Chapter 425 - HOLDING ON TO A PROMISE (1/2)

When breakfast was over, Akira went to look for the Chief while her old team members returned to their rooms. Each of them had their thoughts on Akira after their short interaction. It was impossible not to think of her because she was always a small but undefeatable figure.

Now, she had fallen from the glorious pedestal everyone had put her. Some of the team members felt sorry for her, while others felt pleased with her downfall. They all knew that changes were inevitable, and their world was not a simple one.​​

It was a dog-eat-dog world.

One of the team members used their phone to log onto an untraceable website as soon as they stepped into their simple room. The person was a little anxious, the hands trembling a little. However, the face remained calm as they checked the messages in their dashboard.

The person, who had transferred a lot of money for the full information on Akira, had sent a new message. Their last interaction was about kidnapping Akira and sending her to Europe.

[I understand the price cannot be too low. I am willing to pay the required amount if you can guarantee that the girl will be brought to me.]

The person smiled a little. Did this client still not understand that Akira was not a stupid girl? Did they think she was a sack of potatoes?

[Transporting her is not possible at this time. She is under secure watch. Consider your options for travel. If you come to Japan, I can guarantee contact.]

The person thought for a moment. The client seemed like they did not have the flexibility of movement. They were probably under surveillance or in a situation that disallowed international travel, or they would not request for Akira to be transported to Europe.

The smile widened.

[Alternatively, I can organise a special hunt. I think it will satisfy your requirements without personal contact. Ask for more details if interested.]

The other party did not seem to be online, so the individual in the Immortal Sword Valley logged out of the website. They were not afraid their client would choose anyone else for the task. It would not be easy for anyone to get a hold of Akira.

In another part of the valley, Akira was sitting in front of the Chief like a schoolgirl caught misbehaving. She felt distressed because she held the Chief in high regard in her heart. He was a big part of the creation of the person she was.

”I won't scold you.” The Chief sighed. ”I do not understand your decision, but I will not disapprove. I think it is too late for that. But I want you to live a good life. Are you sure that this Kaito is your future?”

The man looked at the young woman he had trained for years and felt a deep sense of loss. He always thought that he would be able to keep her in the valley, and she would take over from him someday. But he realised that she was not interested in the lifestyle.

She was a good samurai and agent and could take down the most vicious criminals. However, her heart had never been with being a hero of justice. She had a different vision for her future which involved mundane things like music, art and food.

She was a helpless child.

He had always wondered if he should have taken her back to her parents in Mountain Ridge. Of course, he also did not have the right to send her back. The woman who brought Akira to the valley seemed to know some higher-ups above himself.

He was instructed to provide adequate training and turn her into a fine samurai. He was not allowed to give her information about her former family, but he was not to stop her if she gained the ability to learn the details herself.

He was glad he had not tried to act like a hero and fight to return the little girl to Mountain Ridge.

Yes, she might have lived a rich girl's life with the Yamazaki family. But she would have been raised around people with dark hearts and hidden intentions. And who knows if she would have survived? If someone was willing to sell her off once, what would stop them from doing it again?

”I am sure, Chief. I will not regret my decision.” Akira said firmly.

She remembered the promise she and Kaito made to one another. She would believe in him, and he would believe in her. She was the kind of person who would always live herself an exit strategy in case things went wrong.

However, she had gone all-in with Kaito despite knowing his background. She would never abandon her. And she would not believe that he abandoned her.

The Chief sighed. ”I thought you would say that.”

”Will you help me find him?” She asked with a bit of dependency.

”I have already looked into the recent happenings in the Shadow Brotherhood. It seems that Kaito gave up his management rights of the Shadow Brotherhood to his second-in-command a few weeks ago. The current head of the operations is Ayumi.” The Chief explained.