Episode 10: "The Dark Side of the Dominance Battles"

Their destination was Rubble Mountain, located on the outskirts of Minato City.
Just like the name implied, Rubble Mountain was composed of piled rubble and worthless junk. It was pretty much a giant garbage collection site.
People used the rubble like building blocks in order to create small huts, and were living inside of them.

Yo Kuronaka
"...It's very quiet."

The atmosphere was different from the hustle and bustle of the city; the whole area was completely quiet.
It didn't seem like any dominance battles were taking place here.

Santaro Mita
"Well, those who managed to get away from the dangers of the city end up huddlin' together and live out here. It's their lil' sanctuary."

Kazuki Aoyama
"Touch ironic that such a rundown place has quite a calm atmosphere."

Yo wondered if helping the people here would really get them the needed number of points.
The group walked around, visiting various huts and asking if there was anything they could help with.
But...

Rubble Mountain Man
"Volunteers? You joking? You're just another group of liars here to take domination points away from us!"

Rubble Mountain Child
"G-Go away! Just leave! I-I don't want to be assaulted any more!"

Woman Carrying a Baby
"Just what do you intend to do to my child?! Go! Leave and never return!"

As newcomers to the area, everyone was vigilant of Yo and his team, and no one trusted them.
No matter which hut they visited, they were treated unkindly, and were driven away.

Tsuki Iroha
"It's not like we're planning to do something bad, yet..."

Tsuruko Semba
"You can tell everyone's just about at their wits end from experiencing the Minato Rankingdom. They're ready to jump at anything that moves..."

Yutaka Gotanda
"How sad. I suppose this is what happens when you don't have anyone to turn to."

Their plan came to a standstill right out of the gate.
Just as they found themselves feeling like it was going to be impossible to gain any points...

Santaro Mita
"Y'all seriously ready to give up? Thought you'd have more backbone after everything you've gone through!
Guess it's up to me to bail you guys out, huh?"

A fearless smile appeared on Santaro's face as the leaf in his mouth bounced up and down.

Tsuki Iroha
"You got an idea?"

Santaro Mita
"C'mon! You forget already? Up until ten days back, I was the interim King! Check this out."

Santaro said those words then began climbing one of the rubble piles that were stacked in the plaza.
Upon reaching the top, he began yelling at the top of his lungs.

Santaro Mita
"Listen up, Rubble Mountain residents!
My name is Santaro Mita, the previous King of Minato City! And we've come to save you all!"

From the top of the rubble, Santaro pointed down toward us.

Santaro Mita
"They might look cocky and suspicious at first glance, but they're volunteers with good intentions! If any one of you needs help, you can rely on them! You have my word!"

Residents began looking out of their huts, listening closely to Santaro's words.

Rubble Mountain Man
"Mr. Mita, you're safe! We were so worried when you up and disappeared!"

Rubble Mountain Child
"The previous King?! So you all really have come to save us?"

Woman Carrying a Baby
"If you're friends with Mr. Mita, then you're surely trustworthy. Please, you have to help this child!"

The same residents that were dismissive of the group just moments ago were now gathering around them.
It was clear to see that Santaro was trusted immensely by the people of Minato City.

Santaro Mita
"Well, Kazuki? How's that for popularity?! As you can see, I'm the type of King who's loved by anyone and everyone! I've been workin' myself to the bone for their sake since the governing rules began.
Still think I'm not fit to be King?"

Kazuki Aoyama
"Mmm, I suppose I take back what I said earlier. You're a wonderful King. It's clear that Saori's choice to make you her stand-in wasn't a mistake after all."

Santaro Mita
"Hehe, I'm glad you finally recognize that."

Santaro puffed up with pride.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Well, considering you aren't very good-looking, people may find it easier to befriend you."

Santaro Mita
"Bingo! Everyone wants to befriend this ugly mu—woah, woah, woah. Who the heck are you callin' ugly?!"

Tsuki Iroha
"Hey, you guys! Can you stop bickering and help us organize this line?"

The group worked hand in hand to assist the people of Rubble Mountain.
First, Yo interviewed them, asking what they needed assistance with, then assigned them to a member who seemed the most capable of solving their problem.

Woman Carrying a Baby
"My baby has had a fever since yesterday! Please, if you have any medicine..."

Yo Kuronaka
"Koishi, you're perfect for this. Can I leave it to you?"

Koishi Kohinata
"No problem! I'll administer the medicine immediately."

Rubble Mountain Man
"We don't have Wi-Fi here, so I can't use my phone. Is there anything you could do?"

Yo Kuronaka
"Mr. Gotanda, this is your field of expertise. Think you could help him out?"

Yutaka Gotanda
"I'll handle it. I'll cobble together a relay and install it."

Rubble Mountain Woman
"My dog's gone missing! Could you help me look for her?"

Yo Kuronaka
"Right! Tsuki, think you could help her out?"

Tsuki Iroha
"Leave it to me! We'll find your fur baby in no time!"

Rubble Mountain Child
"I'm too scared to sleep. Can someone tell me a fun story?"

Yo Kuronaka
"Hey, Tsuruko. This sounds like something you'd enjoy."

Tsuruko Semba
"Ooo! I was waiting for a request like this. One fun story coming right up!"

As the one in charge of sorting out those in need of help, Yo's dominance power began to rise. And as the others were assigned to those needing assistance, they saw an increase in theirs as well.
As Yo gathered points, so did everyone else.
Both issues were being taken care of in one fell swoop.

Mother Carrying a Baby
"You... You saved my child! I don't know how I could ever repay you!"

Rubble Mountain Man
"Ah, finally! I can browse the internet on my phone. Helps me stay up to date on what's going on and it's all thanks to you lot!"

Rubble Mountain Child
"Thank you for telling me all those fun and exciting stories, miss! I think I'll be able to sleep good tonight."

Being beautiful doesn't make you great.
Having a high social status doesn't make you great.
Only those who take the time to help others are truly great. That's the attitude they wanted to spread throughout the vain Minato City.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Haa... And with that, I believe we're done."

As they ran around helping solve the problems people brought to them, before they knew it, they had helped everyone in line.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Well, seems like Yo still doesn't have enough points to become a Noble, but let's head back to the secret base for now."

Tsuki Iroha
"I could really use a break... doing all these good deeds really tired me out. At least it's a good kind of tired!"

But just as Yo and the others were getting ready to leave Rubble Mountain...

High-Strung Girl
"Um, hey... You all are doing volunteer work, right?"

Tsuki Iroha
"Yeppers! Is there something troubling you?"

Someone seemingly looking for help appeared, so the group stopped packing up their items.

High-Strung Woman
"I... I really need help! I feel like someone's been watching me.
Whenever I walk around the city, go out, or even when I'm just sitting around at home. I can feel eyes on me."

She looked like she was about to have a breakdown; her body trembled as she look around at every corner.

High-Strung Girl
"I know I'm being monitored! They're watching me all the damn time via cameras! I just know it!"

Kazuki Aoyama
"Think she's really being watched? Isn't it more likely she's just being paranoid?"

Kazuki whispered his concerns to the group in a hushed tone.
It was true that the woman was behaving strangely.
And it she was clearly under the impression that she was being monitored.

Koishi Kohinata
"But, Kazuki, believing in those who come to us for help is also a part of being volunteers.
Why don't we at least take a look around where she lives to see if we can find any cameras?"

Following Koishi's suggestion, Yo and the others had the woman take them to her house.
They examined the wall in front of her house, checking to see if they could find any cameras when...

Tsuki Iroha
"Wait a sec... isn't this a camera?!"

A camera had been carefully embedded into a crack in the wall.
The lens was aimed perfectly to watch people walk up and down the road.
But it wasn't just one.
Almost every crack and dent in the wall contained a camera.
And it wasn't just the wall in front of the woman's house.
A careful search of various walls and electrical poles around the area revealed even more cameras.

Tsuki Iroha
"She wasn't kidding! There's cameras practically everywhere!"

Yo Kuronaka
"It would be tough to be at peace knowing this many cameras were close by. Especially for those who are sensitive to this kind of thing."

Yo and the others went around and removed the cameras embedded in front of the woman's house, then went back to report the news to her.

High-Strung Girl
"Thank you! Thank you SO much! Now I don't have to fear that I'm being watched all the time! Ahh, what a relief..."

A bright smile appeared on the woman's face, and she returned to her house.
This closed out the case, however...

Yutaka Gotanda
"Just who's going around setting up cameras all over the place? Zero?"

Tsuruko Semba
"Maybe? But what would the reasoning be behind it? It's just so strange..."

Kazuki Aoyama
"No use mulling it over here. Let's head back to the secret base. We can continue the conversation there."

And with that, Yo and the others decided to head back.
On their way, they checked out the walls and electrical poles. Sure enough, they found an innumerable amount of cameras embedded in practically every crevice.
It seemed as though someone had created a surveillance network that spread throughout Minato City.