Chương 55: The story of hierarchy

The group landed outside Azuma Station. Benkay dusted himself off and looked toward the enormous entrance.

"Alrighty! Let's go get those tickets!" Thomas reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

"Alright, I'll pay." Benkay immediately waved him off.

"There's no need! I've got it covered." Thomas raised an eyebrow.

"You sure?"

"Absolutely!" Benkay confidently marched over to the ticket counter. A woman sat behind the desk, calmly working on her terminal. Benkay leaned against the counter with a grin.

"Hey, beautiful." Krystal's eyes immediately narrowed.

"We're starting already...?" Benkay continued.

"We're looking to get eight tickets to the Fairy Quadrant." He paused.

"Oh, and one pet pass." Tony's ears immediately shot up.

"WAIT!" He pointed at himself.

"Did he say PET PASS?!" He puffed out his chest.

"I AIN'T A PET!" The ticket clerk looked at Tony. Then back at Benkay.

"Right away, sir." She began typing.

"The next train to the Fairy Quadrant departs in twenty minutes." She looked up.

"Is that okay?" Benkay's grin widened.

"As long as you are in this world..." He leaned closer.

"It's okay."

"Say what's your name gourgeous?" Ace's expression immediately went blank.

"Oh boy..." The lady said"Oh.. uhh, its Vallery.." Benkay gently took the Vallery's hand.

"How about I treat you to a nice coffee later?" He smiled.

"Well Vallery.."

"We could sit down, have a chat... get to know each other?" The woman froze.

"..." Everyone stared. Mochi whispered to King. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Is he always like this?" King nodded.

"Yeah, but you'll get used to it.." Krystal's eye twitched.

"Master..." Benkay continued smiling.

"I'm sure we'd have a wonderful time." Krystal finally snapped.

"That's enough!" She grabbed Benkay by the ear.

"OW!" Krystal dragged him away from the counter.

"Sorry for his attitude ma'am." She bowed slightly toward the clerk.

"He's just a creep. Pay no mind to him." Benkay struggled against her grip.

"I'm... not a creep!" Krystal pulled harder.

"OW! OW! OW!" She looked toward Max.

"Max, get the tickets, would you?" Max nodded.

"Sure." He stepped up to the counter. The clerk handed him the stack of tickets.

"Here you are."

"Thank you." Meanwhile, Krystal continued dragging Benkay away.

"Come on!"

"OW! OW! OW!" Benkay desperately tried to pry her hand away.

"Krystal, let go!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I said I'm sorry!" Everyone followed behind them. Mochi glanced back toward the ticket counter.

"Uh... thanks for the tickets!" The clerk simply smiled awkwardly. Benkay was still being dragged through the station.

"OW! OW! OW! KRYSTAL, LET GO! IT HURTS, OKAY?!" Krystal didn't even slow down.

"Maybe next time you'll think before flirting with strangers."

"I WAS JUST BEING FRIENDLY!"

"Sure you were."

"I WAS, HONEST!" Max looked at King.

"Should we help him?" King shook his head.

"Nah." He smiled.

"He deserves it." Benkay's voice echoed through the station.

"CMON GUYS!" At the seating area, Krystal finally released Benkay. Benkay immediately rubbed his ear.

"Ow..." Thomas scoffed.

"You really need to act more professional around the youngsters, you know, Benkay." He shook his head.

"Honestly, I can't believe you're a Grandmaster like me." Benkay smiled proudly.

"Well, aren't I full of surprises?" Mochi looked between them.

"Grandmasters?" He tilted his head.

"What are they?" Amelia suddenly remembered.

"Oh yeah! You weren't here when Benkay explained it." Benkay waved his hand.

"No problem. I'll just explain it again." He sat down.

"Basically, a Grandmaster is someone who is deemed one of the strongest people in the country." He held up a finger.

"The title is given directly by the Shogun." Mochi leaned forward.

"The Shogun?" Benkay nodded.

"There are five Grandmasters at any given time." Mochi's eyes widened.

"Whoa... the strongest people in the country!" He suddenly became excited.

"Then tell me, who's this Shogun guy?" He grinned.

"He must be even stronger!" Thomas smiled.

"Well... currently, we're on the sixth Shogun." Mochi's eyes lit up.

"Sixth?!" Thomas nodded.

"The Sixth Shogun is Garuuk Tokoshi." His expression became more serious.

"A man known for his fierce temper and an enormous magic pool said to have been blessed by the very Gods themselves." Ace raised an eyebrow.

"Blessed by the Gods?" Thomas nodded.

"And his magic is something truly impressive." He paused.

"Time Magic." Mochi froze.

"... Time Magic?" Thomas nodded.

"Indeed." Mochi suddenly jumped to his feet.

"ALRIGHT!" He pumped his fist into the air.

"The more you talk about him..." His grin widened.

"THE MORE I WANNA FIGHT HIM!" Everyone stared at him. Thomas sighed.

"Of course you do." Mochi pointed toward Thomas.

"Is he stronger than you?" Thomas scoffed.

"Now he is." Mochi's eyes widened.

"Really?" Thomas crossed his arms.

"But things were different in the past." He smiled faintly.

"Because I was Garuuk's teacher." Silence. Everyone froze. Ace's jaw dropped.

"... You taught the Sixth Shogun?!" Thomas nodded.

"That's right." Amelia stared at him.

"You're actually serious?" Thomas nodded.

"Completely." Benkay suddenly smirked.

"And there's a little extra detail you might want to know." Thomas glanced at him.

"Benkay..." Benkay grinned.

"Thomas here was the Third Shogun." The entire group froze again.

"WHAT?!" Even King, Max, Krystal, and Tony looked stunned. Ace stared at Thomas.

"You were the THIRD SHOGUN?!" Amelia looked completely overwhelmed.

"Hold on!" She waved her hands.

"This is way too much to take in at once!" She pointed at Thomas.

"You're saying Mr. Thomas was the Third Shogun?!" Benkay nodded.

"That's right." Amelia's eyes widened.

"Our Guild Master..." She looked around.

"... LEAD JAPAN?!" Thomas scratched his cheek.

"Well... yes." Mochi's eyes sparkled.

"OH!" He jumped toward Thomas.

"OLD MAN, YOU'RE SO AMAZING!" Thomas sighed.

"Thanks." He rubbed his forehead.

"But you can leave the 'old man' part out of it..." Mochi grinned.

"Hehehe." Ace looked at Thomas with newfound respect.

"So you're not just some old guild master after all..." Thomas smirked.

"There's a lot you youngsters don't know about me." Benkay chuckled.

"That's what makes him so interesting." Before anyone could ask another question, a loud announcement echoed throughout the station.

"Attention, passengers." Everyone looked toward the platform.

"The train arriving at Platform Three is bound for the Fairy Quadrant." The distant sound of a train approaching grew louder. A sleek bullet train raced into the station before smoothly coming to a stop. The doors opened.

"Destination: Fairy Quadrant."

"Please board now." Benkay immediately stood.

"Alrighty!" He grabbed his bag.

"It's here!" He looked toward everyone.

"Come on, guys! Let's go!" Mochi grabbed his belongings.

"Let's go!" Tony jumped onto Ace's shoulder.

"Finally!" Ace sighed.

"Get off."

"Nope, no way."

"Tony.. why are you doing this!?." Tony grinned Everyone laughed as they made their way toward the train. One by one, they stepped inside. The doors remained open as the group settled into their seats. Benkay looked toward the others.

"Alright!" He grinned.

"Next stop... the Fairy Quadrant!" The doors closed. The bullet train departed Azuma Station, carrying the group toward their next destination... THE FAIRY KINGDOM!