Grasping the Blade #2
“They took all the Fantasy Nymph Statues!”
“Argh! They even snatched our nymph figures!”
We'd come to Pandora Market for the weekend, only to find merchants with long faces arguing with skeleton soldiers.
“Don't interfere. We're just carrying out our official duties under the authority of the Security Bureau Chief.”
“Obstructing official duties is a crime—you could be arrested on the spot!”
The armored skeleton soldiers were so sharp and fierce they looked like imperial vanguard seizing wartime supplies. What the hell was going on during this golden weekend?
“I'm Jo Iseo, Vice Chairman of the Market Development Division. I don't intend to obstruct your duties, but could I ask what exactly justifies confiscating our goods?”
The Fantasy Nymph Statues were masterpieces crafted over days by artisans like Pygmalion from the South Gate. Thanks to them, the plaza where they were displayed had become a full-blown landmark, drawing crowds and naturally boosting market revival. It pained me to admit it, but people loved those statues that much.
And now the Security Bureau was trying to take them? What even was the Security Bureau, anyway?
As curiosity bubbled up, someone emerged from the cluster of skeleton soldiers with crisp, disciplined steps—clack-clack.
He was a skeleton armed with a spear and longsword at his waist. While the others were standard skeleton grunts, this one was clad in golden armor, looking every bit the captain or general.
“You're that famous Jo Iseo, huh? I'm Achilles, acting chief of the Security Bureau. To cut to the chase, we've designated these 'Fantasy Nymph Statues' for censorship.”
Censor the statues? What an absurd situation.
That's when the red-haired skeleton chairman, Odi, stepped forward with his hair flowing wildly.
“Achilles, old friend! It's been ages! I heard you'd been drafted into the Security Bureau. Acting chief, eh? You're doing quite well for yourself.”
“And you, Odysseus, have fallen far. Never thought the star of HQ's Strategic Planning would end up rolling around in a dump like this.”
Achilles was a Trojan War hero, the warrior whose only weakness was his heel—and rival to Team Leader Hector. I could see why.
“If the Security Bureau's involved, there's nothing for it. Jo, we should probably back off this time. Even that fearsome CEO acknowledges their authority.”
Hades Chairman was the undisputed ruler of Soul Society. If even he bowed to their authority...
Security Bureau. Now I was really curious what they did.
Whoosh—you don't notice what's missing until it's gone.
With the statues seized, the plaza felt even more desolate.
'Maybe that's for the best?'
Visitors who'd come just for the statues would thin out now. Sure, the artisans had already started remaking them, so foot traffic wouldn't vanish entirely.
“Jo, as you know, the Security Bureau handles the Moirae. They rarely operate out in the open like this, but if they've made a call, we have no choice but to comply.”
Chairman Odi clicked his tongue in regret.
Force majeure. That's what he wanted to say.
“But from what I know, the Moirae were kidnapped by Tartarus goons. So doesn't that mean we can't be sure this seizure and censorship is really their will?”
I asked out of pure curiosity. I wanted to understand how this Soul Society system ticked.
Odi pondered long and hard before shaking his head.
“I don't know the full story either. But trust me—you don't want to dig into what the Security Bureau's up to. Especially not someone like you aiming to get back to HQ.”
Curiosity killed the cat—that's the vibe.
But Chairman Odi didn't seem to realize I was the type who got more fired up by warnings like that.
A turret that dives headfirst into danger? Hell yeah, let's go!
Still, I'd need some 'justification.' So I gritted my teeth, clenched my fists, and trembled like a man possessed by righteous fury.
“They can't just snatch statues filled with everyone's dreams, hopes, and memories like that. I won't turn a blind eye to the Security Bureau's tyranny! Everyone, don't lose heart!”
I spread my arms wide, drawing the eyes of the dejected crowd.
“I'll handle this! Leave it to Jo Iseo!”
“Ooooh!”
“Long live Jo Iseo!”
“Bring back our hope!”
Perfect. They were pinning their hopes on me now. Good momentum.
Truth be told, if the Bureau was truly backed by the Moirae, nothing I did would change a thing. Even great gods couldn't defy their decrees, as Admetus and Apollo's tale showed. Could an ant stop a raging torrent?
'If I fail to solve it, that'll disappoint everyone—win. If things go south with the Bureau and something big blows up, that's my ticket to getting fired—another win.'
This incident was a no-lose for me. The goddess of opportunity was finally showing me her front side!
Tap.
Odysseus grabbed my shoulder.
“Jo, can't you reconsider? You're grabbing a flying blade barehanded when market revival is right around the corner. Sometimes you dodge instead of fighting.”
It was oddly tender coming from the guy who'd mocked my demotion.
He genuinely cared, which was touching... but also worrisome. He might end up like Hector or Bones—another soft-hearted bonehead. Better keep my distance.
“Don't worry. I won't let it touch you, Chairman.”
“...Jo, it's not me I'm worried about. As someone who's walked the hero's path before you, I know how brutal the road ahead is. That's all.”
“Hero's path? That's too grand. I'm not cut out for it, mentally or otherwise.”
“Then for a woman? Nothing makes a man throw his life away so readily. I know—I fought in the Trojan War.”
Whoosh—Odysseus's eyes burned quietly.
“Those seized Fantasy Nymph Statues. Rumor has it a certain goddess modeled for them. Are you ready to stake everything for her?”
Melinoë's face flashed in my mind—then faded. Our 'relationship' was a secret contract romance, but somehow the rumors kept spreading.
'Getting exposed would be nothing but bad for me.'
No choice. I shook my head.
“Not for some grand goddess. For the pitiful, pathetic little nymphs who can't even love themselves.”
“...Nymphs?”
The chairman's eyes flickered in confusion. After a beat...
“You know there's a sundries shop on the first floor of our development HQ, right? I've got a tab there I haven't paid. Hand this to the owner.”
Jingle—Odysseus handed me a coin pouch.
An errand at this timing? Fine, I headed to the shop.
The married shopkeeper, her face wrapped turban-style in cloth, barely glanced at me while dusting—until I pulled out the pouch. Her eyes changed.
“That's Odysseus's coin pouch. Here to settle a tab, huh? Looks like you've finally earned that prickly guy's approval.”
“What're you talking about?”
I was just running an errand to pay off debt. What the hell?
I frowned, and her honey-colored eyes narrowed sharply from under the turban.
“Don't play dumb. I owe him too. Whatever this is, I'll cooperate. Security Bureau related, right?”
How'd she guess without explanation? Smooth.
Soon she handed me a scroll from somewhere.
“I worked at the Security Bureau once, but even I can't access them now. You'll need a hard push. This is an internal map of their office.”
Eh? Hard push? That's too radical.
But gotta do it.
“By the way, this map costs 1,000 Charon gold coins.”
“You're charging?”
“Said I'd cooperate—not for free.”
Practical woman. 1,000 gold... that'd wipe out everything I had...
“Deal.”
“Ha, Jo. Are you insane? That's basically your entire savings. And you decide without hesitation?”
“Money's just money. I can earn more.”
And if 1,000 gold gets me fired, it's a bargain. Buying my freedom cheap.
But the shopkeeper misunderstood.
“Jo, those Fantasy Nymphs mean that much to you, huh? Just statues... I'm jealous. I was once a precious nymph to someone too.”
Nymph! So the shopkeeper was a fully grown nymph? The face wrap hid it completely.
“Since you bought the map, here's a freebie.”
Clink—she offered a glass vial of transparent liquid.
What was this?
“I once said hydra venom was the second strongest in Soul Society. This surpasses it—the ultimate supreme poison. You'll find a use.”
Soul Society's strongest poison. Perfect for extreme hell cockroach extermination!
Lucky break!
Soul Society's Chairman Hades awoke to an exceptionally refreshing morning. A true miracle morning.
Since his wife left for her parents' a while back, he'd sprawled across the bed, erasing all fatigue.
'Plenty of time before work.'
He considered a nap on the sofa—right as someone pounded on the door.
'Wife back from her folks already?'
Chilling. The door flew open, revealing a familiar face.
“What is it, Zagreus? You? You just shaved ten years off my life!”
“Father! This is no time for jokes! The Security Bureau—they're under occupation! Hostage situation! Jo Iseo and Crowzer—”
“What? Calm down and explain. Jo and Crowzer got nabbed as hostages by the Bureau? Those troublemakers finally clashed and got caught, huh?”
Unauthorized intruders in the Bureau faced long detentions. No idea why they'd gone in, but they'd suffer.
But Prince Zagreus shook his head.
“No—Jo and Crowzer have the Bureau agents hostage and are holding the fort! We've contained the info, but it's only a matter of time before the public knows!”
“What? Bureau agents like Achilles—fearsome warriors galore. And those two subdued them? Make sense!”
Chairman Hades grasped the situation.
“This is a nightmare. I must still be asleep.”
He closed his eyes on the sofa. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't wake from this horror.
“Arrrgh! You idiots Jo! Crowzer! What mess have you caused! You lunatics!”
He tore at his thick hair, howling. Meanwhile, his son Zagreus admired the scene.
'Hitting the Security Bureau at this timing. Jo, you're one crafty bastard. Even I got outmaneuvered.'