Timothy gazed at each end of the room he stood inside, but it didn't have enough items or hints to know where Riley brought him.
"Is this some kind of storage room? Or what's with all those wooden boxes?" He felt stumbled and had no cognizance, waited for an answer, and received it. "It was once a supplying room," Riley glimpsed at the boxes, "But now it's empty and isolated. The mainland got escorted to the la Isleta Cortada under the watch of the agency and the admirals. It was once the main headquarters before being invaded by pesky pirates such as you."
Timothy sensed no deceptions and believed Riley's explanation had no flaws in terms of suspicion. "But now, its only use is to throw the highly-dangerous people into the forbidden chain like the Yasuda girl you befriended. In others words, people who oppose the world government in any meaning." Riley explained, standing with his arms in his pockets.
"You mean people who are innocent and hadn't done anything to oppose the world government? Because that's what it looks like." Timothy raised his voice, pointing his finger at Riley. "How many people have been "banished" here at the forbidden chain? And how many of them were innocent? I bet hundreds or thousands." He complained with a serious tone.
"It's been less than 50 people," The answer confused Timothy and startled him, "50 people since the world government became a reality. And Chiaki is the only member from the Yasuda family who the fleet admiral suggested we throw her inside or "banish" from the world. And to your poor knowledge, we haven't banished a person for decades. We usually sentence them to death or imprison them. We don't act without thinking about circumstances and who's guilty or free of charge."
Timothy stood in bewilderment but didn't let go of a courageous expression. "Then what's the exception about Chiaki? You say you pick carefully about the people you banish, and Chiaki still hasn't done anything to oppose the world government. Only I and the rest of my crew did it today by burning the world government flag. As Chiaki herself, she didn't. She even complied with your wish for her death." He said, knowing that the only answer about Chiaki's death was her bloodline.
"Why would you want to kill somebody without a criminal record? You gave her the $400 million bounty only because of her irregularity. She holds some impressive abilities, but she's been using them for good ever since I came to the Vast Expanse. And the majority of the time, she didn't or doesn't use them at all."
He continued, angered, "Are you really going to act on opinions and not the facts? I would understand if you wanted her dead when she would cause a crime or something to oppose the world government or WPDA. But you could leave her alone and wait for the proof she wouldn't use it to destroy. Instead, you're assuming she'll use her abilities to wreak havoc in the world and don't even give her a chance. That's not how the laws should work." Timothy explained, worrying about spending too much time.
"I couldn't care less if you wanted the pirates dead, but Chiaki grew up in an entirely different region of the world instead of her homeland. She was just a baby girl when the 'Deadly Rain' arose from the ashes. She wasn't even a pirate or an agent at that time, but an innocent, carefree, cheerful young girl. You shouldn't declare death upon people without a purpose. And the only reason you have is because of her last name and your anxiety about her destroying the world by overusing her abilities upon people.
"You really think that all the members of the Yasuda family exist to destroy things? Why don't you try thinking positively for once in your life? What if she's different? What if she wants to help the world instead of hurting it? You don't think about that?" Timothy finished becoming impatient and frustrated.
"Why should we worry about the opinions? Her good-bad deeds or the future? When all we need to do is relieve that thought and proceed onward. One life gone in the world won't change a thing. Just like the six of you. All of them will get wiped out by the other foremost agents." Riley responded, keeping it as brief as possible, but Timothy's patience ran out.
"Because she's innocent!!" He yelled, taking a deep breath right afterward. He looked behind him, knowing that the only exit was through the stairwell behind Riley.
"I won't let you out of my sight." Riley raised his head in a bit of surprise and looked at Timothy. "They'll survive no matter what they're up against right now. Even if it's not me who saves Chiaki. I know the others can do it. But if I let you get away... you're going to kill them. I won't let you get any further. I won't let you out of my sight."
Riley grew irritated and frustrated, pulling his right arm behind his shoulders and punching forward. "You think you can beat me?!" Riley shouted in anger, seeing Timothy pulling his arm behind as well.
"If I don't, I can't save anyone!!" Timothy seared out blue flames that enveloped his entire right arm, "Fire..." Timothy's voice reverberated throughout the room, "Fist!"
Timothy punched Riley's arm with full speed and power. However, Riley grinned with confidence, "Time..." A sudden ringing shockwave spread through the whole room, "Skip.." The room and Timothy's body became colorless, and Timothy became still along with the flames, stopping them from flaring. "Chop!" Riley enchanted his right arm with a steel-hard aura and fiercely drove his fist into Timothy's stomach, sending a brutal shock through his body.
The monochrome picture immediately changed back to its normal colors, restoring Timothy's vision as the air cleared. Timothy's body became ready to launch his assault as though nothing had happened or as though a second had elapsed.
But before he could, he experienced a sharp, quick, agonizing, and ridiculous pain in his gut.
Timothy's body became rigid as though a lightbulb flickered in his head. He stopped breathing and was unable to even scream in pain. Instead, confused at what had transpired, he grasped his stomach.
"T-This pain... W-Where did it... come from?" He asked, barely having the strength to stand, and his voice was breathless. "Y-You didn't move... I saw you there... You were about to strike. " Timothy claimed, but only noticed Riley grinning at him. "Oh... believe me... I moved, white-hair pirate."
To be continued...