This is awesome! I'm actually updating on schedule!

I.O.N.

Enjoy!

The seven pirate captains stood around the box containing the 'gift' Charter had given Alix discussing what to do. Well, discussing is a very generous term for the vicious arguing they were actually doing.

"All it boils down to Alix is what you want to do with it," Marinette said finally, after three hours of getting nowhere. "After all, he did leave it with you."

Alix sighed as she passed her hand over the box. "I'm not going to lie, part of me wants to throw this box and the hook into the ocean and never look back. But the clockmaker in me is loathed to destroy such fine craftsmanship."

"I didn't know you were a clockmaker, Alix." Adrien interrupted.

"Yeah." Alix nodded. "Before Kim and I met Sabine and Tom, my family worked under Kim's as the royal clockmakers."

"KIM'S ROYALTY?!"

Marinette distractedly patted Adrien on the arm, "Adrien, sweetie, we'll tell you all about the politics surrounding Kim later after we figure out what to do with the hook."

"Fine."

"Alix which part of you are you listening to more?" Kim asked.

Alix thought for a minute or two before answering, "The clockmaker. The designs etched into the base honestly remind me of some of my father's finest work and I just can't bring myself to get rid of it." Alix chuckled and said, "That and I don't want to be the one that gets us to put on his hit list."

Chloe nodded, "True. Keeping a gift from him would be a lot simpler than fighting whatever he decides to throw at us if we actually managed to offend him."

Everyone but Adrien chuckled. "So I'm confused. Why do you not want to offend this guy? You all seem to hate him yet you don't want to offend him." The confused blond asked.

Nino decided to take pity on his best friend and explain, "Dude, Charter is what most people would call a Dealmaker. See, he offers his connections, abilities, or whatever else you may need. But in return, he takes stories. Something that's important to you. This makes the guy powerful and dangerous."

Alya took up the rest of the explanation, "Creating a deal with him won't necessarily guarantee your success, human nature to mess stuff up and all that, but it does greatly increase your chances. He can be very generous to those he likes, case in point Alix's new hook, but he also likes to test them, and challenge them. If they can overcome his challenge they may raise in his opinion. Likewise, if someone he has made a deal with that he ends up liking, fails or manages to disappoint him... well we don't actually know what happens to them, you just never hear of them again."

Kim finished, "So yeah. We don't like the guy, but he for some reason likes us, and as hellish as his pleasure can be, it's a whole lot better than his ire."

Adrien nodded, "Makes sense... kind of."

Marinette smiled before turning back to Alix, "So how does the hook fit?"

"What makes you think I've even tried it on yet. That would be a very irresponsible thing to do."

Everyone in the room gave her 'the look.'

Alix grinned, "Okay yeah I tried it out. It fits like a fricken' glove, the point is sharp, and it doesn't feel cursed which is a bonus."

The ladybug themed captain nodded, "That's good. If you can, try and get adjusted to it by tonight."

"What's tonight?"

"I was thinking it was time we dealt with the copycats and the artist that's been causing problems for Rose, Max, and Nathaniel."

The other five captains grinned wickedly.

King Ali's Dungeon

Dylan laid on his cot waiting for whatever sentence the obviously biased king would deliver.

"You are pathetic."

The man groaned, "Can we just skip the insults and get to the part where you help me escape?"

"No."

This got Dylan's attention, "What do you mean 'no'? Why not?"

Charter stared disinterestedly down his nose at him, "You are no longer deserving of my gifts, and more importantly my time. I have given you multiple opportunities to grow into an actual adversary for the seven captains and you have done nothing but disappoint and anger me."

Dylan rushed to the bars and started shouting, "If you want to ruin those pirates so much why don't you just go against them yourself!"

"Do not misconstrue my interest in you. Or my interest in them. They are meant for greatness and for that greatness to blossom, they need worthy opponents. You, however, had their mother at sword point and couldn't even manage to make them falter. You were a means to an end, which you have since outlived." Charter snapped his fingers. "And I refuse to keep annoyances around."

Charter bent down and picked up a small muddied green orb, before leaving the empty dungeon.

No, I will not explain what the heck this chapter is, mostly because I myself have no idea what the heck this chapter is.

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See ya next time!