The Voice of a Madman... or a Leader?

Scared and trembling, Shizu says he's fine and that he won't leave just yet. Suddenly, someone knocks at the door.

— "Hey, Miss Anin, are you home?"

Shizu starts to get more nervous. Gab, noticing how uneasy he is, answers:

— "She's not home. She just went out, sir."

From outside, the voice responds:

— "Gab? Ah, alright then. I'll be going."

Shizu collapses to the floor in relief once the person leaves. After a deep sigh, he asks the boy:

— "Where do you know him from?"

Gab looks at Shizu and replies:

— "That's Oliver. A weird guy who likes Big Sis Anin…"

Shizu, visibly uncomfortable, starts to wonder if it's a good idea to go out now. Then he asks more about this Oliver:

— "Gab, do you know anything else about him?"

Gab, now with a fearful expression, replies:

— "Mr. Oliver... he's the Empress's second-in-command. He always comes here early to see if Big Sis Anin is around. That's why she leaves early."

Shizu instantly gets angry and says:

— "What?! He's stalking her!"

Gab starts heading to his room and says:

— "Big bro, be careful with Oliver. He's really dangerous…"

He walks into the room. Shizu, now standing at the door, replies:

— "Alright…"

He says, opening the door and stepping out.

Walking down the street, glancing around suspiciously, Shizu starts thinking:

"For my plan to work, I need all the help I can get. Of course, the help I'm going after isn't exactly trustworthy... but it's the only option I've got."

After a long walk, he reaches a darker part of the city. The air is heavy with smoke, and the houses are barely standing. As he walks, he looks at the devastated state of the area and recalls a slum he once visited in his world.

"Really... why'd I have to remember Brazil right now..."

A loud noise bursts from an alley to his left. Already on edge, he just ignores it and keeps walking.

— "This place is way too quiet... something's off."

As he climbs the hill through the slum, the sun begins to set. Shadows stretch across the clustered houses. Distracted by the silhouettes, he notices figures darting across the rooftops. Startled, he quickly turns toward them, but sees nothing.

— "Eh... I'm probably just being paranoid..."

He decides to head back since night is falling. But as he turns around, someone suddenly appears from behind a house. Before he can react, a punch hits him hard, throwing him into an abandoned building. He crashes into a pile of debris.

Groaning in pain, he slowly opens his eyes.

— "Agh... w-what the hell... what was that...?"

He sees several people surrounding him. Through the shattered window, a figure steps in and places a foot on his chest. Her glowing yellow eyes stare down at him, cold and intimidating.

— "So... what are you doing in my slum?"

A tense silence fills the room. Everyone stares at Shizu, who starts sweating.

"Her... slum?"

She repeats, her voice full of threat:

— "Answer me. What the hell are you doing in my territory?"

Afraid, Shizu shuts his eyes and apologizes.

— "S-sorry... I didn't mean to cause trouble..."

The people around them burst into laughter.

— "Damn, she scared him shitless! Hahaha!"

— "Poor guy, go easy on him, Boss!"

— "This is gold! Hahaha!"

Face down, Shizu hears it all and thinks:

"What... am I doing? Begging like this? This is so... pathetic..."

He stays silent for a few seconds, then slowly stands up. With a serious, determined expression, he takes a deep breath.

— "Alright... I apologize for that pathetic display. Now… let's get to the point."

Everyone goes quiet. The Boss stares at him, serious.

— "Alright then… start talking."

Shizu takes a step forward and says:

— "I want to overthrow the Empress of this land. I came here to ask for an alliance."

The silence is absolute. The Boss, shocked, quickly turns to rage. Without hesitation, she kicks him hard into a wall.

— "ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT, KID?!"

On the ground, Shizu struggles to breathe. She approaches and growls:

— "You got shit for brains or are you just messing with me?!"

He tries to get up, but she kicks him again, sending him flying.

— "Let me show you what happens when people try to mess with me!"

The crowd starts shouting:

— "Yeah, beat the crap outta him, Boss!"

— "I almost feel bad for the kid! Hahaha!"

Shizu, stumbling, tries to speak:

— "I-I'm not joking... I really need your hel—"

SMACK! Another punch.

— "You seriously think my faction's gonna help you with that crap, kid? Get real!"

Shizu yells:

— "SO YOU ALL LIKE HOW THINGS ARE?! YOU LIKE LIVING LIKE RATS IN A DUMP?!"

Silence. Murmurs begin.

— "Rats?"

— "Did he just call us trash...?"

— "Kill him, Boss!!"

She glares at him, furious.

— "Did you just call us... rats?"

Shizu stands up again and yells:

— "YES!! RATS!! THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE!!"

— "YOU BASTARD!!"

She charges at him, rage in her eyes. But he doesn't back down.

— "What? Offended? Don't like being called rats in a dump? Then why don't you do something to change it?!"

— Silence! — she yells, landing another punch to his face. This time, the impact is so strong that he crashes through the walls and lands outside the house.

Struggling to get up, even in pain, he keeps going.

— D-do you like living like this?... Waking up every day not knowing what's gonna happen tomorrow... or what you're gonna eat?

He stands up with difficulty and yells:

— DON'T YOU WANNA ESCAPE THIS HELL?!

— I told you to... SHUT THE HELL UP!! — she screams, drawing a long knife-like sword from her back. She threatens:

— Say one more damn word... and I'll cut your head off.

Shizu, staggering, walks toward the Chief. Everyone around watches in disbelief. No one had ever dared to stand up to the Great Leader of the faction.

Standing close, he asks:

— If you want to kill me, do it. But answer me this... Why don't we form an alliance and destroy the Tyrant?

He looks her straight in the eyes, blood dripping from his lip. She points the blade at him and fires back with a question:

— You seriously think it's that easy?

Still firm, he says:

— I never said it'd be easy. I'm saying it's worth trying. Better to die fighting for freedom... than live the rest of your life licking that damn Empress's boots. And I say that because... I'm capable. I can make a plan that'll take her down. I just need your help.

With the sword still pointed at him, the Chief stares seriously.

— You got that much faith in your own words? You really believe you can pull this off?

In the blade's reflection, Shizu's face shows pure determination.

— I do. I'm absolutely sure we can beat her. Just... trust me. Help me. That's all I ask.

Silence falls. Everyone's stunned by what they heard. The Chief and Shizu lock eyes... until she sighs.

— Gotta admit... you've got guts, kid.

She puts the sword away and extends her hand.

— Fine then. We'll help you bring down that bitch.

Shizu, relieved, shakes her hand.

— Got it!

But she squeezes so hard he drops to his knees.

— AHHHHHH!! L-let go!!!

She lets go, laughing loudly.

— Hahaha! You're such a wimp! Alright, let's go, kid!

Shizu, annoyed, replies:

— I'm not a kid! My name is Shizu! Shizu Mark!

— Yeah yeah, Mark, whatever. Let's go somewhere quieter to talk about your plan...

— MALEVOLENT SLASH!!

A huge dark slash tears through everything in its path.

As the dust settles... Shizu sees who it is.

It's Anin.

She steps in front of him and says:

— It's okay now! I finally found you.

Furious, the Chief yells:

— SO THIS WAS ALL A DAMN SETUP? THAT WHOLE SHOW WAS JUST TO STALL UNTIL YOUR COMMANDER GOT HERE?!

Shizu gets up, panicking:

— N-NO!! EVERYTHING I SAID IS TRUE!

He turns to Anin:

— I came here and made an alliance with them. We can't fight each other!

Anin looks him up and down and fires back:

— And how can I ally with people who beat you like this?

The Chief doesn't waste time:

— Huh?? Look who's talking! Pot calling the kettle black?!

Anin steps forward, heated:

— What did you just say?!

— I said pot calling the kettle black. — she repeats, calm but sharp.

They lock eyes with killing intent and look ready to draw swords.

— STOP!! THAT'S ENOUGH!! — yells Shizu, his voice echoing.

— If we're gonna fight together, we can't be like this! Anin, we need their help to attack. And Miss Chief, I need Anin for intel to defeat the Empress!

The two glance at each other, turn away at the same time, and cross their arms with a synchronized "Hmph!"

Shizu sighs, relieved but exhausted.

"These two are gonna be a pain..." — he thinks.

The Chief then steps forward and shouts to those still standing:

— YOU HEARD THAT?! FROM NOW ON, WE — THE CSS FACTION — ARE ALLIED WITH MARK! GOT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT?!

But when she looks around... everyone's on the ground. The memory of Anin's attack hits her, and she yells:

— SEE WHAT YOU DID, YOU PSYCHO?!

— PSYCHO?! — Anin fires back, offended.

Shizu, already annoyed, yells again, separating them:

— BOTH OF YOU, KNOCK IT OFF!!

Somewhere else...

A mysterious figure at a table asks:

— So, Miss Babadar... did you notice the strange movements toward the slums this afternoon?

A woman sits in a luxurious armchair, holding a glass of wine. She smiles, sets the glass down and replies:

— Of course I noticed. Everything that happens in this city... I find out, dear Oliver.

Revealing his face, Oliver smiles calmly and says:

— So you've realized it... looks like they're planning an attack. A revolution, perhaps.

Babadar smiles coldly, a purple-black aura rising around her, and she answers with a sinister laugh:

— So... if they wanna play that game... then we shall play.