The warriors at base 37 were in a hot debate regarding the correct chronology of the whole mutiny and summoning of the hunters. Ishimaru and Kitaro were unquestionably determined to be the traitors, while every one of the warriors didn't quite know the exact reason why they did that. Yato smacked the table in the middle of warriors' silent discussion when they cornered Ishimaru in a debate, "We have to find him first before determining that he's actually connected to all this!"

"Yeah, good idea, then how do WE find him?!" the other warriors were triggered by his idea.

"I believe he and Kitaro were the culprit, and that when we find them, we must execute them immediately," Aosuke sounded his opinion, he then turned to Kentarou, "What say you?"

"It's weird... Kitaro was fine in the afternoon, then burst out a screech to summon the hunters during the night. Something or someone changed him," Kentarou answered while spinning his pen, "If Ishimaru was involved in all of this, then maybe he knows the answer to that too,"

"I doubt that he will come back to us," Kazuki was also there in the discussion. His body was still hurt from the night before. "Ishimaru was one of the most suspicious warriors I've ever known. He doesn't have any discernible origin as far as I know,"

"How about Kuroyuki? Was he really the creature that breached base 24?" another warrior asked.

"Luckily when he tried to transform, someone stopped him. He was still alive with the help of the darkness," Hoshikawa answered, then stares at Kyuuto, "It seems like Kuroyuki has some kind of grudge towards us, especially me and my brother,"

Kazuki cut off his brother's sentence, "It's only me. This relates to our very first mission in the city, and I'll make sure that he will be stopped,"

While the others worried about the betrayal and the killing, Kyuuto was overthinking about the mysterious man Hoshikawa had told him earlier that day. He was both a younger and older brother of someone, which means that the man could be Koori, as he is the middle child in his family. But this realization brought out a new kind of anxiety into his mind. Kyuuto was finally given the chance to meet at least one of his brothers, but thinking again, they currently are not themselves. Yusuke and Yamisuke had taken over their bodies which made the fighting much harder.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

After analyzing back and forth, the warriors eventually agreed that Kitaro and Ishimaru were to be established as dangerous and have to be eliminated or purified on sight. Kyuuto and his team remain in the meeting room, observed by Aosuke. They evaluate Ishimaru and everything he has said and done.

"Ishimaru often says something about Yuukai and Raizen. I think it's possible that he knew them more than anyone," Kyuuto remembered bits of Ishimaru's sayings. "He knew earlier than anyone how the beacons of light works, then he also noticed Kotetsu's transformation earlier than anyone,"

The team then brainstorms without a clear goal, until they're all frustrated. "I think we should take the rotation next week, to just cool our heads," Ishigaki proposed while leaving the room, the others followed soon after.

"Kyuuto," Aosuke suddenly called from his desk. As Kyuuto turns around, he continued, "If you happens to need a helping hand, I will always ready,"

Kyuuto smiles and thanked him, then left the room.

----

As the weeks rolled by, Kyuuto's team were rotated back to the island with one missing member. The view from the island changed considerably, the island was getting bigger, and the school seems to have been renovated.

Kyuuto and his team were resting for a few days, and in that time he took the opportunity to walk around the complex of the residents. A faint memory came to his head once again about a boy he used to know, who was missing for years. He wondered who he was, but as he tried to remember, the memory faded away. As Kyuuto walked through the market area, he saw Kotetsu trading his goods for a loaf of bread. Kyuuto waved his hand, and Kotetsu smiled. They then meet in the park, overlooking a pond.

"Sadly, your friend is no longer here," Kotetsu suddenly said in a peculiar sentence. "I am not Kotetsu,"

Shocked and confused, Kyuuto asked for more details.

"You see, Kotetsu is sleeping in his own consciousness after what happened. From now on, please call me Hikiri. I was a warrior serving under Ookami Kurouzu, nice to meet you, Kyuuto," Hikiri smiled politely.

"Kurouzu...?"

"Yeah, the fourth king of Ookami. The one inside you right now,"