Ghost Hero

Three Stars Lined Up

"NEXT!" Rough-looking men were screaming into the queue in front of them.

The place was near the city's center. Lots of people came and went around that area. That was also the reason for the land's abundance of skyscrapers. Street lights supplanted the sun who was blocked by the buildings.

Many a strange thing happened there, but that sight of the lines and the stands gained people's attention. To the uninformed, the most eminent question would be:

"Food?"

"No! Look at the people lining up!"

One line looked commendable. The rest, however, was filled with thuggish people brandishing their weapons. Several even proudly showed off their mechanized limbs and hands. And at the ends of those lines were infamous people.

"Isn't that the youngin' from Du Lax family?"

"The fat man, right? He's working like that? Ain't he the heir?"

"Well, I heard the Cyntral no longer spent on them... Heh serves them right!"

Teakwood's citizens had some galls to gossip about a crime family while standing near them.

"Excuse, me. We're sorry for the inconvenience."

The young man handed out a card and some pamphlets.

[Dusk Zele. Zele Trading Company. Representative] were written on the card. The pamphlets were polar opposite in blandness. It was sayin' about recruitment for a "Collaboration Project" between Cyntral Corp. and Zele.

"This..."

"If you're interested, you can join the line. Hmmm... Although, it will take some time. But, we will pay you handsomely."

"I'm sorry, sir.... I don't think I have what it takes to do it."

"Ah! I see... That's true, huh? But we have a need for helpers too if you change your mind."

Dusk pointed at the end of the normal-looking line.

---

"NEXT!" That peaceful-looking line moved.

This time, a girl came up. She looked educated, different than others lining up there. The man wouldn't dismiss her just because of that, though.

"Name?"

"Nina."

"..." The man lifted his sight. "Alright, put your hand here."

He fished a sheet of paper, put it on top of a tablet, and then pushed it forward.

Nina couldn't perceives what it was for.

"It reads your levels and stuff. Standard practice here. Don't worry." The man was surprisingly very appeasing.

"O-okay." Nina frightfully put her right palm on it.

"Your first time?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm sorry, I'm not from this area."

"Ah, I see. It will take a bit. Please be patient, Missy."

"Yes."

She eased up. Her minds started to wander around.

"Levels, huh? So it really IS another world." she thought.

"It's distinct from the ones Key used to read about. Those seemed to be more historical. This place is very futuristic.

"I was scared when I arrived missing Maya and Key... I need to thank the orphanage for their assistance!"

And nothing could aids a struggling orphanage more than a ton of money. Hence her registration.