VI – Kawaii! A Toad wearing armor... No, wait! Don’t erase my existence! No! No! (Part 1)

Previously on ‘Bleach’:

Edward gave in and let Thief Queen take over his body so that she would save Macro’s life. Result: Brandon, a vicious leader of the Cubs Gang, got THIEVED. The A.I Glitch ‘Fire of Mourgiana’ trapped his mind in a terrible loop. Yet as the confrontation ended, Thief Queen lost control of Edward’s ‘Thief King Mode’ and the boy turned once again into a frail teenager. The Cubs approached, and Edward left the neighborhood as fast as he could.

However, every Glitch leaves a trail. In their case, it is Brandon crying purple tears...

-| Glitch - |

“I-I-It was some cute kid with shining purple-eyes. But if you ask me, it was that evil guy from down there,” said a crying Melina with a capsule of a sedative in hands. She sobbed as she touched Brandon’s unconscious face. She was the spectator on the basketball court who convinced the Cubs to challenge Thief King. “T-That creepy guy came in and took my sweet boyfriend’s stupid basketball,” she bawled, angry. “Brandog just wanted it back and look at what happened to him!”

Brandon laid on a hospital bed in a dim chamber. Hooded figures surrounded his body and Melina like a curtain of shadows.

The woman filled her lungs with air and continued her testimony, “the kid knocked the Cubs out and almost got my boyfriend killed. My dear Brandon got hit by a car and survived because he’s so strong. But now he won’t wake up!” she wept. “He keeps crying these stupid purple tears! I just want him back—”

“That is enough, Melina. I am grateful,” replied GEO, the member of the Skulls that orchestrated the betrayal of Thief Queen. “Take this woman elsewhere,” he said as he glanced at three mobsters who stood in the room. “And stay there with her.”

They hurried to obey his order and did not raise one word in protest. A Glitcher was an ominous presence. They knew of the legendary powers that hid beneath their guest’s sunglasses.

Yet a man remained in the room aside from GEO. He wore a bright golden mask and the bright red tunic of a king.

“You found out what happened, freak?” asked the golden man in a mechanic manner. His mask drowned out his voice. “Did the person that you are looking for indeed hurt one of my men?”

“Yes, “those purple tears are her signature. It is so obvious, it almost seems like a trap,” he said, walking to a window and watched as acid rain fell upon Chicago. He eyed the endless maze of alleys that stripped the city, aware that the woman could be anywhere. “There is no doubt in my mind: Thief Queen is alive. And she is in the city,” he concluded.

The man dressed in gold crossed his arms, baffled. “So is this Glitcher a threat to my business?” he inquired, thoughtful. “The Skulls have stolen from the cartel in Honduras before if I’m not mistaken.”

GEO sneered the man’s sense of self-importance. He replied, “Midas, with all due respect, Thief Queen has larger concerns than your mafia—”

“Wolfpack.”

“Wolfpack”—GEO corrected himself—“as I said, you are not her target. Thief Queen is a Mastermind Class Glitcher. Without a gang to lead, she is unable to make a heist. On the other hand,” he narrowed his eyes at Midas, “she might turn out to be a fortuitous target for you. You must know that we stole a precious cargo from the US ‘Othello’ Armored Train when we invaded it. That cargo, in the hands of an educated Glitcher like me, would make you even more powerful than President Johnson.”

“I am listening.”

“I lack manpower, for my companions from the Skulls are short-sighted and left me to my own resources. I say that we join forces. All you must do is to mobilize your men to help me find Thief Queen. I shall take care of the rest once that is done,” proposed GEO. “Deal?”

“I, Midas, warn you that I don’t expect to grab less than half of what we find.”

“There’ll be plenty of time to bargain,” said the Glitcher as he faced the window. ”There is no telling if the device in her possession can rewind time.”

“Midas always bargains first—”

GEO gestured for the man to halt his speech. Something bothered the Glitcher. He frowned and noticed that a shiver ran down his arm. He rose his scowl to face the horizon as if he saw ghosts flying over the city’s skyline.

Yet Midas grew impatient. “What happened now, freak?” he questioned.

The Glitcher grimaced. “I fear I am not the only one who is close to finding her,” he replied. “Tell your men to keep their eyes opened and stay safe. There is no telling what will happen tonight.”

“Really? And what you are gonna do?”

“I plead you to do not ask any questions. For now”—GEO faced the city—“let me enjoy the sight.”

Tables for the Table Gods:

Spoiler: Spoiler

Edward's Stat Cards:

Edward (Thief King Mode)'s Stat Card: