On the following day—Taiju woke much earlier than usual, his thoughts churning with restlessness. He had written a letter to his father, which he intended to post before nine of the morning:
Greetings, Father…
I'm Taiju. At this moment WE are in Lafiazia—Martyr's Valley, 34/6 Street.
On March 14, we were abducted by a man named Kamiru Satoshi, who allegedly claimed to be Manabu's biological father. You must've been concerned and maybe even filed a initial missing report, but the policemen's reach is bound to Feropia. Kami is an Interior affair minister, and an influential figure. See what you can do. And also when you write me a letter; sent it to the post-office, I'll receive it from there.
The main-exit-door was bolted from the inside. He peep through a slim gap into Maria's room. Inside three maidens were in deep slumber on the four-poster bed. He crawled inside on his knees, and searched drawers and cloths for the master-key. Fortunately he found it attached to a key bunch.
He did not lose any time and crawled out of the room, rummaged through the keys and walked out of the house to the nearby post-office past a station. He purchased stamp and posted the letter. And when he returned, he spotted Leon, in front of the gate's cobbled stairs, checking the time on his wristwatch. He rings the bell, and wait a moment. After some time, Mion's slumber weakens, she gets up from the bed, to get the door. Leon stood tall outside, and as she pulled the door open, he asked. "Where's Manabu?"
Mion stood rigid against the doorframe, her face taut with suppressed anger, as she said. "He's still asleep. What do you want?"
Leon, perplexed by her cold demeanor, ignored it and told her he had been dispatched under Kami's directive. He was there to take them to Kami's council chamber and then drop them off—that was all. Inside, Manabu stirred awake at the doorbell.
"Manabu, Are you ready to go?" Leon asked.
Manabu yawned while scratching his chin and went back inside to get dressed. Taiju, however, slips inside and grabbed Manabu's wrist, and said. "Manabu, what's your decision? You're not planning to stay, are you? What are you thinking?"
Manabu placed his hands on Taiju's shoulders and nodded saying—I'll confront him. With that, he soothed his fears and prepared.
Mion said, she wouldn't be joining solely because of Leon...
Taiju and Mai got dressed and stepped out still disoriented and sleepy. As they drove to Kami's council chamber, Taiju's head constantly produced questions, like: What exactly does Kami do? Was Leon aware that Kami was Manabu's father?
Leon firmly replied, "NO. I didn't had any idea about their relation, until Maria told me. Kami is a senior member of the west council and right-hand man of the emperor Madaq Kibwarip."
Manabu rested his chin on his hand, staring out the window, lost in thought. A decision had to be made. Lafiaza was breathtaking. Taiju and Mai found themselves staring out the window, mesmerized by the beauty of the city. This place was undoubtedly beautiful and majestic, yet there was a sight that didn't quite suit it—oppression.
"Poor people…" Mai murmured, her heart sinking.
Soon, they arrived at Kami's chamber—a grand edifice teeming with politicians, policemen, lawyers, and officials. Leon led them inside; they took the stairs to Kami's chamber. Inside, Kami sat silently in his chair, looking at the ceiling, drowning in his thoughts.
As they entered, he stood up. He told them to have comfort on the couch, and offered coffee. Mai politely declined, opting for black tea instead. Leon refused altogether—he said wouldn't be staying. Kami told him to stay, a discussion with him have to come later.
"with me?" Leon wondered and stood by the couch. Later a negro servant came, and offered them biscuits. Kami thanked the negro servant for his service, which was an uncommon act of kindness. (Negro people were often criticized by pure blooded Lafians, for their skin color. They are treated alike Ivanns—Slaves and illegitimates.)
Kami expected Manabu to have a conclusion to this discussion, of wither he would build trust for Kami and stay, or leave with his friends. "What have you decided?" He asked, hopeful that Manabu would choose him.
Manabu took a slow sip of coffee. Then, in a calm voice, he said. "I'll stay—"
Taiju and Mai jolted in shock, and spilled her tea, "Holy heaven!" she yelled.
Taiju shot up from his seat, "Are you insane?! What do you mean you'll stay?!" he yelled.
But then Manabu said, "—but, on one condition. My companions must be sent back to Feropia safely."
Taiju stared at him, his mouth open even wider, 'Unbelievable.' Taiju had hoped for things to be different, but after what he'd just heard, he sank back, crossing his arms and clenching his jaw in fury.
Mai didn't want it either; she grabbed her tea cup and poured it onto Manabu's pant.
Manabu jumped up, "What did you do?!"
I'm not done yet; she took his coffee, and flung the rest of his coffee onto his shirt, "Stay my ass! Have you lost your mind? You want to stay behind while we leave?!" she snapped furiously. Kami gestured the servant to bring tissues and wipe the coffee clean from Manabu's clothes.
Manabu could tell Taiju and Mai were frustrated, "What else can I do for you? Do you have any idea what your families must be going through right now? We've been missing for days, how would you explain the kidnapping?!"
Mai yelled back at him, "Who the fuck said we needed your help? And you are convinced that this man is your father? Give me a Fucking break!"
"He is. I remember him from when I was very young. He is my father." Manabu said while his voice gradually flattered.
"You could be mental but I am not." Mai intervened and said: "A man lost his child; who was apparently in a different country for unknown reasons. One day the man finds his son and lives happily ever after. Such a bullshit story, who buys it! And how did you both separate? Another kidnapping lore?!—" she ran out of breath while yelling sense into Manabu.
"We went by ships to there, with my grandmother. I was very young." Manabu said. "I have dreams about my mother. I don't remember what happened to her, I had even forgotten her name until I read those paperwork. I want to know what happened to my mother. Why I keep forgetting. What are these visions…"
"I get you. But if you stay I'll stay with you." Taiju said. "You are like my brother, Manabu. Also this country is my motherland as well, it's just I wasn't born here, but I belong here…" Taiju even blurted out, "I even sent a letter to my parents, and told everything."
"You did?!" Manabu flabbergasted.
Kami was listening to them closely, and readily proposed an alternative. "Then why not bring Taiju and Mai's families to Lafiaza? They can stay here forever, and you three can enroll at the Nosco Loc College and University. I'll arrange everything for you, along with Manabu."
"My parents would never agree." Mai said.
After a prolonged silence, Taiju pleaded for more time; his mind wrestled with the choice. "I need to speak with my parents. Should I call them here?"
Manabu hadn't wanted to drag them into this mess. He tried to interject, but before he could say anything, Mai pinched his lips shut and said, "Enough of your nonsense. Just shut the fuck up already!"
"Then I would write them a letter myself," Kami said. "It might be a better choice."
Suddenly, someone knocked on the Chamber door...
Leon gets it, and outside, some government officials and members of CPUS-Units had arrived.
Kami requested them to come inside and get comfortable. The negro servant cleaned the sofa for them, and they all sat down. Kami gave a quick introduction of Manabu to them. Among them, the most senior member of CPUS-Units stood up and shook hands with Manabu.
"I am Fredrick Charles, a senior investigator of CPUS-Units. It's my pleasure to meet you." He said.
Manabu introduced himself formally. Kami requested them to wait outside for a little while until Leon the discussion ends—Leon was told to stay inside. After they left the Chamber, Fredrick began…
Outside, an old man, with a rough face, was smoking. They stood quietly beside him. Then the man looked at Manabu and began to laugh out loud, quite oddly. Manabu didn't understand why: the man turned to him and extended his hand, offering a handshake. "I'm a friend of your father, Colonel Da Graham."
Manabu accepted his offer; shook his hands.
"Peace be on you—Is that what you say in Feropian culture?" Graham said.
"It's slightly wrong." Manabu corrected him. "It's—Upon you: not on you." Though it wasn't a big difference, Graham thought. Manabu smiled awkwardly.
Colonel Da Graham. He was acting commander in the Global War 30 years ago. "I wanted to make my son a commander as well, but he died in the war field," he said.
The discussion inside ended om 3:49 PM: Leon checked his wristwatch. He had yet to drop Manabu and his friends back home. On the way, Manabu, still curious, asked, "What were you discussing inside?"
Leon responded, "Why do you want to know?" Manabu was curious about Leon's role in it, but he knew he wouldn't get the answer and just as thought, Leon said: It was a personal matter, strictly not to be shared. Manabu didn't ask any more questions. Leon dropped them back home.
While driving back, Leon felt a throbbing pain in his head. Once inside his house, he took off his clothes and hung them on a hanger. Maria was playing with the kids, but when she saw Leon's condition, she hurried over and helped him lie down in bed. His body was burning up, possibly with extreme fever. Maria rushed to get a thermometer to check his temperature. Kenzo, who had been outside the room, saw Leon's condition, said, "He's been working nonstop for the past five days without any kind of rest… sometimes, it's hard to watch him struggle like this.
"I don't know what he does, but my heart tells me—" Maria said, "He is going through horror. Why don't you try to stop him?! You are like his elder brother aren't you…"
But Kenzo said it wouldn't work, "Leon is doing everything he can for his family, for these orphan kids. He is even betraying his own community—his people."
Leon began coughing all of a sudden. Maria quickly brought some medicine and sleeping pills from a nearby pharmacy. Leon sat up, struggling weakly, took the medicines, and fell back into a deep sleep.
Maria tucked him in with a blanket, them stood beside Kenzo and asked, "Mr. Kenzo, what does Leon want? Is he on the right side, or he is wrong?..."
Kenzo looked at her with an ambitious expression, and said, "Leon is indeed on the right side… He wants Freedom, but it's quite complicated. It depends on your point of view about: What is freedom? And at what cost a man achieves freedom?"
Maria looked nervous and said, "I probably wouldn't get it right because I was always free, never oppressed. I wouldn't know what does it costs. I'm just afraid he might end up getting himself killed…"
Kenzo patted her head, "Don't worry, Maria. He won't die so easily. Let me tell you a fact." Maria all ears, as Kenzo said. "Leon has this extreme will to live. When he sense danger, his subconscious mind or instinct you could say—acts on its own. His endurance is inhuman. Even if he were stabbed ten times, his will alone might force him back to his feet—just because of his extreme will to live."
Maria was astonished, but she didn't wish to stab him. Kenzo chuckled and told Maria to confess her feelings already and stay by Leon's side forever.
"What are you talking about!" she exclaimed, blushing. "I'm always ready to be there for Leon when he needs me, but not like that!"
"Oh is that so? I must've got it wrong. Anyways lets leave him to rest." Kenzo said.
"You're right." They closed the door, letting Leon rest in peace…