Chapter 35: Triumphant Return

During the night of the Waxing Crescent moon, there were 8 nobles and politicians that were cover with black cloaks as spoke to each other in an unused castle that was very far outside of Esmeralda city.

"Stultus has been successful over the months since he appeared in Vytal Island."
"That bastard's just way too ambitious! He keeps going on so arrogantly without realizing his standing! What's worst! Now he will no doubt even get involved in our internal politics! How can we entrust the government of this island to a freshling knight who knows only wars?!"

"But he has immense popularity with the people right now. He is also very well trusted by his majesty, the Archduke...!"

"According to my sources, his majesty is going to reward the Band of Steels by making him a general..."

"WHAT?!" They shouted at one of the noble who told them.

"I-is this true, mister-?!"

"Yes. This information comes from a reliable source." He answered.
"This is unbelievable!"

"Then he will be sure to have great influence over the island's politics!"
"Then this means..."

"He lacked a bit of discretion to survive in this castle." Voltaire, reveal to be the one who the heard the information, said with his trademark closed eyes and smile on his face.

"But Voltaire... how we will..."

Voltaire then pull out a small bottle out of his cloak and hold it in the air in his fingers as he told them. "This is antialis... It's an instantly lethal poison that can killed anyone. If we were to put this into his wine-cup during the victory celebration dance party."

"But this will this be ok? If, by some chance, our plan is exposed..."
"Don't worry. Even if there was a mistake, that will not happen to us. To begin with, we will not directly interfere." Voltaire said in a cheerful tone of voice with his trademark smile on his face.

"But..."

"Don't worry." One of the them, the other turn to look at her as she was reveal to be none other than the Archduchess of Vytal herself, who was wearing a black cloak like the rest of them, as she spoke to them. "Even if something like that were to happen, we shall take care of it discreetly. This is a promise."

"Then..."

"If her highness herself say so, then we have nothing to fear!"

"Hear this. Not only does this plan deal with with threat that man poses to your position, but also does it pluck that white louse from the lionic body of this island before the harm to our government is widened." The Archduchess said as she give the speech to the politicians and the nobles in the room of the castle. "We cannont let a low life like that young man, who's own lineage is unknown to us, trample over the long history of Vytal! It's all for the island and the just cause!"

"Certainly..."

"Above all, we're patriot of this island!"

While everyone was talking, Voltaire just continue to smile and, unknown to them, open one of his amber eyes as he thought to himself. 'What a bunch of idiots. That idiotic information I received that the Archduchess of Vytal was cheating on his majesty with his younger brother, General Julius, was top sercet. I was correct to spread rumors that Stultus had plotted Julius' death. To think she'd become the leader of this idiotic plot... hehe, this is too easy and it is amusing to see it in action. Everyting is going to plan...'

Voltaire then closed his eyes and look at the Archduchess as she was silent as she is deep in thought while she remember. 'Julius... his majesty was a good archduke, but not a good husband. He had to bear the burdening of ruling this island. So he didn't have time of being with one of his family as just a man. ... No, it might just because of his grief over losing his own previous wife, the previous queen, said to be the one woman he ever loved and will ever loved for good... Just like his majesty, I too have over the years fulfilled my duties as a public queen. What everyone on this island desired from me, having married into this island, was not a bride for the archduke, but a archduchess of Vytal Island, and that was my husband also saw me. I did not give that man my body out of love. To a woman, searching for a meaning alone in this new island. The rock walls and marble floors were too cold. It was not much by feelings... as with burning apetite that I gave him my body. But now that I've lost him, I understand for the first time how much more than any feelings the wrath of his skin meant to me... I was in love with him. I won't forgive Stultus. I will have my vengeance on him, not as a archduchess of Vytal island... but as a single woman!'

"Well then, everyone. As a proof of our mutual patriotism..." Voltaire said with his trademark smile as he pull out a document. "Place your seals on this document..."

Later... in the following morning...

The people of the city of Esmeralda city cheer as the Stulus' humvee as the 8X8 AI controlled double-decker APCs followed him. They cheer on the Band of Steels for their recent battle as they shouted Stultus' name. Edward was amazed by this as he was on top of the front top roof of the APC he was riding in. "Ooh, incredible! I didn't know there were this many peoples of both humans and faunus in Esmeralda city!"

Douglas made various poses on top of his APC while hearing the cheers of the people as one of his soldier wonder 'what's he doing?'. Somebody threw a bunch of flower at Hákon. A couple of children were following Steve on top of his APC while they were being chase by a police officer. A couple of womens shouted at Cask in enjoy, which embarrassed her. 'I can't this anymore...'

"Look, the Raid Squadron!"

"The strongest squard in the Band of Steels!"

The Raid squad's APC dove by the crowd of people who were cheering by the street while the leader of the squad itself, Ruby Rose, was inside of APC as she was nervious about crowds of people after all and was deep in thought. Fido then spoke to her as he stared outside of the APC. "Woo! This is incredible! We've never have a welcoming like this before this great after any victory! How about it leader? Why don't you go outside? You're one of the heros of this band after all! ... Leader?"

"Huh?" Ruby said, after she was snap from her deep thoughts.

"What's the matter? Something is on your mind?"

"Nah. Just nobody would've believe this months ago." Ruby said.

"That's for sure!"

'Nobody except for him.' Ruby thought as she remember back what Stultus has told her those months ago as she spoke to herself. "... He's incredible... really..."
"OOOH! Here they come!" One of the maid told Princess Charlotte. "Hurry, princess!"

"Stultus is so popular! The women are so excited! But how dare they get so closed and get to be familiar to him! OOH!" Princess Charlotte complaints.

"Princess, stand still, your dress..."

"AAAH, hurry!" Princess Charlotte told them. They finished with Charlotte's dress and one of them hold the mirror to the princess before she asked them. "Doesn't it look weird?"

"It suits you fine!"

"It's the fifth one, princess."

"Hurry, they're going!"

"EH?! Wait up!" Princess Charlotte shouted as she dashed toward the balcony. The maids spoke to each others.

"The princess is so suddenly cheery."
"She hardly ate after the Band of Steels left..."

Princess Charlotte look out from the balcony as she see Stultus riding in his personal humvee and shouted at him. "STULTUS~!"

Charlotte noticed that Stultus didn't heard her shout as her favorite maid told her. "It can't be helped with all those noise... you'll have to wait until celebration."

Charlotte just sighed to herself. The Archduchess of Vytal island was also watching before she ask one of her followers. "How goes the plan?"

"All is complete."

"All has gone well. By daybreak... let us raise a banquet of his death." Archduchess said. That was when a messenger came into the room.

"Mister Voltaire!"

"What is it?" Voltaire asked.

"This is for you, Mister Voltaire."

"A letter? From who could it be..." Voltaire asked himself.

"The sender is unknown. I received from a servant, so I don't know either."

Voltaire open the letter and read it. He open his eyes and soon his lips turn into a smirk as he softly chuckle to himself. Which the Archduchess notice before she ask him. "What is it, Mister Voltaire?"

"Oh, nothing." Voltaire said in his usual cheerful tone of voice with his eyes closed and showing his trademark smile as he told her. "Just some minor happen. Sorry, but I have to leave for it. Later then."

Voltaire smile to himself as he walking while his eye were wide open now as he was in deep of his own thoughts. 'Hehehehe... everything is going according to plan.'

A/N: Hey! This story is back! But i'm only going to make about 8 chapters before I put it on hiatus again. Anyways, after I put it on hiatus after finishing the 8 chapters, i'm going to do a two-parter story and a fic (possible porn, which you know that means).