Chapter 143

"The vehicles are ready sir!" Kurai told Mr Oshiro when they were outside his office.

The discussion between the two men continued until Kurai let out a chuckle when Mr Oshiro pointed out the newly arrived vehicle's legitimacy. Information about the recent battle in Tokyo and the perpetrator of the deceiving Embargo office reached headquarters fast.

Kurai found the story entertaining and it gave him the motivation to keep up with the updates and movements regarding their deployment to Rome.

"You seem enthusiastic about this whole thing but might I warn you the situation in Rome isn't going to be an easy one to deal with." Mr Oshiro warned Kurai with a hint of humor to keep the green-haired man calm.

"Our enemies aren't some crazy wild animals, they're supernatural. Oh and when you're in Rome, remember to keep your mouth shut because a public freakout certainly won't help."

"Oh don't worry about that. I always keep my mouth shut!" Kurai laughed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

Mr Oshiro narrowed his eyes at Kurai who was standing in front of him. "Right..." He didn't believe the man. Though this facade that Kurai had on display was off putting at times, Mr Oshiro was still glad that he made out alive during the mission at Twin Island. Quite a number of their comrades had perished and it seemed to have affected Kurai and the others. They never dared talk about those incidents.

"We'll arrive this week so get your bags ready."

Spinning his head erratically, Kurai gave Mr Oshiro a blank stare. He shouldn't be standing around here and putting up a smile laced with lies. Mr Oshiro expected the team to be discussing about their strategies and plans once they get there and after. Kurai didn't hesitate to rush down the hallway towards the room where his comrades had gathered.

~~~

When Douma spotted a vastly green hill miles away from where he flew, the angel slowed down and dived towards the area which must be his destination.

Although he was better off waiting for Atlas so he'd know where to look for the team, Douma would rather find Ryukushu and the rest of the Sagi-shi in case something terrible happens before they even get to the area on time. The vicious samurai will stop at nothing to deter them from getting to where he was.

Douma glided along the trees and landed on the grass of the hill. He walked over to the cliff and saw the town from where he was standing.

The angel had left Japan the night he met up with Shinobu, he couldn't help but worry about the girl, she was dragged into this mess without her knowing. The situation which involved the three gladiators' weapons had nothing to do with her but whilst this whole thing, Chaos will continue finding his host, even if it means eliminating them in the process.

Taking a deep breath, Douma looked around for some comfort within this scenic spot. Seeking some reassurance from the bright sky. He was going to put an end to Ryukushu's plan and after that, he will make sure Chaos regrets coming to the human world.

"Atlas should be on their way by now." Douma walked down the slope towards the town. The trail on the even ground he stepped on after passing a few trees and bushes led to the first part of what looked to be a plaza.

Douma continued making his way towards the spacious center of the plaza so he can decide where to head to from here in order reach the colosseum on time before Ryukushu gets there. Even if the samurai was already there the awakening of this power he sought for would take a while to come into effect.

Regardless, Douma had to hurry, which is why he quickened his pace when he came across a river and several restaurants and galleries where crowds of people were gathering.

The river was a crystal-clear blue. Watching the stream left a smile on Douma's face. It was calming to look at it even during times like this when he really needed a break from these chaotic events.

"A trip to Italy would be nice, don't you think so, Shinobu?" If only the violette could come along. Douma would be glad to show Shinobu around, even though this was his first time in Italy and they'd probably end up running around in circles in the same location because of his carefree enthusiasm.

Street performers at the side of the path loudened the music they were playing when they saw Douma running towards their direction. The angel saw the main area of the plaza and slowed when he saw large groups of people standing around, especially near the fountain right in the center of the spacious location.

A flock of birds flew over the immaculate buildings surrounding the plaza while people walked over to the stores and booths on both sides. Some of them sat on the chairs and watched others looking at the fountain and taking pictures with it.

Douma heard several couples and families talking about the pile of coins that one of the statues were sitting on. When he was about to take a closer look at the fountain a voice called out to him.

"Hello there! Welcome to Piazza Navona! Are you here all by yourself?" A man in a suit was standing beside him with his hands at his back.

Douma spun around and saw the person who welcomed him to this place. He wore a suit that matched the other group of men setting up a couple of camera stands and equipment.

"Yes that's right." The angel responded, observing the group of people behind the man getting their stuff ready for some sort of talk or presentation. It was likely that this man was a part of their team, Douma wondered if they wanted him to participate in this event of theirs. That would be interesting considering the fact he just got here.

"Alright! I'll share with you the wonders and extravagance of Italy so you won't miss out on anything during your time here!" The man said boisterously. "I can't leave a visitor all by himself if he doesn't know anything about the famous Galleria Borghese or Pantheon which houses spectacular innovations from ancient times!"

Douma listened to the man, he seemed to have a lot to share.

"Here in Italy we're known for our excellent cuisines, art, heritage, and scenery! I highly recommend stopping by Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea to have a feel of our strong heritage." The man's gestures aligned with the tone of his words and expressions.

"Your adverse exploration has led to a discovery here in Piazza Navona, a city that used to be a stadium during the time of the Western Roman Empire's rule. It's still an honorable site to this day, the same goes to the fountain of the four rivers right here. An influential form of architecture, where each river represents a continent. Marvelous isn't it? I certainly agree."

The couples of families standing around the fountain started walking to the booths at the side. Giving them space, the man stepped to the side and continued where he left off. Douma wanted to ask him about the whereabouts but the man was persistent with his speech.

"Take note of this, it's very helpful advice, make sure you visit the colosseum! It's an important site that you wouldn't want to miss! I can't stress this enough."

Douma's awareness heightened when he heard the man's words. Oh right I should ask him about getting there and the three gladiators' weapons. I'm sure he can give me some details.

"The colosseum, how far is it from here?"

"Oh you've got plenty of time! Around twenty minutes!"

When the man was about to move on to the next phase of his sharing, Douma asked him the next important question.

"Can you tell me more about the three gladiators who fought in the colosseum?"

The man scratched the back of his head, puzzled by Douma's question. From his expression, the blonde could tell this question rarely surfaced despite the three gladiators being a significant part of the history of the colosseum's battles.

"Well it seems I got to have my head wrapped up around these stories for me to remember them clearly. The three gladiators- the pieces are all vague now."

"It's alright." Douma replied, he didn't want the man to pressurize himself over a source of information that appeared to be vague during this present day.

"You can always find out more about it at Trastevere which is right beside the colosseum. With the ancient findings there you'll find something useful for your research." The man added.

Great! So it's just right around the corner! Douma looked at the path that the man was pointing at. While he thought about where Atlas would probably meet him, a strong fragrance from one of the stalls caught his attention. It smelled like sweet desserts.

The man glanced at his group and gave them a thumbs up when he saw the setup completed.

"Look out for our commercial in the next few hours son. It'll act as a travel guide during your time here. Oh and that delightful smell is from those Bomboloni over there." With a grin, the man watched people gathering at the stall.

"Try it son. It's an authentic trademark of ours. Travelers have got to give these desserts a try while they're here."

"Yeah alright. I'll have a bite. This is a good start. Thanks." Douma said cheerfully.

"No problem have a great trip!" The man waved.

Waving back, Douma ran over to the stall selling those desserts and stared at the round freshly baked balls of dough coated with sugar on display.

Instinctively, the blonde looked up and saw a long line of people waiting to get their hands on those Bomboloni. As much as he didn't want to stand around for too long, Douma had no choice but to join the line. He dragged his feet to stand behind the supposed last person of the line.

"It doesn't really matter. I should make this trip worth it even though standing here is making me impatient!" Douma tried to calm himself down with these optimistic thoughts. While waiting, he recalled everything the man said about the city beside the colosseum and heading to that next destination of his.