What truly drives a kind soul to make a choice is never persuasion…
One day, under the guidance of Chino’s Fish-Men, Siren stood witness to the whales’ descent.
One after another, the massive creatures fell, their lives extinguished in a sequence that was both agonizingly slow and heartbreakingly swift.
Mei sought whale cells. Chino found whale cells.
Yet, these majestic creatures were not felled by Chino, nor by the Fish-Men, nor by any other force of the sea.
As Siren watched in stunned silence, Chino’s voice drifted into her mind, dark and heavy.
“Do you want to know how they died?”
Siren shook her head blankly, unable to form words.
Chino continued, his voice echoing like the rumble of distant waves. “Pollution. The food in the ocean is dwindling. The life within it is vanishing at an alarming rate.”
“When whales fall, all things live.”
He spoke with an eerie calm. “After their deaths, the deep-sea fish feast on their remains. One whale’s carcass can sustain an entire ecosystem.”
“They sacrificed themselves to give life to others.”
Chino’s words were a cold undertow pulling at her thoughts. “Now, do you still believe my actions to be evil?”
“When mortals err, shouldn’t they face the consequences?”
Siren stared into the distance, her voice a quiet murmur. “Perhaps… you’re right.”
...
On a secluded island amidst the endless sea, the tides lapped gently at the shore.
A Fish-Man stumbled onto the sand, his movements labored. He clutched something tightly against his chest.
The island’s heart was marked by a small church, its weathered walls standing defiantly against the sea’s relentless embrace. Within its sanctuary, a congregation of Fish-Men Priests waited, their chants rising in hushed, solemn waves.
Vespa, panting and bloodied, staggered through the church’s doors. He carried the golden mask with trembling hands.
An elderly Fish-Woman turned toward him, her eyes clouded yet piercing. “You haven’t disappointed me.”
Vespa knelt before her, presenting the mask. Relief and exhaustion mingled in his breath as he spoke not a word.
The old Fish-Woman took the mask, her gnarled hands steady. “The Kitsune, the vampires, the Serpent’s Hand—they all desire what belongs to us.”
Her voice grew sharper. “Especially the Serpent’s Hand. They have already acquired more than ten Ancient Artifacts.”
“Their leader, Adam, wields one called the Treasure Map. It grants him the power to locate Ancient Artifacts within its range.”
“That is how they always manage to find them before us.”
She leaned forward, her gaze heavy with expectation. “So…”
So?
Her bony finger pointed directly at Vespa. “You will capture Adam and bring back the Treasure Map.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Vespa blinked, his mouth slightly agape. “Me?”
The old Fish-Woman’s expression was resolute. “Yes. I trust you.”
Vespa stared at her, panic and disbelief swirling in his mind. But I don’t trust myself!
His thoughts screamed in protest, but the weight of the Priest’s authority bore down on him, leaving no room for refusal.
He swallowed hard, the words tasting like ash. “…Okay.”
“I’ll go. I’ll deal with Adam.”
...
On the mainland, within the Kitsune Headquarters.
Naira Sorkin sat cross-legged in a dimly lit chamber, surrounded by over a hundred individuals, all in deep meditation.
“A watermelon,” he chanted.
“A watermelon,” echoed the voices of the gathered practitioners in unison.
“Cut it in half with a knife,” Naira continued.
“Cut it… in half,” the chorus responded, though a tinge of irritation began to creep into the harmony.
“Give you half.”
“Half…” the voices murmured before one finally broke the rhythm. “What the heck is this? A spirit power spell?!”
A wave of groans and curses rippled through the room. Naira Sorkin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure how to defend the bizarre method.
This spell had been taught to him by Zero.
Known as a Spirit Power Refinement Spell, it required repeating a mundane action while chanting specific phrases, paired with the use of a potion called Separation Flower to refine spiritual energy.
Odd as it seemed, the spell worked. Naira could feel his spiritual power growing stronger.
Zero had secretly learned this spell from another world, adapting it for local use. Alongside it, he had also mastered the basic applications of the four elements: controlling earth, summoning wind, condensing water, and gathering fire.
The incantations were simple but peculiar.
“Little flame, little flame, burn him dizzy,” Naira murmured, casting a quick glance around to ensure no one overheard his experiment.
The spells worked, but he always felt a pang of embarrassment uttering such childish phrases aloud.
Just as the soldiers of the Kitsune trained their spiritual power, the headquarters was interrupted by unwelcome guests.
...
In Zero’s office, four men stormed in, flanked by a large entourage.
“Zero, long time no see,” the leader said, stepping forward. He was an obese middle-aged man whose smirk carried the weight of self-assurance.
Zero’s gaze was sharp as he lifted his head. “Speak.”
The man grinned. “The O5 Council has been empty for too long. The superiors have temporarily appointed us four to fill the vacant seats.”
Zero’s expression darkened. “Moritz Teufel, Virgil Lawson, Fabian Russell, Yun Gongmin. By ‘superiors,’ you mean Waldheri Martell, don’t you?”
His words hung heavy in the air. A den of vipers, indeed.
The middle-aged man chuckled nervously. “Don’t be so cold, Zero. We understand your frustration, but this path isn’t yours to walk alone.”
Zero’s gaze pierced through him. “Virgil Lawson, it’s almost New Year’s Eve. I imagine plenty of people sent you flowers, didn’t they?”
Virgil stiffened. Before anyone else could respond, Zero turned his glare to another.
“Yun Gongmin, your son’s real estate business is thriving, isn’t it?”
“And you, Moritz Teufel—your associates seem to climb the ladder at an impressive speed.”
“Fabian Russell… that little ‘incident’ of yours remains conveniently unaddressed.”
The room turned icy as the four men’s faces fell.
“You’ve been investigating us!” Virgil hissed.
Zero rose to his feet, his voice steady and unyielding. “I accept the superiors’ decision, but the Kitsune has never been built on the illusion of safety.”
“The O5 Council may be breached. And if that happens, what will become of the people involved? I can’t guarantee their survival.”
With that, Zero pushed past them, leaving the room without another word.
As he strode through the halls, his thoughts churned.
The Kitsune must remain independent.
If they leaned on any single nation, they would collapse into the same corruption as the GPA.
Those four were clearly after 008, and corruption, once seeded, would spread like a wildfire. If it grew within the Kitsune, Zero would root it out—person by person, if necessary.
And if he himself became the source of that corruption?
The answer was clear: he would end himself.
Zero knew there was no such thing as a perfect man. Even now, he didn’t think of himself as infallible. What mattered was his resolve to remain vigilant, even against himself.
...
In Beiling City, amidst the quiet hum of a secluded street.
Shino came to a halt. His gaze lifted to a nearby building, where a lone figure stood cloaked in a raincoat.
The figure turned, meeting Shino’s eyes.
Shino let out a weary sigh. “You really haven’t given up.”
The figure stepped forward, emerging from the shadows. Ye Long’s smile was thin, his voice calculating. “Aren’t you searching for your brother? We could make a deal.”
Shino’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not helping you steal any Ancient Artifacts.”
Ye Long nodded, unperturbed. “Your brother’s name is Chino, right? I might know where he is.”
He paused, letting the words hang before delivering his terms. “But you’ll have to help me retrieve an Ancient Artifact. Without it, I can’t take you to him.”
Shino’s brows knit as he mulled it over. “…What kind of Ancient Artifact?”
From his pocket, Ye Long drew a photograph, holding it up for Shino to see. The image depicted a gleaming silver needle.
“Barrosa’s Silver Thread Needle,” he said. “An Ancient Artifact capable of breaking the Fish-Man curse.”