Edano was determined to seek the assistance of the man he trusted. Saé, anxious not to leave me alone, agreed to let him go. So Edano set out to find Ishikiwa.
Edano found Ishikawa and explained the situation to him with poignant sincerity. He explained that in order to minimize losses and face this ordeal, it was imperative to muster all available resources.
"Ishikawa, we're facing an unprecedented crisis," he began, his tone tinged with gravity. "We must act quickly and effectively if we are to have any chance of survival."
Ishikawa, also visibly tormented by events, questioned Edano as to why he had come.
"Why me, Edano?" he asked in a voice laden with emotion, searching for answers in his interlocutor's eyes.
With a frankness tinged with respect, Edano confided in him that he had faith in his loyalty and considered him the only person capable of guiding everyone through this ordeal.
"Ishikawa, you're our best hope," he added, his voice echoing in the silence that had settled between them.
Edano's words echoed in the silence, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion. Ishikawa seemed absorbed by the gravity of the situation, his gaze reflecting both the heaviness of the burden on his shoulders and his determination to rise to the challenge before them.
Ishikawa listened attentively to Edano's words, a mixture of surprise and reluctance in his eyes.
"Don't put too much hope in me, Edano," he declared with poignant sincerity, his eyes expressing deep resignation. "I might disappoint you... You too."
Edano replied with conviction, emphasizing the importance of even the most modest contributions in a desperate situation like this.
"Even the smallest help can make a big difference," he explained in a confident voice. "Every gesture counts in times like these."
Edano's words seemed to touch Ishikawa, who was surprised by his comrade's confidence in him.
"Edano, you're one of those who solved the riddle," he pointed out, astonished. "You've already proved your worth. You won't die."
Edano recalled Ishikawa's wise words, echoing in his mind like a comforting mantra.
"You were right," he declared in a firm voice. "These riddles are here to unite us, not divide us. We must work together to find a solution."
He insisted that true transformation could only come if individuals changed first.
"We have to change ourselves to change the world," he declared with conviction. "Real change starts from within."
The silence that followed was charged with palpable tension, each absorbed by the depth of the words exchanged and the gravity of the situation ahead.
Ishikawa decided to follow Edano, a renewed sense of motivation lighting up his eyes as he prepared to face the challenges ahead.
On the way, they were confronted with an intriguing and disturbing scene. A group was looting food from a nearby field.
Surprised by this contradictory scene, they exchanged worried glances. The contrast between their earlier talk of unity and this vision of looting was striking.
They cautiously approached the group, observing the scene with apprehension. Glances moved forward to take in the dark reality unfolding before their eyes, defying the vision of hope they had cultivated.
Edano tightened his grip on his weapon, preparing to intervene if necessary. He turned to Ishikawa, but Ishikawa gestured to him, as if to tell him not to intervene.
"That's a good discovery you've made there!"
"Yes, thanks to this we won't lose a single life point for lack of food."
"Better still, it's likely to disturb the other groups considerably!"
As the group congratulated each other, sharing the victuals with an almost frenzied enthusiasm, a silhouette emerged from the fog, mysterious and imposing. The murmurs died away as everyone turned their gaze to this new arrival.
It was Ryo Kanjo.
His presence was electric, imbued with an aura of power and command. His impassive face betrayed no emotion, but his piercing eyes scrutinized each individual with remarkable intensity.
"What have we here?" he asked in a voice calm but laden with authority, his gaze sweeping over the group of raiders with a kind of measured disdain.
The group froze, startled by this unexpected interruption. Some exchanged nervous glances, suddenly realizing that their act could have unforeseen consequences.
As one of the group tried to explain himself to Ryo, another member, obviously used to such tense situations, beckoned his colleague to use his observation skills.
"Enya! Use your observation skills to see who this guy is..."
But before he could finish his sentence, his comrade suddenly collapsed to the ground, screaming in fear.
"He's... He's from floor 18!"
This dramatic scene plunged the group into an agonizing silence, broken only by the breath of the wind whistling between Okutama's beautiful abandoned landscapes. Ryo, standing in the middle of everyone, seemed to emit an icy aura, as if his mere presence had the power to freeze the atmosphere.
One of the members, trying to maintain some semblance of bravery in the face of this intimidating man, dared to speak up. His trembling voice echoed in the heavy air.
"We've... Found that some plots were better stocked with food than others... We simply intended to take some..."
Ryo abruptly interrupted the group member, denouncing his lie with calculated coldness.
"Admit it! You were going to take it all for yourself, weren't you?"
He made it clear in a calm but authoritative voice that they had already understood their horse trading.
Ryo's reaction surprised Edano. I had once described Ryo as the antagonist of the story. But it would seem that things had changed, that his sides had become blurred in this now uncertain world.
Yet the truth was inescapable. The group, confronted with the reality of their own intentions, confirmed to Ryo that they were indeed going to take everything they could find, regardless of the others.
But instead of reprimanding them or stopping them, Ryo chose to do nothing.
"Very well."
"What?"
"It's to your credit that you found this land first. I don't intend to do anything, just take what you want."
"Really?"
"Yes, you're free to."
The group stood dumbfounded, incredulous at Ryo's tacit permission. So they could take whatever they wanted, without worrying about the consequences for others. Ryo, instead of reprimanding them, seemed to encourage this obvious selfishness.
This validation of their behavior galvanized them. They felt justified in their actions, freed from any moral scruples. Ryo had opened the door to limitless opportunity, where self-interest took precedence over altruistic considerations.
As they helped themselves without restraint, a feeling of dread rose within them. Ryo emerged silently behind one of the raiders, murmuring in a barely audible voice.
"However, despite your current efforts, I'll be back to collect your loot when your end comes..."
This revelation chilled the raider's blood, sowing a disturbing doubt within the group.
As they watched the scene with rapt attention, Ishikawa and Edano began to exchange impressions.
Edano, deeply intrigued by Ryo's behavior, put forward a theory to Ishikawa.
"We are deprived of Bun, therefore we must think like him... And I'm pretty sure... That this scene can only be a crucial clue to what's to come."