opened.
And eventually, the smell changed.
Salt.
Smoke.
Oil.
The distant ocean.
Saltmere.
Garudon.
Tatsuchi stopped near the edge of the city.
Ahead of them, lights stretched across the horizon.
The city was rougher than Anzicalis.
Less polished.
Less controlled.
But alive.
Zhenyu looked toward the streets.
"Welcome to Saltmere."
Asumi smiled.
"Finally."
Tatsuchi adjusted the sword at her hip.
She looked toward the city.
Somewhere inside it were answers.
The bounty notices.
The Revolutionary Army.
And perhaps something else.
Something she couldn't yet name.
She started walking again.
Behind them, the desert wind carried the last traces of Anzicalis away.
Ahead, Saltmere waited.
And somewhere beyond the city, the Revolutionary Army had already begun moving.
The sound of the ocean was drowned out by the sounds of disaster.