Cryptic Asunder [Ver. 3 outdated]

19: He knows

Nami- Used at the end of a word to pluralize it.

Pickertho- The name of an explorer who traveled across the globe and discovered what is now known as Zuthalili. The man who is referred to as "Pick" was named after this great explorer.

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Chapter nineteen: He knows

Another day passes until we have the soenara just before Gesh within our sights in the woods, but something feels off about it. Once we get close enough, it's evident that the place has been ransacked. The area is clean of merchandise and a mess with buildings that have been broken into.

Zaru is quick to find a local and ask about the situation.

The man says that a band of three people scavenged the place in the morning, took everything, and stormed off. They claimed themselves as members of the Burraku clan. Wait a minute, that sounds familiar. Didn't Vensen mention something about being one of them in his ransom note?

I ask the man if one of them was a man with long black hair and grey skin. No matches fit the descriptions. He says that the party was made up of two men and a woman. One of the guys did have black hair, but it was shoulder length, and he had bandages wrapped around his body along with covering his eyes. The other male was well-built with a big belly and a bald scalp. Lastly, the lady had long, thick red hair with nothing but a black strap to cover her chest and baggy pants.

Are they really from the same cult as my grandfather, or are they imposters? Is Vensen testing me with them? Is the Burraku even a branch to the Stuki clan? I really am starting to hate the word, "Question." I just want it all to make sense!

Thanks to our lack of rai and Zaru's good soul, we have to keep moving until we hit Gesh as he gives a small donation to the kind man who told us everything. So, sleeping on the ground is a must tonight. It also means that I will get more picky-back rides. I need to ask him why he's so eager to help people... Damn it. We do have to be more cautious now, however, to be ready in case the bandits decide to mess with us. Even though I remembered to pack my sword, I still don't think I will be much help in battle for a while. My gut might be giving me a foreshadowing on running into them, and so far, it's been accurate.

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Over in the Archives where Sommi was moved to

Yamato opens the heavy door and walks slowly into the dull box of concrete that's assigned as Sommi's new room.

Sommi lifts his head slightly to see him step in from his chair of confinement.

The bulky mitsu stands before him and takes a quick peek at Sommi's bandaged hand. "So he won't let you heal it? That sucks."

The prisoner doesn't respond, but instead stares at the linoleum floor.

Yamato tries to come up with something to say, "Ya'know, I've been working with him long enough to have a pretty good algorithm on how he goes about things. Mutual respect is the best way to approach him, I've noticed."

A forced chuckle emerges from Sommi and he peers back up to him. "I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to get my good side and convince me to trust you." His green eyes have started to lose color from exhaustion. "You just want me to give up information about who's on the boycott, you spy. So what did he promise you, fortune, eternal life, ultimate power, or all three-"