Chapter 52: News

~Third POV~

The Skillful.

The Skillful is a tavern in Kuchinashi known for being where all the major decisions of the city are made. It is run by the famous Huntress named Opal.

It is physically unassuming and quaint, compared to a warm log cabin in the woods. However, inside, The Skillful is where you find Huntsmen in Kuchinashi, where Huntsman stop by when traveling, and where they find illegal activities to get pay.

To enter, you need to show a Huntsman's license at the door, but it doesn't have to be active or originally yours to begin with–if you've obtained one by any means, then you've earned it and will be allowed inside.

Inside, there's a stage for performers, photos on the wall of former Headmasters of the Huntsmen Academies, famous Huntsmen, etc, and even a poster of the upcoming 39th Vytal Festival in Mistral.

The Skillful doesn't have many rules, but it bans bar fights due to a past fight between Asher Mora and two members of the Hana Guild.

Opal is the woman who runs The Skillful. She is an older woman with a youthful appearance who has a scar running down the side of her face, carrying herself with a strong posture. She wears old, battered armor.

A famous now-retired Huntress, Opal traveled in the same circles as The Grimm Reaper, having stopped her work and disappeared at one point.

After the incident where Abigail Pyre set Asher up and almost got him killed in the Skillful, she has since created a rule against fighting in her bar. She allows Pyke Rite to work with her barkeeper Cram during the Pastel mansion auction.

However, unlike the normal event of random hunters and thieves in her tavern, it was filled with the most influential people currently in the area are witnessing the news they can't believe they are hearing from the towers.

On the tv hologram screen for everyone to listen to the new state of things as their nobles in the upper cliffs have been taken out is something like a dream for the people living in the lower levels of the town, "Current news the complete and sudden destruction of the Upper Cliffs are a complete surprised for everyone in the Mistral Kingdom. The head officials are currently in a state of complete shock that most influential and powerful crime lords and criminals have been taken out by a… am I hearing this correctly? A meteorite was the death of them?!"

"Gulp!!!"

Everyone gulped at that seeing the mass destruction of corpses and craters in the area as well as the burned-up materials of the crime lords of Kuchinashi could be only in a state of shock.

After all, the most influential and most powerful crime guilds all lived in the Upper Cliffs but to see such a sudden attack happen to them without any notice other than an alert of the anti-air defenses, they didn't expect such a drastic end for them.

As everyone was too busy gawking over the tv hologram screen was Eis disguised with Raven as well shaken at the destruction as they enjoy their meals well more so Eis than Raven.

Eating the food Raven couldn't help but be fearful of her companion not so much the action but more so the power he wields as she still remembers the cause of such an action.

Remembering back when a few meters away from the site was when she recalls multiple meteors suddenly spawn out of nowhere, but the destruction was real enough with only a few or short of three was enough for the job.

Each impact when the meteor struck the ground caused an explosion with large enough range to destroy a mountain with ease and all the people caught on it were too late to escape as they never stood a chance.

That was something that was etched in her memory as she recalls it but decided to not speak out about it since it was also fair in a way.

Everyone in the Upper Cliffs has their hands in the underground criminal world one way or another so maybe that was why she thought that the deepest part of her mind that she didn't mind the mass destruction as she thought they deserved it.

That was all interrupted as Eis spoke up in a concerned voice of her across from where she sat, "Yo earth to Raven? You ok there?"

Raven returned herself to normal again as she spoke up in a calm tone, "Yeah… sorry I was just thinking about the sudden… you know?"

Eis glancing over to the tv hologram could only shrug his shoulders at the scene with an indifferent tone, "Oh? Well, I wouldn't think too much about that? After all, everyone living there is all basically criminals in that area all that happened was that something unfortunate happen to them. That is all but I wonder how the people will react?"

Glancing at the screen everyone was currently planning on what to do for the future of Kuchinashi as with the unforeseen meteors destroying the powerhouses of the criminal underworld of the Mistral Kingdom.

A sudden power vacuum has been open now that the big guilds living at Upper Cliffs have been destroyed, they are now forming groups as they try to fill in the power gap.

"BURST!"

That was until a certain someone comes in with a happy with a few other groups of teenagers with weapons on them at the ready as he began to speak, "Everyone in Kuchinashi! The crime lords in the area are long gone! Now is our time to rebuild our city to a more prosperous home for all!?"

Takaya is the Headmaster of Kuchinashi's combat school, and the person who you can trust in the town he was originally organizing a resistance to protect the city as the police don't do much in Kuchinashi.

But since all the destruction of the Upper Cliffs and the police are in a mess it gave the resistance leader Takaya the chance to become a better city as he voices his concerns, "Now fellow citizens of Kuchinashi we now have a golden opportunity to make change for the better in our town! We must band together or else we may lose this chance to retain a better tomorrow for all of us hunters!!"

"What a load of bullshit."

"Fuck that man."

"Sorry old man but it ain't happening."

"Who would agree to go along with your idea's you geezer!!"

Hearing their rejection towards the headmaster of the combat school Eis was interested in his answer as Takaya only moved aside as every hunter got tense seeing the person coming in with a confident aura on his person, "Now, now boys aren't that rude for the old man to just help out. Besides, the majority of you owe me a lot. So, it's time to collect my debt would you mind good gents?"

The person that came to help Takaya was none other than the underworld info broker and favors from almost all of the criminals of Kuchinashi.

The Taskmaster.

The Taskmaster is a former Huntsman who is active around the Hedges, having lost his license at one point due to his various connections to criminal activities.

He has a lot of confidence looking like a gentleman who carries an air of professionalism wearing a fetching suit and a winning smile that hides a capable liar.

The Taskmaster is a broker with connections throughout the city, using this information to keep himself more powerful than anyone else.

He may not have a criminal empire, but everyone owes him favors. To find him, one needs a brass coin with an 'x' etched onto it so that others can guide you to his location.

As advances towards the crowd, he began to voice his offer as he begins to announce to every one indebted to him as they only scowl at him, "Now then boys as per for my favor you must help me out rebuild Kuchinashi with old man Takaya in any way possible ok gents?"

Hearing that Eis took notice that some of the people are not that fond of the man as he took notice that some of the people necks have collars on them with black chain tattoos as he looked a bit surprised.

Opal seeing Eis's reaction she could only laugh as she gave the kid a tip, "Tch. Looks like you haven't been around here kid. That guy Taskmaster's semblance is [Loan Shark] it allows Taskmaster to enslave anyone who feels they owe him something. The length and extent of the commands that can be given depending on the type of debt."

Eis hearing this was amused by the ability of his semblance as he took interest in Opal while Raven stood her guard just in case as Eis asked, "Thanks for the info granny but why the free info to me?"

Opal just smiles at this as she begins to leave as she responds to Eis in a happy tone, "Hahaha… easy because it looks like he's going to be your problem now kid."

With that Taskmaster himself began to move forward as he got up and took a seat as he began to look at Eis with a happy expression, "Oh? It seems to me that the General here told me to find you, young man. Note to you Eis Schnee you need a better disguise that makeup as a girl isn't cutting it or is it a fetish for you to crossdress? But whatever to each their own I suppose hello Eis Schnee what are you doing so far from home?"

Hearing this Eis loses his nice mood as he began to look at Taskmaster with a look that could be described as ice-cold as the temperature in the area began to cold down.

Taskmaster on the other hand puts his hands together as he claps in joy as he felt the cold from a Schnee, "Oh is this the fabled ice-cold stare? I didn't think it would be this cold-hearted young man. Oh, how it shames my heart that you youngsters these days are colder hearted but let's skip to business with you getting you home ok?"

The temperature even got colder after that response.

JoJo System:

Shop, Bizarre Gacha, Bizarre Mission, Bizarre Challenge

Skill Lv.: Hamon (Ripple) Lv. MAX, Spin Lv. MAX, Gunmanship Lv. MAX, Cooking Lv. MAX, CQC (Close Quarters Combat) Lv. MAX, Fishing Lv. MAX, Staff Manship Lv. MAX, High Regen Lv. MAX, Evolutionary Body Control Lv. MAX, Body Adaptation Lv. MAX, Knife Proficiency Lv. MAX, Wire Manipulation Lv. MAX, Raven Transformation Lv. MAX, Master Swordsmanship Lv. MAX, Steal Lv. MAX, Ice Generation Lv. MAX, Ice Manipulation Lv. MAX, Minor Damage Reflection Lv. MAX, Water Manipulation Lv. MAX, Gravity Manipulation Lv. MAX, Gravity Generation Lv. MAX

Summoning: Gefallener Engel, Orochi Taijitu, ALL ultimate Stands

Equip: Ea (Customized Lance/Sword/Cannon/Indestructible), Anubis (Customized Sword/Revolver/ Indestructible), Speed Wagon Saw Hat, Disk: Instant Waves, Life Cross Tail, Demon Extract, Black Marlin, 12 Talismans, Charm of Luck and Probability, Charm of Resurrection, Charm of Pyrokinesis, Charm of Telekinesis, Charm of Electrokinesis, The Keystone of Bezel

Over Heaven: None

Requiem Stands: All of them Lv. Can't be determined

Max Stands: All of them.

Stands: All the Stands.

Inventory: Red Stone Aja, Locacaca, Adult sized wooden doll, Scroll, Stand Arrow, Disc Collection Empty, Steel Ball, Bags of Essentials, Disk: Spring Maiden

Lien: 999,999,999,999,999