A brief moment of respite.

  After the meeting with Chairman Heihachi Mashimoto, the trio collapsed into a gazebo overlooking the Chairman’s well-manicured gardens. A fountain burbled in the background, doing little to drown out Old Man Sid’s sigh.

  “Damn, this place never gets old,” he said, leaning back on the wooden bench. “Twice I’ve been here, and twice I’ve felt poor.”

  Jin grinned. “Compared to your shack? Palace versus outhouse, Sid.”

  “Shut it, freeloader.” Old Man Sid flicked a pebble he found under his feet at Jin, which he avoided. The pebble skipped across the fountain. “You eat my food, sleep on my couch, and still have the nerve to insult my home.”

  Ironshield chuckled, stretching his one arm across the back of the bench. “I’ve seen plenty of odd pairs in my time. Yet you two are the most interesting ones. Age difference aside, how’d you two even become friends? You bicker like an old married couple.”

  “Ask the kid,” Old Man Sid grinned. “He’s the one with the pensioner’s brain in a twenty-something’s body. Fucking good looking one at that too.”

  Jin shrugged. “Hah. Says the old coot who refused to die. Maybe it's because we’re… I don’t know? Stubborn? Us both having the survival instinct of cockroaches?”

  “You’re the cockroach, arsehole.”

  Jin chuckled. “See that? Sid’s like the senile and grumpy grandpa I never had. Sixty-five, is it now, old friend?”

  “Seventy-two, thank you very much,” Old Man Sid corrected. “Still plenty of vigour left in my tank.”

  “And I’m the ripe old age of forty-five,” Ironshield added, glancing between the two. “If this is a family, that makes you the grandpa, me the dad, and Jin the delinquent son.”

  Jin laughed. “Grandpa Sid’s got a nice ring to it. But if you’re the dad, where’s your missus?”

  Ironshield’s laughter died mid-chuckle. His fingers twitched towards the stump of his left arm. “Who’d want a one-armed brute? Even with two, I was never the romantic type.” His grin returned, albeit a lopsided one. “Besides, pretty boy here’s got enough admirers for all of us. Lila’s got the hots for him, Shinohara’s practically fawning over you, and Emilia–” He shook his head. “Kid, when I mentioned your name to her this morning, she lit up like a lighthouse. Sparkles in her eyes and all.”

  Jin’s smile faltered. He rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s young. It’ll pass. Nothing more than admiration, that’s all.”

  “Doubt it,” Ironshield said.

  Old Man Sid nodded in agreement.

  “Listen,” Ironshield’s voice turned serious all of a sudden. “I’ve never been in love, but I’ve seen what it does. A heart like hers? It’s a rare thing. Don’t go and break it.”

  Old Man Sid’s grin turned wry. "Break a woman’s heart, and you've opened a damn abyss. A woman scorned is your worst nightmare. I know that well enough since I've been pushed into a few myself.”

  “Oh? You’re a playboy too, Sid?” Ironshield asked. “Damn. Never judge a book by its cover, alright. Now, I’m the odd one out.”

  “Noted,” Jin said. ”But love’s not exactly on my to-do list.”

  Ironshield clapped him on the shoulder before shooting a mischievous grin. “Famous last words.”

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  The three burst out laughing, but the weight of the warning lingered. Ironshield, being the one who brought it up, explained why.

  “But seriously,” Ironshield’s voice dropped, “don’t go and break her heart, please. That girl is already a firestorm. Her father’s the relentless hurricane. But her brother? He’s the whole damn natural disaster.”

  Jin raised an eyebrow. “That bad?”

  Ironshield gave a quick nod. “He’s called the Prodigy for a reason. Platinum-V. Level 80. Dual-class. What else? Ah yes. He’s also Professor Mille’s colleague. Any devices or gadgets you see that we use, he has a hand in it. Most, if not all.”

  “So, basically a nerd?”

  “Not just any nerd. A damn powerful, brilliant nerd,” Ironshield added, his expression was still a serious one. “Inside the RIFT, he controlled the damn field like Kongming. If you think Valkyrie's status as a one-woman army makes her a force of nature, then Vincent’s the one who directs all the storms. And he’s still only twenty-six. If we compare him with the Chief, well, let’s say he’s the best candidate to lead SeComm in the future.”

  Jin whistled. “Better not get on his wrong side, then. I don’t need more enemies.”

  “Lucky for you,” Ironshield smiled. “He vanished roughly a year back. No idea why, but that's Lowenhald’s problem. But again, try not to stick your head where it doesn’t belong.”

  “Hah. I’ll keep that in mind. The last thing I want is to get involved with another noble family. One is already enough to last a lifetime for me.”

  “Come again?”

  “No worries, Ironshield,” Jin said, waving him off. “Anyway, talking about levels, what are yours? A Hundred and twenty?”

  Ironshield’s laugh was bitter. “Forty-eight. Thanks to Orban.”

  The reveal surprised the two, especially Jin.

  “The e-RIFT boss?” He frowned. “Back in Ward 3, seven years ago? What actually happened to you and the others?”

  “Drained me dry. Everything.” Ironshield rubbed the stump of his left arm. “Survived because I was the highest-level tanker back then. Now? Who’d party with a one-armed relic? With Rhys and Minnie dead and Bonesaw and Lucy done with the RIFT, it didn't take long for Valiant Blaze to dissolve. And I was forced into retirement. So, no more active duty for me.”

  “Until the HQ needed an instructor,” Old Man Sid chimed in. “Funny how life circles back. But one-armed or not, this time, you and Frank win.”

  “True. At least this time around, we got a Stat Seed out of it,” Ironshield grinned. “A godly Stat Seed. Could buy a mansion with this thing. Maybe a whole island too!”

  “Oh? You’re not using it?” Jin asked.

  “Stats don’t feed me. My brain and experience do.” Ironshield winked.

  Jin nodded. “And if the academy takes off, you’re set for life. A life of retirement with some occasional work ain’t too bad, you know.”

  Ironshield chuckled. “If that ever happens, first round on me.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  Their light-hearted banter was cut short as Chairman Heihachi’s personal assistant approached with three small boxes on a silver tray plus an envelope bearing the Chairman’s official seal.

  The first box contained SeComm’s Player ID.

  “Congratulations, Frank,” Ironshield said, nodding at the first card. “Bronze V. Silver I’s only some commissions and an exam away now.”

  Jin cast a wide smile. One small step towards his daughter. The next box contained the invaluable SeComm bank card tied to his fake identity. Getting this was no small feat. But Chairman Heihachi somehow made it happen.

  But the third card was the real prize Jin had been waiting for.

  “This is your VIP guest pass for Athena’s Auction House, Mister Stein,” the PA said. “And the Chairman has also included an introductory letter, should any issues arise during your visit.”

  Jin’s fingers tightened around the card. Athena’s Auction House was an exclusive locale for Players, not only from Neo-Tokyo but the whole world, with restrictions and privileges based on one’s rank. This VIP card bypassed most of them, granting him Gold-I privileges.

  “Give my thanks to Mister Chairman,” Jin said, slipping the cards into his pocket. “Good thing I mentioned the auction to him before we left his office.”

  “Of course, Mister Stein,” the PA replied with a bow. “If there’s nothing else, I have another matter to attend to.”

  With that, he departed.

  “Surprised that the Chief agreed to issue one,” Ironshield said. “Those are extremely limited.”

  Jin cracked a bittersweet smile. “Knowing that old sly fox, this is a favour paid forward. I reckon he’ll have some work in the future that I cannot refuse.”

  The trio lingered a while longer to set a date for the auction house visit. Once settled, they parted ways. Ironshield headed home while Old Man Sid returned to his office, leaving Jin to make his way back alone. Along the way, he stopped at a few stores to stock up on groceries.

  Midnight had settled by the time he reached Old Man Sid’s place. Jin was steps from the door, yawning and already imagining his bed, when the roar of engines shattered the quiet neighbourhood. Horns blared. Cheers and shouts echoed down the street.

  Jin scowled. “What the hell? Which idiot’s gang is raising a ruckus at this hour?”