Reformation: Southern Knight

Tohgi: Yo!

Robber: What the…?? How?

Tohgi whipped his reicomm out of his hand.

Tohgi: oh… You must have thought you got away

Robber: How did you find me?

Tohgi: When you were eavesdropping on our conversation you missed a very important bit, "reiki leaves residues"

Robber: huh?

Tohgi: There's a piece of my whip stuck to you.

Tohgi said while pointing at the piece of vine on the robber's clothing.

Tohgi: any decent knight should be able to identify and track reiki they're familiar with.

Robber: so when you attacked us and missed, your vine got stuck on me. Wait, does that mean?

His eyes widened when he realised he had been played completely.

Tohgi: Caught on pretty quick.

Robber: You missed your strike on purpose… "Any decent knight" means there are knights already tracking my partner or soon to be… we were just bait for you. So why did you let me escape?

Tohgi: You would normally take longer to move the goods, right? My reiki would obviously fade by then.

Robber: I see… so you needed me to eavesdrop and make that call to move up the schedule, I was a complete fool.

The robber let out a deep sigh and surrender to his fate.

Tohgi: you seem less bothered than I thought you would be.

Robber: What can I do? I gave it my best.

Tohgi: That's… somewhat admirable, who were you talking about?

Robber: You have to be more persuasive than that… I want a deal. Immunity and anonymity for me and my partner then I'll tell you everything.

Tohgi: that's pointless to me, I know they have enough influence to cover themselves if you give just a name, that's not what I was asking for… You said "even if I don't make it, you would have a happy life" wife? Kids? Parents?

Robber: Wife and kids. As long as the deal goes through, my partner was going to compensate them.

Tohgi: And you trust him to do so?

Robber: He's more than a brother to me.

Tohgi: I see… it's probably not worth anything, but I truly am sorry

Robber: you're a funny one… what are you sorry about? Doing your job? Or me being a criminal?

Tohgi: leaving your kids fatherless and your wife without a husband.

Robber: that's on me. Anyway, what's next?

Tohgi: well you and your partner go to prison and your employers would still probably get away free.

Robber: I see, it's the cards we've been dealt.

Tohgi was irritated by the statement the robber made.

Squad V member: We'll take him away, you're behind schedule.

Tohgi: sorry I got caught up; I'll leave this to you.

Tohgi's frustration was plain to see, his shoulders slumped and his jaw clenched. The robber, however, found amusement in Tohgi's plight, a sentiment he did not expect. The robber touched by Tohgi's empathy smiled to himself and paused.

Robber: (You're an interesting person) my ability is to create pocket dimensions through any conduit, even a handkerchief can be turned into a bottomless bag. You are clearly going to catch my partner but you wouldn't get the goods if you're careless

Tohgi: Why are you helping us?

Robber: we're screwed either way, might as well screw over my employers as well, plus helping might go well in my court case. Whatever the case may be, there's no benefit to holding out information. 

Tohgi: Thank you.

Tohgi left them and met with Dale, together they travelled to Cryhill city to apprehend the head of operations for the robbery. Squad five knights were already stationed undercover in Cryhill, they had been on the tail of Tohgi's reiki. They directed Tohgi and Dale to the vantage point to observe the interaction between the robber and his employer. They were all waiting for the exchange to happen before they move in. Some squad members were jittery as they were no longer in their jurisdiction.

Member: Isn't this Captain Sabueso's territory? We really shouldn't be here; we should have reported this to Squad one.

Members: I agree, I don't want to get removed, I don't have any plan B.

Members: shhh… this is supposed to be quiet, Tohgi's plans are usually successful, let's trust it

Members: although sometimes irritating, he's usually right.

Members: that's true.

Tohgi turned to Dale with a smug look on his face.

Tohgi: I told you, it's a blessing and a curse.

Dale, irritated by Tohgi's smug attitude was about to turn off his reicomm and disconnect from the shared frequency, but Tohgi stopped him. Dale understood the importance of their shared communication and listened on.

Member: Besides if all else fails, Dale is here. As long as he's here things would work out, one way of the other

Member: Of course.

The rising tension among the squad members involved in the mission quelled, giving way to a calm yet determined focus as they waited for the final phase of the mission.

Member: let's do this

Member: Tohgi… What are we waiting for?

Tohgi: I got intel that the stolen goods are well hidden, if we move in now, we might not be able to find evidence… I'm not even sure it's on him, but I know for sure that at some point they would need to verify the goods. That's what we are waiting for.

After a while of waiting, the exchange was finally happening with the noble, the robber brought a small sack out of his pocket and when he untied it a bunch of valuable items fell out.

Dale: That's it! Everyone move in!

They stormed into the house at Dale's command.

Noble: This is private property; how dare you barge in?

Dale: You're under arrest sir. We would attend to your concerns after processing your arrest.

Noble: Who are you? You have no right.

Dale: We're knights and unfortunately for you, we do. We followed a criminal in and whilst chasing him we found you were in cahoots with him.

Noble: Preposterous!

Tohgi: How do you explain what we have just witnessed?

Noble: I would have a word with your captain.

Dale: That's perfectly fine, but for now you're under arrest, take them in.

Tohgi along with some other members collected all the valuables that fell out of the sack.

Tohgi: We'll be returning these

Member: You see, I told you we'll be fine

Member: You were scared too "I don't want to be removed, what if Captain Sabueso shouts at me, I might cry"

He said mockingly, mimicking the voice of a child. All the members erupted into laughter.

Members: Shut up, I never said that

Members: Do we have to leave tonight? Considering how late it is.

Dale: We have to report tomorrow morning for work, our permission to chase this has officially ended.

Tohgi whispered to Dale.

Tohgi: You know we can extend it right?

Dale: We shouldn't stay is Captain Sabueso's city for too long, I would rather avoid him.

Tohgi: I see you are scared of him too,

Dale: We all are.

Tohgi: Well seeing as this was an undercover mission our only way home is public transport, we better hope the last wagons aren't gone.

Dale: There's always wagons available if you're a knight.

Tohgi: huh?

Dale: What?

Tohgi: How did I not know this?

Dale: I should be asking you that…

Tohgi: I see all my days running for the wagon was unnecessary

Dale: You ran?

Tohgi: Let's not talk about it…

Dale: You really should learn to act like a knight.

Tohgi: It's been THREE months!!!! It's not like being a knight comes with a book detailing all the perks and rules.

They all made their way back to Rydat city that night.

Dale: I didn't need your little motivation exercise.

Tohgi: I swear you high-born people and your pride… it is so tiring; you are the hardest to deal with.

Tohgi sighed deeply before explaining himself to Dale.

Tohgi: This wasn't a motivation exercise; I had a feeling they might chicken out so I needed you for assurance. Sadly, the trust you've gained from your experiences is not something someone can take away even if the person is stronger, smarter and considerably better looking than you.

Dale chuckled after Tohgi's rant.

Dale: What the hell does better looking have to do with anything?

Tohgi: It seems to work for Captain Sabueso, it seems like he could wipe out a city and people would call it the deed of an angel.

Dale: I can't even argue with that.

Tohgi: I was thinking maybe I should remove everyone better looking than me that can compete with me

Tohgi began rubbing his chin and looked deep in thought.

Dale: why do you suddenly look serious? What does remove mean? Hey!

Tohgi: huh?

Dale: (well at least he thinks he's better looking than me, if only that were true)

Tohgi: (why does he look like he just lied to himself) Honestly, do you think the noble would get convicted?

Dale: Most likely not, but I still think it is important they know their deeds don't go unnoticed.

Tohgi: (I was hopeful) How relevant is that lesson though?

Dale: It's the best we can do, "wrong doings would be reprimanded", We need that message to resonate.

Tohgi: Wrong doings huh? What is wrong and right?

Dale: Is that supposed to be a philosophical question?

Tohgi: not really, it's a literal question. A person who steals to sustain a family is wrong is he not? What of a person who hires the thief using his desperate situation? Is he wrong? What of the people who exploit the poor and weak to earn the riches that were stolen? Are they also wrong?

Dale became silent, understanding what Tohgi was insinuating.

Tohgi: Of those three people, the only one that would definitely get convicted by the law is the thief. The law is right, personal moral and anything else is irrelevant in the grand scheme, including our little lesson.

Dale: If it's all irrelevant why were you interested then?

Tohgi: That's a good question, why was I? I was bored I guess.

END!