Klein was NOT having a good morning, not at all.

"So let me get this straight, some guys, humans, jumped you, with alleged 'Ofudas' that actually did something, that made them 'fearless as well as strong and fast as a Garou'. Are you sure? Cause let me tell you, if not for the mention of who was probably Argo, I would have been worried for your mental health, buddy. If we didn't have the implication of what you said the man told you two. If his words can be trusted…" The bandanna clad leader of the pack asked for confirmation that he really did hear as he thought.

"I'm still not sure I like how we are getting all lovey-dovey with a Leech." A voice from the peanut gallery commented.

Isshin's reply, unlike klein's, was serious.

"Ryotaro, Klein … I think we should treat it like a real threat-those were undoubtedly humans out there, and they not only kept up with me, but would have slowly worn me out if not for the leech arriving. They were well trained and coordinated, just like a veteran Clearer party with a good leader- like us. Or maybe even the Knights of Blood-when Asuna-san commands them directly.

Don't forget that they somehow agitated the local Spirits, to the point that I couldn't call upon the gifts I got…

And what if that man spoke truth? That someone is after Kirito, and hired supernatural assassins, and may be not mundane itself- are these the ones responsible for Asuna and the others still in coma? He told that they were a hit squad, one that was sent to kill a Kirigaya Kazuto, and whose clients were known only to their leader- the guy that seemed to command the squad didn't survive the Leech!

And you didn't tell us almost anything about that Leech, I haven't met the Rat, myself, but I don't remember her participating in Boss fights in SAO, or being anything more than an Info Broker, even if she was good with her primers. The 'Little Leech Girl That Could' all but dominated the fight, I hunted Leeches before, they often panic when they see a Garou, and not as strong, durable, and fast as us, this one was an exception-performing better than even me! And the way she fought-She definitely knew what she was doing, and it was like something from a Ninja movie, the impossible acrobatics while swordfighting one. I wanna know- what's up with that?"

Ryotaro considered it all for a few moments, before replying.

"Looks like we really have to step up the guard duty-AND figure up what's up with these 'magic users'. I didn't want to do it, but it looks like I might have to call in some favors, as well as contact our handlers and informants to see if they know anything about either of these. Maybe even call for reinforcements."

If only we could contact the local Garou without it ruining our mission here…but we are to avoid the attention of the 'Beast Courts' that seem to dominate the Changing Breeds communities of the east. He thought regretfully.

As Asuna snuck out from her cage, and the giant tree branch inwards, in search of exit, she spied a strange entrance.

Hoping to get away from Sugou, she entered. Anything would be better than staying there, where that creep might come back to at any time-I can't believe how we all were blind to his true nature. How even my Father accepted him into the company and into our prestigious family through his engagement to me. Even most respectable Uncle Byakuya-dono, from the main Yuuki branch, seemed pleased by him!

This is just like Heathcliff-no! This is worse than discovering that Heathcliff was Kayaba! For all his sadistic game, horrible as it was, Kayaba at least made obvious victory conditions and tried to do his best making his reality real-to the point of sacrificing his life for it, making himself vulnerable , defeatable, killable. Making himself bound to the rules he forced on us.

As she entered the strange rooms, her fists silently clenching in anger with her thoughts, the Flash saw a strange console, and what looked like a pair of Giant Slug mobs, arguing near it, before a strange looking Elf like man, wearing clothes that she would have called ridiculous Cosplay, if not for the unearthly, impossible majestic way the hung on his figure-if he could be so feminine and beautiful and still be called such, gave them orders of some sort, and as the left, seemed to disappear as well.

Asuna did not usually use 'Sneak Skill', and didn't have a stealth build, but she had some experience with it.

As she approached the console and looked at it, she saw some strange picture of a brain, and what looked like an analysis of some kind, but perusing showed no immediate clue to a way out.

Angry at it, and feeling the desperate ticking of time, uncertain how long her absence from the cage of her EX-fiance will remain unnoticed, she decided that anything Sugou wanted-she better deny him, it could not be anything good. According to the Escargot, he wanted whatever process was going on at the console done as fast as possible.

So she canceled it, and did her best to undo it, to cancel all related processes, and just started working on the deleting it all, when she suddenly felt her body stop moving, and turn around. How did I not notice that strange singing? It is just like in that western fairy tale about rats and a piper…

And the source of the literally enchanting music was something that looked from a fairy tale- the Elf from before; playing on an ornate flute the most beautiful song Asuna ever remembered hearing.

He really looks like something out of legend up close, and he give the feeling of being, inhuman…

Asuna's unease only intensified by the hungry look in his eyes, one that was just as intense as Sugou, only unlike that of the later, hungering not for lust, but something else…

The Elf stopped his music, though the sudden paralysis did not leave Asuna, as he melodious voice remarked.

"So this is the one he paid so well to make his Titania- such fury! Such daring! Such deep defiance! That fire that burns in your heart! You certainly have the spirit to be worthy of it- oh what a magnificent specimen you will be, when I finish with you. You will be a wonderful Fea."

Maybe it was her personal inexperience with that level of harassment prior to her current circumstances, or the strange nature of the crea-being before her, but that reference, just like what Sugou called her, earlier, sent shiver down her spine the way no floor boss in SAO ever could.

Hurry up, Kirito-kun, I'm trying, but I'm not sure I can fight this battle without you much longer, against such high level enemies.

"This is interesting…" the man known as Thinker murmured to himself, as he read about an 'altercation' yesterday on HunterNet.

From what his contacts in among his fellow Hunters, and particularly, certain Hunter group, there was a battle.

But what was even more interesting than the almost certainly inhuman fight, or the efficiency of its cover-up, was the pictures of a participant seen there, with another person, one that was of high rank within RETCO itself, in what appeared a clandestine meeting.

Pictures tied up to an ongoing investigation by said group.

Author Notes: Sorry for the delay, had some RL stuff to deal with. Hopefully next chapter will come soon, but due to changes in my schedule, expect a generally lesser update rate.

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