The Blade and Sword

CHAPTER 27-THE INVESTIGATION

Now the important thing is to get back to Unkensō quickly and tell everything to the elders and the acting Seimei-Sōshu (Koken), for further planning. Now they prioritize saving those being kidnapped young innocent people. In short, Koshō and Kosei returned to Unkensō safely and reported everything that they found to the elders and Koken. Some of them asked the elders if they should report this matter also to the big-four sects or not. Koken suggested the elders not to report about this matter yet to the big-four, as they still don't know if Koten was there or not. It needs further investigation. However, how to investigate? They don't even know what will be in that mine and might be ambushed there as well if they come in large numbers. then Kosei suggested that they have to go there quietly with only some of them. After discussing it for a while, they decided to let Koshō, Kosei, Koyuki, and also Koshin sneak into that mine for investigation. In short, four of them sneak there at night. There were no heavy guards at the front of the mine. They took the guards down quietly and disguised themselves as the masked men. However, inside the mine there were so many of those masked men and what made three of them shocked as what they saw there. Since the mine was abandoned, there is no mining activity there. However, those masked men used this mine as a facility to produce some kind of pills. Three of them suspected the pill might be the Kijatan but they didn't see those captives or even Koten. However, when they were focused on the masked men activity, suddenly Koshin saw a figure that was looking at him suspiciously. Then that figure walks away as if he wanted Koshin to follow him. Koshin suspected that the figure looked a little like Koten. He wanted to chase that guy. Meanwhile, Koshō said that they must take one of the pills as evidence to bring it back to Unkensō. So Kosei suggested that he and Koshō will try to get the pill without being noticed, on the other side Koshin and Koyuki will after that figure to see what he’s up to. Four of them split into two teams to carry their mission. Koshin and Koyuki quickly after that figure and it turns out the figure somehow led them to the deepest part of the mine. At the end of the mine, there was a big area there. When Koshin and Koyuki arrived there, they were shocked because those captives that Koshō and Kosei reported before, were indeed here. It was just the view was so horrible. Each of the young boys and girls were put inside a barrel that hung in the mid-air and their blood was sucked out. Beneath there was a big pool in the middle that collected their blood. Surely, Koshin and Koyuki saw that they were very sad and angry at the same time. What the masked men did was very inhuman. How can they be so cruel to do this to innocent young people? Turns out, the blood of those young people were one of the essences to make the pill. Afterwards, the figure that led them here, showed up from behind. Koshin and Koyuki looking at that figure with curious looks.

Koshin: “Is that you?? Second bro??”

The figure didn't say anything at all and later, he slowly took off his mask. Koshin and Koyuki were indeed surprised to see that figure as they suspected it was correct.

Koten: “What are you guys doing here??”

Koyuki: “We came to look for you… and also investigate this place…”

Koten: “Huh?? Are you guys tired of living?? Can't you see how dangerous this place is…”

Koshin: “We knew… That's why we came here, to bring you home, bro…”

Koten: “Home?? I don't have any other place to go anymore…”

Koyuki: “What are you talking about, bro?? everyone waiting for you at home, at Unkensō…”

Koten: “No, I can't… You both didn't see what happened last time to my body??”

Koshin: “Yes, we knew… I was there too, bro. remembered?? Now come with us, and we will find a way to treat your problem… right, sis??” (talk to Koyuki),

Koyuki: “That's right… Come on, bro. Come with us…”

Koten: “No, you don't understand… I have become part of evil, and I can’t leave…”

Suddenly they hear the sound of men shouting from a distance. It seems like those masked men heard three of them talking here. Koten quickly adapted to the situation as he dashed toward and attacked Koshin and Koyuki after putting on his mask. Certainly, they both were so surprised.

Koshin: “What are you doing, bro??”

Koten: “Listen, no time to explain now... (speak in a lower voice), take this… (sneak a letter to Koshin), you guys will understand. Now, go…!!!”

Then Koten kept attacking both of them by pushing them backward as he was somehow leading them to somewhere. Eventually, there is a secret passage door behind Koshin and Koyuki.