Couldn't get anything done the past couple days as internet was down. But here is a chapter.
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"The other kabaneri? Ah. You see, I was merely experimenting,"Biba replied casually.
"Experimenting?" Kaelis raised an eyebrow.
"And why would you possibly do that? It's not some grand ambition about turning them back now would it? Cause if it is…" Kaelis shook his head,
"Cause if it is, you're wasting your time. They got no soul to bring back." He finished.
"…"
Biba's face scrunched up and Kaelis's words.
He didn't have any grand ambition of turning kabanes back into humans.
Back then, when he was at his most optimistic he might've thought about it but now…
By experimenting on the Kabane, he sought to turn the tools of fear and death into weapons of liberation—or, in his twisted mind, purification.
Proving to himself and everyone that humanity could transcend weakness only through embracing and mastering the fear that enslaved them.
"No… none of that." He chucked, "I simply want to show the world that, by overcoming our greatest fear—the kabane. True strength can be born."
He said, a little passion could be heard from his voice.
"…" it was Kaelis's turn to stare.
This would not end well for anybody. Was what he thought.
God knows how many times scientists have tried to study viruses, only for it to run rampant.
Say less for anything like a zombie virus.
Any movie watcher would tell you that shits gonna hit the fan at some point.
And he might a—
"Brother! I got… it."
Interrupting his thoughts was mumei who burst inside the door holding up a key in her hand.
"Mumei…? What are you doing here? And is that a key? That's the key to the boiler room?" Kaelis pointed out.
"Huh? The boiler…room?"
Mumei glanced at the key in her hand and scrutinized it but still couldn't tell whether it's a boiler room key or the master key.
"I-it's a fake?"
"What? Is it supposed to be something else?" Kaelis asked, tilting his head confusedly.
Panicked, she spoke up, "B-but that's impossible. She gave—"
"Seems like your 'friends' tricked you. That's unfortunate." Biba cut her off.
She couldn't believe it.
Seeing the interaction between the two, Kaelis got an idea of what transpired.
"So you got tricked and brought the boiler room key… that means your goal was another key." He said to both siblings.
Biba put on his usual poker face, not allowing Kaelis to get a read on his thoughts and emotion.
But, the same couldn't be said for mumei though, as she was fidgety.
After the pause, Kaelis continued, "I might be wrong or looking too deep into this but I don't see how any key other than the master key would be of use to you."
Mumei got even more agitated.
Kaelis just smiled, as that's all the confirmation he needed.
BAAM!
Before anyone could see, Kaelis grabbed Biba's throat before slamming him into the wall.
"—ghhk!"
"!" It took mumei a second later to finally react but when she did, she saw her brother being held by the neck.
"Brother!"
She ran up and held onto the arm Kaelis was holding biba, trying her hardest to pull his hand away.
And seeing her efforts aren't doing much as Kaelis wasn't budging, she began pleading.
"Please! Kaelis! Don't hurt my brother!" She begged.
"Why shouldn't I?" He simply squeezed tighter.
"Ughk!"
Seeing her brother was getting the daylight choked out of him, she pleaded harder.
"Brother, please—! Let him go! You're hurting him!"
"I can see that. This guy's being a pain in the ass, so why not get rid of him now." Kaelis calmly stated.
"Please don't do this!" Tears began welling up in her eyes. "I'm begging you!"
Kaelis side-eyed her.
BAAM!
Hm?
The entrance door was suddenly shoved open and the whole group of hunter's upper echelons rained in.
"What's going on?!"
"What happened!?"
"Lord Biba!"
More people? Kaelis was initially confused about who called them. Must've been the noise. He surmised with a shrug.
They all raised their weapons at Kaelis's figure but did not fire.
At the forefront of the group was the blonde woman, horobi.
"You! Release the young master this instant!"
Horobi was furious.
The only thing holding her and the rest of the crew back from open firing and blasting Kaelis full of holes was due to Biba and his sister being there.
Kaelis ignored the command.
He kept his focus on both Mumei and her brother.
"Please! I'll do anything!" Mumei said through sobs.
"Oh?" Kaelis smiled.
He let go of biba, allowing him to fall into the floor gasping and coughing as air was finally allowed to enter his lungs.
"Anything~?"
"Huh!?"
Seeing her confused, Kaelis repeated with a devious grin, "you said you'll do anything."
She became scared. So much so she began trembling and stammering.
"I-i-i—" she could've even formulate words properly.
Kaelis just sighed. "Alright kid, I was just joking. I'll spare your brother for a bit."
He decided to leave….But before that.
BAAM!
"Ughk!"
He delivered a kick to biba's guts for safe measure and walked off.
As soon as he is quite a distance from biba, horobi ran up to stab him which he dodged effortlessly before backhanding her one side.
KO!
She got knocked out instantly.
BANG—BANG—BANG!
The other hunters opened fire at him but due to his durability, they just bounced off of him.
"What!?"
"How is that possible?!"
All of them were shocked beyond belief.
They were used to the kabaneris being more powerful that regular humans but not to the degree of bullet proof.
This was something else entirely.
The firing only stopped once their magazines were empty as they watched Kaelis exit through the door.
"…"
Silence descended upon the room as thoughts ran through their heads.
It was then broken by Uryuu orders.
"Someone go check up on horobi! Let's go help the boss!"
"Right!"
He and others ran over to biba's and mumei's side.
"Brother! Are you okay?" Mumei was helping her brother up.
"Y-yes. I'm fine."
"Boss! What was that monster?" Uryuu interjected.
Biba looked down at his fee, Anger building up within.
He felt humiliated. He hadn't felt so powerless before.
Suppressing the whirlwind of emotions boiling over within him, his eyes became extremely cold.
"Someone we should get rid of, quickly!"
Meanwhile, outside on the roof of the train, Kaelis walked along casually, the wind whipping against his hair and clothes.
"Ah, damn," he muttered, suddenly remembering something. "I barely got what I came for." He sighed and facepalmed, shaking his head with a faint chuckle. "Well… doesn't matter anyway."
Chapter 32 end.