Chapter 22: Jet Black Fury


"It's not a curse, what is that? Obsession, desire? {Homura}, what's happening to you?" Sayaka Miki, Madoka Magica

"I don't expect you to understand. No one in the world could possibly understand, this emotion is mine and mine alone. And I've been saving it for {her}." Akemi Homura, Madoka Magica


Making their way down the ship and up the pier, Shikikan and the Ironblood Kansen were greeted by a large growing crowd of people, all excited to see both the Kansen and the Devil-Eyed Prince himself.

"Are you girls always greeted like this?" Shikikan sweat dropped.

"Not usually this large, no. But it's not just us this time now is it?" Eugen smirked as the crowd started to get more than just a bit rowdy and closed in on him.

"Kya! It's him! It's really him!"

"He looks even hotter in person!"

"Please look over here Mr. Devil Eyes!"

"…Huh?" The dumbfounded Shikikan replied as he was slowly getting more and more surrounded, that was until he felt someone forcefully pull him away.

"Like I said Herr Kommandant, stay near me." Graf Zeppelin said as she grabbed his arm and began guiding him through the enclosing crowd.

"Thanks Zeppelin." He smiled gratefully.

"….."

"Something wrong?" He questioned as the carrier stood right in front of him and stared into his eyes.

"Your expression from then and now is…..never mind. Come. Let us hurry through this troublesome crowd." She resigned as she let go of his arm to walk side by side with him.

"Make way! We're on official business!" Hipper ordered as she and Heinrich cleared a path through the crowd.

As they made their way through, both Shikikan and Zeppelin could feel the many glares being pointed at them in complete jealousy.

"Wait! Don't tell me he's already taken!?"

"Why does she get to be with him…?"

"…What am I supposed to do to get proportions like that…"

"Look on all you want ladies, but he's with us no matter what you do~." Eugen taunted as she sauntered through to him and clung to his arm. "Isn't that right Herr Kommandant?" She winked at him before looking back towards the women in the crowd with a deviously smug expression.

In doing so, their eyes began to light up in flames as the tick marks on their heads grew even bigger.

"Why that little -!"

"Who do you think you are!?"

"That does it! I'm going for his other one then!" One young female boldly proclaimed as she began to make a run for him.

"Ahaha! That's too bad for you lesser beings then." Deutschland cackled as she overheard the girl and looked down at the onlookers with an exceedingly smug expression. "Come servant, the great Deutschland will allow you to be her escort ahaha!" She declared before reaching for his other arm and pulling him along.

'Please let this be over already…' He wished as the overwhelming hundreds of eyes all pointed towards him began to give him flashbacks of the Eagle Union award ceremony.

"Hey Tirpitz, please tell me that this place we're heading to is somewhere nearby…"

"It's not too far off, but with this crowd…you'll have to bear with the attention for now, Herr Kommandant." She said with pity in her voice as the crowd's glares and jealous pressure towards him grew by the second, so much so that a group of angry looking men jumped out in front of Shikikan.

'….Damn it.' He cursed as he got the vibe that at least four of them were not the friendly type, well…, to him at least. The first one to speak up was a young blond in overly expensive looking clothing.

"HEY! You think you can just flaunt off Eugen in front of me and get away with it!?"

"Yeah! Get away fromDeutschland! She's mine, not yours!"

"Frau Zeppelin, won't you leave that simpleton behind and come join me for a beer at the Ryker Bierhalle, the best beer hall in all of Ironblood?"

"Tirpitz! I love you! Please leave that faker behind and marry me!"

"….Friends of yours?" Shikikan joked as he looked to the Kansen in question, all of whom looked to be unamused and quite honestly, annoyed, to say the least.

"Mind stepping out of the way? You're an eyesore." Eugen sighed.

"An insignificant worm like you thinks you are deserving of my affection? Disgusting. I'd rather scuttle myself." Deutschland scoffed.

"Begone from my sight." Zeppelin scowled.

"Never." Tirpitz plainly said with a growingly cold aura.

Turned down in front of the now hundreds of people, the first four hung their head in shame for a few seconds before their jealously began to fully take control.

"A-are you out of your mind? I'm the son of one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in all of Ironblood! What's he got that I don't!?" The first blond whined.

"Actual good qualities for starters." Eugen yawned, clearly causing him super effective emotional damage.

Now seeing nothing but red, the blond swung his head back at Shikikan.

"This is all your fault! I'll kick your ass and prove that I'm the better fit for Eugen!" He screamed as he began to roll up his sleeves.

'…Seriously?' Shikikan sighed as he reluctantly stepped forward himself. "Listen, if it wasn't already obvious, Eugen's just not that into you. Like at all. So do yourself a favor and stop embarrassing yourself. Okay?"

"Shut your damn mouth! Better yet, I'll do it for you!" He cried out as his compatriots began to step up as well.

"I'll prove to Deutschland that I'm the better slav-I mean lover!"

"Nothing personal, but nothing gets in the way between me and Frau Zeppelin!"

"I don't care who you are! I'll beat the crap out anyone if it means being with Tirpitz!"

Not wanting to have to deal with the jealous groupies, Shikikan looked over his shoulder to the girls. "So, are any of you going to step in or…?"

"Why should I have to get my hands dirty when you can do it for me? I, Deutschland, demand you amuse me by beating up these idiots ahaha!"

"You do know I'm not supposed to hit civilians right?"

"It's fine. This counts as self-defense." Eugen casually waved him off. "That said, you should still probably try to hold back, otherwise you might end up doing more that the doctors can fix."

"I've already contacted the police guards Herr Kommandant. They should be here soon." Z23 informed with a heavy sigh.

"….Ugh. Fine." Shikikan sighed as he put his hands in his pockets and walked up to the awaiting group of jealous men.

"Would this be considered a test of strength or restraint Zeppelin?" Z46 asked.

"Definitely restraint Fize."

"I'm surprised you aren't stopping them considering how late we are already Strasser." Heinrich admitted.

"Under normal circumstances, yes, I would've, but seeing how this is a chance to get a closer look at the so called Deviled-Eyed Prince in action and how this should take no longer than fifteen seconds, I consider this time well spent." Strasser smirked as she pulled out a pocket watch and got ready to start counting as soon as the men made their move.

"Alright fine. Since you all seem so confident and eager, and I'm really strapped for time here, why don't all of you just come at me at once?" Shikikan sighed, his hands still in his pockets as he stood nonchalantly before the four.

"Ha! It's about time you learn your place you faker!" The blond yelled right before he led the charge. Running up to Shikikan, he reared one arm back in an attempt to punch him straight in the face.

With the emphasis being on 'an attempt', as soon as he took the first step into punching range, Shikikan quickly stepped up and towards the left, kicking the blond's back leg back even more, forcing him into doing a full-on split.

RIP

The sound of pants tearing echoed throughout the street as the now teary-eyed blond held his groin in pain as he was sprawled out flat on the ground. "Aaaagggh!"

"Huh…Nice split." Shikikan deadpanned before looking up at the others with a challenging smirk. "I wonder if you all can do the same? Shall we find out?"

"W-wait….so you're t-telling me all those videos weren't just CGI?"

"S-so sorry to bother you Sir."

"I gotta get out of here!" The third man said before all three began to flee the scene.

Unfortunately for them, the police Z23 called earlier quickly appeared and apprehended the trio.

"Halt! For interfering with military personnel business and attempting to assault a foreign naval officer, all four of you are under arrest!" One policewoman said before her compatriots quickly went around and cuffed the three fleeing and the blond still ugly crying in pain on the ground.

"So much for you getting to see him in action huh Strasser?" A smug Heinrich teased.

"Not even 3 seconds. Seems like I won't be so lucky today." Strasser shrugged, a small pout evident on her cheeks.

As the four men in cuffs were being escorted away, the policewoman from earlier walked up to him and saluted. "Entschuldigung. Sorry you had to deal with that. We'll make sure that they all receive their due punishments Sir."

"It's fine. Getting rejected and humiliated in front of hundreds is pretty bad enough." Shikikan waved her off before smiling. "Thanks for your help."

Blushing, she struggled to swallow the sudden lump in her throat before speaking.

"D-danke. Would you like an escort to the government center? M-maybe even a tour around the city?" She asked as two other policewomen overheard and walked up, both having the same hopeful expressions as the first one did.

Unluckily for them, the Ironblood Kansen had other plans.

"That won't be necessary. He's with us." Strasser jumped in as she tugged on his wrist and pulled him away. "Come Herr Kommandant. The clock is ticking and Ihre Exzellenz is not exactly the patient type."

"Sorry officers~." Heinrich winked before grabbing his other arm. "And once we're done, it'll be time to let loose and explore so leave the role as tour guide to me!"

'Not even ten minutes in and I'm already exhausted.' Shikikan tiredly thought as he was dragged away and through the remaining swarm of people.

Now away from the port and crowds, Shikikan and crew found themselves in a huge park-like area that led up to a massive important-looking building. At the foot of the staircase leading up to the entrance of the building, Eugen spoke.

"Been awhile since I've seen this place."

"Agreed but doesn't look like much has changed at all." Z23 added.

"Oh, that's right." Shikikan remembered. "You two were the first ones from the Ironblood to arrive at the base."

Looking around, he noticed a bunch of armed guardsmen staring directly at them, or more specifically him. He didn't feel any real killing intent, but the fact that all their eyes were on him was something left him feeling a bit wary.

'I can't help but brush the feeling that their stares aren't exactly the friendliest…' He thought as he cautiously made his way up the stairs.

As they made their way inside the impressively well furbished hallway, Shikikan found himself standing before two huge black steel doors with the Ironblood insignia on both sides, right above the two guardsmen stationed out front.

"Willkommen Herr Kommandant." Both guards saluted as they began to open the doors. "Ihre Exzellenz is waiting for you inside. Good luck."

'Good luck?' Shikikan questioned as he was growing ever so suspicious as the doors opened to reveal a long narrow room. Two long columns of soldiers were lined up on both ends, all leading up to a single figure sitting upon a huge throne-like chair on top of a small set of stairs.

"So, you've finally arrived." A powerful, feminine voice announced. Sitting on the chair at the end of the room sat a beauty dressed in an all-black and white Ironblood uniform. As she stood up, her long arctic blue hair drooped to her backside and swayed about she walked in her 6-inch black heels towards him. Her sharp sapphire blue eyes unfazed as she stared directly into his own, her aura seemingly overwhelming everyone she walked by as they tensed up and seemed very much unnerved by her very presence.

'Something's definitely up…' Shikikan confirmed as he kept a pleasant poker face albeit with his guard on high alert.

Stopping right before him with one hand on her waist and her other one outstretched to him, she spoke.

"Willkommen to the port, Hero of NY City. I'm the Chancellor and Supreme Commander of all of the Ironblood, Freya von Edelweiss. I thank you for coming on such short notice and for clearing out the Mirror Sea on the way here."

"A pleasure to meet you Chancellor." He greeted.

'She seems nice.' He thought as he shook her hand, only to feel a familiar sensation as the guards around the room glared at him.

'…I should've known…' He groaned as he relented at the feeling of daggers being jutted at his directions.

"Seems like my guardsmen need to be re-educated on their manners." She spoke coldly as she frowned at said soldiers.

"With all due respect, Eure Excellenz, but this man clearly does not deserve to stand next to you." One arrogant blond boldly spoke as he nonchalantly made his way towards them with a rifle in his hands.

"Hey you idiot!" His fellow soldier tried to stop him before a few others pulled him back.

"Let him go. New guy has to learn somehow." One whispered back before the three went back to their positions.

"And you are…?" Freya questioned, a very displeased look on her face.

"I'm none other that your newest, most loyal, and frankly, now your strongest right-hand man! Klaus Faust!" He proclaimed with an arrogant smirk as he stopped right in front of her and Shikikan. "As such, I simply cannot stand by to see you breathe the same air as this…filth." He scoffed as he looked at Shikikan in disgust.

'Heh. Now come on you faker. Try and hit me so I can claim self-defense as I beat the crap out of you and gain Freya's heart!' The blond grinned condescendingly.

Yawn

"Huh?" The blond remarked as Shikikan lazily yawned and turned his back to him and Freya. With one eye closed and his arms lazily, outstretched Shikikan spoke.

"Excuse me, but did someone lose a sassy lost child?" He asked the room as he jutted a thumb back towards the blond.

"."

"…"

"…..Pft.."

"Pft….ahahaha!" The room erupted in laughter at the blond's dismay.

"W-W-WHY YOU!" Now red-faced, the man charged at Shikikan with his rifled reared back like a baseball bat to swing at Shikikan's face. "I'll teach you to make fun of m-!"

Before he could even finish, he found a boot pressed into his face as Shikikan sent him crashing towards the ground with a brutal push kick.

"…That counts as self-defense right?" Shikikan sweat-dropped.

"I'd say so. He was charging at you with a rifle and all." Strasser shrugged.

"K.O.! Fatality!" Heinrich announced as she rushed over and raised Shikikan's arm in victory.

"Woo! Nice work!" A soldier applauded.

"Serves you right new guy!" Another laughed heartily.

"DAMN YOU ALL!" Rearing his ugly head (in both a literal and practical sense after getting his face pushed in), he aimed his rifle right at Shikikan. "Die you shithead!"

BAM!

The room went silent as a body crashed into the ground. That said, it wasn't Shikikan, for he simply stood there, one hand gripping one of his swords as he was prepared for the worst.

"ARGHHH m-my hand!"

"You worthless idiot. First you interrupt me and now you dare to point your weapon at an honored guest?" Freya scowled with a smoking silver pistol in her hand. Now walking over, she stood before the downed man with a very displeased expression.

"I'll deal with you later in the usual room, so don't think a hole in your hand is all you're going to get." She growled before swiftly kicking the man in his face and sending him flying backwards towards two other guards with enough force to have them stagger catching the incoming flying body. "Get him out of my sight."

"Y-yes ma'am!" The two soldiers saluted before dragging the bloody blond away and out of the room.

'…That's one hell of a kick…and uh…usual room?' Shikikan wearily thought.

"Now then…" Freya started as she holstered her gun and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she looked back up with a rather unsettling smile aimed right at Shikikan. "Where were we? Ah yes, Herr Kommandant. Apologies once more for my guardsmen's' insubordination. I'll have them all thoroughly retrained soon enough."

Looking around the room, Shikikan noticed nervous sweats and a large amount of fear emanating from the soldiers in the room. "Maybe just that one guy, sure, but I don't see why everyone else too though?"

"Heh, well aren't you merciful?" Freya chuckled lowly. "Soldiers who act on their own and disobey orders are worth less than scraps on the floor. You'd be wise to not be so lenient on your own subordinates, especially when they're all capable of leveling ports at a mere moment's notice."

Feeling his eye begin to twitch out of annoyance, he tried his best to not do anything stupid.

'…Doesn't seem like anyone else is going to step in. The girls don't seem bothered but it's strange how quiet they're all being. Wonder why?' He wondered before turning his attention back towards the Ironblood Chancellor. "While I appreciate the concern, I trust the girls to know not to do anything that would get them into that kind of trouble."

"Ha! I wasn't expecting someone of your caliber to be so foolish as to simply trust sentient weapons like them to just agree and follow your every order. Needless to say, the fact that they are coming from the very factions around the world doesn't help their case now does it, you so called 'Hero'?" She mocked. Her very dominating aura was albeit tangible as no one else dared to step up to argue, save for an increasingly annoyed Shikikan.

"'Sentient weapons' you say?" Shikikan muttered lowly as he immediately took back his initial thoughts towards Freya. With sharp eyes and a cold glare, he defiantly stood his ground.

"You have the audacity to call them that and then say I'm the foolish one? It boggles my mind really…" He paused to take a heavy sigh.

"About what?" A frowning Freya challenged as she boldly walked up to stand right in front of him. Now literally and physically in his face, she spoke once more. "Go ahead. Please. Continue."

Unshaken, Shikikan looked back up to glare coldly right into her sapphire eyes. "About how someone like you could ever be seriously considered as a leader."

Shocked and wide-eyed, the soldiers stared on in dismay as they all desperately wanted to flee the scene. Unfortunately for them, doing so would lead to an even worser fate in Freya's hands.

For the Kansen, they all couldn't help but feel a warm sensation flaring up on their cheeks.

"Oh?" She grinned wildly as the two's auras were seemingly clashing with each other as they stood at a standstill all while staring at each other unblinkingly.

After what seemed like an eternity of heavy silence, the first to speak again was none other than Freya.

"A…aha…..AHAHAHAHA!" She broke out in laughter. "Wunderbar! Simply wunderbar!" She exclaimed as she merrily patted, or to be more accurate, slammed, a hand down on Shikikan's shoulder a couple of times.

"….Huh?" Now completely dumbfounded and slightly sore on his left shoulder, he stood there without a clue as to what was going on.

"I haven't apologized this many times before, let alone to one person in the span of an hour, but once again, my sincerest apologies for testing you Herr Kommandant. I simply had to know what kind of person you really are." She said as she briefly lowered her head to him. "The truth is, I needed to make sure you were actually worthy of taking in and leading my irreplaceable Kansen girls. Needless to say, I can now rest easy knowing that they are in your very capable hands."

"…Seriously…" Shikikan sighed in relief as he took a seat on a nearby chair and heaving a huge sigh of relief. "And here I was ready to fight and flight."

"You dummkopf!" Hipper yelled as she pulled him down by the front of his shirt and began to pinch and pull on his cheeks hard. "Did you even consider who you were talking to? Think of the repercussions you…you…stupid jerk!"

"Ow, ow! Hipper please." Shikikan sweat dropped as he begged the tsundere to let go of his bruising cheek.

"Ho? You say that Hipper, but I clearly saw you trying to hide your blushing face when you heard Herr Kommandant stand up for us." Eugen teased.

"H-huh? I was not!" Hipper poorly lied. "You were definitely the one happily humming behind me!"

"Oh? Now was I now?~" Eugen hummed as she waltzed over to hug Shikikan from behind. "Either way, I'm happy seeing you readily defend us. Would you like a kiss for a reward Herr Kommandant~? Or something more~…?"

"Eugen please…" He pleaded with a tinge of embarrassment and self-restraint in his voice. However, instead of continuing on with his sentence, he felt a rather intense stare coming from his right.

"…Something wrong, Zeppelin?"

"…Which one's the real one?" She glared into his eyes. "Switching between sickeningly sweet to bitterly malicious so easily, just which is it Herr Kommandant?"

"Uh…?"

"I think what Zeppelin is trying to say is that the fact that the 'you' now and the 'you' in the Mirror Sea are almost like polar opposites of each other." Tirpitz explained. "But more importantly, Herr Kommandant, while I do appreciate the kind thoughts and words you have for us, do keep in mind that you are in a position where your words and actions will play a huge role on what will happen."

"She's right Herr Kommandant. "While it turned out okay this time, please refrain from acting so rash when in talks with other people of power in the future. It could lead you into huge trouble!" Z23 scolded as well.

"Now now." Deutschland started. "It's only natural for him to step up and defend his master. That said, well done servant ahaha!"

As she was heartily laughing, Spee was seen standing with Shikikan. With a hand up to whisper to him, she spoke.

"This is just Deutschland's way of saying thanks for sticking up for us."

"Haha, yeah. I figured."

"Heh, how strange." Freya smirked. "I truly was not expecting the so called 'Devil-Eyed Prince' to have such a lax attitude with my precious Kansen. It's quite befuddling to say the least…..but never mind that." She added before snapping a finger, to which every other person in the room began to mobilize.

"The PR project room is all set and ready for your arrival Eure Exzellenz!" A soldier informed.

"Good." She nodded. "Come, Herr Kommandant, girls. We have much to do."

Leading them out of the room, Freya's guards led everyone deeper into the massive Ironblood estate. On the way there, Shikikan noticed a rather large portrait of a blonde beauty with pale blue eyes holding an Ironblood flag in her hands. Additionally, he noticed Tirpitz seemingly during her best to not look in that very direction.

'Hmm…she looks kind of familiar….' He hummed to himself as he continued to look around curiously.

"Something on your mind Herr Kommandant?" Z23 asked.

"Eh, not really no. Just admiring the décor and all." He chuckled lightheartedly.

"Ah, a fellow fan of black marble I see." Strasser chimed approvingly. "Some might say it gives off too much of a dark feel set, but in reality, it simply adds to the refined aesthetic of the entire estate. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah. Maybe I should have some set up back on base somewhere." He thought aloud.

"Sorry to interrupt Herr Kommandant, but we've arrived." Gneisenau informed.

Before the group was a heavily guarded iron door that, once cleared and opened, led downwards into what seemed to be the entrance of an underground research facility.

Hehe

"Huh?" Shikikan said as he did a quick turn around to find whoever just laughed.

"Herr Kommandant?" Freya called out.

"S-sorry…it's just that as soon as that door opened, I all of a sudden heard someone laughing."

Silently observing him for a few seconds, she nodded to her guards, who all of which began to make their way downwards first.

"I'm not sure what, or who, you heard, but maybe our main research lab will offer you some insight?" Freya suggested as she gestured for him and the girls to follow her downwards.

"You okay Herr Kommandant?" Heinrich asked as she walked up to him and placed a hand on his head. "You don't seem warm or sick or anything…"

"Y-yeah. Let's just hurry. I get the feeling that the sooner we reach wherever we are going the better." He excused himself as he and everyone walked down the deep and rather dark stairway.

Reaching the bottom, he was greeted with a massive underground research laboratory with an infinite number of advanced machineries that he had absolutely no idea on what they were, let alone did.

"Greetings Eure Exzellenz! Welcome back! And to you all as well to the main Ironblood research branch facility." An older bespectacled man saluted as he gazed upon the new guest. Spotting Shikikan, he walked right up to him to eagerly shake his hands.

"Ah, I see you've finally arrived! The 'Hero of NY City' and the 'Man who can Revive Kansen'. A pleasure to have you here. I'm Dr. Emil, the leading head researcher here. You're in for a real treat, Herr Kommandant! Can you guess why?"

"Nice to meet you and no, why?"

"Because you're going to be a huge part in our latest and greatest creation! And you know what they say about Ironblood science!" He enthusiastically spoke as he looked back to his awaiting researchers.

"Ironblood science is the finest in the world!" They all chanted in perfect unison.

"And there you have it! Now come, we've been eagerly awaiting your arrival!" Dr. Emil said as he tugged on Shikikan's wrist and dragged him towards the center of the lab at a speed you wouldn't expect out of an elderly man like him.

In the center of the entire facility was a large black titanium cube-like structure that seemingly was being used as something similar to a safe.

"Release the barricade!" The doctor ordered as his researchers quickly inputted in commands on the massive computers around the cube, causing the massive walls of the cube to come apart and disappear into the floor and ceiling around it.

In the very center of it all laid a singular Wisdom cube in a very damaged cylindrical tube-like incubator.

Hehehe

'…Déjà vu much?' Shikikan gulped as he felt as though the cube was staring straight at him despite having no eyes.

"Fascinating. This is the most docile I've ever seen this cube behave…" Dr. Emil observed before looking towards his peers. "It's time. Raise the glass."

"But sir…" One nervous researcher tried.

"Just do it! We've come this far, so there's no turning back now!" He ordered, a visible drop of sweat running down his face as he and the other researchers were seemingly bracing themselves for something.

"R-right away. Releasing PR cube #1 and raising all the ballistic glass shields." The same researcher replied before hitting the release button and lifting the glass, freeing the floating cube from its chamber. Additionally, numerous glass walls were raised around it, save for one small entrance way where Shikikan stood.

"…Go on Herr Kommandant. The rest is up to you." Dr. Emil nudged before quickly making his way behind one of the ballistic glass walls.

'You know it doesn't help when you say that as you all run off and hide!' He internally screamed.

"What are the glass walls for?" Z46 innocently asked.

"Well, we didn't always have them, but that was before we tried releasing that cube early…..let's just say it be best for everyone to either stand back or stand guard for whatever's about to happen…" The doctor gulped.

"…Say what now?" Shikikan remarked.

"Now or never, Herr Kommandant. Show me, no, all of us how you'll help turn the tides of this one-sided war." Freya nodded.

'Easy for you to say…' Shikikan sighed before taking a deep breath and steeling his nerves.

"We'll be on standby if anything happens, Herr Kommandant." Tirpitz informed as she and the others stood with their riggings materialized as they all stood on standby.

"Right." As ready as he'll ever be, he walked past the glass barriers and up to the awaiting floating cube.

"PR project #1 note number #69: Cube has remained docile for over 5 minutes after being released from its encasement. No observations of violent tendencies of assaulting approaching humans noted. Perhaps it has sensed and acknowledged Herr Kommandant's presence? Standing by for further investigation." Dr. Emil recorded.

"What was that about assaulting approaching humans!?" Shikikan yelled as he turned back to look at the researchers.

Hehehe

"Please tell me you all heard that one this time!" Shikikan called out.

"Hear what?" Eugen asked.

"Observation note number #70: Herr Kommandant reports hearing voices. Will offer a sanity check upon completion of materialization of PR project #1."

"Oh, I'm so tempted to come back there and drag you back over here with me!" Shikikan yelled.

HEHEHE!

"Okay that one was clearly way too loud to just be my imagination!"

"I heard it too Herr Kommandant!" Spee called out.

"I think the Wisdom cube is eagerly waiting for you. Maybe try reaching out to it?" Gneisenau suggested.

"I'll be there in a split second if anything happens so don't you worry Herr Kommandant!" Scharnhorst added with her rigging engaged as she stood on standby.

'….. Alright fine! Let's hurry and get this over with already! That cube looks like it's about to either explode or come flying right through me!' He said as he psyched himself up and shook the second thoughts out of his head. Running on nothing but sheer courage at this point, he stepped right on up to the cube and boldly reached out to grab it with both hands.

"Aha…haha….HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FINALLY!" A sudden, crazed voice yelled as he made contact with the cube.

Now shining with a brilliantly blinding light, the cube was seemingly beginning to react to Shikikan's touch.

"What's happening!? It's way too bright in here!" Heinrich yelled as Eisen shielded her from the light.

"Seems like what we saw Herr Kommandant do in NY City is happening here! Brace yourselves everyone!" Tirpitz called out as she too was forced to shield her eyes.

"Herr Kommandant!" Z23 yelled as she was unable to do anything against the cube's bright glow.

Back to where Shikikan was, the light began to completely consume him from everyone's vision.

And as sudden as it had started to glow, the cube completely disappeared into thin air.

Dazed and confused, everyone in the room was lost as to what had just happened.

"Ugh…my head…" Shikikan groaned as he was flat on his back with his head to the side.

Opening his eyes, he felt that his ears were ringing to the point where he couldn't make out sounds as the Kansen and researchers were all seemingly trying to say something and pointing frantically at him.

"What?" He asked as he tried to get up, only to feel two soft, yet firm, sensations stop him midway through.

"Hm? Do you want a hug? Okay~." A rather sweet voice hummed directly into his ear right before he felt two arms wrap around his head and pressed him deeper in between the two soft sensations.

"C-can't…breathe….." He was able to say despite not feeling as panicked as those words would suggest as he found the feeling to be rather pleasant.

"Whoops~. Sorry Herr Kommandant~. If I squeezed you any harder, you might…just…pop. Hehe~." The voice sung sweetly, despite the rather disturbing choice of words in the latter half.

Letting go, he found his senses returning back to normal. Now fully back, he found himself in the arms of a beautiful blonde. Her short pale blonde hair had traces of crimson red all around and she was clad in all black clothing. Her eyes were a soft pale brown, but something behind them sent a nervous chill down his spine. And it wasn't the huge sentient rigging behind her that was causing it.

"I never thought I'd end up here... Hello, I am Roon, the Iron Blood cruiser. I'm glad we are finally able to meet Herr Kommandant~."

"H-hello Roon. Um…could I ask how we got into this position?" Shikikan asked as he was currently pinned down by the heavy cruiser as she sat on her hindlegs above him.

"Let's just say I got a bit too excited with finally meeting you. Here let me help you up~." Roon offered as she got off of him and effortlessly pulled him right up to his feet.

"T-thanks…" He said lost in thought as to what just happened. "Hey Roon, have we…?"

"Met? Who knows? Maybe this will help ring a bell?" Before he could finish, Roon stepped up right on up to him to whisper deeply into his ear.

'Don't be scared, I would never hurt you. Hehe~.' She spoke, the warmth of her breath and the nerve-wracking giggle sending tingles down in spine.

"So that wasn't just a fever dream? What about the oth-?"

"Shh." Roon whispered as she placed a single finger on his lips. "I'm right in front of you Herr Kommandant so don't worry about who or whatever else you saw. Unless….you are trying to suggest that I'm not enough for you?"

The previous tingles in his spine now transformed into full on tremors, Shikikan knew he was in danger lest he change the subject.

"N-not at all! I couldn't be any happier having such a cute girl appear in front of me! Aha…ha…a…." He sweated profusely.

{Affinity Up!}

"Hehe~. Thank you for that Herr Kommandant. I quite like looking at you too, so how about we spend some quality time together from now on?" She smirked rather villainously as she pressed herself up against him.

'So soft….scary….but still very soft…' Shikikan said as he was close to hurting himself in his confusion as to which emotion he should be feeling right now.

"Ahem. Herr Kommandant? We still have a lot to do so…" Dr. Emil interrupted as he and his fellow scientists left their protective domes to walk up to Shikikan and Roon.

"It was a success!" One scientist cheered.

"Finally! All those sleepless nights actually paid off!"

"Guten tag Roon. We welcome you to the world. Please come with us so that we can brief you on the situation of everything that has led to your creation. We'll have to do some vitals as well , but fret not, as Ironblood scientists, we deem you to be our finest creation yet so please come quick. We have much to discuss." Dr. Emil said excitedly as he offered Roon a hand.

But nothing happened as an annoyed looking Roon just stood there silently with her arms linked around Shikikan.

"Um…Roon?"

"Yes Herr Kommandant?" She sweetly asked as she fluttered her eyes at him affectionately.

"… The doctors need to do some checkups on you, so I think you should go with them to make sure everything went okay." Shikikan tried.

"Hmm…." She pondered with a finger to the side of her chin. "Will you be coming too?"

Unsure, he looked to the confused group of doctors for answers.

"Sorry Herr Kommandant. But the area we will be heading to is strictly prohibited to anyone not affiliated with the Ironblood R&D department. It's the culmination of the Ironblood's blood, sweat, and tears after all. Not something to be displayed for the world." Dr. Emil nodded.

'Understandable enough.' Shikikan thought. "You heard the doctor. Sorry Roon."

"Hmm….no thanks. I feel fine and would much rather stay like this with you Herr Kommandant." She hummed as she clung onto his arm hard.

"B-but Miss Roon, we have to make sure of…" One scientist started.

"But what? Didn't I make myself clear? I refuse to follow you cowards who had me locked away in that tube for so long." She roared, a maleficent aura pouring out of her as a dark grin grew on her face.

"T-that was just for added precautions was all!" Another scientist stepped in. "W-we just wanted to make sure no you didn't destroy anymore of the facility that's all!"

"How could I not want to destroy what is keeping me from Herr Kommandant? Since you all are still trying to get in my way, perhaps I should continue with what I started~?" Roon grinned madly as her rigging began to growl as her guns were worryingly glowing brighter and brighter.

"Eek! Run!" The scientists squealed as they made a break for their shelters once again.

"YOU'LL ALL PAY!" Roon roared as she sent her rigging out and devour said shelters with ease.

"H-help!" They cried.

"H-hold up, Roon!" Shikikan panicked as he broke free and stood in between her and the scientists.

"Please step aside Herr Kommandant. I have some business to attend to behind you." She smiled villainously as her rigging looked increasingly hungry.

'Really not the kind of outing I was hoping for….' He groaned as his inner self was crying tears and waving goodbye to a nice time in Kiel…Wait! That's it!' He thought as a lightbulb lit up.

"I can understand why you're upset Roon, but once you're done with all the checkup stuff, I'll come running and we can explore the city above together okay?"

"Herr Kommandant…." Roon paused, giving Shikikan time to swallow the large ball in his throat as her rigging stared directly at him.

'I swear I'm seeing drool coming from their mouths…' He finally managed to gulp, and just in time for Roon to continue speaking.

"Then it's a date~." Roon giggled as she quickly flipped her switch and disengaged her rigging. "I can't wait~."

"Me too." He smiled. "But maybe you should go introduce yourselves to the others over there?" He pointed over towards where the Kansen and Freya were.

"Will do~." Roon happily hummed as she made her way to them.

'Phew…' Shikikan sighed in relief, only to be grabbed by his shoulders from behind and spun him around.

"Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!" Dr. Emil cried happily. "I'm so glad someone able to tame her finally appeared! I can't even begin to describe how horrified I was when I thought I was about to lose everything we spent our lives on!"

"Ahaha….don't you think you're exaggerating a little, doc? Also, could you not use my jacket as a tissue?" Shikikan asked as he felt his shoulder getting damp from the doctor's tearful episode.

"You don't understand! Even in cubed form, we could barely contain her! It took almost all of our monthly budget to just keep the barriers up and running! As the treasurer, I thank you deeply!" Another scientist cheered as everyone crowded around Shikikan and thanked him profusely.

"If there's anything we can ever do to repay you for saving our life's work, let us know and we will get it done because Ironblood science is the best science in the world!" Dr. Emil proclaimed as his fellow scientists roared approvingly.

'Strange, but fun bunch.' Shikikan thought. "Actually, there are some things…."

{With the Kansen and Freya}

"You sure caused a ruckus first thing waking up and all." Scharnhorst spoke.

"What can I say?" Roon shrugged. "I was just dying to get out of that prison cell and meet Herr Kommandant."

"…Regardless, welcome from your slumber to the Ironblood, Roon. I am Tirpitz, current leader of the Ironblood Kansen." The battleship nodded and offered a hand.

"Nice to meet you. I hope to get along with everyone~." Roon smiled sweetly as she firmly grasped and shook Tirpitz's hand.

Looking over, she noticed Freya standing nearby. "You don't seem to be a Kansen though."

"That's correct. I'm Freya, the leader of all the Ironblood if you will. I'm glad to see that you were successfully…awakened….as the girls here say."

"Same. I'm quite looking forward to seeing what's up there~."

"Oh, like the port city and the history behind it?" Z23 asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Hmm, not quite. I was thinking more of like the battlefield where I could really….let loose~." Roon giggled.

"Hate to break it to you, but we already took care of the Sirens on our way here." Hipper informed.

"Of course, yours truly here sent them all towards their watery graves ahaha!" Deutschland cackled.

Hearing this, Roon's smile began to warp a bit. "Oh, you sound confident in your strength…, Deutschland, right?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I'm the spiritual leader of the Ironblood and all ahaha! When it comes to heavy cruisers, I can't be beat!"

"I'm glad to hear~."

"Ho? Why? Because you now know you will be in good hands?" A smug Deutschland guessed.

"Not exactly, I was thinking more of in terms of a light sparring session if you will. I'd love to test out my strength and all." Roon replied, her violent aura beginning to overflow from her once more, not to be unnoticed by everyone in the facility of course.

"W-well I don't think it be fair to fight against a seasoned veteran like me right off the bat…" Deutschland sweat dropped.

"What Miss Spiritual Leader is saying is that she'll maybe take you on after you get your rigging in the waters and gain some experience dealing with the Sirens." Eugen yawned from afar. "Plus, a fight between two Kansen in here would cause a lot of trouble for everyone, Herr Kommandant included."

Sighing, she settled herself back down. "Are they strong?"

"Strong enough for us to rely on never-before-seen Kansen and all." Freya sighed before nodding to Tirpitz. "But enough of the small talk. We have much to do."

"Right. Zeppelin, Z23, Deustchland, you three will go with Roon to the other facilities and make sure all runs smoothly. Strasser, Heinrich, and I will bring Herr Kommandant over to the living quarters while the rest will patrol the city and make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. Understood?" Tirpitz commanded.

Nodding in agreement, everyone, save for Tirpitz's group and Freya, moved out as they waited for Shikikan to be free of the scientists' crowding around him.

"Write that down! Write that down!" The group overhead the scientists' yell as they were scribbling frantically on their clipboards for some reason.

"To be honest, something's a bit….scary about Roon ahaha…." Heinrich sweat dropped. "Don't get me wrong though! She seems nice! So long as I don't get on her bad side and all….."

"Agreed, but she is the first PR Kansen to have ever been summoned so who knows what happened during the awakening process. Only time will tell as we wait for the scientists' report." Strasser sighed.

"Nevertheless, make sure Herr Kommandant is safe at all times. Him being able to assist in awakening Roon goes to show how invaluable he is to our fight against the Sirens."

"Tirpitz is right. Make sure he is safe and that no harm comes his way. Let the others know as well." Freya added as everyone nodded in agreement.

{Back with Shikikan}

"And I'd say that's about everything I had ideas of off the top of my head I guess. What do you think?"

"As Ironblood scientists, we pride ourselves on being the best, so we always welcome a challenge! Leave it to us!" One said before he handpicked some scientists to follow him and start working on Shikikan's 'ideas'.

"Leave it to them to get the job done and leave making sure Roon is at 100% to us Herr Kommandant." Dr. Emil said. "I won't keep you any longer than necessary, especially since you have some lovely ladies waiting on you. Needless to say, Ihre Exzellenz is without a doubt, not the patient type, so I'll be on my way now. Thanks again for everything Herr Kommandant!" He added before running for the hills, or more precisely away from Freya.

"Finally done Herr Kommandant?" Said Chancellor asked. "Good. Excellent work on turning the first PR Kansen awakening into an astounding success. Based on your previous 'awakenings', I'm sure you're tired, so I'll leave you to these girls to get to your living quarters safely. Rest well, Herr Kommandant, I have much planned and ever more to discuss with you prior to your leave from Kiel." Freya nodded approvingly before heading out herself.

"So, what do you think of our Supreme Chancellor?" Strasser asked.

"Nice, but kind of scary." Shikikan sighed as he slumped down into a nearby chair.

"Good work Herr Kommandant. Here's to a job well done~." Heinrich grinned as she playfully patted his head.

"Stop that Heinrich. He's not a child." Strasser said.

"Eh? But I like them! What say you Herr Kommandant?"

"I guess, I'm not opposed?" Shikikan questionably answered.

"Hehe~. See?" Heinrich smugly grinned. "What about you Tirpitz?"

"No thanks... Anyway, Herr Kommandant, I know you're tired, but I'm sure a bed will feel a lot better than a metal chair." Tirpitz reasoned. "Come with us and we'll show you to the place you'll be staying at over the next three days."

"Yeah! And after that, I can finally show you around the city!" Heinrich cheered.

"Sounds good to me. Lead the way." He smiled tiredly as he got up and walked with the trio of beauties up and out of the underground lab.

{Moments later in an unknown room}

Deep into the earth under the port city of Kiel stood a large steel door that hid the horrors of what the Ironblood soldiers stationed here would refer to as 'the usual room'. The steel door was thick enough to muffle out the noises and sounds that would occasionally come from beyond the door.

In front of this door stood a squadron of five soldiers all gathered around a table playing cards as they were on guard duty. The area was rather small, what with it being a narrow corridor with the table they were all at a little off from the center, the steel door on one end, and an elevator on the other.

Ding!

"Oh shit, she's coming!"

"Put everything away and get to your positions now! I refuse to ever be sent into that room!" Another soldier said as he and his fellow soldiers quickly hid the cards and got back to their posts.

Ding!

The elevator rang as its doors opened, revealing to be none other than the most feared person in all of Ironblood, Freya von Edelweiss.

"Eure Exzellenz! We weren't expecting you so soon!" One soldier saluted as he did his best to not move a single inch.

"Yes, I just so happened to have business with the newest insubordinate fool behind that door." Freya spoke coldly. "Open the door and you all can be at ease."

"Yes ma'am!" They all chanted as they hurriedly did as they were told.

As the steel door slowly creaked its way open, an overwhelming aura of dread and constant sounds of groans could be heard inside the 'usual room'.

"Now then, let's see what the 'specialists' inside have discovered about him. Unless you're curious about what goes on in there, do keep the door closed. I'll be out in thirty minutes so do be mindful of the time. I'm rather busy what with Herr Kommandant's arrival and all."

"Yes ma'am!" The soldiers shouted as they closed the door on Freya's way in.

"Phew…." One soldier collapsed onto the ground with his arms and knees as he was seemingly out of breath from just being in Freya's presence. "I'll never not be terrified of her…"

"Don't blame ya. Especially after what I saw and heard that one time when I got too drunk and peeped my head in there…" Another soldier shivered.

{Back with Freya}

"Ah yes, there you are, the self-proclaimed 'strongest right-hand man' you said?" Freya mocked as she saw the man in question chained up against the wall and looking much worse for wear. Beside him stood two individuals, one muscular one wearing a gas mask that covered his entire head and the other a scrawny, tall man in a lab coat.

"Eure Exzellenz….Eure Exzellenz! I beg your forgiveness! Please forgive me for stepping out of line! It'll never happened again!" He said with tears falling down his bruised cheeks.

"You're right. It won't."

"Then does that mean I can leave this place!?" He asked with hopeful eyes.

"Depends on what the specialists here have to say about the information they pried from you." Freya bluntly replied as she turned towards said two. "So, what did you get from him?"

Instead of replying, the man in the gas mask saluted and handed her a file of papers that had a profile picture of the chained-up man at the top.

"Let's see….multiple accounts of bar fights, theft, abuse of power…." Freya read.

"I'm guilty as charged for all of those and will spend the rest of my life atoning for my crimes! So please let me go Eure Exzellenz!"

"That's good to hear."

"Then!" He started with hopeful eyes.

"Too bad this last one here is an inexcusable offense." She scowled at the man.

"I-I sincerely apologize for abusing my powers as a soldier of Ironblood!"

"If only that was what I was referring to…" She heavily sighed as she held up the report to him. "According to this report, you are guilty for not just the crimes I said prior, but also for 'working for the Sirens?"

"…Eh?" He squealed as he felt the world around him crumble.

"It say here that you were 'working alongside the invaders in hopes of gaining their favor by…'"

"That's a lie! Please believe me Eure Exzellenz! I've never said anything about that!" He desperately shouted.

"You didn't have to." The man in a lab coat said before walking over and turning on a nearby monitor. "You seemed familiar, so I dug a bit deeper and found this footage evidence of you being involved with several of the Siren cultists terrorist attacks throughout the Ironblood lands over the past couple of months."

On said monitor screen were several pictures and videos of the chained-up man supplying multiple masked individuals with weapons and various documentations.

"Wretched. Despicable. Worthless. I can't even begin to describe how pathetic you are. You have five seconds to tell me everything you know, otherwise…" Freya growled as she donned a pair of surgical gloves and grabbed a tray full of knives, pliers, and needles.

"W-wait no, please! I can explain!" He begged as he desperately struggled to escape from his chains.

"Oh, trust me. You will." Freya spoke with sheer coldness in her voice as she began her own 'interrogation'.

{Back with the soldiers out front}

"Eeek!"

"What!? What!?" Another soldier said as he jumped up out of his snooze.

"I-I just heard some terrible noise from back there!" One soldier yelled as she stepped away from the door.

"So, it's begun…" An older man said as he lit a cigarette and turned the radio volume up. "There's a reason why Ihre Exzellenz told us when she'll be back. You'd be wise to join me over here ASAP."

"R-right…" Everyone agreed as they huddled over to where the older man sat.

{Back inside the room: 25 minutes later}

"….He's died from shock Eure Exzellenz."

"No matter. We got all the information we needed." Freya sighed as she diligently washed her hands. "He squealed much like a pig in a slaughterhouse. Unfortunately, he's still worth less than one. Burn the body and trash the remains into a landfill."

"If this information is true…" The man in a lab coat started.

"Then we have a lot of trouble coming our way." Freya finished as she dried her hands.

"Was…he….telling….the truth….?" The man in the gas mask wheezed.

"A person will reveal their true colors when their life is on the line." Freya informed. "Have this information sent out to the captains so that we can begin rounding up the other traitors."

"Right away." Both men saluted before getting to work.

'Why must loyalty be so hard to come by.' Freya sighed. 'I can't believe I have to apologize to Herr Kommandant once more after this upcoming nuisance of a Siren raid and coup d'état is dealt with.'

Above ground, Shikikan could be seen merrily exploring the city, unaware of everything that's about to come.


And done with part 1 of 2! Feels good to finally be back! A bit of a darker setting this chapter but I think it fits rather well with our first PR ship Roon! Truth be told, she was my first ever PR ship to be completed back when PR1 first came out haha.

And can y'all guess who Freya is based off of lol?

That all said, please remember to fav and follow this story so I know that you like it! And thank you all so, so much for your patience with me and I hope to see everyone again in the next chapter: Chapter 23: Jet Black Fury part 2!