"So, we were not chasing you from orders of the church," Johnny explains.

Allen sighs deeply, running a hand through his hair, unsure of how to respond. Kanda sat on his right, observing him while Johnny sat on Allen's left. They were sitting in the town square, trying to earn some money. Johnny had the bright idea of advertising themselves as handymen.

"Welcome! We will fix anything!"

Kanda groans, Johnny's voice was too loud as he cheerily spoke with the locals, "Oi Moyashi, say something."

"I will talk when you take off the damn cuffs."

Johnny laughed nervously, explaining the cuffs were made by Reaver for Komui, so it will give a nasty shock if someone tries to run off. Allen's eye twitched, irritated. The scientist continued to elaborate that the cuffs had a password, but he couldn't recall what it was causing Allen to seethe in anger.

Kanda rolled his eyes, "It's your damn fault for continuously cutting the ropes and running away."

Allen turned to glare at him, but it didn't last long because a local business owner grabbed Johnny, dragging him to his store to help with his copier, which in turn caused Allen to follow along reluctantly. Kanda sighed and moved to stand up for a stretch but stopped when Timcampy suddenly flew down and took a perch on their signboard.

"I'm suspicious of you..." Kanda told the golem as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Kanda's frown deepened before sitting down again and describing further, "You won't show me the record of what happened last night. So whose side are you on? Would it be the 14th or Walker? Just-"

The samurai stopped short, seeing the golem shed tears. He didn't think that was even possible.

Now, Kanda felt awkward. What was he supposed to do now?

"Excuse me, young man, how much is this watch?"

The dark-haired exorcist turns to see a spectacle-wearing gentleman bent on one knee holding up a watch.

"Apologies, but that's a repair job. It's not for sale."

They meet eyes for a moment until Kanda notices Timcampy from the corner of his eye; acting strangely, he turns to see Timcampy's teeth-gritting in anger, and electricity seems to be coming out of him.

Kanda cussed aloud, realizing the golem was about to attack, and then all hell broke loose.

Elsewhere, Allen and Johnny talked as they worked on the gears of the copier; Allen looked sullen and guilty, trying to keep the conversation going. He couldn't help but think about what happened with Johnny and his discussion with Link at breakfast earlier that day.

Flashback

"Walker, please try not to escape anymore. Amber is working earnestly on ridding you of the 14th."

Allen groaned, "I know, but-"

"You remember what happened? The Alma incident? When she arrived on the scene with the Noahs bend to her will?"

The white-haired exorcist nodded; he always wondered about that. He took a sip of his tea, listening intently.

"She killed them quietly, away from prying eyes and ears with the sole purpose to experiment on their bodies to better understand their secrets and powers."

Allen gulped, surprised that a teenager close to his age could take out such powerful Noahs without causing a scene or a sound. How could he not have noticed this before?

Link's expression was almost desperate, "Amber's powers have continued to grow, so she is getting closer to her goal of saving you, so please, let her help you, Walker. Be patient."

End of Flashback

Allen screams suddenly, startling Johhny as he gasped in fright. Allen's innocence began to overcome his arm again, and Allen was no stranger to this sensation because it could only mean one thing.

Apocryphos!

The Cardinal forced his large callused hand harshly over Kanda's eyes, his murderous aura flooding the alley, "Leave Allen to me and return to the Order Kanda Yuu. Make sure you take your little girlfriend too. This town reeks of Noah."

Kanda screamed and screamed, not answering Apochryphos at all. He was blinded, and white-hot pain was coursing to him.

Who was the man that attacked him just now?

How did Timcampy know he was a foe when he approached them?

Why did Timpampy attempt to crush the man?

Where was Timcampy?

How did the strange man survive?

What was happening to him?

The Cardinal hummed softly in thought as he went over Kanda's recent memories in his mind's eye, "Shush Kanda...mmm looks like Allen has been a good boy. He hasn't told anyone about me..."

Kanda could feel his strength was fading. Was he dying?

Kit...

Link watched from the shadows, holding his breath as the Cardinal struck Timcampy with a small wooden stake in a finishing blow.

"It must be your long-awaited wish to die for the sake of your master."

When Link was sure the Cardinal had taken no notice of him, he broke into a run, away from the scene to head toward the team's apartment, his mind racing as he tried to process what he had witnessed.

He knocked out Kanda Yuu with no difficulty whatsoever! That man cannot be human!

He had to get the samurai help quickly before he died from the beating the Cardinal had unleashed on him.

Just who was this Cardinal?

What purpose did he have with Allen?

Elsewhere, Allen was in another alley further away.

He groaned aloud, his head hurting and his body distressed from his escape from Johhny. Somehow, his arm managed to break from Johnny's handcuffs when his Innocence went haywire, so he was free but now stood the question, what is he to do now?

Suddenly, Allen hears loud and eerily breathing. Frightened, he turned and saw the Earl approaching him ominously, which perturbed Allen greatly.

"Hey! W-what are you playing at?"

"Nea...it's me...why are you running away from me?"

The exorcist stared as the Earl changed his face, looking more otherworldly than usual. Allen was quick to deduce that this might be a pretty bad situation. The Earl was always strange, but he had never been this terrifying before.

Allen was not sure why he appeared here, but it seemed like he had lost his senses. Did it have anything to do with Nea? The 14th?

"Mana...Mana..."

"Why do you speak of Mana?" barked Allen; "HOW DARE YOU!"

The Earl howled in reply, "IT'S ALL MANA'S FAULT! ALL MANA'S FAULT! HE TOOK NEA!"

WHAT?!

"MANA D CAMPBELL! THERE WAS SUCH A MAN THAT DROVE NEA AND I TO KILL ONE ANOTHER!"

A bloodcurdling scream made Lavi drop the remote, and he rushed into Amber's room, taking quick notice of her clammy skin and the bewildered look on her face.

Lavi came to her side instantly and hugged her without a second thought. She buried her face in his chest, and the more petite redhead cried uncontrollably then, so Lavi tried to calm her, but he couldn't interpret what she was trying to say through her sobbing, and it was starting to scare him.

"Amber-hime, please focus; what are you trying to tell me?"

Suddenly, Amber's mark started to glow and slowly expand all over her body. Lavi stared in awe before the sense of heat began radiating off of her runes. He reluctantly breaks the embrace staring at her unnerving form, her presence giving him goosebumps.

"Apochryhpos..." she finally responds tangibly.

Lavi's eye widened in shock. That name...is it possible?

The one-eyed exorcist shivers as Amber continues to speak, her voice becoming more chilling with each word.

"Apochryphos is here in this town. We are not safe, Bookman. We must take the 14th and leave with haste, or this whole town will suffer."