-Montecchio Richard here, how can I be useful to Your highness?
-Richard, Andrade already called me and I am already of what happened.
-He does not lose time; I beg for your pardon Your highness; seeing I screwed everything up.
-Not at all Richard, that came to be what I was actually planning right from the start the fewer people that get to know about this investigation, the better, also sorry my rushing of doing things, but after what happened earlier I figured it would be the best moment to deal with some subjects, which I didn t want to share with the other nobles as if there is one I trust one is you Richard.
-I am honored with such demonstration of trust, which would be those subjects Your Highness?
-Richard, you know very well that when we aren t among the others, I wish you to call me by the first name, seeing that even among being that others consider inferior, you call them by the first name and let others do the same; I wish you to do the same.
-Alright Your Hig I mean Jo o, how can I help you?
-Richard, I assume that you noticed how much I place faith on you, so it wouldn t be necessary to call a noble meeting just to change one member of the investigation crew, and worse, we would have a traitor, don t you agree?
-Yeah I noticed that, however I came to a conclusion that was due having some sort of plan in mind, especially after the announcement. -I actually had, the normal on traitor situations was to maintain secrecy, however I believe that since they already trying to murder the nobles, they either posses a lot of influential power, or they are sure they can lay the blame on someone else.
-I was thinking the same Jo o, however the hardest thing is to determine the culprit, do you have an idea?
-The most obvious is Silva, seeing he always wanted to seize our positions t3 - hat is way too obvious though don t you agree?
-Yes, too obvious and east honestly it is fertile ground for a more cunning noble do whatever he wish with more wits and put all the blame on the Silva I replied.
-I also believed that hypothesis, and I imagined you would be as well.
-If you allow me Jo o, I wished to know the motive you told everyone that a traitor was among us? Wouldn t it be better to investigate the possibility under the covers so our enemies wouldn t suspect we knew and would be more susceptible to commit mistakes?
-That was really was I was pondering before reaching that conclusion, but as the traitor was already trying to eliminate opposition, I thought that would at least slow down their activities for a bit at least for a time, enough to buy us some time to organize ourselves; in case the traitor is Silva though, I believe that he will not be able to wait long and will make a grave mistake soon.
-I understand completely! However I still don t know what you want what you wish of me?
-Simple Richard, I wish you to undergo a practically alone investigation, tell Andrade just what is exclusively was is necessary, send reports directly to me and inform me what you are going to do, with that other will think you are not doing your job or that we are completely lost you have my official permission to do that, agreed?
-Agreed, I shall make the possible and impossible, but for being able to actually do that I need some equipment, seeing the ones I have now are very outdated specially if our enemies are using forbidden material. It is certain that our most prestigious dealers will have someone that is known to other nobles and might comment that the noble Montecchio may be buying stuff for espionage, what would make our plans go down the drain; do you have someone that you know that can be trustful and not so well known?
-I am glad you asked, you know very well that the Silva is the official supplier of the royal operational army, however the equipments are swords and armors even so at times for certain operations I would rather not even him to know we need supplies and which of those are -I comprehend; how do you work around that?
-I have, up-to-now, a supplier of equipments of high technology, that always was loyal to me, for all others he just was a electronics seller; but to me and any other I recommend, he will sell whatever he can, wish to meet him?
-Of course! Give me his address and in three days we shall go there, so we can wait what happened with L via to quiet down.
-Yes, very well thought; to find their office, seeing that the store just hold TVs and products of those sorts, it is on 13 street, Victoria district, east sector, house 12, yes, that part resides on a common house, so as not to attract unwanted attention he won t meet you unless you call for Talia , and she will come alone to talk to you, when you shall say: I came for a chat with Mr. Max and his bride Izumi Talia watch out, they might freak, do you understand?
-Yes I replied while I wrote that all down in a paper I had in the room you can leave it to me Your Highness, I shall contact with you later, agreed?
-It is Jo o; Richard, but agreed, I talk to you on another occasion, later.
I hang up the phone, I pressed the intercom and called Stephan so that he took it away, I gave him orders as to just pass to me calls from the same type of this one, I told him to write down the messages and give it to me while I was eating; I sat on the sofa and was waiting for about ten minutes when Catherine and Akira entered the premises with a Futon for two, excusing herself for taking long, she said:
-Forgive me Rick, we were with problems to find a Futon that wasn t stored for long and, in consequence, covered in dust she bowed.
-Don t worry Catherine, I know you did your best, now I want you to know that on the following forty eight hours I shall be in here, I want the workers meals to be served normally on the living room as usual, while mine and Akira s be brought here at the doorstep and we shall eat on the corridor, so we can act in case something bad happens to Kikuri, understood?
-Completely Rick she replied while she looked at the recovering nekomimi is she in a bad shape?
-Her state isn t one of the best I replied explaining her status to Kikuri.
-Poor girl she really loves you but what about Yumi Rick?
At each time that name was mentioned something inside me revolved a mixture of hate, love, anger and passion I felt confused and at the same time irritated I thought it was a great time to clear some subjects, seeing I would spend quite a bit of time with Akira and could talk about some stuff, but back to Catherine question, one of the very few that knew about it, I replied:
-Yumi wasn t more than a dream from my behalf Catherine one day reality slaps you in the face and shows you that it isn t a fairy tale I ask, however, to leave this to myself, understand?
-But Rick! I always left this to you and it was never resolved! Allow me to at least this time - she was talking when I interrupted her.
-Forgive me Catherine and without wanting to sound rude, but this time I will settle this matter, for once and all -As you wish Rick replied Catherine, bowed and left.
Akira then helped me to prepare the stuff around the room and we spent most of the time talking, or watching television; of course with earphones. Normally a schedule like that would kill me of boredom, however being able to take care of Kikuri together with my small personal caretaker posed much more pleasurable than I supposed at first.
After forty seven hours; in which Kikuri had no development of her state in which all that happened was me changing the serum that supplied her with the necessary nutrients needed for survival, I decided to deal with that subject that had been bothering me had Yumi reall said those things as Akira told me? Decided to find out, I asked:
-Akira, knowing there is just a little time for Enmie to wake up I bet she will be coming here to check Kikuri s state, I am tired of the television and I would like to talk to you; do you remember three days ago, when you fled this mansion?
-Y Yes - she replied while she dropped her small ears I know I made dear sad b but will you punish me?
-Of course not! I said while petting her head, trying to calm her down I just need to be sure of some of the things you informed me Akira, you said that the motive that made you to flee was that you were afraid of being discarded, correct?
-Y Yes dear - she replied while looking at the floor.
- And the one that had told you that was a blonde nekomimi called Yumi correct?
-Yes! The pretty nekomimi, that is Dawn s boss she replied in low voice.
-W When that happened? I asked trying to organize my line of thought.
-It was on that morning, when we went to the king s meeting, I went to look after her to check out what had happened seeing she was always a good person to me I found Dawn and she told me that Yumi was about to arrive, however she was acting weird, changed according to her -I understand, then? I asked.
-Moments later she arrived, but she had a different look on her something a bit melancholic without energy and a little bit of sadness? I don t know how to explain it properly dear but it seemed so empty - commented Akira, with sadness on her voice as well I asked her how she was but she replied me in such a weird way.
-B But what she replied? I asked desperately.
-She said she wasn t good at all I asked what had happened on the previous day she just replied that what Nina had said ten years ago was true and that you had done what she said you were going to -Nina said that? I asked totally shocked she told you what Nina said?
-No, when I asked that all she replied was Do not be deceived little one when Richard do not manage to get what he wants from you or get tired of you he will dispose of you as trash that is all I tell you small one and left with glazed eyes, without any traces of emotions dear I got even scared -I understand Akira-chan, thanks for telling me all that I said while I stroked her hair.
-So when you said that you wanted Kikuri as a girlfriend I thought you would replace her on my place sorry for being so silly dear - she said with tears forming on her small eyes.
-Don t worry Akira-chan I know understand what happened I replied while I hugged her; in that instant Enmie entered the room.
-I am back she said looking brand-new and with her normal voice any changes on our patient?
-Apparently she just survived, we hadn t, however, any visible progress I reported to her while I stood up.
-I comprehend, sorry for my disappearance Richard, but I needed to recover my energies as the treatment was urgent and I needed to use all my resources but the treatment now won t be so radical, so I, myself, will be able to stay here - so Enmie s voice changed suddenly to a mature one sorry Richard, I know this is your house, I ask however you to leave, I need to resume the treatment go do what you have to and once you are back I shall explain a little better what happens here, I know you have a lot to think into go.
-Thank you Enmie, I shall leave for the moment, I am grateful for everything! I said while bowing and leave the premises.
I took my notes referring to the merchant, ordered Akira to gather my personal belongings needed to leave, called Dawn and asked her to give an order to Yumi, that for today, the shopping would be done exclusively by Dawn and Dusk and that she waited me, as I would use the time to arrive at the address that the King gave me to think and meditate and when I was back she better have a GOOD explanation for what happened to Akira.