Rin stood alone in a quiet place, away from the city's noise, away from people's eyes. She looked at the stars. The sky was dark, and the stars glittered with cold light. Some were so close they seemed to whisper to her. Some were so distant they seemed like dreams.
She sighed.
She was thinking. Contemplating. Dreaming. Her entire life had been spent here, on this moon. Under this blue light. Between these gray and white walls. Childhood memories. The first time she held a sword. The first time she fell during training. The first time her father laughed.
They were beautiful memories. They meant a lot to her.
But she asked herself: if they returned to Earth one day... if her ancestors' dream came true and they returned to their original homeland... could she forget this place? Could she leave all these memories behind?
She did not know the answer. She just looked at the stars. And ached. And dreamed.
"Rin-sama."
A man's soft voice. Came from behind her. She turned. It was one of her father's students. A young man, his face simple, wearing a simple training kimono.
"Is the master here?" he asked.
"Yes. He is inside."
The young man bowed slightly, then entered the training hall. Sanada sat there. Did not move. Did not look at him. Sat like a statue.
The student approached him. Bowed with a polite greeting. "Sanada-sama." Then sat in a corner of the hall. He was the first to arrive. Began waiting for the rest of the students. Did not speak. He knew Sanada did not like talking before training.
Rin turned her back. Began to move. She had daily chores to do. No time for dreaming.
In the market, Rok walked strutting. Flexing his muscles. Beating his chest with his hand. Laughing loudly.
People looked at him. Some smiled. Some turned away. Some ignored him. They knew his truth. Knew he was not that strong. But they said nothing. Did not want to anger him.
He did not know. Believed he was strong. Believed everyone feared him. Believed everyone respected him.
"I will participate in the battle!" he shouted loudly to make sure everyone heard. "And I will teach the Earthling a harsh lesson! I will teach him that the moon people are strong! And that I am strong!"
He laughed. His laugh was loud, annoying.
No one answered him. But at the edge of the road, on a modest resting chair, a person sat. His head lowered to the ground. No one saw his face. But he listened.
He laughed. A quiet laugh. No one heard it. He did not raise his voice. But it was a mocking laugh. A sarcastic laugh.
Then he raised his head slightly. Did not show his face completely. But his eyes... were sharp. Gleaming in the shadows.
He looked at Rok for a moment. Then returned to looking at the ground. Did not move. Did not speak. Remained sitting as if part of the place. But his presence... was heavy.
In the laboratory, Kain finally emerged. Did not say anything. Did not look at anyone. Pointed his finger at one of the servants. The servant understood. Bowed and left.
The servant began searching. Went to Enel's room. Did not find him. Went to the corridors. Searched. Did not find him.
He stopped. Took out a shoe from a small bag. The shoe was different. Not like ordinary people's shoes. Made of light metal, with small openings in the back. It was a high-speed jet shoe. Similar to those used by strong warriors on Earth. Similar to the shoes of the Vinsmoke family, Sanji's family.
He put it on quickly. Then took out a small watch from his pocket. The watch's face was a glowing screen. Pressed a button. A small map appeared. On it, a red dot. A dot that moved.
The servant looked at the watch. Then shot forward. Moving at incredible speed. Passing through corridors. Bypassing people. No one saw him.
At that moment, Enel was walking through one of the city's alleys. The place was quiet. No cameras. No one watching. He thought he was hidden.
But he heard a sound. Fast movement. He turned. Saw the servant. Standing right before him. As if he knew exactly where he was.
Enel stopped. Looked at the servant. Said nothing.
"Kain is looking for you," the servant said in a quiet voice. "He asks you to come immediately."
Enel did not feel joy. Did not ask why Kain wanted him. Asked something else.
"How did you find me here?" His voice was cold.
The servant did not answer.
"Are you watching my every step?"
Silence.
"There are no cameras here." Enel looked around. The walls were old. No devices. Nothing. "How did you track me?"
The servant remained silent. Did not change his expression. Did not raise his eyes. Was like a statue.
Enel understood. He would not answer. Would not say anything.
He turned his back. Began walking. Heading toward Kain's quarters. Walking quickly. Angry. Not loud anger. Cold anger. Burning in his chest without showing on his face.
And confusion was eating at him too.
How? How did they know his location without cameras? How did the servant find him in a distant alley? How was he heading directly toward him as if he knew where he would be?
"There is a secret," he whispered to himself. "Something they are not telling me. Something I do not know."
He continued walking. One question only in his head: How did they find me?
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