Chap 56: calm before the storm.
Sand, everywhere is just sand. Turning to the right, sand. Turn to the left, sand.
'I hate sand.' He throught as they ride inside of a buggy car, the flight they're on was fine. Until they landed, then they face a couple more stand user out in public area. Lots of people that was hurt, but no death.
"Old hag, how far are we to the next city ?" She fanned herself.
Driving in the desert was a bad idea, but on Jojo hand. This was a safer route if they don't want civilian to get involve.
"Not to worry my grand daughter. We're only just a few more minutes away. See, there it is." She pointed ahead.
Just as the map say, there is indeed a city in front of them. Cairo, following their clues, this is where Dio have his hideout.
"Still, we still need to search the entire city. Do we have a way to find him." Kakoyrin asked.
"unfortunately we don't. So we have to narrow our search range."
"Or....we could beat them out of the other stand user." Polnale sugestion is plausible, on the way here they have face no les than a dozen stand user but Dio resources alow him to hired even more than that.
They know there is 6 of them left: Empress, Horus, geb, Justice, and Hangman being the person that killed Polnale little brother. The group would have to get pass them before reaching Dio.
Takichi is sure this won't be easy, but now. He won't need to be so worry so much. Considering his growth since coming to this world.
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[User status]
Name: Takumi Nejima
Level 7 (22 free points)
Strength: 90.4
Perception: 94.0
Agility: 68.4
Endurance: 99.1
Energy: 89.0
Luck: 65 (+10 ) The blessing of the gacha goddess.
[Gacha pulls available: 24]
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The team set up a small base of opperation inside a building owned by speedwagon foundation.
"Me and Avadol will set up the equipment ready before nightfall." Josane said, as Avadol and her got into the buggy to buy more necessities.
"Please don't buy another coffee maker." Josano can still remember it.
Polnale mouth feel a ghostly sense of bitterness, Kakoyrin take rather long sip of her juice, Avadol have a smirk rising from the conner of her mouth. The older woman just let out a laugh at the way the girls all grimaced before driving away.
While the crusaders were moving about, Takichi decided to head outside.
"Oi, where are you going ?" Josano voice called out, to which Takichi just pointed out with his thumb. "Just be back soon." She said.
"monsieur Takichi, do you need company ? I'll promise to be great help." The frenchwoman poke her head out from one of the room. He raise a hand declining her offer.
"You should know when to back off Polnale, a man doesn't like it when a woman came too strong on him." Kakoyrin spoke up.
"But he is a strong man no, i think he is just waiting for the right moment. I might have a chance." Polnale recall all the event with him in it. Eversince he save her, Takichi figure only became more reliable over the course of this journey, to not just her but to the rest of the crusader as well.
Because of that Polnale trust him more. It was a close relationship they have, it wasn't romantic. Not that she doesn't want it to become one, Polnale imagine It’s like something out of a romantic adventure. So far her attemp is bear no fruit.
"You have to remember, strong person does not equal to a strong character, take a look at our friend." The two turn head to Josano.
" What ?" She gave them an anoyed look.
"Now that you said it, he really isn't like any man i flirted with at all." Resting an arm under chin, both Polnale and Kakoyrin begin to ponder.
"He cooks" polnale said.
"That's a skill, anyone can pick it up." Kakoyrin refuted it, her turn to make an assessment. "He doesn't go shoping."
"I don't belive anyone can go shoping on a trip like ours."
"True."
"What are yout two balbling on about ?" Josano just find this gossiping to be anoying.
"Oh, come on. You don't think that.....eh...you know." Polnale was trying to be subtle about it, which only cause Jojo to raise an eyebrow, "no, i don't. And i don't want to. So shut it."
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"Hey, girls we're back." Josane yelled loudly, declaring her presence along Avadol, they return carrying a bunch of boxes with them.
Leaning against a wall with her hat pulled low, only glance briefly at Josane and Avadol carrying supplies and say, "Took you long enough."
"Did you get any snacks? Please tell me you found something better than those weird dried fish things!" Polnale rush over, grinning, and immediately start rummaging through the supplies.
"It must have been a tiring trip. Did you run into any trouble?" Always observant, Kakyorin greet them politely and went over to help unload the supplies.
Entering the room late his Takichi, in his arm is a dog.
"Hey, you're back. Why did you bring back a dog ?" He didn't answer Kakoyrin question but gesture to Josano and Avadol.
Avadol and Josane talked among themselves for a minute until it was interupted by Polnale.
"Oi, what is it. You two are being oddly secretive."
"We invited a helper." The dark skin woman said.
The rest of the group was shock and suprised from this news, Avadol herself was against this announcement.
Josano said. "If this dog is our helper, then is she's a stand user too ?"
Josane explained the situation to her grand daughter and the rest of the team. "Her stand is called the Fool. She is not to be taken lightly."
"The Fool?" Polnale smirked. "Sounds like an idiot stand name."
Avadol interjected. "We're lucky he's not our enemy. No one here could likely defeat him from pure ability alone."
Polnale was enraged by the fortune teller's statement, walked over to her and grabbed her collar. The two argued for a couple seconds.
Only stopped by a scent of food, Takichi already started with cooking dinner. the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling spices wafts through the air, and their argument halts mid-sentence. Both men turn their heads simultaneously to see the sight of perfectly seared meats, steaming vegetables, and a bubbling pot of stew commands their attention. Their stomachs rumble audibly.
"That smells incredible," Polnale mutters, momentarily forgetting her anger.
"I agree," Avadol says, her voice softer now, the irritation replaced by hunger.
The two woman both drop the heated conflict and moved over to the eating table.
Approaching the table, Takichi cuts him off with a firm shake of his head.
"I think you two need to sort out your issues before you even think about eating at the table, no harmony, no dinner." Kakoyrin translate his intention perfectly, the two Jojo already taking their own seat.
Takichi crosses his arms, his gaze unwavering.
Exchanging sheepish glances, the realization of their childish behavior sinking in. They step aside, muttering quiet apologies to one another.
"I shouldn't have yelled," Avadol admits. "I was being stubborn."
"And I was being reckless," Polnale concedes. "I’m sorry, too."
With their truce established, they approach again. "We’ve made up," they say in unison.
He eyes them suspiciously for a moment, then nods, alowing them a seat which they eagerly comply.
"You two look like kids in front of a angry father." Kakoyrin joked, before covering her own mouth to seal her laughter.
The comment elicited a laugh from Josane, a snicker can be seen from Josano despite her attemp to cover it under her hat. Takichi himself let out a sigh, urging them to eat.