November 5th.

Ann's hands slammed down on the table, her eyes wide in pure shock. "Your mother WHAT!?" The group gathered in the hideout at Hifumi's behest, while Kasumi was informed to linger behind and be informed of the situation a little later. After all, her part in the Phantom Thieves was being hidden from Akechi.

"I'm sorry." Hifumi let out a sigh and shook her head. "I had no idea she was holding onto that at all…"

"That's not your fault." Makoto said with a gentle tone. "I should've expected something like this all the way back then, but there was no real way to confirm those suspicions…"

"So your mother was working with Junya Kaneshiro in the background, and because you were captured in this image, he sent it to your mother…" Akechi summarized the situation. "It would be more than a little inconvenient if that got out…"

"Shujin is already under a ton of scrutiny…" Futaba pushed her glasses up. "The police would latch onto this instantly, whether it's related to the Phantom Thieves are not. Also…Ren would be in huge trouble."

"Hifumi's mom is really a…" Ryuji was going to say something, but he remembered all the times he was chided before for his poor choice of words. It would be a different story if Hifumi actually hated her mom, but that wasn't the case.

"A poor mother." Haru went ahead and said it anyway. It was simple and straightforward and all Hifumi could do was let out a defeated sigh.

"I'm truly sorry things have come to this. But I'm ready to put an end to my mother's obsession with victory." Hifumi clenched a hand into a fist. "She's crossed far too many lines by this point. I don't want to wait and see how far she wants to keep going just for my sake."

"I'm with you all the way, Fumi!" Ann said with a determined nod. "Even if your mom doesn't like me that much, I won't sit around when you need me! Er, us!" She quickly corrected herself.

"I am ready to fight for your sake as well." Yusuke said.

"I think it goes without saying that we're all in agreement." Morgana looked around. "We don't have a lot of time, but we'll make this operation as swift and efficient as the ones before."

"Yup, let's kick some butt!" Futaba said. She was on her phone the whole time. She was texting Kasumi about what was happening.

"Thank you, everyone." Hifumi mustered a small smile in response. "Truly. Mother is out right now, so we can go to the Palace without having her see you."

"We said we'd be there when you were ready. We meant it." Ren said with a nod of his own. It wasn't much, but if he could start actually helping his teammates when they really needed it most, perhaps it was a good step in the right direction. "Let's get moving."

.

.

The Phantom Thieves arrived back in the Kingdom of Victory. It still held the damages from Dragon's fight with her cognitive self. "I see they haven't changed anything since we were here last…" Dragon said while looking around. It felt like forever ago since they were last in here, but it was just last month. That just goes to show how fast things change…

Crow took a look around at all the golden statues. "So this is the mind of your mother…it's very…how should I put this…"

"Don't worry. There's nothing you can say that we haven't already." Noir clasped her hands together.

"We've been in here a few times. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some traps waiting for us." Mona said while carefully stepping forward.

"At least we don't gotta worry about that fake Hifumi goin' around…" Skull said. Since he lacked tact, Queen had to elbow him in the side. "Ow..! Sorry…"

"It's fine." Dragon shook her head, glancing back at the sword on her back. She couldn't use it, nor would she really intend to if she could. But it served as a nice reminder to how far she's come.

"How do we proceed?" Fox pointed at the front door. "We've used that entrance so many times, I can only imagine what's lurking behind those door."

"You have already ascertained the whereabouts of the Treasure, correct?" Crow asked Joker.

"Yeah." Joker nodded, turning and pointing up to the highest floor of the castle. "It's in the Throne Room. We know exactly where it is, but…"

"Getting to it is a completely different story." Queen finished that statement. "Mitsuyo's Shadow is no doubt waiting for our return…"

"Unfortunately for her, I've cracked down her whole security system last time we were here!" Oracle stepped forward, relishing in the amazed stares coming her way. "Listen up, newbie!" She meant Crow. "We were told before how security here works. Those three towers are host to the security functions of this castle, so in order to proceed to the highest floor, we have to deal with those."

"I see." Crow stroked his chin, quickly catching on. "But it would take far too much time for all of us to go to a single tower and deactivate them one by one…"

"Exactly." Oracle nodded and raised a finger. "I think the best course of action is to break out into three teams."

"Split up?" Noir tilted her head.

"Yes." Oracle would explain. "I downloaded a map of the area last time we were here. Looking to the left and right, there are entrances to the two towers near us, and they link up to the third tower, which also leads into the upper floors of the castle! While the two teams are doing that, the final one, including me, will go through the castle and deactivate the terminals along the way."

"You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?" Crow was impressed at Oracle's planning.

"I sure have!" Oracle nodded smugly.

"I think I know how this needs to go." Dragon said. "Joker, Crow, and I will accompany Oracle through the castle itself."

"Ah…" Panther opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately decided not to. She wanted to accompany Dragon. "Then I guess Noir, Queen and I will take the right side!" Instead of voicing a complaint, she decided to push on and do whatever she could to help Dragon.

"Then that leaves Skull, Fox, and I to deal with the left side." Mona was also a little disappointed. He wanted to go with Panther! Looks like nobody wins. But it's for a mission, so they could shove those thoughts aside for now.

"Alright. I don't know if I'll be able to navigate everyone. I'm gonna be focusing a lot…" Orcale said. "So please be careful, alright?"

"Don't worry, we'll be fine!" Skull said with a grin.

"Then let's begin the operation." Joker told everyone. Everyone had their assignments and they were quick to break off. Joker, Crow, Dragon, and Oracle were going through the castle to deactivate security along the way to the throne room; Skull, Mona, and Fox went to the left tower, while Panther, Queen, and Noir went to the right tower.

Violet was watching from behind a golden statue. She kept quiet while listening to the group talk the whole time. Since she had gotten there ahead of time, it allowed her to pick out a good hiding spot so she wouldn't be seen by anyone. "So that's the plan…? Okay, I know where I need to go then…"

.

.

Climbing the tower was no easy feat. It was more annoying than anything, as the only way up was a spiral staircase. Skull, Fox, and Mona were running up the seemingly endless stairs to make it to the top. "Agh, come on! Did they have to make so many stairs…!?" Skull groaned, grimacing a little bit despite being the one up front. It was his leg acting up, what a poor time for that as well.

"Are you alright, Skull?" Fox questioned from behind.

"Don't worry 'bout me." Skull replied.

"I don't doubt there are some security guards waiting for us at the top." Mona warned. "We've already done plenty of damage, so expect a welcoming committee."

"Hah! We'll just kick their asses then!" Skull said with a widening grin. The thought of beating up some more Shadows did distract him from that feeling in his leg. It would go away soon enough as it always did, but at this moment it was an annoyance.

Eventually, they did reach a door. The trio paused for a moment, silently nodding at each other before carefully pushing it open. They did so without the door making a sound, allowing them to peek into the room ahead. It wasn't what they were searching for. They could see a number of armored knights wandering around as a security measure. "Looks like we're on the right track, at least…"

"It seems as though we have a ways to go, based on what lies ahead…" Fox gestured to the corridor on the far side of the current room. "But it appears that we won't be getting past without causing a little noise."

"That's fine with me." Mona said with a nod. "As long as we silence them before they can call for help, it should be no problem." And for once, he glanced at Skull, getting an idea. "I think Skull's loud and abrasive nature will actually help us for once."

"Whaddya mean 'for once'?!" Skull nearly shouted, which almost blew their cover. Luckily he realized this midway through and covered his mouth. The armored knights looked around, confused as they thought they heard something.

Mona sighed heavily, pressing a palm against his face. So much for that idea, it nearly got them discovered right off the bat. "Never mind…"

One curious knight decided to trust its instinct. It was slowly walking towards the door, carefully raising its sword in the process. "What was that noise…?"

"Shit…" Skull started to sweat. Of course one of them would try to figure out what happened! "Let's scurry back down…!"

It was a good idea. Or rather…it would have been, if Fox didn't notice a few silhouettes of knights walking up the stairs where they came from. "It doesn't look like that's going to be a viable option."

"That's no good…" Mona said as the knight shadow in the room ahead started to open the door.

"Only one thing to do then!" If they couldn't go back, then the only way to go was forward. As the door fully opened, Skull lunged forward, slamming his club into the knight Shadow's face to knock them into the ground. The moment he did, the other knights within the room immediately turned in his direction and readied their weapons. Skull was just grinning the whole time while Fox and Mona stood next to him. "Alright, let's kick some ass!"

.

.

The girls didn't have it any easier. They were also climbing up a large spiral staircase, but not at the speed the boys were. Panther and Noir weren't about that life, while Queen was fine with it. "Uuuuuuuuuuugh." Panther groaned. "I'm all for helping Dragon out with her mom, but does her Palace have to include so many stairs…."

"It wouldn't be bad if there weren't so many." Noir sighed.

"Come on you, two. We have to pick up the pace." Queen said while looking over her shoulder. "Surely you can find it in yourselves to move a little faster?"

"This is the cardio I didn't ask for." Panther's head slumped over.

Queen also slumped over. "I hope we reach the top soon, for your sakes."

"Waaait for me….!" That voice belonged to Violet. The girls turned around, only to see Violet sprinting up the stairs with no issue. Noir and Panther's jaws dropped at the ease of which Violet did so. "Whew, I caught up to you all! …I thought you'd be a little higher by now."

"Violet!? How did you do that!?" Panther demanded to know. These stairs were killing her.

"Oh, stuff like this is nothing to me." Violet said with a smile. "My legs are pretty strong from all the gymnastics, you know. This was a nice warm up if anything."

"I'm a little envious…" Noir admitted quietly.

"Come on, we don't want to waste too much time, right?" And with that, Violet was already running up the stairs. She wasn't giving Panther or Noir too much of a choice to keep up, and Queen was following closely behind.

"Wait, slow down…!" Panther pleaded. Violet's active attitude was a detriment at times. But Panther sucked it up and picked up the pace, not wishing to fall behind. "I wish I got to go with Dragon, there are no stairs there…"

"I thought you would be with her, Panther-senpai?" Violet said without missing a beat. These stairs really were just a workout for her.

"I wanted to be, but it's better this way, for now." Panther explained. "She wants to keep Crow in her sights at all time while we're in the Metaverse. Since we can't trust him or his story at all…"

"Oh, I get it…" Violet nodded. "If there is a chance something bad happens…"

"Then we know he's responsible." Queen said. "But realistically, she wanted him here to avoid that. Now, let's say that Black Mask does happen to show up…we at least have the numbers to deal with them this time."

"I won't let Black Mask get away again…" Noir tightened the grip on her axe. There was a part of her that hoped he did show up, just so she could swing her axe at him violently. But she shook those thoughts out of her head. The best thing she could do at this point in time was help her friend. The last thing she wanted was the same thing that happened to her father to happen to Dragon's mother.

"Fumi's mom is really a bit unbearable…" Panther said. When it set in that this operation was finally reach, she just stared ahead. "But Fumi is working so hard to save her and what's left of their family despite it all…that's why I want to help her."

"Me too." Noir said quietly.

"I think we can relate to how personal it feels." Queen offered a slight smile.

"Dragon-senpai is lucky to have you guys…" Violet said.

"You're involved with us too." Panther flashed Violet a smile. "So she's lucky to have us. "

Violet managed her own smile in return. Even though she couldn't relate to how personal this operation felt, she was still Dragon's friend and wanted to help her. They were really good at not making her feel left out. "Yeah…! Oh-!" She had to stop. They were at the door and Violet almost ran into it.

"Looks like we're at the top…" Queen pulled out her magnum, slowly opening the door. It looked empty, though… "Is no one here…?"

"Do we go in?" Noir pulled out her rocket launcher, preparing to go for a one shot kill. It wasn't the worst idea, but it was very extreme.

"Carefully." Queen pleaded. So the group slowly pushed the door open and there was a woman standing in the center of the room. It wasn't the security room itself, but they could see another pathway just beyond it.

Violet tilted her head. "…I think I've seen that woman on a magazine before…?"

Panther's expression fell. She recognized who was standing in front of them immediately. Of course that person would have a cognitive version here… "You're kidding me…"

.

.

While the two teams were taking care of the security system in the tower, the main force quietly made their way through the castle itself. Dragon was taking the lead, with Joker, Crow, and Oracle close behind. They were hiding behind a few support beams, growing closer to the last place they were in. "How does it look, Oracle?"

"More security than before, but I'm not detecting Mitsuyo's shadow on this floor." Oracle reported. "So we don't have to worry about that."

"How do we proceed?" Crow asked.

"We move ahead." Joker said. "Last time we were here, Oracle managed to break through the first layer of security, but we had to leave after."

"Mwhehehe…" Oracle snickered. "This time, I'll make sure to get us to the very top. You can rely on me."

"I know." Dragon said with a slight smile. They still had a long way to go, but Dragon was confident that with this team, they would reach the throne room, and the Treasure in only a matter of time. "Let's keep moving. My mother's heart won't change itself."