Timed

Ayuka and Ralphie got introduced to Natan's goal, which they accepted and had no trouble with it. "At the very least, it makes sense, but I don't get one thing. How could you possibly know that Silvio was in on slaughtering the Yasuda family?"

Natan hadn't had much information that involved the answer to that question, but he did tell what he knew and how he learned about that. "He's an assassin, a member that works under world government. He's a class above average and has done some good deeds until one day.

"An apocalypse broke in the '90s on the ocean where pirates and the world government went into war for ten years, slaughtering people to no end. Yasuda's family knew that the war needed to stop, so they too, went into action in the year 2000, trying to prevent oblivion that caused the war to extend for another five years.

"As you probably already know, the Yasuda family was a group of 10 people and were masters in controlling humanoids' spirituality. They could link; in other words, unite with the dead or living people and created the technique known as "Soul Linking," which they utilized in the war." He explained, but that was not the end.

"Because "Soul Linking" gave them the power to connect their soul to another, they deduced a plan; "We shall combine our strength to the last living souls that still possess power!" And that's exactly what they did, leaving the children behind in their homes to not endanger them. They intended to stop both sides; the world government and pirates, so they linked with the most healthy body that had potential.

"However, despite the plan nearly succeeding, the Yasuda family couldn't control their full potential. Their bond with the people they linked was merely an empty void that couldn't be passed. Yet, thrown into the middle of that warfare, their power started draining, and slowly but surely, the entire Yasuda family happened to be slaughtered by the world government even the children that were thought to be safe died in the end, aside from one that made it out alive.

"A young baby girl, the youngest of them all and born in 2005, which was the final year of the war, managed to escape without anyone learning how. They never found her, and by the end, they decided to put a bounty on that girl's name after they managed to learn her identity; Chiaki Yasuda was now seen as an enemy of the world government and had been hunted down for the last 17 years. And because she was the final member of the Yasuda family, her bounty continued to rise every year until it finally reached the current number, $400,000." Natan told, surprising others for knowing so much.

"However, we have learned that the main reason for Yasuda family's demise was all because of an assassin named Silvio. Working under the world government, he was put into the backlines as the final member to put an end to the last 10 Yasuda members. He struck from the shadows and slaughtered them while the family had their guard down. One by one they fell prey to the world government's last assassin. However, because he couldn't have killed the final member; a baby child, he was expelled from the world government and ended up living on Winterpeak Island. He's now seen as an enemy of the world government. Just like the final Yasuda, his bounty matches hers.

"Of course, the Yasuda family was seen as a secret and private agency called the "Spirit Flower" agency, but none of them fell under the world government. And that's all I know so far, but I came here as a hunter to receive the bounty of Silvio, given permission by the world government to eliminate him if need be."

Ayuka and Ralphie were impressed by the astonishing news and still had much to wonder about. "What? Nobody told me about that!" everyone locked their eyes on Fuji. "So... You do indeed know him." Claimed Natan, seeing frustration in Fuji's eyes. "He's my brother! And if he stole your weapons, then it's most likely because he knows you came after him." She explained, being quite serious.

"Your brother? I suppose that makes sense as to why you're matching in cloaks. Either way, if he does know, then what about you? You stole the pendant for what?" they noticed Fuji becoming softer on the inside.

"I-I was told that pendants like those are linked to the spirits that could heal any wounds, so I stole it because our little sister's been very sick. But in the end, it was useless. The pendant didn't react at all. As if it's empty or something." Natan then raised the pendant. Ayuka and Ralphie hurriedly knew it. "I don't think it's true-" but before he claimed, Ayuka barged in.

"That's because Tomomi was captured by the world government and has been put on the execution. We were trying to save her but came across Winterpeak." Ayuka's explanation described a lot, and Natan's thoughts flashed. "Tomomi... Wait a minute... Tomomi has the "Soul Linking" powers, does she not?" Ayuka nodded in seriousness. "If she was put on the execution... no, could it be. Everything matches Chiaki's profile. You don't think that Tomomi is the final member of Yasuda." For the first time, Natan was caught in shock, sweating.

"That's what we are trying to find out. Yumiko told us that she had faced a powerful agent that she couldn't even fight on equal footing. He introduced that similar information to her that you just did." Natan then began thinking, as Ralphie questioned. "If you know so much about the Yasuda family's past, and you're in connection with the world government... does that mean you possibly know on what day is Chiaki's execution supposed to start?" he wondered.

"I did hear something about a person being put on the execution. It passed a few days, so if you're telling the truth... then the execution should start about two days from now. They decided to start the execution three days early." Shocked at the place, both Ayuka and Ralphie started to panic. "Two days?! That can't be right! We're nowhere near La Isleta Cortada. It would take us at least three days to get there, and even if we hurried there we wouldn't make it in time. And on top of that, Tim's nowhere to be found! Damn it! If he doesn't know about the execution, Tomomi will get killed!"

Ayuka grabbed her head as her hair practically spiked up from stress. "Argh! I can't believe we're on a time limit! Poor Tomomi, she's probably getting treated horribly. We have to find Tim!"

"Are you talking about the white-haired guy?" asked Fuji, and everyone's curiosity reached her.

She knew something.

At La Isleta Cortada's Cell...

Tomomi... no, Chiaki was seated on the floor of the jail. She didn't show a lot of emotion. All she could see was the death that awaited her in the future. It was clear that she would be put to death right then and there by the global authority. She didn't even have any hope or faith that someone would save her. And the only thing that crossed her mind was that abandoned hope.

Someone came up to her. "We would like to inform you that you will be sentenced to death at Vendurn at 8:00 PM in about 48 hours. Prepare yourself for tomorrow. We will need to take you there by the aqua train."

She sat in the lake of lifelessness and said nothing.

Just what will happen...?

To be continued...