Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?

Meanwhile...

[Ya know...seeing the Producer’s words printed out like this, really put into perspective how absurd his choice of words are when he acts like an evil mastermind,] Screamira commented as she and her fellow kaijin watched as Zhen Liu explain as to why he didn’t murder the Cortez Company outright.

Granted, they were only watching a subbed and muted version of their lord doing his thing.

This led to the kaijin substituting their own voices for the moment...much to Zhen Liu’s unknowing chagrin.

[Speaking of the maestro,] Hurricroak piped up. [Logos! Pathos! Have you finished triangulating where the maestro is?]

<=He’s either in Papaya Town or Guava Town.=>

[What’s the difference?,] Springerdermain asked.

<=About five hundred miles and a dragon.=>

[Ah.]

[How come...the jarl...run into...so many...dragons?,] Frosttusk asked the group.

[Bad luck?]

...Back at Papaya Town...

^Why are you showing us this, now?,^ Kendana asked pointblank.

Zhen Liu didn’t immediately answer Kendana’s question about why he was showing off his abilities now instead of earlier, because he found it funny.

The question Kendana posed would normally be a death sentence, or at the very least, was the inevitable lead into no mercy or quarter being given.

In a lot of the stories Zhen Liu consumed in a previous life, that question was followed by a monologue that led into an execution style death.

However, Zhen Liu wasn’t the type to kill someone.

He was the type to forever shame someone and have them live for the rest of their lives, knowing that they were merely a blip on the radar or a sideshow distraction.

At least, that was the persona he was trying to convey.

With this image in mind, Zhen Liu began to answer Kendana’s question. All while his zakos were providing background ambience in the form of them looting anything of value.

Prior to arriving to the mansion itself, Zhen Liu had thoroughly interrogated Leon and Rama about everything that would be worth looting from the mansion, including the stuff that was in the mansion’s treasure vault and the Gold-tier aether treasure box that they almost sealed him with.

That aforementioned treasure box could only be used by others if the original owners died, and Zhen Liu already promised he let them all live. The vault was free game though.

^Now that right there is an interesting question...,^ Zhen Liu trailed off as a zako passed by him and the Cortez Grandmasters, carrying several medicinal treasure boxes that caused the aforementioned Grandmasters to twitch once they registered what they were witnessing on a firsthand basis.

^Well, let’s go with the obvious:

,^ Zhen Liu said as if his reasons were foregone conclusions.^I am fully confident that you won’t be able to leverage this information in any meaningful way.^

^Wait, what?^

As this follow-up question was asked, another of Zhen Liu’s zakos walked pass them with several bottles of expensive and potent aether elixirs.

Elixirs that could’ve helped the Grandmasters recover back to fighting states in this exact instance. Unfortunately, they weren’t in the mood for a fight. They were in the mood for answers.

^Let me say it like this, if you were to inform anybody about how I’m able to summon warriors from a whim, make them out of random pieces of junk, who would believe you?,^ Zhen Liu asked in a sarcastic tone of voice. ^Because you three might be each other’s witness, but your soldiers, your army and companymen, just saw all three of you get defeated and extorted by a young man you’ve failed to suppress after many years of effort, and me, the man who broke that seal like it was a rusty lock. Not a lot of credibility amongst the common folk right now, is there?^

^That maybe true, but what about other companies? Other sects and factions? They’re no stranger to unusual abilities,^ Leon argued back.

Leon wasn’t necessarily wrong in this statement, it was a bit of an open secret that every major faction in the world had their own secret trump card, monstrous disciple or doomsday weapon on standby.

Albeit, these things weren’t entirely equal to each other.

Unsurprisingly, Zhen Liu had an answer to that possibility too.

^That is a possibility, isn’t it? But let me ask you this, how many of those factions wouldn’t also take that opportunity to take advantage of your current state? I mean, if I was a rival faction and just heard that my biggest competitor has suddenly suffered a crippling blow to their wellbeing, I’d probably not give a rat’s ass about some vague boogieman, but would care more about the tangible benefits of defeating my foe. Also, we’re in the frontier. Weird shit happens here all the time and people always take that with a grain of salt.^

^Then....then what about our Honored Ancestor, huh?! He would definitely believe us about you if we told him!,^ Rama tried to fire back.

Evidently, this was when Zhen Liu employed the most poisonous barb that he had thought about the most.

^Ah yes, the vaunted ancestor, the man who gave you this absurd little assignment that was doomed to eventually fail anyways,^ Zhen Liu boldly declared, not caring about providing the slightest bit of face to some old bastard he never met before. ^Tell me, would you describe this Duke Diamoro as...merciful?^

^He-^

^No! He’s a hateful bastard and I’m going to rip his tongue out of his-^

^Lythero, I appreciate that enthusiasm, but cool it,^ Zhen Liu reprimanded. ^Please allow the old bastards who were your metaphorical jailors answer the question. Now you were-^

^Duke Diamoro is one of the most honorable warriors in the entirety of the Erupting Dawn Empire! You and your masters just had the terrible luck of KILLING HIS SON!,^ Rama shouted in defiance.

Evidently, he had forgot to mention the bit about the aformentioned son had become a bandit lord, but that was probably intentional.

Regardless, this didn’t really put a damper on Zhen Liu’s next statement. If anything, it enhanced it.

^Well, disregarding that little outburst, I get the distinct feeling that he cares a great deal about his reputation. Given that you opened with that particular statement and forgot to mention the circumstances over his son’s death. Namely, his choice of career.^

^You little-!^

[Rrr!]

POW!

^BAH!^

Rama was all set to release a spew of vile words in Zhen Liu’s direction, but was silenced by a blow to the stomach.

Zhen Liu wasn’t the one to deliver this punch, it was one of his zakos.

^Thank you, my friend,^ Zhen Liu told the zako before reassigning them to gather more loot. ^But as I was saying, it sounds as if your ancestor cares a great deal about his reputation. So, while he could make use of the information you provide him, what makes you think he’ll let you live after you tell him?^

^He...he...^

^Seems like a cat stole your vocal chords, so let me repeat myself^ Zhen Liu observed while getting closer to the Cortez Company Grandmasters. ^What makes you think he’ll let you live after you tell him about me?^

A heavy silence filled the air after this question was asked, which was surprising.

After all, if the Cortez Company truly believed their ancestors to be a merciful fellow, then they would be more than okay with saying so in his defense.

Their lack of a response, was a response onto itself.

They were well aware of what their ancestor would actually do once he found out that they had failed at the one job he had assigned to them in such a spectacular manner.

It didn’t matter how absurd the opponents were, it didn’t matter if they were outmatched and outnumbered from the start, the reality was that they had failed.

And failure wasn’t an option...it was a death sentence.

Understanding that he wasn’t going to get a verbal confirmation of any kind though, Zhen Liu proceeded to lead the group until they reached the estate’s treasury vault. And it was here that Zhen Liu twisted in the final knife.

^You know, there’s actually something kind of funny about this whole situation that you may or may not appreciate,^ Zhen Liu said as he stared up and down at the Cortez Company’s treasure vault. ^This whole thing could’ve been avoided. Not once, but twice.^

^Wait, what?^

Zhen Liu didn’t know who asked this question, but he didn’t care. They were going to get their answer, regardless.

^You could’ve easily ignore me and Lythero when the first report came in. Keeping your soldiers at home while Lythero here did his thing, and I could’ve convinced him to just leave you three be,^ Zhen Liu said as he redirected his attention towards Lythero.

^Would you have ignore them, if I asked?^

^Probably,^ Lythero answered. ^Though, I get the feeling you would’ve try to stop me before I did anything.^

^More or less,^ Zhen Liu agreed with a shrug. ^And as for the second chance, you could’ve taken my deal and pretend this whole thing never happened. Hell, I would’ve helped to make sure that this information didn’t spread further and could’ve done y’all a favor. Oh well.^

After letting this facet be known, Zhen Liu redirect his attention to the vault door.

^But now you have to pay a price. Which will be all of your material goods. Isn’t that appropriate?^