Headed by a Snake

"Shut up, Yoshio! Before I punch you so hard, you'll have to brush your teeth through YOUR ASS!" Taree screamed so loud, her face turned red.

Pale couldn't help but giggle, witnessing the girl's boldness. She was honest and much less boring than any other girl he'd met before. And she was pretty and smelled nice, too.

The white-robed Yoshio cleared his throat, covering his mouth with a black-gloved hand. He shot Taree a single glare, before turning to face Barza, "Great Expert, I am Yoshio of the Muto Family. Kimura Taree and her brother are traitors to our Ivory Judge sect. I humbly request the Great Expert's assistance in apprehending them."

Barza couldn't help but be suspicious. "Taree, is this true?"

Taree looked hurt, crossing her arms and turning away, "Hmph! Obviously not, Lone. He's the bad guy!"

Barza and Pale looked over to the sharp-eyed, dark-haired Martialist.

"He does kinda look like a bad guy," Barza conceded.

"His eyes are the same squinty shape as Boss Tycon's?" Pale said hesitantly.

"That doesn't make it better, little brother," Barza admitted quietly.

Barza spoke out to respond to Yoshio, his voice raised in confidence, "Thou! Telleth Us Why Thou Hast Shooteneth… The blonde... Guy."

Yoshio nodded, "Kimura Tamaki is a dangerous archer, capable of striking a falling leaf from 100 yalms away."

Taree squatted into a crouch, mumbling.

Pale leaned over her, "Taree? Is that true?"

"It is." She clenched her eyes shut, sniffling, "But it's totally wrong! But if I tell the truth, you guys will think my little brother is a loser. Ahhhhh..."

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Yoshio smirked and pressed his advantage, "Great Expert, I beseech you. The Kimura family is a dying clan, void of influence, and destitute in coin! With the Muto family's wealth and power, we can easily offer you greater riches-- more powerful treasures. Would you consider working for us, instead?"

Pale clenched the leather grips on his spear, "Lone, these guys are definitely bad guys."

Barza steeled his expression and made an executive decision. Anything that had to do with gaining treasures was worth consideration, "I think we should hear this guy out."

Taree waved her arms in a huff, "I'll fight them all myself if I have to!"

Barza scoffed at the little girl's insistence before taking a moment to realize what she said. "Hold on. 'Them all'? What do you mean by 'them all'?"

Pale gestured upwards, "Lone, there's at least eleven hidden in the trees."

A chill ran down Barza's spine as he began to panic. He turned to Taree and loudly whispered, "You didn't tell me about any of this!"

Taree shrugged as if it wasn't her problem, "Hmph. You were talking to my brother the entire time."

Yoshio interrupted, "Great Expert? Might I ask how much the Kimura Family has hired you for? I'm certain that I can at least double, if not triple its value."

Barza cleared his throat, but Pale stopped him.

"Lone, do you really have to make a deal with the bad guy?"

"Come on, man." Barza urged, "It doesn't hurt to at least ask about it."

Money could change Barza's life. He was almost certain that Tycon viewed him as a resource instead of a real person. If he could offer Boss Tycon coin worth two or three elite mercenaries, Barza might be able to buy his freedom back.

"Well, alright, then," Pale hesitated, "Can you at least stop with that weird way of talking?"

"I can't do that either, man. I have to sound mysterious... Like a Chosen One," Barza insisted.

"But Taree already knows what you really sound like," Pale argued.

Barza glanced at Taree, who averted her gaze but still nodded.

"Fine," Barza sighed.

"You there, Yoshio. This Great Expert has not yet been promised monetary award-ments. This is the first time that This Great Expert is visiting these lands."

Yoshio's eyes seemed to sparkle with cunning, "Ohhhh? Great Expert, so you mean to say the Kimura Family hasn't sought out your services prior?"

Barza blinked, "Wait, what?"

Yoshio's voice took on a dark, mocking tone, "How very interesting! All this time, I was concerned that the Kimura family had contracted a group of mercenaries to aid them. A thousand men-- perhaps even a few hundred outsiders might have been enough to threaten our plans."

The white-robed bad-guy grinned, "But it turns out that for all the talent belonging to little b*tch Taree, the most she can whore up is a PAIR OF STRAYS!"

Barza looked to Pale, "This is my fault, isn't it?"

"Um. Maybe?" Pale grinned apologetically.

Taree interrupted, her face red with anger, "It's definitely your fault."

"Troops, to me!!!" Yoshio shouted. "Even if the Expert can fell a Gann, we outnumber them four to one!"

…

Tycon was chewing absentmindedly on meat jerky, intently observing the developments below.

"Hey. Hey. Boss. Hey, Boss," Dragan prodded.

"I'm not sharing if that's what you wanted to ask, Mister Dragan."

Tycon kept a majority of the meats that he dried. It was quite tasty, so it was a popular commodity for wagering and to shamelessly beg for amongst the small group.

"Ah, no, not that, Boss... What would you do if you were Bucket?"

Tycon shook his head as if the answer was obvious, "I only see one course of action. You two, what would you do?"

Dragan laughed and clapped his hands together. He obviously wanted to share his opinion, "Well, OBVIOUSLY, Bucket's looking around-- he sees all the ninjas. I'd charge forward and take out the first cunt that falls! BAM. Right in the chest! BAM! Whack on the side of the head towards the biggest group. Charge and hit another one! That's a double-kill. Three more for the penta-kill!"

Tycon nodded, no change in his expression, "Mister Wroe?"

Wroe placed his offhand on his chin in thought, with his other hand forward with purplish-colored mana swirling around it, "Using a spear, I'd volunteer to grab the attention of the man in white, while also keeping my distance. I could even use sweeping attacks to create distance and to wear down the ninjas. We'd strike down each of the ninjas through teamwork, one by one-- ah, and coordinating with Barza and the girl is important for that."

He smirked, licking his lips, "Or for a more risky strategy, focusing our attacks on their leader would put their team into disarray."

Tycon frowned, his golden eyes glowing from within the Shadow Veil, "Unfortunately, it won't be that easy. You two, be ready to move."

Dragan and Tarquin's expressions grew serious.

"You got it, Boss-man." "Aye aye, Boss."

…

Lone stepped forward, a cold wind blowing through his hair as golden leaves continued to dance all around them. He took a deep breath, taking in hints of the warm Galetus berries and of the freshly disturbed dirt.

Taree knew he was readying his heart to fight on the side of the Ivory Judge Sect. He was the Chosen One... he had to be.

She looked at Lone's strong, broad back and struggled to find her words. Yoshio and his goons were too dangerous to fight alone. But hope burned fiercely in her heart. She wanted so badly to be able to place her trust in the Chosen One. She wanted to stop running. She wanted to fight to protect her family, her sect, and bringing back the Chosen One would do just that.

Lone thrust one powerful arm forward, making Yoshio visibly flinch. A second powerful arm was thrust forward, making a cross. Yoshio held his arm out, stopping the ninjas from moving forward. Taree grew enamored by Lone's powerful biceps, strength surging through all of his bulging muscles.

"No one has to die today," He declared.

...

Yoshio gulped in apprehension. Each of the ninjas under his charge slowly began reaching for their weapons. They didn't dare underestimate the Great Expert before them. Lone stared down Yoshio, giving off the impression of a storied hero standing before a mere man.

Had he made a mistake? Did he offend someone that shouldn't have been offended?

No... That was ridiculous! With the Muto family's help, Yoshio had finally surpassed Kimura Taree and trained his Stone Body to Major Completion! No matter what techniques the Great Expert wielded, his body would be impervious to it!

"You..." The Outsider's voice was a low growl, his wrists crossed in front of him.

Yoshio stepped towards the Great Expert, one gloved palm forward in a defensive stance. "I hear your words, Great Expert."

"I'm the Chosen One you want. I surrender."

"You... What?"