Capitan Madara… don't you tell me that these numbers means that… - I pointed to the visor which were already on the count of seven – will explode, right?

Exactly that Montecchio sir! – the captain replied, getting ready to run, however noticing that that would be useless, said – damnation! – throwing himself to the ground in sequence.

Curses! – I stretched my arms with the explosive still on my hands so as it would be as far as possible from my face, as if it would do any good, at the exact instant that the countdown reached one second, there was a small but with the detonator's electronic device that suddenly began showing one hundred eighty seconds, I quickly ordered – Madara, apparently the device bugged, take this and quickly take this to the official explosive tube site on the back of my propriety – I then pointed to the direction he should take while handing him the artifact – and throw this inside there! I doubt that there something this size potent enough to be harmful under three hundred feed of earth!

Yes sir! – the captain replied, running towards the exit.

That was a close call! – João exclaimed, leaving the corner of the corridor – I thought that this time we were going to become dust!

Exactly – Niwatori confirmed, looking at me seriously – you said that this device doesn't look like anything that is used by us legally nowadays, correct?

Yes, nothing like that is used by neither the Montecchio enterprises, nor by the roads constructors – that was when something came to my mind – actually, they rarely need to use them, as for some motive beyond our comprehension, the best way were already opened in the mountains, as if someone a long time ago knew that those path were convenient for us, aside one rock that rolled down here and there…

Richard… - Kitagawa called me – I need to have a really serious talk with Niwatori and João at this instant – he then pointed to the place we were going previously – in the meanwhile go make the speech we planned, probably upon your return we shall have updated your king with what we needed – he then pointed to João – You Majesty, please, come with us.

Speech? – João asked confusedly – what are they talking about Richard?

Just trust Richard and us Your Majesty, as we need to act quickly – he then signed for me to hurry up and go, while I turned around to continue on my path, I managed to listen – now the situation is really serious Your Majesty, as need to act if we are…

A minute later I arrived at the broadcasting room almost on the other side from where we were previously; there was a slight tremor, which I judged coming from the explosive that were about to detonate earlier, I left that aside and quickly sent an official notice to all television stations that in around five minutes I would interrupt the usual schedule to make a speech in the name of the Verona's King, after around one minute I had the confirmation that all of them were ready and had "opened the window" as we say, so as I could enter their broadcasting, I took two pictures of Akira and her possession certificate and mentally I prepared a small speech; then, as soon as the moment had arrived, I pressed a button which would insert the speech fanfare, that was done as expected, the Royal family crest showed up on screen along with the statement:

"We interrupt our normal programs schedule for an important speech from the Royal house…" the royal family's crest then disappeared and showed up the Montecchio's one "… done by the actual Your Highness João III representative, Montecchio Richard".

Good afternoon people from Verona – I began my speech, looking firmly to the camera in front of me – I usually come before you all to talk in the name of the human race, however today I want to inform the nekomimi nation that harmonious live among us – I then looked to the other camera.

You know that the representative of your race, the noble Oliveira Lívia left me the responsibility to guide you on her absence – I then pressed a button on the table in front of me making the speech where Lívia left that clear when she talked last time on nationwide broadcasting show to the viewers – and unfortunately now it is the time where all of you must become aware of what is going on amongst the ones of your race, as I came to stop the gossip that goes through from one ear to another and explain the bare and cold truth.

There has been comments regarding one prophecy involving the prophet of your race that is known by the name of Mewsus, and that the so dreamed objective of your race, the peace so long wished, would be reached when a sign appeared – I resumed looking to the frontal camera – however, now it got to my knowledge of the real history and saw it with my own eyes, I shall share it with you.

Mewsus actually stated that we would have two signs that would indicate that moment, rather than one – I showed one of my hand's fingers – the first one would be when the line that divides humans and nekomimis would become so thin that we wouldn't know who was human or nekomimi without it being a genetic aberration, seeing we had several cases of those in history – I paused for a moment – very well, that day arrived almost an year ago when an young lady, whom I had the honor of getting to meet personally, had cat ears and tail, however she had human hands and feet and no signs of abnormalities on her pretty and perfect body.

However, as it was confided to me by the nekomimi leaders council, we were still missing a second sign, when I asked them about this, it was informed to me that Mewsus stated that as soon it was born a female direct descendant of his and she had a daughter, was when the time had come – I stopped once again, thinking on the best way to explain the next part.

Very well, to ensure that this second sign would come to our knowledge, a cult took care of each descendant of his from that time until nowadays and of course almost all of them were male, the leader of said cult showed me proof of what he was stating and I am here bearing testimony of what I saw and I state that in fact, everything was real and believable; for our joy, those two females, mother and daughter already came to the world, being this the motive of this speech today.

The mother, who was called Hikari Mitsuki, isn't among us anymore because of a cancer that consumed her until she passed away almost an year ago, however her daughter lives and I even managed to meet her without knowing her real origins; however the nekomimi extremists, that aim to destroy this long lasting alliance between humans and nekomimis aim to attempt to prevent Mewsus prophecy from two thousand years ago – I pressed another button, making Akira's picture show up onscreen – they intend to murder her in a way to make the good prophet to look like a farce.

The girl you are seeing on screen now is called Hikari Akira, she was kidnapped by the extremists this morning, I came today to you to inform all of you what is going on and in case you have any leads regarding her whereabouts, please contact the reporting phone, your call won't be identified and your identity will be kept in the utmost secrecy, we are counting on the collaboration of all the nekomimi race so as, together, we can overcome this other obstacle – I bowed to the cam next – good afternoon to all of you.

As soon as the broadcasting was over, I headed towards the meeting room and noticed that both the King as well the nekomimi leaders were already waiting for me silently, apparently they were watching my speech as the small television was on a random channel, as soon as I entered the room they stood up and, looking directly at me, said:

Richard – João neared me – after discussing briefly the matter with the nekomimi leader we decided that, now that the existence of Mewsus' direct female descendant is public knowledge, we will investigate from where those explosives are being originated, Kitagawa said he had an idea as to where they might be coming from…

Just one moment Your highness – I asked for a moment, seeing that the news had left me a little stunned – so we shall leave this girl on her own luck, as long as we find out the supplier of the extremists?

It isn't like that Richard – Niwatori replied, trying to amend – it is just that we believe that the extremists biggest triumph was just sabotaged, so now it is very likely that they will try to use her in a negotiation or something of the sort, seeing they won't be able to influence the population to join their cause – the nekomimi finalized then – that is why, as much as I hate taking this stance, we need to focus on what is threatening us more right now, that is the destructive power that they have on their paws and where that is coming from.

But… - I tried to find arguments to use against what was presented me, however in a certain way Niwatori was right, if we didn't take into consideration my feelings, the kingdom's security was priority – even being a slave, she was enslaved by a mistake of our previous operation so the sentence must be undone… - I didn't know where this would take me, but I decided to risk it anyway –that girl is the daughter of the noble Capuleto with Mewsus' female descendent, being their only alive heir, and more importantly… she is pregnant and the father is a Montecchio…

Richard? – João asked more startled than mad – I always believed you would never force a slave of yours to do that… - he looked down then – of course being your slave, you can demand anything you want from her… it is just that you didn't use to… do this – his voice had a hint of disappointment.

Really – Niwatori commented, after some moments – until the point it has been told me, I wouldn't imagine this coming from you.

You understand this all wrong! – I exclaimed, looking to their dubious face – I didn't force Akira-chan to do nothing! I have witness that the nekomimi loves me! And I… - I blushed deeply, gathered courage and said – I also love the little kitty…

My Saint Meow! – João exclaimed, as beside Leandro, he was the person that knew me more in the kingdom – to go as far as to the point of saying that you love her, I am sure you are being sincere! – however he stopped and pondered for some instants, leaving Niwatori with an astonished face – however that includes her in the nobility category and we certainly cannot leave her under the grasp of those kidnappers!

That changes things completely – Niwatori thought – they can use her as a shield in this case! Worst, we can't leave the matter of the explosives aside as well! What shall we do, since both situations seem critical?

I have an idea! – I exclaimed, in the exact moment I took Enma's device out of my pocket – look, my agent is still following Akira and, unless she has a clear and sure chance to rescue the nekomimi, I doubt she will act so soon, that is why – I looked at Kitagawa – you said you had an idea from where the explosives might be originated, where would that be?

Probably the cult's old temple where we protected Mewsus' descendants – Kitagawa announced in a serious tone – I saw several writings as this one there, although no one in the cult knew for sure what they meant…

So let's go there right away! – I replied energetically – we shall take an helicopter and we then land near the place, then we can investigate better – I pointed to Niwatori and João – you two will stay at the palace, in case you have a precise lead as to Akira's whereabouts, you are free to act!

Alright Richard! – Niwatori replied together with João – we shall contact you in case we find something out! – at that moment I looked at Kitagawa and gave him the same Verona's map as Rita used to show Silva's bunker.

Kitagawa, could you point approximately where in this map the place is? – I pointed then to Rita's drawing – it wouldn't be here, right?

No boy, it is way farther to the east – he then pointed to a place almost three hundred seventy five miles (600 km) away from there – near the east barrier to the forbidden world, I suggest however – he then pointed to the city of Menits, two hundred fifty miles (400 km) south from there – we can take an helicopter and land in this city, that is because I think we should be cautious, seeing we don't know if there are a lot of extremists inside the old temple, hence why it wouldn't be prudent to fly near there, as the place is one huge plains, we would be easily detect before we could even land – he then pointed again to the city – we shall then rent one local car and we shall go through this road, that ends around six miles (10 km) from the entrance, we will walk the remaining distance and with a little bit of luck, no one will notice us.

I understand, now that everyone knows what they should do – I pointed to the king and the leader – stay alert for news regarding Akira while Kitagawa and I will make a recognition mission and in case we detect a more serious threat, we will command a bigger scale invasion with the royal forces, agreed?

Yes Richard – João replied – go and trust us in Akira's case dealing.

May Saint Meow illuminate your paths – Niwatori also replied.

Kitagawa, how long do you take for us to arrive at our destination? – I asked already calling to an aerial taxi company.

If we are lucky to get things with relative ease and the weather on the place help us in that region… - the old nekomimi pondered for some moments and replied – maybe until tomorrow afternoon we might be there already.

I understand, don't lose time then! – I replied already talking to a person from the aerial taxi renters.

I dressed in a casual way and used dark glasses, trying my hardest not to look like Montecchio Richard; we headed to the airport and had relative luck into taking an helicopter seeing one left there around forty minutes after our arrival at the place, the problem presented itself when we tried to rent a car, I didn't want people to find out who I was, that is why I had my documents as a "normal civilian" it took almost two hours for them to approve our files, the road was narrow and filled with slow turns, making the path very harder and holding us back considerable, by Kitagawa's suggestion, we stopped to rest and sleep on the last gas post that offered room service before going through the still remaining three hundred miles until the goal.

It was past two in the afternoon when we entered the gates that surrounded the propriety that belonged to the temple, everything was semi-deserted and aside some ground shallow grass, everything was rocks and sand; after around an hour and half we arrived at a small hill that, according to Kitagawa, would give us a very good view of the complex entrance, to make it harder for us to be detected and in case I was Kitagawa could go get help, I ordered to him to lay on the ground while I would go myself, I walked the small path of around six hundred feet uphill and when I arrived at its peak I saw… just one huge plains, sand and nothing more; intrigued I thought "but what happened here? Would Kitagawa be losing his memory thanks to his age?" however I was interrupted by a voice:

Who are you and how did you knew I was here? – felling something metallic and cold pressed against my throat.