Hunting: Memories (I Transmigrated as a Memory Hunter)

Arc 1: Kumoshima Part 11

CHAPTER 11

Startled by the sudden voice notification, Nephrite almost let out a small yelp. He clenched his teeth to suppress it then looked around with his eyes. Apart from Shier, no one else noticed his reaction.

Cheeks flushed, he coughs twice to hide his embarrassment.

Why did Professor Ram have to use his own voice for it? Nephrite complained to himself. But, this is the first time I gained a progress notification.

The virtual panel only shows the plot and the contract with the vessel's request.

Keisuke's request still has no progress bar until now.

Professor Ram said the panel will show a progress bar. But the moment he arrived, the supposed to be Progress Bar was grayed out.

There are no detailed plots provided so he never checked the virtual panel that much. He based on the other events from Keisuke's memory to determine which things will happen next. He almost missed Keichi and Aijin's kidn*pping incident because of it.

It turns out the progress bar needs to be triggered first.

He glanced at Kazuyuki and wondered if he also had a similar notification. However, apart from the frown on his forehead as he looked at Chunan, he doesn't have any weird reaction.

Was Xei really inside him or did he make a wrong assumption?

But if not, then where was the real Xei?

"...Young Master Keisuke!"

Nephrite looked at Shier, wide-eyed.

"Young master, why are you spacing out there?"

"Sorry. I guess I am a bit tired."

Shier hooked his arms on him, "We are going out of here now. Master Yukiya arrived."

That's when he noticed a half-kneeling man wearing light armor* with Hawk in the middle, the crest of Miyazuya Clan. When the person confirmed that they were ready to go out of the cave, he stood up, bowed. Walking ahead of them, it is a cue for them to follow.

The place they were in right now was still part of the cave. It was like an underground hideaway for smiths. Hanging metal chains dangling overhead, swords, ax, spear's blade, and other undone metal works were found in the cave as well. It is obvious that they were making war supplies.

Why did they build the jail bars from wood, though? Nephrite thought.

The cave wasn't deep and they could still feel the wind from the entrance. However, the scent of air has a faint stink, probably because of bat dungs.It is mixed with the scent of earth and fire from the multiple forges they passed by.

Nephrite worriedly looked at Kuro, thinking about the latter's sensitive sense of smell.

Kuro sensed him looking so he turned to Nephrite. He seems fine at all. "Young Master?" He asked, his tone inquiring.

Nephrite waved his hand. "It's nothing, I thought you looked bothered by the smell of this cave.

"Natural scent. I don't mind if the scent is part of nature."

Yet, he suddenly paused and sniffed while looking around. "Shit."

The others noticed his panic, "What is it?" Kazuyuki asked.

Kuro signaled to one of the guards and handed Yattsu first before he answered. "Young Master, there are probably more exit paths here than we thought. Let me leave right now, I will check if someone escaped." He said that and quickly left without waiting for a reply.

Kazuyuki instructed two of their men to follow.

Chunan moved to follow but Nephrite stopped him. "There are other matters for you to deal with. Let us go for now. Trust Kuro on this."

___________________

"These are enough evidence to prove treason but we must find more for the others involved. They could be tortured but they still can deny, after all. The Minister of the Left holds high power. If he decided to help his relative and cleaned the other evidence, it would be troublesome. I already sent a message to the Minister of the RIght. We could only hope he can make movements as soon as possible."

Master Yukiya shifted from one scroll to another as he explained this.

"Those chains we confiscated are all made here. Most of the chains used for weapon-making and detaining prisoners are only found in the capital and those are even few in numbers. Not to mention the rest of the weapons and armors, just seeing these chains can make the Emperor vomit blood. How can they mass produce those?!"

Nephrite listened carefully. Since the memory fragment quest involves Shuijing and Chunan, he must pay attention to their situation. He was still not sure if they could actually leave the world once the mission is over with Xei's amnesia, it was still better to do what he can as soon as possible.

They are currently in one of the "rooms" in the cave. After they settled their captives and put to sleep using one of Shier's medicines, they surveyed the cave and found some man-made tunnels. They checked if it leads to secret passages but they only found some empty rooms with straw mats. This turns out to be a hidden room that contains records of transactions.

"Master Yukiya, but why would they set up a storage like this here?" Nephrite can't help but ask. He learned earlier that this place is still part of the Silver Rain territory. And though the location of the cave is not easy to find and also isn't a part of the patrol route, it is still possible someone came to it by chance.

Just then, a commotion can be heard from the main path of the cave.

Chunan first rushed out and the rest followed.

They found Kuro and the two guards brawling with a man.

Nephrite and the others are still far away but they can see that Kuro's state doesn't look good. His left arm has a bleeding wound and burn wound, too. As if someone threw burning charcoal blocks on him and he shielded himself using his arm.

The two guards are in better shape but they've got bruises and bleeding lips.

The man is struggling from Kuro's arm lock, kicking anyone within reach. Kuro seems to have received a headbutt earlier as his forehead has a bruise, too. Dried blood marks were left below his nose.

The man kept spouting vulgarities, anger visible in every uttered word. His eyes filled with despair. Though he sustained injuries from fighting the three, he is enduring it quite well.

"You f*cking trash! You dared suppress us! You think we won't retaliate after what you've done?!" The man shouted, his voice hoarse and rough as if his throat was about to bleed. His eyes were red from sadness... and despair.

Kuro then noticed their approach, "Young Master!"

The man took the chance. He swung his left leg and hooked it on Kuro's own leg then put his weight on his body and pushed Kuro with his back. It all happened fast and Kuro did not have enough time to react. They felt the gravity pulling their body towards the earth.

Just then, Kuro felt someone supporting his back.

Chunan sighed in relief. He managed to jump in time. He pushed him back up and steadied him with one arm, while his other hand gripped the man's shoulder. He noticed a large, rough protrusion of rock on the ground nearby. He gritted his teeth.

"Thanks," Kuro said. Chunan only nodded at him. He was planning to berate the man when he saw the other's face clearly. The man's eyes were also fixed on him. Chunan stood there, stunned.

It was the man who first reacted, "Prince Zhuangjin!"