[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240315/de039f859a0f7ed86c79f6d4265d3386.png[/img]

[b]Word Count:[/b] 714
[b]Level 6 Captain Falcon:[/b] 48/60
[b]Exp Gained:[/b] +1
[b]NEW EXP Balance---[/b] 49/60

[H3]Esaka, Low Tier ~ Breakers Dojo[/h3][/center]

Everything from last night until now was something of a haze. With the destruction of the motel, it became necessary for all the Seekers to find alternative shelters for the night. And for Captain Falcon, that meant a tired walk back into the Low Tier so he could pay the Breakers Dojo a visit. It was the only place he knew of that he could go to. Luckily for him, Sawamura was still present when Cap arrived and was able to let him in and help prepare a cot to sleep on. Everyone else at the Dojo had already left for the night, however.

Now it was morning, and the F-Zero pilot sat on a floor mat in front of a table with Sawamura. The sensei acquired a modest breakfast of rice omelets and a few dumplings that he then shared with Falcon. And this was also the primary opportunity for him to explain what had happened last night as they ate.

“Hmm, troubling.” Sawamura said, sipping on a cup of tea, “While it’s true that G-Corp are the ones responsible for manufacturing those robots, they are not the only company in Esaka that uses them.”

That came as a surprise to Falcon, who paused mid bite an omelet. [color=1f66b2]”So then… there’s no guarantee that Mishima is behind the raid?”[/color] Falcon had thought for certain the attack was some form of retaliation for Nadia’s earlier thefts. Now he wasn’t so certain.

“Correct.” Sawamura confirmed with a nod. “They are also used by Howard Connection among other… organizations. Though if I may speak plainly…” he paused, “...Howard Connection is the one most relevant to your team and the KOF for reasons you may have already guessed.”

[color=1f66b2]”Geese.”[/color] Falcon said somberly, eliciting a nod of confirmation from Sawamura. Terry had mentioned the name several times, he recalled, but Cap didn’t know the full story. Maybe it would be pertinent of him to hear it from Terry later when they got the opportunity. Falcon quickly finished the last of his meal and stood up. [color=1f66b2]”I need to get back with the others. Thank you for letting me stay the night, sensei.”[/color]

“Of course.” Sawamura said with a nod, “Just… be careful, Captain. Sometimes these tournaments have a habit of being more than what they seem.”

Cap nodded and then departed from the dojo. He figured the other Seekers had already met up for breakfast by now, and he had a feeling they would have already split up again by the time he tried to link up with them. It might just be better if he started for the Pools now since he at least would be guaranteed to find Terry and Amaterasu there. The walk also gave the bounty hunter some extra time to process the attack last night and the words of advice that Sawamura had offered him earlier.

[color=1f66b2]”More than what they seem…”[/color] Falcon murmured to himself, echoing Sawamura’s words. [color=1f66b2]”You don’t know the half of it, Sensei.”[/color] Naturally, Sawamura knew nothing about Galeem, Moebius, or the connection the Four Kings had to those things. But it still impressed him that Sawamura would be able to sense something being off enough to offer a word of warning like that. Maybe some folks in the World of Light could be more… perceptive of things than Galeem gave them credit for? Or maybe these tournaments were simply that rampant with corruption?

In any case, it all only served to steel the Captain’s resolve further to fight his way through this thing and take out at least one of the Four Kings. This obviously wasn’t just about competing anymore.

When he finally made it to the Pools, Falcon spotted Terry’s burly form waving him over and jogged the rest of the way to where his teammates were, [color=1f66b2]”Sorry I didn’t show for breakfast.”[/color] He told Terry and Ammy apologetically, [color=1f66b2]”Spent the night at the Breakers Dojo and Sawamura invited me to have breakfast with him. Didn’t want to turn him down and look rude, you know?”[/color]

Cap took a look for himself at the board containing the Team Names and brackets, seeing for himself who their first opponent was going to be. [color=1f66b2]”Team MUGEN, huh?”[/color] Cap said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. [color=1f66b2]”What do you know about ‘em, Terry?”[/color]