Three days later at the Hearth Mansion.

The members of the Hestia Familia are going around doing their daily chores or activities of their choosing but Bell is just in his room, sitting by his bed and reading a story book about heroes of the old.

Bell flips a page on the book before he looks at a drawn picture of a knight fighting against a monster while protecting a princess.

"a Hero…" Bell muttered, seeing how the hero fights against the monster with nothing but a sword and shield. The young man then closes the pages before he goes and place the book into a bookshelf near his bed, he then looks at another book nearby that he picks out. "a Kaiser.." the second book he holds has the title Bloody Kaiser written on the front cover. He flips a few pages and finds a drawing of his father fully plated in his armor and wields a dark demonic sword against a dark silhouette figure of a monster rising from the shadows. "both having the same purpose in battle.."

Bell contemplates on the actions that his father along with his Aunts and Uncles are doing upon Orario is simply to bring order that has been lost, but he also contemplates on the rough actions that they would take to get the results that they desired.

'is this really the best for Orario?' Bell thought while remembering how Orario was in total fear when the Kaisers came into control. 'if this keeps up, Orario would be…' The young man wanting to do something to stop their actions but he shakes his head with a frown while placing the book back into the shelf. 'no, I can't. Dad is doing his best to keep everyone safe and I should let him and the others do it.' he frowns even more when he remembers the day of the duel, the moment when it is revealed that Aiz never cared for him, she only wanted to use him. he gritted his teeth and had a hand to his head, his mind remembering the day of the duel before it suddenly vanishes. He shakes his head while placing a hand to the Kaiser's story book and then walks away. His eyes were glowing red and his locket's gem glows alongside it. "no, things should be like this."

Bell walks to the window nearby and looks to the view outside.

"everything will be alright with the Kaisers in control." Bell spoke out as his eyes stopped glowing. "This is the right path for Orario."

As Bell keeps on looking to the view outside, he spots the Underworld Castle that came hovering above his Familia's Home and casts its shadow upon it.

"Dad…" Bell muttered out as he sees his father slowly hovering down from the floating castle while being followed by Melinoe and Makaria.


Outside of the Home. Zagreus, Melinoe, and Makaria stood in front of the Hearth Mansion as they were met with the Skeleton Servants and Hell Knights positioned at the area for Bell's safety.

"seems that there's been some suspicious actions around the area but none came anywhere near Bell." Makaria spoke while getting the report from one Hell Knight that came near her. She then glances at Zagreus. "also, there's been some visitation by that clown's blonde brat."

"What?" Zagreus said while keening his eyes.

"here." Makaria raise her right hand and on her palm appears a glowing blue energy ball that shows the image of Aiz trying to enter the Hearth Mansion but she was prevented by the Hell Knights that roughly pushes her away. "she's been trying for the past three days."

"Does she believe that she can be forgiven when she comes to apologize to him?" Melinoe asks after clicking her tongue and having a very annoyed look. She raises her hand and start to crack her fingers a few times. "I'd say we should get rid of that pathetically stupid brat now rather than letting whatever Evilus has in store for her and her Familia in the Dungeon."

"no, leave her be." Zagreus spoke in reply as he turns and face the door. "I desire that she would enter eternal despair, guilt, and pain for what she has done to my son." His eyes glows menacingly to the point that they burn vapor. "until then will she die at my hands."

Melinoe and Makaria looked at Zagreus before they face forward and then nodded.

A minute later, after knocking on the door and getting answered by Haruhime who greeted them with respect, polite, and a bit of fear. The Kaisers entered the Home and finds Bell walking down the stairs before coming to face them.

"Dad…" Bell spoke in seeing his father and his Aunts. "Aunt Melinoe and Aunt Makaria.." he looks back at his father and asks. "Why are you here?"

"We came to seek your assistance in a mission of ours." Zagreus spoke while looking down at Bell. "a mission of great importance."

"What is it?" Bell asks while the members of the Hestia Familia slowly makes an appearance one by one.

"a few days ago, we had several old friends come back to Orario." Makaria spoke while crossing her arms under her chest. "They were kind enough to return to their jobs as private informants to the Kaisers."

"Private informants?" Bell said and Zagreus nodded.

"it was thanks to their efforts that the Kaisers were able to protect Orario in the past." Zagreus said as he crosses his arms on his chest. "but lately, they have been having trouble trying to submit their information to us."

"trouble?" Bell asks. "what kind of trouble?"

"Orario is currently going on a full reconstruction of everything." Melinoe stated. "it's trade economy, defensive structure, everything." She raised a hand and wave it to the side. "but at the same time, we're flushing out anyone who has any connection with Evilus."

"therefore it leads to our informants doing their best to keep their identities as our Familia's informants a secret." Makaria said while holding up a hand and a scroll appears in her grasp. "we Kaisers are doing our best to ensure that they are protected in accordance with the deal we have with them, but our actions are quite limited due to the fact that there's reconstruction in the system and all." she unravels the scroll and it shows several names that is listed in it. "they're all now currently hiding their identity as plain citizens in several areas of Orario."

"I see…" Bell nods in understanding. "but where does my Familia come with this plan? I mean, the Kaiser Familia is…"

"No. We only need your help, Bell." Melinoe said after shaking her head. "And we need your help because we can't move too much considering that we are too well known by the people in Orario."

"Therefore we need you to act as a second proxy for the one Kaiser tasked with this mission." Makaria added in.

"simply put, a partner." Zagreus said.

"a partner on a mission.." Bell spoke while scratching the back of his head. "I guess I can help." He then looks at Melinoe, Makaria, and then his father. "so who I am going to help with?"

"Not us." Zagreus said before he steps aside and turns towards the opened door with Makaria and Melinoe doing the same action. The three Kaisers looks outside to see someone slowly descending from the Underworld Castle and then landing at the front entrance of the Home. "Her."

"Her?" Bell spoke out as he and the rest of the Hestia Familia who came standing behind him all look at the person who came to the front door of their Home and it was none other than Shakti Varma who walks in while wearing a pure black and red version of her usual attire. "Shakti-san?"

"You will be assigned on a covert mission with Shakti Varma to collect the important information report from our informants." Zagreus spoke while crossing his arms together. "while in disguise."

"disguise?" Bell asks.

"Simply put. You will be acting as Shakti's date partner." Melinoe added in.

"eh?" Bell and his Familia made a confused noise while blinking their eyes once in unison before their eyes went wide as saucers while their jaws dropped. "ehhhhh!?"


The next day, at the afternoon. At a plaza area of the city, there are people going around doing their daily activities.

By a random café, there is Bell who is looking very tense and nervous because of three things. First is the fact that his white hair has been dyed black and he is wearing glasses that somehow gives the illusion that his red eyes are now blue, the second is the fact that he is wearing a formal and expensive looking tuxedo like uniform, and lastly is the fact that he is currently being forced to go on a pretend date with Shakti.

"Just how did it come to this?" Bell asks himself in a whispering voice.

Flashback

Going back in time on the previous day.

Bell and his Familia looks bewildered and shocked towards Zagreus and the other Kaisers who stood before them.

"Downtown Plaza, Up-District Road, West avenue, and east avenue." Zagreus spoke while holding out four fingers with his right hand. "you and Shakti will go to 8 informants located at these four areas on your pretend date."

"And don't worry about any paid expenses, we got it all covered." Melinoe said with a smile while pointing a finger up. "all you got to do is to accompany Shakti and have some fun while you're at it."

"i-I understand the need for me to be someone's partner but.." Bell spoke out a bit nervous and tense. "b-but a date..even a-a pretend one!"

"that's right! Bell-kun doesn't need to go on a date!" Hestia gives out her complaint in a loud voice. "if you need someone to act as a partner for Shakti-kun, you can take Welf-kun here!"

"yes! Welf-sama is of no use in the Home other than in his forge!" Lili added in. "Bell-sama can't go on a date! So take him instead!"

"yes!" Haruhime agreed. "Welf-sama is available!"

"you guys are so mean!" Welf shouted at the three while Mikoto sweatdrops in the background.

"We have no use of him or any of you, we only need Bell." Zagreus spoke out before his eyes glows menacingly at Hestia and the others. "so be silent, useless worms."

Hestia and the others tensed up in fear because of the pressuring power that Zagreus unleashes upon them.

"We only need Bell because he's the perfect candidate for this mission." Melinoe stated with her arms crossed and her back leaned against a wall near her. "Welf Crozzo is too big and tall, also too well known considering that he's a Crozzo's descendant and all."

"the point is, Bell is who we need to be Shakti's partner on this mission." Zagreus said with his eyes glows more menacing. "and none of you lot."

"got it?" Makaria added in.

"y-yes.." Hestia and the others replied while slowly backing away from Bell who stayed and faced his father and then Shakti.

"I look forward in working with you, Bell Cranel." Shakti said before she did a head bow.

"y-yes…" Bell replied, a bit awkward and tense

flashback

Back to the present time, Bell is seated at a table in the café. The young man is currently on the so called mission by the Kaisers as he is told to wait till his partner comes by his father.

"Apologies for the delay." A voice spoke as Bell turns and he soon blushes with a surprised face because he finds Shakti standing behind him, but the Ankusha's appearance is what surprises him. prior to her all black and red outfit, she is wearing a casual white and orange blouse, a few golden bracelets around both of her wrists, blackish blue jeans, black short lace heels, and she also carries a small purse that hangs around her right arm. The Captain of the Ganesha Familia is wearing a disguise for the mission but her whole disguise wouldn't be perfect with some new make up for her complexion. "it took some time to complete my disguise for the mission."

"I-I see.." Bell gulped as he sees how Shakti's usually short blue hair is now long till it reached her back and almost wavy, her make up on the complexion is some eyeliners and a hint of reddish violet lipsticks on. This completely give her a whole different look in her disguise that made her into an entirely different person. "I-I thought you were someone else when you came to me and.."

"I believe the disguise's purpose is fulfilled." Shakti said while adjusting her hold on her little purse and then sat by the table across from Bell. "I hope you have not wait for too long, Lepus."

"n-no…" Bell replied in a nervous stutter. Lepus being a fake name given to him for the mission "i-I just arrived here. So you're just on time for our…d-date, Sha- I mean Gaja-san."

Shakti nodded as the two started to have a conversation with each other.

While the two are conversing at the café, Hestia along with Lili and Haruhime are spying on them from a nearby alleyway. The three girls are currently watching over Bell on his pretend date with Shakti as they are feeling very jealous to see their favorite rabbit captain with someone.

"Why is Bell-kun got to be on a pretend date with Shakti-kun!?" Hestia bit the nail of her thumb very furiously. "I should be the one there!"

"like hell you should be, Hestia-sama! haven't you once gone on a date with Bell-sama before!" Lili exclaimed while pulling a handkerchief side to side. "not even Lili got a chance to go on a date!"

"you two! Please be quiet!" Haruhime asks the two to be quiet as they are being very loud. "if you make too much noise! The Hell Knights!"

Before she could finish her warning, a group of five Hell Knights appear behind them as three reaches in and picked up the three girls by the back of their neck.

"Citizens causing a disturbance have been apprehended." The Hell Knights spoke in their robotic voice in unison. "Proceeding to detain them."

"hey! Wait!" "wait! We were only watching! We weren't disturbing!" Hestia and Lili cried out while trying to struggle for freedom, Haruhime on the other hand looks rather defeated because of being caught.

Unknown to the three, they were being watched from the shadows by Melinoe who glances at their direction before she turns and then disappears in a red flash.


Some time later, at the downtown plaza by the market area, Shakti and Bell were walking by as they were holding hands.

Shakti looks at the street before she closed her eyes for a second and then glanced to the side with a sweatdrop because of Bell walking like a robot.

"please try your best to act naturally." Shakti whispered to Bell. "This is a mission by your family, remember?"

"y-yes….it's just that…" Bell muttered out while looking very nervous. "i-it's just that…why do we have to play it as a date?"

"there is no helping it." Shakti said before focusing on the street. "none of the Kaisers have the time to take this mission due to Orario stil being reconstructed after the recent events. Just act normal and bear with it."

"y-yes…" Bell replied while trying to calm himself down. The Little Rookie just gets lead by Shakti as he was trying to focus himself on the given mission by his father. 'This is too embarrassing!' he thought as he shakes his head before seeing that he and Shakti were going into a men and women clothing store together. 'and this is way more embarrassing!'

They entered the store and Bell's face is just pure red as he also has his eyes close because there were many women's clothes of different and too exposing style and very less men's clothes.

"please don't stand out too much." Shakti whispered to Bell while pretending to pick out some outfits from a clothing rack. "your reddened Tomato face is just sticking out."

"i-I can't! t-this is too embarrassing!" Bell muttered out while trying to hide his face as best as possible. "I mean! How is this supposed to be a mission and all!?"

"don't act so suspicious!" Shakti told Bell while checking in seeing the people who are in the store could possibly be checking on them. "you are standing out too much!" she took another quick glance around the area. "we need to complete this task by the Kaisers, so please bear with it."

"y-yes…" Bell replied as he slowly tries to pull himself together. "I'm very sorry for my behaviour."

Shakti nodded as she and Bell started to pretend to be a couple in their pretend date.

"here, this will look nice on you." Shakti said with a smile as she picked a blackish grey jacket that she handed gently to Bell. "try wearing it."

"y-yes…" Bell replied, as he slowly switches his jacket vest with the one that Shakti chose.

As Bell is trying the outfit, a random customer of the shop went pass him from the back and accidently bumped him.

"wha!?" Bell leans forward and he is caught by Shakti.

"sorry about that." The random customer apologized to Bell and then went off.

"are you alright?" Shakti asks Bell who has his face pressed against her chest because of the sudden bump to his back.

"T-Thank you and I'm so sorry!" Bell quickly pulls back and begins to bow his head repeatedly to Shakti. "I'm so sorry!"

"it's fine." Shakti replied, unbothered by the little accident while sweatdropping because some nearby customers got their attention attracted because of Bell.


The day goes on as the sky turned orange and soon black because night has come with the moon and stars.

Bell and Shakti are now at some high-end restaurant as they sat by a table together and were presented meals by the waiters. The place had an informant working within the establishment and had already presented the collected information to the Brave Kaiser who receives it. right now, both are having dinner since it was almost time for the meal.

"There are even informants in such a place, huh?" Bell said in seeing how fancy the restaurant is before to his presented meals. "I can't feel comfortable in such a place."

"indeed." Shakti said as she held a knife and a fork while already digging into her meal. "I can't remember how many times I have to learn in the cuisine of royalty." She took a bite of the meat dish prepared and began to chew it slowly. "I would prefer meals prepared at a small pub than this."

"I can understand that." Bell said with a smile. "My goddess always told me that if my Familia would reach the high ranks, we would always high-end cuisine for our feasts." The Little Rookie chuckled a bit, but his happy looking mood soon turned gloom as he started to frown. "yeah, she always did..."

"What is wrong?" Shakti asked in seeing Bell's sudden gloomy face. "do you feel sick?"

"n-no…it's just.." Bell shakes his head before frowning even more. "Shakti-san….Ganesha-sama trusts you very much…right?"

"Pardon?" Shakti replied while raising an eyebrow.

"i'm asking if…Ganesha-sama trusts you very much." Bell repeated his statement as Shakti looks at him for a moment before nodding. "I see….you're so lucky to have such a god..and a friend"

"what is wrong?" Shakti asked again while placing down her utensils. "is there something that had happened with your Familia?"

"it's…." Bell muttered out before he frowns and just shakes his head. "no…it's nothing. It's nothing at all."

"I don't believe that." Shakti said as she placed her hands on the table. "I know I'm from a different Familia and had just become a member of the Kaiser Familia; but seeing your face; it tells me it's something that is way concerning than goes past it." The Ankusha then gently placed her right hand on top of Bell's left hand. "i'm all ears to hear your trouble and I will help you with it as well."

Bell looks at Shakti for a moment before he looks down with a frown but soon took a deep breath and then sighs.

The Little Rookie then explained to Shakti about how he has been cooping after everything that has happened after the Kaiser Familia's return to Orario, how there's been changes that he is trying to adept with, and how things have changed from the worse to the best of his life. He defined more on the facts that his Familia couldn't trust him once and how his life has been lead with false hopes of love by the Sword Princess.

"ever since then…." Bell spoke out before he frowns and then looks down. "I just wished…..i just wished that things could've been different."

Shakti looks at Bell as she frowns a bit while understanding his feelings.

"Bell, listen to me." Shakti spoke out as Bell looks up to her. "You have to find the answer to your problem in your heart." The Ankusha gently grasped his hand. "I would help you find the answer but hearing your situation, this puts me at the side lines. No one can just be who others want them to be; you are yourself because your life is yours to set. The fact that your Familia couldn't trust you about a secret that is of yourself would mean that they were just trying to protect you. Trust isn't something that is easily gained, it is something that must be earned. That is why the trust that your Familia has with you was still growing at that time." She then reached out and placed another hand on Bell's hand. "right now, the trust between you and your Familia is still being mended and that your life is also slowly being pieced together as well." She held a hand up and waved it to the side. "I'm not saying that you should try to get things to be returned as the past because it is impossible. The past is meant to stay in the past and not in the present nor future. You must move on and see through things in the future. Don't stay in the past, go and keep moving on to the future."

"but….." Bell muttered out while looking down with a frown. "to do that…I don't think I can.."

"you have to." Shakti said. "the longer you try to stay in the past, the stronger its grip on you it will become."

"i…" Bell muttered out while frowning even more.

"you don't need to go on a haste." Shakti said while stopping Bell from speaking any further. "you can take your time and tread slowly. Something like this takes time and patience while cannot be hasted. Remember that you need patience and time."

Bell looks at Shakti for a moment before he looks down and nodded. The Ankusha nodded before smiling a bit.

"I know this is something a bit of my own opinion, but…." Shakti said as she gently patted Bell's hand. "I have a good feeling that you of all people can adapt through any tough situation and therefore can advance without any problem." She smiles a bit more. "for you have a good and brave heart."

Bell blushes a bit before he nodded in gratitude.

Shakti smiles to Bell before she glances to the side and sees a waiter coming while presenting two bowls of frosted dessert.

"We didn't order this?" Bell spoke, in confusion and surprise.

"a special service from our chef for the couple." The waiter replied with a smile before bowing and then leaving.

"b-but we're just!" Bell tried to retort but after quickly remembering how this is a pretend date, he just kept quiet. "t-thank you!"


Time passes again as the moon is now up in the dark night sky filled with sparkling stars.

Bell and Shakti are just strolling around in the slowly emptying street as the citizens were calling it a night and getting to sleep for the next day.

"today was tiring." Bell said as he walks just carefreely while looking at the night sky. "I never knew that dad and the others had so many trusted informants in Orario."

"it would be obvious considering that they do their best to protect the peace." Shakti said as she holds her purse that is filled with many small scrolls tied with small ribbons. "They need to protect Orario from the light and also the shadows."

"I guess so." Bell replied with a smile.

The two keeps on walking around so carefreely as they just had one heck of a tiring mission together.

Taking some time to rest, Bell and Shakti decided to enter the public district area and go to a bench by the fountain where they sat by to gaze at the stars.

"Today's mission was a bit tough and all." Shakti said as she soon sighs with a smile. "But it was a bit of fun to just be one's self."

"be one's self?" Bell asked as Shakti nodded.

"ever since I became captain of my Familia, I have been having so many tasks after tasks given to me." Shakti said as she sighs again. "to be honest, I almost envied other adventurers who don't have my job. I just sometimes wished that I could be a normal girl, just having a carefree life."

"I can somehow understand that." Bell said with a chuckling smile before he glanced at Shakti. "but I'm sure that you can just task those burden to your Familia, right?"

"no, I can't." Shakti replied in an instant. "I'm the captain of the Ganesha Familia and now the Brave Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia. the Pillar of power of Orario. If I just leave heavy tasks to my comrades; it would seem that I am just being lazy or non-caring."

"Shakti-san, being a captain doesn't mean holding responsibility over everything." Bell stated with a small smile. "being a Familia's captain just means to lead your comrades and being a captain means that you are trusted by your friends. That is why being a captain doesn't mean becoming the person who has to be responsible for everything." He smiles even more as he gazes at the moon and the stars above. "Being oneself just means that you are someone who can be trusted, someone who can manage and task things very well, and someone who is to be idolized."

Shakti looks at Bell before she smiles with a few giggles escaping her lips.

"I can see so much resemblance that you have with your father." Shakti said as she looks at Bell while still smiling. "you and him are very wise. It's no wonder that you are levelling up so fast. you have kindness, a wise mind, and most of all bravery. I hardly believe that it could be either your blood connection with your father or that unknown hidden skill of yours that gives you such a rapid growth." The Ankusha then gently placed a hand on top of the little Rookie's hand. "I am very certain that it is all because of who you are. Your ownself; the you who I am seeing is the reason as to why you are becoming stronger."

"I don't know about that…" Bell said with a small smile as he looks down a bit and soon blushes when he realized that he was close with Shakti and their hands were on top of each other. "u-um…Shakti-san…"

"what is it?" Shakti asked as Bell just looks at her with the most softest gaze with the hint of red just blushing his cheeks which made herself blush as well in seeing it. "w-what's wrong?"

Bell didn't respond as he just gazed deeply into Shakti's eyes as the Ankusha did the same. He slowly close his eyes as his face is leaning closer towards his companion like they were being pulled towards one another.

Both both leans their lips forward and before long they connected into a kiss.

It was short, yet sweet as Bell and Shakti shared a small kiss before they look at each other.

Bell opened his eyes before his face went red and he looked away.

"i-I'm sorry!" Bell cried out. "i-I didn't know what came over me! I!" the Little Rookie apologizes to Ankusha but a hand gently cups his cheeks and made him turn towards her. "S-Shakti-san.."

Shakti smiles before she closed her eyes and leans close for another kiss with the young man who looks surprised, but he soon closed and reincorporated back.

While both were locked in their kiss, they were unknowingly being watched by Zagreus and the others who were sitting or standing around on the rooftop of a building nearby.

"That went well than expected." Polemos said while sitting at the edge of the roof.

"Way more than expected." Makaria added in, the Mage Kaiser standing near Polemos with Thalia by her side.

"But it's still the desired results." Thalia spoke while nodding. "with this, we don't have to worry about that brat trying to get back with Bell."

"still, to think that we are forced to have Shakti to be Bell's life partner." Melinoe said, the Blade Kaiser sitting on the top of a chimney while dangling her feet back and forth. "I feel kinda bad for her."

"I feel more bad on Bell." Ploutos said as he came near Zagreus and looks at the Bloody Kaiser from the side before at Bell who is now leaning close to Shakti with a somewhat small happy smile. "to get him to be match up on a pretend date and being given a love potion." He glances at Zagreus once again. "don't you feel bad?"

"What I did today was to protect him from all harm." Zagreus spoke as he looks at his son before to his right hand that held up a vial filled with only a small amount of glowing pink liquid. "that is all."

Flashback

Back at the Underworld castle, four days prior.

Zagreus and the other Kaisers face Shakti who stood before them.

"you wish for me…to be Bell Cranel's life partner?" Shakti spoke out in complete bewilderment towards Zagreus who nodded.

"it has come to my attention that there are many who seek my son's love and many are not worthy and do not fulfill the aspects I considered to be good traits." Zagreus said while turning sideways and then walks near the large round table nearby. "after what happened at that duel, his heart needs to be healed but with the help of someone who we can trust." He turns and looks at Shakti. "that is where you will come in place, Shakti Varma. You shall be the one to have my son's love and earn the task to heal his heart."

"but..something like that.." Shakti spoke, a bit in denial on the idea of her having Bell's love even though the young man has no such feelings for her. "Even if I were to do such a thing. I don't believe that.."

"He will be in love with you." Zagreus spoke before he held up his right hand that holds the vial filled with the glowing pink liquid. "Once he drinks this."

"What is that?" Shakti asks while looking at the vial.

"a love potion." Makaria explained while crossing her arms on her chest. "I made it at Zagreus' request." She shrugs her shoulders and sighs. "he made me make one that is for the upcoming mission. All that is needed to be done is to pour some of it to any meal or drinks that Bell will ingest on the upcoming mission."

"But this love potion is unlike those fabled love potions where if one sipped it, they will be in love with those they were made to be. This love potion will only affect my son's love emotion and make it be directed to one person only." Zagreus stated while holding up the vial that glows from the ceiling light. "and that person will be you, Shakti Varma."

The Ankusha looks at the vial with a rather sceptic look before she gulped a bit and asks in a rather unsure voice. "are you really sure that you wish to do such a thing to Bell Cranel? Your own son?"

"I am and I do this to ensure that he is protected." Zagreus replied before his eyes glows a bit ominously. "and I will show you why I must protect him at all cost."

Shakti looks at Zagreus as her blue eyes slowly glows in response.

flashback

Zagreus stares at the nearly empty vial in his hand before he crushed it in his palm while it burns in black flames.

"Thalia, any news from Airmid Teasanare?" Zagreus spoke as he turns and glances at the Saint Kaiser. "Has she given her response?"

"Yeah," Thalia nodded while crossing her arms. "She said that she is willing to become my disciple on the condition that she would still be allowed to give minimal assistance to the Loki Familia." she tilts her head. "I don't really give a damn on her condition but what about you? That sounds good for you?"

"if that is her condition, then so be it." Zagreus replied before he looked back at Bell and Shakti, the two are slowly moving away from the fountain. The atmosphere between the two is a bit awkward because of the Rabbit Foot looking rather flush because of the kiss he shared with the Brave Kaiser. "on the next day, take her to the Underworld Castle and begin her training to be the next Saint Kaiser." He turns while waving his cape to the side. "Ensure that she is fully trained as your own disciple, Thalia."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Thalia said while uncrossing her arms and then turns to walk away, only to disappear in a flash the next second.

"Ploutos." Zagreus faces the Iron God Kaiser who made a noise while facing the Bloody Kaiser. "on the next coming day, see through it if Tsubaki is a possible candidate to be your successor as the next Iron God Kaiser."

"considering that she's my former student and all, I can't say that I don't see the possibility of her to be my successor and all." Ploutos said while shrugging his shoulders. "I'll see if she wants to or not tomorrow."

"Very well." Zagreus said before he looks at Melinoe and Polemos. "both of you shall be with me."

"What are we going to be doing?" Melinoe asks while waving her long scarlet hair to the side.

"we're going to be hunting down the rats that still lurk in the shadow and hide in the ground" Zagreus spoke while looking up at the night sky. "I grew tired and disgusted by the fact that I walk on the land while they run around uncontrolled. It's time for the rats to be disposed off, once and for all."

"Sounds like a plan." Polemos said while slamming his fists together, creating a small electrical discharge.

"Where do we start?" Melinoe asks and Zagreus provides her with a map that he threw for her to catch and then look at. The map shows several areas marked with red X marks but there's one area marked with a big circle. "southeast district, huh?"

"they got what they need to do, what about me?" Makaria asks, the Mage Kaiser not given any instruction to do."

"look after Bell." Zagreus said as he walks past the Mage Kaiser and slowly disappears into black sparkles. "ensure that he is healed with the help of Shakti Varma and that he is unbothered by his Familia and that blonde brat."

"I see.." Makaria said as the other Kaisers slowly disappears one by one before herself. "got it."


That's a wrap!

Bye bye