Chapter 175 - Shinobi? (3) (1/2)

”There's people tailing us.” Lenny approached John from behind and whispered on his ears.

John stopped for a moment and sent a quick glance over Lenny before walking again, ”They are probably curious over Saito.” John said in a low voice so that only Lenny could hear.

”Maybe.” Lenny said, ”But, don't you think it is strange that the Miniknog attack the ISU space station while targeting Saito? I mean, Miniknog and Letheia has some non-official alliance, why would they attack a family that control a rather large part of the corporation?”

John heard Lenny's words and thought about it.

It was indeed strange.

Miniknog probably wouldn't want to mess around with of the three powerful Hylotl clans unless...

[They were working with one the other two clans.] When John reached this conclusion, his face immediately changed. He glanced over Lenny and saw the latter nodding at him. Both of them reached the same conclusion.

John finally realized that they were in danger as long as they stayed in territory Letheia have influence.

”Stay sharp.” John whispered to Lenny, ”We'll act normally while we hurry towards Ark Outpost. I don't think they will act with so many witnesses there.”

Lenny nodded and looked towards Peri.

Peri nodded to him and both of them changed their position and stayed near Forge while shielding Saito from both sides.

...

With a flash of light, John and his group landed on the planet.

They curiously looked around after they recovered their vision and stared at the towering skyscr.a.p.ers and giant buildings that reached far in the sky.

John tried to move and soon found out that the gravity on the planet was relatively stronger than in Earth, about 10% stronger.

”Urgh...”

Unsurprisingly, Lenny was once again in the ground.

John rolled his eyes and helped Lenny once again.

Lenny was soon pierced by glares of despise.

After that, they started to walk down the sidewalk and watch the advanced city filled with Hylotl everywhere.

John's group surely caught their attention, as they were a ragtag group of different races, including a Novakid.

But they were the center of attention mainly because of Peri.

John could feel those stares and hear the sneering and whispers of the Hylotls around them.

As he was worried about the people tailing them, John got his group to hurry towards the Ancient Gateway.

...

As they got closer to the gray building in the middle of the city, John could see the streets getting empty as there was less common people walking around and more soldiers that often patrol the streets.

The group was stopped a few times by those patrols and questioned, they were only released once they showed their Ark Outpost ID and the permission they received from the spaceport they docked the spaceship.

John was walking while lost on his thoughts. He was wondering why it seemed that the atmosphere in this part of the city was strange.

*Whoosh*

”John!” John only heard Peri's shout and he was pulled backwards by something.

*Clang*

*Blam*

He immediately fell on the ground.

*Bang*

A gunshot could be heard from behind him.

John looked at the source and saw that Lenny had drawn his revolver and shot at a black blur that vanished as soon as Lenny shot it.

”What happened!?” John stood up and retrieved the assault rifle from his back. He cautiously scanned his surroundings.

”I don't know.” Peri said before glancing at John, more specifically John's neck.

”What?” John looked down, but saw nothing.

Soon he felt something strange and reached his hand towards his neck.

As soon as his hand touched his skin, he felt blood dripping from a small wound that he didn't have any idea how it appeared.