Chapter 189, Vi=rus

"What happened?" Theo asked.

"Apparently... Mom and Dad... got hold of unbelievable information." Will told them. "Mom and Dad... got word of a certain trade deal circulating in our town."

"What kind?" Reinhardt asked.

"A circulation of an extremely dangerous drug called Vi=rus." I answered. "In other words, Anti-Vi powder."

"What?! How is that even possible?!" Autumn exclaimed. "Anti-Vi powder? How can such a thing exist?"

"It was a drug produced long ago, when there weren't Braves, they were produced to subdue Chimeras." Van said. "But... the formula was..."

"Burned by the First Flower so that no one could produce them." I stated.

"Why?" Felalona asked.

"They can be used to kill Braves." I answered. "To Braves, Vi is the equivalent of air. If we can't gather Vi for prolonged periods of time we will die."

"I see. So it's like a poison to all of us." May said.

"And now it's circulating around the black market?" Andrew asked.

"Yes. And it's circulating at an astounding rate." I answered. "So far there's presence of it in the North, West, South and even the northern regions of the East."

"How is it circulating like that?" Leon asked.

"No... the most important question is... how it was reproduced." Ardor stated and I nodded.

"Unfortunately I have a hunch. It might've been their work." Dino said. "Before he betrayed the Crest, Peirrot was extremely interested in Ancient Alchemy."

"So you're saying he had a hand in this?" Hiro asked and I nodded.

"Unfortunately I believe so." I answered. "And now we have to figure out how he is reproducing them and where."

"That's a tall order." Theo said.

"Theo's right, if it's spread so far as the four continents then finding the source would be like trying to find a needle in a hay stack." Rachel stated.

"I have my ways." I said and grinned. "But it's going to be a bit dangerous."

"What are you planning?" Licht asked.

"Orca." I summoned a certain spirit to my side, about the size of a small kite, it was a butterfly.

"This is... the tracing spirit, Orca." Zander said as he gazed at it. "Arata, you can't be thinking..."

"Yes. We'll use Orca to track down the source." I answered.

"But... Orca can only track things it's seen." Licht stated and his eyes grew wide in realization. "Arata, you can't be thinking what I think you're planning!"

"Exactly. We'll hunt down the ones who produce or sell the Vi=rus and use the Vi=rus to track its source." I stated.

"There's a risk of exposing us to Vi=rus." Rum stated.

"But as long as it isn't high concentration we'll be fine..." Dony said. "Arata, what you're planning is a rather dangerous gamble."

"But if we let the Vi=rus spread it won't just cause a danger to us but to all Braves and facilities that rely on Vi." I stated. "Before the Vi=rus causes the death of a single Brave, I'll stop them. For that... I need everyone's help."

"Please, will you help me." I lower my head.

"What's with you? You're talking like it isn't our business." Touya slapped my back. "We'll definitely help, right everyone?"

"Yeah!" They all answered.

------

"I'm surprised that you had a plan like this, Pierrot." Sirius glared at a distance. "While it's true the Vi=rus is effective against Braves, you understand it is also harmful to us."

"Don't worry, Sirius. The Vi=rus won't be anywhere near us." Pierrot assured him. "My plan is simple, we'll spread the Vi=rus indiscriminately across the world. The Flower is bound to notice this."

"Then? When he realizes that you're psreading them?" Sirius asked.

"He'll likely search for the source. Knowing him he will get that information, so at the source we place my little toy." He smiled as he referred to the Black Humunculus. "I can't believe he was able to find my Humunculi Factpry but this time, I'll have him pay for this crime."

"Well? What about Karin?" Sirius asked.

"Leave her be. I have no idea what goes on in her head but seeing as how I won't be needing her, there's no point getting her here." Peirrot stated. "Sirius you better pull your Chimeras away from these certain locations."

"Oh? What are you plotting?" Sirius asked.

"You'll know soon. I can't wait! I'll finally have the chance to devour the Le Fleur's power!" Pierrot answered him. "Well then, it's time for an experiment, Le Fleur."

-----

"You okay?" Arata asked Alistar as he stood by the window.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Alistar answered as he patted Arata's head. "I'm just worried. I have this ominous feeling in my chest. I don't like it."

"Hmmm? Wanna talk about it?" Arata asked as he took Alistar's hand. "Like how you're always there to lend me a shoulder or an ear, I'm also here to do the same."

"Nah. I'll be fine." Alistar answered and patted Arata's head. "Just promise me you won't be reckless in our mission."

"You know I can't promise that." Arata smiled as he turned and smiled before running back into the school building.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking it." Alistar whispered to himself as he walked towards the Perennial Cherry Blossom.

"Arata will be safe. I'm sure of it." He said to himself as he sat down beneath the tree.

A gentle breeze was blowing, the scent of cherry blossoms wafted in the air, under the tree where the golden sun shined Alistar began to grow drowsy and when his eyes closed a vision came to him.

"Arata! Arata!" He screamed himself awake as he trembled from what he saw in his dream. "W... what was that?!"

Alistar tried to calm himself down looked at the sky, it was blue and clear. Like the day he had met Arata.

"No matter what that dream was about, I'll definitely protect Arata!" He vowed as he held his chest. "I won't let a dream like that become reality."