Suikoden VII

Chapter Three: Part Five

Chapter Three: Part Five

"Do you sense them now, Bishop?"

Sasarai frowned, rubbing his chin with his fingers as he observed their surroundings. To the west of their position he saw a large grove of trees. And from the map Pilika "borrowed" in Niebieska Brama he knew that a large city was to the south of them. He knew that he had felt the power from this area, but he no longer sensed it. "No," he said finally, lowering his hand. "But they were here."

"And you sensed two True Runes, Bishop?" Dios asked him.

"...Three," Sasarai after a moment. "But only two felt familiar to me."

"Three True Runes?!" Pilika exclaimed. She looked around them. "What is this Kingdom hiding, having three True Runes here?!"

"What Runes did you recognize, Bishop?" Dios asked Sasarai.

"The True Wind Rune," Sasarai said. Dios flinched when he said that. Sasarai understood his sentiment. "I also sensed—"

"NOW!"

The shout cut him off. In a flash the trio was surrounded on all sides by straggly-looking individuals, all of them grinning and snickering obnoxiously. Sasarai glanced at the faces around them with a neutral expression. "So the lot of you decided to show yourselves?" he asked.

"Eh?" a few gasps.

"H-How did you know we were following you?!" an orange-haired man exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"...You weren't exactly subtle," Dios said curtly.

"And you still let yourselves be cornered," a new voice boomed. Two men stepped aside and a smug-looking man with slicked back blonde hair and a smirk stepped forward. "You must be fools. But seeing as you're Harmonian diplomats wandering around the country without an escort, that was easy to figure out." He chuckled to himself.

Pilika gasped sharply in alarm. Sasarai glanced at her and he saw that her eyes were wide. "I...know that man," she said softly.

Sasarai glanced towards the man who was undoubtedly the leader. He realized the smug bastard looked familiar to him, too.

"Wait, they're from Harmonia?!" a black-haired ruffian exclaimed.

"Yes, Goose," the leader said irritably.

"I'm Froth, Boss!" The ruffian protested. "That's Goose!" He jabbed his thumb at the orange-haired man.

"I don't give a damn! Who cares what your damn names are?!"

"A truly inspiring leader," Dios said with obvious disgust.

"Shut the hell up, you privileged bureaucrat!" The leader snapped, drawing his sword and pointing it at Dios.

Sasarai swiftly moved to stand in front of his advisor, narrowing his eyes at the leader. "Don't you dare threaten my people," he said sharply. "If you know what's good for you, then you'll leave us be!"

The leader barked out a laugh and stepped. "And what are YOU going to do about it?!"

"You!" Pilika shrieked, stepping forward and pointing at the leader. "Now I remember you! You hurt the people who saved me!"

The leader looked towards her, his brow furrowing in confusion. "...What?" he asked.

"I know him," Pilika said, looking at Sasarai. "His name is Rowd! He would sell his own child down the river if it meant power for him!"

"Wow Boss, she knows you well!" Goose laughed stupidly.

"SHUT UP!" the leader, Rowd, shouted at his subordinate. He snapped his teeth and glared at Pilika. "What do you know about me, bitch?!"