( Sakuya's POV )
I grabbed the handle of my knife by instinct but I quickly relaxed and didn't make a move, he was not from this world but he was not a world traveler, he was only a mediator, and attacking him would alert the true threat.
He was coming from Biba's car, so I rushed over and entered after knocking on the door.
Biba: Sakuya, how did things go?
Sakuya: I think very good, he said he will be very busy with his research and he told me to give this to you.
I handed the briefcase to Biba and when he checked the contents he put on another fake smile.
Biba: Sakuya, what can you tell me about that person Yuuki, with whom you were traveling?
Sakuya : You're asking because of that hooded man on the train.
Biba: What gave you that idea?
Sakuya: People like them call themselves travelers and have a certain air around them that separates them from others.
Biba: Yes I could feel that, he gave us a good deal but that sounds like something too good to be true.
Sakuya: If I may give my opinion, those travelers are not interested in the future of this world or the people, their only interest is that other people can fulfill their side of a deal, they would give what they promised, but that is not my decision.
Biba: Thank you for your insight into the situation, you may leave now.
Sakuya: I will.
After my meeting with Biba I kept an eye on the traveler without him noticing, before reaching the last station, I received a report that Rumiko had delivered the package and also that our group had arrived at the station first, my master having decided that the station would be the battlefield where he would stop Biba, he evacuated all the civilians without the permission of the station manager.
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( Yuuki's POV )
Although we took the long way, our train got us to Iwato Station before Biba's hunters, We arrived with the intention of protecting them, but the station managers did not treat us any better than at the previous location, for them we were no different from Biba and his group, which was technically true since we didn't support the cowardly shogun but I took personal offense at being compared to a weasel.
The situation was somewhat complicated this time so I simply evacuated all the civilians from the station, with a powerful sleeping drug prepared by Flora and my teleportation powers, it only took seconds.
The station was left inhabited only by the armed warriors and they were so on edge by Biba's arrival that they didn't notice anything, I was sitting on the station wall when I saw Biba and his group arrive, he was immediately taken off his train at gunpoint and along with his most trusted followers were taken to the station castle.
In that group I saw Sakuya doing a perfect job infiltrating their ranks, and the girl Kabaneri Mumei was with them too, apparently when Biba left the last station she went with them, She was originally from that group so that didn't surprise me but Ayame, Ikoma and some of our other allies considered her family and they wanted to bring her back home, they tried to stop her but Biba's words were something she couldn't defy, so that was another thing to worry about.
I saw Biba's group enter the castle and not long after they left the place quietly, I raised an eyebrow at that scene but concluded that their plan of attack would begin later, and later that was reaffirmed by Sakuya when she gave us her report and we prepared accordingly.
When dusk came, Biba's train was out of the station and all the soldiers were positioned on the wall nervously waiting for Biba to make his move, I was inside one of the hybrid Gears because I was a high value target for the Crimson Ravens and other World Travelers, the hooded guy's superior must be watching somewhere and I didn't want to give my position away immediately.
Yuuki: It seems like it's just starting, they're going all out this time.
Tatenashi: This is memorable in a twisted kinda way.
Next to me were the Sarashiki sisters and we watched as a horde of Kabanes came down from the mountains and I saw a blue light in front of Biba's train, according to the scientist we had captured recently, the glowing blue heart was a characteristic of the Kabanes virus evolving within the host, Biba had created another hive, the thing gathered a large number of Kabanes to create a giant body that let out a strange roar that attracted even more Kabanes, then that thing made a huge hole in the protective wall and the hunters were able to enter the station.
While the station warriors were trying and failing to stop Biba's invasion, I was somewhat suspicious that there was no sign of the BETAs, I had to contact Sakuya for information, and she quickly replied that Biba had her reservations about using the help of the world travelers so I thought I had to give him a reason for them to act, I was going to give the order to move but Sakuya made a request before cutting off the communication.
Sakuya:[ Master, would you allow me to help the girl in the hive? I know we are on an important mission, but I want to help an old friend. ]
Yuuki: That's fine, I'll tell Saeko to support you.
Sakuya: [Thank you very much, master.]
When the communication was cut off we started to move, now most of the Gears were being piloted by soldiers and the rest were inside flying ships, which opened laterally to provide a firing line, today we were not going to capture the Kabanes and the soldiers were equipped with real firepower, It was a shame that we couldn't save this people, but I hope that in their next life they will be born into a more peaceful world.