CHAPTER 55 ABILITY AND AMBITIONS

"Dū Dū Dū Dū Dū——!"

Under the increasingly loud steam whistle, the Hunters' Hayajiro and the Aragane Station's Hayajiro were connected, with the cars linked together as they rolled forward on the tracks.

On the Aragane Station's Hayajiro, Fang Li followed Yomokawa Ayame and the entire group into one of the cars.

Perhaps due to Amatori Biba's previous statement, the Samurai no longer displayed such blatant denial of Fang Li's presence. Under Araka Kibito's lead, they quietly returned to their respective positions.

The people also cast a quiet glance at Fang Li before silently returning to their own cars, not daring to utter a word.

Therefore, it didn't take long for Fang Li, Yomokawa Ayame, and Konochi Kurusu to be the only ones left in this car.

Just at this moment, Fang Li suddenly spoke up.

"Ayame-San," Fang Li said, "You might find this strange, but I suggest that you shouldn't get too close to Amatori Biba."

Upon hearing this, Yomokawa Ayame froze in place.

"What are you saying?" Konochi Kurusu furrowed his brow as he looked at Fang Li with a questioning gaze.

It was only natural.

In everyone's eyes, Amatori Biba was a hero, a perfect embodiment of a warrior and a commander.

Faced with such a figure, Fang Li's words would undoubtedly raise some doubts in their hearts.

However, as Konochi Kurusu expressed his doubts, Yomokawa Ayame hesitated for a moment and then said, "Fang Li-San, do you also feel that there is something wrong with Biba-Sama?"

"Ayame-San?" Konochi Kurusu was surprised at this moment.

"Why?" Fang Li was also taken aback by Yomokawa Ayame's unexpected reaction and couldn't help but ask, "Has Ayame-San noticed something unusual about Amatori Biba?"

"No, I haven't noticed anything unusual," Yomokawa Ayame carefully chose her words, speaking with a lack of confidence. "But, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I can't shake the feeling that the General's son gives me a dangerous vibe."

This time, Fang Li looked at Yomokawa Ayame with newfound respect in his eyes.

He didn't expect the eldest daughter of the Yomokawa family to be so perceptive.

But, it could be considered natural.

After all, when they were at the Aragane Station, Fang Li only briefly revealed his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, and Yomokawa Ayame had a reaction to it.

Moreover, when it came to Fang Li, Mumei, and Ikoma, everyone held hostility towards them, including Konochi Kurusu. Only Yomokawa Ayame had consistently defended the three.

That was not solely due to Yomokawa Ayame's kind nature.

Perhaps, Yomokawa Ayame subconsciously accepted them because she felt that Fang Li and the others were not harmful to them.

"Now that Ayame-San has this feeling, it makes it easier for me to say this." Fang Li nodded and said to Yomokawa Ayame, "Amatori Biba is not as simple as he appears on the surface. Perhaps you are unaware of this, but this son of the General has long severed his ties with him."

"What?" Yomokawa Ayame and Konochi Kurusu were shocked by this new information.

"This is not a secret to some people," Fang Li began to recall the information related to Amatori Biba.

As mentioned before, Amatori Biba is actually a character with considerable ability and a cunning mind.

In everyone's eyes, Amatori Biba is a perfect hero.

However, in reality, Amatori Biba is merely an avenger.

When Amatori Biba was young, during the time when the Kabane had just entered the country and before the people had developed a deep-rooted fear of the Kabane, the shogunate ruling the country divided into two factions regarding the existence of the Kabane: the Ignatis and the Moderators factions.

The Ignatis faction advocated for actively fighting against the Kabane, believing that offense was the best defense. On the other hand, the Moderators Faction wished to defend the current human territory and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

The Shogunate General leaned toward the Moderators approach. However, even the General couldn't forcibly suppress all voices that gathered a certain power within the Ignatis faction.

To deal with the Ignatis faction, the General appointed his eldest son, Amatori Biba, who was only twelve years old at the time, as the Commander-In-Chief. He led a 400,000-strong army to engage in a decisive battle against the Kabane.

However, as soon as Amatori Biba started fighting the Kabane, the General immediately cut off all support.

Indeed, from the beginning, the General had no intention of letting Amatori Biba lead the army to victory. Thus, deprived of all support, Amatori Biba and his 400,000 troops were left isolated and quickly annihilated by the Kabane.

Using this as an excuse, the Moderators Faction spread propaganda about the terrifying and invincible nature of the Kabane. Eventually, they gained absolute dominance, and humans started fortifying Station City, no longer seeking to reclaim lost territories.

Amatori Biba, however, managed to narrowly escape with his life. Yet, he was burdened with the blame for the failed campaign, shouldering all the responsibility. He became a sacrificial pawn of the regime, and even the General severed all father and son relations with him.

Nevertheless, after that, Amatori Biba quickly began recruiting talents and forming an independent force called the Hunters. He fought on the frontlines against the Kabane and became the so-called Hero in people's eyes.

For this purpose, Amatori Biba spared no effort in studying the ecology of the Kabane. He even used surgery to inject the Kabane virus into human bodies, artificially creating Kabaneri.

Mumei was born in such a way.

"I can't believe such a thing…" Yomokawa couldn't help but cover her mouth in disbelief when she heard all of this.

"Could that guy have gone mad?" Konochi Kurusu had an unpleasant expression on his face as he spoke.

"Therefore, I don't believe that someone who can use rescued people as experimental subjects and ruthlessly conduct human experiments can be the Hero. I also don't believe that under such betrayal, this person can continue to be the sharp blade in the shogunate's hands, fighting against the Kabane," Fang Li's voice became lower and lower as he spoke.

"Lady Ayame, the sudden appearance of Amatori Biba and the Hunters here is definitely not a coincidence. I have some doubts…"

Fang Li didn't continue his sentence.

No.

It should be said that Fang Li didn't have the opportunity to continue.

Because a petite figure suddenly entered the car.

"So, you were here after all?" Mumei had a serious expression on her small face as she spoke somewhat sullenly.

"Come with me. Ani-Sama wants to talk to you."

Upon hearing Mumei's words, both Yomokawa Ayame and Konochi Kurusu's expressions changed.

Fang Li narrowed his eyes as a mysterious light flashed in his gaze.

…