Chapter 64 - Bounty Head and Awakening [7] (1/2)

64. Bounty Head and Awakening [7]

After getting the information I was seeking, I went back to the main entrance where Rose and Leia-sensei were waiting.

「Ah, Allen! How did it go!?」

「Did that bloody fox do anything to you!?」

「Rize-san was a very nice person after all! Here, look at this map! It seems that their laboratory is at this red dot!」

When I unfolded the map that Rize-san gave to me, they had a smile on their faces.

「We did it… Now we can go to help Ria…!」

「I didn’t think you could really draw out information from that Rize… Well done, Allen!」

After that, sensei stared at the red dot on the map,

「Fumu, it’s about 15 minutes from here… But was there really a laboratory in that forest?」

She tilted her head, and murmured with a complicated expression.

「Anyway, let’s just go and see. At present, this is our only clue.」

「Certainly, Allen is right… Yoshi, let’s go!」

「「Yes!」」

After that, we passed through『God Street』and advanced west and further west.

The road became more and more steep, and it led into a dense forest.

And running continuously for 10 minutes,

「…It’s here.」

Sensei, who was holding the map in one hand, stopped suddenly.

「Is this the place…?」

「There are… no such buildings…」

I and Rose surveyed the surroundings.

As sensei had said before we left, it was really just a forest.

Lush, tall trees obscured the sky, and the sound of a huge waterfall nearby.

There was no trace of human footprint, let alone an unnatural building.

『Natural』scenery spread in every direction.

(N-No way… A miss…?)

Cold sweat flowed down my spine, and the worst thought crossed my mind.

And then,

「As expected of Rize’s information network… It’s bullseye.」

Sensei said so with a mixed expression – half joy and half frustration.

And she began to walk towards the huge waterfall in front of us.

「S-Sensei…」

「Where are you going…」

When I and Rose said that,

「No Sword Style – Sever!」

She suddenly unleashed a powerful True Fist towards the waterfall.

The next moment.

The huge waterfall shattered, and an old laboratory appeared there.

「「Wha!?」」

I and Rose stared in wonder at the laboratory that appeared so suddenly.

「It’s a powerful perception obstruction ability. It is probably the work of the Conjuror Thor Sammons. Even I was unable to sense it without getting this close… It’s a very advanced barrier…」

After praising Thor, sensei cracked her knuckles, and put on a warlike smile.

「Judging from the deployment of the barrier, they are undoubtedly here! Let’s go!」

「「Yes! 」」

Then, we rushed into the laboratory with Leia-sensei at the lead.

■

Ria, who was defeated by Zack Bomber, a member of the Black Organization, woke up at the lowest level of the laboratory.

「Where am I…?」

When she tried to move her body through her hazy consciousness.

「……」

A dull pain ran through both wrists.

She found her hands were bound by chains connected to the ceiling.

Both her feet were fitted with heavy chains, rendering her completely unable to move.

And then,

「Zahaha, so you’ve woken up! You have a surprisingly strong body, Ria Vesteria!」

「…Oi, little girl. I’m still keeping you alive, so don’t get any strange ideas, alright?」

Zack and Thor, who noticed Ria’s waking up, studied her expression from the back of the room.

「…Zack Bomber!?」

Ria, recalling the bitter defeat at his hands, distorted her face in anger and frustration.

Her hands and feet were sealed, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

「…Do you have the hobby of chaining up teenage girls? You’re a pervert, aren’t you?」

She threw such snide as the least form of resistance.

And then,

「Zahaha! You’re quite the strong-natured girl to still be able to talk like that in this situation!」

「…Ha! You can’t be saved from being called a pervert with that big frame right, Zack?」

Zack laughed happily, and Thor rode with it.

From the current exchange, Ria judged that she wouldn’t be killed at this place.

「What is your purpose? What on earth did you kidnap me for?」