Merry Christmas!! And Happy new year!!
The greatest sin is to avert your eyes away and stop trusting in other people.
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It was Leverier.
Lenalee froze in fear, barely didn't noticed Leverier's hair was blonde instead of brunette, his face kinder than the Leverier's expression she used to know. Allen, Lavi and Kanda glared at him, the first two had their arm around Lenalee as the latter had his sword halfway out of its sheath.
She couldn't help but screamed and smack the hand the man had stretched out to help her. The man looked hurt before he schooled his expression into cold indifference as K- no, Daniel walked up to them.
"Jamie, everything's alright here?" Daniel looked in query, taking in the hostile mood. "Oh, right, you guys haven't met yet. Let me introduce you, this is James Leverier, one of the higher up in this organization."
"James?" Lenalee stared at the blonde man in surprise. Yes, now she noticed the differences; the hair, the kind eyes… yes, this not the man she knew.
"James D. Leverier at your service ma'am," James bowed deeply and kisses Lenalee's hand. She blushed as the three boys now glared jealously at the man.
James ignores the death glare, turned to Troy, "Devon, congratulation for completing your mission without destroying the whole place," he said coolly, causing the brunette to squirmed, "I trust you would behave with more restraint whilst completing your future missions?"
Troy refrained from answering as he ducked, a young woman appear out of nowhere, aiming to kick him, which instead hit Lavi, who crashed smack onto one of the wall.
"En Grade, Devon!!" she hollered, pulling out an ornate-looking quarter-staff, and aim for his head. The boy coolly step away form the attack, pulls out his batons and began to defend himself as the blonde girl furiously attack him.
"Damn!" Daniel cursed, as a French girl tries to separate both of the fighters without getting hurt, "Troy, Adamski, stop it!! This is getting ridiculous," he muttered as he, Leverier and the exorcist group watched General Audrey and General Nicholas finally able to put a stop to the fight.
"All of you inside. Now!!" Daniel pointed at the mahogany door in front of him, making sure Troy was inside first before allowing the girl to enter. Inside, Lavi, Allen, Lenalee and others (excluding Kanda, who was glaring at everyone!) stared in awe at the stately room, the crescent table with eight chairs around it, the exorcists milling around and most of all, a portrait of a noble woman with beautiful, silky brown hair and tell-tale silvery-blue eyes.
"That's…" Lavi asked softly to Annabelle, who was craning her head as if looking for someone.
"Her Ladyship, Countess Adriana Walker. She's the head General and one of the founders of the new Black Order." Allen stared in wonder, couldn't help to notice her faint resemblance with Lenalee. He then pushes away the thought as all of them watches Daniel yelled at Adamski.
"What is the meaning of this? I thought I forbid you from attacking him, Adamski!!" the girl muttered something, which made Daniel grimaced before turning to the others. "The meeting will commerce. Generals, take your places."
Audrey Williamson, Nicholas Masters and Kunogi Ritsuko sat down on some of the chairs around the semi-circular table whilst some of the exorcists stand behind them; Sora and Minami stands behind Kunogi, whereas Annabelle Clow and a bespectacled boy stands behind Nicholas and finally two boys and the girl with the brooding face standing behind Audrey. Others mills around, keeping one eye at the table as they converse with one another.
"Lord Walker?" Allen turned to see the blonde woman he saw talking with Daniel in the hall, "I'm Frieda Link, Mr. Leverier's personal assistant." Allen gaped as he inwardly remembers the eerie feeling he had earlier; she was a female version of the Link who stalked him everywhere. "Mr. Leverier wishes you to sit at the table as it is your right as General to sit there."
"Er," Allen turned to the others who signaling him to go, "sure. Lead the way…Miss Link." Noticing everyone's eyes on him, he sat next to Nicholas. The moment he sat, he could hear people muttering with…approval? "Er, Nicholas?" he asked to the boy next to him, who was whispering a conversation with the bespectacled boy. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Not exactly." Nicholas grinned reassuringly at the white hair general, "Matter of fact, you did a right thing. This chair," he patted the oak chair, "is always sat by the General from Walker family. See?" Nicholas pointed at Katia Kron, who was standing behind Allen.
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"Why are there 8 chairs instead of 4?"Lavi asked Troy, who was standing next to him, flirting with Lenalee, who was blushing as he eyed Adamski, who still looked as if she was going to kill him.
"There used to be 8 Generals. General Grantaine and General Sabishii deceased 2 years ago," Troy began to count off with his hand, "Someone told me Helena's in Belgium, Lee's in China, something about An Akuma hideout. Meanwhile General Fiza never enters meeting, the white quartet usually brief her about the meeting."
"Devon-san, how many exorcists are there altogether?" Miranda asked shyly.
"Hmm, around thirty or so? I never pay attention, so I really don't know. Sorry, Ms. Lotto." He shrugged apologetically, and turned around as he heard someone coughed behind him. "You got a cough, Lilly dear?"
"Don't call me by that name, Freak." Adamski cursed. Before it could explode into another argument, Daniel clear his throat.
"This meeting is about to begin. Er, has anyone seen Minerva and Mariel?" he asked peering around, looking for the two girls.
"I vink they just arrive from America vis morning." Katia said before stopping so everyone can hear the conversation outside the room.
"I soooo sooooorrryyyy!" someone wailed, "It was an accident!"
"It's okay, Minny. It was my fault, I shouldn't have asked you to carry my reports while you were carrying those brownies. "
"Brownies?" Noel shot out of the room, laughing as he drags in two girls, his mouth busily chewing a big piece of brownie.
Allen and exorcists from the past couldn't believe their eyes what they were seeing. There, standing near the door, Miranda's doppelganger and Lavi female version with her emerald eyes intact.
"Guys, let me introduce you to Ms Minerva Gordon, descendant of exorcist Miranda Lotto and Noise Marie," Miranda gasped and fainted in shock, just to woke up moments later, muttering to herself about all just a dream, "And Mariel Bookman, obviously Lavi descendant." Both of them stand beside Lavi's group, the former frantically apologizing to Miranda about her existence as Mariel boldly staring at Lavi.
"Cheh, I wonder if after this we're going to meet Moyashi's little brats?" Kanda whispered sarcastically, and glared at the others as they laughed and Troy squirmed uncomfortably.
"As everyone's already here," Daniel continued after both Miranda and Minerva finally pipe down, "This meeting is about reassignment of exorcists around world." Everyone began to whisper excitedly; apparently this had never happen before.
"Firstly, Miss Miranda Lotto, Miss Minerva Gordon and Murakami Sora, the three of you will be in one team. Your team will be in charge of medic." Murakami nodded and went to stand beside Minerva and Miranda, the latter seemed uneasy.
"To replace Murakami in team Kunogi will be Annabelle Clow from team Masters." The girl blinked in surprise, and blushed as Daniel added drolly, "You have our permission to go to Asian Branch before going to Japan."
"Alistair Crowley, you will replace Tia Winters in team Winters as she, Mariel Bookman and Lavi Bookman Junior will be in Team research," he looked up to looked at Tia, Mariel and Lavi, who were looking at each other confusingly, "Your job will find a way to stop the Earl forever.'
"Team Masters, Troy Devon will replace Miss Clow, whereas Miss Lenalee will join Team Lee in the Asian Branch. Annabelle will escort you there." Lenalee softly whispered at Troy, who still hanging around to stand with the group, "Troy, what's Team Lee?"
"Headed by General Syaoran Lee, Daniel's cousin. The team are in-charge of Asia. your teammates would be Meyrin and Risha, if they not being transferred somewhere else."
"So, he's one of…"Lenalee stared at Troy.
"Yes, one of Komui's Descendant."
Ignoring the conversation between Lenalee and Troy, Daniel continued, "Kanda Yu will be in team Sabishii, together with Saki-san. You will also," Daniel stared pointedly at both of them, who both glaring at him angrily, "Staying together. No argument, it's a final decision."
"Ryan Gray, Alicia Adamski," "I thought her name was Lilly?" Lavi asked confusingly at Mariel. "No, I'll tell you later, now, shush." "and Yvette La Cadoulec, the three of you will be in Team Gray, and will be in-charge of Africa." The three of them nodded, happy with the arrangement.
"Finally, General Allen Walker," Daniel turned to him, as he straightened up, "together with Miss Katia Kron, you will join the Black quartet." Everyone began to talked loudly, but quiet down as Frieda glared at everyone, "you were specially requested by Helena herself. The meeting is over, thank you for your cooperation. You all may leave. May Allen Walker, Troy Devon and Katia Kron see me in my office?"
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Moments later in Daniel's office…
"Troy, before you can join with team Masters, there's a mission for the three of you. We received a report about an Akuma gathering in Italy. We also believe two Noah will be at the gathering. Your mission would be to assist 2 of our exorcist there." All three of them nodded, and sweatdropped as Daniel continued, "I also will ensure you, Troy with another mission. Your mission," he pointed at Troy, "is to drag Helena home, even if you have to truss her up like a chicken."
"I don't think you should abuse your power, Daniel." Lisle said matter-of-factly as she give out the report about the mission. "I wish all of you happy hunting."
Little Allen know the mission would bring more truth than he can handle, especially about his family.
Team Masters: Nicholas Masters, Troy Devon and Aaron Blythe.
Team Williamson: Audrey Williamson, Elraine 'Sui' Mather and Scott Brennan.
Team Kunogi: Kunogi Ritsuko, Abeno Minami and Annabelle Clow.
Team Sabishii: Kanda Yu and Sabishii Saki.
Research team, also known as team Bookman: Mariel Bookman, Lavi Bookman Junior and Tia Winters.
Medic team, also known as team Lotto: Miranda Lotto, Murakami Sora and Minerva Gordon.
Team Winters: Alistair Crowley, Noel and Nina Winters.
Black Quartet: Allen Walker, Katia Kron, Unknown and Unknown.
Team Lee: Syaoran Lee, Lenalee Lee, Meyrin Han and Risha.
Team Gray: Alicia Adamski, Yvette la Cadoulec and Ryan Gray.
