Koza thanked the farmhands for their directions. The sun was starting to set, so he offered to work in order to pay for a room, as he had no money. As he worked, he spied the girl he helped before. "Funny that we keep running into each other like this."
Koza left town and started heading for the capital. On the way, he stopped at a farm to ask for directions, as he had no idea where he was going.
Koza walked to a temple on the outskirts of town. He knelt at the altar and prayed to the gods for forgiveness.
"Think nothing of it. If you will excuse me, I have something I need to take care of."
"I've got a feeling the person I brought here just ran off. Pity she couldn't even thank me for helping her."
"But if your clan was killed by your brother, then why don't you just give up on being a hunter?"
"You seem like you're on edge, Geryl. Is something wrong?"
"You have a nice voice. Whatever possesed you to become a bounty hunter?"
"I wonder where your father went."
Koza walked outside and started sharpening his balde.
MIchael wrapped his arms around Kai and held her close. "Feeling warmer now?"
Imagine me, working with a hunter....I wonder if that other girl...no, she seemed really frightened of me, but then again, who wouldn't be? Those long nine years in that hell really changed me.....
"Very well. We'll call a truce for now. If you even think of attacking me, though, you're dead, got it?"
Koza found no sign of the magistrate, so he went back to the inn for a drink.
Koza heard a strange sound and went to investigate. The girl that bumped into him before was attacked by a bandit. Koza swiftly dealt with him and carried her to the nearest town. He left her at the inn while he went looking for the magistrate of this town.
Koza stopped in his tracks. He felt like he was being watched.
Koza walked along as he wiped the blood from his katana. Why did all of this have to happen? Why did they want my family dead, and why go through the trouble of framing me?
Koza prayed at the graves of his family and left town, all the while watching for hunters.
Koza walked to the town gates. It's time I move on. If I work my way up the chain of command, then I will be able to root out the person responsible for my family's murder. I had best pay my respect to them before I leave. He headed toward the graveyard.
Koza just shrugged it off as he approached the magistrate. His guards surrounded Koza. "Stand aside, worms, or feel the sting of my blade." The guards ignored him and moved to attack. Koza dispatched them easily and grabbed the magistrate by the collar. "I believe you already know who I am, so let's get down to business. You have some information on the assasination of the Ishida family. Tell me what you know and I might let you live." The magistrate told Koza all that he knew. "So it was orcestrated by the government. Your masters shall soon join you." Koza beheaded the magistrate and walked on.
