Chapter 22: The Major Problem Gets a Promotion to Colonel

Name：The Bounty Hunter Author：
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Chapter 22: The Major Problem Gets a Promotion to Colonel

October 13th, 2088

Terras POV

It has been a week since the bank robbery incident. Thankfully, Hikari seems to be fine psychologically. I guess that my timely intervention along with her naturally upbeat personality has made it possible to bounce back easily. We were even able to successfully choose a puppy the next day for her. Much to my dismay, she fell in love with a basset hound puppy that looked eerily similar to a certain bounty hunter nemesis of mine. She even named him Snoozer because of how he would often nap in an adorable fashion. Snoozer also seemed to have a grudge against me, every time I saw him he would stop and stare at me. It was really creepy and it disturbed me enough to check the dog with magic to make sure he hadnt been possessed.

At the pet store, I had planned to take a firm stance against that breed but Hikari looked at me with pleading, upturned eyes and I caved instantly. I blame my guilt from letting Hikari get exposed to danger during the robbery for my weak resolve at the pet store. I had initially hoped to just wait out the robbery and then proceed with life, but I had to risk standing out in order to protect Hikari after things went south. When facing the robber, I had secretly used simple telekinesis to turn his guns safety on before I incapacitated him.

I then quickly headed over to the other world and started gathering information via rumors, government announcements and local news across the major cities in the queendom. That wasnt too difficult, it mainly required me to head to the local tavern and buy everyone a drink and ask for news. I also got in touch with all black-market fences, information dealers and other unsavory contacts I have made over the years to verify and follow up on details in those documents. Eventually I reorganized all the gathered data and have since then been frantically connecting the nearly non-existent dots with my own information. I completely lost track of time as I consumed coffee and magic stimulants in order to keep myself focused. The plot that I was piecing together was so unbelievable I was unable to look away for even a moment despite my exhaustion. I think it is finally time fo ZZZZZZ.

Later on I was woken up by Hikari angrily as she demanded to know where I had been yesterday. Apparently, I had worked for over 24 hours straight as I dashed about in the other world looking for info and had missed school that day. Thankfully it was Saturday today, so I could sleep in. She had covered for me by saying that I was sick. She was about to press me for details about where I had been, but I simply told her that I had gone to the hospital due to a mild infection. I then promptly fell asleep. And in my sleep my nightmares came again after a short absence. But instead of Hafor Village burning, it was Tokyo. And instead of the faces of the villagers appearing, the faces of my parents, Reiji, and Hikari appeared instead. I eventually woke up in a cold sweat at 3 in the afternoon.

Project Redemption. Thats the name of the plan that Fujioka and the group he is a part of is working on. Based on the communications there are 4 other executives distributed in both this world and the other world along with many subordinates. Although it seems like the subordinates are completely in the dark about the executives plans. Identifying information was redacted and the details of what they are trying to do are mostly absent, but Fujioka appears to be in charge of logistics and human resources. All those documents detailed shipping and purchasing of weapons, materials and people in both worlds although identifying information was again redacted.

My frantic investigations were to try and ferret out the redacted information on these documents. They were going somewhere they called The Place in Between to move between worlds. They were supplying the slavers with arms and money in exchange for slaves, but I dont know what they are doing with them. In my world they seem to have established corporations to generate income and to provide a cover for the massive amounts of materials they have been collecting.

The only executive still in the other world is the handler for these slaver groups and he has also been successfully keeping the Cult of Chains off their trail. From what I can tell, this group is planning to conduct a large-scale magical ritual here in my world. I dont know what the purpose of it is, but the sheer scale is dangerous. Ill have to get more information about their plan, and the quickest way to do that is to hunt down the unknown executives. The only lead I have is in the other world: Ill interrogate the executive there first and keep Fujioka alive for observation for now.