After Tuziku ignorantly blurted out his plan to enter the Underworld as soon as their crew was completed—
Kutcher and Prīōra were left completely flabbergasted.
"Wha—what are you talking about, Tuziku...?" Prīōra stuttered.
"Hmph!"
Kutcher folded his arms.
"Well, it's only natural for us to head straight toward Nekōbashi once the crew is completed—"
"Not you too, Kutcher..." Prīōra whined.
"But..."
"Getting there is not as simple as it sounds!" he explained.
"What do you mean...?" Tuziku asked.
"Across the globe, there are a total of five entrances that lead to the Underworld beneath the earth," Kutcher explained.
"Their locations are kept extremely confidential amongst those who know of them..."
Kutcher stopped in his tracks.
"Simply gaining the knowledge of a single location will prove to be near impossible!"
He glanced over his shoulder toward Tuziku.
"Are you up for the challenge?" He grinned.
Tuziku glanced toward his feet.
Beneath the earth...
Then—
"Kutcher..."
"Is the UNDERWORLD actually below the surface?!"
"Yeah!" Kutcher replied.
Tuziku clenched his fist in excitement.
"What's it like down there?"
Kutcher gazed at the sky.
...
"Well..."
"From what I've heard, it's like a completely different world from what we know..."
"The atmosphere, the people, the resources..." He grinned.
"Everything is completely contrary to what we know up here on the surface!"
"It sounds amazing..." Tuziku's eyes lit up with excitement.
Prīōra suddenly came to a halt.
"That's enough of that, you two!" she interrupted.
"Tuziku is nowhere near ready to even think about going to the UNDERWORLD!"
"And besides..."
"We're approaching a nearby town." She pointed in the distance.
Tuziku gazed at the town that looked so small from his point of view.
"I'd like to stop and get something to eat," she touched her chin.
"And while I'm at it, maybe take a shower and change into clean clothes, perhaps..."
"What do you say, Tuziku?" Kutcher gazed at him.
"M—Me...?" Tuziku pointed at himself.
"Well, you are the Captain..." Kutcher replied.
Tuziku glanced over at Kutcher and Prīōra, who eagerly awaited his decision.
That's right...!
I'm a Captain now...
It's up to me to lead my crew!
...
"Prīōra..."
"Are we on track toward your village...?"
"Yes, we're currently on the path directly to my village. This town just happens to be in our path..." Prīōra explained.
"Good!"
"In that case, I guess we can make a quick stop at the town," Tuziku replied, wearing a grin.
Prīōra bolted ahead.
"Then—"
"Let's get going!" she shouted as she pulled Tuziku along.
"Hey, hold on a second!"
Tuziku let out a huge smile.
At the same time—
At FADA headquarters in the land of Fuyu...
Inside Chief Commander Yūhadasu's office...
The Chief sat behind his desk, his feet resting on the table.
"Chief Yūhadasu..."
"It's been two days since Generals Hinōmō and Ishimi returned from their mission—"
Agira adjusted her glasses using her finger.
"Since then—"
"You have not made a single effort to file your report to the higher-ups!"
"...So?"
"What are you insinuating, Agira?!" the Chief snapped.
"Nothing at all, I assure you, Chief."
"However, if you keep neglecting your responsibilities, it'll only be a matter of time before the higher-ups replace both you and me..." she explained.
"Grrr!" The Chief growled.
He took his feet off the desk and locked eyes with his secretary.
"Agira..."
"This is the second time...!"
"The second time we've failed to deal with the acid user!"
The Chief folded his arms.
"Normally, something like this doesn't happen a second time..."
"And even if it does, it's usually not a major issue."
"But, this time..."
"The higher-ups are desperate for justice on behalf of the Noble families affected by the acid user's rampage!"
"I'm well aware, sir," Agira replied.
The Chief stood from his seat.
"We need to deal with him as quickly as possible...!"
"How do you think we should deal with this matter, Agira?!"
"Hmm, that's a difficult question..." She closed her eyes and gently tapped her forehead using a finger.
...
Then, she opened her eyes.
"Well..."
"What if what we need is a change in our approach?!"
The Chief pulled his beard.
"I see..."
"Maybe you're onto something, Agira!"
The Chief praised her.
Meanwhile, back with the trio...
"We're finally here!" Prīōra shouted.
"Hurry up, let's go—"
"Hold on a moment, Prīōra!" Kutcher interrupted.
"We should find someone and ask for directions!"
"Hmm..."
"I agree with Kutcher..." Tuziku replied.
"Why don't we ask that lady over there for help?" He pointed toward a lady with blonde hair who wore a beautiful sundress.
"Excuse me!" Kutcher called out to her.
"Hmm..." she replied.
"How can I help you, young man?"
Tuziku and Prīōra followed behind as Kutcher began approaching the lady.
"Sorry to bother you, but we're not from around here. Can you please tell us where we are...?"
She grinned.
"Ohh, in that case, this is Hanafura Town!"
"We're a small town, so we try to live in peace and harmony with everyone..."
"So please enjoy your time here!"
Kutcher scratched his chin.
Hanafura...
"Thank you..."
"You're welcome, kiddo," she said with a bright smile as she began walking away.
"Umm, one more thing, if you don't mind!" Prīōra stopped her.
"We'd like to do some shopping for supplies. Is there a market anywhere around here?"
"...Well, you're in luck!"
She gave them a thumbs-up.
"We have one of the best markets in the land of Daīfugi!"
"You just walk straight in that direction..." she pointed them the way.
Prīōra lit up with excitement.
"We really appreciate it, ma'am!"
"It's alright," the woman said, blushing.
She glanced toward Kutcher's blade on his waist.
"Oh, and by the way..."
"Are you guys, by chance, Underdogs...?"
"Yes, we are..." Prīōra replied nervously.
The woman felt a sense of relief.
"Ohh, I thought so!"
"If you don't mind me asking, what do you call yourselves...?"
Prīōra was baffled.
"Huh?"
"Well, um..."
"Tuziku?!" she called out.
"Oh, right!" Tuziku responded abruptly.
He glanced toward Kutcher and Prīōra.
That's right...
I haven't come up with a name for our crew as yet...!
In that case...
"We're called—"
"...THE BLACK SCABBARDS!"
CHAPTER 33 END.