Chapter 57:
Tales from the Winter Wonderland Part 2:
The Law of Deep Magic
"What happened?" Lacus tried to ask the children the simple question, but their answer were so frantic and jumbled out of panic, their reply didn't make a lot of sense. But when they neared the orphanage, they no longer need an explanation.
There are two brawny men stood guard, with a thin gaunt monocle man in a suit standing inbetween them. And to make it absolutely clear that their presence bode ill, poor Madame Helga is on her knees, trying her damndest to restraint a furious Fayt swinging his wooden sword at them well out of reach.
"What seems to be the problem?" Lacus immediately asked. Her firm tone belly her young age.
"Might you be the owner of this establishment?" The gaunt gentleman spoke firmly.
"That I am. Can I help you with anything?"
"I am Herbert Von Reinhard the Accuser. If I am to understand it, seeing that you are the owner of this establishment, then you are the employer of Madame Hufflepuff?"
"Indeed?"
"Then perhaps you can help us? Your employee here owes my client significant sums of money."
"What?"
Herbert the Accuser merely handed Lacus a piece of paper. Lacus carefully read the paper, and down below, sure enough, there's Helga Hufflepuff signature, signed and sealed. According to that paper, Madame Hufflepuff owes the client at least 3,000 galleons. That's a fortune. "Madame Helga… what is this?"
"I'm so sorry, Mademoiselle Clyne." Mrs. Helga had tears running down her plump cheek. "I just… I mean… the orphanage was having difficulties while you were away… and… I… I just…"
Lacus sighed and she can just about imagine the situation. "I see. My Lords. I understand the situation. I promise-"
"You'll promise that you'll pay and you're merely asking my patience. I've heard it all, Fraulein." The gaunt man was as firm as he came. "But I'm afraid my client demanded the payment to be made immediately. Otherwise, I'm forced to… confiscate your property."
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Fayt roared, but was coldly ignored.
Madame Hufflepuff tightened her hold on Fayt. "Wait! Wait! Take what you want out of me, but leave the orphanage out of this!"
"But according to this contract, you've already placed the orphanage as collateral for this loan."
"IT'S WRITTEN IN FINE LINES! HOW THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO READ THAT!?"
"That is your problem. Irrespective of your inability to read them, it is your duty to commit to the contract."
Lacus was trying to think of a reply, but then suddenly, Bert's large figure came to view. "Gentleman. May I see the contract?"
The gaunt man's eyes widened, and his two enforcer also tensed slightly upon seeing this cartoonish character suddenly made itself known. Lacus quietly handed the paper to Bert. And he read it slowly. Very slowly – but carefully and attentively. Word per word he whispered under his breath. "…I see… One question… you Februarians had your own currency… remind me again: how much is 3,000 Galleons… in Credits?"
"That's quite close to 150,000 Credits."
"…that's enough to buy a small manor." Bert raised an eyebrow. Funnily enough, everyone can see it because the clown suit showed it. "But… when exactly you asked for this debt to be repaid?"
"My client demanded today."
"Your client isn't very subtle. Nor is she very learned in the way of the law."
"I beg your pardon? She? How did you-"
"I'm sorry, I was reading this hand written contract letter by letter. Obviously it's written by the fingers of a woman, judging by the writing style." Noir rolled his eyes. "But that's not the issue here, is it not? The contract is quite solid. But alas, there's a mistake more basic than poor handwriting. First off, this contact was signed by Helga Hufflepuff. Now… as I understand it, Madame Hufflepuff is NOT, in fact, owner of this establishment. This establishment belongs to Ms. Lacus Clyne. Therefore, Madame Hufflepuff cannot, legally, put the orphanage as collateral to anything because it was never hers to begin with. This collateral is only possible if there's a written signature of Lady Clyne stating she can do as such. I see no such terms written in this contract. Nor did I see any of her signatures here."
"I see we have a fellow student of the law behind that stupid apparel." Herbert slightly changed his arrogant and cold demeanor to guarded interest. "I suppose you're right. But that doesn't change the fact that she owed my client money, and my client request payment immediately."
"I take it that's why she sent you accompanied by these two meatheads." Bert shook his head in amusement towards the two large burly men behind Herbert. "Tell them to put down their torches and pitchforks, I'm not refuting the fact Madame Hufflepuff owe your client money. But… I've read this contract over and over… even the fine prints… I don't see anything that stipulates WHEN exactly Madame Hufflepuff has to pay her debts. Or did I miss something here?" To make his point, Bert even showed the contract to Herbert.
From the way his left eye twitching, he knew Bert's right without needing to read the letters. "Clearly an oversight of my client. But Mein Herr, surely you understand that I cannot just let this go. 3,000 galleons is no small amount of money!"
"Clearly. Which is why we have State Law specifically written to deal with this sort of situation."
"I… I beg your pardon?"
Bert… no, Noir glared back at the monocle man with such boring intensity, Herbert can feel Noir's fierce eye through the costume's beady eye. "We ARE ALL citizens of the Zaft empire, are we not? I understand the laws of nature are slightly out of whack in this place, but the state law is still in effect, whether or whether not you Februarians choose to care about it. And the state law pertaining the ruling regarding Fund Lease, section D, paragraph 4 clearly stipulates, '…any transaction whose monetary value exceeds 100,000 credits must come with a standard Term of Payment of at least 3 months. Any Term of Payment below that requires an express written agreement signed and sealed by both parties.' As you can see, the State Law is quite clear on this one. As mentioned before, Madame Helga borrowed 3,000 galleons… that's 150,000 credits. The contract didn't state specifically when she must pay, therefore, we will follow this standards: in which she had at least 3 months to pay her debts. And the contract does state when it was made, which is two months ago. Which means… by the State Law… she still has another month before she must pay."
By the end of that explanation, everyone, as in everyone, was absolutely speechless. Even Fayt stopped struggling, even though Madame Hufflepuff still hugged the boy tight.
The silence was broken when Herbert the Accuser carefully and respectfully asked: "Mein Gutter Herr… may I have the honor of your name?"
"…" Noir, with great difficulty, rummaged his insides within the suit. "This would be a HELL lot easier if I have my fingers…" Lacus was either so stunned or so shocked, she didn't hear the implied request. Bert's form contorted several times, signifying the difficulty of the man inside doing Lord Knows what. But finally, the rummaging stopped… and Bert spat something out.
Herbert looked at that something, and his eyes widened in shock. "… Y… you are…"
"Magister Judge Noir, of the Circle of Lustitia. At your service, Herr Herbert."
Within seconds after that declaration, Herbert the Accuser and the two enforcers retreated. Actually the two enforcers were the ones who retreated first. They attempted, as meatheads often do, to muscle their way in when they realized the soft way had gone awry. But Herbert the Accuser convinced them it's more than their life's worth to do that in the presence of a Judge. And so they grudgingly acceded. Noir even managed to convince Herbert to leave the contract to him.
"I'm a Judge, Herr Herbert. I'm a servant of the law not to sentiments. As a neutral party I have the right to hold a copy of this contract and take responsibility over its safekeeping. I will also assume the responsibility to ensure the completion of this contract to satisfy the terms stipulated herein. You can tell that to your client."
"Very well then, Herr Richter." Herbert reluctantly left it at that.
When the man's back disappeared, everyone was still stunned in amazement.
"What you guys had to understand - we're not out of the woods yet-"
"YEAAAAAAAHH!" Before Noir can finish his explanation, the children exploded in cheers. They thought he was cool, then they thought he was creepy, and now it's official: he's THE super coolest. Roger and Peppita were the first to make this sentiment physically known, by literally, and excitedly, body slamming him to the ground and stomped the air out of his lungs by jumping up and down happily on his chest.
"Wait-ouch-listen to me-aieee-this is-ow-NOT over yet-yeoouch!"
Only Lacus heard those words. She immediately took a deep breath and whistled. And when a Clyne whistled, everybody HAD to stop and listen. Lacus approached the downed and crumpled Birdie. "What do you mean it's not over yet, Lord Noir?"
"Please… don't think I'm on your side." Noir started, and Fayt's smile faded. The bird pulled out that infernal contract. "Whomsoever made this… is a crook. An incompetent and an idiot of a crook, but a crook nonetheless. That doesn't change the fact it is a legit contract and Madame Hufflepuff signature made it binding." Noir gave a reluctant but damning glare at Mrs. Hufflepuff. "Madame Hufflepuff… however, or whatever, the reason… you're still entitled to pay the amount stipulated in this contract: 3000 galleon, by the end of this month."
"No she's not!" Fayt protested.
"Yes, she is." Noir was unfazed. "Failure to comply and I'm afraid I'll have to take necessary actions. Even arrest her, if I must."
"That contract is crooked. You said so yourself!"
"Crooked or not, she still signed it. She had a responsibility to fulfill the contract."
"To Hades with that contract. Give it to me, I'll rip that infernal paper to pieces! We can all pretend the contract never even existed!"
"Not on my watch, you're not." Noir hid the contract swiftly and stood in Fayt's way. "As long as I'm alive you will NOT touch this paper."
"Wh…" Fayt growled. "Whose side are you on!?"
"I side with the law." Noir hissed fiercely. "I do not side with you, not with that guy, not with anyone. I'm the neutral party. And I will not tolerate any attempt from any of you-" Noir glared at Fayt. "-to try to bail out from this agreement illegally. Whether or whether not you like this situation is irrelevant."
"This isn't about what I like damn it!" Fayt roared. The blue haired boy was one breath away from lunging at Noir…
"Umm…" A weak voice drew everyone's attention. A small petite girl with brunette hair appeared from the wooden cabin's door. Her skin is pale, her petite body was thin and wobbly, and she barely managed to stand by supporting herself on the door frame. Anyone with half a brain can immediately tell she's not supposed to be like that with her ailment. "…Fayt? Cough, cough… What's wrong? What's with all the shouting?"
"Dear God, Sophie!" Fayt forget his anger for one minute and immediately rushed to his childhood friend. He immediately held her up. "Sophie, you should go back in bed!"
"I heard… cough… all these noises… cough…"
"…" It doesn't take a genius of Noir's caliber to understand Fayt's motivation and easily see the whole picture of the story and how it can lead to this eventuality. Fayt's childhood friend, Sophia Esteed, suffered a rare form of disease so severe, it confined her to the sickbed for as long as anyone can remember. If not for the fact she lived under the roof of an orphanage owned by Lacus, she probably wouldn't last a month. Unfortunately, her disease is not the sort that can be easily cured in one shot. Point in fact, one may question is there even a cure? Whatever the case, the treatment is a continuous one… The cost crop up… And this brings to the second issue.
Once, a long time ago, the Clynes were one of the largest House of Nobles that ruled Zaft. Lorelei Clyne, the legendary Matriarch of the House was the first Hakutenkun. They never sat on the Crimson Throne, but members of their family were given many important posts in the Empire. But that was in the past. When the Clynes began championing their pacifisms, their wealth and status went on a steady decline as the war worsened. When her Father, Siegel Clyne, became the Prime Minister – the height of the Zaft's political power, the only one with more power than him is the Emperor himself, conversely their family's condition went downhill, very badly. Every Judges in the circle knew about it. Even Noir expressed pity. The reason is simple: Siegel was an honest idealist. Many of his politics reforms and programs are directed towards the betterment of the people. It made him very popular with the common people… but not so with the elites. Honesty and ideals had no place in what is arguably the most corrupt city in the Empire. Political programs and reforms need funding to be made into reality. The corrupt are the only ones with thick enough wallet, and they're understandably reluctant. Unfortunately, Siegel was also stubborn… to a fault.
By that point in time, if the reports are to be believed – which Lacus will confirm, Siegel had sold everything he has: every estate, every land he owns, including what should've been his daughters' inheritance. The only pieces he had left are their ancestral home in Scandinavia, his office manor in Aprillus, and this orphanage in Februarius, including its surrounding land, which Lacus partially own.
"…I really… didn't mean to, Mademoiselle Clyne." The teary Helga sobbed. "It's just… I just don't know what else I…"
"You should've told me, Madame." Lacus hugged the older woman kindly. "I told you. You need not worry about money or anything!"
"…" Noir watched the scene seemingly unmoved. Then suddenly, Fayt came to his view, with Sophie in his arms. But Noir reluctantly chose to pretend he didn't see them as he address Helga. "Madame, there's only one way you can get out of this… you had to pay. Long term, I may be able to see if it's a fraud… but… we don't have enough time for that."
"It's 3,000 GALLEONS!" Fayt can't stand it anymore and roared. "How exactly are we supposed to come up with that shitload amount of money?"
"I don't know. As long as it's not illegal, I couldn't care less where you can get it."
"You may not care. But there are lives here that will be ruined by that contract."
Noir frowned. "…you expect me to sympathize when you're the one cowering behind a sick girl?" Noir's sharp word stung Fayt into silence. "You spend your days carrying that wooden sword around… might you fancy yourself as a Knight errant or something? Knight Errant don't use a sick girl as an excuse to be a coward."
"I'm not a COWARD!"
"Then why act like ONE!?" Noir roared, snapping Fayt back in shock. "…just now, you intend to resort to a dishonorable conduct by LYING! And now you're trying to justify it by saying it's an emergency. It's convenient… but it's also a coward's way out."
"I'm not going to do this forever! Just this once-"
Bert swept to Fayt's cheek and held his face with his flabby fingers. "It always starts with one. Just one time. 'I'm just going to do this just this once.' 'There won't be a next time.' 'Just one more time!' 'Just one more!' Again and again! Once you do it once, you're gonna keep saying this to yourself. The next thing you know, you've grown used to do it all the time, you'll justify all heinous acts by saying: 'there's no other way!' 'I had no choice!' 'Virtue is not a luxury we can afford at this time of crisis…' I've heard all this too many times already from the mouths of crooks and thieves the likes of which you are facing right now!"
"T… Then what on earth should we do!? W… We're just… kids! What do you expect me… what do you expect us to do!? We're… we're just… helpless…"
To further make his point, Noir growled: "Miss. Clyne… please undo… my LEFT wing glove."
"…!" Lacus nodded and swiped her hand. The left wing from Bert-suit sloughed down and fell to the ground. And that's when everyone finally get a glimpse of what's really wrong with their super coolest big brother figure. Even Lacus had contemplated to avert her eyes, but… she had to see it.
This patient's arm never did fully recover after that incident. Months had passed after the surgery, said arm had atrophied due to severe lack of use, only skin over bone. And not for the lack of trying, he just couldn't. Said arm now just hung uselessly like a dead piece of bony meat in a butcher's shop. And Lacus knew this was barely the least of it: his left eye is still virtually blind, and his left leg is partially paralyzed, he had to drag it around to move, one of his lungs barely functions!
Fayt did notice Bert… or Noir, as he refers himself, never did use his left wing. Now he know why. But what shocked him the most was the size of that arm. It's even shorter than his. "…Noir… Lord Noir… what…"
"Let me tell you a top secret information." Noir sighed: "I'm only 8 years old."
Helga's eyes widened, Fayt jaw hung, and the other children looked at each other in disbelief, even Lacus widened her eyes. The super cool super mature Bert-nii is actually around their age group!?
"Helpless? Helpless? You don't even know the meaning of the word! Have you ever lost an arm? Lost a leg? Do you know how it feels to suffer an injury so severe you can't even stand on your own two feet!?" Noir's growl rang out loud and clear. "It's not like your legs can no longer stand or walk. It's not like your hands were cut off or your eyes plucked out. You're older than me, stronger than me, more physically able than me… you, of all people, don't get the right to say to my face that you're helpless!"
"…" Fayt looked at his arms and legs. Still strong and healthy. Aren't these the hands he had worked out to fulfill his dream of becoming a knight? Protect Sophie, protect his friends…!
"If you're only stuck up on what you can't do you'll never see what else you can do. So think. Deep and hard. What CAN you do?"
"I understand." Lacus nodded. She caressed Helga's steadying hands. "Everyone… Lord Noir had already helped us by buying the most precious commodity of all: time. We have one month. That's more than enough time. Let us think. Carefully. What can we do to repay this debt?"
"…hmmm…"
"I know! Let's start a circus!" Pepitta cheerfully proposed. "We can name it Circus de Rosetti and Friends!"
"I don't think that'll work. Circus needs a lot of skilled people and a lot shows. The only thing we can show is your dancing and my singing. That's not enough!"
"H… How bout if I sell my services to chop trees!? And… and… and grow more trees!" Roger raised a finger.
"…good one, but it'll take too long to score profit!"
Noir sighed. "Guys, guys. If the idea is to sell something, we need a product. It has to be something simple, easy to make, understandable, and can generate profit in short run. Preferably it's something that people need at a routine basis because they need to buy them again and again for a long time."
"Ah!" Lacus snapped her finger in epiphany: "FOOD! We can open a food stall!"
"Oh!" The children cheered. "That's right! Madame Hufflepuff can cook! And her foods are delicious! The most delicious food in all of Februarius! We can sell that!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Awawa…" Madame Hufflepuff looked taken aback at the proposal. "I… I'm not sure that's a good idea…"
"Ara?" Lacus looked questioningly at the elder lady. "Why? I've eaten your food, and everybody knows it's delicious!"
"Lady Clyne, your family was kind enough to hire me when I was destitute and limping. But… I've made this grave error… I'd rather not drive your family further into the mud with me."
"Eh? What are you saying again!? We've finally began to start something! Don't you give up on us now!?"
"But I… I'm no good at this. I know." Madame Hufflepuff finally confessed: "I've tried and failed."
"Eh?" The cheer died down.
"She opened a restaurant before." Noir spoke up. He did study everything there is to know about the background of every occupant in this orphanage. Thoroughly. "Back in Aprillus there was a famous Fine Dining restaurant managed by a Hufflepuff once. But… it went down under last year. That was you, right, Madame Hufflepuff?"
"Indeed. My dishes are well liked and famous throughout the land… but the ingredients, the workers, the amenities… they all cost a fortune! And I still had to squeeze the prices to something affordable… and eventually… My expenses outweigh my earnings. And the rest is history." Helga looked sorrowfully at Lacus and the children. "I'm plenty confident in your plan. But… if you're doing it with me, it'll be just like repeating history. So I think I better not…"
"It'll repeat history, if you don't learn from the past." Noir suddenly spoke up, attracting Helga's attention. "I've investigated your case a little bit in my spare time. I was trying to see if the collapse of your restaurant had any intervention from outside parties with less than savory intentions."
"And… was it?" Lacus asked.
"Unfortunately… no. The restaurant went down under for 'proper' reasons. The problem is, according to Lord Ray Yuki, is Shika."
"Shika?" Everyone chorused. "What's Shika?" Fayt asked.
"Shika as in the Japanese word for Deer?" Lacus made antlers on her head with her open palm.
"Er, no. It's a Japanese abbreviation. Shika stands for: Shi (Simple) and Kako (Ease of Production)… Shinpuru De Kakou Shiyasu. Simple Production Technique. AKA: Shika."
"Shika…" The children chorused.
"Easy to produce easily…?" Mrs. Helga looked like she was on the verge of epiphany.
"Think of all the food famous the world over: Pies, Sandwich, Pancake, Spaghetti… these dishes were enjoyed and known everywhere not because only one lone expert artisan can make them. But because they're easy to make by everyone and thus the food easily spread allover the globe."
"When I studied your case, it is exactly as you say, the food is good, but the cost is expensive: the ingredients, the tools, the amenities… but more importantly, the largest cash sink I see in that restaurant was in the production process itself. The revenue of feeding the customers cannot balance the amount you spent cooking the food. To solve the issue, you could sell to more customers or increase your prices to offset the cost. But… the latter is obviously highly unpopular among the populace, leaving you with the former. But the problem with this one… is that you work alone. You had to. Doubly so, when your menu consists of ridiculously complex recipes that took hours, even days, to prepare… And unfortunately, you're the only one who can do it. There aren't many people out there who can match your skill in the kitchen, were there? And one person can only serve so many people…"
"Ah… now that you mentioned it…" Mrs. Hufflepuff looked like someone who just had her eyes opened for the first time.
Noir smiled. "But that's not the goal this time. We need to make a food for the masses: something delicious, attractive, but simple and easy to produce in large amounts, and more importantly, practical and cheap."
"We need a product that taste good… simple to make… cheap and practical…" Lacus tilted her head. Then she remembered Mr. Fortescue… and his ice cream cones… Bu~ut: "…we can't make Ice Cream… Mr. Fortescue won't be happy…"
"How bout Crepe? We can work together with Mr. Fortescue…"
"Or Cotton Candy! We can make like… every flavor Cotton candy floss?"
"Every flavor popcorn seems like a ticket-"
"How bout if we do away with the sweet treats for a minute." Noir raised a finger in exasperation. "And let's try something bold. Something savory. I don't see a lot of stalls in the Plaza market that sell savory dishes."
"How bout Pizza?" And out of wazoo, C.C., still with a pizza stuffed on her mouth, just appeared out of thin air voicing her idea while scaring the begeesus out of everyone, even Lacus.
Once his heart steadied after that shock, Noir replied: "Tempting… but Pizza don't last long, rather hard to make… and I don't think people would like to eat it on the road with all that stuff dripping allover their faces."
"Ehh? Why? The cheese was the best part of everything…"
"…Plus, when they're cold, they taste rather salty and nasty." Helga began to regain her sense as a chef.
Lacus thought out loud: "So~o… We need something savory… but also something preferably fresh: like… a customer ordered and we'll make it right then and there on the spot. So they'll receive it piping hot and fresh."
"Pie." Mrs. Helga finally stated. "Yes. We can make Pies. Meat pies. And the best thing about pie is… it can stay hot and fresh for a long time. And we can make lots of them and they can be stored for a long time."
As expected of a former Sous Chef and restaurant owner, her suggestion immediately earned support from everyone… well… almost everyone. C.C. sulked in the corner knowing there will be no pizza.
Now that the product is decided, the next step is the ingredients. "We can do a little foraging on the forest behind us." Fayt spoke up. "Point in fact, the kids and I did it from time to time. We can get some fresh free veggies that way. But the meat… we might still have to buy some from the market."
"And the stall?"
"I think we have a cart in the warehouse that we can fix and use." Roger raised a hand.
Lacus look on in amazement. They started off in despair and confused… but then, with Noir as a starting point, ideas began to accumulate and hope was restored. Even the originally despondent Madame Helga began to regain that fire in her eyes.
"This is good. We can reduce the cost like this." Noir stated as he chalked the cost calculation on the blackboard. He had managed to master his suit skillfully enough to hold a chalk with his flabby finger. "…and then there's also the problem of asking for permits and permission… but I think I can deal with that…"
"So you're helping us now?" Fayt asked. "A moment earlier you seem like ready to do whatever it takes to squeeze us dry."
"I'm a Judge. If you try anything bad to shirk off your obligations – like when you try to rip that contract - I can't help you. In fact I'd be duty bound to stop you." Noir smirked. "But… what you're trying to do now is starting a legit business to repay your debts. And there are no regulations that stated that I cannot lend advices to honest endeavor."
And Fayt finally chuckled, all hostility gone, and Sophie also became livelier than before, as do the other children. Lacus nodded as her understanding, and admiration, of the Judge's character had improved immensely. It's just like what Lord Yuki said: some rules he would bend as far as he can, some, he would not allow anyone to cross it.
"That being said… saving cost is dandy and all but we still need capital to start nonetheless." Noir reminded them.
"I can deal with that no problem." Lacus finally puffed her chest. "I still have some money left from my own personal finance. You will take it and you will use it." Lacus looked back at Helga before she can say any form of refusal.
"Sounds like we all have our job set." Noir nodded then raised his right wing to the sky. "Now let's get to it!"
"YEAAAHH!" Everyone also raised their fists in unison.
00000008 years later0000000
"Whelp, unfortunately, I don't see how selling pies would solve this issue." Hikari said to no one but herself.
"Pies?"
"Ignore it. The problem isn't about money this time yes? It's more about space." Lacus crossed her arms. "To be specific, the space in which Setona is using to build her orphanage. You intend to use it to build up defense. This much I understand. But where I'm standing, Shanghai is still quite a big city. There's plenty more room to go around."
Simca knew this to be true. Two out of three of the Crime gang that controls this city are working firmly with the army, specifically, the 7th division. The Black Axes has been added to the Milita and patrolled the streets, converting them into chokepoints. The Yakuza still controls the Kabuki Palace and from there fortified various buildings into makeshift fortresses. "The only faction still creating trouble, were Setona's father's former flunkies, the Mafia. Even now, they still refuse to work together, fighting each other over whatever's left of Winter's family asset. It's stupid, I know, but problematic. The 7th concentrate all their efforts on rebuilding and reinforcements, and the 10th still need the space."
"That's why I think I'll go to them and-"
"Absolutely not, Milady!" Nahe protested. "Those people are animals! The worst of your father's criminal underlings! Besides, you yourself had already made it clear to them that you washed your hands of your father's misdeed! There's no need for you to reenter this world again!"
"But-!"
"Nahe's right." Lacus cut her off. "You're not your father's daughter anymore. You don't belong in this world." She tilted her head and pointed at herself. "But I am."
"Eh?" Setona blinked and Nahe's brightened.
"I'm the one who steamrolled this Famiglia to pieces. Kage did most of the work, but technically speaking, this is our mess, right Simca?"
"Our mess?" Simca chuckled.
"Yes. Ours. Which is why we need to split the responsibility." Hikari turned to Simca. "You need to stay here, on this Orphanage. Hold the fort, especially against your men. I will go out there and see if I can talk some sense into those ruffians."
"If you're going to deal with those troublemakers… then fine. I suppose I can do this."
"After what your men did to Tien Zi's soup, you need to do at LEAST this much!"
Three mountainous bloodlust that briefly erupted from three traumatized foodie was thick enough for Simca to steel her resolve to the task. Considering one of them came from one of the most pacifistic girl Simca had ever met… "…that must be some soup."
"Now, tell me about these people who've been causing trouble."
"We have Corleone Bege and his gang who took over a brewery downtown. He's been making no small amount of trouble downtown. The Regulars had tried to deal with him with a raid 3 times, but we get knocked back each and every time." Simca stated one name.
"Then I'll start with him then." Hikari adjusted her helmet a bit. She tossed a small Grey Haro to Simca's welcoming hand.
"This is…?"
"This is Lea. I'm carrying Rea. We can communicate with each other with them."
"Whelp! If defenses are covered, you mind if I tag along?" Kaguya chirped. "I just remembered I want to buy a few things in the market but never get the chance."
"Ahh…" Hikari and Kaguya looked at Salamandine as she timidly raised her hand. "If you don't mind… may I accompany you?"
Hikari frowned. "Shouldn't you look after your 'sister' instead?"
"If Simca-darren stay here, I'd say she's quite protected already. But if the situation is as bad as I see here… then you will need all assistance, no?"
Kaguya knew better. "You might just as well take her help, Sister. Neither your or I are very good at direct combat. And since we're heading into one, we'll need her on our side."
"I cannot help but to agree, Lady Hikari." Nahe added. "Corleone Bege was Don Winter's toughest enforcers. A disgraced Alliance sergeant who loved to fight as much as he loved his drinks. He was away when you… raided our house. But if he were there… I… I had a feeling the story would end very differently."
Hikari nodded. "Very well. Simca, I leave them in your hands now."
"Leave it to me."
And as the three girls departed, Simca turned to Setona. "So… What is this about the soup?" She only gave her one confused look.
On the way to the location as explained by Simca, Hikari took the chance to ask Salamandine again: "I appreciate your willingness to assist me… but… should you not prioritize Tien-Zi's safety more than anything?"
"Lady Tien Zi often dreamt of seeing the outside world. But her position as the Empress will not permit her such fancy. In times like that, my brother and I would be her eyes and ears of the outside world. Despite how timid she was, inside her is an inquisitive girl very curious to the world around her. Whenever we came back to tell her stories of the outside world she would ask a LOT of questions. Sometimes, even questions we never thought to see."
"An inquisitive mind eh? That's a good sign for someone like her."
"Indeed. And I appreciate your effort, doctor Hikari, to give her a look of the outside world she so craved. I would offer a slight complaint that you choose Shanghai of all places, but I prefer you use a different method other than kidnapping."
"If the eunuchs weren't forcing my hand, I've only thought of smuggling her out."
"Oooh… That being said, it was worth watching them squirm." Salamandine chuckled, then she stopped. "Wait… does that mean you're still going to use illegal means either way!?"
"We're here." And Hikari completely ignored the question.
It's a bar. It was big enough to rival Winter's old mansion. Why, it even had his likeness plastered on the bar's name plate… although that likeness has since been vandalized beyond recognition, signifying the change in ownership.
And as can be expected, there are several armed thugs guarding the door. But… judging by the number of empty bottles rolling down their feet… they seem a bit tipsy…
"Halt! (Hic) Who goes there!?"
"I'm Dr. Hikari. (koff) I'm here to talk to your boss. (Koff)"
"He's busy."
"But he's in there? (koff)"
"It depends."
"Depends?"
"On how… important your business is." The guards made a very rude gesture, they grabbed Hikari's shoulder. Salamandine gave them a glare, and they only chuckled.
"I assure you, gentlemen." Hikari smiled. "Its importance is of the highest order."
"We'll be the judge of that… hmmm!?" That was when the thug realized that try as he might, he cannot unhand his palm from Hikari's shoulder. It's like… it was sewn shut into her armor. And then, Hikari simply pinched said arm… and the thug paled when he realized it's not just his hand that became stiff, his whole body seem to lose strength and he couldn't even move an inch.
And Hikari easily plucked said burly finger off her shoulder and snapped a finger in front of his face. The thug fell down on his knees, and by some machination, he was forced into seiza position, and locked like so permanently. "I'll say this again. I need to talk to your boss, right now. Either you do that, or I will give you all a lesson in manners one by one."
It was then the half drunk thug guard finally sobered up… and his eyes were opened to Hikari in all her bone white terror. "Wait… armored head to toe with bones, voice as horrible as demons… oh god… you're Dr. Hikari… as in Destroyer Doctor Hikari!?"
"Destroyer Doctor!?" The three girls, including the supposed owner of that epithet, balked.
The thug nonetheless paled and lost all nerve. He immediately rushed into the building screaming for help. "BOSS! BOSS! SHE'S HERE! SHE'S HERE!"
"Destroyer Doctor!? What exactly did you do, sister?" Kaguya gulped.
"I… only leveled a building. Just one. And the owner is happily thanking me as you have seen her yourself."
The argument was cut short when that same thug, now with significantly more humility, opened the door for the ladies. "Please come in, the boss is expecting you."
As the three ladies entered the building, several smell immediately assaulted their senses. But most overwhelming of them all… was the smell of alcohol. The man was a giant of a man that towers most men. His snarling face looked like that a angry bulldog. He's wearing a Segeant's Kevlar jacket unbuttoned over his proudly bare scarred chest. A pair of axes rested firmly on his back. One hand is holding a huge bottle of brandy, which he took a huge gulp from when he saw Hikari and her entourage entered his room.
"So… you're that legendary Destroyer Doctor I've heard so much about." His voice boomed. "You're smaller than I heard."
"Corleone Bege, yes? (Koff)" Hikari politely bowed. "I assume you know why I'm here?"
"Always suspected that little wuss (Setona) got no tooth." Corleone took another huge swig from his brandy before he throw it away. He quickly stood up and picked up his axes. "Well… even if your boyfriend that God of Death were to show up, I'm not going down without a fight!"
"Daifu!" Salamandine quickly drew her sword just as Corleone roared and raised his two axes before he bring it down. Hikari jumped away and Salamandine parried the axes to the side. The earth split open for meters away from where the axes fell. Sala jumped back, nursing the ache on her muscles. That arm strength is just unreal.
"ROAAAAAAHHH!" Corloene swings his twin axe in a vertical swirl, becoming a whirlwind of slices and slashes. It was as if there are hundreds of Axes all around him. Salamandine used her jian sword to lightly parry the series of attacks as she back away to mitigate the damage. But she also calmly observe the situation and eyed the movement of axes. At the moment, they're still moving too fast. But then, as the momentum of the attack began to weaken, the speed slowed, and a glint sparks on Sala's eyes. She smoothly charged in and jumped and lightly stepped from one axe to another, swiftly climbing her way up the cyclone. Once she's atop his head, that's when Corleone realized the danger. "Grrrhhh!" He swing his axe upward whilst Salamandine rain down a tirade of stabs.
"That's enough."
The sword stopped inches away from Corloene's eyes, and his axe were millimeters' away from cleaving Salamandine's waist when it freezes. Both were wrapped by two colored strings, one is gold, the other is silver.
Salamandine strained her eyes to see this golden string wrapped around her gently. She recognized these strings as the same strings that caught Naga and Kaname midair. Layers upon layers of both Gold and Silver strings covered all of Corleone's body as well. Both fighters looked like they were both frozen in time mid maneuver.
She can still turn her head to look to her side and noticed the two Medic nins who are the source of the two strings. The Gold belonged to Hikari, the Silver came from Kaguya. Sala had stopped moving and thus she slowly regained her freedom, but Corleone were gritting his teeth rebelliously. "What the Devil is this…!?"
"I don't recall saying I came here to fight. (koff)" Hikari scoffed. "I don't know who gave me that sobriquet the Destroyer, but I was never much of a fighter. (koff)"
"Take it from me." Kaguya chortled. "When she seriously tried to punch someone, she's the one who ended up with compound fractures."
Hikari twirled her finger and Salamandine regained her freedom. She gently landed on the ground, but Corleone is still frozen. Hikari approached him. The man easily dwarfed her twice over and yet she showed no fear. "What strength you have." Hikari started. "If it were just me locking you in place with my strings, I had no doubt you'd easily break through it."
"Grrrh…! Cowardly bitch! Face me yourself if you dare!"
"Did you not hear me? I'm not here to fight." Hikari shrugged. "If you would sit down and listen to what I'm about to say, then the string goes."
"GRrrhhh…" Corleone finally stopped moving. "Alright… alright! Let me go!"
Hikari merely nodded and Kaguya twirled her finger. The strings vanished, and Corleone was able to move again.
"Personally speaking… if we are to fight, I'd say the result would end something like so: You and Sala will end up injuring each other badly. And whoever walks out of that fight would be powerless to go against whatever comes next."
"Bullshit!"
"I'm a doctor, my good sir. And I get a good feel of you and Sala-chan here during that brief fight. You both were pretty even. And she's the strongest fighter of the three of us. That speaks volumes on how our fight would've ended. Either way… you will leave this fight less than you were when you started. When you are injured, the others will smell blood on water, and you will lose even more."
"…!" Corleone gritted his teeth and for the moment he looked like he was about to lunge at Hikari… but he did not. In a show of incredible restraint, he actually sat back down. He sent a strong glare and his men, understanding the order, came in a hurry with a bottle of whisky. He took another swig at it before he sat and focused all his attention to the doctor. "Alright. What do you have to say, doc?"
Hikari smiled. Despite him acting like a brute, he actually had a good head to listen. Splendid. "You seem like a reasonable man. And here I thought, for someone who gave Simca so much trouble, you'd be more… stubborn."
"For someone who leveled my previous boss house to the ground with a sneeze, you're smaller than I imagined."
"A sneeze?" Hikari snorted. "The one who sneeze is… someone much smaller than I am. Is that why you rampage so aimlessly right now? Because of a grudge how I took down your boss?"
"He's an asshole, and we both know it." Corleone snarled. "Pah. He's an idiot too. I work under him because it pays well, and it's quite an easy coin when your boss is that much of an idiot."
"Aha…" Hikari clapped. "Is that why you're being such a troublemaker? Because your Boss daughter is everything her father isn't? She's not a criminal, but I think she can afford whatever price tag you ask of her. Honest coin is still coin, no?" Salamandine and Kaguya also sat behind Hikari, watching this argument as it rolls forth.
"Pahahahaaha! If you think this is all about money, doctor, you got another thing coming. Did you not know what your boyfriend did to Shanghai before he was cart wheeled out of it!? You really think you can pacify a town this bent with just taking down a mob boss or two?" Corloene took another swig. "While you and that Simca bitch are out there kicking ass and taking names, the Black Devil took the intel from Nahe and dismantle all the necessary infrastructure that kept the empire standing for as long as it did. Hidden assets, money storage facility, meth productions facility, and whatnot… all of it… gone. Burnt to ashes. You cut off the head, but he torched the rest and hammered it to dust."
Salamadine gulped – part in awe and in fear. She recalled her brother often anguished of the height of Shanghai's criminal rate. If it was something that can be easily put down with brute force approach, Rena herself would've come down and dealt with it personally long ago. Kage arrived for a few days, and just like that, he dismantled a decades old criminal empire in a swift and precise execution.
"And does that mean the world is over then?" Hikari crossed her arms. "You still have those big strong arms and legs. It's not like they can no longer stand or walk. It's not like your hands were cut off or your eyes plucked out. What are they for? Chugging alcohols all day until your liver give up? Making troubles while being a drunk?"
"SHUT UP!" Corleone suddenly exploded and slammed a bottle at Hikari's head… or at least he tried to. The glass hit nothing but a string shield protecting Hikari's head.
"I'm just saying… it feels to me… that you're making trouble and getting drunk all day not because you have nothing better to do… it looks to me as if you're a man who doesn't even know what to do with himself."
"The hell you know about me wench!?" Corleone brandished his axe in a threatening manner.
"I only know what I see. I'm a doctor. My duty is to save lives. And I see a man so driven into despair, he chose a self destructive means to hasten his own end. You know what's coming into this city. You saw how everyone was preparing for the end. To fight. To protect. You're doing neither. A warrior as strong as you. And you think you're angry!?" Hikari's tone went from professionally to flat and firm. Even Kaguya and Salamandine was somewhat intimidated. "In all my years… never have I seen a waste of such a fine specimen of humanity as you. When you wield such strength, when every bit of strength is needed, this is how you choose to use it!?" Her tone was far from high. It was low and flat… but the anger that laced every word was so thick, Corleone's cronies were frozen stiff while the man himself immediately sobered.
"Snort… then what are you going to do about it, Doctor!?"
Hikari sighed. So it came to this, eh? "All the places you can takeover, you had to occupy a brewery… (koff)"
"Huh?"
"I did not come here to engage in fisticuffs. But Simca told me you love to fight as much as you love to drink?"
"Uh-oh…" Kaguya gulped. She can see where this is going.
Corleone growled a chuckle. "Are… are you going to do what I think you're going to do, woman!?" His gang also began to see where this is going, and they snickered. Does this girl not know what she's getting into!?"
"I do."
In short order, a table was set. Corleone sit on one side, and on the far, far end, there's Hikari, who took the liberty of removing her mouthguard. Barrels upon barrels of alcohols were dragged into the room.
"Anoo…" Salamandine watched in horror at this proceeding. "Are you sure this is gonna be okay?" She timidly asked Kaguya. Of all the people she can see getting into a drinking match, the good doctor Hikari was the last on the list. Kaguya didn't say anything, but she was as tense as she can be.
"I trust I don't need to tell you the rules? No pauses, no spits, no regurgitation…"
"Let's just be clear on the wager: whoever still standing at the end, the loser will do as the winner asked. Clear?"
"Crystal."
"Ready…" a female gang member raised a hankie… "GO!"
And the two start drinking… at a distinctly different pace. Corleone didn't bother with the pint, he drank straight from the barrel. Hikari, maintaining her poise, drink her mug calmly… with a straw. Before long, she finished a mug, and ask for another… and another… When Corleone finished his barrel, she just drank five pints.
"WAHAHAA! What kind of pace is that woman!?" "Our boss is the greatest drinking champion in the street! He outdrank 50 people!" "That's why we call him Corleone the Heavy Drinker!"
Ignoring the jeers, Hikari continued at her pace as her opponent drank his second barrel.
Salamandine was greatly concerned. "W… What should we do…!? Is there anything…!? Kaguya-darren…!"
"…I've told you the story… of when Samurais first encountered the Scandinavians, haven't I?"
"I… huh?"
"When the Samurai first made contact with the Scandinavian, it was during a feast. As is their way, they gave the Samurais their version of warm welcome… in form of three competitions. We score a win, a draw… and a lose. It was not decisive, but we did gain their respect and a lasting friendship… but we also gain a jeer. A jeer we… never quite able to dispel until now."
"…I'm not sure…"
"The competitions were: A win at wrestling, a draw at eating… and a complete defeat… at Drinking. That day, we learned that there are three things Scandinavian take VERY seriously: fighting, honor… and booze."
"Still… confused…"
"Hikari's Scandinavian."
When Salamandine finally gets it, the audience also began to notice something unbelievable. Halfway through his third barrel, Corleone had to slow down. But Hikari had just downed her second barrel, and empty pints had mount up on her corner as well. She continued drinking mug, after mug, after mug,… with her straw… she's not stopping, in fact, she's actually quickening. "The hell…" And before they knew it, she just finished her third barrel. "If you be so kind as to give me the next barrel, please?" Judging by her calm tone, she was barely tipsy at all.
Corleone quickly finished his third barrel and tried to catch up by ordering another barrel… but his drinking pace had irrecoverably slowed. He barely finished two third into the current barrel when a still sober Hikari asked another. And a slight reminder: they're not drinking water but alcohol.
Once his fourth barrel is emptied, Corleone's world is spinning. His men cheered him to go on, but their voices are booming and echoing in his head like he's inside a tolling church bell from Hell. When he began drinking his fifth barrel, Hikari had long since finished… her sixth. "Wh… What… the hell… are you…!?"
"Hey, tough guy!" Kaguya landed the final blow. "There's a reason she was banned from every bar and brewery in Japan AND Scandinavia, just so you know."
Corleone didn't even have the wits to understand. The next thing he knew, he collapsed into darkness.
When he woke up, to his surprise, he was in a bed. His bed. The bed he appropriated when he chose to take over this place. His men was nowhere to be seen, he imagined they ran away in terror after he collapsed. But sitting right next to him… was the armored doctor. The two girls that accompanied the armored doctor were also there, watching him waking up.
"There's a saying… never challenge a Scandinavian to a drinking match." Hikari started when she realized her patient is awake. "I never liked that proverb. They make it as if my countrymen are a bunch of drunks."
Corleone was sober enough now to listen to what the doctor is saying.
"Scandinavia is… a winter wasteland. It's harsh country, little food… and even less water. And what little water we have is unsafe to drink. We need firewood and fire to boil them first… but to make matters worse… There's very little green as well." It may seem strange: a place filled with snow is having difficulty finding water? But it's not strange at all. One cannot drink ice. They had to be melted first. And to melt ice, one need fire. And to create fire, one need firewood. But being a winter wasteland… with so few vegetation that can grow in such ecosystem, even a twig is treasured! "What fertile land we have is state owned, and misuse is punishable by death. We don't have the luxury to grow trees just to turn them into firewood. The only other sources of drinks we have are ales we made from wheat. Kaguya said that Scandinavian take booze very seriously… she meant that in a biblical sense: It's our primary source of drinkables, and it's a law that every citizen in Scandinavia must be allotted at least six pints of beer per day. We even have our own Ministry of Brewery to ensure that. Clean water is reserved for children, the elderly, and the sick. The rest is for farming and other essentials."
"…huh…" Corleone tucked his head down in defeat. No wonder he was THIS outclassed.
"Well. I challenged, you accepted… and you lost. (koff) You can argue that you drank a lot more before I came. (koff) That's fine. You're free to challenge me again, I'll be waiting. (koff) But for now, will you at least follow through on our deal? (koff)"
"Fine." He groaned. "What do you want?"
"The problem is your Kevlar jacket." Hikari rubbed her helmeted head. "That's standard issue Regulars… and it's not like you steal it from someone, it belongs to you. Which means you're a deserter. Can't ask you to help the Regulars, I suppose. You'd be shot or hanged."
"That's a good bet, yes."
"I could ask you to join the 7th… but you hate my boyfriend, didn't you? He's the captain after all."
"I don't hate him." Corleone spoke up. "…but he killed a Logos, did he not? That's way too insane for my taste."
"Hmm… I see." Hikari clapped her hands. "And if I tell you that he survived the ordeal, you still won't change your mind?"
"That actually scares me even more!" Corleone looked at Hikari in disbelief and terror. "He's either like them or worse!"
"Worse." Three girls ceremoniously declared. And that just reaffirm the poor man's fear.
"Then, how about this: you work for me. (koff)" Hikari offered.
"Excuse me!?"
"I'm not my boyfriend. (koff) In a biblical sense too. (Koff) I'm not actually part of any army. (koff) Be it 7th Militia or 10th regulars. (koff) If you cannot stomach to fall in to either, then work for me. (koff)"
"Doing what you say is one thing." Corleone grunted. "Working for you is quite another. What do I get in return?"
"In return…" Hikari rubbed Corleone's abdomen. "As a start: I'll heal your liver."
That's when Corleone suddenly realized the changes that had been wrought unto him. The abdominal pain that had plagued him was gone. His jaundiced skin seem healthier, and his eyesight were no longer so blurry. "You…!"
"Your liver was… badly damaged. But not untreatable, thankfully. And it's not gonna be an easy fix. I did what I can for now. But the rest is up to you."
"Up to me… you're gonna tell me to stop drinking right?"
"And I imagine it'd be hard for you if I tell you to stop completely. So I'll give you a compromise." Hikari summoned Ghienny and pluck out a bottle with a shot cap. "You'll learn to ration this… for a week."
"…you're telling me to drink only a bottle a week? Why not just tell me to stop altogether!?"
Hikari poured him a shot glass. "Take a sip and see if you can handle it."
Bege wanted to scoff… but the one offering was the girl who drank him dry. So he took a shot… and his eyes widened to a teacup. Smoke literally bursting out through his every nostril and holes on his face. It filled every inch and veins on his body before he roared to the ceiling, unleashing a burst of smoke. When that was over and done with, he was left panting. "What the hell was that!?" Effect aside… that was UNBELIVABLY good. Made the Napoleon whiskey he's been drinking a little earlier felt like cat's piss.
Hikari showed him the label. Corleone gawked. That's genuine Scandinavian Ale – Thor class. Unwatered. The little shot he just drank is worth HIS weight in gold! "The thing about Scandinavian, since we take Booze making seriously, our ale are famous the world over. But not just because it was… good."
Bege felt warmth in his stomach that gently seeps into his heart and organs. His heartbeat sound strong and steady, with much strength flowing through every inch of his muscle strands. His clogged arteries seem to have widened and fresh strength coursed through them, filling every inch of his being. "This… this is…"
"Since ale is also the stuff their own people must drink at daily basis, it was imperative that our ale can't be just good. Generations of Brewmasters labored for decades, centuries even, to create a recipe of Brews that are not only strong to drink, but also kept the drinker healthy. A concentrated supplements of nutrients to aid their citizens to survive the harsh environment. Particularly the liver." Hikari unreservedly handed the precious brew to Bege. "I recommend three sips a day. After or before meals. This one bottle should be enough for a week."
Ultimately, Corleone left the brewery with nothing. His men left him, and he finally lost even his pride as a heavy drinker… He now only had a bottle of this precious ale in his hand… but… those who see his firm footsteps can easily see that it was not the gait of a loser.
Salamandine asked. "If I recall, you mentioned Japan had prohibited men under 21 to drink alcohol?"
"Different country, different rules." Kaguya explained. "Scandinavia is a close ally of Japan, but they have a different take on Prohibition. Depends on the needs I suppose. Thanks to that though, Scandinavian ale are very high in demand. I had some with me, would you like to try?"
"With respect, I must decline." Salamandine politely shook her head. "I once tried a sip of normal wine - diluted, and I collapsed straight after."
"Ah, another lightweight."
"Lightweight?"
"Remember that jeer Scandinavian gave us Samurais? That's what they call people who can't hold their liquor: Lightweights. It's not like we can help it. Not me though." Kaguya grinned as she took a good gulp of the ale, much to Hikari's consternation.
"Kaguya! (Koff) Alcohol in the afternoon!?"
"Said the girl who drank 7 barrels of it! Well… thank you for reminding me how your super human liver bankrupted my liquor black market business, sister."
"Hey, I let you do you. (koff) But when your competitors start adding cheap but dangerous ingredients into the mix to have a jump on you, I had to take a stand. (koff)" Hikari grabbed Lea and contacted Simca. "Moshi-moshi? Simca? Are you there?"
"I'm listening, Hikari-Onee-sama."
"I've just dealt with Corleone Bege. (koff) I'm sending him to Setona to help out. (koff) Please don't shoot him on sight, he's under MY protection now."
"Already!?" It was barely an hour after they left, of course she was shocked.
"Do kindly remind Mr. Bege to routinely report back to me for his liver checkup."
"Liver checkup…!?" Simca gawked. "Wow… okay. I… can definitely see how this happened."
"No you don't. (koff) Now. Who's next?"
Simca scratched her head in delight. Kage and Hikari… they worked really, really fast. She really needs to learn to keep up. "Alright then. Umm… the next is… Mistress Cheng."
"Mistress Cheng!?" Salamandine gawked. "Uhh… oh dear… That's gonna be a handful, that one."
"You know her?" Kaguya asked.
"Yes. She's a disgraced apprentice of Mistress Hound. She's a gambling addict."
"Arara… that's… problematic…" Hikari glared at Kaguya who pretended to find the sky very interesting.
"Appropriately, she took over a casino. Rumor has it she also presided over illegal deathmatches in an underground arena."
"Point the way."
"Gladly. And do say hello to my brother Kilik. He's overseeing a troop squadron there; I'd appreciate it if you can help him alleviate the situation."
As they made their way to the location, Salamandine diligently wrote everything she experienced into a small notebook. "I'm writing my report for her majesty. Everything I've learned today. She'll be thrilled to see this."
"You've also added my story of the Februarius and the Judges, I see."
"Of course I should. We knew more about Zaft today then we had in years! Which reminds me… Hikari-darren, how did the pie business finally end up?" When they waited for Corleone to wake up, Hikari did tell her the story of the Starfall orphanage and the pie. Of course, she omitted her true identity and that she owned the Orphanage. She was merely… a 'close bosom friend' of the owner.
"Well…"
00000008 years earlier0000000
The next morning, the market of Gate city watched an army of firm faced children carrying carts behind them. Leading the procession is a giant cartoonish bird doll. "Alright. Everyone! You all know what we're here to do. So, spread out and let's get to work!"
"Yeah!" The procession split into multiple groups. There are two compositions of these groups: Smaller groups of two children and three large groups of at least five, carrying carts, led by Lacus who was accompanied by Noir, then Fayt, and then finally Helga.
The smaller groups of two went around everywhere to promote the soon to be opened: Madame Hufflepuff Pie Emporium. "We'll start open tomorrow! Please come and try!" They also went around spreading handmade pamphlets to interested bystanders and passerby.
"Heeeh? Madame Hufflepuff Pie?" Mr. Fortescue looked at the pamphlet with great interest. "Now this is as interesting as it is mouth watering. I'll be sure to try it."
The three larger groups split up so that they can start procuring ingredients and other necessities such as tools and furniture. Madame Hufflepuff was in charge of the meat and other ingredients, Fayt is in charge of the heavier equipments, like stove and plates, Noir, accompanied by Lacus, gets the tools, like cutlery and frying pans as well as some administrative duties. Spices and most of the vegetables they get, according to Lacus, by foraging the forest. This was done by Roger and Peppitta. "They've done it countless times already, they'll be fine." They had to split up like that because, according to Noir, they need to be efficient and fast. They plan to taste test the menu this afternoon, drill the kids on the cooking process all night, and by tomorrow morning they must already began selling.
"Well, I get that point that we have to be fast and all." Lacus stated. "But what I don't get are these things." Lacus pointed at something on their cart. As she understand it, Noir asked her to take his right glove off so that he can spend all night handwriting them all one by one. "Do we really need this just to buy stuff?"
"In normal cases? No. But this is a rather special circumstances…" Noir snickered. "Now then… is this the place? Fayt did say: Fittr's Slicecapades… Is this it?"
They stopped in front of a workshop with the name written clearly on the plank above. The shop also clearly showed their wares: knives and cutlery of every size and make imaginable. They're definitely on the right place. The only thing missing is the owner. "Hello! Anybody here?"
A young girl with braided blond hair answered their call. "If you're looking for the owner, he's right over there." She pointed to a direction, Noir and Lacus followed that direction…
What they saw is a cloud of dust whirling in place, enclosing the people inside. Amidst this mass of dust clouds, they can see fist swinging, kicks arching, teeth fly out, a giant cleaver hacking about, shoes popping out, and a giant handheld sturgeon bashing faces and an Anvil taking names out of its stomped victims.
"YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK ABOUT YOUR FORGERIES, YOU SCRAPMONGER!?"
"MY FORGERIES ARE A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER THAN YOUR STINK, ROTTEN FISH PADDLER!"
Apart from the main two, there are other participants of this brawl, most of them either had a fish scale bruise or an imprint of the steelwork on their faces.
"What's going on here?" Noir, fresh eyes of this unfamiliar scene, asked.
"A story of a fish not so fresh." The girl replied calmly.
"It happens every day." Lacus shrugged at the familiar scene. Why, she had taken the liberty of watching calmly from the sidelines, sipping tea offered by the girl.
"Uhhh… shouldn't somebody stop this?"
"No need to worry. It'll soon be over. And no one was ever hurt." The woman stated solemnly.
"Really?" As soon as Noir said that, a shovel fly out and struck Bert's forehead. Thanks to the fluffy content of his suit, Noir was unharmed but the shovel was inches away from his actual forehead.
"…at least… not seriously." Lacus added.
"Yes. I see. Good then. Wait… No, no, no. This is not good." Noir stopped. "There, there. Enough is enough. Hey! You lot! KNOCK IT OFF!" Unfortunately, around the same time of that howl, the giant sea bass flew out of the cloud and bashed Noir's head silly.
A while later…
"So… you guys want to buy some of my cutlery?" Cliff Fittr, teenage owner of the Fittr's Slicecapade, is nursing his bruised eye with a slice of meat from his friend, Mirage Koas. This was after Lacus managed to wake Noir up after a good 15 minutes of watching seabass swimming in la-la-land. Once he fresh out and saw the fish and steel issue had yet to end, he threatened them all with jail for assaulting an Officer of the law, then, and only then, did everybody stop.
"Yes. We're opening a food stall, and we could use some fresh cutlery equipment."
"Food stall… right… and what are you guys will be selling? Hopefully not fish and chips?"
"You have something against fish?"
"Well, our neighbor, Mr. Lasbard is a fishmonger, and Cliff here, being the overgrown child that he is, often complained his fish smells." Mirage stated calmly. "In contrast, Mr. Lasbard also complained about the noise from forges and well…"
"No I don't mind the smell! I mind the stink!"
"What's the difference?"
"Anyway, fine. I'm happy to sell you kids my wares. And I'm more than looking forward on tasting that food, especially if it's made by Madame Hufflepuff. Do I get a discount?"
"We'll consider it. But we want to do more than just buying your wares." Noir than displayed that thing he's been preparing since yesterday for Mr. Fittr to read.
"Hm?" Cliff and Mirage read the paper calmly… and then…
A good while later, Noir and Lacus walked out of the Slicescapade, their cart is now filled with frying pans and freshly stoned cutlery. "I still don't understand why we need that sort of thing." Lacus asked. "I trust them!"
"It's not the matter of trust. Don't worry. You'll see soon. Next item on our list… spices… and it may well be a good idea to look at that fishmonger too. In case we want to make like Pike Eel Pie or Stargazy pie…" Noir imagined the sight of fish head protruding out of a pie… "Or maybe scratch the last one."
"You think that'll sell?" Lacus' image of fish was far too affected by the stench of raw fish for it to come out with anything delicious.
"I like fish. Preferably fresh ones. In fact, we have a tradition to eat them raw if possible."
Lacus gave Bert a look. "Raw…?" So he likes spicy food and raw food… what's wrong with this taste!? Lacus' imagination began to come up with all sorts of weird ideas on what was wrong with Noir's tongue. "…are you sure you're not an actual bird?"
Before long, the group had rendezvoused on the agreed upon meeting place at the appointed time. All smaller groups had spread their pamphlets far and wide, and they all returned empty handed having completed their task. Conversely, the larger three groups returned with their cart chockfull of ingredients and equipments they need. "It's going well! Everyone is very enthusiastic of our plan."
"Indeed?" Noir tilted his head. "And what about 'that'?"
"Oh. No problem whatsoever." Fayt grinned wide while giving a big a-okay with his thumb. "Once they've heard Madame Hufflepuff is going to open a foodstall, all of them signed without a second thought!"
"Everyone was so looking forward to it…" Madame Hufflepuff eyes began to form teardrops. "I… I really can't believe it… everyone was so supportive of me… after everything I… I…" The amount of support she receive overwhelmed the woman. She began to cry profusely, but these are tears of joy. Lacus came to her side and gave the lady her support. She calmed down immediately, her expression more alive and vivid than ever.
"Hmm… this is good." Noir stated as he surveyed the ingredients they've gathered for this endeavor. "The hardest thing to obtain in this industry is trust. Fortunately, Madame Hufflepuff reputation had secured that for us. Now the next part will be quality. And then we had to set up a price: remember this is a food for the masses so they have to be cheap and affordable"
"How did you know so much about this stuff when you're only 8!?" Understandably, after everything, Fayt is still having a hard time believing the bird-Judge is actually younger than him.
"I learned this when I was taking down a Drug cartel that disguised themselves as a warm wine sta… never mind." Noir rubbed his lower beak. It's good that things are going well, but if things went too well, that's usually the sign that something bad will happen… and they're in a position where they can ill afford any mishaps. "Let's hurry up and bring this home. We need to create some test dishes and you kids needs to learn how to make them. No way we can cram the whole cooking method in one evening, so we'll make an assembly line system!"
"OOOH!" The children raised their fists yet again.
From the distance an elderly eyes looked on the scene with interest. "Hoo… now, now… this looks interesting…"
That evening, Mrs. Hufflepuff's first pies were finally finished and served to the children. More importantly, she had taken Noir's advice to heart. Sure, it still need some skill to perform, but the cooking technique are not as demanding. And it can be made in large quantities in a heartbeat as long as the Pie Crust and stuffing are ready. It took only 3 minutes for a large number of them to be baked simultaneously.
And as expected, everyone who tasted that dish had nothing but praise. Of course, some kids complain every now and then: "I want more mustard!" "I don't want mushroom!" And so on and so forth. But that's moot.
"That's the beauty of Pies." Lacus nodded as she ate her share, absolutely enjoying its taste. "Depending on the request, we can tailor made each filling to suit the customer's taste." As a case in point, Noir added more pepper and chili sauce to his pie, much to her horror.
"But as expected of Madame Hufflepuff's cooking! It tastes wonderful! This will definitely sell!" Fayt grinned ear to ear. It's fatty but not heavy. It had ample nutritional value and easy enough to digest that even Sophie can eat them.
"Now, we just need to assign duties for each of us. It'll be a group effort after all." Barely finishing his Pie, Noir very quickly assigned the children with task best suited for each. An assembly line system was established. Madame Hufflepuff had already pre made at least a hundred empty Pie Crust, and all the kids had to do is put in the pre boiled filling, and other custom ingredients and then Lacus closed the pie crust with a layer, which is then put into the blast oven for 3 minutes. And presto: the most delicious fresh pie this side of the continent.
Considering their workforce, it was decided that the filling that went into the pie had been prepared in form of packages, each containing a preset amount of each ingredients. This way, the children no longer need to measure the amount needed, they just had to take a portion and then slip it into pie as ordered. The energetic Roger and Pepitta are tasked as waiters. "We'll be making 160 portions at first, but for redundancy, let's prepare 180."
"Wait, what about you?" Fayt raised a hand.
"I'll…" Noir briefly glanced at the kitchen but immediately turn away. "Technically speaking I'm not allowed to help. But I'll do your accounting and other administrative work like permits and stuff. You guys just focus on (groan…) cooking."
There's no way Lacus didn't detect that tone of extreme depression. "Well, everything's ready." Lacus chortled. "And we can mass produce them in a blink of an eye! We'll be in business tomorrow!"
"Ah… yes… about that…" Noir raised a nervous finger.
Everyone looked at the Bert Kigurumi character.
"…aaahh… at this juncture… I… If I may… I wish to run one experiment."
"Experiment? What kind of experiment?"
And Bert explained what he wanted… and Madame Helga nodded. "Why… that should be easy enough? My dear, my restaurant been through worse. Just wondering the why of it all…?"
"Just… acting on a hunch I had." Noir grimaced, and the Kigurumi suit's face turned dark. "Could be nothing, probably nothing…"
"…but if it's something?" Lacus asked.
"…" Noir didn't say anything. But the grim complexion remained throughout the day.
The next morning…
A beautiful colorful cart was being pushed into the market. The children of the orphanage worked day and night to fix the cart: giving it umbrella, adding pot to hold patty, installing the stove, cupboards to hold spices, jars to hold condiment and etc2… they designed it all to be compact and mobile, allowing them to immediately move the whole stall as soon as the need arise. Finally they also gave it a nice colorful coat of paint. Noir had to spend an inordinate amount of time convincing an overly excited Lacus NOT to paint the whole thing pink. The great words: Madame Hufflepuff Pie Emporium shined brightly on the top of the cart.
"Orya…" Mr. Fortescue grinned at the sight. "Now this is interesting."
Soon, amidst the rousing noise of the market, new noises were mixed in.
"Madame Hufflepuff Pie Emporium is here!"
"Come and get it! Hurry up before you miss it!"
"Ahaha! The pie I've been anticipating so much about!"
"I heard Madame Hufflepuff was the one who made it!"
"THAT Madame Hufflepuff!? Now that's a definite must try!"
"But isn't it expensive?"
"No. Look at that price tag: only 15 sickles per pie! That's very cheap!"
Thanks to yesterday's marketing campaign, in a blink of an eye, customers are already queuing in line. And as expected of Madame Hufflepuff cooking, all customers had nothing but praise.
"AMAZING!"
"MY CHEEKS ALMOST FELL OFF!"
"DELICIOUS!"
"Hmmm… I've heard tales of her cooking… this ain't half bad." Adray Lasbard, the tanned bare chested fishmonger with this giant tattoo on his back was munching the pie with his daughter, Claire.
"And it smell infinitely better than your fish too, old coot." Cliff is also enjoying the pie with Miranda as he passed by.
"YOU WANT A FIGHT YOU LIT'L SHIT!?" The fishmonger pulled out a swordfish…
"BRING IT OLD FART!" The Blacksmith lifted an anvil…
"Father! Stop it!"
"Cliff, for the love of…"
"Please don't fight in public!" Fayt immediately interjected with Bert glaring from the background. "We can ill afford trouble here!"
"If you keep fighting, we won't serve you anymore!"
"Haiii… noo… forgive us…" Cliff and Adray tucked their head down begging for mercy like the overgrown children that they are before Noir and Fayt.
In one afternoon, they sold more than a 100 portions in less than an hour. That's more than half of their prepared ingredients. "More than a thousand sickles in one hour… And the day barely began!" Lacus was sweating hard. She probably worked harder than she had ever been today, but she did so in joy.
"We keep this up, and we might be able to repay the debt mid month!" Fayt enthusiastically stated. His enthusiasm was also shared by all the kids. And they were right to be so. Those who can count will count that they've made a significant profit today. After all, they've managed to suppress the cost to the absolute minimum by foraging in the wilds, so their profit margin is higher than average.
But Noir was the only one who keep his optimism in check. He glumly looked at his surroundings, and sure enough, he began to notice eyes of unsavory nature looking at them.
The booming of the Pie sales continued into the second cour of the day. People going out for lunch and once they get a wonderful fragrance of Madame Hufflepuff's cooking, they all lined up and bought their share in short order. The sun was barely past its halfway point when finally: "Oh cher moi. Mesdames et Messieurs, I'm sorry, but we're sold out!"
"Awwww…" The loud clamor of disappointment from the untended customers served double meaning: on one side, the cooks are now feeling guilty they didn't prepare enough to meet the demands, on the other, that means their product was THAT good. These untended needs are potential customers! They have the potential to perform even better tomorrow!
"Bert-kyuun! You are so glum!" A very happy Lacus snuggled and hugged Bert lovingly from behind as she rubbed her cheek on his oh so soft head. "So glum, glum gloomy glum! Cheer up a little!" Bert remained stoic and unmoving throughout. "What's wrong?"
"I calculated our net profit for today… that's total sales minus cost… and the days needed until we reached the target… I don't like this timing… we're cutting it a little too close."
"We just got started… and I'd say it's a good start."
"Agreed. But… this is just day one. We still got at most 28 to go. A lot of things can go wrong and we can't afford even a single day of mess ups!"
"Tomorrow we'll double the amount of the prepared patties." Mrs. Hufflepuff stated confidently as she even flexed her arm muscle. "Don't you worry about me sir, I have plenty of experience, cooking this amount is nothing!"
"Hm." Again, Noir remained passive over the prospect.
"And your experiment?" Lacus asked. "Is it conclusive?"
"…too early to tell. We shall see tomorrow."
The next day saw many returning customers, with significant addition of interested parties. In fact, those who bought it yesterday practically asked double portion.
"Mmm! Delicious! And it's… oh! It's puffing hot… but… I don't know why it feels… good!"
It was a raving success. They were out of stock before the afternoon was out. That's 300 portions in less than a day.
"We keep this up and we'll be rich!" Fayt laughed. But again, Noir remained glum.
"We… may need to add more workforces into the kitchen… We… need to prepare… TRIPLE the amount we made today."
Helga and Lacus looked at Noir in confusion. "Isn't that a bit much? We made 300 today!"
"And we ran out before the sun even past its midpoint." Noir pointed at the sky where the morning sun still shine. "We may need to make a thousand. Don't worry. If my hunch is right… We'll be seeing the same trend tomorrow. Also… I'm thinking… this…" Noir took a big piece of paper and wrote something on it. When that was done, everyone paled.
"Are you serious!?" Fayt gawked.
Helga frowned. "…and you want this… test continue?"
"Obviously." Noir grumbled. "In fact… I had a feeling it might have to be a standard procedure from here on out."
Helga and Lacus looked at each other. Any other person said this, they would've dismissed it as over enthusiastic stupidity. But this is Noir. He does nothing for fun. If he said the sun will turn dark tomorrow, they would still believe him. "Mademoiselle Lacus… I may need your help tonight."
"Leave it to me."
The next day…
Noir's prediction came true. When the kids pushed the cart into the garden, there's already a giant crowd of people waiting just for them. They completely ignored other food stalls already present and charged straight to their Stall before it even open in an almost zealous frenzy. But then, as the stall was being prepared, Noir placed a billboard strapped with what he had written yesterday in big bold letters:
HALF PRICE FOR THOSE WHO BRING KIDS.
More than half of the amassed crowd dispersed, but they returned within the hour, with their children in tow. Many returning customers from the first two days even ordered more than 1 or 2, even if they didn't bring their children. They were eating their pies like it was the last meal of their lives. It got so bad, the children who managed the stall were almost trampled. They even saw some people beating each other over crumbs!
"STO~OOP!" Noir finally take action and roared. "There will be a limit of one pie per person today! LINE UP!"
Even with the limitation, 1000 pies were sold out before breakfast time was over.
"I… I gotta admit… this goes too well it actually freaks me out." Fayt is still nursing a slight bruise he had when one of the customers nearly step on him. "Is Lady Hufflepuff's pie THAT good?"
"You eat it every day my dear. You tell me." Helga chuckled nervously.
Lacus however, wasn't smiling. She was busy helping Madame Hufflepuff, but her ears… her ears as a doctor caught something more telling during those buzzing noise of activity. "Lord Noir… the experiment today? How did it go?"
Noir didn't answer.
"Lord Noir?"
"What? Oh…" Noir turned around and his face was… white. The kids thought he was happily smiling, but Lacus saw it differently. He was pale with fright.
"Lord Noir? How did… the experiment go today?" Lacus repeated the question with much trepidation.
"…today was… conclusive." But he doesn't sound happy at all. Noir's tone, even when distorted by the Kigurumi suit, was heavy with horror. "I… I need to send an urgent letter to Lord Yuki."
Fayt, Helga, and Lacus froze. What kind of horror Noir discovered that he needs to report this to the Lord of all Knights!?
"We… need help." Noir commented. "At the rate we're going and this speed… the two of you won't be enough to deal with the demand."
And thus, before the day was over, Noir placed another poster on the Billboard: Help Wanted.
Later that evening…
"Nel Zelpher?" Noir asked.
"Yes." A red haired girl in her teens stood nervously under the Kigurumi character's gaze. Even when covered under that big beady eyes, Noir's glare seems to pierce through the cartoonish visage. "I'm a friend of Claire Lasbard? She told me your stall needs some help?"
"Adray Lasbard's daughter, yes." Bert bobbed his head up and down in approval. "Hm. Okay. As for you… you are the daughter of Neville Lasbard… Your background checks out. No recorded criminal history of any kind, that's good…" Nel sweat dropped. Is she being interviewed or interrogated? "Well, do you have any history of cooking?"
"No. But I'm quite nimble and a fast learner."
"And why do you wish to work with us? To be honest?"
"To be honest? I could use the money. And you guys seems to be making plenty." She grinned mischievously. "…and I'm prepared to break a sweat to get some."
"…" Bert didn't say anything for the longest while as he just stares at her. The silence unnerved the girl for a bit… but then. "Very well. Madame Hufflepuff, she's all yours."
Nel proved to be an able helper with a deft hand. Within minutes in the kitchen, she was already able to keep up with the frantic pace of the cooking process… even adhere to the 'unique' standard procedure that Bert had imposed.
And that was an example of a very rare case of success story of an applicant surviving what many now colloquially named: one minute interview/endurance test with the Bird of Terror, a step up (in the wrong direction) from your usual Bird of prey. For every one gleaming successful story, a hundred more applicants ran away in terror under a minute of interview/interrogation with the giant Kigurumi bird. The reason is simple: the bird knows. Everything about the applicant. Sometimes he even knew things that the person themselves didn't know: from the size of their shoes to even birthmark located in the place where the sun don't shine.
"Arara… now I know what you do with your free time." Lacus smiled apologetically as she watched the diminishing back of yet another applicant that ran for his dear life out of the door after Bert mentioned another unexpected secret about his embarrassing medical history on his erectile dysfunction.
Noir's not omniscient, this Lacus know. But with so much free time in his hand, he must've… done a deep investigation into the background of pretty much every person on this city, at the very least? And when a Judge had too much free time… he can dig very, VERY deep indeed.
"Was this high standard really necessary?"
"I'm afraid it does. Of these 102 failed applicants, a full 30 of them had criminal history."
"30!? Criminals!?" Lacus gawked. "That's… that's impossible. No crime can be committed in Februarius!"
"I didn't say those crimes happened here." Noir raised an eyebrow. "Many had rep sheet in Aprillus, Marchus, even Decembrus… the Deep Law only apply to this continent. It did not apply to others, right? Some of these people had escaped justice there and came here…"
"Here of all places? Where the three laws reign?"
"It's precisely because it's this place that they came here." Bert sighed. "This kind of place is the last place anyone could think for criminals to hide."
"Now that you mentioned it…" Lacus shrugged. They did say it's darker under the lampshade. "So… what? Are you going to arrest them?"
"Insofar… they have lived here honestly. Well, as honest as they can afford. But they did not make any trouble here… I'll leave them be. For now." But Bert secretly made a side note to report his findings to the HQ later. If these characters set even one foot off Februarius soil…
"Also…" Noir tilted his head. "Of the remainder outside those 30, quite a few of them were spies."
"Spies!?"
"They didn't fake their credentials." Noir tilted his head again. "But they didn't tell us everything. So they're not lying per se. They just withheld information. Not that it would do them any good. I already checked their background myself."
"Who… and why would anyone send spies at us!?"
"…who gains if we fail?"
For the record, today… with Nel's help, they managed to sold out 2,000 pies.
0000000
Somewhere else… the two burly enforcers from before reported to their master over the recent events… and she was not happy. Not one bit.
"How did you incompetent idiots miss something as big as this!?"
"It happened so fast, Milady. Those kids were organized and very efficient – doing multiple things at the same time. They get permit on the same time they bought and gathered ingredients, and before we knew it-"
"DON'T GIVE ME EXCUSES!" She roared. "What now, Lawyer-mine!?"
"What now?" Herbert shook his head firmly. "This is now. They're working to get the money to repay the debt. Nothing wrong or illegal with that. And at the speed they're selling those pies, they could probably repay us by the end of this week with interest if needs be."
"They do taste good…" One of the bouncers licked his sauce covered lips. But he immediately regretted it as soon as he earned a glare from his mistress.
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MONEY!" The lady exploded. "What I want is their lands! The Clyne lands! That's why I hired you in the first place!"
"I'm not the one who wrote such a crooked contract." Herbert maybe ruthless and firm, but not unjust. "You hired me to enforce that contract. But as far as eviction goes, that's not part of the deal."
"What kind of devil possesses you to hand over that contract paper to some crazy costumed freak!?"
"That costumed freak brought with him an official Magister Judge Badge. Judges are sworn to neutrality. He won't do anything to that paper except to make sure the terms in it are fulfilled by all parties involved."
"What nonsense is this? Judges had no authority here! The Circle is nothing but that blasted Knightmaster's pet project!"
"Doesn't matter. By Imperial Law all continents that are part of the breadth of the Zaft Empire is subject to their authority. And that includes Februarius, even if half the continent lies on another world."
"And you believe that crap? Believe that charlatan in doll suit!?"
"I'm a Lawyer. And he's a Judge. It's more than my life's worth to doubt him. And if I knew Judges well and he wasn't what he said he was… he won't last long. I know. I've seen people suffered worse for less."
"What do you mean?"
"I asked some friends of mine in Aprillus about that person, Noir." Herbert paused for one moment to swallow a gulp. "Milady… don't do anything rash."
The lady was obviously taken aback upon hearing that cautionary tone. Herbert the Accuser was some of the most ruthless and firm lawyer she knew. He can extract payment from a crying accused without batting an eye, and yet there he is, cold sweating bullets at the mere mention of a name.
Her lack of fear of said name was noticed by Herbert, who understands exactly what it meant. "Milady, you've never been to Aprillus, have you? Well… That's just fine. Here is my advice to you. Let it go."
"What?"
"Let. It. go. Just settle for the fact that you will undoubtedly be paid your due. Do not ask for more. Let it go, milady!"
0000000
The next day… in the Plaza market…
"So. I gather that's what you said to her and she fired you for your well meaning intentions, Herr Herbert." Bert and Lacus sat on the chair opposite of Herbert.
"No love lost there. I'm just a person trying to make a living. I trust you understand that, Herr Richter." Herbert simply nodded.
Just then, a timid and somewhat apprehensive Roger came and brought a tray filled with a pie. He carefully placed it before the client who ordered them, the stiff faced Herbert, who merely gave the boy the slightest of nods. Roger nevertheless ran back in terror towards the overcrowded food stall.
Most of the other children from the orphanage were also looking at him with hostility evident. But Bert and Lacus seem quite able to maintain a cordial atmosphere.
"How did you know it was her in the first place, Bert-kun?" Lacus tilted her head to the bird judge. The way the conversation had been going, if she didn't know any better, it felt as if Herbert had been spying on his client for Bert. But the Judge was able to use nothing but deduction to accurately predict what has been said and its responses.
"I didn't know. Or rather… I wasn't sure…" Bert rubbed his beak. "So it's quite a wild guess. But it's good to be sure. Your client has a reputation, not a very pleasant one."
"I'm sure she did…" Herbert finally took the liberty of picking up his meal and took a bite with gusto. After spending a while to savor the taste, his stiff tough face cracked into a gentle sincere smile. "Mm… Lecker. This is a very good dish. She had the right to be concerned."
Lacus grinned and Bert nodded. "I'll leave you to it then." They stood up to give the man his privacy for his indulgence.
"This may seem strange for me to say but… Viel Gluck (Good luck) and keep it going." Herbert smiled.
When Bert and Lacus returned to the stall, Fayt asked: "What's that asshole doing here?"
"FAYT!" Lacus scolded him for the language with a tap.
"That 'asshole'-" Lacus gave Bert a glare which he ignored. "-is our new loyal customer. Mr. Herbert is not a bad man. He's just… well… ruthless when doing his job. In any rate, he's no longer our concern. Madame Hufflepuff, how fare is our supplies?"
"Well… we're selling very well today… we may have to restock on the meat. We need to go to the market… and we also need to do the foraging to the forest for the ceps, veggies, and other spices."
Bert rubbed his beak again with his one wing. Lacus imagine he was frowning in deep thought behind that mask. He seem to be doing a lot of thinking…
"…Okay. So… let's switch up. Tomorrow I'll go with the kids to forage. Lady Clyne, and Fayt, you two will be on the market duty. Be on the lookout for… uhhh… people like this…"
Bert explained in length, but quite frankly, neither Lacus nor Fayt understood Bert's concerns and it shows on their blank confused faces. Bert closed his explanation with an enigmatic: "Tomorrow, we'll see if this Deep Magic thing is as foolproof as you all bragged it to be."
The next morning Lacus and Fayt went to the market to do their usual shopping and they witness EXACTLY what he meant.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T!?"
The butcher remained stoic even as the bouncer was holding him by the collar, raising him up until his legs fluttered a few inches off the ground. "Exactly what I said: I can't sell you all my stuff – even if I want to. I'm already under contract. Written in ink as clearly as you can see it here." The butcher raised a piece of paper signed and sealed with the Butcher's name on it, as well as Helga Hufflepuff and Lacus Clyne's signature, and to top it all off, the official wax Seal of a Judge, stamped with Noir's badge.
Lacus and Fayt recognized that paper. It's that thing that Bert insisted they have to bring out when they make the deal with all the shopkeepers they've bought their ingredients from. The Contract stipulates that all shopkeepers bound by this contract must sell an exact amount of ingredients at a routine basis and at a fixed price. The contract also stipulates that all shop owners must be prepared to always save a set amount of stock for them to buy for a set amount of period, for redundancy sake, and that the goods' quality must be kept well. In case of the butcher, he even asked him to sell him the leftover meat, bones, and fat that was supposed to be thrown away. He insisted every shopkeeper must sign this deal if they are to continue doing business with them. All the shop owners who read the contract didn't find anything unreasonable or unfair in these contracts so they have no reason to not sign.
"You can beat me all you like it won't change the fact I'm still duty bound to follow this contract… in a biblical sense." The bouncer was just raising his fist, ready to muscle his way in… but…
"HEY!"
He stopped and looked at the corner of his eyes and saw a young stern faced men with long flowing red hair glaring at him. He looked like a knight errant, with a coat of arm the side view of a roaring lion displayed proudly on his chest armor beneath his black robe, with crimson and gold trimming. A ruby crusted sword rested on his belt, but more importantly, he was carrying the badge of the Februarius Law Enforcement on that same belt. "Do we have a problem here?" The way he snarled make him resemble lion even more.
"No… Warden… this butcher refused to sell us his goods."
"Why is that?"
"I'm bound by contract, Warden Gryffindor. I would sell them all my stuff… if I could."
Warden Gryffindor approached the scene as the bouncer dropped the butcher before he handed the young Warden the contract. The Warden read the contract carefully and aloud. Apart from the fact it was hand written, it was very well made and well detailed, with no loopholes or any chance of malicious misinterpretation. Point in fact, there's nothing malicious about this contract, at all – aside from the fact they even insisted to buy all the leftovers and even discarded fat and bones. But all in all: "I'm afraid the Butcher's in the right mister. He's bound by the terms stipulated in this contract. As the law of the Deep Magic stipulates. If you try to force him to disobey, I'll be forced to arrest you."
Everybody knows that's the truth of it. The Deep Magic enforced compliance by the deal. No one, not even those who are not right in the head, can go back on their words once the Deal has been made. Every Shopkeeper who had signed that contract is now… forced… to obey its terms… not even if they were beaten and battered halfway to death.
Lacus and Fayt didn't understand why Bert was so adamant that this was crucial. They do now.
When they finally came home with the goods, just so it happens, Bert and the children had just returned. The bird looked… unusually pale. Lacus almost feared the worst.
"You're back." He started.
"As do you."
"Anything happened?"
"Yes." They answered easily.
"Exactly as I predicted?"
"Accurate to a fault." Fayt nodded. "How did you know that was going to happen?"
"Considering the opposition, it's not that difficult of a guess." Bert sighed. "…that forest really worries me though."
"Something happened?"
"Something had happened, yeah."
0000000
"Now remember this rule boys and girls." Bert lead Roger, Peppita and other children into the forest. Before they can just run into the forest, Bert had them assemble for a brief briefing. "You can take as much as you can carry but don't take everything. You must leave something behind, and leave enough so there will be harvest in the years to come. Out of two and three, you may only take one. And you're not allowed to take buds, only mature ones. Only what we need, no more no less. This is the rule of the mountain. Those who cannot follow this rule has no right to enter it. Those who cannot follow this rule… will be rejected by the mountain."
As soon as Bert said that, a wind blows across the forest. It gently caress Bert's fur skin, even Noir can feel it on his cheek. The way the trees were rustling in response to the wind… or perhaps Noir's words… were also strangely unnatural. While he felt no malice or ill intent in these voices… he can't shake off the feeling that he's being watched. "Okay then… if there are no more question, let's begin. Rendezvous at this location in 3 hours."
And the children spread out. Judging by the way they move without fear or unease, it's obvious they've been doing this for a long time. Especially the hyperactive duo Roger and Peppita. Noir even felt a slight sense of jealousy when he compared their unrestricted gait compared to his injured state. "Hmmm…" It wasn't long before they've gathered plenty of vegetables and mushrooms. Even Noir took the liberty of gathering some for himself. But then… he smelled something… something very familiar and caused his hair to stand on end. The feeling he felt all the time in Aprillus.
Dropping his Porcinis, he looked around wildly, searching for something completely different now. He crawled slowly… and then he found it.
Bottles of unlabeled alcohol, tourniquet with stench of kerosene, and some stone to start fire. Someone is trying to burn something here… but… they're all cold. All these objects had been here a long time, but not that long, he guessed since last night. But then, he looked around again… focusing… and there he found it.
Smeared on the leaves and branches… that familiar red colored liquid… with that familiar stink… in one eyeblink, Noir's heartbeat went a mile a minute, knowing what had happened.
"EVERYONE! GATHER ROUND! WE'RE GOING HOME, RIGHT NOW!"
0000000
"Someone was murdered in that forest." Noir didn't mince word as he explained this to a horrified Madame Hufflepuff. "Someone was trying to start a fire in that forest and got killed for it. We need to report this to the authority-"
"No. You will not." As usual, C.C. just appeared, once again out of thin air, with a pizza on her hand. "If what you say is true that they were trying to burn the forest down… those idiots got what's coming."
"What?" It was to Bert's wonder that even Madame Hufflepuff was equally stoic about it, to a lesser degree.
"That forest is not like what it appears, Bert-kun." Lacus glumly noted. "We all know the rule of the mountain. By your words: those who cannot abide by it will be rejected by the mountain. In any other place it may just be a figure of speech. In here… that rule must be taken quite literally. And its consequences are far more… immediate and… severe." A native of Februarius, Lacus knew more than anyone what sleeps in that forest. Powerful and ancient existences that don't take too kindly to that sort of behavior. She can just about imagine the horrible fate of those would be arsonist when the forest realized their less than savory intention. She wasn't worried about the children because they too had been taught within the inch of their lives the importance of respect. She was slightly worried of Noir, but apparently her concerns were unfounded.
"The same goes for the contract you gave to those shopkeepers." C.C. continued. "They will obey that contract. You've made a deal with them, and they will… they must obey. By all means necessary. As I've said: in here…. In Februarius, no force on earth can undo an oath once it is made."
Noir was left completely speechless. Everyone keep saying no rule can be broken in this place… but seeing its real life application for himself… No matter how cynic Noir is as a judge, facing this irrefutable proof, even he had to admit this is overwhelming.
"What now?" Fayt's question brought Bert back from his stupor.
Noir looked at the children, to Fayt, and to Lacus. Everyone looked at him with expectant eyes, hoping what other eye opening insight he will bring out. They all trust him now. If he said the heaven and earth will reverse tomorrow they will still trust him. They are all willing to follow every word he said without a shred of doubt or hesitation.
"Now… we wait." Bert chuckled, to the shock of the children. This is his first sense of glee he showed in weeks. He even gently ruffled an eager Roger's hair at his side. "I've pre-empted any of their possible attempt to disturb us in the conventional indirect way. I've closed all the doors in this side… let's see if they're smart… or dumb enough to go through the direct method."
"Direct method?" Fayt and Lacus echoed. "And why would you say it's dumb?"
"Because that means they'll be facing ME directly." The Bird of Terror jerked a thumb to himself, and everyone snickered, almost pitying whoever been trying to mess with them.
Almost.
0000000
Before long, the week ended with nothing unsavory happened. The food business made a lot of money. More than even Noir had anticipated. He was surprised, but pleasantly so, and it shows.
"Now that is the smile I've been looking for." Ray Yuki image on the fireplace grinned ear to ear.
"…I'm not smiling." The fact he still can't remove this god damn bird head gave him a very good incentive not to smile.
"But I saw traces of it everywhere." Ray chuckled. "And I've been hearing you've been very busy… and in a good way. How's Madame Hufflepuff doing? The Imperial Kitchen still missed their headchef terribly."
"Well, she's recovering. We're still working on it."
"Working on it, eh?" Ray Yuki smiled. "Unfortunately, you also seem to be stirring a little bit of trouble as well… with her… with them."
"You really think the whole house will respond to her… ridiculousness?"
"They've been doing that for years… Well, maybe not the whole house… no. But… they are… a very powerful family. With a lot of resources at their disposal. That says something."
"I know. She's not gonna give up… but… this… Deep Magic thing… is more powerful than I can imagine. Almost to a… dangerous degree. Just the other day, I learned this thing is powerful enough to actually kill somebody and no one bats an eye because they had it coming. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it. But that's moot." Pleasantries are over. "My report. What do you think?"
"Yes. I think you're right."
"Dear God." Noir gawked. "What can we do?"
"…stay quiet."
"My lord…!?"
"I don't mean not doing anything. You're free to tell anyone of your findings at your own pace. I'll send you all the help you'll require, but we have to be smart AND discreet about this. What you found… too many ears attached to too many unsavory minds would LOVE to abuse. You understand that right?"
"Yes, sensei."Noir answered without thinking… until he realized the words that came out of his mouth. "uhh…"
Noir blinked, and Ray Yuki breaks an even more heartwarming smile. "How many years since you last called me that?"
"…I… can't remember." The word sensei just breaks out spontaneously. Kira remembered he would use it every day during his early days of learning with Lord Ray Yuki about his culture. Their culture. Ray Yuki knew Kira was Japanese, and he wished he stayed that way in heart and soul, be proud of his original heritage without being too befuddled by Zaft's European based culture he had to live in. Of course, once Ray Yuki was quite sure that Kira had learnt all there is to know about being a Japanese, they must re-adapt to the surrounding culture: when you live in Rome, be a Roman, they say. The Japanese culture Noir had carved into his being fell out of use… but clearly never forgotten.
Ray didn't mind. A small fragment of the wide eyed Kira he once was is returning. More and more he realized sending Noir here was the right call. "You're right about one thing. Exploiting the power of Deep magic may well be your key to triumph in this situation. It is an Absolute Power that can overwhelm even desires of self preservation. But what have we learned about absolute power, deshi yo?"
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely, sensei."
"Top marks. Be careful, Noir. Stretch that power as far as you need to, but don't get swallowed by it."
"Yes, sensei."
0000000
When Noir walked out of the meeting room, he was welcomed by a smiling Lacus and a very wide eyed Fayt. "That… that was the Knightmaster? I mean… it really was HIM!?" He asked.
"Why, yeah. He's my boss. I'm under suspension and I have to report to him every week."
"Okay…" Fayt looked rather relieved.
Noir can easily guess why. "You think I wasn't what I claimed? After all this time?"
"Let's just say I'm already 60% convinced before… Now I'm on 100." Fayt scratched his head sheepishly. "But hot damn! This is the KNIGHTMASTER! The one and only! Most of the Knights can only dreamed of meeting him, and here you are talking to him face to face at weekly basis! Well considering your bloodline limit I guess it only make sense."
"My bloodline limit?"
"Yeah… I think I kinda figure it out." Fayt grinned. "You have the ability to see into the future aren't you? How else one could explain how you were able to predict all these events with such clarity. Maybe not so far into the future… I reckon it's at least a day ahead. The farther you see, the harder it is for you… that's why you can only see so far."
Noir's response: "Ku-wahahahah. I'll give you points for realism, Fayt. At the very least, you're a lot more sensible than some of other people who guessed as much, but didn't put a limit to their imagination."
"It's not that?"
"What I did is a parlor trick everybody can do with some training. For instance…" All the sudden, Noir produced a harisen and slapped Fayt in the head.
"Hey, what gives!?"
"You want to know how I can see into the future right? Head's up!"
"Not this time!" and as expected, Fayt easily dodged the not so sudden attack this time. "Eh?" and then he realized. "Oh."
"Yes. THAT's my 'see the future' thingy. By looking back into the past precedents to predict what the future will bring. I don't have any such convenient bloodline limit as to see the future at a whim. But what I do have is a vast amount of experience dealing with people like the one annoying us right now."
"Haaa…" Fayt shrugged. "And who exactly is annoying us?"
"All the characteristics of the disturbances we've suffered indicated a spoiled brat who never understands the concept of growing up." Noir grunted. "Nevertheless, this person was scared shitless when the forest behind us caused actual death. That's why we have those few days of calm and quiet. But once that fear is overcome… I imagine we'll find out soon enough. Are the preparations ready?"
"About as ready as we'll ever be." Lacus replied cheerfully.
"Good." Noir nodded. "Now we'll just have to wait."
The three headed to the park, where Mrs. Hufflepuff and the other children had went ahead to open the food stall. By now, they should be seeing the stall crowded by queuing people… there is a crowd alright… but not a very happy one.
"What now?" Fayt frowned.
Noir had a good guess…
When the three rushed to the kitchen, they saw a frowning Helga with a paper in her hands. They don't need to read its content to know it does not bode well to their establishment. But Noir still asked to read it anyway while Lacus asked Helga: "Madame, what happened?"
"They… they… we can't open business here anymore."
"What? Why?"
"This… is… this is interesting." Bert's tone remained calm nonetheless as everyone looked at him and the piece of paper he's reading. "I distinctly recall, we went through all the correct procedures when we requested the permit for us to do business here. But I don't recall seeing this ridiculously unfair regulation: Shops with income less than 500 Galleons a day will be evicted from the premises… Huh…"
"Are you kidding me? What kind of rule is THAT!?" Fayt exploded. 500 galleons!? That's the income rate for high end shop! They're talking about fine dining restaurant or a high class jewelries shop. But their food stall is nowhere near that level. They're cheap food for the masses! There's no way they can raise the price that high!
"This… this is interesting. Lady Clyne, you once said in here, the compliance of regulations is enforced by the power of deep magic… I assume that means once a regulation had been set, taking it down would be close to impossible… and what has been done here was the exact opposite, they actually add to it. Is this possible?"
"It's not something that can be easily done, I assure you." Lacus explained. "Not just anyone can change the rules. Only the Creator of the deal, or one who has permission from said creator can either add or subtract the original contract."
"Hm. I see… and the creator of this regulations… well… there's only one person that fit that description. The owner of this Park… and the one who has been harassing us since day one… right? Guinevere De Britannia?"
"My, my… that makes it sounds really bad isn't it?"
There right in front of the stall, a woman stood. She was a tall slender woman, with a very glamorous dress made of what is clearly expensive fabrics. The dress showed her ample bosom, and on her right breast there's a rose tattoo displayed. The woman herself was remarkably beautiful, clearly a cut above standards. Her expression displayed a gentle elegant smile… but there's something about the atmosphere she emits that repulse people with disgust.
Not a word was spoken as Noir and Guinevere stared one another for a long time, as if their willpower are butting heads silently. The first to break the silence was Noir. "How is it that you ever managed to own this park, milady? Last I checked, this park was meant for public use."
"It was, my Lord Judge… But… between poor management and lack of care, the Mayor had a bright idea to just sell it to a private party. Which is me." Guinevere spoke very calmly and elegantly, as if she was just reading a diary.
"But this is a public utility facility. State law forbids Public Property to be sold off to anyone. Especially private party."
"Maybe so, Lord Judge Noir. But in here, Deep Magic can overrule anything, even State Law. Especially State Law." Guinevere smiled wider. "Besides, you can ask anyone in here… you'll find I'm not an unreasonable landlady. Everyone can use this facility as they will, provided that they pay the price and obey the regulations."
"That you are. Until today."
"Things change, my dear Judge. This place was a thriving economical sector once, but over time, the reality of running a park like this, with the cost keep going up, year after year. I had to do… what I had to do. Goodwill can only carry one so far. Progress must be made… sometimes… with an iron fist."
"That does sound like something your father would love to say." Noir sighed. "Which means you also understand how many people will be hurt by this new arrangement?" as Lacus glanced around she also noticed the many stores are closing down. Mr. Fortescue had just finished putting down his signboards while Cliff, who had finished closing his store, are helping Adray with his sack of fishes, never mind the stink.
"Progress hurts."
"True." Bert nodded and then he stepped aside. He had said all he needed to say and then he gestured meaningfully to Lacus.
Lacus took the cue and step forth. "Then… Madame Hufflepuff Pie Emporium will hereby cancel our contract with this Park. We will close down our stall and pay the remunerations as stated in the contract."
Everyone from the Pie Emporium sighed in defeat…
"Therefore-" Lacus suddenly raised her voice.
Everyone paused…
Lacus addressed everyone within earshot. Considering she amplified her voice to a booming degree, that's the whole park and beyond. "I hereby invite everyone to come tomorrow for a grand open house of the Restaurant, Hufflepuff Pie Emporium in our newly opened Clyne Park Plaza! Not far from here, just in front of the Starfall Valley Orphanage."
Fayt couldn't stand it anymore and burst out laughing out loud. He was bawling in glee so hard until he was holding his stomach, punching the ground crying and rolling on the floor as he savor the priceless image of Guinevere's frozen shocked look at that statement. A disapproving, but nonetheless happy, Helga slapped the laughing boy's behind to make him stop, but he only managed to reduce his laughter to a few chuckles. Everyone still needs a moment to understand what Lacus meant, and they immediately caught on. Guinevere's Central Plaza Park now had a competitor.
"Anyone who wish to open a store in this park please come to me to apply and sign the necessary documents and contracts." Noir followed. Then he sensed the woman's glare and return it.
"Well played." Guinevere nodded. Her smile no longer so sincere.
"Well… to be fair… it was your idea, wasn't it?" Lacus addressed the no longer smiling Guinevere. "That's what you wanted to do: use that crooked contract to gain my lands and then expand your park there. Truth be told, even we thought it was a good idea. So we decided to take the liberty to open our own anyway."
Guinevere narrowed her eyes slightly as she maintained her glare at her but then she turned away to Noir, trying to imagine his expression beneath that bulbous head. Lacus can imagine Bert's grin big enough to split his face in two. "In order for you to do this you need a permit. How did you managed to get the permit so fast? Last time, it took me a month to get the permit!"
"Well, I confess: I've abused my authority. Then again, it was kinda pushing it to call it abuse of authority – I still followed the correct Standard Operating Procedure." Bert started preaching: "When it was designed, the original administrative procedure should've taken only 2x24 hours. Between the poor management you speak of and the amount of needless bureaucracy, you got your one month. So… a few days back, I popped up at the Mayor's office, pull some rank, help them clean up the mess and reeducate them on the proper Administrative Procedure-"
"How much did you pay them!?" Guinevere impatiently cut him off.
"Pay them!? Gracious me, milady, who do you think I am? I'm but a humble poor Judge with nary a penny to my name. And they are public servants. Do they not take an oath to not accept bribes of any kind?"
"No they don't." Lacus chirped quickly. "Though they do take an oath to do their duty properly. The three laws remember? They can't lie or steal!"
"That explains why they were scared shitless when I said I want to check their books. They may not steal, but they still get some bribes. Anyway… I feel kinda bad about it though. They seem to think Hakutenkun Judgment day is what will happen if they keep me waiting so I got mine permit in less than a week. I dearly hoped they didn't jump over the queue to do so. They swear to me they didn't."
"…I see." Guinevere merely nodded. "But you do understand-"
"The debt still stands." Noir stated calmly while producing the contract of the debt and he paraded it before Guinevere. "Allow me to reassure you, as I've stated with Herbert the Accuser: I will do everything in my power to ensure the payment of this debt before it's due. You'll get your money. On my honor as a judge, I swear it."
She must've taken no small amount of self control not to scream out her frustration. Then she finally turned back to a smiling Lacus and smiled back. "Well then… I wish you good fortunes on your endeavors, Lady Clyne." She cordially offered a handshake.
Lacus icily accept the offer and shake her hand as well. "I wish you good fortunes for yours as well."
That morning, all the affected stores left the Central Plaza Park in a mass exodus, with the Hufflepuff Pie Emporium brigade at the lead. Most, if not all of them, followed Lacus with the full intention on joining her park.
"I can watch her expression again and again in my dreams and I'll die happy." Fayt still snickered every now and then. But then his smile faded when he noticed neither Bert nor Lacus share his positive sentiment. "What's wrong? You've successfully Pre-empted her schemes and we're still in business."
"That we are… but this new venture also has its expenses. We have to spend even more of our earnings to do this… and our time is shorter. Not to mention the fine for cancelling the first contract."
Fayt's smile faded. "…H… How much do we have left?"
"Let's just be glad we don't have to restart from zero. And…" Noir tucked his head down. "…considering the situation, we may not be able to start operating until after a week."
"A week!?" Fayt gawked. "B… But our time limit!?"
"We don't have a choice!" Noir barked back. "The situation just got bigger than us!"
"…What situation?" Fayt had yet to be made aware. No one had yet to realize what Noir had discovered.
Lacus's ears easily caught… the absolute terror and horror within Noir's words. "Does this have anything with those… tests you had us performed?"
Noir sighed. "…for shop owners interested in joining this… venture… have them all gathered in a meeting room tomorrow morning. I'll explain everything."
As it turns out, there are plenty of shop owners who were definitely interested in setting up shop in the Clyne Plaza. Even though she hadn't even placed the infrastructure yet. Not just old owners like Mr. Fortescue, Cliff, and Adray Lasbard, but also various other shop owners… many of them were actually food stall owners who had looked enviously at how Hufflepuff Pie Emporium had made such a killing, and they're all dying to know the company secret. So when Lady Lacus herself told them they'll spill the beans in a grand meeting, everyone is interested. But of greater interest, Lacus didn't just invite shop and restaurant owners, she also invited locale farmers and food suppliers. Close to a hundred people were gathered in an open field in front of the orphanage, the spot where Clyne Plaza was to be built.
On that field, Lacus had erected a small tent. Just a small unassuming tent, barely taller than the small cabin of the Starfall orphanage. But the minute the guest walked in, it was a multi storey tall tent, usually used to house in a massive circus. There's a podium at the front, and rows and rows of chair for them to sit. Behind the podium are a tall stack of firewood, ready to be set ablaze. Lacus had arranged a special communiqué to Lord Ray Yuki. Unlike before with the privacy, Noir deemed it fit that Helga, Lacus and other children old enough to understand the situation such as Fayt to hear this conversation, apart from the shop owners who had agreed to join. They also invited the Marshall Balthazar Slytherin. For some reason, he refused to come personally… but… he did send his son Salazar and his friend, Godric Gryffindor as a representative. When all the guests had been seated, Lacus ignited the bonfire as a sign that the meeting had begun.
Soon, the image of Ray Yuki emanated like a mirage over the roaring flame. "Lady Lacus, thank you for arranging this. Madame Helga, so good to see you in good health. And the rest of you too children."
"Thank you for answering my call in such a short notice." Noir knelt with much respect, and everyone mimicked him. The audience also hastily fell on their knees, definitely not expecting someone of such stature to grace this meeting. They may have doubted Noir's identity before… but now they know he's authentic based on his ability to actually get an audience with a Hakutenkun. THIS Hakutenkun of all people.
"Noir, is this… what I think it is?" Ray Yuki giant image took note of the large audience in the background.
"Yes."
The shop owners, Lacus, Helga and everyone else were confused.
"Now… before I begin… I want you all to swear now." Noir glared them down. "Swear on the deep magic… that what I'm about to tell you… will not leave this tent until I… and only I… say otherwise. You will keep this a secret from everyone: your subordinates, your customers… even your family, if that's necessary. You will carry it to your grave if it comes to that. Take this oath now, or leave."
The Shop Owners looked at each other, then to that Bird Costumed character… with a Hakutenkun looming overhead. They finally took the oath. Once Lacus confirmed everyone had taken that oath, including herself, Madame Helga and everyone else, Noir finally started with:
"First… a taste." He made a gesture, and Nel walked in pushing a trolley filled with enough pie for all the guests. The pie was quickly distributed to everyone.
"Go ahead. Tuck in."
And they ate the pie that had been such a talk in town. It was… good. Very good. Tasty, delicious.
And that is all.
There's nothing fancy about it. Nothing eye catching. Just a simple, delicious, but humble meat pie. No more. No less. The audience looked at each other with uncertainty and confusion in their eyes. What's so amazing about this pie? Why did the customers would… wait in line for hours for this? Beat each other, even refuse to eat anything else but this?
"Now… I'll explain why the customers keep coming back for this."
He talked and talked for hours… explaining in detail of the experiment he had committed in the first three days and why it was necessary… as well as his conclusive findings. No one interrupted him. No one could.
When he was done… the audience was chilled to the bone. They, like Lord Yuki, now understand the horror of what had transpired in the last week.
The image of Ray sighed in exasperation. "…this must be done quickly… and quietly. We don't want anyone to make use of this situation to their benefit."
"I understand."
"Keep in touch." Ray gave one last nod and the bonfire was snuffed out.
After Ray Yuki was gone, the audience didn't leave yet. They stayed for hours more in that tent, no one outside the tent was quite sure what they were discussing. The meeting lasted from sun up… until sun down, all the way to midnight. And when the sun was up again, the guests finally left the tent, onlookers across the town would tell an army… of grim faced but determined men on a mission marching forth.
What was the mission… is a question that would be answered a week later.
00000008 Years later0000000
Salamandine stopped writing for a minute. Her look of horror mimicked that of the shop owners when they realized the gravity of the situation that befell them.
"In all honesty, at first I was… mortified. (koff)" Hikari groaned. "I'm a doctor… and yet I did not notice something so basic happening right in front of my own nose. (koff)" Hikari grunted as she clenched her grip. "But then… my horror quickly overshadowed my humiliation. (koff) Noir found out about this. (Koff) He was the one who… discovered it all, connected the dots. (koff) He was the only one who can. (koff) And he almost died on the operating table because of my incompetence. (Koff)"
"Daifu, you cannot be too hard on yourself."
"If he had died that day… a lot of people would not be so fortunate by now. (koff)" Lacus growled. "…my… pride… blinded me to my own ineptitude. (koff) That was probably the first time in my life… I learned the importance of fear of a doctor. (koff) Not fear for oneself… but also fear for the patient's life. (koff) We could never know the weight of a life in our hands. (koff) One life… could shoulder the lives of thousands. (koff)"
Salamandine's eyes widened in awe. Armor aside, the doctor had a very petite physique… and yet her small shoulder seem to carry so much more weight than it should…
"We're here." Kaguya nudged her chin at their destination… just before a spiraling rocket missed the entourage by a millimeter.
"What the…" Salamandine immediately assumed battle pose.
The casino in question is in fact a grounded three storey steamboat paddle ship. It was old, and its function as a naval vehicle had long since been lost, so its new occupants and reconstructed it into a ground building. And right now… it's under siege. A group of Alliance Regulars are now encircling the makeshift building. The troopers are occasionally exchanged fire with the occupants. The latter had even brought out the bazooka, whose one stray shot had very nearly hit them earlier.
"Hey you!" A shout called to them. A Trooper who looked like a male version of Simca with a short pale pinkish white hair approached them with grim expression. "Civilians are not allowed here! Get out of my combat theater!"
"Might you be Kilik? (koff) Simca's brother? (koff)"
"Who's asking?"
"I'm Dr. Hikari. (koff) Simca sent me. (koff)"
"Simca did…?" That was when Simca's swallowtail flew past Kilik's head, reminding him of the message he received earlier. "I see. Yes. I understand. Though I'm not quite sure what you can do to help Doctor, they're dug in like a tick!"
"…Hrmmph…" Hikari rubbed her chin. "Sala-chan… you mentioned earlier you knew Mistress Cheng… what was she like?"
"As I've mentioned earlier… she's a gambling addict. She was Mistress Hound's finest student… but her penchant for experimental medicine and her addiction made a terrible mix. She treated her patients like it was a gamble and took too many risks out of her thirst for the excitement it brings. Not to mention her gambling addiction landed her on multiple counts of financial issues that ruined her life so much. Mistress Hound finally declared enough is enough, and she kicked her out of her tutelage."
"Seriously? She liked to gamble THAT much!? Not even I… ah… never mind." Kaguya shook her head. "Hey sister, if you don't mind, I'd like to sit this one out."
"Fine. (Koff) Kilik-san, if you can show Kaguya your wounded, it would be great. (koff) And she may also be able to help you with your defenses. (Koff)"
"That would be great indeed. And uh… what are you planning to do, Doctor?"
"I'm a doctor. And I'm a pacifist. I'm planning… to walk right from the front door and talk some sense into her."
"…" Kilik twitched. "Please tell me you're joking."
"I thought joking was prohibited in the army."
"Ma'am, they shoot everyone sight! I cannot allow you to just walk in there to your death!"
"Ara! That would be silly! I told you I want to walk in there to talk some sense into her. Couldn't do that if I'm dead."
Kilik felt, like so many of those who had tried to debate with Lacus, like his IQ just take a huge drop to kindergarten level. "I… Uhhh…" In her letter, Simca did warn Kilik that Dr. Hikari is a little… odd. But she also told him to give her his complete trust. By her exact words: she's not the girlfriend of one of the deadliest human in the last decade for no reason. "…very well. Do as you wish."
"Wise decision." Kaguya suddenly wrestled Kilik. "Now show me those patients eh?" As Kaguya left with the confounded sergeant, Salamandine asked: "Kaguya-darren… is she…?"
"Yeah… she used to have some gambling problems… She got over it, of course… but I guess she still wish not to risk relapsing. We are walking into a casino after all."
"I see… umm… Hikari-daifu? May I ask a favor?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have a way to… umm… conceal my identity?" Salamandine smiled sheepishly. "A mask or some sort. Mistress Cheng knew my face… I… I'd rather not meet her face to face. Not like this."
"Very well." Hikari gave Salamandine one of Kage's spare masks. She also tied her hair to a bun and stores away her signature hairdress to further conceal her identity. "I'm ready."
"Here we go."
The two girls marched straight to the front door, to the alarm of the besiegers and especially the besieged. "What the…?" The snipers on the casino looked at each to confirm they're not just seeing things… and then one opened fire. The string shield erupted and the bullet never even got close to Hikari's eyebrows. Another defender brought out a bazooka and fired. Again, it was in vain as the barrier remained inviolate and the girls' pace did not slow.
"OPEN FIRE!" Every defender on the Casino brought out every weapon they have: rifles, Gatling guns, every bazooka they have and they rained destruction upon the approaching threat. Kilik almost broke ranks to pull them back to safety… but Kaguya stopped him as she gestured at Hikari's response.
"Let's sit this one out." She merely added a few more layers to her barrier and the two girls sat calmly under the canopy, waiting for the rain to stop. The besiegers scratched their head at this scene. The defenders were at the wrong angle to see, but from the besieger's perspective, it looked like the pair of girl is having a picnic, not a care in the world that they are under a rain of fire. After five minutes of nonstop barrage, the defenders finally ceased fire… in part because they are running out of bullets. So one can imagine their horror when after all the ammunition they've spent… the two girls are still very much unscathed.
"ANO-SAAAA!" Hikari waved her hand as she shouted cheerfully. "Please tell your Mistress Cheng, Dr. Hikari is here! And I wish to talk!"
"OPEN FIRE!"
"What?" That didn't come from the defender… it was from the besieger. Noticing the defender had ran out of bullets, the besiegers seized the chance and go on a full attack. Kilik had not given any order, and he too was caught off guard that some of his men had taken the initiative. "WAIT! STOP!" He yelled in vain.
The troopers completely ignored his warning, and the defenders get as far as seeing Hikari's visor… that masked her disapproving eyes.
BAM!
Two front most troopers slammed their faces flat against a wall of pure strings. "Bwaahhaa?…" the trooper recovered from the impact and looked at this new wall encircling the casino. "The hell is this!?" The trooper rub the wall several times, even struck it with their rifle… the wall of interwoven strings were inviolate.
"And I thought Regulars had more discipline than this. (Koff)"
"GOD DAMN IT WOMAN! GET OUT OF A WAY!" "THEY'RE OUR PREY!"
"And you've missed your chance. (Koff)" Hikari ignored the protesting troopers. "I came here to talk to them, and I will talk to them. (koff) So I respectfully request you keep your guns out of the way."
The two troopers glared angrily at the uncaring Hikari.
"You two knock it off!" Kilik finally came and take charge. "I said: Knock it off!" He yanked the two soldiers back when his first order was seemingly ignored. He glared them, and the rest of his insubordinate men, to back away. "Ma'am. I'm terribly sorry. They were not my men, but still-"
And it was around that time, the casino defender timidly approached Hikari and Salamandine from behind. "umm… Mistress Cheng wishes to see you."
Hikari politely nodded to the defender before she briefly turned back to Kilik: "When I'm done, I promise you, you may use this place as you see fit."
"My thanks, Ma'am."
Hikari and Salamandine then walk into the casino with no further disturbance. Leaving Kilik to address the serious lack of discipline in his own squad.
CRUNCH!
A punch broke the trooper's nose. "What the fuck were you doing!?" Kilik growled. "I told you to stand down, didn't I!?"
Fighting through the pain, the rebellious trooper groaned: "We can't let the 7th get anymore credit!"
"It doesn't matter who gets the credit, you idiots!" Kilik retorted. "The Doctor already promised we get to use this place when she's done! So that's that!"
"Speak for yourself! We're not like your lovesick sister!"
"Shut your hole before I put you in one." Kilik growled and the troopers grudgingly left. Not all members of the Genesis Squad were particularly thrilled that their Lieutenant decided to join the 7th in a heartbeat. Kilik and many more were among those who were against the decision, but Simca did not force them to stay. "Everyone is free to come and go as they please. That was the ironclad rule of the 7th. This is my choice. You make your own choice. Kage honey said so himself." That being said, Kilik were also one of the few sergeants who understand 7th and 10th are just different divisions… in one army that should be working together rather than against. And Simca had spoken to him glowingly that it was meeting Dr. Hikari that solidifies her decision to join the 7th. If she trusts her, and then he will trust her as well… And the story how she demolished an entire army of famiglia almost single handedly in a single afternoon – WITHOUT killing anyone. Now that's a legend Kilik can trust. "Show me what you can do, Dr. Hikari."
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Inside the casino boat, Hikari and Sala were welcomed with wary gazes from the armed defenders. And the casino, is of course, filled with many gambling apparatus: slot machine, roulette table, and etc… but they've all be overturned and used as makeshift defense walls.
"This is ridiculous." Salamandine shook her head at this mess. "They should've used this for defenses against the enemy, but instead they're using it against each other?"
"Makes me wonder where these people get their weapons? (koff) I'm quite sure Kage had emptied all of Winter's arsenal warehouses. (Koff)"
The thug led them to an elevator that immediately went down through the ground. 'Oh… interesting…' Hikari nodded. They really transformed this ship, and that they were able to excavate deep into the ground. This is not something that can be created in a short amount of time with little resources.
The elevator continue to go down for quite a while, denoting its depth, until eventually, they arrived on a massive open space… and they were welcomed by the most unbelievable sight.
The open space is a massive underground dome, significantly bigger than the casino boat up above. The open space is filled with more gambling tables and situated at the center of this dome is what appears to be a stadium. An arena surrounded in a cage. The craziest thing about this place is… even when up there, there are people fighting against each other, down here… there's still people who's actually still playing! People in businessmen attires are lounging around playing cards or gambling in roulette table as prostitutes in revealing outfit tends to them. Ladies in elegant dress wearing masks are playing at the slot machine…
"…what…!?" Sala could scarcely believe her eyes. All these gamblers playing and laughing without a care in the world… It's like the fact that they're on the verge of a war is a lie. Hikari said nothing to this spectacle, but she perceives things differently…
Before long, the elevator finally landed, and they were welcomed by two men in black. "Welcome, Dr. Hikari. Mistress Cheng extends you her greetings."
"Why didn't she come to greet us herself?"
"A thousand pardons, Doctor. But my mistress is in the middle of errand of great importance, and will not be able to receive you for quite a while. You are free to… use our facilities as you see fit while you wait."
Lacus raised an eyebrow. "Fine. (koff) But have her know, we have an army of armed angry men waiting just outside. (koff) She won't be able to hide forever."
The man in blacks merely snorted and left the two alone.
"Hikari-darren-" Salamandine wanted to warn, but found it was unnecessary.
"We're inside a trap. She had no intention of listening after all."
"What should we do?" Much to Salmandine's bewilderment, she only heard chuckles.
"Shall we play some games?" the armored doctor was already on her way towards the token counter. Salamandine saw little choice but to follow suit.
Hikari bought a couple of tokens and she played some slot machines. And Salamandine played next to her. As they waited and played, Salamandine decided to ask something: "Ummm… Hikari-darren? Can I ask you something private in regard to Kaguya-darren?"
"Ah. You were wondering about that bit I said about her gambling addiction?" Hikari chuckled. "I assure you, she was nowhere near this bad. It wasn't true gambling either. See, Kaguya was very good at math. As did her older sister. They taught me a trick… that when playing poker, one can actually overcome the system with math. She called the trick Card Counting and Shuffle Tracking. And she was very good at it, she won. Many times. They used the money she gained from alcohol black market to fund this pastime and vice versa. Until… they got caught."
"Oh dear…"
"Technically speaking, she's not cheating. Card Counting and Shuffle Tracking is not as easy as you think. It took skills and some very clear brain. But casino owners doesn't care when they're losing money to a pair of girls with too long of a win streak. She managed to get away… but I hear her sister weren't so lucky. Then she struggled. Struggled to… get away from that addiction to winning in gambling. I for one… am not interested in watching my friend continually seduced by gambling. So… I take a stand. And I helped her, one way or another."
"You purposefully bankrupted her alcohol black market?"
"By drinking it dry, yes. I cut off her funding to make sure there are no more seduction to that dark side… apart from the… aforementioned unhealthy alcohol competition." Lacus smiled. "The fact she herself had resolved to stop also helped. This was of course… before I was struck with my problem." It was before she gained her miasma.
"Did it work?"
"We parted in good terms… I did not see her for years after graduation. Though I didn't expect to see her here as the Ambassador of Japan for China. So you tell me, dear Sala-chan. How was she?"
"Well…" Sala chuckled. "…my subordinates warned me against playing dice or cards with her… but she never… never spoke the word of gambling in Tien Zi's presence, Heaven be praised. I suspect she doesn't want her to be interested in this subject. But… Hikari-darren, I'd doubt Japan would appoint her their Ambassador if her gambling addiction is still a problem."
"Hm. True. Yes. That's very good then." Nothing warms her heart more than to hear her friend had conquered her bad habit. "Hmmm?"
It was around that time Hikari noticed something in Salamandine's slot machine. It was stopping on… triple seven on slot 1, triple seven on slot 2… and slot 3 is still spinning.
"Sala-ch…"
The spin stop. Triple seven. The slot machine burst with coins. So much coins poured out that Salamandine panicked a bit and step away. A moment later, the coins were placed in a bucket. "Let's play on another machine."
"Y-yeah." Sala chortled nervously.
And then… the most unbelievable thing happened:
Sala played on 7 different slot machines… all score Triple, Triple Seven.
Now, they're playing their twelfth machine, and Sala didn't even do anything weird or pull any trick. She just played naturally… and she scored Mega Jackpot, each and every time. The crowd soon gathered and watched this incredibly lucky girl, scoring one Mega Jackpot after another as easily as pulling the lever.
They walked out of all twenty spent slot machine, carrying buckets and buckets of coins from their winning. Salamandine looked very uncomfortable beneath the envious stares of all the players in vicinity. The Token Counter gawked when he saw all the coins the two girls submitted.
"Salamandine-san… does this… happen often?" and Lacus thought she saw everything.
"I'm not quite sure… every time I played it always end like this!" Salamandine look far from pleased of her string of victories. "They banned me from all casinos and gambling den because of this! I didn't even do anything!"
They exchanged the small coins for fewer tokens of larger value. Then they hit the roulette table.
"Place your bets!"
Salamandine placed her coins in… red 23. All in. She wanted to be rid of this unwanted fortune as quickly as she can.
At least… that's the general idea…
"No more bets!"
Red 23.
"Place your bets!"
Then she placed it on black 12. All in.
"No more bets!"
Black 12.
"P…Place your bets…!"
Green. ALL. IN.
"N… No… more… be…"
And it landed on green. In minutes, now there's a literal mountain of token on their side, enclosing Sala's embarrassed face. Everyone suddenly realized this girl is lady luck incarnate. But of course, the croupier cannot let her continue to win… So, of course they tried to cheat. Using pedal to stop the roulette on whatever number they desire: whatever number Salamandine did not bet on…
"Place your bets!"
The roulette was set to stop at Black 3. Salamandine placed her bet on Red 4. As did 6 other players. The game master gulped. That was close.
"No more bets."
Up in space, an asteroid crashed into one another and a piece of it the size of a basket ball flew to Earth. It burned in the atmosphere, and when it pierced through the atmosphere, it was the size of a grain of sand. But it struck, of all place, the casino.
It didn't do any damage, it was but a minuscule grain of sand… but it was enough to send a barely noticeable tremor that shook the building… and caused the ball to jump from Black 3 to Red 4.
The completely bankrupt Croupier were left the unpleasant task to convince his supervisors that he really did alter the roulette, while a very ashamed Salamandine and a bewildered Hikari dragged their now truly massive winning in a cart.
"You know… I think I just realized something." Hikari chuckled. "I think I finally understand why Kaguya refused to come along." She's not afraid of relapsing… but she hates the prospect of having to compete with Sala's gambling luck.
"Eh?"
"Sala-chan! Let's keep doing it!"
"No! I don't want to do this anymore! This is a disgrace! I'm the head of the Imperial Guard! I shouldn't be doing this!"
"No, you misunderstand! Keep winning. That way, Mistress Cheng will have no choice but to drop whatever she's doing and face us directly! Then we'll finish this quickly."
"A… I see… are you sure this will work?"
"At the rate you're doing, I'd be surprised if it didn't."
And so, with encouragement from Hikari, Salamandine actively 'attacked' every gambling sport in area.
"Dealer bust!"
The dealer watched in disbelief as Salamandine's nth victory just bankrupted him. His Card Counting and Shuffle Tracking seem messed up as none of it are working right. The intended victim keeps getting the best of cards: pairs, triples, aces, four a kind, and even royal straight flushes.
The token counter was horrified out of his wits when he saw the towering coins that Hikari and Sala are shoving to his desk. After that, they went to the horrified Dice game and proceeded to suck the game dry as well.
The Men in Black, in absolute panic, quickly reported this to Mistress Cheng.
"Ma'am! They're winning!"
"Of course they are." The woman didn't realize what he really meant as she calmly blew a smoke from her pipe. "It's the usual routine, as I told you remember? Let them win big, then we'll suck them dry for all their worth. It's easy!"
"The thing is… they keep on winning! They just sucked the Slot machines dry and now they broke the game in the Roulette!"
Mistress Cheng, a woman in her thirties clad in red cheongsam gawked. "…run that by me again!?"
"Dr. Hikari's companion is… draining us dry. She kept on winning, even when we loaded the dice!"
Mistress Cheng finally left her room and looked at the pair who's ruining her business. The Dicemaster was literally crying on her knees begging for the pair to stop after the masked girl won for the tenth time… and he already cheated by loading the dice and still she won! That's when Cheng found that masked character that was winning game after game with her cosmically good luck to be strangely familiar. "Who's that girl next to the Doctor?"
"We're not sure. Judging by her mask, we thought she was one of Kage's Shadowguards."
"Wait… wait…" Mistress Cheng narrowed her eyes… suddenly, she caught sight of the masked girl's weapon. It was a Chinese Jian… very well made and of the highest quality. She knew only one girl who could boast such a weapon. That's when her eyes opened. "Oh, you blockheads! That's Xingke's Sister, Salamandine!"
"EHHH!? THAT SALAMANDINE!? THE DESTROYER OF CASINO ROYALE!? THE TERROR OF FORTUNA HERSELF!?"
"You fucking idiot!" It's been theorized that unbelievably lucky girl can single handedly bankrupt the industry. Actually, now Cheng realized it's not theoretical anymore. That's why Casinos slapped a portrait of her to warn everyone not to let her in. "Tch. Fine. I'll deal with this myself!"
The next time Lacus and Sala go to the Token Counter again, the cashier briefly sighed in relief when they did not see them coming with any cartwheel or buckets filled with coins… maybe their lucky streak finally ended?
Lacus grabbed her pink haro and opened her mouth into the counter.
The cashiers ran away in terror – both because the counter was immediately flooded with overflowing coins, and because the poor man threw away his resignation letter on his way out.
"Does this happen to everything? (koff)"
"Only on gambling… and gambling only." Salamandine sighed.
"Thought as much. (Koff)" The universe is still fair it seems.
"I promised my brother not to abuse it… besides… all this money won't exactly make him better." It doesn't matter if you have limitless funds when your brother's ailment has no cure. She'd be happy to trade something so worthless for her brother to not suffer as he did.
"Ohohoho… it looks like one of us had quite the luck!"
Salamandine and Hikari turned. Finally, the mistress of the house came down from her throne. It was a lady in her thirties. She's beautiful, but she also covered herself in thick makeup.
"Mistress Cheng? (Koff)"
"At your service, Lady Hikari." Cheng bowed courteously. "…my apologies that I cannot offer it any earlier. My errands had taken up more of my time than I expected. Which is why I had asked my men to allow you free reign over my facilities… I see you're making the most of it."
"Well… actually I'm rather curious. (Koff)" Hikari shrugged. "I saw with my own eyes, when Kage forced the Mayor to declare martial law on the city, at LITERAL knife's edge. (Koff) I do not approve the threat of violence but I do more than understand the urgency. (Koff) What I don't understand is why these people-" Hikari gestured at all other players in other table is still playing. "-did not seem to share the sentiment. (Koff) They can still play even when they're placed in mortal danger. (Koff)"
"Ohoho… My lady… I'm afraid that's just the point." Mistress Cheng flapped open her fan as she gestured her customers. "It's precisely because they're in mortal danger that they keep on playing. They've tired of the old mainstream. Just gambling money doesn't seem to be enough anymore… The thrill of it. Not just winning or losing… but the thrill of living at the very edge of danger, between life and death itself… and they still gamble… is that not the ultimate thrill? That's what I'm offering to my customers. To play a game of chance with their life, will they make it out or not? If they didn't, so be it… if they did… that would be the ultimate ecstasy."
"You're insane." Salamandine shook her head. If Mistress Hound saw how far her apprentice had fallen, she'd cry in horror.
"I'm true to who I am. And so are they." Cheng gestured at her customers. She wouldn't be having this business if there's no demand for it. "I thought you of all people would understand, Lady Hikari."
"Excuse me!?" Salamandine burst out. As if the good doctor had anything common with this mad woman-
"I've heard rumors." Cheng smirked at Hikari. "There is a practice in ancient medicine arts. Ingesting poison to create an antidote for it inside one's body. I've done it several times… but only one or two… But you… how many dozens, how many hundreds of poison have you taken into yourself? Don't tell me it doesn't excite you every time you take in something new and then you beat the odds? Otherwise… you would've stopped after your first."
Lacus frowned. Everyone, including this insane woman before her, had that same vital signs. Elevated heartbeat, high blood pressure… they all had that manic look in their eyes. She had suspected that all 'normal' customers had long left… what she was left with are her protégés. People with the same fascination, same obsession with her. And that's just the least of it. "I won't say that I don't understand how that excitement feels. (koff)" Lacus groaned. "But I thought the fact that I stand, right now, as the living proof of how such behavior is destructive in the extreme would actually discourage you. (koff)"
"Oh? Is that how you see me, milady?" Cheng chuckled. "Looking at a mirror?"
"A distorted mirror. (koff) I'm glad. (Koff)" Hikari was not amused.
"Oh?"
"I'm glad Kage isn't here. If he was here, he'd waste no time murdering each and every one of you. I won't let him. You're me. A nightmare version of me who clearly never paid for her mistakes." Lacus balled her fist tightly. "I've paid a price. This armor proves it. If I'm the only one who paid, that would be enough. Except when people in our profession made a mess, there are many more who pays. So no. I have to stop you. I will stop you… before you make just as much a mess as I did."
The gauntlet is officially thrown. This woman showed Hikari a piece of nightmare she could've become, and now she's going to stop her. One way or another.
"I see, I see… very well. Then, let us take this chance to move… to the main event."
"Main event…" Everyone can pretty much guess. That caged arena isn't just for show.
In fact, there are two combatants slugging it out in that arena already. Both were abnormally muscular, with weird colored veins pulsing allover their body. They were exchanging punches as the crowd cheered. And then one punch and one of the fighters literally had one of eyeball knocked out of its sockets.
Salamandine winced in disgust.
"Oh, don't be discouraged yet, my dear. They barely started."
The match was put on a halt, and both fighters were taken to their corner. The fighter's respective teams immediately came to their fighter's support: water, bandages, blanket to wipe the sweat, some even replaced their arm guards and whatnot. But then, one person in lab coat came close to each the fighter, each carrying a syringe. This piqued Lacus' interest. "That's…"
One man in white coats injected the substance into each of the fighter's neck… as soon as they did, the fighters reacted differently. The fighter on one side gritted in teeth as if in pain, but his veins bulged and skin reddened. But the fighter who lost his eye… he grinned like mad as his muscles also bulge. He even pick up his eyeball and… rip it off – not even feeling any pain from it. And he just stood up and go on as if it never even happened.
Suddenly, Lacus understands what this arena is truly about. "This isn't man vs man… this… a drug test?"
"Ah, very perceptive of you milady. Yes. Precisely that. Though I wouldn't call it a drug test. Call it… a drug fight." Mistress Cheng explained. "We matched the efficacy of one drug against another in real life combat. The result of which will be used by soldiers in battle. So you see, I'm actually doing this country a service."
As Mistress Cheng explained this, the fight in the arena turned into a match of monsters. The two fighters, stuffed full of doping, fought each other like rampaging beasts. No. It doesn't even fit to be called a fight anymore. One of them fight like literal beast: he's clawing and even biting each other, causing one lost an ear… but he doesn't even care. He just keep on fighting not even feeling the pain of missing ear, even with blood pouring out of his ear and his empty eye socket. Unlike his beastly opponent, he still fights with… some form of finesse at least. His opponent kept throwing stone shattering punches, but he blocks each and every one with perfection. In fact, one block was hard enough that the puncher's fist actually breaks. And his body didn't even have a single bruise – like it was made of steel. And when he punches, he punch with speed, accuracy, and precise application of brute strength that surgically target his opponents vitals. Moving at speeds that even Salamandine had trouble following. He was fast, he was accurate, he's strong, and he was skilled… but that is all. Lacus had seen true martial artist like Salamandine fight, and it was like watching a beautiful, elegant dance… but this… this is just brute forcing his speed and might on an opponent. A crippled man can dance better.
But it was effective. The fighter didn't feel pain and just deliver devastating after devastating punch, each time it landed on his opponent, Lacus can all too clearly hear the sickening sound of bone breaking and muscle torn, not just from the victim, but also the attacker. "He's throwing attacks far beyond even what his own body can endure. And he doesn't feel it?"
"Ah yes. You're looking at my masterpiece, Lady Hikari. My champion… strengthened by what is undoubtedly my finest work." Cheng looked proudly as her Champion completely obliterated his opponent. "My drug increases his muscle tensile strength and density to super human level, it also amplify some of his senses to superhuman level: eyesight, smell, taste, touch, even sound… It also allow him to control muscles that most people cannot control, and this champion had specifically trained himself to make full use of this feature. There, see!"
The other fighter counter attacked with a punch, the champion welcomed it with his chest… but he consciously tensed his muscle right at the moment of impact, and the puncher instead received the brunt force of his repelled punching force.
"More elegantly, while his sense of touch was enhanced to the point he can even feel dust in the air… his sense of pain is perfectly nullified. He'll never tire, he won't even feel hunger… and as a extra bonus, his sense of pain has been rewired to euphoria and joy. Particularly when his adrenaline reached a certain level. He'll just get stronger and stronger… as will his pleasure reward."
"…" True enough, the one eyed Champion keep pummeling his opponent with ever more increasing brutality, his poor victim had long since lost the fight, but the beast like Champion just keep attacking, laughing as he did as his elation grew the closer the loser get to become a misshapen inhuman corpse…
"That's enough."
8 massive swords of differing colors made of strings fell from every direction and impaled both fighters in the cage.
The audience gasped upon seeing the abrupt end. They became even more dumbfounded when they realize: one, despite the brutal multiple impalements there are no blood pouring from the wounds, two: there are no wounds… and three: most baffling of all… both fighters are still very much alive. The pummeled loser is still twitching and breathing, while the victor is still straining to break free as his one eye is rolling around consciously trying to understand what happened.
"Lady Hikari! That's very rude of you!"
"I thought I've made it quite clear from the onset." Hikari's hand remained outstretched as she maintained her swords in the arena… even when she had at least a few dozen gun barrels pointed at her head. "I did not come here to play your games. I'm here… to put an end to it."
Cheng's armed goons are aiming at the doctor and her masked bodyguard stood ready with her Jian unsheathed… but they hold no illusion of certain victory even when they outnumber the opposition 10 to 1. The now infamous destroyer doctor that obliterated the main house of their famiglia had assaulted it head on even with a 100 to 1 odd, and she had come out swinging asking for more.
Cheng frowned. This doctor really as boisterous as she hears. "Hmmm…" Her frown turns to smile. "Then, are you ready to make this bet?"
"What?"
"You've already broke all my gambling games, besides this one. How bout it? Would you like a try? My Champion against yours."
"…give that man to me." Hikari gestured at the pummeled fighter in the arena. "Then I'll play your game, one last time."
Cheng smiled in triumph. "Do as you will. He's useless already."
Hikari snapped his finger, and the swords disappeared, freeing the fighters.
The 'competitors' were escorted to a separate room to prepare for the match. The near dead fighter was tossed into the room like a sack of dead meat, as Lacus requested. Though she clearly disapproves on their method of delivery. "Sala-chan, forgive me, but I have need of your strength. My arms are just not made for this!" So Lacus said as she put skin tight thick gloves on her crippled hands. The man is about 100 kilos at least.
"My strength is always at your service, daifu." Salamandine happily helped and she easily lifted the barely alive man and per Hikari's instruction, dragged the patient to a table, ready for the doctor to diagnose. And they all thought she was going to make the poor man fight again.
Lacus' diagnosis enforced this: "Every muscle on his body is torn, his bones in pieces, his organs… beaten to a pulp… even if I can put him back together, his fighting days are done." Even the damage that Kira's body received on his worst day are nothing compared to this… she do dread the day Kira might end up like this. "Though in all honesty… I'd say most of the damage was caused by the drug rather than the fight." Nevertheless, she began treating her current patient the best she can.
"I can't believe Mistress Cheng would do something like this… There was a time when I would trust her to mix the medicine to treat my brother, but now…"
"I don't think it's just her." Lacus frowned. "The drug she created is state of the art." The study she made from the blood samples she had taken explains just as much. "This is not something she can make with over the counter chemicals, and even with the financial backings of a mob lord. This is military, she wasn't kidding when she said she's doing a service for the army. But it's not just her obsession that compels her… I can hear the terror hidden beneath her bravado. Someone is holding her leash tight and does not respond kindly to failure."
"Someone… forced her to make this?"
"I wish it was just that. The joy in her tone was all too sincere…" As Lacus continued her observation, she plucked a few shards from the patient's body and frowned as she observed the bloodied thing on her tweezers. "Hrmmmph…" Then she put it under her microscopes and ran a few tests… all this while she continues her treatment of the patient. This goes on for ten to fifteen minutes until finally, the guards came in to tell them the time for the match is nigh.
"Sala-chan… I will need your help again. But I fear this will be a bit… dangerous."
"As we've established, my strength are always yours."
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