The Shadow Manipulator

Chapter 25: The Suppressor Stone

"I h-hope, y-you do well, just l-like I d-did, son." He said as he forced himself to smile.

"Yes, dad." I responded.

Suddenly, I began to feel something very hot inside me, as if I was going to get a fever. Sweat trickled my forehead as I tried to keep myself from falling down. To my bewilderment, I began to feel dizzy and my head began throbbing with pain. I could also feel my heart rate rising as if I was working myself out. I looked around, but my vision began to blacken. I could feel myself losing consciousness but that's not the only case; whatever the reason was, I also feel getting suffocated. 

"Hikari, Hikari?!" I could barely hear Master Ryu shouting at me. "Are you alright, Hikari?" 

Master Ryu caught me just before I fell down. I tried to look at him but my vision blackened completely. I began to feel hotter than ever, as if my body is about to explode.

And I lost consciousness.

.....

Meanwhile, northeast of town...

The sun was already beginning to set down, making the sky turn into an orange haze. Since the recent attack of the Irregulars, the people northeast of town became rather cautious everytime they go out. Now that the sky began turning rather grayish, you would hardly see any towns people walking on the streets. The place northeast of town was somewhat lively and the streets would always be filled with stalls and townspeople enjoying the night, but at the present, the place began to look rather deserted.

On a street, in the middle of the town, a guy in black suit could be seen walking. From afar, he looked like a normal business man. As he walk, he began to pull his black and gray bowler hat down, probably trying to hide his face or block the sunlight even though he was already wearing glasses that resemble that of the secret service's. 

As soon as he reached the end of the street, he began to pick up his pace. He clicked his tongue as he looked at the golden watch he was wearing as he began to walk even faster. His suitcase swung subconsciously as he approached what looks like an old construction site.

Up ahead loomed a dilapidated building, oldened with age. No one dare to venture near it since it looks scary from the outside. The man, however, paid no mind at all. He just continued walking towards it as fast as he could, as if he was missing an appointment. 

To his surprise, a black sedan suddenly screeched right beside him, scattering the dust on the construction site. Out of response, the man stepped back and covered his face with a handkerchief. He began shoving off the dust with his hand as he tried to get a glimpse of the driver who dared to ruin his black suit.

The side door of the sedan slowly began to open as another man went out of it. Out of response to the scattered dust, he began dusting himself off as he approached the man who just stepped back.

"Well, hey there Tanaba-san!" The guy from the sedan greeted. "Fancy meeting you here!"

"Stop that warm expression." Tanaba told him. "What's your deal?! Trying to ruin my perfectly new suit?! Don't you know how much a pair cost, Kubo?!"

"Well, I am wearing one, so I guess I don't need to answer that question." Kubo responded to him as he continue to dust himself off. "Anyway, was it successful?"

"Yup! Right now, he's in the hospital. The Irregulars that you sent off actually gave him a tough time. But why did you need to do such an overkill to that guy? I mean, he's not even an Irregular or anything, much less the light bringer!"

"What do you mean, did the mission not go well?"

"Of course it went well, it went awfully well that the guy turned into a pile of vegetables, I mean, he's critically injured right now." Tanaba informed him as he adjusted his glasses. "He might not be able to see tomorrow, if you ask me."