Chapter 31: Captive
The rain had finally stopped, additionally, the skies began to clear as Hao was brought back to Vicky's workshop. It was a large space filled with various workstations and tools for crafting and modifying swords. The gang had gathered there, mingling and interacting with each other. Children, some as young as ten, roamed the workshop, assisting with tasks or practising their own sword skills.
Scar had already relayed the details of Hao's capture to Vicky, boasting about the difficulty they faced in subduing him. Vibe Edge was tucked in Scar's waist, a symbol of his triumph over the blindfolded youth.
Hao, bound to a chair, was startled awake when a bucket of water was thrown at him. As the water dripped from his face, it took a few moments for his Vibe Sense to adjust and decipher his surroundings. Although Vibe Edge wasn't in his possession directly, Scar was right behind him, so the link was strong enough for him to still use its powers to see. Vicky rolled her wheelchair out from behind her work desk, preparing to interrogate Hao.
Seeing Vicky for the first time, Hao couldn't help but blurt out, "She's one big broad."
Hearing this blatant insult directed at his superior, Scar reacted quickly by smacking Hao on the side of his head. "Watch your mouth. That's our boss."
Vicky didn't seem fazed by Hao's comment; her curiosity about the X-Class sword he'd stolen was her primary focus. "Who gave you this sword?" she asked brandishing it before him. She was careful to only grasp it with the mechanical apparatus.
Taking a while to let her inquiry sick in, Hap replied, "No one… I stole it."
"You stole it? From where?" Vicky pressed.
"It doesn't matter. What do you want with me?" Hao shot back, trying to maintain some semblance of control in the situation.
To everyone's surprise, Vicky rose from her wheelchair, revealing her full imposing figure. Her lower half was replaced with long, shiny, double-edged swords that came to a pointy tip, which had her name etched into them. Even some of the gang members who had seen her stand before were still taken aback by her astonishing appearance.
Hao couldn't help but stare, startled by the sight before him. She towered above him like a colossal beast, the atmosphere in the workshop became tense, and the room fell silent.
Now that she had everyone's attention, Vicky repeated her question. "I'll ask again: from where did you steal this sword?"
Hao hesitated for a moment, realizing the potential consequences of his actions. But he knew that withholding information wouldn't do him any good, thus he revealed, "I stole it from the Imperial Storehouse," he finally admitted.
"The Imperial Storehouse…?"
A murmur spread through the room, and Vicky's eyes widened in surprise. She was aware that breaking into the Imperial Storehouse was no small feat. It was heavily guarded, and only the most skilled and daring individuals could ever hope to gain access.
Vicky studied Hao for a moment, carefully considering her next move. She knew that this blindfolded youth was more than he seemed, and she couldn't help but wonder what other secrets he might be hiding.
With Vibe Edge in Scar's possession and the gang's interest in the X-Class sword he'd stolen, Hao's future seemed uncertain.
Vicky's interest in the sword intensified; she wanted to test something. Using the grasper from her mechanical right arm, she repositioned Judgment Day and extended it to Hao. "Hold this," she commanded, specifically aiming the handle at him to grasp.
"Hmm…" Scar watched observingly with the memories of the horrors that befell his fallen comrade who the sword absorbed flooding his mind.
Hao reached out to grab it, hesitant given the sword's mysterious nature. When he grabbed the hilt, a look of shock crossed Vicky's face. She couldn't believe that nothing was happening; she started to wonder if the sword had already recognized this boy as its master.
"Kid, do you have any idea what type of sword you have there?" she questioned.
"It's Hao Vee to you, and I do," he retorted, demanding respect. "This is an X-Class sword."
"X-Class???" Scar gasped in astonishment, along with the others in the warehouse. They backed away further, except for Vicky. As Scar moved further away, Hao's sight dwindled in perception due to the link between him and Vibe Edge.
Vicky seemed more curious than ever, glancing at the others and saying, "Relax, he can't unsheathe it either."
Hearing this, Hao challenged her, "How can you be so sure about that?" He repositioned Judgment Day in his hand as if to threaten Vicky.
"Quit bluffing, kid. You're looking at a master Blade Engineer. I've been in this line of work for 40-plus years now. Had you known how to unsheathe that Blade Edge, you wouldn't have given it away so casually and we wouldn't be having this conversation either," she replied confidently. "I can tell that you're upset about something, personal issues maybe?"
"What is it to you?" Hao snapped.
"I don't care about that, but I am interested in that sword," she said, eyeing it. "Just how much do you know about it?"
"It's the only one of its kind, I can tell you that," he answered, refraining from revealing the true name of the X-Class sword to Vicky and her listeners.
"Based on your answer, I can tell that you know very little about that weapon. Allow me to share some of my findings with you," Vicky proposed, taking back the sword with her grasper apparatus. She explained, while showing off the sword, "These striations present across the scabbard's back and front end is derived from an ancient lattice of sealing techniques used to redirect and restrict the release of powerful Sword Spirits. There is even a complex bio coding inscribed, which has a reserved unit enhancement primarily for essence draining, using the hilt as a suctioning component. From what I've come to understand, this outer skin is protected by Bio Esp."
"I've heard that term before," Hao admitted, searching his mind, trying to figure out where he had heard it. His intelligence sparked.
Vicky continued, "Yes, Bio Esp is deeply rooted in this scabbard's design, with an intelligent force working at the backend. The only way to unsheathe this sword is for the Bio Esp meter to be at capacity." She showed him a specific part of the scabbard; there was a faint sapphire glow at the bottom in the form of liquid light. "The Bio Esp tank already has some juice in it. This essence came from two of my men that it absorbed earlier."
"Huh!" Hao realized something as he listened to this. 'So that's what that shift meant.' He thought, 'If the Bio Esp tank is full, I can unsheathe Judgment Day.'
Vicky noticed the change in Hao's expression. "I see the lustre on your visage has returned."
Hao tried to remain calm; he wanted to reclaim Judgment Day but didn't know how to act. Scar still had his Vibe Edge tucked in his waist.
During their conversation, the other members and Scar had no idea what Hao and Vicky were talking about. He was too dense to understand the technical Blade Engineering details.
For now, Hao decided to bide his time, knowing that his best chance at reclaiming Judgment Day would come when he least expected it. In the meantime, he would have to learn as much as he could about the mysterious X-Class sword and the potential power it held. With his level of intelligence, he hoped that he would soon find a way to turn the tables on Vicky and her gang, and ultimately set himself free.
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