Kazuya suspected it for a long time that the original person meant for this mission was Rhys . Even before they arrived in the Mist Kingdom, Rhys displayed such signs before . At some point in their friends.h.i.+p, Rhys often disappeared, and when Kazuya saw him, he seemed to be busy working on something . When Kazuya inquired or rather once he tried to take a peek at the work, Rhys was doing . Rhys quickly found him and told him that this wasn"t for kids . He didn"t like how Rhys treated him like a child; there"s hardly an age difference between them after all .

The events of earlier further confirmed his suspicions, though Rhys is pretty much like that towards any girl . He slipped up . Kazuya noticed something different when his friend spoke to Lyn . Yes, it wasn"t the kiss that gave him away .

Much to his dismay, he"s seen Rhys kiss so many girls before that it"s gotten old though it bothered him greatly when his friend kissed Lyn . But he does not want to dwell on that issue now . Kazuya knew he needed to confirm it after this is all over, confirm who the person was . If it was Rhys then . . .

"Why did they change it?" Kazuya murmured .

He walked over to the rows of cabinets, still lost in thought . It really is unusual that they changed it to him . Rhys is more than capable for a job like this .

Some contained medical bottles, plants, herbs of all kinds labeled neatly . Besides those shelves are books . Usually one would head to the books . But Kazuya wasn"t stupid . He turned to the medical side and scrutinized each row .

He closed his eyes, look for a single movement . A rhythm and beat that seems out of place . After concentrating for a few minutes, Kazuya found it . He extended his hand out towards a bottle with a pink substance in the center . When one hides things, they usually hide it amongst several other things . But this person didn"t think they"d get caught . It"s out in the open . Then again, n.o.body would suspect that the data is in a place like this . So he has to praise them .

The moment Kazuya opened the bottle, he already saw gold . He poured the contents on the table and amid the pink substance was a golden key . He tapped his fingers, and the substance slowly separated forming a s.p.a.ce . Kazuya didn"t want to touch it, who knows what it contains .

After he safely retrieved the key, Kazuya bent down and used the key to open the chest of drawers . The person who his this stuff didn"t think they would get caught . Putting the key and information in one place . Well, it"s a good thing for him . The data is essential but so is the key .

Kazuya scanned the papers; there was a lot in a single file and some separated . He focused on the separated doc.u.ments first . The records of the Rain Kingdom"s recent operations, Kazuya frowned . The Rain Kingdom is one of the huge five; there"s no way they are dealing with any suspicious activity like the doc.u.ments stated . But the name in these doc.u.ments says the Rain Kingdoms name unless --- Kazuya reached over for the pink substance and drew the sound waves to bring it down . Still careful not to touch it directly .

"Bingo . "

The words on the doc.u.ments slowly changed, in large lettering the words "Hidden Kingdoms" appeared and several names under are highlighted in red . The ones that stood out to Kazuya were his own the Sound Kingdom and, "Illusion Kingdom?" Kazuya murmured .

He hadn"t heard of a place like that before, but he supposes that"s natural since it"s a hidden existence . However, his frown deepened more when he saw the arrows connecting the two . Kazuya tapped his finger on the two names, did the Sound Kingdom elders make a deal with the Illusion Kingdom? Kazuya can"t think of any other reason why the Mist Kingdom would draw two Kingdoms together like this .

Honestly, while he understood the nature of the mission is important . It"s not like the Sound Kingdom has a squeaky clean history . The more Kazuya thought about it; the Sound Kingdom"s current state is closer to corruption than any secrets hidden behind the royal families .

The country itself is fine, but the present ones in charge of it are not exactly the best people . Even the ones who a.s.signed this job to him, Kazuya sighed deeply . After coming all this way, there"s no use in over thinking this matter now . He can deal with the consequences later .

Kazuya quickly made a copy of the doc.u.ments and turned to the more organized files . His eyes widened, "Lyn," Kazuya murmured, "d.a.m.n . "

He quickly left the room in a hurry . The so-called something that will control the item is just a diversion; the "key" needed is Lyn . It"s her powers . Why didn"t he realize it sooner? At times the girl seemed like she couldn"t use her powers but then there are occasions where she displays tremendous strength .

That immense strength and the drawing the elders showed him back home all connect . A large energy source, this entire time they thought that it was another object . But, now he thought it through . The information simply stated a large energy source, anybody with a ma.s.sive power could meet the criteria .

In the Mist Kingdom, it"s easy to narrow those candidates down . Somebody with a ma.s.sive power but somebody they can reach, Queen Orthez, King Daichi and The First Prince are ruled out . The third princess doesn"t often appear, so that left The Second Prince, First Princess, and Lyn .

After battling the Second Prince briefly the other day, Kazuya already measured the full extent of that guy"s ability . The First Princess, he briefly clashed with on his first day of arriving here . It was short; he brushed past her . But his powers already did a scan on her . It"s not her .

Then all that leaves is Lyn when he touched her - Kazuya didn"t get any reaction . He thought his abilities were acting up . Sure enough, whenever he"s with Lyn, there are certain parts of his abilities that he can"t use . But Kazuya never thought about it in depth, up until now that is .

. . .

Kazuya wanted to quickly rush to Lyn"s side, but unfortunately, he encountered a group of random people caught by the guards . He could have ignored them but when he saw a member of his own group charge in to act all brave . Kazuya knew he couldn"t ignore the situation .

It did not go as smoothly as their previous encounters with the guards . It usually would end up as a simple skirmish, but these guards used their weapons . When Kazuya clashed with one, he noticed how highly trained they were . This attack pattern is different than that foolish Second Prince guards; could it be . . . Kazuya examined the emblem, and his eyes widened . He clicked his tongue in annoyance, out of all the groups .

The First Prince crew, they are dead . Even if they save these bystanders, they will get questioned for being in this area . The whole plan will fall apart, suddenly somebody from the side throws a magic bomb, and Kazuya exclaimed, "Scatter," but his words fell on death areas since people were too busy bickering . A handful of people from his side and the guards fell .

There"s another person, where did the one who threw that bomb go? The guards suddenly came this way despite the First Prince in the other end of the castle? A setup . Kazuya clenched his fist; he doesn"t have time for this . He needs to get to Lyn . From the looks of things everybody was down more or less, he should use this chance to leave .

Catching movement, he was relieved . It was somebody from his side, "Hey, I"m going to--" Kazuya"s words fell short when he saw two people approach the guy from behind . Each held two blades covered in high-level magic, "Tsk," Kazuya quickly rushed over and pushed the man down . He didn"t have time to react when he felt himself get attacked on both shoulders; a piercing pain spread on his shoulders and Kazuya landed on the ground with a thud .

. . .

His consciousness was weak, and vision fading but . . .

"Is this the one we need?"

"Yes, the others are garbage according to the boss . "

Laughter, "Don"t mimic him . "

"Can we really get the girl with this guy? Maybe we should have just gone after Rhys . "

Kazuya eyes widened at that comment, could these people be the ones Rhys met when they arrived . Kazuya tried to focus his, but it was no good .

d.a.m.n, this is bad . No matter how much Kazuya wanted to stay awake . Kazuya felt cold and tired . The pain on his shoulders was growing, and he could see the blood falling from his shoulder down to his arm, "Lyn," he murmured .Kazuya suspected it for a long time that the original person meant for this mission was Rhys . Even before they arrived in the Mist Kingdom, Rhys displayed such signs before . At some point in their friends.h.i.+p, Rhys often disappeared, and when Kazuya saw him, he seemed to be busy working on something . When Kazuya inquired or rather once he tried to take a peek at the work, Rhys was doing . Rhys quickly found him and told him that this wasnt for kids . He didnt like how Rhys treated him like a child; theres hardly an age difference between them after all . The events of earlier further confirmed his suspicions, though Rhys is pretty much like that towards any girl . He slipped up . Kazuya noticed something different when his friend spoke to Lyn . Yes, it wasnt the kiss that gave him away . Much to his dismay, hes seen Rhys kiss so many girls before that its gotten old though it bothered him greatly when his friend kissed Lyn . But he does not want to dwell on that issue now . Kazuya knew he needed to confirm it after this is all over, confirm who the person was . If it was Rhys then . Why did they change it? Kazuya murmured . He walked over to the rows of cabinets, still lost in thought . It really is unusual that they changed it to him . Rhys is more than capable for a job like this . Some contained medical bottles, plants, herbs of all kinds labeled neatly . Besides those shelves are books . Usually one would head to the books . But Kazuya wasnt stupid . He turned to the medical side and scrutinized each row . He closed his eyes, look for a single movement . A rhythm and beat that seems out of place . After concentrating for a few minutes, Kazuya found it . He extended his hand out towards a bottle with a pink substance in the center . When one hides things, they usually hide it amongst several other things . But this person didnt think theyd get caught . Its out in the open . Then again, n.o.body would suspect that the data is in a place like this . So he has to praise them . The moment Kazuya opened the bottle, he already saw gold . He poured the contents on the table and amid the pink substance was a golden key . He tapped his fingers, and the substance slowly separated forming a s.p.a.ce . Kazuya didnt want to touch it, who knows what it contains . After he safely retrieved the key, Kazuya bent down and used the key to open the chest of drawers . The person who his this stuff didnt think they would get caught . Putting the key and information in one place . Well, its a good thing for him . The data is essential but so is the key . Kazuya scanned the papers; there was a lot in a single file and some separated . He focused on the separated doc.u.ments first . The records of the Rain Kingdoms recent operations, Kazuya frowned . The Rain Kingdom is one of the huge five; theres no way they are dealing with any suspicious activity like the doc.u.ments stated . But the name in these doc.u.ments says the Rain Kingdoms name unless --- Kazuya reached over for the pink substance and drew the sound waves to bring it down . Still careful not to touch it directly Bingo . The words on the doc.u.ments slowly changed, in large lettering the words Hidden Kingdoms appeared and several names under are highlighted in red . The ones that stood out to Kazuya were his own the Sound Kingdom and, Illusion Kingdom? Kazuya murmured . He hadnt heard of a place like that before, but he supposes thats natural since its a hidden existence . However, his frown deepened more when he saw the arrows connecting the two . Kazuya tapped his finger on the two names, did the Sound Kingdom elders make a deal with the Illusion Kingdom? Kazuya cant think of any other reason why the Mist Kingdom would draw two Kingdoms together like this . Honestly, while he understood the nature of the mission is important . Its not like the Sound Kingdom has a squeaky clean history . The more Kazuya thought about it; the Sound Kingdoms current state is closer to corruption than any secrets hidden behind the royal families . The country itself is fine, but the present ones in charge of it are not exactly the best people . Even the ones who a.s.signed this job to him, Kazuya sighed deeply . After coming all this way, theres no use in over thinking this matter now . He can deal with the consequences later . Kazuya quickly made a copy of the doc.u.ments and turned to the more organized files . His eyes widened, Lyn, Kazuya murmured, d.a.m.n . He quickly left the room in a hurry . The so-called something that will control the item is just a diversion; the key needed is Lyn . Its her powers . Why didnt he realize it sooner? At times the girl seemed like she couldnt use her powers but then there are occasions where she displays tremendous strength . That immense strength and the drawing the elders showed him back home all connect . A large energy source, this entire time they thought that it was another object . But, now he thought it through . The information simply stated a large energy source, anybody with a ma.s.sive power could meet the criteria . In the Mist Kingdom, its easy to narrow those candidates down . Somebody with a ma.s.sive power but somebody they can reach, Queen Orthez, King Daichi and The First Prince are ruled out . The third princess doesnt often appear, so that left The Second Prince, First Princess, and Lyn . After battling the Second Prince briefly the other day, Kazuya already measured the full extent of that guys ability . The First Princess, he briefly clashed with on his first day of arriving here . It was short; he brushed past her . But his powers already did a scan on her . Its not her . Then all that leaves is Lyn when he touched her - Kazuya didnt get any reaction . He thought his abilities were acting up . Sure enough, whenever hes with Lyn, there are certain parts of his abilities that he cant use . But Kazuya never thought about it in depth, up until now that is Kazuya wanted to quickly rush to Lyns side, but unfortunately, he encountered a group of random people caught by the guards . He could have ignored them but when he saw a member of his own group charge in to act all brave . Kazuya knew he couldnt ignore the situation . It did not go as smoothly as their previous encounters with the guards . It usually would end up as a simple skirmish, but these guards used their weapons . When Kazuya clashed with one, he noticed how highly trained they were . This attack pattern is different than that foolish Second Prince guards; could it be . Kazuya examined the emblem, and his eyes widened . He clicked his tongue in annoyance, out of all the groups . The First Prince crew, they are dead . Even if they save these bystanders, they will get questioned for being in this area . The whole plan will fall apart, suddenly somebody from the side throws a magic bomb, and Kazuya exclaimed, Scatter, but his words fell on death areas since people were too busy bickering . A handful of people from his side and the guards fell . Theres another person, where did the one who threw that bomb go? The guards suddenly came this way despite the First Prince in the other end of the castle? A setup . Kazuya clenched his fist; he doesnt have time for this . He needs to get to Lyn . From the looks of things everybody was down more or less, he should use this chance to leave . Catching movement, he was relieved . It was somebody from his side, Hey, Im going to-- Kazuyas words fell short when he saw two people approach the guy from behind . Each held two blades covered in high-level magic, Tsk, Kazuya quickly rushed over and pushed the man down . He didnt have time to react when he felt himself get attacked on both shoulders; a piercing pain spread on his shoulders and Kazuya landed on the ground with a thud His consciousness was weak, and vision fading but . Is this the one we need? Yes, the others are garbage according to the boss . Laughter, Dont mimic him . Can we really get the girl with this guy? Maybe we should have just gone after Rhys . Kazuya eyes widened at that comment, could these people be the ones Rhys met when they arrived . Kazuya tried to focus his, but it was no good . d.a.m.n, this is bad . No matter how much Kazuya wanted to stay awake . Kazuya felt cold and tired . The pain on his shoulders was growing, and he could see the blood falling from his shoulder down to his arm, Lyn, he murmured .