The tavern was chaos. It was the main tavern that soldiers and knights frequented when off-duty. Ren stopped by here before she entered the military base just outside Kino City. She wanted a drink after a long week of travel. She was wearing a white, long sleeve tunic shirt that was cropped, black leggings, and black boots. She kept her knife and katana on her side at all times. The bouncer by the door tried to tell her about the “no weapons” policy. She promptly broke his hand in response. The owner of the bar ran out and said upon realizing who she was, “All is well as long you pay and don’t cause trouble.”

  A bar fight between off duty knights and the local magistrate policemen was ensuing. She sat at the bar with roughly 3 empty barstools to both sides of her as the other patrons realized that they should not bother her. One drunken orc footman tried to smooth talk her. He was immediately bashed against the bar rail by Ren and dragged away by the bouncers. Three women gave her a free pint of ale cheering her for it. Ren tuned out the noise and the chaos behind her as she focused everything she had onto her glass of rum on the rocks. She just wanted to her mind to be quiet for once. The policemen eventually got the unruly knights out of the bar and took them away.

  Four interesting characters sauntered into the bar immediately after the police left. One was a massive and muscular orc with green skin, two tiny tusks from an underbite, and a black mohawk that ran down past his thick neck. Second was a beautiful elf woman with silk-like brown hair, brown eyes, and blue Celtic tattoos running up her arms from her sleeveless tunic shirt. Third was a lanky and tall lizard-man with long, white hair and glasses on his yellow eyes. He had a mostly human-like face except for his sharp teeth, flat nose, and green skin. Lastly was the leader of the four. He was a lean and fit human man with messy black hair, piercing green eyes, wearing all black. A faint scar ran down his neck from his right ear and disappeared into his tunic shirt.

  The man instantly noticed Ren sitting alone at the bar. The orc asked jokingly, “Bet you 5 gold that you will be out right punched just for talking to her.”

  “Remi,” the man said smiling. “This is why you’re always broke and why Clara and I have to pay for you.”

  “Now that’s just mean, Sho. Just mean,” Remi smirked.

  The lizard-man wrapped his arm around Remi and joked, “Come on, Ox! I’ll spot you this time. Besides, the blue shoulders left so now we don’t have to be on our best behavior anymore, eh?”

  “Don’t go making out with each other, now,” joked Clara in a somewhat posh accent. “Gil… Don’t be a sad drunk again. Please? For me? Also, still be on good behavior. Sho said so.”

  “I’m not drinking tonight, Clara.”

  “Right and I’m not going to punch Shoyo for being a man-whore and Remi for being an idiot again.”

  “Okay! Everyone,” Shoyo said turning around forcing all of them to stop talking.

  A beer bottle was flying towards Shoyo and he made a no-look catch with his left hand. He drank the rest of the beer that was left and tossed it in the bin. He said sternly, “We are here to see the 'Ghost' from the capital. She is going to be a part of our squad. She’s over there. I’ll talk to her first. Get to know her and all that. You guys find seats, okay?"

  “Keep your pecker safe, boss,” Remi joked as the three of them left to a corner booth Gil spotted. Clara looked at Shoyo making a gesture with her eyes to not do anything stupid. Shoyo mouthed silently to her, “Don’t worry.” Clara waved her hand not believing it, but let Shoyo do his thing with Ren. Gil shook his head hiding his laughter.

  Shoyo took a few deep breaths and walked over towards Ren. He pointed to a barstool next to her on her right asking if it was free to sit. Ren shrugged nonchalantly. Shoyo sat down putting on a brave face despite how much anxiety was building up in him. He smiled confidently and said, “Hey, miss… You look bored.”

  “Okay?”

  “Want to talk?”

  “Is this really how you introduce yourself? I expected better from someone cute.”

  “Well,” Shoyo said slowing turning red.

  Clara handed Remi a silver coin looking disappointed. Gil laughed. Remi wanted to see how things would play out as he excitedly bounced his legs shaking the booth.

  Shoyo collected himself and said, “Okay. I’m sorry… I’ll start over… Nice to meet you. I’m Shoyo Yoshiro of Naga Squad. Hero Squadron. Commander. You come from the capital city?”

  “Nice to meet you, Commander. Yes, I am from there.”

  “And your name is?”

  “Ren.”

  “Hmm,” Shoyo responded noticing Ren’s natural coldness.

  Ren was trying to figure him out whilst not really looking at him. Shoyo, on the other hand, was quickly formulating a way of getting her to open up. He had a feeling of hidden warmth in her, but he was not certain on how to win her good graces.

  Ren side-eyed Shoyo and asked curiously, “I can see you analyzing me… What can you learn from me so far?”

  “Your reputation for being cold precedes you,” Shoyo smirked as he sipped his pint of ale. “But I suspect there’s warmth in there somewhere… Well, That Katana is custom designed and clearly from the central lands; Odai. Knowing that, you’re as tough as they come. You’re smarter than you let on based off how quickly you called out my poor attempt at introducing myself… You are not afraid to call it as it is.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Making obvious notes?”

  “Not really. Just curious to see whom General Argos sent over to this lovely area is all…What do you think?”

  “Of you or Kino?”

  “Me.”

  “Hmm,” Ren responded turning just so slightly looking at him in the eyes from her peripherals.

  Internally she was not prepared for how handsome he was. She could not sense any malice or bad intent in him. The only thing she ascertained was that he was confident and caring, but his confidence does come across as arrogance. She told herself to calm down and remain stoic.

  She said, “You’re very young to be a commander especially in SF under the Emperor’s command.”

  “And you’re very young to be a major in the regular army.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Hmm,” he repeated with a coy smile.

  Ren said to herself, “He’s not an idiot. He actually did his research. He does have very rough hands. So he isn’t that selfish of an officer, but some narcissism to go with it… I mean every officer is like that including me to a point… What’s his reason for talking to me like this? To get to know me? Test me? Why? Also…Was his whole awkward approach on purpose? He has to be testing my responses. Am I meeting his expectations to his squad?”

  Ren stared at him as her eyes noticed the faint scar running down his neck confirming most of her questions about him. He, in return, noticed the lightning shaped scar on her left cheek. Yet despite that, his only thought in this moment was, “She’s beautiful… What the hell has she been through to gain her rank and reputation? No, get out of that… She is looking at you knowing that your questions are merely to see if she fits the mold of the squad. Need to keep it more subtle and just keep it somewhat personable. Can’t be too obvious… Damn, her eyes are beautiful.”

  Ren broke the silence and asked, “Are you a noble or related to someone in higher court?”

  She knew he was related to a noble. She just wanted to confirm it. Shoyo sighed maintaining his confident smile, but a hint of loathing annoyance lingered.

  He sighed out, “South East of here. Deep in central Odai. Father was a minor noble who sworn fealty to the Emperor. His name carried a modicum of respect… Other than that, I made it here on my own. Nothing special really.”

  “Hmm?”

  “What do you think?”

  “At least you’re not a spoiled rich brat. Most would’ve bragged about someone of higher status,” Ren said into her drink. “Besides, I was expecting to meet you and the squad on base. I only came here to drink just before settling in. You figured I would end up here?”

  “On a hunch.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Because I and everyone in the squad would do the exact same thing… One week of travel means hit up the first tavern you see and just zone out the world for a few hours… Don’t blame you,” Shoyo said sincerely.

  Ren appreciated this and almost blushed. Shoyo noticed this and chuckled to himself. He stuck out his hand and said, “Pleasure meeting you, major. You can call me Sho or Shoyo. I don’t like being called sir or commander.”

  “Shoyo… Ren is fine for me,” Ren responded shaking his hand.

  He then accidentally tripped forward and apologized profusely after lightly crashing into Ren. Ren paid no mind to it and said it was alright. Clara laughed and held out her hand. Remi sadly placed a small bag of gold coins. He then proceeded to thud his head onto the table with Gil shaking his head at Clara. Clara stuck her tongue out in response. Gil rolled his eyes as he consoled Remi, though internally he was enjoying seeing Remi lose money.

  Ren finished her glass and stood up grabbing her bags and katana. She turned towards the door and asked flatly, “Anything I need to know before being apart of the squad?”

  “Team comes first. The lone wolf bit can shove it. Read your file before getting here including the classified stuff with your demon missions… So, I know you’re skilled. I also know that you lose everyone you fight with because you tend to be cold and clinical without showing a hint of care, so the reports and your subordinates say. Which I know is mostly true. Your last demon encounter on the report from the medic was interesting. Very minor, but it said a lot.”

  Ren remained silent hearing the last part.

  “All I ask is this… Trust in your teammates. Do your job. Be creative and unorthodox. But work with your team… Best get some rest. Training begins tomorrow at 5 AM sharp. We’ll be on the track on base. Don’t be late.”

  “Thank you, Shoyo,” Ren said walking away. She quickly thought to herself, “How the hell did he read about my demon missions? Did Argos allow it? How well-connected is he?”

  Shoyo leaned back on the bar as the dwarf bartender stroked his giant beard with bouncing eyebrows. Shoyo laughed and said, “It’s not that, Gimli.”

  “So you say.”

  “Thanks for the beer.”

  “Oh, Shoyo… One more thing… She put her five drinks on your tab. Here you go,” Gimli said.

  Shoyo saw the bill and smirked. He thought to himself, “Clever girl… She does have a sense of humor and quick hands… Not as fast as me though.”

  He felt his side realizing his coin pouch was severed. He looked out towards the open front door seeing Ren bounce his coin purse in her hands. She placed it on a bench just outside the tavern. Shoyo’s eyes bugged out and he laughed heartedly at this.

  Clara walked over and asked, “You’re not upset?”

  “No… I’m thrilled! She’s going to make things interesting. You’ll like her.”

  “You’re so easily smitten, you know? I’ll get it, boss. I wouldn’t mind shagging with her, eh? I’ll be back with the purse. Also, that tab is going to run high because Remi lost his money to me again and we thought that you can cover the drinks so…”

  “I got it. Just go please.”

  Ren was walking away personally happy with herself after only taking 3 gold coins from his purse. She went to put it in her pocket only to realize something. Her pocket knife was gone. She thought to herself, “That bastard did the same to me. Clever.”

  Inside, Shoyo was spinning a silver handled pocket knife made of Elvan quality steel in his hands. Clara proceeded to round house kick two guys who were about to grab it.

  Shoyo looked at the pocket knife noticing a name written on it. He read the name quietly to himself, “Kenji-San. Komatsu Ai… We’re from the same country? So, you’re his only daughter from the Kenji clan… Explains a lot about her personality. I’m so sorry for that.”