Chapter 29 – An Expensive Itachi Sword

 Third person POV

 A month had passed, and as preparation for their final days of hard training as junior detectives, Toshi took Akira and Hachi to the basement of his home, which was actually an arsenal of weapons, so they would choose their own weapon of choice. Once Toshi turned on the lights, Akira and Hachi are very amazed to see a lot of various weapons, both traditional and modern. There are swords from Europe and the Middle East, as well as some katanas from Japan and other swords from East Asia. In addition to traditional melee weapons, Toshi also owned a wide array of guns, from pistols to assault rifles and even a few sniper rifles. Also, there are other weapons like daggers and even a few brass knuckles made of titanium and Damascus steel.

 "What the what?" Akira commented.

 "You owned that much?" Hachi asked Toshi.

They and Toshi then walked through the big arsenal room.

 "This is my collection of weapons," Toshi said to Akira and Hachi. "Yes, I liked collecting weapons, so here you go. This is my collection."

They then stopped at one part when Hachi's attention was caught by a pair of brass knuckled coated with real titanium.

 "What is it, Hachi-kun?" Akira asked him.

 "This looks awesome," Hachi responded while staring down at the hand weapon.

He then looked at Toshi. "What is that material coated this one?"

 "It's titanium," answered Toshi back.

 "You owned that type of stuff?" Akira responded to this.

 "Yes, because I liked collecting."

 "Oh, okay then."

 "I would like this one." Hachi paused.

This surprises Akira and Toshi so suddenly.

 "Are you sure, Hachi-kun?"

 "There are better weapons than that one."

 "No, I made up my mind," Hachi insisted. "I had a thing for punching with my fists, so I'll take that one."

After much thinking and considering, Toshi let him had that pair of titanium-coated brass knuckles, much to Hachi's excitement.

 "Wow, that was so cool, Hachi," Akira commented.

After that, Toshi asked Akira, "So, what's yours, Akira-kun?"

To that Akira thinks for a while.

 "I had a thing for wielding a sword or a katana," he answered, "so I would prefer either of them."

Toshi agrees with him. "Okay, let's go to the melee weapon section then."

The two youngsters agreed back, and they all went to the melee section of the arsenal.

 There Akira began to choose what sword or katana he saw fit, even checking their compositions to make sure they are strong, durable, and long-lasting. Toshi and Hachi are watching him observe and examine. This lasted for over half an hour. Then, Akira said to them, "Guys, I don't think they are that durable and long-lasting."

Toshi and Hachi are very surprised to hear that.

 "Huh? Are you sure?"

 "But they are the most expensive in the country! They were even made by the oldest-running smitheries!"

 "I don't think the metals they used to make these are that durable and long-lasting," responded Akira back.

He then glanced at the blades, then back at Toshi and Akira.

Understanding his opinion, Toshi said, "I see. Let's go to one of my close acquaintances. He runs one of the country's few blade stores."

 "Oh really? He is?" Hachi questioned.

Toshi then nodded.

 And so, they all went to that blade store by car, which was located in Chiba City, east of Tokyo. There Toshi asked the store owner, his acquaintance, about the strongest blade in mankind. Eventually, that store owner leads them to the back of the store and closed the door.

 In that backroom, he reveals to them about an old, forgotten metal known as Damascus steel, which was said to be originated in the Middle East probably before the 18th century. That kind of steel was used to make swords and blades. But, he tells them to keep that as a secret at all costs. Because of this, Akira, Hachi, and Toshi nodded in agreement.

 "Sir, that sounds very durable," Akira said to the store owner, "but where I can get one?"

To that the owner went close to the young teenager's left ear. "You can get one at an underground auction site, run by gangsters from around the world. If you disguise as a gangster and go there, there's a chance you can get that at a high auction price."

He then straightened his back after that.

While Akira gets what he had said, Hachi questions its guarantee.

 "Yes, in fact," the owner replied back, "2 of my customers went through that and get away with their prizes without suspicion."

 "I know it sounds viable and feasible." Toshi paused. "But, I don't think my apprentice would survive there."

But then, Akira insisted, "Come on, Toshi-san, I want one. I want something that is very strong and durable. I promised I will take good care of it."

Because of that Toshi and the owner began to think about it, before eventually decided to let him do so, much to Akira's excitement.

Hachi was a bit surprised to see his adoptive brother's determination to get that rare blade.

After that, the owner questions who will pay for it.

Then, Akira responded, "I think my uncle can."

 "Oh, is he rich?" the owner asked back.

 "He is the current president of the Philippines," Toshi responded back.

This shocks the owner a lot because he was talking to the nephew and adoptive nephew of the current president of a country.

 "And this one is adopted, too," Toshi added while referring to Hachi.

Then, the owner calms down and clears his throat. "I see. This one wants one, too?"

 "No, sir, I already had my own weapon," Hachi denied.

 "I see then."

The owner then looked at Akira. "If you want to go there, you must go undercover as a gangster."

Akira was determined to do it so he replied, "Yes! I'll negotiate with him."

 "When is the next auction event and where?" Toshi asked his owner friend.

To that the owner hurriedly left the room to get a piece of note and went back with it, before giving it to Toshi. "This one."

Toshi then reads the note. According to that note, the next auction event will take place at an obscured warehouse in downtown Yokohama at exactly 5:00 p.m. on this week's Saturday.

 "Okay, thank you for the help," Toshi said to his friend.

 "Yes, anytime, Toshi-san," his friend replied back with a smile.

With that Toshi said to Akira and Hachi, "You two, let's go."

They then all left the backroom, and Akira, Hachi, and Toshi left the store as the owner gave them a farewell and a good luck.