Chapter 21 - The Plan P2

Kazuya suspected it for a long time that the original person meant for this mission was Rhys. Even before they arrived in the Mist Kingdom, Rhys displayed such signs before. At some point in their friendship, Rhys often disappeared, and when Kazuya saw him, he seemed to be busy working on something. When Kazuya inquired or rather once he tried to take a peek at the work, Rhys was doing. Rhys quickly found him and told him that this wasn't for kids. He didn't like how Rhys treated him like a child; there's hardly an age difference between them after all.

The events of earlier further confirmed his suspicions, though Rhys is pretty much like that towards any girl. He slipped up. Kazuya noticed something different when his friend spoke to Lyn. Yes, it wasn't the kiss that gave him away.

Much to his dismay, he's seen Rhys kiss so many girls before that it's gotten old though it bothered him greatly when his friend kissed Lyn. But he does not want to dwell on that issue now. Kazuya knew he needed to confirm it after this is all over, confirm who the person was. If it was Rhys then...

"Why did they change it?" Kazuya murmured.

He walked over to the rows of cabinets, still lost in thought. It really is unusual that they changed it to him. Rhys is more than capable for a job like this.

Some contained medical bottles, plants, herbs of all kinds labeled neatly. Besides those shelves are books. Usually one would head to the books. But Kazuya wasn't stupid. He turned to the medical side and scrutinized each row.

He closed his eyes, look for a single movement. A rhythm and beat that seems out of place. After concentrating for a few minutes, Kazuya found it. He extended his hand out towards a bottle with a pink substance in the center. When one hides things, they usually hide it amongst several other things. But this person didn't think they'd get caught. It's out in the open. Then again, nobody would suspect that the data is in a place like this. So he has to praise them.

The moment Kazuya opened the bottle, he already saw gold. He poured the contents on the table and amid the pink substance was a golden key. He tapped his fingers, and the substance slowly separated forming a space. Kazuya didn't want to touch it, who knows what it contains.

After he safely retrieved the key, Kazuya bent down and used the key to open the chest of drawers. The person who his this stuff didn't think they would get caught. Putting the key and information in one place. Well, it's a good thing for him. The data is essential but so is the key.

Kazuya scanned the papers; there was a lot in a single file and some separated. He focused on the separated doc.u.ments first. The records of the Rain Kingdom's recent operations, Kazuya frowned. The Rain Kingdom is one of the huge five; there's no way they are dealing with any suspicious activity like the doc.u.ments stated. But the name in these doc.u.ments says the Rain Kingdoms name unless --- Kazuya reached over for the pink substance and drew the sound waves to bring it down. Still careful not to touch it directly.

"Bingo."

The words on the doc.u.ments slowly changed, in large lettering the words 'Hidden Kingdoms' appeared and several names under are highlighted in red. The ones that stood out to Kazuya were his own the Sound Kingdom and, "Illusion Kingdom?" Kazuya murmured.

He hadn't heard of a place like that before, but he supposes that's natural since it's a hidden existence. However, his frown deepened more when he saw the arrows connecting the two. Kazuya tapped his finger on the two names, did the Sound Kingdom elders make a deal with the Illusion Kingdom? Kazuya can't think of any other reason why the Mist Kingdom would draw two Kingdoms together like this.

Honestly, while he understood the nature of the mission is important. It's not like the Sound Kingdom has a squeaky clean history. The more Kazuya thought about it; the Sound Kingdom's current state is closer to corruption than any secrets hidden behind the royal families.

The country itself is fine, but the present ones in charge of it are not exactly the best people. Even the ones who assigned this job to him, Kazuya sighed deeply. After coming all this way, there's no use in over thinking this matter now. He can deal with the consequences later.

Kazuya quickly made a copy of the doc.u.ments and turned to the more organized files. His eyes widened, "Lyn," Kazuya murmured, "Damn."

He quickly left the room in a hurry. The so-called something that will control the item is just a diversion; the 'key' needed is Lyn. It's her powers. Why didn't he realize it sooner? At times the girl seemed like she couldn't use her powers but then there are occasions where she displays tremendous strength.

That immense strength and the drawing the elders showed him back home all connect. A large energy source, this entire time they thought that it was another object. But, now he thought it through. The information simply stated a large energy source, anybody with a massive power could meet the criteria.

In the Mist Kingdom, it's easy to narrow those candidates down. Somebody with a massive power but somebody they can reach, Queen Orthez, King Daichi and The First Prince are ruled out. The third princess doesn't often appear, so that left The Second Prince, First Princess, and Lyn.

After battling the Second Prince briefly the other day, Kazuya already measured the full extent of that guy's ability. The First Princess, he briefly clashed with on his first day of arriving here. It was short; he brushed past her. But his powers already did a scan on her. It's not her.

Then all that leaves is Lyn when he touched her - Kazuya didn't get any reaction. He thought his abilities were acting up. Sure enough, whenever he's with Lyn, there are certain parts of his abilities that he can't use. But Kazuya never thought about it in depth, up until now that is.

...

Kazuya wanted to quickly rush to Lyn's side, but unfortunately, he encountered a group of random people caught by the guards. He could have ignored them but when he saw a member of his own group charge in to act all brave. Kazuya knew he couldn't ignore the situation.

It did not go as smoothly as their previous encounters with the guards. It usually would end up as a simple skirmish, but these guards used their weapons. When Kazuya clashed with one, he noticed how highly trained they were. This attack pattern is different than that foolish Second Prince guards; could it be... Kazuya examined the emblem, and his eyes widened. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, out of all the groups.

The First Prince crew, they are dead. Even if they save these bystanders, they will get questioned for being in this area. The whole plan will fall apart, suddenly somebody from the side throws a magic bomb, and Kazuya exclaimed, "Scatter," but his words fell on death areas since people were too busy bickering. A handful of people from his side and the guards fell.

There's another person, where did the one who threw that bomb go? The guards suddenly came this way despite the First Prince in the other end of the castle? A setup. Kazuya clenched his fist; he doesn't have time for this. He needs to get to Lyn. From the looks of things everybody was down more or less, he should use this chance to leave.

Catching movement, he was relieved. It was somebody from his side, "Hey, I'm going to--" Kazuya's words fell short when he saw two people approach the guy from behind. Each held two blades covered in high-level magic, "Tsk," Kazuya quickly rushed over and pushed the man down. He didn't have time to react when he felt himself get attacked on both shoulders; a piercing pain spread on his shoulders and Kazuya landed on the ground with a thud.

...

His consciousness was weak, and vision fading but...

"Is this the one we need?"

"Yes, the others are garbage according to the boss."

Laughter, "Don't mimic him."

"Can we really get the girl with this guy? Maybe we should have just gone after Rhys."

Kazuya eyes widened at that comment, could these people be the ones Rhys met when they arrived. Kazuya tried to focus his, but it was no good.

Damn, this is bad. No matter how much Kazuya wanted to stay awake. Kazuya felt cold and tired. The pain on his shoulders was growing, and he could see the blood falling from his shoulder down to his arm, "Lyn," he murmured.