The path to truth (2)

As Saé observed Bun's rounded contours, she felt a growing sense of unease rising within her. The extra weight he carried was not simply a physical change; she saw it as a sign of deeper emotional distress. Before she could formulate her thoughts, Edano, with his pragmatic efficiency, interrupted her reflections.

"This is not the time to think about that, Saé," he said abruptly, his tone betraying his impatience. "We have puzzles to solve, lives to save. Let's focus on the essentials."

But Saé, always perceptive and attentive to detail, couldn't simply dismiss what she had just noticed. She knew the signs of depression, having studied and observed human behavior in depth thanks to her mastery of observation. She turned to Edano, her gaze determined.

"Listen to me, Edano," she insisted softly but firmly. "Rapid weight gain can be a sign of depression. It's often a response to stress and anxiety. People eat to fill an emotional void, to comfort themselves when they're overwhelmed by sadness or anxiety. Bun could be suffering in silence, and we need to be aware of that. It's not something we can just ignore."

Edano, however, didn't seem convinced. He shook his head with slight exasperation. "We don't have the luxury of dwelling on personal issues right now, Saé. Every second counts. We need to focus on survival."

But Saé wasn't willing to give up. She looked at Bun, still standing back, trying to make himself inconspicuous. She felt a wave of compassion for him. "Edano, if we don't take care of our team, if we ignore the signs of suffering in our friends, we lose more than lives. We lose our humanity."

Edano, despite his apparent indifference, knew deep down that Saé was right. However, the weight of responsibility and the pressure of their situation prevented him from focusing on anything other than the immediate goal. He finally sighed, a tacit compromise. "All right, Saé. Do what you can for him. But don't lose sight of our priority."

Saé nodded, knowing she had to find a balance between her concerns for Bun and the demands of their quest. She walked over to Bun, determined to talk to him more, to offer silent but constant support. She knew that in this cruel and unforgiving world, true strength lay in their ability to remain united, to support each other even in the darkest moments.

Then Ono spoke, his voice resonating with an almost hypnotic assurance. He stood tall, a slight smile on his lips, his eyes shining with unshakeable conviction.

"Maestria persuasion..."

"Listen to me, everyone," he declared, his voice carrying through the tense air. "I have found the way. Follow me, and we will get out of this labyrinth. It is the only safe path."

He used his mastery of persuasion, and the words that came out of his mouth seemed to be wrapped in an undeniable charm. His words were like honey, sweet and convincing, instilling unwavering confidence in the hearts of the survivors. Little by little, the suspicious looks turned into expressions of hope and gratitude. The people, desperate and lost, clung to his words as if they were a lifeline.

"We must act together, as a united group," Ono continued. "It's our only chance of survival. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

The survivors were easily swayed by his words, their fear and uncertainty dispelled by Ono's apparent certainty. They began to gather around him, whispering among themselves about how he seemed to be a true savior.

However, a few remained behind. Bun, Sae, Edano, Ryo, Ishikawa, and Kaisho watched the scene with skepticism. Sae, while recognizing Ono's mastery of persuasion, couldn't help but feel an instinctive distrust. She remembered his past manipulations and knew that his charisma could be deceptive.

Ryo Kanjo, in particular, seemed completely impervious to Ono's influence. He stood apart, arms crossed, his expression impassive. He had never been the type to be manipulated, let alone by someone like Ono. His gaze was fixed on a distant point, already busy plotting his own way out of this maze.

"You can all do whatever you want," Ryo declared in a firm, detached voice. "But I'm going to find my own way out. I won't blindly follow someone who claims to know everything."

Edano nodded, sharing Ryo's sentiment. "We must be cautious," he said quietly, addressing Saé and the others. "Ono is skilled at manipulating people, but that doesn't mean he's right."

The others nodded in agreement, sharing the same mistrust. They instinctively moved closer together, forming a small group of dissidents facing the crowd manipulated by Ono. They knew they had to remain vigilant and rely on their own judgment to navigate this maze.

As the survivors seduced by Ono began to follow him, convinced they had found their savior, Saé and her group stayed behind, their minds focused on solving this puzzle without getting carried away by manipulation. The tension was palpable, but they were determined to stay united and find their own way, whatever the cost.

Bun, still standing back, watched the movements of the other survivors. His scrutinizing gaze fell on a small group who, like them, did not seem to be influenced by Ono's honeyed words. He frowned, intrigued.

The group in question consisted of five people: four men and one woman, all middle-aged, around twenty-five to thirty years old. They had a mysterious air about them, and their clothing and attitudes stood out from the other survivors. One of the men, tall and athletic, wore a black leather jacket that contrasted with his serious and focused demeanor. Another, shorter but equally imposing, had bright blue spiky hair, a detail that attracted attention. The woman, with her curly red hair, wore glasses and had a determined look about her, her eyes scanning the surroundings with constant vigilance. The other two men, one with a neatly trimmed beard and the other sporting a distinctive scar on his left cheek, completed this group with their obviously carefully crafted appearance.

Bun watched them closely. "They weren't influenced by Ono either," he muttered, more to himself than to the others.

Saé, standing next to him, noticed his fixed gaze and followed his line of sight. "What did you notice, Bun?" she asked softly.

Bun shrugged, but his eyes remained fixed on the group. "Look at them. They seem... different. More polished. As if they were destined to play a more important role. They're not secondary characters. They don't let themselves be manipulated by Ono, which means they probably have their own path and their own importance."

Edano, hearing this, glanced at the mysterious group. "Do you think they could be allies? Or competitors?"

"I don't know yet," Bun replied, his thoughts racing. "But I think they could be important going forward. They see something that most others don't, just like us."

Ishikawa, who had remained silent until then, nodded. "It's clear that they're not like the others. We need to keep an eye on them, but for now, let's stay focused on our own path."

The woman in the mysterious group then caught Bun's eye. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Bun felt a strange sense of recognition. It was as if they shared a secret, an implicit knowledge that the others were unaware of. She nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, before turning back to talk with her companions.

Saé, noticing the exchange, placed a comforting hand on Bun's shoulder. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. You have good instincts, Bun. Let's make sure we stay united and vigilant."

Bun nodded, feeling a little less isolated. Despite his depression, he knew he could rely on his observation and reflection to anticipate future actions. And his intuition told him that this mysterious group would play a crucial role in the trials to come.

Bun, sensing that something was about to happen, asked his group to split up and go their separate ways to find a solution to the puzzle. "Edano, Ishikawa, Saé, go in different directions. If any of us find anything, we'll communicate telepathically."

Ishikawa nodded. "Okay, Bun. We'll use our telepathic link to keep each other informed."

The group nodded and dispersed. Saé, however, lingered behind for a moment, her gaze drawn to the mysterious group of five people. She noticed that their eyes were fixed on Bun in a strange way, almost as if they were trying to pierce an invisible secret.

Intrigued and slightly concerned, Saé approached them. "Excuse me," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I can't help but notice that you're looking at my friend Bun in a... strange way. May I ask why?"

The woman with curly red hair, who seemed to be the leader of the group, turned to Saé. "We don't mean to worry you," she replied in a soft but confident voice. "It's just that your friend Bun has a special aura. He seems to perceive things that others don't see. It's intriguing."

Saé raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

One of the men, the one with spiky blue hair, spoke up. "We've noticed that he has a very keen observational ability. He saw through Ono's illusions and wasn't influenced by his words. That's rare."

Saé looked at the group with a new perspective. "You think he can help us solve the mystery?"

The woman nodded. "Perhaps. But more than that, we think he could play a crucial role in what's to come. We're not here by chance, and I don't think you are either."

Saé felt slightly comforted by their words. "We're all in this together," she said finally. "If we can help each other, we should. But for now, we must each follow our own path to solve this mystery."

The man with the scar on his cheek then stepped forward. "We understand. But know that we will be here, watching and intervening if necessary. This maze is more than just a test; it is about discovering hidden truths. And sometimes, truths require unexpected allies."

Saé nodded, sensing a strange alliance forming. "Thank you," she said before turning and setting off in search of clues. She felt that this mystery was only the beginning of something much larger and more complex. And with Bun, Edano, Ishikawa, and perhaps even this mysterious group at her side, she felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.

One member of the group of five, a man with black hair pulled back, turned his head toward his teammates and asked contemptuously, "Who was that girl?"

Another member, a man with glasses and a neatly trimmed beard, shrugged. "Not important to the lore," he replied curtly. "She seems naive. Probably just a follower. We have more important things to do than worry about her questions."

The woman with curly red hair, who appeared to be the leader of the group, nodded. "Let's focus on our goal. This labyrinth hides much more than meets the eye. We must remain vigilant."

As they exchanged these words, Ryo, who was watching the scene from afar, narrowed his eyes. He could sense that this group was hiding something, and their attitude toward Sae made him suspicious. He straightened up, determined to find the solution to the puzzle himself.

"I don't need to trust these strangers," he muttered to himself. "I'll find the way out on my own."

He turned away and began exploring the maze with renewed determination, ready to unravel the mystery of the "secret puzzle" without the help of others.

The five members of the group, however, continued to whisper among themselves, glancing furtively around as if afraid of being overheard. Their behavior was clearly suspicious, and it was obvious that they were not to be trusted. They seemed to have a hidden agenda, and anyone who got too close to their secrets was likely to find themselves in danger.

Saé, meanwhile, moved cautiously forward, her mind still preoccupied with the recent interaction. She knew Bun was right to be wary, and she couldn't ignore the growing feeling that these five individuals were playing a dangerous game. The maze was treacherous enough without having to worry about potential betrayals from other survivors.

She remained on guard, determined to protect her friends and find the solution to the puzzle before the mysterious group's intentions became clear.