And the chapter machine keeps on turning. Thank you to all my new followers and favorites, as well as my long time reviewers. Enjoy!
Allister yawned, tired. He'd spent yet another day trying to help the injured students recover from their injuries during the bombing. Much to his annoyance, however, Nora, Yang, and Ruby were still confined to bed rest, and Weiss and Blake had refused to wake up. Some other students, fortunately, had been able to be cleared over the last few days. Allister flipped through the charts of all the current patients, trying to determine who needed the most care, and who would suffice just from their bodies natural healing. Allister glanced to his left at Yang, who was fast asleep. Allister reached out and gently ran his hand through her hair. He pulled out his scroll.
"1:54, It's getting late." Allister yawned. He quietly unfolded the chair bed in the room, and laid down on it. His legs dangled over the edge because of his height. He just shrugged and accepted it.
"It's strange, I haven't heard from Zade, or even Max in a while. I hope that Lionheart guy is as useful as Darron claimed he is." Allister muttered to himself.
"I can't imagine he's not." Yang whispered, startling Allister.
"Sorry Yang, didn't mean to wake you." Allister apologized.
"I can't imagine he's not a total babe. He's gorgeous." Yang whispered again. Allister's face fell completely neutral.
"Oh… she's just sleep talking." Allister said, feeling a little bit better.
"Oh… yeah Al! Right there! Don't stop!" Yang almost screamed out. Allister's face became almost a wash with red.
"At least she's dreaming about something good." Allister argued.
"Ugh! It's so small but it's used so well. Amazing!" Yang cried out again. Allister stared at Yang's squirming, sleeping form. He just calmly stood up and walked out of the room. One he shut the door behind him, Yang slowly opened one of her lilac eyes, chuckling to herself.
Max and Zade sat, aggravated, on another flight. A 8 hour delay, and both of them being stopped by security again not sitting well with either. Especially with this flight down towards Mistral, speed was key. A quick hack of Gov't records and the soldiers phone's had given them more than enough access for their next move.
"So who's this guy?" Zade asked, watching Max typing away yet again on Titan.
"Mutum Shakhs. 48 years old. When he was young he spent a number of stints over 7 years in prison for petty theft, arson, and assault and battery. Was Convicted of 27 counts of human trafficking, 68 counts of drug possession, 119 counts of money laundering, 44 counts of murder in the first degree, 17 counts grand theft auto. However, on route to lockup the convoy was attacked and he was never seen from again, but it seems like he's still in business." Max explained.
"And we're not going back to tell anyone because?" Zade pressed.
"Zade. Do you remember that… organization we tried to undermine a few years back?" Max asked. Zade nodded.
"Yeah I remember, couldn't get a lead on their hierarchy. They kept vanishing into the night." Zade answered.
"I think these are the same people." Max said. Zade sat up, his demeanor getting far more serious.
"You're sure?" Zade asked.
"Positive." Max asked
"You want to get a jump on them." Zade said.
"Exactly, I know we can get mutum, and hopefully he will lead us to some of the superiors. Then we bring them down, and get some justice." Max said.
"Alright, so where are we going?" Zade asked.
"Well. Last reports say that he was spotted in the wilderness far from the Mistral border. I assume he's been camping out there to hide from the huntsmen." Max explained.
"So… We're just going to walk around the woods until we find something?" Zade asked.
"That is an effective summary of what we are doing yes." Max answered.
"I guess vengeance does have its costs." Zade shrugged.
"I know, bullet prices are so inflated these days." Max agreed.
"Well once you've met the chief producer of bullets, You'll get it." Zade reassured his partner
"Hey hey hey! Where's that upgrade your promised me!" Titan yelled appearing between the two. Max rolled his eyes at the rather insistent A.I.
"You may be a computer, but you sure know how to bitch like a real girl." Zade commented.
"You wanna go? I'll get you more whipped than Weiss's got you." Titan declared, pointing a finger at Zade. Zade stared back down at Titan intensely, as Max chuckled.
"Bring it pipsqueak." Zade challenged. The two would've most certainly smashed foreheads together if Zade's head wouldn't have passed right through Titan's. Titan just stuck her tongue out at Zade and turned back towards Max.
"Why is he so mean to me?" she demanded to know. Max shrugged.
"I do not know." Max answered, a desperate attempt to remain neutral in the conflict.
"Anyway… about that upgrade?" Titan said hopefully.
"Not now. We've got another mission." Max explained.
"I guess you just can't let this guy go can you?" Titan asked. Max shook his head.
"I'd kill him too, but shouldn't reinforcements be called in?" Titan added.
"No time. Once word gets back his men failed, he'll disappear." Max told her.
"Oh! Ok. Do what you need. I'm always here." Titan said, disappearing, but not without one more exchange of nasty looks with Zade.
"Why don't you guys get along?" Max asked curiously, placing Titan on the seat next to him. Zade shrugged.
"We just don't." Zade explained.
"You sure it's cause I made her smarter than you?" Max joked.
"Yeah dream that dream asshole." Zade shot back, a small grin on his lips.
"I did. She's called Titan." Max countered. Zade reached out and dropped a small hammerfist on Max's head.
"Idiot." Zade said. The two members of team ENDD sat back, ready to push through the next 7 hours of this God forsaken flight.
Once the airship landed and it's doors opened, Zade and Max burst out of there like bulls at a rodeo, practically kissing the ground.
"Next time, we eat the time lag and take a boat." Zade declared.
"No more airports, please god no more airports." Max begged, gaining and interesting amount of attention from the surrounding crowd. Finally the two peeled themselves from the ground and walked towards the edge of the city.
"Should we get a car, or hitch a ride?" Max pondered, scratching his chin.
"Maybe we should just hitch a ride, getting a car would be pointless since I doubt it'll make it through this trip in one piece." Zade pointed out.
"Good point." Max agreed. The two of them walked around the edge of town until they hit a small rundown tavern just on the outskirts of the town. Zade confidently pushed open the door and he and Max walked inside. Everyone inside the bar turned towards the newcomers. The bar was arguably pretty gross. Stains covered the wall and floor, only about half the lights worked and dust covered the windows, most of the pool cues were snapped in half. The patrons were gritty looking bandits, and other disreputable folks, each giving the two death stares.
"Yo." Zade said out loud. The patrons started to murmur to one another.
"You're information is good right?" Zade whispered back at Max.
"The best." Max responded, making Zade feel a little better.
"You don't look like you're from around here." the bartender sneered. Zade watched cautiously as she reached her hand slowly under the bar. Other put their hands on the belts or in their jackets.
"Is it that hard to get a drink around here?" Zade asked feigning disbelief.
"It is for someone like you." She responded.
"Like me?" Zade asked.
"A no good punk just lookin for kicks." One of the patrons added.
"Oh I might be looking to do some kicking later, but right now I have some rather important business to attend to." Zade explained.
"What business?" The bartender demanded to know.
"Let's just say there's been some rumors that a carousel is coming to town, and I'd like to book a seat if that's not too much of a bother." Zade explained, smiling. Max rolled his eyes at Zade attempts to look as cool and imposing as Darron. Max had to admit, he was close, but missing something. The patrons all looked at one another nervously.
"Come here." a voice instructed from the back of the bar. Zade and Max walked through the bar, ignoring the patrons, who had gone back to what they were doing. They sat across from a man not even 5 years older than them, with slicked back hair, dark sunglasses, and an air of arrogance.
"What?" Zade asked, wanting to impose some fear on this guy.
"So you think you want to be on that carousel huh? What makes you so qualified?" the man asked.
"We knew it existed." Max pointed out. The man laughed.
"That's pretty funny, but Mutum makes sure all his guests are… personally invited." The man insisted.
"Ah plan B then." Zade said. Max pulled out his scroll and casually slid it across the table. The man looked at the screen. It was the information for a bank account. Zade and Max smiled as they watched the man grow less and less amused, and even sweat a little.
"That's a lot of zeros." he muttered.
"And a chunk of them could be yours. Just get us on that carousel." Max insisted.
"You're in luck. It's tonight. I'll even do ya the favor and take you to the compound personally." The man said. Max and Zade looked at one another and nodded. The followed the man outside and slid into the back seat of his car.
"So what are you boys interested in buying tonight?" The man asked as he started driving.
"Well I've been getting a little bored with my wife, so I'm just looking for a little side fuck." Zade answered, trying really really hard to sound like he believed it.
"Hey I understand. It's always nice to spice things up. What about you chief?" The man continued.
"I like to collect. I'm hoping you've got some nice faunus on display." Max said, in a tone lecherous enough to make Zade's skin crawl a little.
"We've got the best faunus, the fucking mongrels." the man said. Zade rolled his eyes and sighed, knowing he'd need to power wash the sleaze off of him after this.
The man pulled into a small clearing deep in the forest. He stopped the car, turned off the ignition, and stepped out. Max and Zade got out as well.
"Alright where is it?" Max asked.
"Uh uh. First I need you to promise that you'll keep all of this a secret." The man said, his tone more serious than before.
"We will keep it a secret. Our asses are on the line too." Zade pointed out. The man nodded.
"Alright." He said. He beckoned for the guys to follow him. The three walked up to a large smooth outcropping. The man stepped forward and placed his scroll flat against the rocks. Zade and Max watched impressed as the rock started to split open. A large hole appeared and traveled down into the ground.
"Explained why he's so discreet." Zade said.
"Mutum knows what he's doing." The man said as the three of them walked into the underground cavern. The cave's walls were covered with steel as they found themselves in a high tech underground complex.
"Impressive." Max said.
"Welcome to the system." The man said, giving them a smug smile. "The Carousel is right this way." As they walked through the building Zade glanced to the side. A bunch of men were gathered around a large window. On the other side was a rather attractive woman, being brutalized and raped by a seemingly endless stream of men. She seemed on the verge of death while everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves. Those on Zade's side of the glass were using their scrolls to place orders for specific actions to be undertaken.
"Fucking scum." Zade seethed to himself. Max quickly and sharply punched him in the arm.
"Careful." Max whispered. Zade claimed himself and kept walking, smiling as he planned how he hoped to slowly and methodically inflict pain upon them. The man led them to a small waiting booth. It was fully stocked with velvet chairs, a mini bar, and a large viewing window.
"Enjoy." the man said, closing the door behind him. Zade and Max shivered in disgust, and sat down.
"The ceremony will begin in 13 minutes." A female voice rang out over the PA. Zade turned to Max.
"Do your thing." Zade said. Max smirked and moved his chair over by the wall. Max revealed a small knife and started to cut through the wall. Max fished around for a while and smiled. Max cut into a wire and inserted some wiring of his own, which was connected to Titan.
"You in Titan?" Max asked.
"Yep. Ethernet backdoor access is fully functional. So even if they cut off the wireless I can still get directly into their system." Titan explained. Max opened Titan and the two quickly began dismantling the cybersecurity of the compound.
"How long?" Zade asked, still looking out the window at the single illuminated platform.
"The bidding will begin in 10 minutes." The PA said.
"Not you." Zade scolded. Max laughed.
"About 40 minutes if I want to be sure I don't get caught." Max said.
"I guess I'd better get set for the long haul." Zade said, sliding down in his chair. He pulled out his scythe and played with it until the PA finally came back with a new message.
"The carousel will now begin." This time it was a male voice and it appeared to be live. "I am Mutum Shakhs your host for this evening. It's good to see all of you, new and repeat customers, and I hope you have fun and get the girl you want. Our first item tonight is a lovely little doll from the region north of Vale. She's 22, has been… lightly used, and has a high tolerance for pain." Mutum said as a woman with long blonde hair, and sad blue eyes, was forced into the spotlight. She wore a gold dress which was reduced to rags as she tried desperately not to cry.
"This luscious beauty will start at 40,000 Lien" Mutum announced. Zade gripped the armrests of the chair hard, disgusted by the sight before him.
"I see 50- oh a 60,000 bid do I see 70? Yes 70,000 What about 80? Oh what a gentlemen!" Zade did everything not to press the bid button, knowing that he didn't want to bid on too many girls early on, and arouse suspicion. The only solace he has was that he knew he would do everything in his power to try and save as many of these girls as possible.
"Sold for 170,000 Lien." The woman couldn't help but let a tear fall as she was roughly pulled from the stage.
"C'mon Max." Zade thought, knowing Max was just as disgusted as he was, and hoping they could put an end to it sooner.
While Max and Zade were suffering through that display of utter depravity, the students of Beacon had finally started classes up again. Although, that didn't excuse Allister or any of the other injured students from remaining in the infirmary. Athena sat with Yang, keeping her cheerful, while Taiyang was with Ruby. Allister justed finished up a set with Blake and checked his scroll.
"It's 3:47. Sun should be back here before long." Allister though, smiling lightly and really wishing Darron was there for her. Allister turned off the light and closed the door behind him. Allister turned back into the hallway and was met straight with his mother's chest.
"Ah! Mother!" Allister yelled, startled.
"Yes dear?" Athena asked, pretending to be innocent… poorly.
"Nothing you just caught me by surprise." Allister said.
"How is she?" Athena asked, looking past Allister.
"She's fine… still unconscious." Allister answered. "Anyway what're you doing walking around?" Allister asked.
"Just wanted to see my baby." Athena gushed. Allister facepalmed. Athena laughed lightly.
"I'm glad you're here mother." Allister said, walking down the hallway. Athena quickly fell in step.
"I am too… Allister." Athena said.
"Yes mother?" he responded.
"I have a question." she said
"What is it?" he asked.
"When are you gonna get married and have kids? Seriously." Athena said. Allister blushed heavily.
"What the hell!" Allister yelled. Athena just smiled.
"You're a prince and you damn well should act like one. Get a princess and put some kids in her." Athena declared, trying not to laugh. Allister just shook his head at his mother's absurdity.
"I'm not doing that for a while. I'd like to enjoy my life first." Allister argued.
"Alright but I exe- OW!" Athena exclaimed as she accidently walked face first into a door frame. Her height putting her at a disadvantage. Athena stepped back and held her nose. Allister just chuckled.
"Id got fuddy." Athena said, and Allister rolled his eyes.
"Let me see." Allister said. Athena promptly removed her hands from her nose. Allister gingerly reached out and felt it.
"Ow ow ow." Athena complained.
"Calm down. It's fine." Allister said, taking his hands away. The mother and son stood there for a moment, before breaking out into laughter.
"I'm sorry mom. That was funny." Allister pointed out.
"Like something out of a bad comedy." Athena agreed. The laughter died down slowly, earning the two some interesting stares.
"No but seriously…" Athena started when she was cut off by her son.
"I have every intention of returning to lead. Ruling the dynami is my duty as the only surviving heir to the royal family. If it was father, fuck him. For you, absolutely." Allister said, with a conviction that Athena hadn't expected. She stood there, looking at her son impressed.
"You do understand the challenges you'll have with the people." Athena said.
"That's why I want you to lead for a few more years. You've managed just fine so far. I need to take this time to get older, more mature, stronger. I intend to turn the dynami into the 5th kingdom." Allister declared. Athena gasped
"To have such lofty goal… we'll if he didn't inherit his looks, skills, personality, or strength. At least he definitely got his conviction from his father." Athena thought to herself, smiling at Allister with newfound admiration.
"You're gonna be a great king Allister." Athena said, giving Allister a hug. Allister smiled and happily returned it.
"I love you mother."
"I love you too my Smoochiesnooglebunny."
"MOTHER!"
Back at the auction Zade was still watching the carousel, grasping his hands together in anger while Max worked diligently with his hacking.
"I'm almost there Zade. Don't freak out just yet." Max cautioned, seeing how Zade was starting to get restless.
"I'm sorry, but you know how it is." Zade apologized.
"I do. I'd honestly rather not have you here, but this might be… therapeutic." Max shrugged. Zade laughed.
"That's a word for it." Zade said, sighing deeply.
"Our next girl is a fresh pick. Preserved for just this occasion. She's a smoking virgin from southern vale. She 23 ready for action and would love for you to meet her." Mutum said. Zade cocked his eyebrows as a woman with long brunette hair, and rather voluptuous breasts was forced into the spotlight. She desperately tried to cover herself with her tight red dress, and adjusted the glasses on her face. Zade could've of sworn he'd seen her before, but then she spoke.
"P-please… don't do this." the woman pleaded with the dark windows around her.
"It's Allison!" Zade exclaimed.
"Huh?" Max asked, pulled from his work.
"Look." Zade instructed. Max glanced through the window and his eyes widened.
"That's the chick that you made Weiss mad by hitting on during out first mission at Beacon." Max said.
"What the fuck is she doing here?" Zade seethed.
"Especially after she managed to help me with my leg, while fighting that reaver." Max said.
"I'm gonna help her." Zade declared.
"And not the others?" Max pointed out. Zade couldn't control himself and punched the wall.
"Not the time!" Zade yelled back.
"I know it's harsh, but I can't have you getting too emotional here. I needed to drag you back to reality." Max said.
"So?"
"Look I know your past, and your mother have made you hate sex trafficking and prostitution with an almost unparalleled passion, but you need to understand. If you try to bid on her we could get caught, rather you could cool off and let me work and in 5 minutes we could rescue all of these poor girls. I'm just saying… don't fuck us on this." Max said. Zade and Max glared each other for a moment, then Zade turned and slammed his hand down on the bidding button.
"Fuck it." He seethed.
"Oh 240,000 Lien… She's quite the showstopper." Mutum's voice rang out. Zade sat in the chair and immediately placed the button again, topping the guy who had just bet 250,000 lien.
"Max I understand… but I need to do this." Zade said, his head held so his hair covered his face. Max sighed, he had forgotten that the one thing Zade and Darron had the most in common was also one of Zade's most formidable qualities. Once his emotions got riled up, he was undeterrable. Max nodded to himself and focused hard on his work.
"Thank you." Zade whispered. He and the person whom in his mind he dubbed fuckface were still in a heated bidding war over Allison. The total was increasing rapidly, 570,000- 610,000- 670,000, now sitting at 725,000 Lien. Mutum could barely contain his excitement.
"Oh YES! This is what the carousel is all about. The hottest women eliciting the fiercest of competitions between men for their forced affection. Does it get any better than this!" Mutum exclaimed, as the two just kept bidding. 1.1 million-1.8 million- 2.7 million- 5.5 million.
"Ironwood's gonna shoot you." Max pointed out.
"We're gonna get the money back when we burn this place down so." Zade countered.
"Alright. I hope so." Max said, still hacking away. 5.8 million- 6.9 million- 11.4 million- 18.5 million. Zade by this point was getting really pissed off. His anger was quickly dissipated when Mutum finally said.
"It's over. WE have a winner for this virgin beauty to the man in both 3 for 45.3 million Lien." Mutum said. Zade sat back and sighed, finally winning. He could hear Allison's cries of protest, but knew she'd be fine once she was brought to him. Max carefully hid Titan, and moved his chair back into position when the door opened and Allison was flung in, her arms and legs handcuffed together. The large man who had tossed her in stepped into the room, and shut the door, putting the keys to her cuff on the table.
"Please send your payment to." he started in a gruff voice when he suddenly stopped. Allison looked up at the man and gasped as he fell over to the side, dead. Zade took the opportunity to retrieve his scythe from the man's back and picked up the keys to Allison's cuffs.
"Stop Get away!" She screamed, kicking out at Zade as he tried to uncuff her.
"Allison calm down." Zade instructed holding her legs against him so she couldn't kick him while he worked.
"How do you know my name!" she demanded, crying again. Zade looked her right in the eye and flashed her a sweet smile.
"You're the fucking playboy from the griventech village… OMG! That's you… uh… Zade. Zade! Why the fuck are you here?" Allison asked after it all came back to her.
"We're here to murder everyone as usual. Why are you here?" Zade took a turn.
"T-they grabbed me from my campus about 9 days ago… it was awful… I'm so happy you guys showed up before anything too horrible happened." Allison explained.
"We're happy too." Max said, as Zade finished uncuffing her. Allison rubbed her wrists and walked over to the bar and poured herself a drink.
"Don't get too crazy… We're gonna need you sober." Zade said. Allison nodded in understanding.
"perfect timing. I just finished downloading all their files. Ready when you are." Max said.
"You think you can shoot?" Zade asked Allison.
"What?" Allison asked, incredulously.
"Can you shoot people with a gun." Zade elaborated.
"NO!" Allison exclaimed.
"Ok, just tend to wounds then." Max said, encasing himself in Titan.
"Whoa…" Allison said in awe. Zade chuckled.
"Alright. Let's go." Zade said. Max touch a few controls and suddenly, ever door locked and every light in the building turned red.
"Emergency Protocols engaged." A female voice said.
"Fuck! Intruders. Everyone hunt them down and kill them!" Mutum yelled. Max smirked and crashed through the window of the room and started laying fire into the other windows, killing the rest of the carousel's participants. Zade picked up Allison and teleported her to the floor next to Max.
"I'm going for Mutum." Zade said, murder in his voice.
"Go get him tiger." Max joked, shooting some guards who ran into the room. Zade nodded and teleported away. Max turned towards Allison.
"Come on." He said. Allison nodded and followed Max deeper into the compound. Max walked through the steel hallways, opening only the doors he needed to, and easily dispatching of any and all of the guards who fought back. Max opened another which led to a horrid sight. Girls, naked and malnourished were chained to heavy steel beds.
"I'll check them out." Allison said, walking up to the first girl. Max systematically made his way around the room, breaking the chains which bound each girl. They continued in this like fashion until they had freed every girl.
"I think there are a number of other centers. We're gonna have a really hard time getting these girls out." Allison said.
"I've got the system set up so that Titan is the only one who can unlock, open, and close doors. We should be able to move them throughout the compound without any interference." Max explained, as he stepped out of Titan. Titan took control herself and pretended to crack her neck.
"I miss being in autonomous mode." She said.
"Titan, be a dear and hand me an assault rifle." Max said. Titan nodded and dispatched a rifle. Max loaded it and stuffed extra magazines all over her body.
"So what's the plan?" Allison asked, walking over towards Max.
"You keep the girls calm and moving. Titan will clear out any guards in front of us, and I will watching the rear in case they try anything funny." Max instructed.
"Let's do it then." Allison said, turning back towards the crowd of girls, ready to lead them.
Zade was tearing the compound security team a new asshole. Guard after guard tried either to shoot him, or cut him, but Zade's agility and semblance allowed him to move between their attacks as gracefully as water. Zade lashed out at each of them with his blades, slicing through their skin like butter. He teleported behind some other guards, who were shooting at him. The lowered their weapons, momentarily confused. In that time span, however, Zade managed to cut through one's legs, amputating them, and the others side, stabbing into his liver and stomach. Blood gushed down on the floor as Zade continued moving deeper into the compound. Finally Zade kicked open the door to Mutum's office.
"Oh shit!" Mutum exclaimed as Zade came bursting in. Mutum raised a shotgun to defend himself. Zade chucked one of his scythe across the room, embedding it in Mutum's shoulder. Mutum let out a cry and dropped the shotgun. As Zade walked into the room he was blindsided, when the man who brought them here, slammed a baseball bat up his face. Zade grunted and kicked out, catching the man in the stomach. The man felt the wind leave his chest as Zade punched him across the face. The man coughed and hit Zade in the stomach again with the bat. He followed up quickly, cracking it over Zade's head. Zade growled, and sucker punched the man in the gut. The man wheezed and dropped the bat. Zade grabbed his arm and yanked it straight. Without any hesitation Zade cleaved the man's hand from his arm. The let out a scream of pain and fell to his knees, clutching his arm. Zade quickly sliced through the back of his neck. The man gagged as he could feel the steel protruding from the front of his throat. Zade ripped the scythe out and let the man bleed out, gurgling his own blood as he died. Mutum watched scared, as Zade turned towards him with an evil glare. Zade stalked across the room and jumped the desk, so that he was inches away from Mutum.
"What do you want?" Mutum asked, trying to put on a brave face.
"I want to know what the fuck the system is, and who's at the top." Zade said, threateningly.
"I won't tell you shit." Mutum spit. Zade stared at him calmly for a second, then ripped the blade from his shoulder and stabbed it in his thigh.
"You fucking psycho!" Mutum screamed, grabbing his leg tightly.
"I'll ask again. Who is at the top of the system." Zade seethed. Mutum just stared at him defiantly.
"Ok hard way." Zade said. He reached out and easily started snapping each of Mutum's fingers. Mutum screamed out, especially loudly when Zade moved down to his wrist. His breaking point finally came once Zade had bent one of his elbows 90 degrees the wrong way.
"Alright alright. The system is an underground crime ring. We're the largest in Remnant. I can't imagine people with your background haven't run into us before. Then again. It is highly secretive, and when the lady gets wind of this you won't survive the week." Mutum explained.
"Who's the lady." Zade demanded, grabbing Mutum's other arm.
"I've never met her! She's a secret. She runs everything from somewhere. Rumor is she's a demon who has no empathy, sympathy, or care for human life in the slightest. Getting on her bad side is like signing your own death certificate." Mutum answered afraid. Zade let go of his arm.
"Useless, but fine." Zade said.
"Does that mean you won't kill me." Mutum asked hopefully.
"No. I'm gonna kill you… and it's gonna hurt." Zade said, wickedly. Mutum gulped in fear.
"W-why?" He asked. Zade got real close and dragged a blade slowly across his cheek.
"Because it's fucks like you that killed my mother, and I'm gonna enjoy every second of this." Zade whispered.
Titan opened the main door to the compound and everyone raced outside. Max and Allison were walking next to each other as Mistral police raided in and emergency worked began tending to the freed girls.
"When did you call them?" Allison asked, impressed by the display of forethought.
" We send out a distress message when we got here, and told them to wait for our signal." Max explained.
"Well it seems like you guys did a really good thing here." Allison beamed.
"It's what we do." Zade said, suddenly appearing before the two.
"Take care of what you needed?" Max asked.
"Oh yeah." Zade nodded.
"Good… for you." Allison said, a little concerned. Zade chuckled and turned towards her.
"Are you alright?" Zade asked.
"Yeah. I'll be fine. I should be able to get a plane back to Vale soon."
"Earlier than you think. I took the liberty of downloading all their files and distributing all of their revenue to every girl in their database. Worked out to about 180,000 per girl." Max interrupted.
"Goddamn!" Zade exclaimed, hitting Max on the back.
"That's amazing thank you guys so much." Allison said, giving both of them a hug and walking towards an officer who was beckoning towards her.
"Should we go?" Max asked.
"Yeah let's." Zade said, grabbing a hold of Max and Titan before teleporting them all away.
The door burst open into the dark red room as Lionheart strood in. He walked right to the center of the room, and stared straight up at the shadow of the woman in her marble throne. She sat up straight and stared at him. The five people standing just a few steps below her put their hands on their weapon.
"Calm down. He's a friend." The shadow said, slowly rising from her throne and walking down the steps to meet with Lionheart.
"What the hell are your thinking?" Lionheart asked, taking a hold of the hilt of his sword.
"Lionheart dear. It's customary to meet old friends with at least a hello isn't it." She teased, getting close.
"Don't screw around. I know you've been antagonizing those idiots. Two of them even came to my office for information." Lionheart said. The woman blew him off.
"You should see our new product. I think it's a great way to expand business, and manage employees." Lionhearts raised an eyebrow. The shadow pointed him towards a wall and Lionheart looked. It opened up to reveal 3 bodies that were being hanged. They were skinned and exsanguinated.
"Cannibalism?" Lionheart asked, uneasy.
"Uh huh. They go for a high price." The shadow said, stepping back.
"You really are the mistress of depravity." Lionheart pointed out.
"Hey you go high, I dig a hole in the ground and go lower everyday." The shadow laughed.
"That still doesn't explain why you attacked Beacon, and are pursuing team ENDD." Lionheart said.
"I wanted a challenge. I was getting bored of having everything go my way and I wanted to see how powerful my empire had really become." she responded said.
"So you challenged the only people who could bring down your empire?" Lionheart asked.
"Who else?" The shadow answered. Lionheart shook his head.
"You'd better have a plan, because if you fuck this up for both of us, then you'll have to deal with me." Lionheart threatened. The shadow laughed.
"I think I'm off to a good start." She said, pointing to the spot above her throne. Lionheart looked up and smiled at the crucified Darron.
"How's it hanging?" He asked.
"Pretty fucking good." Darron replied.
"Way to tone it down asshole." The voices chided. Lionheart chuckled.
"Looks like you really do have a handle on the situation." Lionheart said, turning back towards the channel.
"Thank you." the shadow said.
"But where exactly are you keeping his sword?" Lionheart asked.
"Oh look the sword you lost you miserable fuck. How dare you lose the one true mistress, as opposed to this fake ass bitch." the voices yelled again.
"His sword?" The shadow asked curiously. Lionheart smiled mischievously.
"His sword is his favorite thing. If he doesn't have it he's out of power. IF you don't have it, then his team could get it back to him, and then you're in trouble." Lionheart explained..
"Hey! Don't tell her all the secrets." Darron demanded.
"Thank you Lionheart." The shadow smiled. She turned towards one of her chosen.
"Dreamwalker, be a dear and fetch me that sword. I suspect it's still at beacon since these two weren't careful enough." She asked, glaring at Feuer Brennt and Restrainer. The two of them looked down at the ground.
"Our deepest apologies mistress." the apologized in unison.
"Of course mistress." Dreamwalker said, walking down the stairs and leaving the room.
"I can't stress how much fire you're playing with though." Lionheart said.
"Oh Lionheart, don't worry. I've never let you down before and I don't plan on it now. Just stick to your little financial crimes, and let the real mastermind do what she does best." The shadow taunted.
"Whatever." Lionheart said, turning to leave. He pushed opened the door, taking a glance back as the light from outside illuminated the shadow, revealing her evil smile, long red hair, dark attire, and short horns. Lionheart couldn't help but think to himself as he walked back to his ship.
"You've dug your own grave… Minerva Taurus."
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