Faust: The Horseman Gamer

by Forzarismo

The Gamer System. One of the most powerful abilities in existence. Now it has chosen a selfish man who has sold his soul to save his own blood. Faust is a reasonable man for the most part, so long as one stays out of his way of course. Watch out Omniverse, there's a new player on the field and he doesn't care about your rules. Horseman!MC, Gamer!MC

13. Nonsensical Sunshine

Well hello to you all! I know it has been quite a while, but I am back with a brand new chap of Faust: The Horseman Gamer for you all to enjoy!

Now I know some of y'all are probably wondering why I took so long, but as many of you probably knows, real life waits for no one, so that is the reason why it has taken me so long to post a chap! nevertheless I hope you all enjoy and be sure to tell me what you all think about it!

---

Chapter 11: Nonsensical Sunshine

Exiting the room, I straighten my clothes waiting for Leone to finish getting ready.

…

I… honestly didn't expect things to go like that.

Not that I'm complaining, it was the most incredible night I've ever had.

But… every time she tried bringing up what it meant for the two of us, I panicked like a fucking moron. So to quickly get around it I just interrupted her and started looking for reasonable things to do that "required" more attention at the moment.

Like getting her cleaned up… which led to sex in the shower.

And then when I started fixing us up some breakfast, which Leone wanted to help me prepare as an excuse to start talking.

And after I started getting a little frisky… we had more sex on the countertop.

Taking a good look outside of the window towards my right, I can tell that it's roughly around noon, and looking downwards I can see the people bustling about their daily lives doing whatever it is they're doing.

Quest Complete!

[Passed The Road To Redemption]

Objective: Teach Arthur Morgan the ropes to survive this world filled with sin and despair.

Reward: Greatly Increased Reputation with Arthur Morgan, x4 Random Weapon Series Blueprints.

Bonus Objective: Take Arthur to the Empire and show him the reality of things there.

Reward: x2 Random Weapon Series Blueprints.

Hidden Objective: Give him a night to remember.

Reward: your "Random Weapon Series Blueprints" are now upgraded to "Random Corporate Series Blueprints".

Oh yeah… forgot about that.

Wonder what particular blueprints I will get from these items? Maybe I can combine some of the tech to create unique gear as gifts for my comrades.

Speaking of which…

I gotta speak with Arthur when I have the chance. I really did him dirty by leaving him there all alone in the bar, especially since it is his first time being here within the Capital's walls.

The door creaks as it is slowly opened, with Leone wearing my cloak to cover her body.

I… might've gotten a little rough by the end of it all, which is honestly understating it since her clothes look like they've been eviscerated by a wild animal.

Again, not complaining, just an observation.

We both stand in the hallway awkwardly for a couple of seconds before I decide to speak up.

"Got everything you need?" I ask her, only to receive a small nod in return.

Great way to start it dumbass.

We slowly trot down the stairs, stealing glances from one another for a while before I decide to speak up again. "Hey listen… imma be honest with you I don't know how to put this into words, and I am certainly not the best when it comes to this sort of thing but here I go. I know that what happened last night wasn't something that should've happened." Leone suddenly stiffens at that, and it's sending me warning signals that maybe this wasn't the best way to start this off. "I mean, we did enjoy ourselves so maybe that doesn't matter anymore, but I digress. The point I'm trying to make here is that while we've only known each other for less than a day and we went through this entirely backwards, I'm not the kind of guy for one-night stands. So… how about it?"

Leone gives me this indiscernible look before her cheeks puff from her adorable giggling. "Man, you sure are horrible at this." she says in between her giggles. "But, I wouldn't mind seeing where this goes…"

"Wait, really?" I can't help but blurt out, internally smacking myself at such a stupid response.

"You'd think I'm just a cheap whore that you can just pump and dump? Think again big boy, you're stuck with me for the time being. Besides, you owe me some new clothes."

That… turned out much better than expected.

I feel her hand brush against mine, making me look down as I see her hesitate a bit from my peripheral vision. I softly clasp her hand with mine, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Looking at her I feel the blood rushing to my face as the reality of it all is hitting me head-on.

I fucked Leone.

I fucked Leone!

And she's okay with dating my stupid ass!

Like it is really starting to hit me, and I will be frank, it is weird as hell hooking up with someone who you know was fictional at first.

But at this point, I am on cloud nine so I honestly could not give a single fuck!

Looking at her straight into her eyes, I can't help but feel a bit mesmerized by their otherworldly yellow color. It's something that only the best of modern CGI can even begin to replicate to show how they would accurately look on a person.

Seeing Leone get increasingly flustered by my staring, I can't help but break out smiling. "Can't keep a beautiful lady like you waiting. Let's get you some new outfits, however many you want."

Despite her increased blush, Leone smirks. "Be careful with your words big boy, I don't think your wallet can take it."

Oh, she thinks so huh? Doesn't she remember the amount of money I was throwing around last night? Nevertheless, I challenge her smirk with my own. "Oh, I doubt that Leone. This date will surprise you."

We continue our trek down the stairs and eventually find ourselves back in the reception area, where the same man that gave me the key is still sitting behind the desk reading a different book this time.

"Leaving early, here are your keys back." I toss them to his outstretched hand as I walk by.

"No refunds."

"Whatever." I continue without missing a beat.

Heading out in the bustling streets and eventually out of the slum area and into one of the Empire's many shopping districts, I check the minimap and specifically look for any boutiques that would catch Leone's interest.

Scrolling through the list, I can see one boutique that has very nice reviews along with a solid rating of four-point sixty-five out of five stars.

A great place to take Leone to get some new clothes.

"Hey, Faust?" I take my attention away from the boutique and turn to face Leone. "Where will you be staying now that you checked out early from your room?"

Well isn't that a good question? But thankfully I already have an answer for that.

Aria's Mansion.

Sure, there's the fact that it is owned by a family of psychopaths who view outsiders as nothing less than cattle to indulge in their sadistic desires, but from what I remember, aside from all of the dead and dying people in the shed, the place is quite beautiful.

All it needs is… a little renovation.

"I'll be looking into some real estate after our date. I'm sure I can find a nice place to call home by the end of the day." I assure her, already thinking of ways to "legally" obtain the house from that family before they vacate.

Speak of the devil… there they are.

Right at the entrance of the boutique, I see Aria and her mother exiting the boutique with their guards carrying their purchases into their carriage.

As much as I would like to tail them, Leone is my priority at the moment, and I am not one to shirk such responsibilities off my shoulders.

Plus I wanna see her try on new outfits.

Walking in through the entrance, I see clothes of different styles right in the forefront of the display case at the entrance ranging from opulent, yet modern victorian-esque dresses made of the finest silks, to styles similar to those found in the first half of the twentieth century, and even some "foreign" styles that are not of the Empire, but instead hailing from the Northern Lands.

"Welcome to Opulentus Orbis Terrarum, how may we be of service?" The employee greets us professionally, her face completely neutral despite the fact that a quick use of [Observe] shows that she is a bit suspicious of us because Leone is wearing a cloak.

"We'll just be taking a look around, see if anything here catches our eye." I reply in a gentle tone.

The employee nods. "Well, if you are ever in need of assistance, be sure to let us know."

Seeing that the employee has left back to her original position, I turn my attention to Leone, who is glancing around the boutique. "Well, here we are. Pick your poison." I tell Leone, having an astonished look on her face for some reason.

"Uh… you do realize how expensive this place is right?" she whispers as I notice her eyeing some of the price tags placed on some of the articles of clothing.

"Yes, and? You've seen me throw who knows how much money last night and all of a sudden now you worry about my expenses?" I look at her in amusement, letting her take in the fact that I'm not phased by the prices these articles of clothing are worth. "Nevermind that, let's get you into a new dress!"

Leone lets out an amused sigh as she looks around the boutique for anything that catches her fancy.

As she looks through some clothes for herself, I decide to do some little shopping of my own.

From what I see though, the clothes that catch my fancy the most are those of Northern origin mainly for the reason that they have that nice cowboy outlaw aesthetic that I really like.

Quickly looking through each and every section, I grab the pieces of clothing I want along with some boots and head towards one of the dressing rooms available. Setting down the clothes on the ornate table and begin trying them on, I notice that some of the shirts I've picked are smaller than I realized.

Fuck, and they look really great too.

You know, since you're a Gamer, that doesn't really matter right? Whatever articles of clothing in your possession will always be adjusted to fit your person, regardless of size.

Wait really? So what if some pixie people give me some clothes as a gift and it's far too small for me to fit normally? Will that work too?

Yes.

Well, that is certainly good to know.

Testing it out, I try what looks to be the smallest of the shirts, and would you look at that, it actually fits!

It even has a description too!

[Burgundy Striped Northern Shirt - Common, E-Rank]

A high-quality buttoned shirt of Northern origin made of burgundy colored woven cotton with a black stripe pattern. Despite the material used, it is as durable as it is comfortable. Comes with buttons made of hand-carved bone. When worn, boosts CHA by 1%

Durability: 300/300

I love these little details, they really add depth to things.

Taking it off, I begin to mix and match clothes to see what I like and what I don't like.

Soon enough I end up with a particular combination I like, getting dressed back to my original clothes, and decide to call out to one of the nearby employees.

"Excuse me, employee? How much for all of this?" I inquire.

The employee takes a moment, counting all of the items and pulling out one of those prehistoric calculators, an abacus counting frame if I remember correctly to make add it all up. "For the sixteen items you have picked, your total comes out to four hundred and seventy eight gold coins." The employee assesses.

Wonderful. Digging my hand into my pocket, I subtly open my [Inventory] and pull out a bag before filling it with the right amount of gold coins. "Here you go." I tell the employee, who nods and begins to rapidly count the coins.

Once he was done, a soft smile appears on his face. "We appreciate doing business with you sir. Would you like a bag or a box for those sir?"

"Both would be appreciated. By the way, you wouldn't mind me changing into my new clothes would you?"

The employee shakes his head. "Not at all sir. While you change I will go retrieve what you have asked for."

I nod a this, heading back to the dressing room, I start undressing before putting on the outfit I made for myself, which I will admit is heavily inspired by my love for westerns.

Once I dressed myself up, I can't help but let out a whistle at how damn good I look.

I'm not a vain person for the most part, but damn I can't help but use [Observe] on myself, which when I do, shows me the descriptions of each individual article of clothing.

[Black Paragon Town Hat - Uncommon, D-Rank]

A high-quality hat of Northern origin, this hat is made of black leather coming from the highest quality bovine danger beast hide available, with the base wrapped in a light brown band of leather with silver studs symmetrically imprinted on the band. When worn, it boosts your base CHA by 2% and reduces physical damage to the head by 5%.

Durability: 1550/1550

[Brown Barras Vest - Uncommon, C-Rank]

A high-quality vest of Northern origin with a uniquely textured pattern and studded buttons, this unassuming, yet durable vest is made of the tanned leather of a reptilian danger beast found in the south-western region of The Empire. When worn, it boosts your base CHA by 5%, reduces physical damage to the torso by 10%, and reduces sound made by you by 15%.

Durability: 3300/3300

[Dark Blue Olmo Shirt - Uncommon, E-Rank]

A Multi-purpose dark blue plaid button shirt with pristine stitching and canine embroidery on the shoulders, this shirt is more comfortable than it is durable. When worn, boosts your base CHA by 3%.

Durability: 160/160

[Navy Utilitarian Pants With Suspenders - Uncommon, E-Rank]

A pair of cotton pants that puts comfort and utility above all else. Comes with a pair of light beige cotton suspenders. When worn, Boosts your base END by 1% and reduces SP Cost by 2%.

Durability: 540/540

[Blackburn Boots - Uncommon, D-Rank]

The North's newest line of boots made from the leather of a bovine danger beast and tipped with a polished steel toe, they combine style and utility in a single package. When worn, increases your base CHA and END by 2%.

Durability: 1685/1685

With my outfit now ready, I exit out of the dressing room while putting the rest of the clothing away in the boxes and bags the employee has set beside the entrance of the fitting room I'm in.

Fixing my hat in place, I gaze around to see where I can find Leone, but I don't see her. "Leone? Where are you?" I call out.

"R-Right here." she says in one of the dressing rooms, her voice slightly stuttering.

Weird, wonder what's got her in such a state? "Everything okay in there Leone?" I ask her once I'm near the dressing room she's in.

"Yeah, yeah! I'm okay, just give me a moment." She yelps rapidly, making me raise my brow in confusion as to why she is acting like so. Nevertheless, I silently wait for her to finish dressing up when she finally starts speaking. "Ok Leone… you got this…"

That's cute. Never thought I would hear Leone pump herself up in such a way.

Soon enough the door opens, revealing Leone in-

…

…

"Wow."

I… I have little words…

"Ya… Ya like it?" Leone softly speaks, giving herself a light twirl, and the room around us just seems to get brighter.

Before me stands Leone, wearing a stunning white sundress, with small, intricate frills at the bottom end of her dress, a white sash wrapping around the waist, and shows just enough cleavage to both be a bit conservative, yet enough to entice those whose attention is caught by it.

I can't help but smile at such beauty before me. "Yes, yes I most certainly do."

I fucking love white sundresses now.

Leone giggles at my reaction, a light blush dusting her cheeks as she too eyes me up and down. "And I have to say, you don't look half bad yourself."

Okay wow, she wants to play it like that? I feel my smile widen. "Really now? How about I undress and have you pick my clothes for me then?" I playfully respond, her cheeks puffing before letting out a laugh.

"Alright, alright you got me. It looks great on you. With how you were dressed before I didn't take you for one who loves the style of Northern clothing." Leone muses.

"Well… I guess you could say the style speaks to me. But what about you? Did you pick out what you want?" I ask her.

She gives me a slight shrug. "Kinda. There are some other outfits I wanna try out. You don't mind right?"

How can I turn her down? It's the reason why we're here. "Not at all. Like I said earlier, pick your poison."

Suddenly my phone begins ringing, pulling it out I see that Womyn is the one calling me. I wonder what she wants? "Just give me a moment Leone, don't mind me. Go ahead and try out the other clothing available while I take care of this."

I soon walk to one of the empty dressing rooms on the far end of the store, putting down all of my purchased clothing before answering the phone. "Hey Womyn, it certainly has been a while. How's everybody?" I ask, happy to hear from them once more.

Sure I may have some Magnaguards shadowing them, but even with that assurance, I can't help but worry.

So hearing them every once in a while always removes some weight from my shoulders.

"Faust, we are currently negotiating with the remnants of the Southern Tribes and have reached a bit of a problem in negotiations." Womyn loudly states, as if she's announcing this more than she is speaking to me personally.

Hmm… wonder what went wrong with the negotiations for her to feel the need to call me.

Nevertheless, as her boss I shall try my best to salvage the situation.

"I'm assuming that they can hear us, right? If so, may I ask what the problem is?" I ask Womyn in a more neutral tone, my upbeat attitude having been replaced due to the seriousness in what she says.

"They wanted to take us as their wives as payment for their cooperation, but when we told them that we are already in a relationship with you they didn't believe us, so I'm calling you so you can set the record straight with them."

…

…

…

What.

---

Many Minutes Before In The Southern Lands…

The Southern Lands are humid.

There's no better way to describe it.

The closest thing Remus can compare it to would be the sensation of living inside a sauna. No matter how much you wipe yourself off of the mixture of sweat and vapor you feel just as hot as before and more frustrated as the seconds tick by.

'But even with that in mind, anything is better than the hell that is being under Bill's command.' Remus thinks to herself, leaning on the broom in her hands as she lets out a tired sigh. 'It's so surreal that people like him exist in this world, never mind function. How people can just leave them be just completely baffles me. But thanks to Faust and his great mind, that will soon come to an end. Faust…' Remus' mind begins to trail off as she thinks of her big savior.

Ah, she misses him so much, to the point that the mere thought of him is enough to make her heart flutter.

"Remus! Quit daydreaming and help us with this!" Gin exclaims as she and Kurome help some of the tribe women set up the tables.

The Southern Tribes, or what remained of them, were rather difficult to track since they have been constantly on the move ever since The Empire came and killed a majority of their population when they came to stamp the rebellion taking place.

But once Kurome's Squad had found them, it was difficult to convince them that that they meant no harm, especially when some of the Empire's scouts discovered their location.

No matter what Natala or Womyn says, Remus will forever deny being the one at fault for accidentally forgetting to burn my trash when we report back to Faust.

On the upside, they did gain their trust after getting rid of those pesky scouts.

More so when they found the enemy scout's camp and killed them in their sleep before pillaging it of anything remotely valuable or useful.

Since then the coalition of tribes has been more than welcoming of their presence, and while their overall opinion of them are positive, they'd rather not risk anything so the five of them tend to stick together as a group.

This leads them to now, where Kurome, Gin, and Remus are helping the locals with setting up a banquet for one of their returning group of hunters. Judging by the murmuring, the hunters are well admired in their social circle and are responsible for the continued existence of their tribe, so much so that they hold just as much authority as the chiefs and elders, more so in fact.

This in turn has led to the two of them heading over to them first to explain who we are and that we mean no harm to them.

"Thinking about Faust again Remus?" Kurome inquires, sneaking a small fruit cookie into her mouth with the tribe women none the wiser.

"No!" Her denial is met with deadpan stares. "…Maybe. I'm just piecing it all together. There are days where I find it hard to believe that my life has been led up to this point." She laments, straightening the tablecloth in an effort to keep her hands busy.

"I hear ya girl, there are days when I just think to myself 'How in the hell did I end up here?' ya know? Life is just plain strange." Gin agrees, straightening the chairs herself. "But that can be good just as much as it can be bad, wouldn't you agree Kurome?"

Kurome freezes for a moment as her face flushes with embarrassment before looking away from the two of us. After her blunder with her phone and her heartfelt talk with her sister, Kurome has been rather ecstatic to head back home, in hopes that she can see her sister Akame soon.

In all honesty, the others too want to see her and the rest of the Elite Seven as well, especially since they were trained by the Empire's very best.

After their training with Faust and our newfound field experience, they all want to see where they stand before them in terms of overall capabilities, even the normally timid Remus.

Before Kurome can say anything, she pauses and sharply turns towards the entrance of the room, where Womyn and Natala soon enter, followed by a group of seven tall men wearing oblong masks and holding spears. "Natala, Womyn, are they?" Kurome gestures to the new guests, and though they don't immediately reply, they don't need to as the cheers from the tribe women around them paint the picture clear for the five assassins.

"I see that you all have made yourselves comfortable in our tribe. We are not so welcoming after what the Empire did to our family, so be grateful." The man on the forefront of the group states, taking a seat at the end of the table, exuding confidence bordering on arrogance as he stares us down through that mask of his.

Natala in return gives a small nod towards the man, waiting for the other hunters to take their seats before he begins speaking. "I thank you all for granting us an audience. I hope you will take into consideration what we offer in good spirits."

"We shall see." the one closest to the middle on the left speaks, his arms crossed as he tries to stare them down through that weird mask of his.

"Indeed." the one to the right adds in as leans back on his chair, his arms resting on the back of his head.

Womyn soon speaks up. "Our leader is looking for allies. He is planning on overthrowing the Empire and we can use all the help we can get-!"

Womyn is interrupted by a spear thrown at her by one of the hunters, narrowly dodging it by tilting her head to the right, letting the spear pass through as it stabs itself into the ground a couple of feet away from Remus.

"Be mindful of your tongue! You have the audacity to have us help you sorry sacks of shit with overthrowing the Empire!?" The hunter who threw the spear roars, shooting up from his seat as his neck reddens with anger.

Natala in turn stands up and readies himself for an altercation, which in turn led the others to do the same. "What's the deal!? I thought you were going to hear us out!?"

"And we are not going to entertain some fools blaze of glory and be his fucking meatshields! You are not welcome here-!" The hunter finds himself kicked in the face by the hunter seated in the middle of them all.

"Silence. Now…" He calmly stands up, uncaring of having his foot firmly atop of his fellow hunter to keep him down. "Continue."

Womyn breaks the silence as she steps forward. "Our leader Faust is someone strong, stronger than you think, and with a brain as smart as he is strong. He understands the pressure such a request might bring, so we offer what Faust called 'a blank check' in his words. From what I can gather from his statement, he is merely stating to name your price."

After Womyn finishes speaking, the hunters begin to murmur amongst themselves, looking at each other as they speak, only giving them the occasional glance before they go back to talking to one another.

After a couple of minutes have passed, they all start nodding to each other, no doubt reaching an agreement.

"Your boss is quite the generous man, to give us such leeway that we can ask for whatever we want in exchange for help." The head of the group chuckles, the tone of his voice bringing some of them slightly on edge. "You see after The Empire invaded us and destroyed much of what we love, we've come to notice how… strong they can be. We wish to attain that power and to pass down the next generations that come after us. And seeing as you all have found us despite many of The Empire's scouting units being unable to along with killing them and being of great service to our tribe… I think that improving relations for the coming generations is a great thing to ask, as it will benefit you all as much as it benefits us."

'That is a weird way of wording what he wants, and looking at the slightly disgruntled look on Womyn's face it doesn't sound good.' Remus thinks to herself, catching her friend's faces twisting in discomfort.

"You surely jest sir." Womyn says in disbelief, being the first one to catch on to what the disgusting man in front of her is implying.

The man removes his mask, showing his face to them for the very first time, very likely as a shock tactic as his entire head is red, has no nose, and has dull horns protruding from his skull. "Does this look like the face of one cracking jokes?" He returns sternly. "It's a simple trade for our cooperation, trust me when I say that you all would be very accommodated should you accept this. If not, then the deal is off."

Natala sputters at this. "Are you seriously asking this of us? We're assassins! Not… not breeding stock!"

'Wait, what? Is that what they want from us!?' Remus' eyes widen at the revelation, a wave of disgust creeping up her spine.

One of the other tribesmen lets out a huff of indignation. "Since we're doing this, I might as well call dibs on the girl with the ponytail. She has a body fit for bearing many children." he comments, with Gin squawking in disgust, her arms crossing over her ample bosom as Natala steps in front of her in an attempt to shield her from the hunter's lecherous looks.

"Wha-!? Hey! No that's not how this works! You're the youngest so you go last! Besides, she deserves someone better like me." The tallest of the group barks back as he literally butts heads with the other hunter.

"Well, if we're already calling out who we want, then I want the dangerous one. I like that fire in those eyes…" The one next to the unmasked hunter grins, saliva trickling out from the side of his mouth as his eyes lock onto Kurome, and if anyone paid attention to her face they would notice the hardened glare she has etched on her face.

And despite the shift in the air, they continue discussing amongst themselves as if they were mere slaves to their pleasure.

"I like the glasses girl, she has room to grow and from what I can tell, she will be quite a looker in a couple of years." One of them suddenly adds, and it took all of Womyn's willpower to not gag in horror at the remark.

"W-What about the little one? Sure she has quite the pretty face, but she looks too small to be of any use." The hunter that is still pinned down by the leader questions as he and a couple of others look at Remus with an appraising gaze behind their masks.

'What.' is the first thing to come to Remus' mind when she immediately processed what was said.

"Yeah, but she has shown herself to be quite capable from what many of our tribesmen have said, so while pregnancy is certainly risky, we shouldn't let that stop us from ensuring that our sons and daughters are the strongest they can be." The tallest of the hunters argues, removing his mask to get a clearer view of Remus.

"That's true, but look at her… It's too much of a risk. She's not qualified to be a mother from what I can see, and no man worth his salt would pick her as his lover, never mind a wife." The youngest counters, with the unmasked leader of the hunters turning his attention away from the assassins to give the hunter a scrutinizing gaze.

All the while they were doing this, the five assassins begin to huddle up together, subconsciously preparing themselves of getting out of this mess by any means necessary.

"How dare they…" Remus mutters, catching both Womyn's and Kurome's attention and making them slightly glance her way.

"Remus? Are you alright?" Kurome asks since she knows that they all need to have their minds on their A-Game in moments like these, and whatever Remus is going through internally is the one thing they don't need right now.

"How dare they!?" Remus harshly whispers, her bangs shadowing over her eyes.

"Remus whatever you think of doing, you better stop this instant!" Womyn softly shouts in a hushed voice, hoping to get her attention without alerting the hunters in front of them, who are still discussing between themselves as if their suggestion is already a foregone conclusion just waiting to be processed.

"They dare to question my capabilities of being a great lover? They dare insinuate I'm unworthy of Faust's love!?" At this point Remus' face morphs into one made of pure fury, her face going red with veins literally bulging out of both her forehead and neck.

"Remus!" Both Kurome and Womyn harshly murmur in worry that Remus will potentially screw them by unnecessarily putting herself at risk.

Then in an instant, Remus' face went completely blank, all that rage building up within her suddenly no longer visible as she looks dead ahead towards the hunters.

"What you ask for won't be possible." Remus suddenly speaks up, with everyone going silent at her firm declaration.

She can feel the stares of everyone around her, but at this point, she couldn't care any less.

"Oh? And why is that?" The literal red-faced hunter questions, eyebrows raised.

"Because we're already taken." She declares firmly, her eyes unflinching as she meets the hunter's gaze with her own.

And at that, everybody froze.

Remus can see Womyn looking at her, eyes widened and filled with worry. Both Gin and Natala look at her alarmed but are otherwise confused with her interruption. Kurome on the other hand looks at Remus with a raised brow but looking at her body language she is merely waiting to see what Remus will do next.

"Oh? Is this true? Are you simply not saying this to avoid being a part of our wondrous community?" The leader questions, his voice dripped with venom, finally letting off of the hunter under his foot.

'If he thinks that can intimidate me, especially after what his friends said about me, then he thought wrong.' Remus thinks to herself. Thinking Fast I grab Natala and Gin and push the two together. "These two have been together for quite a while now. Why do you think Natala stood in front of her to stop your lecherous glaring?" Remus blurts out with a smoothness she never heard her voice have. She then hooks both of her arms around Womyn's and Kurome's necks. "And the three of us… we are not just our leader's assassins, we are also his lovers." Giving a side-glance at Womyn, Remus can see her beginning to sweat, all the while giving her a hard pinch behind the back. Remus then turns her attention towards Kurome who has this look of slight realization on her face momentarily before she nods confidently at her statement.

'Remus! What the hell are you even saying!?' Womyn shrieks internally, calling forth all of her willpower to keep her face straight despite the sheer curveball Remus has thrown.

'Ah… I see your ploy Remus. While unorthodox, I believe this can be turned to our favor.' Kurome thinks to herself, quickly mustering up the courage to press on the lie so as to make it more believable to the masses. "She is correct in what she says. Faust is the only man for us, so it'd be best for you all to start looking elsewhere for someone suitable." Kurome backs up Remus, doing her best to talk in a calm demeanor so as to give the statement good credibility.

And yet, despite what has been said, the men in front of them just returned a look of genuine disbelief.

Thinking fast, Womyn speaks up before they have any chance to rebuke such claims. "If you wish, we can put you through direct contact with Faust." Womyn then pulls out her phone and speed-dials Faust's number, just a button away from confirming the call.

The hunters remain silent for only a moment before the leader lets out a grunt. "Call him, I want to hear what he has to say."

Womyn nods and hits the button as quickly as she can before putting it on speakerphone. The phone rings, and with each ring, the assassins can feel the anticipation within them grow more and more, desperately hoping that their boss will immediately pick up the phone.

By the fifth ring, the noticeable sound of the phone being picked up is heard, much to the relief of the former Group of Terror.

"Hey Womyn, it certainly has been a while. How's everybody?" Faust asks in an upbeat tone.

"Faust, we are currently negotiating with the remnants of the Southern Tribes and have reached a bit of a problem in negotiations." Womyn states louder than normal, with Faust humming in return.

"I'm assuming that they can hear us, right? If so, may I ask what the problem is?" Faust questions in a more neutral tone, with the hunters looking at the device in both wonder and disbelief.

Due to their way of living, they are primitive in terms of technology, and mostly rely on their physical prowess and knowledge of the lands they traverse.

So to them, hearing a man's voice coming out of a small metal rectangle is basically like magic to them, as they have never seen or heard of anything like it in their lives.

"They wanted to take us as their wives as payment for their cooperation, but when we told them that we are already in a relationship with you they didn't believe us, so I'm calling you so you can set the record straight with them." Womyn explains, looking as calm as she can be in spite of the collective stares of everyone around her and awaiting Faust's response. 'Please Faust! Whatever you do, please go with the lie!' Womyn internally pleads, with all the other assassins roughly thinking the same.

Thankfully only after a couple seconds passed did Faust finally respond. "I see… and, why did you find it necessary that of all the things you could've chosen to have me give you in compensation, you chose the one thing I will never give you?" Faust questions, his voice having an underlying tone of anger, though from what he is specifically angry with, the assassins don't know if it's the fact that they had to lie to get Faust to help with it or if it he's upset about what the hunters tried to do.

As far as they're concerned though, it can be one or the other, both, or neither. Just so long as they can get out of this predicament alive they will face the consequences later.

"Well, the way it was worded, we were sure that it would be within-" one of the hunters spoke before being interrupted by Faust.

"Of course you and your people would take advantage of one's generosity when presented with the opportunity. People like you disgust me." Faust growls, causing many of the hunters and some of the other tribesmen standing by to shout in anger, insulted by the insinuations of this man.

The head hunter snarls at Faust's rude comment. "For a man that needs us to help you, you sure have a bad way of showing it."

"There seems to be some miscommunication here. Let me be clear about this first and foremost: I don't need any of you. This was merely a gesture of good will so that when I inevitably take over the Empire and crown myself emperor, I would have willing allies by my side to ease the transition of power. You all, however, have ruined it for yourselves. Magnaguards, ayuden."

In an instant, twenty five magnaguards burst through the entrance and subdue the hunters and the other tribesmen in the room faster than they can react, with only the unmasked hunter escaping the initial assault before being surrounded by four magnaguards.

The phone suddenly shows Faust's face, and judging by the glowing orange eyes of his, he is not happy. "You have brought this onto yourself, Henter. Yes, I know who you are, don't bother asking how I'm not gonna answer. But in spite of all of this, I am a reasonable man. Considering the barbaric society you live in, it's not a surprise you and your people know little etiquette when it comes to this sort of thing. So, this is how things are going to go down from here on out, we are going to have a meeting, face-to-face, just you and me. Along with that your entire tribe will come with you, so that they can get acquainted with who they are going to be allied with. That and actually have a decent life and education. As for that blank check offer, after what you and your hunters tried to do you get none of that. Having you all live for another day is plenty of reward don't you think? You never know when your next breath might be your last."

At that sentence, the magnaguards tighten their hold on the other hunters while Henter could only look on helplessly and in anger. "Do keep in mind that the only reason you all are still alive is by my mercy. That for every breath you take, it's because I gave you all a second chance despite your ridiculous demand."

Henter can only snarl. "You… you won't get away with this…"

Faust's face changes from annoyed to amused at what Henter said. "Oh? Like how you all didn't let Esdeath and her army pillage and rape your entire village and communities? How's that working for you all? Face it Henter, without me all of that would be just a far out unachievable dream. But I think I made my point already. Womyn, Kurome, Remus, Natala, and Gin, head back to base. I think you all deserve some time to relax and to get out of there. I'll let my magnaguards deal with the rest. See you all there." And at that Faust finally ended the call, silence permeating throughout the entire room, that one phone call changing the entire dynamic of power that was previously established.

"We… We're just gonna go." Gin says, tugging Natala her way with the others following suit, none of them meeting the accusatory eyes of the natives there as they take their leave.

Regardless, the Southern Tribe members remain silent, warily looking at the magnaguards that remained there, their attention on the assassins forgotten on this new, bigger threat.

As the assassins leave, one of the village elders enters the room with a solemn expression on his face. His eyes turn to look at Henter and the other hunters that brought misfortune upon not only them, but the whole village. With all this in mind, he can only ask one simple question. "What have you all done?"

With Kurome, Natala, Gin, Womyn, and Remus now reaching the outskirts of the settlement of the Southern Tribes, Gin and Womyn decide to address the elephant in the room.

"Remus, what was that!?" They both exclaim to their small teammate, who shrinks into herself at the suddenness of their yelling.

Womyn is the first to press on. "Remus please tell us what was going on in your brain when you said all of that! While it did work in helping us get out of there, we have made things more difficult for Faust now!"

"Yeah! And why did you tell them that Natala and I were together!?" Gin jumps in, her face getting a shade of red as she remembers the moment Remus said that.

"W-Well…" Remus stutters, trying her best to avert the hard glares being sent her way by both Womyn and Gin. "It worked didn't it? Why complain about it now?"

Womyn sputters at her response. "Ctbhsdck why complain about it!? Do you not remember that we had to call Faust and get him to lie in order for it to seem legitimate!? Do you realize how awkward it's gonna be whenever we're around him now!?"

Remus can only blush in return. "I-I don't see a problem with it…" She whispers, and Womyn can feel her head spin by the sheer audacity Remus is showing them.

"Of course you don't, you have a massive crush on him." Gin retorts, with Remus pouting at her.

"W-Well he doesn't know that! And besides, don't act like you don't mutter Na-!" Before Remus can finish her sentence, a beet red Gin clasps her hand over her mouth in a desperate effort to silence her from saying something incredibly embarrassing for her.

"Not. Another. Word." Gin growls out, with Remus for once meeting her eyes as their gazes narrow on one another.

All the while, Natala looks a little confused on the reason they're fighting. In his eyes, Remus' little lie turned out to be a blessing in disguise coming from the unlikeliest of sources. In all honesty he thought they were going to have to fight their way out of there and then try to explain to Faust why they failed in their mission. Thankfully none of that happened, so in his eyes all's well that ends well.

Sure, they may have thrown their boss in for a loop but he at least seemed reasonable in the end, not at all upset with them in how the whole situation unfolded itself.

Besides, it's just a lie, so why would they overreact like that?

Kurome at this point decides to butt in and attempts to placate the other women in the group. "Womyn, Gin, enough. What's done is done, there's nothing we can do about it now. In the near future some warning would be greatly appreciated Remus. We could've made the whole lie so much more believable if you had given at least some of us a heads up to prepare." When she sees the three calm down, she presses on. "As much as we should be thankful to Faust for sending back-up without any of us knowing, we'd best prepare to hear what he has in store for us when we get back to base. No doubt that lie we said will bring in some questions."

At that, Remus seems to deflate more so than the others, since she doesn't want to be chastised by the man she loves for such a blunder.

But even with that in mind, she wants nothing more than to see Faust face-to-face once more, even if it means that the first thing he does is give them a look of disappointment.

And with that, they head back to their base, not at all noticing the strange insect nearby that is following them or the four-armed lady and auburn-haired girl watching them with interest from afar.

---

With Faust…

After ending the call, my mood was a bit out of whack I will admit, even if I hate myself for doing so.

Giving myself some time to calm down I exit the dressing room before beginning to assess what just happened.

And looking back, there's not much I would've changed in doing if I were put in the same scenario once more.

Those fucking bastards had the stupidity to even try to claim my own comrades as fucking breeding stock? Nah, they shot themselves in the foot the moment I heard that was their demand from me.

It's times like these where I wouldn't mind wiping out a good portion of humanity if it meant my loved ones were safer than if I don't take action.

I know that there are many people that will say that humanity is naturally good and that when it comes down to it, they get together to do the right thing.

Heh… what a load of horseshit.

Humanity is naturally dispositioned to do evil, I've long since accepted that reality ever since my brother died.

We are such selfish creatures it's a miracle we were able to go far in technical advancement.

Though we have the exceptional few who think about the future to thank for humanity being able to reach such heights, especially when compared to the billions who are stupid and ignorant enough to live life day by day and never worry about what tomorrow might bring.

I remember when I first heard of Thomas Hobbes' hypothesis on humanity, I thought to myself how much of a cynical person this man must've been to see humanity in such a way.

Now though, I wish I understood the truth he was speaking when I was much younger.

Who knows… I don't think it would've mattered much in the end anyway in my old life.

Now though, considering how much of a guiding hand the people here need, I don't think there's a better option presented before me than to become the next emperor.

To quote a certain judge: The people, they know where I stand. They need rules to live by, I provide them. They break the rules, I break them. That's the way it works. Rights? Sure, I'm all for rights. But not at the expense of order.

And I know for a fact that a democracy will only work for so long before it becomes corrupt just like the rest.

I'm no viva la revolucion Che Guevara liberal college anarchist, but I am willing to do what I need to do to create the best nurturing environment for my future children, grandchildren, and their descendants to thrive and be the best person they can be.

Teach them all the morals that most people here aren't taught… teach them to treat others how they themselves want to be treated…

Basically, teach them everything that I am not. I want my children to be better than me, to be better than the current society.

I want them to grow into proper good people rather than to end up being turned into the monsters out there…

Including me…

Hearing Leone's humming as she exits the dressing room, I take that as my que to get ready to pay for her things.

And pay for her things I did.

She certainly got her money's worth of clothing at my expense, more than a thousand gold coins worth in fact, but if that's the price to see her in a sexy yellow v-neck crop top paired with a black jegging-like leather pants that leaves little to the imagination and a pair of low heeled leather shoes that just completes the whole outfit together, then that is more than worth it in my eyes.

Soon after we decided to go eat at a nearby restaurant, which while admitted a little on the cheaper side of things, was no less delicious.

As we were eating we made small talk with one another. It mainly consisted of minor things such as our likes, our dislikes, hobbies, and whatnot. When asked what she does for a living she kinda averted the question and answered vaguely. Which isn't surprising in all honesty considering that at this point in time, the Revolutionary Army is still building itself up before going to war against Honest and his corrupt regime.

When she asked me the same question, I too was vague in my words with what I was doing specifically, only telling her I was in the capital planning on doing some philanthropic work around the place in hopes of making the Empire a better place in some way, shape, or form.

That made her smile more honestly at me, and considering that she's no doubt already part of the Revolutionary Army it's easy to understand why.

Soon enough we finished our food and as we exited the restaurant we both noticed that the sun was just about to start setting soon. Leone thanks me for the wonderful date and before she leaves, she pulls me in for a hug and gives me a peck on the cheek, promising me that we'll have another date the next time we see each other.

Watching her leave and disappear into the crowd, I turn away and can't help but add a skip in my step as I walk into one of the alleyways, using my inventory once I don't see or sense anybody with my {One With The World} perk to put away all of my recently bought clothes.

Continuing my trek through the alleyway, I'm stopped by some thugs who tried to mug me of my belongings, with one of the larger fellows commenting on doing some very sexual things to my body if I don't comply.

Yeah… that ain't gonna happen.

A minute and seven heavily mutilated and violated bodies later, I come across some rats nearby eating some trash left there. Ignoring the stench, I get close to them, remembering the time that I commanded some birds to find Champ for me a couple months ago. I decide to do that all over again, except this time I'm gonna use mice.

Once I notice the mice paying attention to me, I tell them to call all of their friends and family because I got a small request for them that should they complete I will give them some deliciously cooked meat as a reward for their hard work.

And that was more than enough incentive to go above and beyond, as in a couple of minutes, I find myself surrounded by hundreds of mice, maybe even thousands considering they are all looking at me from different vantage points in the alleyway ranging from the floor, to some drain pipes, to the roof, and even popping out of some windows.

Seeing their dedication to the job I am about to give them, I tell them that I am looking for the mansion belonging to a family that has a daughter named Aria. Using my telepathy to ingrain the image of not only Aria, but also her mother, I send them off to search for the sadistic example of a sinful family.

While I wait I might as well enjoy my free time.

Funny thing about the magnaguards I found out when installing their software, it's basically Star Wars version of Windows XP, and like XP it includes a bunch of side goodies, like Star Wars version of Pinball, which has many different levels based on the many planets and moons populated by the republic and confederacy.

So, using some reverse engineering bullshit, I was able to add said game into the phones I made for some quick entertainment as I wait for the rats to be done.

I'm currently stuck on the Coruscant level, because I keep hitting those fucking death sticks that keep lowering my total score!

Pinche level, I will pass you sooner or later mark my words!

---

Many Hours Later…

Oswald is just getting back from his job overseeing many businesses he owns in one of the richer districts in the capital, completely exhausted and really desiring to see his wife and daughter after such a long day.

Knowing them, they're more than likely playing with their newest guests that they have so graciously housed after being stuck out in the cold last night.

He laments that he is getting older with each passing day, having less and less time to enjoy doing such enjoyable activities with his wife and daughter more often.

'Maybe it's time for me to retire?' Oswald thinks to himself, since he has saved enough money for him to retire and enjoy the pleasures that life provides him on a daily basis.

Seeing his carriage enter through the gates of his estate, he notices that it is a bit quiet, but considering where his delightful wife Mirinda and radiant daughter Aria are, it's no surprise.

He'll let them have their fun, he'll announce his plans for retirement tomorrow morning when it is time for them to eat their breakfast.

As he gets closer to his doors, he notices the lack of guards, which is strange to say the least.

He usually has at least two guards standing by the entrance at any given moment.

"Guards, come with me, something is amiss, there should be some guards posted by entrance and yet I see no one." Oswald commands, the guards he has riding the driver seats of the carriage nod and pull out their rifles , one walking ahead of Oswald with the other behind him to cover the rear.

Going through the entrance, they see that the whole mansion is lit up and clean as it can be.

And yet it is as quiet as it can be in there.

Usually Oswald can hear the bustling of the maids and the guards making small talk once in a while but he's never heard his home be this quiet before.

It really unnerves him.

He heads out to his backyard, where at the far end of it he can see the brick storehouse where he and his family hold their "toys", and heads that way with his guards following suit. Once he reaches the entrance the first thing he notices is that there's nobody there.

Not his wife.

Not his daughter.

Not the livestock they took from the street,

Even the dead that were hanging on the hooks were gone.

Oswald felt his world spinning. 'Wha-? What's going on!? Where's Mirinda!? Where's Aria!?' Oswald's mind begins to think frantically, his eyes dilating in search for an answer in the darkness of the damp storehouse.

Running back to his mansion with his guards just behind him with their weapons at the ready, Oswald frantically calls out to his wife and daughter. "Mirinda! Aria! Where are you!?"

He calls for them again and again, barging through the door of his mansion as he goes to his private office, in the hopes that should anything have happened, they remembered the procedure and locked themselves into his secured office that is strong enough to hold back mid-sized danger beasts.

Once he reaches his office, he checks to see if the door to his office is locked.

He lets out a sigh of relief at that, since if this door is locked like so, then that means his family is safe and sound.

Pulling out his keys, he opens the door and-!

He feels a shockwave pass by him before seeing blood fly from the corner of his vision from both sides, making him blink in surprise at the sight of both his bodyguards lying dead on the floor with both of their heads caved in by some invisible force.

Blinking away in shock, he notices both his wife Mirinda and his daughter Aria tied and gagged, kneeling in front of his desk with tears streaming out of their eyes.

"About time you made it home. I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna show up tonight." A deep voice comments, bringing him out of his stupor, finally realizing that there is a man standing in between his wife and daughter. "Y'know, I've met my fair share of fucked up people, but you and your family… man you have some sick minds!"

The man roughly grabs Mirinda and Aria by the hair, yanking their heads and straightening their bodies from their kneeling position, the sight of which is making his stomach churn, and that's not even mention the sound of their muffled cries of agony making his heart hurt in a way it has never hurt before. "W-W-What do you want? Is it money? Slaves? Both? Whatever it is, I'll give it to you, just leave my family alone!" Oswald begs, not wanting his family to suffer any more than they already have.

The man looks at me with an unamused stare. "You say that, and yet how many people have you and your family tortured to death? What makes you and your family more worthy of living than those who tried to improve their way of life and had an optimistic view of the world? Is it the money you have available? Your political power? Or is it just because you're a high-born noble and they are all just 'country bumpkins' to play with until you're bored?"

'I'm going to die… my family is going to die… aren't they?' Oswald can't help but think to himself as the tall invader with eyes like lava walks closer to him as he roughly drags his wife and daughter along with him.

"Now here's how it's going to play out: You are going to legally give me this property, along with everything in here belonging to me as well, and should this all be met, I shall not harm you or your wife and daughter, you have my word on that." The man orders, making Oswald pale at the implications of what he is saying.

'Everything… he wants everything… Our property… our money… our bonds… our deeds… A majority of our wealth will be gone should we agree to his demands! But… if I don't listen to him, we won't have any wealth to begin with…' Oswald contemplates, feeling his world shatter by the second and a growing hatred of the man expand within his very being every single second passing by.

Eventually, he does concede and gives in to the man's demands. "Ok… you have a deal, but you must follow through with your side of the bargain!" I exclaim to him, hoping that he won't break his word or else this would all be for naught.

The intruder merely smiles. "I am a man of my word." He then pulls out a pile of documents from seemingly nowhere along with an intricate pen. "Now you needn't worry about having to write any new papers to make this all legitimate, I wrote all of those pages personally so you don't have to waste any time!" He chirps happily, shoving the stacks of paper and pen into Oswald's arms as he leads him to his own desk.

'Well… it was mine… now it'll soon be his once I finish signing this paper.' Oswald sighs in contempt as he begins to read the papers given to him.

Skimming through the many pages of paper for any tomfoolery, he is genuinely surprised by the lack of double meanings hidden in between the words and overall honesty.

Quickly finishing up the document, with a heavy heart Oswald signs the documents before handing them over to the tall man in front of him.

The man can't help but let out a whistle. "Well now, there is only one more thing that needs to be done. Come right on in ladies and gentlemen~!"

Before Oswald can even talk, the door is kicked open and Oswald along with his wife and daughter can only pale at the sight they see.

Their former captives, all alive and healthy, glaring and seething at them with a searing hatred that he has never felt before.

The man clears his thoat and walks around the desk and takes a seat in the chair. "As I have promised, one fucked up family served hot and ready for you all to take your revenge! Just remember! Keep the man alive! Everything else is fair game!"

Oswald can only look at the tall man with betrayal, who looks back in amusement. "But you said that you wouldn't bring harm to me or my family!?" the man exclaims, trying to reach out to the devil of a man in front of him before being subjugated and pinned to the floor by his former cattle.

"And true to what I said I am keeping my word. Don't you remember exactly what I said? I said that I would not harm you, your wife, or your daughter. I never said anything about other people. If somebody else has problems with you, that is out of my hands unfortunately." he replies, not at all bothered by the sight of Oswald and his family being dragged out of the office.

Oswald can only look at his family with tears coming out of his eyes, his wife and daughter's muffled screaming not doing them aunty favors as they are ganged up on and being kicked and beaten like a couple of mangy dogs out in the alleyway.

"Hey you fat fuck! Remember me!? Remember what you did to my father!? You stripped his legs away until there was nothing left! Now…! now you will feel the pain you showed him!" A young boy's voice calls out, holding a large fork and knife in his hand, not at all bothered by the fact Oswald was kicked down the stairs.

Disorientated as he is, Oswald can do nothing but watch as the boy and a couple others start stabbing stakes into his limbs to keep him down, and all the while he can only hear the screams of pain from his wife and daughter along with the roars of anger coming from his former livestock.

"That man said to not kill you, but so long as you remain alive in the end, we can do whatever we can to you…" the boy walks on top of me, crouching down as he drags the knife from one of my cheeks to the other. "Suffer!"

---

With Faust…

Ignoring the screams of the former owners of this lovely estate, I lock the door of the office and just take in the beauty of the whole place.

Sure they may be some fucked up individuals but they do have good taste, I can at least admit to that.

Seeing that it is night time, I decide to end this day on a positive note.

Taking out two of my Mystery Crates from my inventory I decide to open them to see what I receive.

To my surprise I end up receiving two mystery companion gems!

[Mystery Companion Gem - ?, ?-Rank]

Brings forth someone of a random quality to be a companion for you.

Ooh… I wonder who I'm gonna get? With a mystery companion gem the possibilities are endless! Hopefully I end up with some amazing companions, and with my first two summons being of great service to me, I'm sure I will be blessed with similar capable people.

Activating the gems, they start to glow and soon start taking shape, showing me who I exactly summoned-!

…

…

…

No way…

No fucking way…

"What the-!? Who da hell are you supposed to be ya John Wayne-wannabe beaner!? How dare you insult such spectacular western greats with your piss-poor clothing!?"

The gray and white cat beside him looks confused by the whole situation, and decides that the best form of action is to pull out a cartoonishly large hammer and to smash his head in as hard as he can, as if to wake up from a dream.

…

…

Pfft!

---

And that is the end of that chap!

I got nothing else to say except just tell me what you think!

Sincerely,

Forzarismo

September 13, 2021