Meanwhile, someone was working under a ship in the Ship Bay until he had Flora’s staff dropped on his lower body. Pained by this, he slid out and jumped up, it was Gadget.

“Hey! What the hell was that for!?” Gadget said, realizing it was Ryuu. “Oh! Fireball! What’s up? Who’s this?”

“Gadget, you’re good at tinkering, right?” Ryuu said. “You wouldn’t shut up about some juicer.”

“I prefer to call it technical expansion… but yes, I am a tinkerer.” Gadget.

“Can you fix up this Bo Staff, make it a little more durable?” Ryuu asked.

“Please, I just need something to defend myself better.” Flora said.

“Let me see something…” Gadget picks it up and snaps it in half.

“Did you have to do that?” Flora asked, confused.

“I agree, I fail to see why you had to do that.” Ryuu said.

“Why does anyone do anything?” Gadget asked. “Why change something when you can just make a better one from scratch?”

“That’s… that’s true!” Flora exclaimed. “So, what are you gonna do?”

“Do you have any specifics?” Gadget asked.

“I have these that I like to toss.” Flora took out her bag of Soul Seeders, pool ball-sized objects.

“Eh, billiards girl? I think I know what I can do. You two are gonna help me though.” Gadget said.

“Yeah, that’s fine with me!” Ryuu said.

“How can I repay you?” Flora asked.

“Follow me to my man cave and we can get started!” Gadget exclaimed as he abandoned what he was already doing, Ryuu and Flora following.

Ryuu and Flora were guided to an apartment, they were met with a workshop upon being let in. It smelled like oil and was filled with machines and tools. Gadget set the broken staff on a workbench and went into a nearby cabinet.

“You know, I know I’ve only know Gadget for about a week now… but I didn’t think I’d ever be inside his house…” Ryuu said.

“I feel a dark presence.” Flora said.

“That’s what everybody says…” Gadget said. “Now as for your fancy toothpick, I don’t know why you used Fellwood to make it, that stuff is like plastic… it’s crap.”

“I don’t really know a lot about this stuff, my old boss made it and made all of us use them.” Flora said. “What do you suggest?”

“I suggest using a stronger material, then reinforce it with a little duralumin.” Gadget said as he took out some wood, walking over to a box of metal. “It’s strong, but its lightweight.”

“Sounds like it won’t break so easily like that.” Ryuu said. “Especially if you’re hitting those little rocks around so much.”

“I’m gonna add a little point at the top so you can be a little more precise about firing them around!” Gadget said.

“I’m not gonna be firing them around… they’re not exactly weapons either.” Flora clarified.

“Speaking of, I’ve been meaning to ask about them. What are the Soul Seeders exactly?” Ryuu asked.

“Well, I got them from someone special…” Flora said.

“Sounds like a story and a half.” Gadget said. “Let’s hear it… if you want to say it that is.”

“Well, Soul Seeders are hefty, but surprisingly soft.” Flora said as she took one out and tossed it to Ryuu, who shook it around. “When it hits someone in the chest, it can put them into a calm state of mind.”

“Interesting…” Ryuu said as he sniffed the Seeder. “Why do that when you can just knock them out?”

“I’ve told you this before… but if I can avoid it, I don’t want to fight.” Flora said. “I know the rest of you are more used to it, but I can’t bring myself to hurt people if I can avoid it.”

“Oh… I see.” Ryuu said as he put his hand on Flora’s shoulder. “I can respect that… desecalation in place of confrontation!”

“Thanks… it’s rare to hear someone say that… you know with how dangerous it is now.” Flora said. “Now… let’s fix up this old staff!”

Ryuu and Gadget looked at each other, agreeing. The three started to fix up Flora’s old staff, through a couple of hours of trial and error. They managed to finish it up, reinforced with the special metal that Gadget provided, it was now nigh unbreakable. The staff also had a small bit near the top that rounded off into a point, similar to a pool cue. To complete it, the staff also had a container that would hold and push out Soul Seeders for Flora to launch at incoming attackers.

“Well, Miss Park… how are we liking it?” Gadget asked.

“It’s… it’s amazing.” Flora said, “It’s perfect!”

“Glad you like it! It’s perfect for shielding yourself from most weapons… won’t block every kind of attack though. That’s why you’ll be able to launch your little soul things too, saves you from having to carry them around too.”

“Thank you for this… are you sure that there’s nothing I can do for you?” Flora asked.

“You’re a young lady, I could never make you pay for something like this!” Gadget said. “Any friend of Fireball is a friend of mine!”

“Thanks again, Gadget!” Ryuu said. “Then… are you ready to go warehouse jumping, Flora?”

“Yeah, we’re gonna get to the bottom of this!” Flora said.

“Warehouse jumping? Like clubs?” Gadget asked. “I used to be in the clubbing scene, met a nice lady once too… she robbed me blind and I never saw her again!”

“Um… no…” Ryuu said. “You’re making that sound like it’s positive…”

“Wait… maybe he can help us.” Flora said.

“Yeah… Gadget, do you know anything about Mutants living in the Underbelly?” Ryuu asked.

“Lots of people live in the Underbelly… you’re gonna have to be specific.” Gadget said.

“Do you know a guy named Kit Fang?” Flora asked.

“Hmm… Kit Fang… I know a guy named Fit Kang!” Gadget said.

“Nevermind, you wanna come with us?” Ryuu asked.

“Sure! Not like I got anything better to do!” Gadget said.

“What about that ship you were working on?” Flora asked.

“No one’s taking any ships out today.” Gadget said.

“I can see someone flying the ship you were working on outside.” Flora said.

“I’m sure it’s fine! Let’s get going!” Gadget said as the three left for the Underbelly.

Walking back into the darker section of the ship, they came across a bunch of doors that led to warehouses and storage rooms. Looking at the various doors, they got an idea of what was behind them. Food storage, building material, animal storages, tool storages. Flora was interested in the animal storage, getting an idea.

“Hey guys, come look at this.” Flora waved the other two over. “Something tells me that we might find our culprits here.”

“Something tells me that hiding in an animal storage is too obvious.” Ryuu said. “I also didn’t know we had animal storage.”

“This is where most of the meat production for the Exceed is done.” Flora said. “Besides, they probably want us to think that it’s too obvious.”

“I agree with Flora… even if they don’t end up being in there, it wouldn’t hurt to check.” Gadget said.

“Okay… I’ll check first.” Ryuu said as he slowly slid open the door, peeking in.

As the trio peeked into the warehouse, they spotted a trio of Mutants, one of which was sitting on a pile of snacks. This was Kit Fang, a young Fox Mutant who was often described as bratty and annoying. Kit seemed a bit young to be leading some kind of gang, only being 17 years old. He was addressing the pair of Mutants.

“Ay! How are the moles doing?” Kit asked the two as he took a bite of something.

“Well, a pair got captured earlier today by that weird red guy.” One Mutant said.

“What? Eh, forget them!” Kit said. “The boss just wants us to tear up the wires… if we lose a few guys doing it, then who gives a tar?”

“But if we have more, then it’ll be done faster.” The other Mutant said.

“I don’t care… I hate cherry flavor! I wanted banana!” Kit said. “One of you idiots get it now, or I tell the boss that one of you guys are gonna blab!”

“What?” One Mutant said. “You can’t do that!”

“Doesn’t matter! I have enough pull in the fleet to get you guys killed just by saying so!” Kit laughed at the Mutants as one approached the door.

As the Mutant went over to the door, he saw the three peeking into the warehouse. Before he could alert the other two, he was pulled out into the hallway. Ryuu held up the Mutant by the front of his shirt and started to interrogate him.

“Ay, what are you guys doing here?” Ryuu asked. “We know you guys are messing with the wires in the walls.”

“What? How do you know about that?” The Mutant panicked.

“We caught a pair of you guys snooping around in a wall panel.” Flora said. “Some of those wires were bitten into too.”

“So… talk!” Gadget said as one of the fingers on his robotic arm opened up, revealing a little lighter. “I’m not afraid of a little force!”

“No! No force! No fire either!” Flora said.

“Okay… no fire, got it! Do we like bright halogen lights?” Gadget asked.

“Who are you guys?!” The Mutant continued panicking.

“The Judges!” Ryuu said as he turned to the others. “Did that sound cool?”

“What!? What the hell is wrong with you guys!?” The Mutant shouted. “Wait… KIT!”

“Shoot!” Ryuu knocked the Mutant out as Kit made his way through the door, pointing a gun at the group.

“Well well well, we got a couple of Sherlock Dumbs out here!” Kit said. 

“That sucked…” Ryuu said.

“Shut up or I kill you!” Kit shouted. “Now get inside the warehouse or I kill you!”

Ryuu, Flora and Gadget were forced inside the warehouse and tied up. Kit was trying not to panic, but he was mostly shaking. Ryuu noticed that Kit wasn’t used to doing something like this.

“Hey kid… what are you doing?” Ryuu asked.

“I’m just doing what the boss is asking!” Kit pointed his gun at Ryuu. “You just shut up!”

“Come on, Kit… it’s not like these guys are gonna escape anyway.” The other Mutant said.

“Well… I guess you’re right.” Kit said. “Our boss wants us to destroy the Exceed and get rid of the Adventurer’s Guild. If we tear up the insides of this tub, then it’ll stop working, right!?”

“Got it… that’s all I needed to hear!” Ryuu said as he stood up, the ropes binding him falling off.

“What!?” Kit shouted.

“Ryuu, how did you do that?” Flora asked.

“The kid was shaking the whole time he was tying me up, the ropes weren’t tight at all!” Ryuu said.

“Far out! Now get the rest of us out of here!” Gadget said.

“Don’t! I’ll fire if you keep moving!” Kit shouted.

“Then do it! You won’t!” Ryuu shouted at Kit.

“I will!” Kit was shaking until he pulled the trigger on the gun, only to be met with a flurry of clicks. The gun that Kit had with him wasn’t even loaded.

“Knew it! The gun isn’t loaded!” Ryuu shouted. “Kid seemed too scared to be holding a loaded gun.”

“Dammit!” Kit took out a piece of gum and tossed it in his mouth. “Battle Treat… GATLING GUM!”

Kit leaped up and blew a large bubble with the gum, which started to fire little pellets of gum at the group. Ryuu launched himself towards Kit and swatted the kid to the side. 

“Ryuu!” Flora shouted as she and Gadget started to get hit by globs of gum. Ryuu ran over to untie them. Getting pelted with gum in the process. Flora and Gadget stood up, with Gadget firing bullets from one of his fingers to destroy the bits of gum.

“Let’s hurry and get this brat! Don’t let him get away!” Ryuu jumped towards Kit and hit him with both of his fists. “BIG BANG… DRASHOT!”

As Ryuu knocked down Kit, the giant gum bubble had exploded as well, getting all over the room. Kit sat up after landing on the ground and started to get angry again, wailing.

“NO NO NO! I was supposed to win the fight, not you lowlifes!” Kit said as he started to cry.

“Yeah yeah… someone bring me the rope.” Ryuu said as Flora handed him the rope that was used to tie them up.

“No!” Kit shouted at them as Ryuu tied him up.

“Shut up will ya? We’re just gonna lock you up until you explain, got it?” Ryuu said.

“Thanks for the help, Gadget.” Flora said.

“No problem… I should be getting back to work. My boss is blowing up my comm watch.” Gadget said as he left the warehouse.

“Let’s get these guys to lock up.” Ryuu said.

“Agreed.” Flora said.

Later, the duo had locked up Kit and his workers in the Security Corps. Grizzle had met the two and looked at the Mutants. Grizzle started to laugh loudly.

“Hah! I bet I can guess what you two were to today.” Grizzle said.

“Oh! You’re not mad at us are you?” Flora asked.

“Even if you didn’t grab these guys, I don’t think I could be mad at you! Security is about finding the bad guys, even if you don’t find them! You took initiative and searched for the culprits that were trying to destroy the Exceed!” Grizzle said.

“Really? So you’re gonna stamp my ID card?” Ryuu asked.

“Eh, sure… why not!” Grizzle said as he stamped Ryuu’s card with the Security Corps Shield emblem. “You’re almost there, Ryuu!”

“Good job, Ryuu!” Flora said. “But what are you gonna do about Kit and those other guys?”

“We have some interrogating to do… but that can wait, these guys won’t break out for a good long while.” Grizzle said. “But for now, let me reward you by taking you out for some good eats! What do you say?”

“Aye aye, Captain!” Ryuu shouted as he looked at Flora. “What about you?”

“Well… I am pretty busy tonight…” Flora looked at Ryuu. “You know what. Aye aye, Captain!”

Next Chapter - Flora of the Chlorophite