CHAPTER 27- The Rescue Begins

Meanwhile, Hataki was explaining the plan to the younger squad members when he suddenly paused, his brow furrowing.

"Where's Yoto?" he asked, scanning the group.

Yushin responded immediately, "He's still in his room, Sensei."

Hataki's stern expression softened slightly, a sigh escaping his lips. Without another word, he turned and walked towards Yoto's door. Stopping before it, he knocked gently, his voice low yet firm.

"Yoto, we're setting sail for Sirocaan Nation. We're going to bring Hayato back. And… I'm sorry for earlier."

Silence. No response from inside.

Yoto sat on the floor, his emotions swirling frustration, uncertainty, and a lingering sense of powerlessness. He clenched his fists, his gaze fixated on the wooden planks beneath him, the weight of everything pressing on his shoulders.

That night, as the ship silently coursed through the waters toward Sirocaan Nation, Yoto slipped out of his room. The deck was deserted, bathed in the pale glow of the moonlight. He stepped forward, resting his hands on the railing, eyes locked onto the horizon.

"I won't be weak anymore," he murmured to himself. "I will show everyone how strong I've become… and I will bring him back. Just wait for us, Hayato."

From atop the ship's mast, Kaito observed him quietly. Leaning against the wooden beam, he exhaled, a nostalgic smile forming on his lips.

"That kind of attitude…" he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Hah… It brings back memories. Your son is just as stubborn as you were, you know that, right?"

The ship, continued its steady course towards Sirocaan Nation. Everyone aboard was ready to face whatever awaited them in their mission to rescue Hayato.

As dawn broke, Hataki stood on the deck, eyes scanning the distant silhouette of the mainland. The sound of approaching footsteps made him turn slightly.

"Sensei…" Akemi's voice was unusually dull, almost hesitant.

Hataki glanced at her, then, with a small smile, gently patted her head. "What is it, Akemi?"

She hesitated before speaking. "Sensei… what if Hayato doesn't want to come back?"

Hataki's expression grew serious. "Why do you think that?"

Akemi bit her lip. "Yesterday, at the meeting… we saw the news. Hayato was declared the prince of Sirocaan and will be crowned king soon, right? I… I saw him waving at the people, smiling. If he was truly being forced… why would he smile like that?"

Her voice wavered, and without warning, tears welled in her eyes. "Sensei… what if he's happy there?"

Hataki let out a slow breath, gently patting her head again. His voice was calm and reassuring. "Listen, Akemi. That's why we need to ask him in person. I raised you all for fifteen years, and now he's left us to become a king. There are too many unanswered questions. We need to hear it from him."

"But…" Akemi's voice cracked, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. "What if he says he doesn't want to come back?"

Hataki's smile was faint but unwavering. "Then we will let him be king. But I see things differently. Don't overthink it. Stay focused we'll talk to him soon."

Akemi sniffled, nodding slowly as Hataki sent her back to rest. Unbeknownst to them, Eiji had been listening from the doorway. His fingers curled into a fist as he processed what he had just heard.

"I've never seen Akemi cry…" he whispered to himself. "She's always been so serious, no matter the situation."

A sudden realization struck him. His stomach twisted. "Does… does she love Hayato?"

A cold weight settled in his chest as he slowly walked away, his thoughts spiraling. "If Akemi loves Hayato… then what about me?"

"Everyone, prepare to disembark! We're close to Sirocaan Nation!" Ginrou's voice rang through the ship's announcement hall.

Eiji's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oye, oye, oye! What do you mean 'disembark'? We're still far from the shore!"

Hataki stepped forward, addressing the crew. "We're going to swim from here. If we get any closer, they might detect us. Stay focused."

Yoto, Akemi, and Yushin responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Eiji, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic. "Oye, oye! It's too far! I can't swim that distance!"

Before he could protest further, Akemi suddenly leapt into the water without hesitation.

"What...SHE JUMPED?!" Eiji shouted, eyes wide in disbelief. "Akemi just JUMPED"

Yoto smirked, stepping beside him. "Don't worry. I'll help you."

Before Eiji could react, Yoto gave him a slight push. His arms flailed wildly. "Aaaaah! I'm losing balance hang tight, hang tight BALANCE, BALANCE"

His foot slipped, and he tumbled into the sea with a loud splash.

The group reached the shore safely. As they caught their breath, Ginrou checked on everyone. "Is everyone alright?"

Eiji lay face-down in the sand, panting. "I almost drowned… If it wasn't for Sensei, I would've died…"

Akemi, already on her feet, snapped back into focus. "Alright, let's move. No time to slack off."

Eiji turned his head, watching her as she marched forward. "She's never like this…" His heart ached. His mood soured further. "She really does love Hayato, doesn't she?"

"Akemi, don't rush," Hataki cautioned. "Stay calm and think."

Akemi clenched her fists. "I can't stay calm, Sensei! Hayato is within our reach! I need to hear it from him whether he wants to come back or not!"

Ginrou sighed. "I hate to interrupt, but do you even understand the situation we're in? If Genta orchestrated this, and they catch even a glimpse of us, we're dead. This nation isn't a safe place. Stay calm and think."

Akemi bit her lip hard, unable to argue. She sat on a nearby rock, her shoulders trembling in frustration. Yushin approached her, sitting beside her quietly.

"Don't worry, Akemi," she said softly. "We'll bring him back. Sensei is with us—we'll definitely take him home."

Akemi remained silent. Her heart screamed for her to act, but her mind knew she couldn't. Not yet.

Yoto turned to Hataki. "Sensei, we've entered Sirocaan Nation. What's our next move?"

Kaito responded, "First, we scout the area. We need to assess the situation before making a plan."

Ginrou pulled out cloaks with hoods. "These won't make us invisible, but at least we can move through the village unnoticed."

He continued, "Hayato is in the castle, one village away. This nation consists of three villages. We're at the coastal one. We have a long journey ahead, so let's not waste time."

Kaito nodded in agreement and started moving forward, leading the group through the shadowed alleys behind the village houses. The narrow valleys provided some cover, with fewer people lingering in these isolated passages. As they moved cautiously, a piercing scream cut through the air.

They all froze.

A child's desperate cries echoed from deeper within the village, causing an uneasy tension to settle among them. Without hesitation, they followed the sound, weaving through the dimly lit passageways until they emerged near the market square. Concealing themselves behind a row of barrels, they peered out to assess the situation.

Their hearts clenched at the sight before them.

A young boy lay on the ground, his small body curled in pain as blood trickled from his lips. A group of men clad in uniformed attire loomed over him, their expressions devoid of remorse. Nearby, a terrified young girl struggled against their grip, her hair twisted cruelly in the grasp of one of the men.

The boy, despite his injuries, pushed himself up, his voice raw with desperation. "Where are you taking my sister?! Leave her alone! Hena!"

One of the uniformed men chuckled darkly, tugging harshly on the girl's hair, making her yelp. "Be grateful, brat. Your sister is about to make my master very happy. Now get lost."

Tears streamed down Hena's cheeks as she sobbed. "Souta, please! Don't fight them! Just go home! Don't get yourself hurt!" She turned her teary eyes toward the men. "You monsters! You only need me, right? You don't have to hurt my brother!"

Souta's body trembled with rage. "Let my sister go, you bastards!" he roared, his small fists clenched tightly. Before anyone could stop him, he lunged toward the men, pure determination fueling his every movement.

But the attack was futile.

One of the uniformed men swung his leg forward, kicking the boy in the stomach with brutal force. Souta gasped as the air was knocked out of him, a wet cough spilling more blood from his lips as he crumpled to the ground.

"Souta! Souta!" Hena screamed, struggling harder, only to earn a vicious slap across the face that sent her reeling.

As the men turned back to Souta, one of them sneered. "What a nuisance. Just get rid of him."

Hena's eyes widened in horror. "No! Please! Don't hurt him! He's just a child!" she pleaded, her voice cracking under sheer panic.

But the surrounding villagers merely averted their gazes. Not a single one dared to intervene.

The man who had first kicked Souta smirked and stepped forward, his boot pressing down on the boy's chest. Souta whimpered but still clung desperately to the man's leg, his tiny fingers shaking. "P-please… just leave my… s-sister…"

The man scoffed. "Tch. Enough of this. My master is waiting. Time to get rid of you, brat."

He unsheathed his sword, Hena sobbed, shaking her head frantically. Souta, too weak to move, merely squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable.

The blade came down.

And stopped.

The next sound was not of steel slicing through flesh—but of metal grinding to a halt. The attacker's eyes widened in disbelief.

A figure had stepped between him and Souta. A hand, bloodied and trembling, had caught the edge of the sword mid-swing.

A hooded man stood tall, his head bowed slightly so his face remained obscured. Blood dripped down his fingers, pooling at his feet. The pressure of the blade cut deep into his palm, but he did not flinch.

The uniformed man growled, yanking at his sword, but it did not budge. His frustration boiled over. "Oi! How dare you interfere with the affairs of the Village Speaker's men?!"

The hooded figure finally lifted his head just slightly, his voice low and seething with barely restrained fury.

"What do you think you're doing, you bastard?" Yoto growled.