Chapter 45: KATANA

Wano

Amigasa Village

Momonosuke readied himself to fight the men, having experienced the vile actions of how one World Elder caused so much harm to the tree of Elbaf, the people of that country, and to a certain family.

Then to his shock, Sukiyaki summoned himself via a paper doll-based summoning circle to lunge at one of the cloaked KATANA agents with tears in his eyes.

"For our freedom from the chains of blood!," he cried before he was stabbed callously by one of them as Momonosuke looked with intense sadness.

The figure then shucked the man away like an annoying fly before Kawamatsu proceeded to grab him and place him on the ground.

"Y-you betrayed your country! Now you want to atone with death?! How dare you not try and live to make up for it!," Momonosuke cried as Kawamatsu also cried.

"I-I had this planted on me due to my secret role...but I decided...t-to make up for everything.," the grandfather spoke.

Momonosuke then learned of how his grandfather was imprisoned and then told of how his family's ancestors usurped the rightful rules over 800 years ago- driving the leaders to near extinction and making the other a pariah. And how Momonosuke's grandmother and father truly died via some odd sensation that caused him to experience the voices as images in his mind.

"T-That is the Voice of All Things...Only a very small number of people in the world possess the ability to hear this voice. I lack it due to my closed-off nature...and Oden barely had it due to his tough exterior hiding his compassion...a heart that is willing to understand others is the only way...even if it is in the hands of evil.," the grandfather explained.

"Oh, that's what that dying insect means...Hearing the Voice of All Things is a mysterious and incredibly rare ability. Only one race in the world, the Three-Eye Tribe, which was called something more pretentious ages ago, possesses the innate ability to hear it; with a select few outside of this race being abnormal deviations due to their Lineage Factor from their ancestors.," said one of the cloaked KATANA members.

"In any case, he can only use it sporadically and without direct purpose. So he needs to die while he's ignorant.," they added.

"God, that lecture really annoys me. Can we just purge these bugs already? The saccharine final partings is really annoying.," said another member who was far more callous and apathetic to Sukiyaki's final words.

"I...I did hate your father for being everything I couldn't be for him...but I hated myself...for not having a compassionate heart deep down...," Sukiyaki cried as his vision blurred.

Momonosuke, the new Shogun of Wano, was torn between his grief and anger. He knew he had to act, not just for his fallen grandfather, but for the future of his country. The weight of his lineage's sins bore down on him, but he was determined to break the cycle of deceit and tyranny.

"Your mother Toki...she told me in secret that Byakuo was her father and hated that she could never leave him until she used her powers to run from him...and lived with regrets of not doing anything in the centuries she went to...but she didn't regret having you...you had a loving mother and father...I-I envy that!," Sukiyaki said as he then vomited out blood much to Momonosuke's increasing concern.

"T-The Dawn...the Straw Hats...need to know their roles...to be the Dawn...to this nightmare masquerading as a dream...I-I hope my sinful life was at least able to help bring things a bit closer...," the old man cried.

"Grandfather, your sacrifice won't be in vain," Momonosuke whispered fiercely, his eyes burning with determination. "I will carry on your legacy and set things right. For Wano, for our family, and for the truth that has been buried for centuries."

Sukiyaki then smiled as he went limp...and the KATANA agent of the far more callous nature generated a blade that changed into a canine that proceeded to maul on the corpse, ruining the moment of solace.

Momonosuke watched in horror as his grandfather's body was defiled by the creature, his emotions a tumultuous mix of anger, grief, and disbelief. He clenched his fists, vowing to avenge Sukiyaki's sacrifice and ensure that the truth was brought to light.

He changed into his beast form, the pink Seiryu dragon form as the orient dragon charged a Bolo Breath onto the enemy, but the latter dodged it with ease.

"He saw it coming!," Kawamatsu noticed. He then saw the paper dolls and quickly grabbed them all. He then used one to teleport to certain locations before returning in moments.

Teach and the horned tiger decided that the battle wasn't worth continuing as Teach saw Kuzan, Shot, and the other members return with Laffitte joining them.

"The Adam tree underwent drastic changes in moments and now it's gone. That PLUTON-," noted the navigator.

"Is not what we want to get.," he said as he looked down to the ground.

Page One noticed a slightly lanker member and thought-

He looks like a chump and his Haki isn't something to write home about...

The Tobiroppo lunged at the seemingly weaker member in their hybrid forms, but the figure revealed himself as he removed his cloak to expose his appearance-

A tall, lanky man with a sallow face, his hair tied into seven short ponytails with rainbow colors, arranged in a hexagonal manner, two of which stuck out of his tricorne with the World Government symbol. He wears a rainbow-striped shirt, and black shorts, with a pirate belt, a tricorne, and an open vest with rainbow patterns.

"Hexagon" Shupeal- No. 12 of KATANA.

"Time for a big showstopper!" he declared as he swung his broom and the five were captured by generating rainbow magic circles to restrain each one. He failed to anticipate Jack about to attack from behind when the mammoth hybrid was cut down by the third cloaked figure- the one who made the exposition who revealed themselves-

A tall, pale-skinned, tall man with green markings around his eyes shaped like fangs, wearing plain jade garbs with a black polo and pants underneath, a thick green rope belt tied in a large knot behind his back, and green sandals.

Shimotsuki Midori- No. 09 of KATANA.

Momonosuke's opponent proceeded to reveal himself as he removed his cloak, revealing a standoffish man with combed dark hair in a ponytail in nobleman's attire with a blue long coat with expensive shirts, pants, long boots, and gloves while wielding a rapier. His golden eyes with ripples made his lineage connection clear.

Dracule Van- No. 11 of KATANA.

"Van. Don't take too long. We need to sell it so that it looks like Kaido returned, exposing their ineptitude and allowing us to annex them...or if all fails, we do a preemptive hunting game.," Midori explained with his "s" being elongated in pronouncing it due to his serpentine nature.

Van transformed his rapier once again into a dog- a Rottweiler to bite through Momonosuke, but he was much more durable than previously thought. The dragon roared in fury as he swiped the dog aside with his tail.

Van boasted with a still frowning face, "Don't devalue my tool, Mauthe Dogg ate the Dog-Dog: Rottweiler. It's trained to be a dangerous beast who knows its inherent place as my tool."

Kawamatsu, a Japanese puffer fish-man who is also a yokozuna-ranked sumo wrestler, sheathed his sword and proceeded to do sumo moves on the dog, throwing it off balance. Much to Van's chagrin as he saw the sight of his dog being bested, not out of empathy, but due to it affecting his pride.

"You mustn't! It is my duty to fight for my vassal-," Momonosuke the Shogun yelled.

Kawamatsu then laughed and said softly, "Kappappappa. No, we serve your father and now you- I can't think of a greater duty, but you have a more important duty than being protected and lounging around like Orochi. You have power and...unlike the late sire, a willingness to be less stubborn. You can fly, and make sure that each of the sectors of this country is safeguarded. And to undo the negative perceptions of the form you accidentally were cursed with.," as he tossed a paper doll at him.

Momonosuke then cried as he replied, "But I am weak! But I'll do what I must!," before flying off into the sky, leaving a trail of tears behind him as he felt the weight of his newfound responsibility and grief.

Kawamatsu then changed targets to Van himself as he proceeded to dodge his palm strikes as if seeing them in slow motion.

I hope this all works..., thought the Fishman as he worried if it were to have no effect on how he spoke to.

"These eyes of mine...they have Clear Sight, not on the same level as that vagabond, but still potent enough to see...your weak points!" the golden-eyed swordsman explained.

He whistled as the dog sword turned back into a blade for Van to grab and attempt to use on the Fishman. However, he was then palm-struck by a very large and tall man with round rosy cheeks, a downward-pointed nose, thin eyes, a wrinkled forehead, small ears, and a double chin. He has long, pink-colored hair that he wears in a topknot with a braid on each side of his face, and he has a slight widow's peak. His two forearms are covered with indigo tattoos, and the left tattoo goes down to his hip.

He was a yokozuna-ranked sumo wrestler by the name of Urashima of Wano Country's Flower Capital. He is also of the samurai class, thus giving him an elevated social status that boosted his confidence previously before Momonosuke's new laws made it so he had to actually work for it much to his initial chagrin.

"Not sure why you gave me this paper thingy that made me come here, but you're too compassionate. Sometimes, you need to fight evilly if honor just causes more harm!," Urashima declared as he tripped Van, who given his reactions, was blind-sighted utterly by the appearance of the other sumo wrestler.

"But that's-," Kawamatsu argued before Urashima slapped him.

"These guys aren't even the only ones...these guys who appeared from odd circles, which manifested out of nowhere...daring to call themselves KATANA, started only after not only the samurai...but the bystanders...it's with a relish of a hunting party going after small animals or children squashing bugs! Don't worry, your pals are mitigating some of the damage. I might be a cheatin' scumbag! But even I can see them as scum!," Urashima cried with indignant tears and snot going down his nose.

"It seems like Van's got his hands dirty and it'd be too easy to take down these guys. Shupeal. You have nothing better to do...the Straw Hats have an odd kind of ship and somehow that giant tree vanished the moment we took our eyes off of it for a moment's notice. You have Advanced Observation Haki, you should be able to pinpoint and warp there to give whoever is on our side, some much-needed assistance.," the snake man said. Shupeal was initially about to argue until Midori glared at him with intensity with the severe implications of declining made abundantly transparent.

"S-Sure. Superior Midori!," he said as the magic-themed man as he generates a magic circle and warps away with the Tobiroppo still captured. Midori himself warped to another location.

Kawamatsu and Urashima then focused on the duo of Van and Dogg. The Rottweiler then noticed that a komainu, a large baboon, and a tanuki with a teapot body rushed towards him.

Van glanced at his dog, who seemed very reluctant about what it was about to do as it turned into a rapier with a dog maw...as it proceeded to maul the teapot, crushing its body.

The Komainu and baboon paused and seemed almost numb as their new friend of a few weeks was callously killed in mere moments with no respect at all. Van then used the opportunity to attempt to slash the mourning animals. Kawamatsu and Urashima proceeded to pull their katanas to block the strike. The latter noticed how Komachiyo and Hihimaru were desperately trying to put the teapot together, hoping Bunbuku could come out again. After several moments, they came to the harrowing revelation that their friend had not only died, but died without any respect.

"They must've been wanting to eat it and fight over it. Now their prey is gone. That would be disheartening.," the KATANA man said with coldness.

"You don't understand the hearts of animals! Even they were pals no matter how short it lasted! Those memories are gonna stick with them for the rest of their days!," Urashima cried.

"Well, if they care so much, why shouldn't they do the noble deed of committing seppuku and joining that thing in Hell? I've trained with it for years and so far, it hasn't disappointed me, yet. It's well worth the inherent value of what you can use it for.," Van replied as he pushed back the sumo wrestler.

"It? Then you have no understanding of the sword. No wonder you never improve-," Kawamatsu remarked coldly before Van proceeded to have Dogg generate a claw to swipe at the Fishman's chest.

"You should know something about KATANA...there was an important member who was once a member...he's joined this pirate group daring to place bounties on our Marine lackeys...daring to serve under a clown despite his lineage.," explained Van.

Kawamatsu who overheard the rumors from the Beast Pirates members put it together immediately as the revelation dawned upon him.

"Yes, I speak of Dracule Mihawk. And every member outside of Shupeal and the current boss has either fought, trained alongside, or has been trained under him. You have no idea of what his personal life or history is like.," Van clarified as he released a powerful sword slash, which the two barely dodged.

Kawamatsu quickly realized the immense hurdle he and his unlikely ally were about to endure. And to his horror, the depths of powers of the others who might be on the same level or even greater than this man- people who manage to be on par with the World's Greatest Swordsman.

Kibi

The Yakuza Boss Yatappe was cut down with tears in his eyes as a familiar figure had been summoned by his cloaked adversary from an unusual tomb that they summoned from the ground-

A thickset man with a notably large head that was shaped like an omusubi (rice ball). He wore notable dark makeup around his eyes and mouth and also had a design of a half-circle encircling a dot tattooed on his chin. He had long and thick dark hair that reached to his shoulders and wore a rope around the top of his head whose two ends pointed upward at the front. He also wore a kimono and a long cape.

"Fugetsu Omusubi...you died with your integrity intact...to be unearthed and used by our enemies...," Yatappe cried. "But I shall not go quietly! For Wano, for our lost allies!"

He was then stabbed casually through the head as he was pushed into a summoned open casket with a tomb behind, closing and reopening to reveal a now undead Yakuza boss to the horror of his subordinates.

"Welcome to the fold, my little Kibi doll," the cloaked figure said with a twisted smile as they petted the undead Yatappe's head. "You will serve your country once more, under the divine power of the World Government." They rubbed him sensually, which unnerved Yatappe's surviving subordinates even more.

"You have no right to use him like this!," one yelled as they were then cut down by Omusubi and Yatapee working in unison.

Udon

Hatsume was protected by Himuro as their fellow samurai of the Mimawarigumi- sent to serve their sentences for their betrayal were cut down by a cloaked assailant with a weird sword with rotating blades. What was most unusual was his esoteric powers that seemed to manipulate the very essence of their surroundings by controlling their center of mass.

"Y-you're strong! We can work together to help you conquer Wan-," said, Hotei the former captain of the Mimawarigumi- a man of above-average height with long puffy light green hair that is gathered into a ponytail down his back. He wears a pair of sunglasses that cover his eyes and has a small amount of beard stubble on his chin. He wears a light-colored kimono with dark circle patterns that leave his hairy chest exposed, dark-colored bottoms, and a cloak with a dark jagged design on the bottom. His sentence was never completed- his head sawed vertically off his shoulders by the blade before the cloaked figure smashed the skull in for good measure.

The cloaked figure shrugged as he mocked the late samurai, "Huh? You first turn on Orochi to Kaido and now you're trying to brownlick me? What a fickle bunch you all are. Apparently, loyalty's dead. Though I got no right to complain.," he said as he sheathed his sword, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Garudan and Gangaru had also been cut down.

He then noticed his much larger cloaked associate who had managed to slaughter Yazaemon, Fujin, Raijin, Bishamon, Hanzo, Daikoku, Sugamichi, Warazane the land catfishes, Sarutobi, Kazekage- all former Shinobi of the Oniwabanshu. and was in the middle of doing something truly horrific beyond what the previous enemies of the Straw Hat allies had done- he had Jigoku Benten with her clothes ripped off as he forcibly thrust inside her with her eyes tearing out of sheer despair.

"Oi, Sanson. You think you're overdoing it?" asked the cloaked figure as Sanson glared at him from within his hood- with pupil-less yellow eyes before the other relented.

"We're on a time crunch, just finish up quickly. The sooner we eliminate them, the better," the cloaked figure said as he cleaned his saw blade.

Sanson then slammed his open right palm into Benten's skull, making a bloody smear. Chome, the only survivor of the group, a young girl with armpit length-blonde hair that has pink flowers in it, big round eyes with prominent eyelashes, a small round nose, and a rabbit-like mouth- was severely traumatized at the fates of her comrades, but especially Benten- all of whom had been varying degrees of being close to her.

The chainsaw man then sighed as he said, "Killing you is the best option since that fear is more than likely gonna lead to some avenging bullcrap." He then lunged at her before darting away and slashing at his arriving attackers-

Shinosuke, Raizo, and Shinobu... however, Shinosuke wasn't as lucky as the other two, having been sawed in half and then immediately split horizontally by a charging Sanson's revealed ax blade. The shinobi's emotions quickly turned to sorrow as Shinobu dashed to her dying brother.

"I see that you and Raizo had gotten close over these past few weeks...please...give her a happy life...," Shinosuke said with a smile and tears.

"Yuck, he's got the D ideology...we self-preservationists and nihilists really hate that kind of notion...," spoke the other cloaked figure as he revealed himself-

A tall, muscular man with mid-length straight black hair that reaches to his ears. His eyes are yellow, just like Mihawk and he has thin black eyebrows and a scar across the right corner of his face. He wears a tight-fitting black shirt, sports tan baggy training pants with a black belt weaved through the waist, and black martial arts slippers.

Dracule Hellsing- No. 07 of KATANA.

However, the two KATANA men were ignored with Shinobu and Raizo crying over the loss of the former's brother.

Raizo said to Shinosuke's corpse, "Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. I will carry on our dream and honor your promise by doing good by her.," as tears streamed down his cheeks. The ninja's words hung heavily in the air, a solemn promise to his fallen comrade. His kindhearted nature was clear, as was his deep commitment to their cause.

Shinobu would've scolded Raizo, but this would be an insult to her brother if she didn't acknowledge the gravity of his words. She looked up to Raizo, a man who tried to woe her several times in the past, and hugged him with a look of tenderness.

They then focused on the two men, with Sanson removing his cloak to reveal a western-style hooded executioner with yellow pupil-less eyes, stout-bellied while shirtless, wearing metallic arm bands with a dark long cloth draped over his dark pants and black boots. Most significantly, he had the World Government insignia on his stomach.

Henri Sanson- No. 02 of KATANA.

Raizo then realized as he spoke, "To think beasts like...(he paused as he sees Chome crying over Benten's headless corpse with clear signs of violation)...demons like you work for the World Government," with a tone that was a mix of anger, sadness, and revulsion.

"All the more reason you gotta all die so you don't go spreading the news of what's going on here. You guys almost kept to the isolationist policy...which was our superior's plan all along. Lord Ehtanbarn V, Nus...no Lord Shimotsuki Byakuo would want all Wano residents purged so we can get the other PLUTON easier.," explained Hellsing.

"You don't think outside of the here and now. If you actually did research, you'd learn how rotten your ancestors were.," Hellsing remarked coldly as he and Sanson advanced.

"I'll take care of the lummox. You deal with the stronger of the two.," Shinobu said as she used the Ripe-Ripe Fruit to erode the group to destabilize their footing and fire shuriken on Sanson- whose skin bounced off the strikes much to her surprise. She then attempted it on Sanson himself as he rotted away to a skeleton...only for his Haki to reverse the process. She used fire-breathing Jujtsu, but to no avail, as he pinned her down.

As Raizo clashed with Hellsing, he could only watch in horror as Sanson tore through her clothes and forced himself with the proud kunoichi being unable to retaliate, which hurt her pride even more.

Raizo used Hana Shuriken to throw large quantities of shuriken which he can throw rapidly with expert precision at Hellsing, but he evaded them with ease. With this failing, Raizo used Kaminari Shuriken with the thrown shuriken to electrocute him, but he was immune to them, or rather the center of the strikes was moved away from Hellsing's range via unknown means.

Raizo then unrolls multiple scrolls on the ground below him, and drawings of himself manifest from the scrolls, becoming lifelike clones that move around him and thus confuse opponents as to where the real Raizo is. However, Hellsing altered the center of mass to draw Raizo close so Hellsing could do a No-Blade Handchop to strike the Shinobi in the gut.

When Hellsing did a sword slash energy strike, Raizo attempted to use Ninpo: Scrolling Jutsu manifests a scroll from thin air that can capture and store an enemy's attack inside of it. However, Raizo's scrolls were obliterated due to the power exceeding even Kaido's- the quantity surpassing Raizo's capability of containing it.

Raizo attempts to use Ninpo: Smoke Escape Technique as he throws a smoke ball into the ground and quickly moves to a new location while being obscured by the smokescreen. However, Hellsing honed in on him. Raizo attempted Ninpo: Paralysis Jutsu to paralyze him, but Hellsing was so potent in strength that

"Your Haki is so strong...It's likely beyond my senses!," Raizo observed.

"You're wrong on two points. One is that you assumed Sanson was the underling- it's the reverse, I'm just 7 while he's no. 2- just below the boss. You chose the wrong guys even though the result would remain the same...also, your Haki is useless against me," Hellsing said with a smug grin.

"Because your Haki is superior?," asked the Shinobi.

"Nah, because I was born with a rare mutation that makes me unable to use Haki. But in exchange, I'm immune to your Haki crap," Hellsing said with a shrug, his smugness grating on Raizo's nerves.

Hellsing proceeded to blitz Raizo with the latter realizing why Shinosuke and the others didn't detect him when he killed the former- it wasn't that their Observation wasn't advanced enough- even it was higher...Hellsing wouldn't be picked up at all, being a metaphorical phantom to the realm of Haki, imperceptible by those who rely on it. Raizo's eyes grew wide as he tried to anticipate the movements of his sense-based invisible opponent, but it was like trying to catch the wind.

He then caught a glimpse of a phantom of his fellow Red Scabbard- Ashura Doji who gave a saddened look.

I see...My Lord Momonosuke...How I've failed you...But I swear...you'll become a great Shogun to make your father proud...Oden...I join you in the great beyond...Shinobu...it looks like we'll start really dating in the afterlife...Getting a girlfriend...my regrets are none in this life..., thought the Ninja.

However, he instinctively used a Life-Return to transform into a slimmer form and suddenly, an entity appeared that neither party was aware of- a sentient scroll with devil wings and horns and a single eye in the middle of its "head" Its eyes glowed as the environment into scrolls for added range as they fired fireballs from all directions. Hellsing leaped upwards as Raizo followed him.

"Way to go out in style bud...Raizo, I won't forget that name. This blade of mine is Dáinsleif. He's the type of fella that won't be sealed until he cuts someone and he wounds cannot be healed from what he can slash.," explained the KATANA member with his smugness giving way to a genuine respect born of a love of combat.

"I care not for your praise. But I will show you the true power of a scabbard," Raizo declared, his eyes filled with determination as he faced the floating scroll entity, then realizing- "WHAT IN THE BLAZES ARE YOU?!"

Hellsing dodged the bullets fired by a large man with light purple colored hair, two braids at the front of his face, and bells at the end of them. He has thin whiskers and a large scar over his right eye. He wore a blue kimono. He was Blood Letter Omasa, the Yakuza in charge of Udon.

"We've finally started to live out of the shadows of tyrants. Can't be having...," the man said before quieting upon seeing Sanson strangle Shinobu while her clothes were badly ripped apart. Raizo quickly dashed in a vain attempt to rescue her while angered by the KATANA member's actions.

"Sorry, I decided to dump him right away and he didn't take it well...Tama's gone with Yamato...but let her know...she's gonna have to work hard to be a fine shinobi...Sorry, Raizo...I'm going ahead.," Shinobu apologized as she used an Awakening to generate a rotting field...but Sanson sliced her in half via supernatural means despite his ax currently sheathed behind him.

Raizo wept immense tears as he ignored Hellsing about to finish him off from the right side. He was then punched to the side by a small, elderly man with a cyan tuft of hair and goatee that resembled small flames. He has a blue tattoo covering his shoulders and upper back that resembles a vest with pink flower patterns and a border. He looked at Shinobu's floating clothes and realized the tragedy that had taken place.

Hyougoro of the Flower- Former Yakuza Boss of the Flower Capital.

"It's clear now! Wano will be our tomb if we stubbornly remain here! We're not our ancestors afraid of a mere flood! Sukiyaki told me the truth before he died and atoned for his secret treachery! There was a Devil behind the actions of Orochi and Kaido and he still wants this nation! It's only inevitable till they bring reinforcements now they can access here without restraint! Our country isn't the land we live in or taken from their rightful rulers! It's in our people whether they're nice folks or bastards! You wanna live?! Then follow my lead!," he yelled as he released Conqueror Haki.

"(Whistles) Guess, an old dog can learn new tricks...," said Hellsing before noticing Sanson about to slash him, but it was blocked by Babanuki, Alpacaman, Daifugo, Solitaire, and Dobon of the Beast Pirates.

Hyougoro was shocked but then noticed Madilloman, Bearman, and Dachoman being among the many victims of Hellsing, and especially Sanson's genocide.

"I'm not turning a new leaf...it's just that these bastards...made for good company...and I can't eat lousy grub with them anymore!," cried Babanuki.

Suddenly, they saw an unexpected ally- a large man of great height. He is also a cyborg with modified body parts. His shoulders and head are covered in metal plating and his face is completely white and also appears to be made out of metal. He has a triple-barrel gun in place of his right hand. He wears a large maroon winter jacket with gray pauldrons on its shoulders with the number "18" on each of them, a black cavalier hat with a long and wild red plume, pink trousers with purple stripes, and black boots on his small feet. He was flying via jet propulsion.

Scotch- Beast Pirates.

"After I got sent off to be experimented on by a blond bimbo at Egghead after being captured by a mud weirdo, I got this nifty trick!," he yelled as he generated a purple orb around the selected parties and they shrank down into orbs that were collected into Scotch's body as the chest opened to contain them.

Hellsing was dumbfounded at the sight, but Sanson immediately tried to kill them...however, the land began to quake as laughter was heard as the skies darkened-

"Zehahahahahahaha!"

Next Chapter: Tempest

Author Notes: This was to introduce Byakuo's elite squad- the KATANA- serving as the foils of the Holy Knights.

This chapter really begins the trend of the story going much darker and overtly mature than the original story so far- though if Oda wants to delve into this via hints or be more direct, I'll welcome it in the main story.