Date: July 30th, 2011
After collecting our things and returning our keys to reception, I open a portal on the way to Chitaga, the city where the 4-story building to be purchased and the seller are located.
"In truth, your teleportation ability is quite handy." Nicholas says as he walks through the portal next to me.
"I created it mainly for that reason. But it has its limitations." I reply.
We're not currently "inside" the city, but in a secluded, hidden area near it. My ability can open portals to any location I visit, but opening a portal can attract unwanted attention from passersby.
Furthermore, once it's closed, I have to spend one use to reopen it, so this time I've chosen a more hidden area than usual to keep the portal open while we address the matters at hand, as it would be more inconvenient otherwise.
"Nicholas, start leading the way to the seller. We only have 1 hour before the portal closes by itself, so we need to hurry." I urge Nicholas, who nods and starts running at full speed, followed by me.
Fortunately, Nicholas has also visited the cities where the buildings we're interested in are being sold, so after about 12 minutes of running, we arrive at the real estate agency, which looks small and somewhat shady.
"Nicholas, is this really the right real estate agency? I know the building for sale isn't a very attractive property and it's in a questionable area, but I didn't think the real estate agency of such a large building would look like this." I ask a little suspiciously.
"I know appearances don't give a great impression, but I've done a thorough investigation into their sales, reputation, and tax situation, and everything is in accordance with legal regulations. Trust me, boss." Nicholas says confidently giving me a smile with a wink.
"Okay. I'll leave the matter in your hands then. I don't know how these things are done either." I shrug as we walk in.
In keeping with the premises, the seller and the notary present do not appear to be professionals, but rather men of shady dealings. However, the transaction between Nicholas and them appears to be professional, and the terms and clauses of the contract appear to be in order, so after a few minutes of completing and checking the necessary legal procedures, we sign the property deed and make the payment by bank transfer.
With the property deed, a copy of the contract and a bunch of the building keys in hand, we shook hands with the real estate agent and ran full speed ahead to our new offices. After 7 minutes, we finally arrived at the building.
The four-story building itself has a somewhat unsightly appearance, with some cracks on its walls and exterior partitions. Its color gives the impression of being somewhat deteriorated due to its dirty appearance, and it has a couple of graffiti on the lower walls.
However, this facade is deceptive, as the windows on the different floors are in good condition, the walls don't appear to be in bad shape upon inspection, and it even has a parking area for up to three cars.
"At first glance, the appearance is a little worrying. Let's go inside to see what it's like." I say Nicholas besides me.
Entering through the main door, Nicholas and I began to walk through the hallways and rooms on the different floors of the building, and to our surprise, they are much better than the exterior facade suggests.
It's true that there's some dust around the place, but there are no signs of any bug or animal infestation, nor does it appear that any homeless people or gangs have previously settled there. Furthermore, the premises appear to be in good condition, with no dampness, leaks, or crumbling walls, which is something important to keep in mind.
As we established with the seller in the sales contract, the place has a certain level of furniture, including tables, chairs, sofas, and bookshelves (albeit empty) throughout the rooms and offices. The place has truly been better cared for than it might appear at first glance.
"I have to admit, Nicholas, you have a knack for business management. This place is great." I say as I look around.
"You make me proud with your words, boss." Nicholas replies with a wide smile from ear to ear.
"Although there are still a few things left to add for decoration and functionality, like books for the shelves or coffee makers for the rooms. I imagine you don't have that kind of thing in your inventory, right?" I ask.
"I haven't had time to buy them between all the busy travels. Besides, you know my ability would be harder to use efficiently if I had too many items on." Nicholas responds, displaying a somewhat tired and complaining attitude.
"Yes, you're right. Well, then we'll have to buy those things online and have them shipped here. Can you take care of that?" I ask scratching the back of my neck.
"I'll get on with it right now, boss." He responds by starting to type on his laptop.
"Good. In the meantime, I will prepare the security personnel." I say picking up one of my disposable phones and calling someone for work.
"Riven, it's me."
"First of all, what kind of trust is that? Remember, you and I aren't partners or friends. I'm your master and boss at a mercenary agency, so you have to approach me with the discipline and professionalism that entails." I reprimand him with a serious and sharp attitude.
"As for the second, I'm not finished with my Blacklist Hunter duties yet. I'm just in a moment where I need your services, so I want you to report to me on your current situation in Heavens Arena?"
"How does that leave your record?"
"Are you all currently in the tower?"
"That'll be enough for me. Call Tetsu to meet me urgently at the entrance to the 230th floor."
"You'll know when you get there. Now stop asking questions and bring Tetsu here at once, is that clear?" I ask, trying to sound more authoritative.
Having given Riven the orders, I hang up the phone and start typing a message to Natasha telling her that Riven and Tetsu will be leaving Heavens Arena for a while and that she mustn't try to contact them or me, telling her that I will contact her when the time is right.
"Your performance as a boss hasn't been bad, but there are still certain points that you need to work on more." Nicholas says as he continues searching the net.
"Ah, I haven't been authoritarian enough, have I? I'm still struggling to play the role." I comment.
"You're still inexperienced, but you'll get the hang of it over time. Don't worry, boss. You have what it takes to be a good martial arts master."
With these words of encouragement, I nod gratefully to Nicholas and open a portal to my private room in Heavens Arena. Once there I grab a drink from my private fridge before heading to wait for Riven and Tetsu in front of the elevator, and after 14 minutes, the elevator finally opens with the two of them stepping out.
"You are late." I tell them seriously with my arms crossed.
"I couldn't get there any sooner. I was on the ground floor, and the elevator was very busy, so I had to make several stops. What would you want me to do?" Tetsu complains, making excuses to avoid blame.
"We'll talk about it another day. Now, both of you, follow me." I say turning around and starting to walk.
"Follow you? If we were supposed to go somewhere, shouldn't we have met there instead?"
"Don't question me, just follow me! That is, if you still want to work for me and have me help you with your training!" I immediately retort in an aggressive tone as I turn my gaze back to Riven after his attempt at appealing to the absurd.
Riven lowers his head at my threat, and both he and Tetsu obediently follow me to my room. Once there, after being surprised by my portal, they both follow me through it, and while they scan the offices where we end up, I close the portal and prepare to reopen it, this time in the city where the dealership is located.
"Master, what's going on? Why did you bring us to an abandoned building?" Riven asks as I open the portal and Nicholas stands up.
"I'll explain when I get back, if we have time. Stay here, don't break anything, and make sure no one enters through the doors or the gate until then. Understood?" I ask, staring at them as I walk through the portal with Nicholas.
"Y-Yes, master Kai." They both respond as they bow, prompting me to head to the dealership on the other side.
This time I open the portal at a point close to the place of purchase, since unlike the one in Chitaga this one will be guarded and we don't have time, so Nicholas and I arriv at the place in less than a minute, and after signing the contract, paying for the vehicle and other extras, and completing the necessary administrative procedures, the seller finally hands us the car after 10 minutes.
Getting into the fortified wheeled machine, we bid farewell to the salesman and drive our new acquisition a couple of hundred meters, and when the dealership is no longer visible, we park it somewhere out of the public eye.
"Are you sure you can handle this?" I ask Nicholas as we both get out of the vehicle.
"I've never tried it with something so big and heavy, but I think I can handle it." He responds, summoning Ultimate Programming into his hands and placing one of them on the car's body. "Store."
With that word, the car disappears from the scene, having been stored inside Nicholas's Nen laptop inventory like so many other items, causing Nicholas to gain a confident expression and a hint of smug at his accomplishment.
Since we're short on time, I ignore this one-off event and grab Nicholas to run back to the portal.
"You're back, master. Now can you explain why you brought us here?" Tetsu asks me as I cross and close the portal with Nicholas.
"We don't have time, the portal will be closing soon. I'll call you later and let you know everything." I say hurriedly trying to get out of the offices.
However, Riven and Tetsu stand in our way with a rather annoyed expression.
"No! Enough is enough! You call us out of the blue to rush to you, bring us to a filthy abandoned building, and then give us the runaround to wait while you and Nicholas go off to who knows where! We deserve at least an explanation, and you're not leaving until you give us one!" Riven exclaims blocking the exit.
"I think the same. I've agreed to follow you as my boss and combat teacher, in accordance with the traditions of my tribe, and I'm willing to kill and die in your service, but I won't simply do what you tell me without knowing why." Tetsu adds.
Faced with their stubborn attitudes when the time is slipping away from us, I clench my teeth and eyes in frustration (which is a rare occurrence for me).
"Guys, we don't have any room for childish protests. Move out of the way and let us pass." Nicholas asks besides me.
"No. We've already said it, we're not going to leave until you explain what's going on. What's so important that you're in such a hurry anyway?" Riven retorts with a bad attitude, making me lose my patience.
"You want me to explain?! Well, fine, I will! These offices are going to be the initial base of The Tsukimichi Organization where we will receive visits and requests from the people of the underworld, and I have brought you here so that you can defend it in our absence! For this I have used my teleportation ability to buy it, bring you and buy a car to travel, so I have no other uses left and we have to go to the portal I left open before it closes and I have to exhaust all my energy to create and waste another one! So now that you know, move aside and let us pass or I will force you to do it by force!" I say all this speaking really fast so as not to waste time and flaring my Ren at the end as a threat.
At this quick explanatory speech, Riven and Tetsu look at me nervously before finally moving away from the exit door and giving us way to run out of the building and back to the outskirts of the city.
Although the offices are closer to the portal's origin, it's still a considerable distance away, and the terrain outside the city is steeper and harder to navigate. After 9 minutes, with less than a minute to go until the closure, Nicholas and I continue running and jumping through the area, until I finally spot the rocky area we came through.
"Nicholas, I've found it! Follow me!" I yell running towards the place, feeling Nicholas behind me.
We both run at our top speed, dodging the terrain and the trees blocking the way, and with time almost up, seeing the portal right in front of us... both Nicholas and I manage to cross it in time, with it closing automatically two seconds later.
"Phew! It was a close call, but we did it. Honestly, I doubted we'd make it in the last minutes." I say relieved to Nicholas.
"Yes. I was a little nervous about it taking so long, too, but that also made it more exciting. Well, now that we've finished shopping and have our base secured, it's time to start the trip, right?" Nicholas asks, excited by the plan.
"Not yet. There is still one matter to be addressed." I state picking up my disposable phone and starting to dial.
After some seconds of ringing, someone answers on the other end.
"It's me. We arrived on time." I reply to Riven.
"Silence!" I shout firmly, stopping Riven's babble in its tracks. "Today you have acted with deplorable behavior, questioning my authority and going against my instructions. This attitude is intolerable in our organization."
"I said silence!" I shout again, stopping his blatant attempt at an excuse. "I already told you when I called you earlier: I am not your friend or companion, but your master and boss at the mercinary agency, and that means your job and obligation is to obey me."
"There may be times when I can handle situations better, when you may complain or raise your concerns and ideas. But both my authority and Nicholas's are unquestionable, and our orders must be obeyed without question."
"If you commit another act of insubordination like this again, I'll fire you and send you back to Heavens Arena, never to give you work or training again. Is that clear?"
At this aggressive statement, the phone goes silent for a few seconds until Riven's faint voice rings again.
"Good. Since that's been cleared up, and since you suggested the idea, get busy cleaning the offices for the rest of the day. I'll come back tomorrow to give you a guidance on the new training you two will follow there while you stand guard and wait for orders in our absence. Understood?"
"And also inform Tetsu of what I told you about obeying our orders."
Having made my position clear and informing Riven about his and Tetsu new work, I hang up the phone and turn to see Nicholas staring at me intently.
"Do you think I've gone a little too far?" I ask him a little unsure about my performance.
"You've done exactly what you were supposed to do as the head of the agency, Kai. Not everyone is as pleasant as I am." He answers me, easing my discomfort.
He then summons his laptop and, by inputting a command, the car we bought appears out of nowhere on the street. Stowing our luggage in the spacious trunk, we get into the SUV to begin our journey, me in the back and Nicholas in the front.
"Aaahhh, yes, this is a car for traveling. Super-comfortable ergonomic seats with microfiber material, a 290-horsepower 6-cylinder engine with an efficient internal cooling and lubrication system, and a compact and sturdy chassis made with the finest materials that can withstand the blows and onslaughts of even the strongest monsters. Just the right purchase." I say as I lie down relaxed on the row of seats.
"Boss, it's dangerous to lie down like that. Please sit and get into the correct position." Nicholas scolds me, looking backward.
"Don't worry, I'm securely fastened by the seat restraints. Besides, I have to create another Wormhole Orb just in case we need it, and that takes up a lot of my energy, so I'll need to rest as comfortably as possible." I explain to him.
"I'll probably fall asleep after creating it, so you take the first turn at the wheel and wake me up in about 2 or 3 hours to relieve you."
With this last request from me, Nicholas lets out a defeated sigh as he starts the car and the sound of the engine begins. As soon as the car starts moving, I begin gathering my aura in my hands to create a new Wormhole Orb while Nicholas begins driving, our journey to stop criminals on the way to Glam Gas Land finally beginning.