Rain, heat, cold, impassable roads, and countless insects. Many other factors make the journey difficult for the group. They even take turns driving so that Kogiri can rest as well. It turns out that Najun is a very good carriage driver. Saku is either sleeping or reading all the time. Naki’s injuries prevent him from doing anything, so he imagines dialogues in his head that he wants to say to his father. He creates real fake scenarios in his mind that frighten Saku.

  Saku: “When are we there?”

  Kogiri: “Count down from ten.”

  Saku: “10… 9… 8… 7… Wait a second, does that mean we’re there?”

  Saku stretches her pink head out of the carriage and sees something long awaited. They are there. They have finally arrived in the capital, Tongyo. After many problems, they finally made it. They arrived two days before the start of the tribunal, since after the encounter with the Aihara doppelg?nger they needed another day.

  ???: “Hello dear visitors or future residents of Tongyo. I hope you will have a wonderful time in our great capital. If you have any questions or problems, please let me know.”

  This female voice catches the attention of Kogiri and Najun. It is a girl standing at the entrance gate of the city. She looks very young and has an orange bob haircut. She is wearing a typical maid outfit, but instead of black the clothes are yellowish orange and typically white. Her voice sounds very echoing and digital.

  Najun: “Who is this pretty girl?”

  Kogiri: “That is Mabadah Stage. She is a very famous influencer and pop star in Tongyo. She also serves as a digital tourist guide or assistant. That means this is not the real Mabadah Stage, but only a digital version of her.”

  Najun: “If she’s so famous, why have I never heard of her?”

  Kogiri: “Your family isn’t that far along in the digital field yet, so don’t worry about it. We can just ignore her.”

  At that keyword, the digital Mabadah reacts and appears in front of the carriage.

  Mabadah: “I just heard the word ‘ignore.’ I ask you not to ignore me or other security personnel in order to ensure maximum safety in this city. Furthermore, you must undergo a detailed vehicle inspection.”

  Kogiri: “Don’t you need authorization for that?”

  Mabadah: “Upon entry, a vehicle inspection is mandatory.”

  Kogiri: “Then go ahead and do it if it’s your duty.”

  Mabadah: “Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

  Mabadah jumps through the vehicle and scares Saku and Naki half to death.

  Mabadah: “All good. You may continue driving. As a warning: there is a lot of traffic today because of the cross conferences.”

  They continue driving. They wonder why they were not actually stopped, since they are driving a quasi-illegal vehicle. Apparently, in the capital it is a recognized vehicle.

  Najun: “Wow, the city really looks beautiful. Many skyscrapers and many streets.”

  Kogiri: “This is my second time in Tongyo. Back then, there were still the sky platforms. Those were shops, hotels, or entire restaurants in the air, but they were abolished after there was an accident. One of these platforms fell down and killed and injured several people. It was a fiasco.”

  Najun: “That could have been anticipated beforehand, if we’re being honest. Where will the tribunal take place?”

  Kogiri: “In the Tribunal House. It is located at the end of the city. A very secluded place. We should look for a hotel for the two days, or should we go say hello to your fathers already?”

  Saku: “They’ll just send us away again. We should wait until the last minute and then reveal ourselves.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Naki: “I agree with you. It will be a surprise.”

  Kogiri drives to a small hotel nearby. He stayed here back then. It’s small and a bit shabby, but a real diamond among cheap hotels. They check in and go to their rooms. They book two rooms. In one, the three male people sleep, and in the second Saku sleeps alone, since according to her, a lady always needs a room of her own, and even blood relatives are not excluded from this rule.

  Saku: “I’m going to do some real relaxation now. Call me only when it’s time or when we’re doing some sightseeing.”

  The others go to their too-small room.

  Naki: “That’s not fair. Why do we have to share a room and Saku has the luxury of being alone? Why don’t we book another room?”

  Kogiri: “That’s called gentlemanly behavior. Besides, it’s only for two days, so don’t be like that.”

  Naki: “Still.”

  Naki sulks in silence like a little child. Kogiri and Najun secretly laugh at him.

  The Tribunal House is a very important place in the country. All Snake-Crow tribunals are carried out there. It also serves as a kind of luxurious hotel for the people who will participate in the tribunal. At the moment, the main actors of the Sakiko and the Taira families are staying in the Tribunal House.

  Aihara: “That was some nice sightseeing. Tongyo is a fantastic city.”

  Ino: “Why are you sweating so much?”

  Aihara: “I had to hurry. There were so many discounts in so many different shops.”

  Ino: “What was your favorite attraction?”

  Aihara: “I can’t even say. Everything was great. But I’d say the skyscrapers are the best thing to look at.”

  Keiko is sitting in the corner of the room. She is currently smoking a cigarette by the open window. It is a large and strong cigarette that was specially made for Keiko. A kind of personification of cigarettes for her.

  Keiko: “You two are really something to laugh at. In two days, the tribunal that will decide the fate of all of us will begin, and you’re going sightseeing. I’d like to have your calmness.”

  Aihara: “What’s wrong with having fun? And if we’re really damned after this tribunal, we should at least enjoy the last days in pleasure.”

  Keiko: “With that mindset, we won’t go into this tribunal. You are the head of this family and must demonstrate strength and dominance.”

  Keiko puts out her cigarette and stands up. She goes to Aihara and firmly pulls him by the ears.

  Keiko: “Listen to me carefully. If in two days you are not the brave and powerful man you need to be, there will be consequences. I haven’t beaten you up in a long time.”

  Keiko is a very strict and aggressive woman. She married young and had children early. At that time, the medical conditions were still very underdeveloped, as mentioned in an earlier chapter. All of her children died because of this lack of medical progress. Of course, she was sad, but she had to keep living—she still had her husband. However, he died a few years later. Now Keiko was alone and on her own. As a distant relative of the head of the family, she never held a high position within the family. Her husband’s family was smaller and less powerful than her own, so he had to move in with her. Even though she has a good relationship with Aihara and Ino, she is to this day a lonely woman, no matter how much someone communicates with her or loves her.

  With these words, she leaves the brothers’ room. She walks along the corridors. She stops in front of a lonely door. She goes inside and quickly closes the door behind her. On the floor in front of her is a circle depicted. A blue, glowing circle. It is a magic circle used for summoning things. This circle belongs to the class of non-native techniques, which can be learned by anyone. The more powerful and famous the family, the easier it is to learn such a non-native technique.

  Keiko: “Those two failures are always dependent on my help. If they would listen to me, we would win without a doubt, but then I’ll just have to do it in secret.”

  She sits down on the floor and forms a few unusual hand signs. The blue circle mutates into a larger one and begins to float. The circle is in a state where it must be charged until it functions properly. This can still take a very long time.

  Today, a concert is taking place. A concert by Mabadah. The concert hall is overloaded. She performs many of her songs today, and there is a special part of the concert: a show sword fight between Mabadah and a villainous samurai. You see Mabadah fight for the first time, and with a sword at that.

  Fan Girl: “I love you, Mabadah. You are the best and most beautiful singer I know.”

  Fan Boy: “Mabadah Stage is the best girl in the world. She is so strong and elegant that you might think she is a queen.”

  In the VIP area sit the important people. Among them is Kiyomori Taira, the head of the Taira family. He wanted to make his son happy and bought him tickets for this concert.

  ???: “Thank you, Father, for this concert. I love Mabadah’s music so much, and being able to experience and hear it live now is a dream.”

  Kiyomori: “Anything for my son. Although I don’t quite understand why you like her music so much. I find it rather mediocre.”

  ???: “She speaks to my heart with her voice. I feel safe and relaxed. I always play her music when I torture and kill my victims.”

  Kiyomori: “That sounds interesting, Kiyomata. Will you also listen to this music when you help me destroy the Sakiko family?”

  Kiyomata: “Of course. It will be a total pleasure.”

  Kiyomori: “Have you heard anything from your brother yet?”

  Kiyomata: “Yes. He is on standby and has received the entire plan from me. The witnesses have all arrived by now as well. Everything is ready for your plan. The Sakiko family has no chance of winning.”

  Kiyomori laughs with satisfaction at his son’s successful plan. As a reward, he wants to arrange a meeting with Mabadah for him.