The plan

My body ached and my head pounded as I slowly regained consciousness. I forced myself to sit up and took a moment to gather my bearings. As the memories of the previous night's events flooded back, I felt a pang of grief for Pairo. Determined to pay my respects, I made a makeshift grave for him using the cement bags I had been resting on. After a brief prayer,I tried to summon my aura, but it was as if it had become trapped within my body, refusing to respond.

I noticed that most of my scratches had already healed, but the gnawing hunger in my stomach demanded attention. Carefully, I began to search for a way to the ship's canteen.

Navigating the narrow ventilation system was challenging, but it was just the right size for someone my age. The cramped space pressed against my body, but I persisted, driven by my hunger and the need to remain undetected.

As I crept through the ventilation shafts, the voices of the crew members grew louder and more distinct, allowing me to overhear their conversation.

Crew Member 1: "You wouldn't believe the hand I had last night, mate! I was on a roll, couldn't be stopped!"

Crew Member 2: "Oh yeah? Well, I heard you ended up losing all your winnings to that old sailor in the end. You've got to learn when to quit!"

Crew Member 1: "Ha, yeah, but it was worth it for the thrill. Anyway, have you heard about that hidden package we're supposed to pick up?"

Crew Member 3: "Yeah, I've heard whispers. Something about it being some nasty business. They say the boss is keeping tight-lipped about it."

Crew Member 2: "I don't like the sound of that. We're already involved in enough shady stuff as it is."

Crew Member 1: "Well, we don't have much of a choice, do we? We've got to follow orders, no matter how dangerous it gets."

As I listened to their conversation, I felt a growing sense of unease. It was clear that there was more to this ship and its crew than met the eye. But for now, my primary concern was getting to the canteen and finding something to eat. I would have to deal with the hidden package and the dangers it posed later. With that thought in mind, I continued to make my way through the ventilation system, determined to remain undetected and focused on my immediate goal.

I continued to follow the sound of their voices, moving stealthily and staying out of sight. Finally, I reached the canteen, and I couldn't help but let out a small sigh of relief. My stomach growled as I surveyed the room, formulating a plan to obtain food without being noticed. I would have to be quick, silent, and clever to evade the crewmates and satisfy my hunger.

As I crawled through the ventilation system, I finally arrived above the kitchen. Peering through the grate, I noticed the room was empty – no cooks were around, which was the perfect opportunity for me to find some food. My stomach rumbled in agreement, urging me to act fast.

Carefully, I used my katana to pry open the grate, trying to minimize any noise that could give away my presence. With the grate removed, I held my breath and dropped down into the kitchen, landing as softly as possible. Scanning the area, I spotted a pot of steaming porridge on the stove. It seemed like a gift from the heavens.

Wasting no time, I grabbed a spoon and began to devour the porridge, my hunger momentarily sated. Just as I finished, I heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching. Panic washed over me as I realized I had to get out of there – and fast.

I jumped towards the ventilation shaft, adrenaline fueling my movements. With one fluid motion, I hoisted myself up and replaced the grate just as the door to the kitchen swung open. My heart pounded in my chest as I held my breath, praying that I hadn't been discovered.

From my hiding spot, I listened as the cook muttered to himself, "I wonder if I'll need to deliver food to the yellow container today. Those poor souls, caged like animals." His voice was tinged with a mix of sympathy and resignation.

This revelation made me even more curious about the contents of the yellow container and the people who might be trapped inside.

As I continued my mission through the ship, I knew I had to muster the courage to free the captives locked in the yellow container. Before setting out, I managed to steal some food from the ship's kitchen to nourish them.

My heart raced as I approached the yellow container under the cover of night, grateful for the darkness that hid my presence. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, thinking,

"At least I don't have silver hair – that would definitely make sneaking around a lot harder."

I knocked on the container, and to my surprise, someone knocked back. It confirmed my suspicions: the mafia was smuggling people, not animals.

I carefully weighed my options, considering the risks and consequences of taking action. Images of my own family, the Kurta clan, flashed through my mind, reinforcing my determination. I decided to take over the ship.

There was also an additional benefit to taking over the ship. Not only would I be able to save the lives of these innocent people, but I could also potentially seize the mafia's loot stored onboard. This would not only hurt the mafia financially but also provide me with valuable resources to further my own goal of finding Kurapika.

As I swung the container door wide open, the captives inside squinted against the sudden influx of light. Their eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness, and as they did, their gazes fell upon me – a young kid standing before them.

"Shh," I whispered urgently, "I'm here to help you. "

The inside of the container was a horrifying sight – the stench of human waste was overwhelming, and it was apparent that these people had been subjected to inhumane conditions during their captivity.

Among the captives, I noticed a red-haired boy with blue eyes who appeared to be around 12 years old. He seemed distrustful.

A 17-year-old girl stood out from the group, her eyes filled with skepticism.

Another girl, with curly blond hair which apperaed false, was overly optimistic.

The captives barraged me with questions, their eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and fear. "Who are you?" one asked, while another demanded, "How did you find us?" Yet another questioned, "What do you want from us?"

I raised my hands to quiet them down and quickly explained that I was a stowaway passenger on the ship. "If you want to free yourselves, you must follow me," I told them earnestly.

However, Chihiro, a skeptical girl with an air of defiance, immediately began to undermine my authority. She rolled her eyes and let out a dramatic sigh before launching into a monologue. "You expect us to trust a kid? Seriously? I mean, look at you! You're just a child, and yet, you waltz in here acting like some sort of hero, expecting us to follow you blindly," she scoffed, crossing her arms and eyeing me with suspicion.

"Tell me, how are we supposed to believe that you have the knowledge, experience, or even the strength to lead us out of this mess? Haven't you ever heard the phrase 'children should be seen and not heard'? What makes you think you're qualified to take charge of our lives and determine our fates? You've got to be kidding me!"

As Chihiro's words spread through the group like wildfire, others joined her in voicing their concerns and doubts. The atmosphere in the room shifted, and I knew I had to find a way to regain their trust and convince them that I was capable of leading them to safety.

In an attempt to take control of the situation, Chihiro turned to a burly man among the captives. "You," she commanded, pointing at him, "go out there and check the situation for us. We need to know what we're up against."

However, I quickly interjected, "That's not possible. The guards will be here in two minutes. We need to act fast and stay hidden."

The burly man, growing impatient and feeling cornered, tried to force his way past me. But I was prepared.

As the he approached me with a patronizing sneer. I decided to confront him head-on, and with a smirk, I said, "You think you can do better? Go ahead, give it a shot."

Drawing on my training and instincts, I swiftly dodged his attempt and countered with a well-placed kick to his knee, causing him to stumble. As he struggled to regain his balance, I followed up with a precise blow to his jaw. The man crumpled to the ground, completely taken aback.

The room fell silent as the others stared at the man lying on the floor, and then back at me. I held their gaze with steely determination, asserting my authority.

"If you want to get off this ship, you need to work together and follow my lead. We don't have time for petty squabbles or doubting each other's abilities."

The captives exchanged glances, and it was clear that my actions had made an impact. They seemed to understand that I was not just a child, but someone who had the skills and determination to help them escape their dire situation.

Just as the tension threatened to boil over, the girl with the curly blond hair that I had noticed earlier spoke up, her bubbly personality shining through. "Hey, at least he's offering to help us!" she exclaimed with a grin. "Besides, I've heard that good things come in small packages!"

The captives exchanged glances, and a few of them chuckled at her lighthearted remark. The atmosphere in the room shifted.

. ....

Kurapika approached the beggar, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to confront the man who had betrayed the boys' information. He could feel his heart pounding.

"Tell me everything you know about the boys," Kurapika demanded, his voice cold and steely.

The beggar squirmed under his gaze, his eyes darting around nervously as he stammered, "I-I don't know much, honest! I just told them where the boys were hiding, that's all!"

Kurapika pressed on, his voice firm, "Where are the boys now?"

The beggar swallowed hard and hesitantly replied, "They're... they're in the manor. That's all I know, I swear!"

Determined to learn more, Kurapika ventured closer to the manor, taking care to remain hidden and avoid detection. As he moved stealthily through the shadows, he overheard a conversation between two guards discussing recent escape attempts.

"Can you believe it? Those kids managed to slip right past us!" one of the guards exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Kurapika's heart raced as he connected the dots. The boys they were discussing must be the ones he was seeking.

.....

Kenzo sat in his dimly lit study, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a stack of papers in the other. Eve, his trusted confidante, stood nearby, her eyes scanning the documents as she tried to make sense of the information. They were deep in discussion, piecing together the events that had unfolded at Kurogane Manor.

Kenzo furrowed his brow as he reviewed the statements from the guards who had been present during the banquet. "This just doesn't add up, Eve. Something is missing," he muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

Eve leaned in, her finger tracing a line in the report. "What about this, Kenzo? One of the guards mentions a hidden recording of the events. Perhaps there's more to this story than we initially thought."

Kenzo's eyes widened at the revelation, and he quickly flipped through the pages, searching for more information. "You're right, there has to be something we're missing. We need to find those tapes."

At that moment, the door to the study creaked open, and a guard from Kurogane Manor slipped inside. His face was pale, and his eyes darted nervously around the room. Kenzo and Eve exchanged glances, sensing that something was amiss.

"I have information about what happend" the guard whispered, his voice shaking. "I've seen them, and what happened at the banquet is far worse than we ever imagined."

Kenzo's face grew stern, his jaw clenching as he stood up from his chair. "Tell me everything," he demanded, his voice low and steady. The guard hesitated for a moment before revealing the truth, each detail sending a shiver down Kenzo's spine.