Chapter Twenty Two

"Now, let's talk about Matthew." Germany said looking over to the nation. Other nations were watching him closely. "Is this true?"

Matthew nodded. "Yes, it's true."

"Is there any way you can actually prove this?" England asked. He still didn't quite believe him. He couldn't imagine the colony he had a hand in raising was a ghoul. The Englishman knew he would have noticed.

Canada pulled his mask out of his pocket and set it on the table. He also found a spare card and set it next to the mask. There weren't many other items that would define the Blackbird more to most people. He also blinked and changed his eyes. A few of the nations gasped seeing the mask then looked up to see the eyes. They looked at the blond terrified. Matthew blinked and switched his eyes back.

France still looked at him with disbelief. "But, you can cook. I've seen you eat!"

"Yeah, I can cook. I can eat human food, but I can't digest it. I have to throw it up later or I'll get sick." Canada explained. He was trying to appear the least threatening as possible. He knew that all the nations were judging him. "There are some situations where it would be awkward if I didn't eat."

"Then you do kill people?" France asked. Alfred had finally taken a seat and was just staring Canada down. "And you eat them?"

"Yes, I do kill people." Matthew shrugged. He was surprised by the basic questions. "And I do eat them." There were a few nations that shifted uncomfortably in their seats. "Don't worry; I have no intentions of eating you. I only really kill other criminals."

"How can we be so sure?" America growled.

"You don't smell good to a ghoul." Canada explained.

"Excuse me?" France asked offended. Prussia laughed.

"I mean, you don't smell bad, but you don't smell like food." Matthew corrected quickly with a smile.

"Is there any other nation ghouls?" Japan asked speaking for the first time.

"No, I'm the only one." Blackbird shook his head. "I don't think there was one ever before either."

"Then how did you learn to hide it so well?" China asked glancing over to Britain and France.

"Native America knew. She taught me how to act like a human and hide my habits." Matthew explained.

"She knew and Prussia knows? They're the only two?" France asked raising an eyebrow. Canada nodded. "How long has he known for?"

"Only twentyish years." The Canadian said crossing his arms defensively. He didn't like how they were bringing Gilbert into this now.

"And you stayed vith him even after learning that he vas a ghoul?" Germany asked.

"Hell yes! Birdie has never done anything to hurt me." Gilbert said with a big smile. "Of course I vas kind of angry at first because he didn't tell me, but I got over it."

"By being a ghoul yourself, it keeps other ghouls out of your country then?" Japan asked. "Is this why your ghoul attack rate is so low?"

"Not at all." Matthew said. He was happy that the focus had shifted back to him. They were having an actual conversation instead of the other nations just being scared of him. He had a good relationship with everyone in the room. They knew him as a peaceful nation. "By being a ghoul, I can face the problem ghouls I have head on and take care of them myself. I'm fine with ghouls living on my land as long as they're not killing people."

"How are there ghouls if they cannot eat?" China asked. "The population must be low."

"I have probably the highest ghoul to human ratio. The attack rate is so low because they're all fed." Canada explained. "You know that Blackbird is also known for contracted hits?" The blond asked. Most of the nations nodded. He was surprised that no one had brought it up yet. "The money I get from that goes towards a system that feeds the ghouls all across Canada."

"So, you have the highest concentration of ghouls, but the lowest attack rate because of a nation wide system that feeds the ghouls?" Arthur summed up. Matthew nodded. "How do you feed them? Where does the meat come from? Is it still human?"

"Yes, it's human meat. The funeral homes around the country 'harvest' the meat. It's all technically 'legal' since it's mentioned in the paperwork." Canada said. He sighed. "Ghouls are just like normal people, they have jobs and families just like humans and should be treated the same."

"I kind of agree with that. Ghouls are some of our citizens and they should be cared for the same as our human ones." England said nodding. "We as nations have neglected that for centuries."

"But ghouls kill and eat our human citizens!" America said speaking up for the first time in a while. "How can we just ignore that?"

"They wouldn't kill our citizens if we had systems in place like Canada." France said. "Does your government know about this system?"

"Not exactly. Why do you think I take contracts? It's got to get funded somehow." Matthew sighed running a hand through his hair. "Parts of the government know because some of them are ghouls. It's kind of weird though, the humans seem to know that there are a lot of ghouls around, but don't care or question it. It's pretty much an open secret."

"It's amazing that none of us have picked up on it while visiting." England shook his head. Matthew could tell he was still in shock.

"I did." Alfred said. He sounded defeated. "We're just going to let him go unchecked?"

"What other choice would be better?" France asked. "He's providing food and safety for the ghouls. Where would they be without him?" He paused for a second. "They'd most likely go to you, America. They'd be hungry and killing your citizens."

America shook his head. "Then we'd just kill them all!"

"There would be no way that your CCG could keep up with the number of ghouls that would come over." The Canadian said. "They wouldn't kill inside my boarders most likely. They'd still be scared of the Blackbird and they've built up relationships with humans."

"Even if you were equipped to handle all those ghouls, what would we do with Canada?" England demanded shaking his head. "Sure, there is ghoul jail and all that, but we're immortal. He's most likely dangerous and sneaky enough to break his way out and escape. I believe by letting him free, we can keep tabs and watch him."

"I'm going to continue taking contracts." Matthew said. "I need to keep the flow of money going. Maybe in the future I can get government approval, but for now, I will be going the same as I have been."

"But," America started again, but England cut him off.

"Really, Alfred? What can we do to him? He's his own independent nation. We are not police or CCG." Arthur said crossing his arms. "What he does is not our concern. If the police or CCG is able to track him down and prove that he is the Red-Winged Blackbird then he'll face whatever consequences then."

Matthew sighed in slight relief. He didn't mind that England was subtly throwing him under the bus in the future, but understood that nations only had so much power in the legal systems. Canada also knew that that day would come at some point and he would have to deals with the consequences. He hoped that was way in the future and the public view around the world of ghouls would change.

Finished March 1st 2018

AN: Done! First chapter of the sequel should already be posted or I'm just finishing up publishing ;) It is called 'Tempest.'