Inside the quiet diner, the man leaned back, the steam from his coffee rising between him and the three terrified teenagers. He looked at Rio, his gaze less predatory than before.
"I'm not going to bring you in," the man said casually, catching them all off guard. "For now, let's just act like no one knows you're harboring that power. You can keep living your life. But... there's a reason we're on high alert. You want to know why?"
Rio nodded slowly, his heart still racing.
"Like I said, there are ancient stones scattered across the major corners of Japan. These aren't just pebbles; they are massive monuments of power, almost like mountains themselves. But right now, things are going south within the Spiritual Organization."
He paused, his expression darkening.
"One stone was shattered forty years ago, like I told you. But just last month? Because of a massive surge in spirit activity, four more seals have been compromised. Their soul fragments have already found hosts—just like you. They are out there, wandering the streets, and unlike you, they might not have a choice in who they become."
The man stood up, adjusting his heavy coat.
"As long as you don't learn how to use Spiral Energy—Air—you'll stay off most radars. It's safer that way. Just... keep your head down and watch your back."
He looked at the table filled with empty coffee mugs and the remains of a hot pot they had ordered to calm their nerves. A small, mischievous smirk played on his lips.
"Oh, and one more thing. Since I'm letting you walk away... you're picking up the tab for the coffee and the hot pot. Consider it a 'mercy fee'."
Before Rio could even protest, the man turned and walked out of the diner, disappearing into the neon-lit night as effortlessly as a ghost.
Once he was safely outside, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered it with a sigh.
"Yo. Did you find him?" a voice asked from the other end.
"Yeah, I found him," the man replied, lighting a cigarette as he walked. "The fragment has definitely taken root in his body."
"And? Why haven't you brought him in yet? You know the rules."
"No... I'm letting this one slide," the man said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "He's an acquaintance of my younger sister. Besides, the kid doesn't know the first thing about using Air. He's harmless for now."
There was a brief silence on the line, followed by a low chuckle. "Fine. If that's your call, I'll trust your gut. But since you're taking it easy tonight, come over to my place. And bring ten bottles of beer on your way, alright?"
The Hunter smiled, the light of the streetlamps reflecting in his eyes. He closed the phone and looked back toward the diner one last time. Rio's journey had only just begun, and in a world where four other fragments were now roaming free, the peace wouldn't last for long.