Thanks to TehGramerPolise for helping with this chapter.


I whirled towards the door, lifting Melodic Cudgel as I did so. Even as I prepared to fight, I mentally reviewed just how bad of a situation that we were in. I had not even so much as considered the guard situation at the mansion, so I had no idea whether help would even be on the way. No doubt Lusban would have handled some of that, but most of my actual muscle came from Kuroi and the yojimbo that was currently wrapped up in web with no Aura. And I had no idea what Kuroi's situation was after the auction- it was very likely that no help would be coming.

My best option would likely be to try and fight past, fire a web round straight into whatever came through the doorway, try to beat them down and then run past. Hopefully whoever it was would ignore the small figure currently glued to the floor. From there I could get help.

I tensed as I heard footsteps, preparing to leap into action. As soon as someone stepped through the door, I opened fire.

Camille's eyes went wide as she tried to dodge, but couldn't move quickly enough. The round slammed into her left arm, sticking it to the wall.

She looked from her arm back to me and lifted up her other hand in a pacifying gesture, "Whoah, hold up... I surrender."

I frowned, "What in the world are you doing here?" I demanded.

"Making sure you two are alive for one thing." She replied as her gaze moved to Neo. Then she froze, her eyes sweeping back and forth between the two of us, "Oh…" Her smile widened as she looked between the two of us, "Oh my. I didn't interrupt anything did I?"

I blinked and then I felt my face redden, "No, you didn't." I answered stiffly. I walked over and rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a lighter. I then carefully burned away the web that was keeping Camille stuck to the wall. When I was done I stepped back and she pulled her arm free.

"Go down the hallway and take a right." I told her, "There should be a room where we can talk."

Camille bowed her head, still with a small grin on her face, and obliged. Leaving Neo and myself alone.

I sighed, feeling the adrenaline run out of my veins in a rush, leaving me feeling exhausted. I rubbed my eyes and walked over to where Neo was still stuck to the floor. "Alright let's get you out of that."

Neo mimed preening with embarrassment, her eyelashes fluttering coyly, "Oh not you too." I snapped, feeling my cheeks turn an even deeper red.

She merely smiled and mouthed what I was pretty sure was, "1 to 1."


Neo and I entered the meeting room a few minutes later. It was a decently large room, with a large table in between two couches and a rustic, stone fireplace on one wall.

Camille was seated on the couch opposite the door; standing on one side of couch was Bailus Drummond wearing heavy plate armor and on the other a man I didn't recognize. He was unnaturally pale, with a shock of white hair, and pale, pink eyes… an albino. He was wearing a suit of black rawhide armor that stood at stark contrast to his pale features.

Standing next to the couch near the door was Lusban, his face was heavily bruised, and I could see that his right eye was swollen closed. He stood at attention and bowed as we entered the room.

My gaze swept the room, and then I turned my gaze back to Camille who was reclining casually, "So." I began, taking the seat across from her. I had expected Neo to stand next to the couch to mirror Bailus, but instead she flowed past the couch. Camille began to sit up as she approached her, and I could feel the tension in the room spike as Neo went right up to her.

She then threw her arms wide and wrapped her in a hug.

I blinked several times, and then I shook my head, "I suppose that is a good place to start." I said ruefully as I felt the tension deflate precipitously, "It is good to see you again."

Camille smiled as Neo detached herself from the embrace and walked back over to my side, collapsing into the couch next to me.

"You're one to talk." She said as she relaxed once more.

"That being said," I continued, "I would like to know why it seems like you broke into my mansion and injured my servant."

Camille grimaced, "Well that's mostly because we kind of did."

I frowned, "You said earlier you were making sure that Neo and myself were alive..."

Camille sighed, "Right." She leaned forward, "So how much have you heard about the goings on in Solitas since…" Her eyes flicked over to Neo and then back to myself.

I winced, "Basically nothing." I answered.

"Right," Camille leaned back, "So first thing is that the High Nobility is basically toast. Councilman Malaika made a speech that fired up the populace. The Merchant Nobility smelled blood in the water and have pounced. In three months, all titles will become merely that, no more Barons, no more Mistresses, all of that will be gone."

I blinked and blew out a huge breath, "Wow… That's uh… damn."

"In addition, the Council he's forming will be having elections early next year. The Atlesian Emergency Council is ruling in the interim."

She paused, "Anyway. That's what's going on in regards to Solitas itself." She finished.

I blinked and then frowned, "That's it?" I asked her.

Camille lifted her eyebrow, "What? Is the abolishment of the Nobility and the formation of a Council that has lots of people whispering about a coupe not good enough for you?"

I waved my hand, "No, sorry, please continue." My mind was racing, Cola had said that a law preventing anyone from the Atlesian Emergency Council from serving on the newly formed Council would be passed shortly after he announced it. Why hadn't he passed it? Those that whispered of a coupe had every right to do so- for all the world that's what it looked like.

I looked up to see that Camille was frowning at me and I shook my head, "Sorry, just a little out of sorts." I explained.

She narrowed her eyes at that, "Well I hope you're ready to get into sorts." She said, "Because then there's the stuff concerning you. First off: Kuroi is still missing; his Kensai surround Councilwoman Khan day and night… including those two hulking ones."

"Ich and Ni?" I asked.

She nodded, "That's right, and that means that wherever Kuroi is, he's missing two of his strongest bodyguards."

I leaned back, frowning, that meant that my primary source of manpower was indeed out of action. I would have to tread cautiously…

"As if that wasn't enough." She continued, "That Faunus you essentially have left in charge of the Manufactory, Sunil? He's trying his best to keep everything under control, but he's barely hanging on. The board of directors are basically dancing to your uncle's tune and quite frankly it's amazing that he isn't head of the company yet."

She waved a hand, "And as if that wasn't enough, no one's seen you two, heard from you two, or anything since the attack. There's all sorts of rumors, and quite frankly, quite a few people are wondering if Councilman Malaika didn't just lie about you two surviving."

I lifted an eyebrow, "So you decided to see for yourself?" I asked.

Camille shrugged, "Pretty much." She hesitated and then turned to the albino man, "Blut, wait outside." She then turned to Bailus, "Would you mind?" She asked him.

Blut bowed and Bailus nodded, and I turned to Lusban and nodded at him. He bowed stiffly and followed the two men as they walked out the, door closing it behind them.

As soon as they did so, Camille's posture shifted, going from arrogant and commanding to something almost resembling exhaustion. "I can see that you understand everything that I've been telling you. Hell, you're probably thinking several steps ahead of me." She leaned forward, "So where have you been? You can't be telling me that locking yourselves up in your mansion is all part of some sort of master plan. So what's going on? It isn't like you two to just sit back and let the world roll on."

I hesitated, trying to see the paths that lay in front of me. There was no real point in telling her the truth, that would simply make me look weak and reveal the potentially deadly secret that Neo and myself were now sitting on in the form of the dead servant. So the question is what could I-

It was at that moment that Neo very deliberately lifted up her hand and smacked me hard across the face.

I recoiled in shock, holding a hand up to my burning cheek and I turned my gaze down to her. She had a fierce scowl on her face, her eyes hard, and she then nodded her head to Camille.

I blinked, Neo had always had a gift for reading me, was she really telling me to trust Camille with everything? That ran against everything I had ever known, had ever done…

And look where that had landed us.

I took a deep breath and told Camille everything that had happened, about Sange, about how everything had been set up from the start. My terror as I realized that Neo had been kidnapped, about how I had chased Sange to the warehouse. I told her about how I had ultimately been helpless, how despite everything I had been beat down. I told her about Cola coming to save me.

I told her about what had happened to Neo.

Camille had followed along mostly without reaction, but when I told her about how Neo had been hung from those chains, her face paled and her eyes widened.

I paused for a moment in the story, and the room fell quiet. Finally, Camille's hands tightened into fists, "I'm sorry." She whispered, "I had always suspected-" Then she shook her head angrily, "No, I knew… damn me, but I knew, everyone did." She stood up and crossed over to Neo, who had kept her eyes glued to her own feet during the whole tale.

Camille knelt down in front of her and then wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tight. Neo's shoulders rocked a little and I stared numbly as she cried into Camille's shoulder, "I'm so sorry." She whispered. Neo gave a sniffling sob in reply; Camille then turned and nodded for me to continue.

I decided to not tell her about the Monochrome, or the nature Neo's revival. Simply telling her that we had rushed her to a medical facility to recover. I did however, tell that I had a falling out with Cola and then finally, about the incident with the servant.

When I was finished, Camille shook her head slowly, "Maidens." She breathed, "I guess I can't blame you two for shutting yourselves off from the world for a little bit." She released Neo from her embrace and looked her in the eyes. "Neo, why did you kill that man?" She asked levelly.

Neo's eyes widened and then shifted away, unwilling to meet her gaze, "Neo." Camille pressed.

Neo shook her head and I could see tears forming in her eyes.

"Do you not know why you did it?" Camille asked her.

Neo bit her lip, but otherwise didn't respond. Finally, Camille sighed and stood up, turning to me, "I told you that I didn't blame you two for shutting yourselves up in here for a while." She said, "But I also hope you realize that if you intend to remain head of Laisren Aerial Manufactory that you can't do so any longer." She glanced at Neo, "I know of someone, a psychiatrist. He's really good at both his job… and keeping uncomfortable secrets safe. A dead servant would be trivial compared to most of what he deals with, I'll send you his scroll code."

I nodded, standing up from the couch, "Thank you." I meant that gratitude for far more than simply that offer and she seemed to understand that, giving a quick smile.

"Yes, well… I so rarely find interesting people that I like who are in Solitas' upper crust. And parties would be ever so boring without your presence." She walked to the door and opened it, "Take care of yourselves." She told us, and then she left.

I turned to Neo, who was hastily wiping her sleeves across her eyes.

"Thank you." I whispered, it had been Neo who cried, but simply the act of unburdening myself of the crushing weight of secrecy I had been under seemed to have left me feeling lighter than I remember feeling in a long time.

Neo smiled and together we walked out of the room, closing the door behind us.


The first task that lay ahead of me was setting my own house in order. To that end, I first called Lusban up to my study.

The man's face was still heavily bruised, although at this point he could actually open both of his eyes; albeit only marginally with his still obscenely swollen right eye. He moved stiffly, as though in pain, bowing as he stood in front of my desk.

"What happened?" I asked him.

He lowered his head, "Pardon me Baron, but are you referring to the events at the auction or today's?"

I felt a brief spike of anger that I quickly suppressed, "Both, I suppose." I answered quietly.

He nodded, "Pardon my saying so, but the intrigue at the auction was expertly done." He told me, "Upon questioning and investigation, it was received as a donation some months ago. Due to a... 'clerical error', it was accepted. From there on, human nature took over."

I nodded, "The original clerk recognizes that it was a mistake to take it. So to make sure they don't get in trouble, they make sure it can't be traced back to them. The next clerk does the same. Until eventually no amount of digging can uncover it."

Lusban nodded, "From there on they were stuck with it until they could foist it off onto people with enough money to buy such knick-knacks. Conveniently another 'clerical error' occurred the night of the auction to have the oriflamme be slotted on the docket for the night."

"Which meant that it was in the auction crew's best interest to sell it. Despite knowing little to nothing about it; otherwise that would've shown up poorly on their performance." I leaned back in my chair, such a method would leave the oriflamme to be nearly untraceable to its original source, but it had all been a gamble. I ground my teeth, this was the kind of scheme that I would have been incapable of performing, apparently only working because someone had called heads enough times to pull it off.

"So you have nothing?" I asked him.

Lusban bowed his head, "I'm sorry Baron, but the only lead I was able to procure was regarding the final clerical error. However, even that appears to be hitting a dead end."

I rubbed my temples with my fingers and sighed, "Very well. What about the events that occurred today?"

Lusban nodded, "Unfortunately, the mansion's defenses have been sorely lacking with the Kuroi's forces no longer present. I was able to procure a few mercenary groups, but on such short notice they were not up to the task of facing off against Camille and her allies."

I nodded, "I know that Camille is a formidable fighter, but what of Bailus?"

"House Drummond possesses a Semblance for geomancy; Bailus has inherited at least some of that ability. He has also inherited much of their freakish strength. He is somewhat inexperienced, but is still quite formidable." Lusban replied.

I nodded, "I see, what about the albino man… Blut, I believe she called him?"

Lusban nodded, "Blut Avangar, a new talent on the scene, his Semblance is one that I wouldn't have believed possible if I hadn't seen it myself."

I lifted an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"He possesses a Semblance that allows him to… disjoint things." He explained, "He essentially touches solid objects and makes them incorporeal."

I blinked, "So what you're telling me is that he doesn't walk through walls… he makes walls walk through?"

Lusban nodded, "Essentially yes; applications for such an ability are vast. In this case, he used it to allow them to simply walk up to the gate and let themselves in."

"What about his combat capabilities?"

Lusban shrugged, "He's fast and vicious, but little else." He answered.

I nodded, filing the information away for future reference, "Very well." I stood up, "Come, it's time for me to get a little fresh air."

The man bowed, "Agreed, Baron Laisren."


I sent Lusban out to attempt to contact Kuroi, or at least find out more about his situation. While he did that, Neo and I went to meet the board of Laisren Aerial Manufactory.

We entered the lobby to find the same dark-haired woman from my first time there; Melanie. When we first arrived she looked up, and then blinked in shock before shooting to her feet, "Baron Laisren." She bowed at the waist, "I-"

"Access code:794364. Boardroom." I told her sharply as we stepped past the desk and to one of the elevators."

"Yes, of course sir." She stammered, she typed onto the control panel and the elevator opened.

Neo and myself stepped inside, "Oh and by the way." I turned back to her, "Don't tell them I'm here."

She nodded as the doors closed and I could feel the floor beneath me hum as we made our way up.

During that time I focussed my thoughts. This was the most fragile my control had been since I had first began. I had done much to solidify my position since then, but my sudden disappearance no doubt had done much to erode my power. I would have to be aggressive and confident to the point of arrogance; attempt to return everything to the status quo I had established as quickly as possible.

It was about that time that I noticed that the elevator doors had opened, but on a floor that was definitely not the boardroom lobby. It was a room full of scrolls and various displays showing lines of formulas and blueprints. A young man with black hair wearing a button down shirt and large glasses was standing in front of the elevator, his jaw dropped open.

"B-B-Baron Laisren." He stammered, "Pardon me, I-"

The doors slammed shut in his face and the elevator kept going up.

I blinked in confusion and looked down to my side to see Neo there, a wide grin on her face as she punched a few more buttons. I felt my heart drop as I saw at least twenty different floors were lit up.

"Neo!" I hissed, "Cut it out."

She looked up at me, and very deliberately, pushed another button.


We arrived about ten minutes later on the top floor; having made more than a few… detours along the way.

My heartbeat raced as we stepped out, I had been hoping to step in around the midpoint in the ongoing meeting. Now however, I would be lucky if I made it before the meeting ended.

And I wasn't so lucky, as I could see the doors to the boardroom open to admit several of the board members led by my uncle, Gavin Laisren. They seemed in high spirits, laughing and chatting, just past them I could see Sunil. He was half-slumped over in exhaustion, his face lined and haggard.

I rapidly wracked my mind for how to play the situation, but even as I did so, the small crowd came to a screeching halt as they saw me standing just outside the elevator.

The room went silent, save for the fountain cheerfully gurgling.

"Gentlemen." I greeted them.

"Baron Laisren," My uncle bowed his head slightly, "So good of you to join us, but I'm afraid we've adjourned for today."

Maidens, but this was bad. I could of course demand that the board reconvene, but that would be seen as a crude and petty display. It would also give excuses for any number of minor inefficiencies as retribution, citing their unexpected delay as a cause.

On the other hand, I was just coming back, and if I was simply brushed aside, then it was going to be nigh impossible for me to recover.

It was in the midst of that despair that I heard a strange sound from the elevator. I turned around just in time to for a terrible, metallic screech to echo around the room. Neo was there, staring intently at the doors as it finally came to a halt.

I stepped forward and pressed the button, it lit up for a moment, then winked out, giving a high beep that indicated an error.

My scroll rang shortly afterwards and I answered it. "Baron Laisren." Melanie's face up on the screen, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, what's going on?"

She bowed her head, "I'm sorry, the elevator seems to have malfunctioned, it should be repaired momentarily. It will take the crews about five to ten minutes."

I lifted an eyebrow, "I see, thank you very much Melanie."

I hung up and turned to my uncle, who's face remained passive, "Well then," He began, "I suppose-"

"This is ridiculous." One of the board members snapped, "Baron Laisren, you go too far, to inflict property damage on your own company just because you were egregiously late?" He took a step forward, getting right into my face, "How dare you use such thuggish tactics to-"

One moment, the man was right in front of me, the next I was looking at empty air. I blinked as the shattered remains of an after-image faded from in front of me. I heard a scream behind me and I whirled around.

The elevator doors had been opened, revealing a yawning pit that stretched off into darkness. Neo was there, holding the hapless board member by the back of his collar over that deadly abyss.

Oh Maidens, this was not how I had wanted things to go. But now that it had, I had two options, one in which I had to admit that my yojimbo was now threatening to kill a board member without my command, the other…

"Thuggish tactics?" I asked him, "I'm hurt. How about you apologize and then we can have a civil discussion in the boardroom while the technician crews repair the elevator?"

"O-o-o-f co-course." The man responded as he stared down at the abyss beneath him, "Pl-pl-please forgive my hasty words, Baron Laisren."

"Put him down Neo." I commanded, then I turned back to the gathered board members and my uncle and walked back towards the boardroom. Hoping that I wasn't about to hear the man's fading screams as he plummeted down the shaft.

I did my best to not show my relief as I heard the man being set down onto solid ground and I pushed open the double doors.

As I did so, I knew that my relationship had just fundamentally changed forever with the board- and not really for the better. Because, Neo, once content to let me deal with the scheming and the politicking, had gone straight to the threat of violence. I could only thank the Maidens she hadn't just killed the man.

More than that was when I had seen my uncle's face after Neo had let the man go. Rather than look calculated or afraid, he had almost looked as relieved as I had felt. I had never thought my uncle a particularly ruthless man, so maybe he had just been relieved that the incident had ended without bloodshed.

However, as was always the case with Gavin Laisren, there seemed to have been something more. Was he close with the man? He was new, otherwise I would have recognized him, so maybe that was the case. He seemed far too old to be Gavin's son, so what could the connection be?

I shook my head, I knew it was mostly an maddening exercise in futility to attempt understand my uncle.

I also knew more than anyone else just how close I had come to having to hide another, far more prominent example of Neo's new willingness to shed blood. The sooner Neo and I met with Camille's doctor, the better.