The Captain's Mystery

Damn it... I'm too late.

Boss ... has gone missing.

The only clue ... is this letter.

A trap, yes, but also a chance.

"In the Stragglers Grove, all scores shall meet their days." ...Tch. They'll regret it. Let's go find boss.​​

Mm.

They want to avenge what happened at the Stockade a decade ago ... and settle all scores in the Stragglers Grove.

That's why I only contacted you.

No one left in the Stockade has the skill for this. Even stranger, there's no sign of a struggle here.

Ten years past, Qingbo Stockade's blood debt still stays.

A start forged in blood demands an end steeped in it.

We present the first cup of vengeance to our foe in the Main Pillar. The traitor's sip shall come next.

In the Stragglers Grove, all scores shall meet their days.

Our fists know no regret, to live or die is the river's ways.

Stop!

Too good to call us "Master" now, eh?

Come here, let me have a closer look.

Save it... Why are you back? Where's Tianshi Zhuang?

Hmph? After a decade apart, is this the welcome you give your masters?

...I came to you as your disciple, swearing to honor the Stockade's fighting arts and take on Wuling.

So you betrayed your oath, you betrayed us! Lady Mi Fu, Captain of the Wuling Watch.

Mast — I knew it was you.

Have you forgotten ... why we were forced to leave in the first place?

Don't worry, she's still alive.

Why are you targeting her? If it weren't for her, the Stockade would've been gone for good!

Why? Heh, you really are loyal to her, aren't you? Do you even remember the oath you took back then?

And now?

That's all behind me. Now I'm with Wuling.

Masters ... we can talk about this. But if anything happens to her, it could spell the end for the Stockade.

Talk? Don't underestimate your masters. We know the Stockade is small, but that doesn't mean we bow to Wuling.

Come to the arena tomorrow. If we win, you crawl back to the Stockade and fulfill your oath. As for that Zhuang ... we'll deal with her as we see fit.

If you win, we will let her walk free.

Hmm?

A loud-mouthed one, huh? Fine, then you're in too. Make sure to bring this one along tomorrow.

Enough! My actions are mine alone. Leave the others out of it!

We can release her, on one simple condition: we settle this the Stockade way.

Let this be a lesson on speaking out of turn. Or, have you grown so arrogant that you question your master on matters of discipline?

You...

Lost for words? Good. Prepare yourself and take what's coming.

Now, we're just here to settle some old accounts.

Well, look at you, our finest disciple. You've really grown over the years. Your moves look so much sharper.

How is Wuling treating you? Settling in alright?

Looks like you've been eating well...

Thanks, Endmin.

Come with me. There's a place I want to show you first.

...I didn't think they were coming after me.

Yes. They are the "Three Masters" of Qingbo Stockade. Their martial skills are beyond measures.

I know ... it's absurd that a crisis like this has to be settled in an arena, especially when it involves the most important person in Wuling.

But if word gets out there, everything you, the boss, and the little kitty did before will have been for nothing.

I can only repay old debts by facing them head-on.

They raised me and taught me how to fight. I was their very first disciple.

Endmin ... can you keep this between us?

They were the ones ... who had me swear to take on Wuling.

Sorry for dragging you into this. I never thought I'd have to fight all three of them someday.

This is the place... I used to lock myself away here before every fight.

Master, her movements are fast and unpredictable. It's hard for anyone to get close to her.

Senior Master ... you can tell just from his posture that his strength is unmatched.

Besides ... no one has ever defeated him...

But ... I'm not sure if I can win tomorrow.

As for Grand Master ... he's the strongest and strictest. He taught me the most.

For some people, the grudges between the Stockade and Wuling run too deep. They can't simply let it go.

Over the years, I have changed. But they haven't. If anything, their desire for revenge has probably grown even stronger.

Yeah, time's running out. Endmin, spar with me for a bit!

Almost there.

Nobody inside is weak. We're in for a tough fight.

Alright, we should get going.

The arena is out in the lake. We'll have to take a bamboo raft at the station.

It's a place only martial practitioners go. Most Stockaders don't even know where it is.

Even I would've forgotten this place if those old geezers hadn't shown up... Okay, no more talk, let's go.

What is it? Got more questions for me?

They felt responsible for the death of Ruan Yi's father. Also, the Stockade was running out of food...

Ugh. They called it self-exile, but really, they brought many along to make a living outside. Made things easier for the rest.

After I became a watchguard, boss mentioned a company of armed caravan guards from Wuling. My masters, probably.

I'm not sure. But the Stockade kept in touch with my masters.

Ruan Yi fell and Wuling fought off a major attack. Any Stockader would want to head home and check things out.

But I never expected them to return so quickly.

Great. We should move out quickly.

I checked around. I don't see any records of my masters visiting the Main Pillar Office.

I know my boss. Even if they took her away by force, she would have left us a clue.

But I found nothing. And that's very frustrating...

Endmin, found any leads?

I agree. Nobody can touch the boss. Especially not the Stockaders.

But we must face the truth. We can't get in touch with the boss. We also have the letter.

Maybe they threatened the boss with the Wulingers, or something she cares about.

...

I did not receive any reports about them.

Little kitty handled the strongest Ruan Yi loyalists for us.

Furthermore, both Nefarith and her Bonekrushers have been eliminated.

I can't think of anyone who has the audacity to do this...

I only know one Stockader who can write like this.

But he should be making a living outside Wuling.

I'm the Watchguard Captain, yet I heard nothing of his return.

Something is not right...

Alright, Endmin.