A Wandering Ronin

Who Are You Looking For?

Gardi jumped up and swung his barbed iron rod horizontally from top to bottom. Ran held back with his katana. Then with all his might he swung his katana to the right causing Gardi to bounce and roll but he immediately stood up again.

"How did you know I was hiding here?" asked Gardi.

Ran replied, “Just guessing. Besides, I'm not comfortable being followed by your two men," while glancing at Gurdi's men who were hiding behind large rocks.

“Your instincts are sharp too. Suni and Darga who followed you didn't have to bother bringing you to the masi,” Gardi smiled broadly.

Ran put his katana back into the sheath. Then he ran and drew his katana again at Gruan. Garun calmly held back with his barbed iron rod. They then attacked each other and held back. Everything looks balanced.

"You're pretty good too," Ran said as he jumped back.

“No wonder Bedro lost badly. Your swordsmanship is way above him,” Gardi smiled then he got ready again.

After taking a deep breath, Ran took off his hat. Then he also prepared to attack or receive an attack. They both then ran. When they got close to each other, Ran drew his katana. But Gardi jumped and his foot stepped on the large stone wall on the left. He quickly swung his barbed iron rod. Ran jumps to the right so that Gardi's attack misses and hits the ground. Gardi spun around and attacked again. Ran held him back with his katana. Then he jumped up and threw a right-footed kick.

Gardi held back with his left but because Ran's attack was so strong he bounced and rolled on the ground.

"I didn't expect a swordsman to have such a powerful kick," Gardi said as he stood up and spat because his lips were bleeding.

"Besides the sword, I'm also trained to fight with bare hands," Ran replied.

Gardi just chuckled. He then swung his spiked iron sword. Sometimes he turns with his right hand. Then run and attack Ran by swinging his barbed iron rod vertically from right to left. Ran held back with his katana and quickly reversed the attack. Gardi lowered his head to avoid Ran's attack. He then swung his right leg towards Ran's feet. But Ran jumped back and put his katana back into its sheath.

Ran quickly ran back and drew his katanan. Gardi held him back with his barbed iron rod. They also competed for strength. Push each other. The squeaky sound of the combination of a katana and an iron rod was heard very loudly.

“They are balanced,” said Suni, a man with dark skin and curly hair.

"It seems so. They are still fighting for strength. Their weapons are still attached to each other,” said Darga, a thin man with a thin beard.

Gardi jumps behind. He stepped from small rocks to big rocks. Ran followed him while attacking. While Gardi resisted Ran's attack. When the two of them reached the top of the boulder, Ran launched a powerful attack. Gardi held him but he bounced off quickly and his body slammed into the medium sized rock until it shattered.

Suni and Darga who saw the incident were shocked to the point that their eyes bulged.

"The boss will die," Darga panicked.

"We help him," Suni stood up but Darga grabbed his hand.

"You want to die? Look at that Ran. He's way above our level, you idiot,” Darga hit Suni's head.

Ran jumped off the rock and put his katana into its sheath. Meanwhile Gardi tried to get up. On his face was a look of extreme anger towards Ran. His eyes were red, the veins on his face were all visible. He stared intently at Ran as he gasped for air.

"Only this time I'm overwhelmed against the enemy," said Gardi.

"Never underestimate any of your enemies," said Ran.

Gardi just laughed dismissively. They then prepared again to fight.

***

The police chief of the city of Sagard, received a report that a fight broke out between the notorious criminal Gardi and a foreign youth. Of course he was surprised. Because Gardi is indeed the most feared criminal in this city. The police couldn't catch him. Because, Gardi is quite slippery and very good at disguise. What's more, he has a pretty high martial arts skill. Bullets alone weren't enough to hold him back.

"Who is that young man?" asked the police chief to his men.

"We don't know, sir. It seems, he is a newcomer, "replied his men.

"Where are they fighting?"

"On the hill of Sirna."

"I will be there. You prepare some personnel."

"Immediately implemented, sir," his men said goodbye.

The police chief unwrapped his cigarette, slid it to his lips and lit it with a lighter. His face is calm, he is about forty years old, his skin is white, his hair is black, he is tall, and he wears a police uniform of Sagard. The uniform was dark beige. Because he was of a high rank, so he was wearing a police cloak. On his desk, his name was written, Fresa Gormon.

After sitting for a while and finishing his cigarette, Fresa stood up and took his robe and put it on. Walk out of his office. In the lobby, there were ten personnel who were already prepared. They are fully armed.

"Your horse has been prepared at the front, sir," said one of his men.

"Well. All personnel, come with me,” Fresa ordered.

"Yes, sir!" said all personnel.

They then walked out and rode their horses towards Sirna hill. The hooves of their horses colliding with the ground made the streets dusty.

***

Meanwhile Ran and Gardi are still fighting. It seems, Gardi has been overwhelmed. He even had his body injured from Ran's attack. But Ran was still calm like nothing happened. His robes were just a little dirty.

"Damn it. If this continues, I can lose," said Gardi in his heart.

"You'd better give it up," Ran said as he tucked his katana into its scabbard.

Gardi then stood up. He smirked and pressed his palms together, closing his eyes. Moments later, his muscles expanded. The veins are visible. Then he screamed and sprinted as fast as lightning while throwing punches. Ran, who was surprised that Gardi was suddenly in front of his, didn't have time to dodge or hold back. So Ran's punch hit his left cheek. This time Ran bounced and rolled on the ground.

When Ran was about to stand up, Gardi was already in front of his with a kick. Ran was blown away quickly and his body hit the rocks until it shattered.

"That's just our boss," said Suni and Darga simultaneously.

Gardi walked slowly towards Ran who was lying among the rubble of rocks.

“This is my true strength,” Gardi said.

Ran got up. Calmly he stood up and looked at Gardi.

"Let me finish this fight," said Ran.

Ran get ready. Right foot forward, left foot back. He said he was holding it in his left hand. While his right hand, ready to draw. Gardi who saw Ran preparing with his moves, made him smile.

“Am I going to bring out your true power too?” asked Gardi. But Ran didn't answer.

Gardi then sped off. When exactly three meters in front of Ran, Ran quickly drew his sword. Suni and Darga, who saw the incident, were again shocked. They didn't notice Ran's speed at all. Because immediately Ran was behind Gardi. Meanwhile, Gardi stood in a hitting position.

Ran put his katana into its scabbard. At that moment, Gardi's chest was slashed and bleeding profusely. Either from his chest, or his mouth. He then fell to the ground.

"I have to admit, you're really great," said Ran as he returned to wearing his hat made of straw.

Not long after, the sound of whistling and galloping of horses was heard approaching. It turned out that the police had arrived at the scene. Seeing Gardi lying covered in wounds, Fresa ordered all his personnel to handcuff Gardi.

“Cuff him and take him to court,” Fresa ordered.

Fresa then looked at Ran who was standing while cleaning his robe. He approached then got off his horse and approached Ran.

"Where do you come from?" asked Fresa.

Ran looked at Fresa then replied, “Cliff Village.

Fresa was surprised then said, “The royal village that collapsed ten years ago?”

Ran did not give any response.

"I'm Fresa Gormon. Sagard City Police Chief. We thank you for defeating Gardi,” Fresa bowed as a sign of respect.

"There are two of his men hiding," said Ran.

"We have arrested them," Fresa pointed to one of his personnel who had already arrested Suni and Darga.

After the dying Gardi is brought for trial, Fresa asks Ran to stay for a few days in the city of Sagard.

"This is a token of our gratitude. I think the mayor should also be grateful,” said Fresa with a faint smile.

"Thank you. I have to continue my journey," Ran refused.

"What are you looking for."

"Not what I was looking for. But who am I looking for?”

"Then who?"

"Garun. The one who has turned my village and kingdom into dust. I want revenge," Ran's gaze suddenly became sharp.

“The rebellion in your village is really heartbreaking. But I've read the records of the incident. At that time, I was thirty years old. The record is still there. The news spread everywhere. If you wish to stay, maybe you can get information from the records that are still stored in the city library,” explained Fresa.

Ran thought for a moment. He then agreed to Fresa's invitation. After all, so far the information about Garun is minimal. Perhaps by reading the note, he found a new clue.

“Here is one more horse. You follow me into town,” said Fresa.

The two of them then headed for the city with ride a horse.

To be continued...