Propositions
Chapter IX: Challenge of Zero! -or- Judgment! The Law Must Be Upheld!

Lionel, quite possibly the last place anyone wanted to be...

Everyone was keeping a low profile. An attempt to use fake names failed when Rad, Ken and Lavian couldn't remember who was who, leading to an awkward situation with an innkeeper and the multiple Schtolteheim Reinbach IIIs. Because of this, they had to stay at another inn across town, to avoid even more suspicion.

Wanted posters were still up for the murderers of Cardinal Draclau. Upon seeing them in a small village on the way to Lionel, most of the money the Goripan brothers had given them was spent on disguises more than supplies. Osamu and Ken were a pair of wizards, while Ai was a monk. Lavian was dressed as a summoner, Alicia was a samurai and, finally, Rad was a calculator. The disguises managed to fool the gate guards, especially considering that their uniforms were secondhand clothing they got from a merchant in the swamplands between Goug and Lionel (which also explained the prices they paid). They got whatever fit.

"Do we have any money left for supplies?" Osamu asked, scratching his chest. He hated his wizard disguise. The cheap fabric was giving him a rash. They were in their room at the inn, avoiding suspicion from the innkeeper this time.

"I counted it last night," Ai replied. "Normally, yes, we would. However, according to the fur shop back in Warjilis, the monsters on Barius Hill are getting out of their best mating season in the past century. Meaning, a lot of monsters. We need to pack extra of everything. In fact, I'd even suggest buying better weapons and armor before heading back to Igros."

"Especially you, Osamu," Ken spoke up.

"Hey! My blood sword has gotten me out of tough times before!" Osamu snapped.

"No, that would be my sharpshooting, that stupid sword is not only 'blood red' from rust, but it hasn't been sharpened or even maintenanced in, what, a year?" Ken replied.

"Since Osamu got it, anyway," Rad chimed in. "I'd say a decade from looking at it."

Osamu grumbled, "You're all just jealous because my sword is legendary."

"Only because it started rusting in Ajora's time," Ken said.

"Enough!" Ai shouted. "All of us need better equipment, I've already heard stories of poorly equipped hunters from the bar downstairs. I don't want it happening to us, especially considering the situation Ramza is probably in!"

"A good point," Alicia said. "Ramza's in more trouble than we are, he's got a more famous name than we do, and his brothers have probably disowned him for this whole heretic thing."

"Exactly," Ai said. "We need to find him and help him. You guys saw Queklain, what if there's more like him?"

Rad shuddered, "I still can't believe we survived that battle..."

"You weren't put to sleep by his 'nightmare' attack, it's like dreaming in Hell," Lavian said. "I lived out my worst fears in my dreams..."

"What were they?" Ken asked.

"...My graduation year from Gariland... ...I gave a speech to the entire graduating class... Naked." Lavian replied.

"...Wish I was there," Rad said. Lavian immediately smacked him. "Ow!"

"Well, at least our travel fund can supply us with liquor," Ken got up. "I'm thirsty."

"Great, even less money," Ai muttered, getting up as well.

"What? A good source of bar nuts is a necessity," Rad said, going to the door. They all went downstairs to the bar, ordered drinks (tea for Osamu, spirits for everyone else) and discussed plans.

As they drank, a knight wearing a pair of glasses came up to them, "Excuse me, have you seen any suspicious figures in Lionel?"

"Not us-- I mean, no we haven't," Ken replied with a nervous chuckle. "Who are you looking for?"

"Viscount Bafai, the nobleman temporarily presiding over the city, has received a threat from the Phantom Thief," the knight explained, hoping up a wanted poster.

Everyone immediately recognized him, letting out a groan. It was Zero.

"You know Zero!?" The knight shouted.

"Robbed some art in Gariland, robbed us in Warjilis, tried to rob a casino ship we were guarding in Warjilis... Yeah, we know him." Ai replied, downing some ale.

"Wonderful! A gift from God!" The knight cheered, grinning ear-to-ear.

"What do you mean?" Rad asked.

"Our Lord Bafai is putting up extra security, sparing no expensive! The Phantom Thief has sworn to steal his most valued treasure, you see."

"...Which is?" Alicia asked.

"He has so many, he's...actually not sure." The knight scratched his head in confusion. "The staff is actually wagering on what it is. The favorite is his Zeni Sword, but I think it's his solid gold statue of himself with the ruby eyes."

"Solid gold statue of himself?" Osamu asked.

"He's...not the most modest of people," the knight trailed off. "Still, we're quite short of help, and since you've dealt with Zero before, you would know all of his tricks, right?"

"I guess... But, we don't work cheap..." Ai trailed off, grinning.

"Not a problem! I'm sure Lord Bafai will pay handsomely, especially for such a group!" The knight said. "The only help we've been able to get is from squires from the local academy, most of truly skilled fighters are off to war or helping the church in their hunt for the demons that killed our beloved Lord Draclau."

Lavian choked on her drink, but quickly regained her composure, saying with a cough, "Truly sad, a good man, a good man..."

"So, you will help us?" The knight asked. "The thief said he would strike this very night!"

"Tonight? A little confident, isn't he?" Ai asked.

"He does this whenever he pulls a major heist, it's his tradition to taunt the nobility and those who uphold justice!" The knight withdrew his sword, held it pointing to heaven and said, "We Knights of Lionel swear to forever uphold the law and bring justice to the wicked! May we surrender our lives for justice!"

"In that case, let's go dispense justice!" Osamu stood up, cheering. He held his wizard's staff forward in a dramatic pose.

"For justice!" Rad leapt up, holding up his used calculator's staff over his head and cheering.

"JUSTICE!" Ken hopped onto the table, holding his wizard staff up in the air.

Lavian raised her hands as if summoning, "FOR JUSTICE!"

The knight also joined in the array of poses by standing in front of the group and holding his sword forward, "MAY JUSTICE PREVAIL!" All of them screamed.

"...Morons..." Ai and Alicia muttered under their breath. Neither had gotten up.

"Hey! Merlin! Get off my table!" The bartender shouted, directed toward Ken.

The entire group realized how carried away they got and sat back down.

The knight cleared his throat, "S-So...Will you help us?"

"It's a deal," Ai raised her mug. "For justice."

"JUSTICE!" Rad shouted, raising his mug. Osamu and Ken smacked him in the back of the head. "Ow!"

The knight paid for their drinks and room at the inn, moved greatly by the group's devotion to the cause of justice. Though Ai took a few extra minutes to pack a bag of supplies for the trip. He lead them straight to Viscount Bafai's mansion, where Bafai was holding a brief security council with his knights and squires.

Bafai was a middle-aged man, somewhat morbidly obese. He wore brightly colored clothing and many, many rings on each finger. He also had a dark blue, sapphire pendant around his neck. "Report?"

The knight knelt down, the group of 'mercenaries' knelt with him. "Lord Bafai, these mercenaries have volunteered to help our cause for justice--"

Immediately, every Knight in the room withdrew their sword and screamed, "MAY WE SURRENDER OUR LIVES FOR JUSTICE!" They then sheathed their swords. The volunteer squires and few other mercenaries in the large chamber barely had time to cover their ears.

"Who are they?" Bafai asked.

"Terra," Ai bowed her head. "A Pr--A monk from Gariland Academy to the North, top of my class." Ai lied, though she was one of the better Priests from Gariland.

"Tifa, a samurai who can cut a fly in half blindfolded," Alicia lied, bowing her head.

"Quistis," Lavian bowed her head. "I once summoned three monsters at once."

"Squall," Osamu stood up, bowing his head.

"Zidane," Ken bowed his head. "We're skilled wizards without equal!"

"If you are both without equal, then which of you is better than the other?" Bafai asked, grinning.

"I can turn a man into a frog just by thinking about it," Osamu added.

"I can turn a man into two frogs just by thinking about it." Ken said, proudly.

"...Well I can turn a man into two poisoned frogs just by thinking about it!" Osamu glared at Ken.

"I can cast Holy, I win," Ken grinned.

"I can cast Ultima, I win!" Osamu shouted.

"I can cast Ultima, Holy and summon Zodiac!" Ken said.

"Hey! Only I can summon Zodiac!" Lavian piped in.

"Enough," Bafai said with a laugh. "Such...interesting mercenaries." He then looked to Rad. "You!"

"Y-Yes?" Rad asked.

"You look like a calculator, but I hear male calculators are required to shave their heads..." Bafai commented.

"I...uh... My barber is...booked for months..." Rad replied.

"Well, then... Lezales," he motioned to the knight that brought the group in.

"Yes, Lord Bafai?" Lezales asked.

"Escort them to the storehouse," Bafai ordered. "Except for you," he pointed to Rad. "I have a special job for you."

Rad gulped. "Y-Yes, sir."

"Come with me. The rest of you are dismissed to your regular duties." Bafai lead Rad out of the room. Once they turned down an empty hall. he spoke, "...Now, ah..."

"Schtolteheim Reinbach III, lord," Rad replied.

"Ah, Schtolteheim, you know that Nobles are the most important figures in Ivalice, right?" Bafai asked.

"Of course, sir," Rad nodded.

"Now, do you know how nobles stay noble?"

"Through their vast wealth?" Rad asked.

"Very good, and how do they keep their vast wealth?" Bafai asked.

"Um...Taxation upon the common class?" Rad replied.

"Close, close," Bafai laughed. "That is part, but even Nobles are taxed, you know... Which is why I need your help, my fine young calculator."

"What do you need?" Rad asked, mentally begging it wasn't related to being a calculator.

"Although I'm sure your skills in battle are top-notch, I would much rather use your services in here..." He took Rad to his private chambers. He went to a desk and pulled a large pile of papers from a drawer. He placed them on the desk, saying, "I've unfortunately, had to endure a large spending period on some rare antiques and other taxable commodities. Now, I want you to make...certain assets...Disappear on paper."

"Sir, are you asking me to help you cheat on your taxes?" Rad asked.

"I prefer to think of it as...'Creatively filing' my taxes." Bafai replied with a smile.

"Why me?"

"My last calculator met an unfortunate end after he requested a cut of a church grant he obtained for me," Bafai replied. "You're not a greedy person, are you Schtolteheim?"

"N-No, sir!" Rad saluted. "I'll get to creatively filing right away, sir."

"Wonderful, I'll be sure to reward you for your hard efforts. Ta-ta." Bafai left the room.

Rad looked to the papers. "...Now what do I do?" He looked to one paper. "...Form A...Do not fill out form A until you have filled out form B..." He got another paper. "Form B...Do not fill out from B until you've filled out form 42J... ...Form 42J... ...Do not fill out form 42J until you have filled out form A..." Rad sighed. "I'm going to be here a while..."

Outside of the mansion was a large store house of Bafai's various antiques, treasures and jewelry. The group waited within the chamber, which had a glass ceiling and various glass windows lined throughout it. The treasures were either placed on shelves (antiques), in chests (jewelry and gold coin) or laid about (statues). There was also many paintings on the wall, most of Lord Bafai.

"So...Why does Bafai keep all of his treasure in one convenient room?" AI asked.

"He loves to walk around in this room and admire his many treasures," Lezales explained. "He so loves his exotic weapons as well," Lezales motioned to a series of dozens of weapons lining the wall between two large landscapes of Bafai's mansion. All of them rare, some of them antiques, and a couple of them had Osamu going crazy.

"No way! Another blood sword!" Osamu shouted. "And this...No way! An excalibur!? I thought only Thunder God Cid had one of these!" Osamu then ran to examine a sword. "The Save the Queen!? Only the highest ranked Shrine Knights get one of these!"

"A bit of a sword fanatic, for a wizard..." Lezales commented.

"I had a collection back at home, nothing like this, though," Osamu replied. "I'm a bit of an expert when it comes to rare swords..."

"What about this one?" Lezales motioned to a sword, it looked to be made of all coins.

"A Zeni-Blade?" Osamu examined the sword hanging on the wall. All of the coins were tied together tightly with red string and held in place with sharpened wire. Each coin was also sharpened, save for the ones on the 'hilt,' all around. "Rare, used mostly for ceremony and as gifts to nobility, but I've heard stories of assassins once using them. Assumed to be a good luck charm until you realize its cut your head off, you know?" Osamu examined the blade. "Still sharp, amazing since none had really been made in the past few centuries... I always liked their design."

"Very good, you are an expert," Lezales clapped. "if you'll excuse me, I have to attend to some other matters. Make yourselves comfortable and if you need anything, ring for a servant."

"Thanks," Ai said. "We'll keep a close watch on everything."

"We won't let Zero take anything!" Ken added. "I'll turn him into a couple poisoned frogs, then blast him with Holy and Ultima!"

Lezales laughed, "Good luck, then!" He left with a bow.

"Nice guy," Lavian commented.

"Yeah, good thing we ran into him," Alicia said.

"WHOAH! IS THIS A REAL CHAOS BLADE!?" Osamu shouted, then, disappointedly, said, "No...Just a replica..."

The rest of the group sighed, shaking their heads.

Ai put a large bag down in front of the group. "I packed all of our usual weapons before we left, there's no way we'll be able to hold off any thieves without them."

In Bafai's private quarters, Rad was taking a break from picking a form at random and filling it out to the best of his abilities...Which was pretty much Bafai's name...Which he wasn't sure was spelt right. It had been hours and Rad had only finished about half of the forms. It was past sunset, Rad let out a yawn as a servant brought him some tea.

"Thanks," Rad nodded his head, looking up at the servant. She was quite pretty, with smooth, clear skin, long blond hair. Rad felt he saw her before. "...You look familiar..."

"Tee hee! Lord Rad is just nice to all the ladies! Tee hee!" The young woman replied.

"No, no, you look familiar..." Rad took a sip of his tea, he felt a bit strange. Almost...drunk... "You're cute, too... What's your name?"

"Tee hee! You wouldn't like me! I'm a naughty girl!"

"...Go on..." A grin spread accross Rad's face.

"I put some naughty, naughty sleeping powder in your tea! Tee hee!" The young servant drew out a paper fan and fanned herself with it.

That didn't disturb Rad as much as the next words out of the servant as he fell, face first on Bafai's desk.

"And," she said in a deeper voice, "I'm not a woman."

Rad would go on to have a nightmare.

The 'girl' went to the window and motioned down to two figures. One was hidden in the shadows, while the other was fairly old for a squire with black hair and a black beard. The squire motioned for the girl to come down.

In the store house, Osamu was still studying weapons, while the others were sitting around a statue of a legendary king named Mesa. The entire storehouse was lit up with candles lining the walls.

The door opened, everyone immediately reached for their weapons. A servant walked in, carrying a tray of tea. She smiled. "Lord Bafai has asked me to bring you some tea."

"Oh, thanks," Ken said as the servant brought the tea over to the group.

Alicia spoke up, "What kind of tea is this?"

"Black tea, of course," the servant replied.

Osamu quickly lost interest in the weapons and went to the tea pot. "Good! I've been dying for a good cup, the stuff at the bar was horrible." The servant offered him the first cup she poured. Osamu sipped it. "...This isn't black tea..."

"What?" The girl asked.

"Black tea tends to have a smooth flavor with a hint of fruit near the end...This is bitter." Osamu said.

"No, no, it's simply high quality black tea. The nobility likes bitter tea..." The servant let out a nervous laugh.

"Try it, this is the worst tea I've ever had." Osamu offered the cup.

"N-No, thank you, I don't like tea," the servant girl shook her head.

"Just...try it-- Oops..." Osamu, a bit clumsy, dropped the tea cup. It shattered. "Oh...Sorry..." Osamu yawned. "Man, what happened to me...?"

"I knew it!" Alicia shouted, leaping up and grabbing the servant. "You tried to poison us!"

"No! No! I don't know what you're talking about!" The servant screamed.

"Wait, you knew...So...I was your...guinea...pig...? Thanks...a lot..." Osamu slowly knelt to the floor and curled up like a dog. He fell asleep.

"GUARDS! GUARDS!" Ken shouted, going to the door. "WE CAUGHT THE THIEF!"

Lezales walked into the store house. "What's the problem, Ken?"

"We caught the thief! She poisoned Osamu with a sleeping potion!"

"Don't be silly," Lezales laughed. "He's not the thief." He pointed to the servant, who was being held tight by Alicia.

"...Wait... HE?!" Alicia let go of the servant in shock.

A squire walked in after Lezales. The servant 'girl' ran to his arm, whimpering, "They were so mean to me!"

"...R-Right..." The squire rolled his eyes.

"...L-Lezales...?!" Lavian spoke up.

Lezales chuckled, "...A summoner with a sword, a wizard with a crossbow, a monk with a Priest's staff, and a Samurai with an Oracle's rod... ...Not to mention the Blood Sword fanatic down there..." He motioned to Osamu. "Really, so pathetic... I saw through your little ruse at the bar."

"Wa-Wait! You think we're...working for Zero!?" Ai asked.

Lezales laughed, "What sort of idiot would I be to hire idiots like you?" Lezales took off his glasses and pulled off a wig. He was, in fact, The Phantom Thief Zero.

"...Aw, geez..." Ken muttered.

"Now...Kensuke...Tsubasa..." Zero looked to the 'squire,' who drew out a sword and the servant, who simply smiled. "...Kill them..."

"HOLD EVERYTHING!"

"What the?!" Zero looked outside. A man in full armor on a yellow chocobo charged at the storehouse. "Kensuke! Bar the door!"

Kensuke quickly slammed the door and held it shut with his weight.

"I don't understand!" Tsubasa shook his head. "I even knocked out that thief-turned-mathematician! Who could that--"

The man and the chocobo crashed through a window and skidded to a halt between the group.

"Who are you?" Zero asked.

The man spoke, "I am Judge Master Bergan LXVI. I have come to uphold Justice!"

"...So you're another justice-obsessed whack-job? What is with this place?" Kensuke muttered.

"Incorrect! I am a Judge!" Bergan replied. "This is my faithful steed, Archades."

The chocobo let out a proud WARK and raised its left wing.

"We travel the land to uphold the laws!" Bergan saluted as well.

"...So, you're here to help us capture Zero?" Lavian asked.

"Incorrect! I am a Judge! Judges uphold the laws of battle, we are only allowed to interfere in a fight if the laws of battle are broken!" Bergan explained.

"And if a law is broken?" Ai asked.

Bergan reached under his armor and pulled out a yellow card. "You receive this!"

"...And?" Tsubasa asked.

"If you continue to break the law, you receive another! And another! Until, finally, you receive..." With a shudder, Bergan pulled out a red card. "This."

"Which is...?" Ken asked.

"A ticket to jail, where you will tried and, if found guilty, punished for your crimes!" Bergan announced.

"...And why are you here, exactly?" Zero asked. "I mean, it's war-time, battles are goin' on all over the place."

"This battle is being viewed as a battle of honor," Bergan explained. "Your letter to Viscount Bafai, as said, 'Beloved Lord Bafai, I have come to steal your treasure. Sincerely, The Phantom Thief Zero.' Our organization views this as a declaration of a battle of honor and thus, this battle falls under our jurisdiction."

"...Where have you been all the other times we've done this?" Zero asked. "I've been doing this whole 'battle of honor' thing as you put it for years."

"Yes, but until recently, our services have been limited to only the land surrounding the former Archadian empire. It's now that we've finally branched out into other lands. Sure, there are few of us, and it is a thankless job with little pay, but..." Bergan wept. "The feeling of knowing you...made a difference...Makes this job...Worthwhile..."

Archades also let out a tearful wark and wiped its eyes with its wings. "Wark...! Wark...!"

"...Oh, for the love of..." Zero groaned. "Tsubasa, you sure you didn't give me any of your special tea? This has to be a dream."

"I am starting to consider the possibility, sir," Tsubasa replied.

"Now then!" Bergan announced, having Archades leap into the air and atop a statue. The chocobo remained perfectly balanced. "I declare this to be a battle of honor! Todays law is..." Bergan reached into his armor, pulling out a blue card. "No Holy Actions! Holy is officially banned, save for Weapons!"

"...Holy...Actions...?" Alicia asked.

"No...praying...?" Ai shrugged.

"Whatever! Let's just get started here!" Zero screamed, obviously annoyed. Kensuke and Tsubasa charged.

Ken went to fire an arrow at Tsubasa, but Kensuke managed to catch it in mid-air. Alicia focused on trying to cast spells on Kensuke (as Zero and Tsubasa both equipped ribbons, thus preventing status spells), while Lavian protected Ai as she tried to wake up Osamu.

"Heavenly wind, carry us to the fountain of power. Esuna..." Ai cast the spell on Osamu.

Osamu woke up, startled by a loud whistle.

"HOLD EVERYTHING!" Bergan cried, holding a whistle in his left hand, pointing at Ai with his right. Archades let out a series of distressed warks as he leapt down to the battle. "A direct violation of the law! No Holy Actions! Esuna, being white magic, falls under that category!"

Ai rolled her eyes. The battle actually halted with Zero holding Ken in a headlock, Lavian and Kensuke charging at eachother in slow motion (the result of an exchange of slow spells between Alicia and Tsubasa) and Alicia about to strike Tsubasa over the head with her staff. "Wait, so, you're telling me, any white magic spell is forbidden?"

"Any! As well as the use of phoenix down and certain summons!" Bergan explained. "However, you may still use holy weapons!"

"...So, if I read a bible, you get upset and I get another card, right?" Ai asked. Bergan nodded. "But, if I smacked someone with it, no harm, no foul?"

"Correct!" Bergan nodded.

"...Quick show of hands, who else is getting annoyed?" Ai asked.

Everyone except Osamu, who was still trying to figure out what was going on, raised their hands.

"Good..." Ai grinned. "...Bright light..."

Bergan's eyes widened, Archades began to panic. "N-Now see here! I'll give you one chance to halt that spell!"

Everyone, realizing that Ai was about to cast holy, of all spells, in doors began to scramble to find a safe hiding place.

"NOT AGAIN!" Osamu screamed.

"...Shine down on bloody impurity..."

Bergan reached into his armor. "A-Attacking a judge is--"

"HOLY!" Ai screamed, taking a second yellow card from Bergan as the spell formed above him.

"--FORBIDDEN...!" Bergan screamed as the spell launched him through the ceiling, still on Archades.

Ai let out a happy sigh, "That felt..." She turned around, only to see that her spell destroyed most of the antiques, weaponry, paintings, statues and caused severe structural damage to the storehouse. "...Uh-oh..."

In Bafai's quarters, Rad woke up after hearing the cries of Bergan and Archades. "Cross-dresser! Creepy! Bad things!" He looked around the room. "Oh...Oh...Ju-Just a nightmare..." He also looked at the time. "Ah! I gotta finish this! Bafai'll kill me!"

At the store house, the three thieves and others looked over the damage.

"...I think it's in the best interest of all of us that we pretend this never happened." Ai said.

"The words of the one who destroyed everything..." Osamu muttered.

Zero went over to a fallen shelf. "Ha! They survived!"

Everyone got ready to fight.

"Lord Zero, given the events, is now really the time to continue stealing?" Tsubasa asked.

"Of course," Zero chuckled, picking up a weapon. "Kill them and help me with these weapons!"

As everyone else fought Kensuke and Tsubasa, Osamu went for Zero. "Wait! You came for the weapons?!"

"Of course, weapons are in my best interest right now." Zero said, he spotted Osamu's blood sword. "Hm... Interesting..."

Osamu stood defensively, "Wh-What is it?"

"A blood sword...You see, my friend, I am a collector of rare weapons...And I also like to pride myself as a skilled weapons dealer. I saw you're a bit of an expert earlier, so you can appreciate the value of some of these...Especially considering the times we live in." Zero held up an excalibur. "Now, do you want to play around with your little blood sword and my little excalibur, or shall we all just go about our own business?"

Osamu glanced back. Kensuke and Tsubasa were by far too much for the others. Everyone was struggling just to maintain a decent defense. "...And in exchange?"

"Your blood sword," Zero replied.

Osamu glanced at his sword. "But--"

The sound of Ken screaming helped Osamu reach a decision, a successful bolt spell from Tsubasa sent him flying into a wall.

"...Deal." Osamu sighed, sheathing his blood sword and passing it to Zero.

"Good, good," Zero took the sword. "KENSUKE! TSUBASA!"

Both Tsubasa and Kensuke stopped fighting, looking to Zero.

"Help me with these weapons, we're heading out, leave 'em be." Zero grinned. He looked to Osamu, taking the zeni-sword from the ground. "Here, a little bonus for your help." He passed it to Osamu.

"No, thanks..." Osamu shook his head.

"Come now, it's not like Bafai'll ever see it again either way." Zero chuckled. Osamu reluctantly took it. "Good."

Ai groaned, "Osamu?"

"Guys, we need to find Rad and get out of here," Osamu said. "Did you put Bafai to sleep?"

"Everyone, sleeping like babies," Zero replied. "No worries."

"Thanks," Osamu sighed.

Rad had just finished Bafai's tax forms, rushing most of them to the point of making educated guesses. It was getting past midnight by the time he finished. Just as he made the last pen stroke, Ai came into the room.

"Rad, Zero took everything. We're out of here before Bafai wakes up and blames us!"

"What?! How'd he get past you guys?" Rad shouted.

"He's tough," Ken spoke from the hallway, letting out a cough. "He had his two bodyguards from the casino ship with him. Now let's go! Bafai'll kill us when he sees the store house! Ai blew it up!"

"...Seriously?" Rad asked.

"Long story, idiot judge, let's run!" Ai groaned. That was not one of her proudest nights.

As they hurried back to the inn, Osamu examined his new zeni-sword and sighed...

To Be Continued...

Notes: Shiba's notes mentioned that he wanted to parody FFTA's law system in this chapter with Judge Bergan (named after the FFXII judge, my own idea). He's more or less involved with any Zero-related chapters. His intros and character are...Well, here's a comment from Shibaryou's notes about Bergan:

"I swear, I did not come up with this guy while playing FFTA and watching Medabots! Really!"

Yeah, this project is that old.

The name Schtolteheim Reinbach III is actually a reference to the Suikoden series, Shibaryou wanted me to use it as a fake name in this series every now and then (like in Suikoden).

In the game, the job report mentions the group taking a treasure Zero left behind and running off. I expanded upon that idea with more of a reason as to why our heroes would want to get out of there so quickly.

As for the loss of the blood sword. Shibaryou noted that he wanted Osamu to lose it at some point, this was due to the fact that in his main file for propositions info, the sword was broken and he accidentally saved after the battle. He decided to use it in the plot. Not sure how this is going to go, though. I need to ask him.

The next two chapters are the Proposition "My Little Carrot" and a special chapter. Sorry that this one took so long, I was busy with school work.

-"Shibaryou"