Rico Rescue Saga

## Overview

The Rico Rescue Saga is the fourth saga in Part 2: Platinum Guild. It spans from volume 21 to volume 25, making it the shortest saga, alongside the Journey to Skull Island Saga. It precedes the Vigo Rebellion Saga and follows the Journey to Skull Island Saga.

## Plot

After three months of training on Monster Garden, Olive and Sapphire hear the bell that Tokkin said would ring when \*Ketsu\* needed to speak to them. The pair rush to the gate, where they meet Sylvie and Gideon, who have made significant progress in their training. \*Ketsu\* tells the four that Hugo Frewas sent a letter, detailing his brother Rico Frewas' arrest and upcoming trial in Kinos. Olive immediately decides that they must go meet Hugo and save Rico, but \*Ketsu\* and Gideon are both hesitant, fearing that the trial will take place on Vanguard Greens. Olive convinces them that Hugo would not contact them if he didn't require their help, and notes that \*Ketsu\* would not have rung the bell if he had no intentions on going or allowing the group to go, he could have just kept the note and let the group continue to train. \*Ketsu\* asks Olive if she really believes she is ready for the task, to which she replies that she has to be.

### Morimori Arc

Olive, Gideon, Sylvie, Sapphire and \*Ketsu\* travel to Morimori City aboard Garuden in order to meet Hugo and Kai and their newfound friends.

Upon arriving, the group takes in the splendor of the sunken city, which was once slightly above sea level, but became flooded, causing residents to build on-top of their homes and shops. They use Garuden to sail to a club called "Ami Ami", where Sapphire and Sylvie are briefly harassed by four thugs. Both girls remain stoic, but the taunting continues. Gideon notices Sylvie resisting the urge to kill the thugs and attempts to devise a way to quell her bloodlust while still warding off the thugs. As he plans, Jazz appears and threatens the thugs, causing them to back off. He introduces himself to the group and tells them to enter the club. Meanwhile, Gideon wonders why Sylvie had such a tangible desire to kill and mentions it to \*Ketsu\*, who shares Gideon's curiosity.

Once they enter the club, they are reunited with Hugo and Kai, who react excitedly alongside Olive and Sapphire. Hugo and Kai introduce the group to Rico's guild-mates, who call themselves the Platinum Guild. The group meets Icetan Laroux, the leader, Emeralda and Azazel.

Macro and his friend Deisus Drake arrive soon after, and Icetan begins the debriefing. Rico was captured during a solo mission to Kinos, where his objective was to steal the "Grand Buffet", a Kinosian painting by artist Kierddarque Tzech. The painting was apparently painted over an ancient print that details a certain and important event, and is hence kept deep within the restricted section in the Ottotoro Sanctum. The Kinosian officials were contacted by the Ilyenian government five months prior, who had told them to keep a close eye on the painting, as the rubbing of similar significance kept in the Goliath catacombs was stolen during the Tournament Battle. Thusly, a high ranking sentry-type Reijin user named Aurinei was tasked with keeping vigilant of the entire area surrounding the capital. As Rico was sneaking through the Wabbignaw Woodlands outside of Ottotoro, he was spotted by Aurinei's ability and Legion Commander Barristar was sent to deal with him. Rico and Barristar battled in the woods, and Barrister was eventually defeated after 5 hours of fighting. Upon hearing of Barristar's defeat, Prime Minister Renault placed the city in a state of emergency and sent the Queen's Justice Army to capture Rico. Even after his 5 hour long confrontation with Barristar, Rico knocked 113 members of the army unconscious, killing 8. Eventually he was overwhelmed and was immediately airlifted to Nantuscan Island, where he was locked in a dungeon for eight days.

Icetan then explains that he had hoped to have been able to break Rico out while on Nantuscan Island, but by the time the group was notified and could gather that time had passed. He explains that Rico is set to arrive at Vanguard Greens in two days, and his trial is to take the place the following day. The group is set to meet once again in two days on Vanguard Greens in a safe-house, whose whereabouts will be provided once each group arrives there.

Olive leaves with Sylvie, \*Ketsu\* and Garuden. Garuden takes to the air in his orginal flying dragon form, with the three on his back. Meanwhile, Sapphire, Macro and Deisus departs with the Platinum Guild in their Vermilion Devil airship. Gideon claims he will find a way himself, to which Hugo and Kai say they will accompany him because it sounds like more fun, much to Gideon's chagrin.

### Vanguard Greens Arc

Olive, Sylvie and \*Ketsu\* arrive on the island, immediately anxious about their presence. \*Ketsu\* warns Olive about the dangers associated with this place, but Olive stays determined. \*Ketsu\* notices Sylvie's dark aura again, and worries about what she could do to herself or others.

As they walk around the island waiting to find out where the safe house is, they run into Kai and Hugo who already have the address. They explain that Gideon took off on his own and left the two of them to fend for themselves. Olive notes how jovial both boys seem despite the circumstance. As the group makes their way to the safe house, they cross paths with three Hinterkaifex members, Q-Fang, Bracken Braveheart and Seiju. Although they do not have a confrontation, Olive, Kai and Hugo tighten up at the sight of them. The Bedlams do not seem phased, except for Q-Fang who reacts with faint surprise and then grins widely at Hugo as he passes, and stares him down angrily. Sylvie asks Olive and Hugo why they tightened up so much when they saw those three and asks if they will have to fight them. \*Ketsu\* explains who they were to Sylvie as they walk, and notices her blank stare and eerie grin as he speaks.