Chapter 227: The World's Wanted List

Akari stood at the edge of the vast plains, the night wind brushing against him as he overlooked the desolate ruins of Gabriel City. The starlit sky was dim, and his gaze seemed to pierce through the still night, sensing an unusual disturbance.

He smirked, the corners of his lips curling upward, but his eyes carried a sharp chill.

"Hmph—Kanto and Hayato… No matter how dire the situation, those two will never go down so easily."

As his words faded, his gaze returned to the path beneath his feet.

The road ahead led straight into Gabriel City—vast, empty, and eerily quiet. Akari slowly extended his hand, an invisible force rippling out as if probing the unseen end of the path. After a moment, he let out a cold chuckle and murmured,

"Let me be the one to open the road of gods and demons in advance—"

He turned, stepping into the depths of the grasslands. His black trench coat flared in the wind, and in the next moment, he vanished into the boundless darkness of the night.

On the outskirts of Sonia City, Hayato and Usagi trudged forward, their bodies weighed down by exhaustion as they set foot on unfamiliar ground.

Usagi staggered slightly, lifting her head toward the neon lights flickering in the distance. Her voice was hoarse, laced with fatigue.

"Just a little more… If we push forward a little more, we'll reach Gabriel City."

The two of them pressed on, gradually merging into the city's glow.

Sonia City was a vibrant, bustling metropolis. Even after nightfall, the streets remained crowded, a sea of lights and voices blending into a lively symphony. Usagi wrapped herself tightly in a bunny-eared hoodie, its long ears drooping over her head, concealing most of her face. Beside her, Hayato wore an identical hoodie, though on him, it carried an eerie, almost mocking effect. With his hands stuffed into his pockets and his head tilted slightly, he walked with an exaggerated swagger, even humming a sinister little tune.

"Heh heh, Usagi, where exactly are we going?" Hayato chuckled, his gaze fixed intensely on her profile, a twisted excitement flashing in his eyes. He deliberately leaned closer, as if relishing the way she instinctively recoiled.

Usagi stiffened, forcing down the urge to shove him away. She spoke in a low voice,

"Could you stop getting so close to me?"

To any passerby, they looked like an ordinary young couple. However, Usagi's steps were unnaturally light, her sharp eyes darting around, scanning the surroundings with caution. In contrast, Hayato remained utterly carefree, striding through the crowd as if he were simply out for a casual stroll.

"This place is really lively! Imagine how much livelier it would be… if a knife were to stab into someone here," Hayato mused, his voice dripping with an unsettling mix of amusement and bloodlust.

Usagi ignored his remark, her focus instead drawn to a group of middle-aged women chatting by the street stalls.

"Goodness, who would've thought there were so many ability users hiding among us!"

"Right? That neighbor of mine seemed like an ordinary guy, but last month we found out he had abilities! Who knows what kind of shady things he was doing in secret!"

"Shh—don't talk so loud! If there really are ability users around, we don't want to get on their bad side!"

"What's there to be afraid of? The Watchers are already taking action. Those wanted posters are everywhere! No matter how powerful they are, they wouldn't dare make a move now."

Usagi subtly maneuvered closer, her gaze sweeping over the baskets of vegetables on display. Her hand moved swiftly and discreetly beneath a pile of leaves, retrieving a stack of crumpled papers without drawing any attention.

She ran her fingers over the rough edges of the wanted posters, flipping through them one by one. Each sheet bore hostile warnings and crudely drawn portraits, as if meant to instill fear in those who laid eyes upon them. Carefully, she studied each one, her expression calm yet keen.

Her eyes scanned the bolded names printed at the top.

"The Wanderer—Leo."

A vague silhouette was depicted, the facial features barely sketched in, but a striking mark stood out—an unmistakable Leo zodiac symbol tattooed on the figure's arm.

"Gaia—Yagi Daichi."

The image showed a towering man, his muscular form appearing almost fused with the earth itself.

"Yin-Yang Planet—Hoshii Shinno ."

The portrait depicted a young man with piercing, blade-like eyes. Half of his face was shrouded in shadow, while the other half glowed like the stars. Below the image, a cautionary note read:

"Extremely difficult to approach. Would-be captors should reconsider."

"The Mage—Karan."

A figure cloaked in long robes, holding a staff. Though the details were vague, the cold, piercing gaze of his eyes seemed to stare right through the parchment.

Usagi let out a soft, mirthless chuckle, murmuring under her breath,

"The Watchers really are something. They clearly have the ability to gather and provide more detailed information… yet they choose to withhold so much."

"Well, isn't this tense?" Hayato's voice suddenly intruded, far too close for comfort. He peered over her shoulder at the posters with gleeful curiosity.

"Hey, what if we're on the list too? That'd be hilarious!"

Usagi's heart skipped a beat. She flipped the papers over abruptly, glaring at him.

"Back off! Stop getting so close to me!"

Hayato scratched his head, feigning innocence.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so fierce. I was just looking."

Ignoring him, Usagi quickly resumed her examination of the posters. To her relief, neither her face nor her name appeared on any of them.

"Seems like I haven't exposed my abilities yet."

She exhaled softly, a quiet sense of relief washing over her. This meant that, at least as far as the Watchers' intelligence went, she was still considered an "ordinary person."

Just as she was about to put the papers away, she noticed Hayato grinning slyly at her once more.

Fury surged within her, and she shoved him back with force.

"Can you just be quiet for once?! Stop clinging to me!"

Hayato stumbled back a couple of steps, growling under his breath, but ultimately, he didn't move any closer. Instead, he folded his arms and muttered,

"Fine, fine. You're so stingy… I won't play with you anymore."

Usagi shot him a sharp glare but chose to ignore him. Stuffing the posters into her coat, she turned and strode deeper into the city streets. Hayato, ever the troublemaker, simply shrugged and followed along.

At the far end of the busy district, an alleyway stretched into the shadows. Usagi's eyes darted around, scanning for any signs of pursuit before she whispered,

"Sonia City's situation is even more complicated than I expected. The Watchers' informants could be nearby—we can't afford to let our guard down."

Hayato trailed behind her, still grinning.

"Relax! As long as I'm here, no one's laying a hand on my dear Usagi. If they try, I'll make sure they lose their hands first!"

Usagi shot him a cold glance.

"You're just a liability. Just don't cause trouble."

Hayato laughed.

"Don't worry, I absolutely won't!"

Taking a deep breath, Usagi suppressed the unease rising within her and continued forward.

Unbeknownst to her, high above the city, a pair of icy eyes watched their every move. A faint, knowing smirk curled in the shadows.