"A Teigu user? Shambalah?"-Najenda asked.
"Yes. He transported me and Esdeath to a Southeast island that was at a different timezone."
"Such a distance..."
"Is that even possible?"
"The 48 teigu created by the second emperor is incredibly powerful. Some can control space and time."
Jack looked at his Pandemonium cross. Indeed, it bended space.
His Blade of void and Tatsumi's Incursio also can dissipate, and would heed their call when they wish for it.
"Still, such a teigu mean the wielder is incredibly powerful..."
"Is that so..."
"So, what happened at the island? Last I checked..."
"Esdeath agreed for a truce, which would be over the momment we're back."-Jack answered.-"I didn't let her see my face. And to be clear, when she is around, call me Edward. It's a fake name I used."
"I'm surprised she didn't try to kill you."
"She did more than once."-Jack shrugged, much to the the horror of his friends-"Kakeru, I'll have a word with you later. Alone. But for now, fill me in."
"Our ruse with the Jaegers proves success. Took more than we anticipated, but Bols no longer has his Rubicante, so we can consider him out of action. Kurome was heavily injured as well. We didn't sustain any lasting injuries, as you can see."
"Then what's our next move?"
"We're waiting on new intel. But headquarters has been calling in short of both supply and manpower."
"Supply? Wasn't my haul enough to support..."
"We're bigger than you thought, boy."-Najenda laughed.
"...The problem with manpower..."
"Would your Creed by so kind as to lend us a hand?"
"We're only a small village. We can't offer you anymore than the fighters we have already sent."-Kakeru shook his head.-"Speaking of which, our bureaus are set up and good to go. You can find them in most towns and city, take Contracts as well as sending letters."
"Already?"
"Surprised me too. We move fast, don't we?"
"Okay, so intel wise, we're good. Supply...supply..."-Jack thought of possible plans.
"...We'll figure something out. It's wrong having the Assassins handling our problems."-Najenda nodded.
"...There's two ways."
"?"
"Kakeru, you were a quartermaster once, right?"
"Yes, what's with it?"
"Chelsea, what became of Thorne's ship?"
"Should be where it laid. Robbers and scavengers might hit it, I don't know."
"It's still in working condition, so most likely it would get stolen if we just leave it there."
"Then, what's your plan?"
"So, our first plan. Plunder."
"We're stealing from Esdeath? AGAIN?"-Chelsea wasn't too happy.
"Nope. Let's take this to the seas. We'll expand a fleet to earn a proper way of resupply. It's how Thorne lived for three damn years without setting foot on dry land."
"We're becoming pirates."-Kakeru concluded.
"Our second projects. Villages."
"What?"
"Take Tatsumi's village for example. There's no trade, it's poor, and all that. But if we can get them back on their feet, they'll help us with more than just supplies."
"Manpower."-Tatsumi eyes widen.
He almost forgot of his original objective.
Is this what Jack calls "our paths aligned"?
If so, Tatsumi should learn from him more often.
"That being said, if we usually taking out corrupted nobles, we have to look out for the people afterwards. If we can do so, we'll have friends in unexpected places. Gathering survivors from the Northen Tribes should also counts. There's hundreds of thousand people there. More are dying everyday. It's a complete waste of workforce."
Jack formulated a general plan in less than a few minutes.
"I admit we have thought of these ideas before, but it's has never been easy going against the empire."-Najenda pondered. It always look easy on a map.
"Kakeru?"
"Yes. We'll offer our fighters, as well as myself to help. The Assassins look after the people, afterall."-Kakeru nodded.
"Esdeath's army is still to the North, camping in the city, or what's left of it. It's not..."
"I can handle that. Infiltrating a ruined city isn't hard."-Jack raised his hand.
"Alone?"-Chelsea asked again.
"You want to tag along?"-He smiled.-"That being said, Night Raid should focus back on corrupted nobles, but try to look after your work abit. If the next one in line isn't any better, you know what to do. Make sure the people stay unoppressed."
"Wait"-Akame voiced.-"What's this pirate work again?"
"Right, Kakeru! You're now Captain of the lovely Damnation. I'll teach you how to plunder and take a prize the right way."
"Who names a ship Damnation?"
"Because he drinks Damnation himself. Akame, want to come see?"
Akame nodded enthusiatically.
"Then we head out to his ship tomorrow. Ready up. Kakeru, let's head outside. I need a word with yo-"
"Wait, wait, wait!"-Chelsea voiced-"Aren't we being too rush? Tomorrow? Really? You've just got back, and you are already leaving?"
"...I...yes?"
"That won't do!"
"That's right, you have to learn how to stay put for once, Jack!"-Leone voiced.-"Chelsea waited for you all that time, and you'd just head out again?"
"...I..."-Jack did realize his folly. He forgot about human emotion for once.-"Guess I'm staying for a few days. You're welcome to come along, Chelsea."
"I..me? Co-come along?"
"Well...you can think about it...I'll hold for a few days. Until then, I'm at your disposal."
Leone was about to say something.
"Everyone's disposal."-He added.
"Che, you're no fun."
"Then, if you can, help everyone train. Some could learn from you."-Najenda laughed.
"Hang on!"-Chelsea voiced.-"Before that, shouldn't we focus on making you less nortorious?"
"Ah, guess I'll go bribe some officials and tear down posters then."
"And how long are you going to wear that uniform?"
"..."
"We're going to buy you some clothes. Normal clothes."
"..."
"Objections?"
"Ch-chelsea..."-He pointed to their side.
"Jack and Chelsea! On a d-a-t-e!"-Leone teased.
"It's not a date!"-Both voiced.
"Fine...I'll go. I need a new Assassin uniform anyway..."
"Normal clothes! We're buying normal clothes!"
"We'll do that too! I just want a less standing out Assassin uniform, now that Esdeath has her eyes on me!"
There they go again.
The small bickering is back.
"So, what do you want to talk about, mentor?"
"I suppose everyone in the Creed had mentioned to you about the Pieces of Eden, right?"
"Artifact belong to Those Who Came Before, yes. We often mistake them for Gods."
"I discovered the location of one of the two keystones needed to find one of those Artifacts."
"Isn't that why you came back to the Creed last time?"
"Indeed. But here's the point...Esdeath has the second piece."
"..."
"We've found the second keystone on the island we were transported to. Apparently, Esdeath has the bloodline, so she is the rightful owner of the keystone."
"But, in such hands..."
"I trust Esdeath in her judgement. She won't pursuit the other keystone. But..."
"I'll contact the Creed. They'll give their answer to this."
"Good. Keep it a secret. If the Revolutionary Army even catch a single sniff of what those Artifacts can do..."
"Humans can be dangerous creatures sometimes. I'll personally go to one of the bureaus to submit a report."
"Good."
"If you ask for my opinion, we should be worried that Esdeath would hand the keystone to the Prime Minister.
"That bastard hardly understands life, let alone it's creation. Still, Esdeath personally don't want such an artifact to pop out. It's too boring."
"Isn't she afraid of it?"
"The more reason she would hold on the piece herself."
"..."
"The pieces has power on it's own. Mine was to control beasts. I wonder what hers can do."
"Most likely, the same power."-Kakeru deducted.
The piece can't control humans, that's was for certain.
So it only control beasts.
"Impressive."-Esdeath tugged the keystone, as it allowed her to control any beasts in her way. It saves her the time of taming it, but once again, where's the fun in that?
"What is that, Commander?"-Run asked, as he studied the pieces.
"A little something I picked up."-She smiled slightly.-"Now, has Bols been honorably discharged?"
"Yes, commander, but he refuse to and took up the job of cooking and caring for the other members, I..."
"Leave him be. Keep him a Jaeger member. His pay stays the same. I'll begin looking into a new Teigu for him."
"...Yes, Esdeath-sama."-Run bowed.
It's simply how she treats her surbodinates.
"And Kurome?"
"She was injured, it wasn't life threatening, but it would hinder her in combat for quite sometime."
"I see."
So, she failed to guard her own supply line against the Creed, and her team lost to Night Raid.
Esdeath licked her lip excitedly.
"I sense an enjoyable battle."
She looked up to the night sky.
"Don't you, Jack?"
"It's easy, sneaking into the Capital at night."-Jack commented.
"A bit too easy."-Chelsea nodded-"We hardly believe going in and out would be so simple."
"So, I...what are we going to do?"
"..."
"I'm fine with sleeping on a random rooftop, but for the sake of it, let's find an inn."
"..."
"W...why are you so silent? We'll be in seperate rooms, so you don't have to..."
"...I...I promise I'll answer your question later...now...now is okay."
"Ah..."-Jack froze. He almost forgot about it.
"I..."-Chelsea looked up to see his eyes.
"..."
"I don't think anything good would come out from this...but...there's no point in waiting..."
"..."
"I'll return your feelings. If you have them...Then I'll return it, for sure."
"...I...I can't find a response..."-Jack can't help himself.
"You'll ruin the momment! It was embarassing for me! If you..."
"I...I want to know that happiness. But..."
He chose Chelsea over Esdeath.
He will torn himself apart, but it was the right choice.
He wonder how Esdeath would react if she knew.
But right now. Even him can tell his love for Esdeath won't happen. Not as it stands.
He can't wait for the impossible.
"It's time to move on."
Time to obtain that little happiness.
Someone he would always return to.
Chelsea understand what kind of pain he is taking.
It's most likely guilt.
"I won't be jealous...The way we've been lately is fine. But if you ask me, you need to find peace."
"A rare thing in this world."-Jack laughed sadly.
Chelsea knew he still had conflicting feelings.
"So, let me offer you a shoulder to lean on to. As long as you keep me happy...as long as you still live..."
"Chelsea..."
"Don't die Jack. You still have to choose. Beat Esdeath. Win the revolution. Fix this world. If it's you, even the impossible will happen!"
"..."
"..."
"I'll live. I'll find a way to fix this. I'll find a way for all of us can be at peace."
There's no way.
Esdeath won't let the empire fall. If it falls, what would she be?
She wants Jack all for herself.
But Jack has Chelsea.
Both are not open for negotiation. Not that he'll ever try.
Still, if he already had the resolve to settle things with a blade, then this relationship...
"I won't force myself to hate Esdeath...but she simply can't..."
"It's fine that way. It would be wrong if you love me like that."
"But, I don't want to make it seem like..."
"You worry, too much."
"...You're right."
"So?"
"...I'm yours."-Jack smiled.
"And I'm yours too."-Chelsea leaned in.
"..."-Jack lowered his head.
But the Chelsea put a finger on his lips.
"Save it for later."
"...Right."
There'll be time for that.
"For now, let's find a hotel."
"...?"
"What? We're a couple now, so who cares?"
"Ah..."-Jack realized it was true.-"But when you are straight forward, that means you are embarassed about it-"
"..."-She glared at him.
"Right, I'll shut up."
"Well...make-make it a single bed then."
"AREN'T WE MOVING TOO FAST!?"
He didn't actually yell.
He just exclaimed with a smile.
"..."-Chelsea just lowered her head with a blush.
"I...I guess it's fine...I...are you sure?"
A tiny nod confirmed it.
'Don't get overly excited or overly worried, Jack. It's only sleeping. There's no...'
It all depends on the mood.
"If...if you want to..."
"I'll think about it."
He really is bad at handling women.
"Let's go then."-Chelsea held out her hand, her face was still a bit pink, but it was lighter and accompanied by a smile.
"Uhm."-Jack took that hand.
So, they strived into the Capital city.
The date starts with a night in a hotel.
That's just...
That came out wrong.
Or right?