16th Red Ash Moon, 908, Echo Bell Capital

It took a great deal of maneuvering to sneak their prisoner into the inn, but the Foresters managed to evade detection. The chaos from the recent battle stirred enough attention to distract bystanders, allowing them easier access into the inn. They feared the Froslass would wake up amidst their sneaking, but whatever Zechariah afflicted her with left her out cold during the whole journey back.

Once they entered their room, Jason anointed anti-ghost potion onto some rope and bound the Froslass tight. Melissa tended to Felix, Victoria, and Zech's injuries, feeding them medicine and patching up their wounds. Zech lay passed out over the bed with his shovel sitting against the wall.

Jason tightened the knot and stood up. "Wyatt and Avel will be back with Lucient soon." He glanced at the apprentices. "You said she doesn't speak any English?"

Victoria shook her head. "Not a lick of it."

Felix shrugged. "Honestly, I wasn't sure what she was monologuing about during that whole fight. Sounded personal, I guess, but…meh. I think I picked up enough words to determine she's from the Great Gate Empire."

Jason sighed. "Lucient's multilingual, so let's hope he speaks old Johtonian."

Melissa finished cleaning Victoria's shoulder and pressed a bandage against it. "More importantly, how did you two wind up in a fight in the first place?"

Victoria grinned awkwardly. "Not by choice, if that's what you're thinking." She frowned. "We got turned around following your directions in the catacombs. We thought we went the wrong way, but then we encountered him." She nodded at Zechariah. "Do you know him?"

Jason nodded. "Zechariah Beaumont, Zephora's older brother. Zephora didn't want her family worrying over her, so she explained what she was doing. They didn't really care. It was Zephora's decision to become a bandit, and they weren't going to oppose."

Melissa winced. "That…That's a little too supportive."

"Well, it's not like they didn't see her reasoning. Zephora hates unjust acts that lead to death. So do they. In their own way, corruption brings undeserved death, thus imposing on it could lead to natural death later down the line."

"…I see?"

Victoria continued, "Anyway, back to what I was saying, we ran into him in the catacombs because he followed us. During the confusion, I miraculously stumbled upon a secret wall at the dead end. It leads straight into the wine cellar of Castle Visconti."

Melissa smiled. "Ha! I knew I was right! Great work you…two?" She noticed their worried expressions and frowned. "Did something happen while you two were down there? Aside from being attacked by this Froslass?"

Felix sighed. "Well, here's the thing. We've actually seen this Froslass before, and that's where we realized something very wrong is going down here. Her name, if I remember correctly, is Junko Yukimura. She's a performer from a traveling act called the Cirque du Madness."

Jason's eyes widened. "What?"

"A performer?" Melissa gasped.

Victoria nodded. "He's right. We saw one of their shows yesterday. They were really good. Amazing, even! That's…why we were shocked when she attacked us in the catacombs. She followed us down there. Apparently she wanted to silence us for what we saw. That much was clear despite the language barrier."

Melissa narrowed her eyes. "W…What happened down there? What did you see?"

Felix glared. "There was another member of the circus. In the castle cellar. The master of ceremonies, a Mr. Mime named Benvenuto."

"He was in the cellar?" Jason asked. "Before you got there?"

"Yeah. We weren't sure why he was down there, but then someone came stalking out of the shadows. We couldn't see who it was, but…" He grimaced. "I'm not sure how to even explain this, because even I can't believe what I saw down there."

Melissa grabbed his shoulder. "Felix, calm down. Who else did you see down—"

"Grim Deadlock."

Their eyes widened as Zechariah rose up from the bed. He hunched forward and rested his cheek against his fist. He stared at the group with his dull gaze, the eyes of someone unfazed by death and despair. They were chilling to witness for the first time. It was a completely different look compared to his younger sister's, someone who seemed passionate about death.

Melissa's hands slipped away from Felix's shoulders. She stared with her mouth agape. "Grim…Deadlock?"

Jason clenched his teeth. "He was in the castle cellar?"

Zech nodded. "That's right. I saw the whole thing as well. It was…unusual to see him out during the day."

Melissa gasped. "Wait, are you saying you know Grim Deadlock?!"

He shook his head. "Not personally. Professionally. He tips me off about killings he'll commit. I don't tell anyone about this. I just do my job."

Her ears flopped over. "So, w-why was he in Castle Visconti? And why was some circus performer in the castle, too? W-Why were they meeting inside the castle to begin with?! None of this is making sense! That nightmare reaper nearly killed me the last time I was here. I have a hard time believing his killings are premeditated, and I especially can't believe he's patient enough to listen to someone associated with a criminal."

Zech bowed his head. "When I first met Grim Deadlock, I had a hard time believing it, too. He's much more eloquent than the rumors describe him as. Reasonable, even. And yet, I hear he is also ruthless and bloodthirsty towards crime. Still, even I do not know the exact nature of their meeting. A lot of what they discussed was…unfamiliar."

Jason crossed his arms. "What exactly were they discussing?"

Felix frowned. "We're not entirely sure, but…they kept mentioning something called the heir system."

His brow raised. "Heir system?"

Victoria nodded. "Mr. Benvenuto told him that he was looking for prominent members of the ten royal families. He never really said who he was working for, though. We just know they're working for someone else."

Jason glared. "Hmm. The ten royal families, you say?"

Felix nodded. "Apparently, they've recruited the granddaughter of the Great Gate emperor and Darby Tetrarch."

Melissa's eyes widened. "D…Darby?" She backed away, feeling a shiver run up her back. "Darby…"

Jason frowned at her momentarily before continuing. "What is this all for?"

"Something about…taking over the throne of the Elysivine Kingdom," Felix said.

Zech scratched his chin. "I've never heard of such a kingdom, but they said it's—"

"The true name of the Great Kingdom before it fell," Jason finished, gripping into his sleeve. "Did they mention anyone else?"

Victoria shrugged. "Sort of. They haven't been able to get to the Senbo Kingdom. However…" She glanced tentatively at Melissa.

She noticed their staring and shook off her shivers. "W-What?"

Felix scratched behind his ear. "Um…" He glanced awkwardly at Zech. "The thing is—"

"They mentioned you," Zech interrupted. Everyone looked to the gravedigger with wide eyes. "Zephora sent me a letter about the princess before you arrived. I've kept silence over it."

Jason facepalmed. "Zephora, why?"

Melissa's eyes widened. "Wait, they mentioned…me?"

Zech nodded. "You were supposed to be a candidate to this heir system. A spy in your castle indicated you were mentally unfit to become the heir, though."

Her eye twitched. "Mentally unfit?" She groaned and stamped her foot down. "What is with everyone claiming I can't lead a kingdom?! First my father, now some jerk spying on me! And what did they mean by mentally unfit? Do they think I'm insane or something? Why is that the conclusion everyone comes to about me?!"

Jason glared. "Uh, Mels. Back on topic?"

"…Right, sorry," she mumbled sheepishly, her cheeks glowing red. "Ahem, continue."

Felix nodded awkwardly. "Riiiight. Anyway, yeah, that Benvenuto fellow went on and on about history and junk. Said something about a big earthquake that hit during the big invasion that buried the secrets of the Elysivine Kingdom. They say even the catacombs hold secrets to the past."

Melissa calmed down and glared. "The catacombs hold secrets of that time? I haven't read anything about that in the history books."

"Meaning either that information is exclusive to the royal family, or even they are oblivious to the secrets under the capital," Jason said.

Victoria nodded. "They mentioned something about the Arbiters and some big treasure that belonged to the old royal family. He said that treasure was solely responsible for eight hundred years of peace after the Savage Era, and he sounds like it still exists."

Zech continued, "Those that hold the power of this treasure are destined to rule Virdis. They're looking for an heir worthy of taking on the treasure and ruling over Virdis as its true king or queen."

Jason scratched his chin, taking a moment to let all the information sink in. "I've never heard of a treasure like that. What could it be? Could it really hold that kind of power?"

Melissa frowned. "That's the least of my concerns. That still doesn't get us to the main issue here. Why was he talking to Grim Deadlock in the castle? What does he have to do with any of this?"

Her apprentices looked at each other unsurely. She couldn't tell if they were just as confused as her or came to their own conclusion that left them uneasy. Admittedly, the more she thought it over, the more she considered the possibilities. A specter of punishment forming a secret meeting in the cellar of the royal castle made little sense. Why not at night? Why in an area off limits to the public?

Unless…

Her eyes widened in horror. "No…no, that can't be true."

Jason glared. "You came to the same conclusion, Rookie?"

She stepped back and clutched her arm. "Th-That doesn't make any…but it actually does. But that means…" Her expression wavered as she stared distraught at the floor. "Oh my Arceus…does this mean Grim Deadlock is actually one of the Visconti children?"

Jason nodded. "They would have free reign of the castle and knowledge of the catacombs. It makes the most sense."

"But they…why? How? I don't understand! Why would they…?" She massaged her temples and sat down on one of the beds. "What is going on around here?"

Jason glared. "I don't know, but we can at least rule out Asterio since we saw him at the carnival. That leaves Evangelina, Azelia, Jessica, and Giselle as prime suspects."

"A-Azelia?!" Melissa gasped.

A horrible thought hovered over her mind of the reaper looming over her with his menacing red eyes. The veil of shadows lifted, and a sight that surpassed the reaper's scythe made the Buneary's soul tremble with the force of a cataclysmic quake.

"Hi Milly! I can't believe it, you're leading a double life, too? OMA, we're twinsies! Ooh, this is so exciting! We should totally slaughter the rotten criminals of this Arceus forsaken world together. It'll be like our first girl's night out! Ooh, so exciting! D'aww, aren't you excited to see me? No need to be scared, bestie. I'm sorry I tried to decapitate you last time. How about a hug?!"

"AAAHHHH!" Melissa took covered under the bed with her feet sticking out. She shook like a wet Growlithe. "Anything but that! I can't unsee it!"

Her apprentices stared at their master in bewilderment. "Uh, is she okay?" Felix asked.

Jason sighed. "I've been asking that same question since she finished basic training." He grabbed her ankle and effortlessly dragged her out from under the bed. "Still, let's not jump to conclusions. It could be a knight for all we know." He glared. "Though, to think Grim Deadlock might actually…I would've never suspected. But that still doesn't explain why he's giving these guys a chance. It doesn't seem in his nature."

Victoria shrugged. "Maybe he was having a stupid day and decided to humor them."

Felix tapped his chin. "I can see that."

Jason shook his head. "No, it has to be something else."

Victoria thought it over for a moment before grimacing. "Oh dear. I…just remembered something else about their conversation."

"Huh?"

Melissa picked herself up. "What do you mean?"

"I-I'm not sure if it has anything to do with Grim being so compliant, but there was something that Mr. Mime mentioned if he doesn't cooperate. He—"

Before she could explain, they heard groaning near the room door. The captured Froslass stirred from her slumber, the energy spikes fading from her body. Zech glared. "My technique is finally wearing off. Perhaps she could explain."

Melissa frowned. "Can we make her talk? Even if Lucient can translate for us, she's not just going to open up about their plans."

"Relax." She gasped as Jason stepped forward and cracked his knuckles. "Marie's not the only one who can interrogate."

Echo Bell Capital Streets

The street was closed off with barricades as soon as the knights arrived. Curious and frightened bystanders gathered around the barricades wondering what became of the snowstorm that suddenly exploded onto the idyllic carnival. Concerns of the carnival being shut down early raised alarm. Many travelers from different parts of the west and some newcomers looked forward to the festivities, and the threat of them being shut down brought grief among the attendees.

The knights did their best to calm the crowds' concerns while Angelo and Romano, heading the investigation, inspected the damage done to the street. Angelo kneeled and examined traces of frost found on the edges of the sinkhole.

"Have we gotten eyewitness statements on who started the fight?" Angelo asked.

Romano, the armored Swampert, pulled out his notebook. "A few descriptions. Two unidentified figures, one biped and one quadruped. A Cacturne with a shovel. And one Junko Yukimura. Someone managed to identify her from a performance the other day. She's one of the traveling acts."

Angelo scratched his chin. "Yukimura. That's a Great Gate name. She's a foreigner from East Virdis. And she caused a commotion out in public?" He stood up and adjusted the blue scarf wrapped over his mouth. "That definitely warrants an investigation. What of the Cacturne?"

Romano checked his notes again. "Some claim he may be the local gravedigger employed by the king and queen. Zechariah Beaumont."

"Hmm, I know him. He's not the sort to start trouble." He pointed at the gaping hole. "Based on the explosion earlier and the fragmentation of the hole, the fight definitely started inside the catacombs. It's not a stretch to think he went underground thinking someone was trespassing."

"But he's currently missing," Romano reminded.

"We'll check his place of residence later. Did anyone get anything on the unidentified pair? Were they with or against the gravedigger?"

"No one stayed around to notice. The storm was too opaque, and the storm made it impossible to get a closer look. If we find him, perhaps he can shed some light on their part in this."

"True. Something's bugging me, though…"

"What?"

Angelo glanced over the rooftops down the road. "Let's assume they passed through one of the secret entrances in the cemetery, hence why Zechariah followed them down. We're decently far away from the cemetery. I don't know many people who can get this far without getting lost. On top of that, our position is a few blocks away from the castle."

Romano glared. "What are you suggesting?"

He shrugged. "Nothing much. Just something that occurred to me. We'll have the knights seal off the road and get some workers to patch this mess up. We may have to station guards near the catacomb entrances just to be safe."

Romano pocketed his notebook inside his breastplate. "What's our next move?"

"Interrogating the circus Ms. Yukimura is associated with. I'd like to know more about why they have a foreigner in their crew, and if there's something else to their visit in the capital." Angelo pocketed his hands and stepped away from the hole. "Come on. Sun sets in a couple hours."

Romano nodded and followed behind. "That reminds me, His Highness was attending the carnival today. Is he—"

"Already checked on him. He and Ms. Gatti went back to the castle."

Romano nodded. "Very good."

Angelo scratched his chin. I should ask the king for information on this circus troupe and how he got in touch with them. Maybe Asterio can help me research them just in case they aren't…cooperative.

Echo Bell Inn

The brothers eventually returned with Lucient and gathered in their shared room. Zechariah took his leave before they arrived, saying he needed to get back to work (and possibly deal with the knights if they come asking questions). He promised to cover for the Foresters.

That left the forest-dwelling bandits to deal with their prisoner. Junko sat against the wall, glaring up at her captors and showing no signs of being intimidated. She didn't recognize most of the faces in front of her, but she was aware of the Fairy Knight's reputation. She never expected to be held captive by the Foresters.

Jason crossed his arms. "Alright, start talking. What was your boss doing in Castle Visconti? And how are you associated with Grim Deadlock?"

Junko smirked smugly. "[I cannot understand a word you are saying, and you cannot understand me. Do not waste your breath, Stormbreaker.]"

Lucient glared. "[I recommend you cooperate, Yukimura. This could get ugly if you continue with these snide remarks.]" Junko frowned at the Espeon.

Melissa titled her head. "You speak Subterran and old Johtonian?"

Lucient smiled and tapped the temple. "I figured I should brush up on my language skills after that run-in with the Accelgor last year. Shingo was kind enough to provide reference material."

"Good, then you can translate for us." Jason stepped up to Junko and slammed his hand against the wall. "Now talk. What relation do you have with Grim Deadlock?"

After Lucient translated, Junko sneered. "[I would sooner die than betray my boss. You cannot shatter my loyalty with threats.]"

"Poor choice of words." Jason glanced over his shoulder. "Everyone, please turn around."

They obliged, though Melissa nervously asked, "Jason, what are you doing?"

"Sparing your eyes." Jason knelt down and roughly grabbed the Froslass' shoulder. "I'm not playing games here, so the next words that come out of your mouth better be useful." He curled his fingers into her arm. "What is your relation to Grim Deadlock? Who are you working for?"

She smirked. "[Dear me, no need to get so rou—]"

He gripped tightly and snapped her arm back. Junko nearly burst out screaming, but he forced balled-up cloth into her mouth to muffle the sound. He stepped back and let her drop to the floor, watching her squirm and hiss. The muffled sounds sent shivers up Melissa and her apprentices.

"Let me remind you of some facts, lady." Jason knelt over her and grabbed her by the rope. "There's a reason Grim Deadlock and I are lumped into the same group. He inflicts death. I inflict pain. And if I find that you may be a threat, I'll tear those answers out by force." He pulled the gag from her mouth.

Junko scowled. "[You wretched westerner! Scum of the earth—]" She froze as electricity crackled off his fur.

"Don't test my patience." He signaled to Lucient to continue translating. "Now, what is your relation with Grim Deadlock? What do you know about the heir system? Who are you working for?"

She growled. "[I will not trade secrets with—]" Jason stuffed the gag back into her mouth before blasting her nervous system with electricity. She wailed through the cloth.

Melissa winced. She couldn't see it, but she could feel the pain in Junko's screams. "J-Jason, don't you think that's a bit much? She just got out of a fight."

Wyatt covered his eyes, even if his back was turned. "Oh, I'm having nightmares about this."

Avel shuddered. "You and me both."

Jason pulled the gag out again and tightened his grip. "Talk. Now."

Junko panted heavily, but retained her defiant glare. "[Screw. You.]"

His expression darkened. "Wrong answer." Sparks shot up from his fingers.

Melissa turned around. "Jason, stop! Let's be reasonable here. This isn't worth torturing someone over."

He glared at her. "Being nice isn't going to get us answers. I want to hear the truth from her." He held Junko up and pointed her at the apprentices. "Remember these two? They happened to overhear something at the end of that meeting they spied on. Either they can tell me, or you can explain it."

Junko glowered. "[You're sick. Every last one of you filthy westerners.]"

He scowled. "Really? Then how about I take a stab in the dark? Would your bosses happen to be…Last Autumn?" Once Lucient translated, her eyes widened without her thinking. His expression lightened up. "Just as I thought."

Melissa gasped. "Last Autumn?"

"I figured as much. Ever since we learned the truth about the Tetrarchs, I needed to check on the Viscontis' allegiances. Doesn't entirely sound like they're allied with Last Autumn, but someone in the castle is."

Junko growled. "[You sick, twisted—I'll kill you!]" She channeled her Frost Breath, but froze as Jason emitted a brief shock through her body.

"Don't be stupid." He forced her to look up at Felix and Victoria. "Now, want to make this easier on yourself, or should I have them explain the rest of what we heard?"

She clenched her teeth. "[I…will not betray my master.]"

He glared, then looked up at the apprentices. "Felix."

The Sylveon gulped. "Well, thing is, Grim Deadlock wasn't entirely on board with their offer. They had to threaten him into complying. They're planning to rig the capital with explosive compounds designed to engulf everything inside the walls."

Melissa gasped. "What?!"

"Explosives?!" Wyatt exclaimed. "We're standing over a minefield?!"

Victoria nodded meekly. "Y-Yeah. If they don't get an answer back by the end of the week, they'll take out the entire capital and force Grim to accept their deal. They're even threatening to do something to the Visconti family should that not be enough to turn an answer around."

Melissa covered her mouth. "That's horrible. How could anyone even conceive that?"

A raspy chuckle pulled the thieves' attention to Junko, head hanging and body trembling as her laughter grew in volume. She looked up at their stunned faces and smirked. "[Perhaps it was better they explained. I would've gone into more detail. Graphic detail.]"

"H-Huh?"

"[You pathetic souls of the west, drowned in a sea of politics and infighting all for the sake of bettering yourselves from the dirt. You're nothing more than weaklings encroaching on land belonging to the true power of this land. Though my loyalties have shifted, I am still bound to the blood of my glorious empire. A sea of blood will open up across your pitiful land. When Empress Amano takes reign of the throne, she will reclaim this land and stamp out the inferior west, marking a new age for the Great Gate Empire—]"

Jason shoved the gag back into her mouth and dropped her to the floor. Lucient didn't bother translating partway through, though the expression on his face and the spirit's tone of voice told him it was better it stayed that way. "That pretty much confirms it's not a bluff."

Lucient grimaced as he adjusted his spectacles. "She made her point clear. We're dealing with a deadly circus act."

Wyatt cracked his knuckles. "So, the solution's obvious. We bust down their tents and knock some sense into them before they strike first."

Jason scratched his chin. "No, we can't. By now, they must know their teammate has gone missing. If she's still labeled missing by the knights, and if these guys really are working for Last Autumn, they'll deduce it's us holding her hostage. Last Autumn knows we're hunting them down. They would warn their allies to be wary of any Foresters."

Avel nodded. "He's right. They've been one step ahead of us for months. It took one of their allies to completely demolish our reputation."

Felix raised his feeler. "And those performers were really talented. They may be strong, too."

Jason pulled Junko up and pressed her against the wall. "Disclose the names of your allies. Every last one of them."

Junko flashed a wary smirk. "[You have no idea what you're getting yourself involved with.]"

After Lucient's translation, Jason asked, "What makes you say that?"

"[Why do you think I'm so loyal to my boss? It's because you don't stand a chance against him. He's always listening. Always watching. Ever since we came to the capital, he's been planning for this moment. Do what you wish, but storming my troupe will get you killed. He can't be escaped, and he'll always know where you are. He may even be with us right now.]"

A slight chill fell over the Foresters as they gazed upon the room. Nothing stood out from the normal, though they only just realized how dark the room was under the dim lantern light. The setting sun pulled the light gleaming through their window away, further bringing them into the dark. Melissa wouldn't say she was afraid of the dark, but she felt unnerved staring into the shadows.

Jason glared. "What makes you so sure it's that simple?"

Junko laughed. "[You want answers? Invoking his wrath will bring an inferno of pleasure to this miserable world. That is the will of my master! His flames will remind this wretched community of the joy long forgotten through centuries of corruption and tyranny! To embrace the flame is to embrace the release from order. That is true happiness!]"

Jason grunted. After releasing Junko, he chopped her in the back of the neck, knocking her out onto the floor. "Well, isn't that riveting?"

Wyatt frowned. "Sir, do you know who she was talking about?"

He massaged his hand. "I doubt she was speaking of Last Autumn specifically. She means her boss. The one in charge of the circus."

Lucient crossed his forelegs. "That monologue at the end sounded almost like a mantra. She spoke it with such glee and conviction."

"Do you know what it refers to?"

"I remember everything I've ever read, and I've definitely never encountered something like that. Still, it gives us a clue to the nature of her master."

Avel glared. "And she made it clear he'll destroy us if we get too close to their operation. So, if storming them is out of the question, what should we do?"

"Hmm." Jason closed his eyes for a moment to think. "For now, they don't know we're in the city. That gives us the element of surprise. Or rather, gives me the element of surprise."

Melissa frowned. "Jason?"

"They won't act until the end of the week, so that gives me time to scope out the danger. The rest of you can focus on completing the heist. I'll be looking into the circus myself, and perhaps investigate the catacombs to see if I can find those old tunnels that were mentioned."

"But…you said Foresters shouldn't go alone on missions."

He shook his head. "If we're going to reform the Foresters, we can't follow the laws like we used to. Besides, they're my laws, and the only one I'm concerned about is my no-killing policy. I don't want to put any of you in unnecessary danger."

"Still…"

He waved it off. "I've been doing this kind of thing longer than you. I know what I'm doing, Melissa. Once I find out where they'll be rigging the explosives, I can tip off the knights and let them handle it."

"…" She sighed and looked away. "Jason?"

"Hmm?"

"You heard what Felix and Victoria said. If this is really Last Autumn's will, that means they've been spying on me for a long time. Maybe ever since I was born. All to be a part of whatever this heir system is. Whatever's going on, it concerns me, too. Whether you like it or not, this is my business, too. I want to know what's going on beneath the catacombs. Maybe…it can tell me something about my part in all of this."

"…" Jason eased up and frowned. "I thought you were looking forward to your heist."

"We can spare one day. Besides, how can I possibly let you do this alone with us knowing this capital is in danger?" She raised her fist and glared. "I may be a Forester, but I'm still Princess Penworth. It's my responsibility to look out for the people allied with my kingdom, and I refuse to let anyone die here. We're going to figure out what's going on. All of us."

Jason glanced over at the others, who stood up and joined beside Melissa. "All of you, too?"

Lucient adjusted his spectacles. "Naturally. The Echo Bell Kingdom is my home kingdom. How could I stand back and not help?"

Wyatt grinned. "We want to prove to everyone we're not evil, right? I'd say this is a good opportunity to earn some points in our favor!"

Avel nodded. "In less selfish terms, this is what we do."

Felix laughed. "Yeah! Sure, we almost died, but this was a blast!"

Victoria punched her fists together. "We're right behind you, boss man!"

"…" Jason relented with a sigh and smiled to himself. "Why am I not surprised?" He glared. "Alright. If we're willing to postpone the heist, we've got work to do. Priority number one: investigate the circus and locate where the bombs are being planted. Two: uncover the identity of the ringmaster. Three: figure out Grim Deadlock's identity and his connection to the Visconti family. Four: investigate the catacombs and find out if there's anything regarding the heir system or this secret treasure."

"Yes, sir!" they cheered.

"Very good. Let's deliberate our assignments for tomorrow. We've got a lot of work to do."

Cirque du Madness

Due to the commotion started in the city, the circus drew in half the crowd that they did yesterday. Word got out about rumors of Junko starting a fighting in the middle of the street. Whether or not these rumors were founded on fact remained a mystery, though only one group knew the truth of went down earlier.

As the crowd dispersed for the day, Benvenuto directed the crew to pack up the equipment for the night. His mind was elsewhere, thinking to the meeting he had with Grim Deadlock and Junko's disappearance. The fact she hadn't returned yet casted suspicion among the troupe, wondering what became of her to start a fight out in public.

Benvenuto leaned on his cane and glared. I found ice inside the tunnels before I left. Was Junko following me? Or…was she driving out unwanted pests? Was someone spying on our meeting? He tapped on his cane and grumbled under his breath. It makes the most sense. Why else would she go down there? And why else would she draw unnecessary attention? She wouldn't have unless someone ended up following me. And since she hasn't returned, that could mean—

"Excuse me!" Benvenuto pulled from his thoughts and gazed at the front of the stage as two knights approached, a Raboot and Swampert. The Raboot adjusted his scarf. "A moment of your time, sir."

Benvenuto pushed aside his suspicions and flipped back to his showman persona. With a twirl of his cane, he waltzed up to the edge of the stage and grinned. "Greetings, my armored defenders of Echo Bell! How can I assist you?"

The knight pointed between himself and the Swampert. "Sir Angelo and Sir Romano. We're leading the investigation of a battle that took place in the middle of the day earlier. Rumor has it that one Junko Yukimura was responsible."

Benvenuto gasped. "Yukimura? Say it isn't so. That doesn't sound like her at all."

Romano crossed his arms. "Eyewitness statements claimed she was at the epicenter of the ice storm. And she's the only Froslass in the city that's from the east. We ran a background check in the archives. She's the only one at the scene that could've caused the storm."

"Is that so?" The showman sighed and pinched between his eyes. "The poor dear. She had so much potential, and she turns around and does this. After all the kindness we shared with her."

Angelo glared. "Is Ms. Yukimura present?"

"I'm afraid not. I haven't seen her since this morning."

"Was there any reason she wasn't performing shows today?"

"Well, she wanted to take in the carnival a bit before she was supposed to perform, so I imagine she did a bit of exploring."

Romano nodded. "That much checks out, though one other thing. You were also not present, Mr. Pavone. Someone else was taking over your duties during the show."

Benvenuto tipped his hat. "Yes, my boss needed me to meet with the capital treasurer to discuss renting this space. He wanted to make sure we weren't overpaying, you know how it is. You're free to check, of course."

"We'll make note of that."

Angelo raised his brow. "Has Ms. Yukimura shown any signs of aggression since coming to the capital?"

Benvenuto scratched his chin. "Oh dear, has she? Well, I wouldn't be surprise. Yukimura was raised with a certain bias against the west, though she wasn't the type to pick a fight in public. Then again, she's always been a bit of a vexed sort. The poor thing hardly had any coppers to rub between her fingers before we scooped her up. I imagine she would be envious of the rich folks that pass us by from time to time. Oh, but to act so irrationally in public? Doesn't sound like her at all."

"I take it you two are close."

Benvenuto shrugged. "Close in a way. I'm the only one who can fluently speak and understand old Johtonian, so she comes to me when she needs to talk. She's expressed her distaste for the west, but I assure you she wouldn't have caused a scene without a reason."

"Then perhaps you can explain why she was in the catacombs."

He frowned. "The catacombs, you say?"

Angelo nodded. "There was an explosion of ice during that battle. The explosion originated from the tunnels under the city, meaning she was down there. I trust you understand those areas are off limits to the public for safety reasons."

"Huh. The catacombs. I wouldn't know why she'd think of going down there. She gets lost easily in villages. I can't imagine her navigating the tunnels. I heard they're a labyrinth of trouble."

Angelo narrowed his eyes for a moment. "Hence why they're blocked off. Are you sure she wouldn't have a reason to go down there?"

Benvenuto shrugged. "I doubt she even knew there were catacombs in the first place. She's so unfamiliar with the terrain, going down into some darky, spooky tunnels seems like the last thing she'd do. She's used to environments like the city, but with smaller and more compact buildings. She's says the west is too…big."

"Hmm. One last thing. She was in conflict with three other people, one we've already identified. Do you happen to know anyone who would provoke her or give reason to start a fight?"

The showman glared. "She was fighting three other people?"

"That's right."

"Who was the identified figure?"

"I cannot disclose that information."

"…" He sighed and leaned back on his cane. "No. Yukimura only knows the crew aboard our troupe, so anyone she did encounter would've been a stranger. If she wanted to start a fight, she would need ample reason to."

"Enough of a reason to go down in the catacombs?"

"Who knows? She's a smart lady. She wouldn't do something without reason." He sighed and looked away. "I…suppose I should also mention her criminal record."

Romano's eyes widened. "Criminal record?! That sounds like something you should've brought up first!"

"Yes, yes, I'm aware." He shook his head. "Yukimura worked in the seedy parts of the Great Gate Empire. She often got by through…unlawful means, to put it lightly. She worked in your equivalent of a brothel, though the one she was employed to did things more…illegally."

Angelo glared. "Are you suggesting—"

"That she may have started up trouble to get some money out of it? It wouldn't be out of the question." Benvenuto straightened up. "I am terribly sorry for any trouble she caused. I thought she put that part of her past behind her. The more I think about, perhaps she wasn't completely untethered from her old ways."

"…" Angelo sighed. "If you don't mind, we have a warrant to sweep through her trailer. Would you lead us to it?"

He bowed. "Of course. Follow me, gentlemen." He hopped off the stage and led them along. The knight followed behind quietly.

"…What do you think?" Romano whispered.

"He's lying through his teeth," Angelo whispered back.

"What makes you say that?"

"If Ms. Yukimura has that much contempt for the west, why would she take part in the carnival? Moreover, since she's unfamiliar with the area, she couldn't have wound up in the catacombs by mistake."

"You think he's covering for her?"

"It's not enough to convict him or the troupe, but it's something to keep in mind. I want to look into Mr. Pavone's activities earlier and see if he was telling the truth."

Romano nodded. "I can go ahead and check with the treasurer while you do a sweep of the trailer."

"Good idea. We'll report our findings to the king after sunset and decide what to do afterwards."

Echo Bell Inn, Night

With the plan situated, Wyatt and Avel stepped out to grab dinner for everyone, leaving the others to occupy their time relaxing before tomorrow. With the heist put on hold, everyone focused their minds on a singular purpose: exposing the machinations of the Cirque du Madness. Whatever awaited them in this harrowing tent of amusement and horrors, they'll soon be ready to combat the truth.

Jason stepped out for the time climbed up to the top of the inn. He leaned back on the tiled roof and folded his arms behind his head. He stared up at the stars, noting they weren't nearly as bright as out in the countryside. He wasn't surprised. Lanterns remained lit throughout the night in the Echo Bell capital. Light pollution, he believed it was called.

He closed his eyes and sighed. Grim Deadlock. One of the Three Deadly Storms. Supposedly my equal. The idea of encountering him and the Roar of the Wastes is…daunting. I remember when Giles reported fighting the most wanted man in Virdis. It's a miracle he didn't die then. I can't help but wonder if I would have the same luck.

He narrowed his closed eyes. The idea that Deadlock might be one of the Visconti children, though? I never would've imagined. I doubt it could be the younger princesses. They would've been incredibly young when he first appeared. The prince was out in public, too. Outside of any other suspects, that just leaves Princess Evangelina and Azelia. I don't know much about Princess Azelia, but I'm familiar with the infamy of Evangelina. Still, could she really be involved in all this?

It was a habit of Jason's to be naturally suspicious of everything. It was how his uncle raised him out in the Great Ruins. One could never be too careful about what they may encounter. It was always best to make note of anything that came off as strange.

Speaking of, there was something else that had been bothering him all day.

"At least you made an attempt. I had to learn the common language of the west since I work as an archivist. My sister taught me before she went on her trip to Arcania."

"Hmm…what did she mean by that?"

"Who mean what now?"

Jason cracked one eye open and saw Melissa poking her head over the roof's edge. He smiled a bit. "Can I help you?"

She giggled and crawled on top. "Do you have to act like a brooding loner?"

"This isn't brooding. This is pondering."

"My mistake, oh-mighty brooding thinker."

He rolled his eyes. "Hush."

She lay down next to him and crossed her arms over her stomach, staring up at the stars. "So, what were you thinking about?"

"Just…things on my mind. I'm probably being paranoid."

She shrugged. "I get like that sometimes. Thinking about tomorrow?"

"Something like that." He glared. "It's funny. I've spent so long in the ruins, yet I know next to nothing about the history. My uncle didn't want me learning about the Great Kingdom…or I guess the Elysivine Kingdom, technically. To think there might be answers laying beneath our feet."

Melissa frowned. "Yeah. It's…a lot to take in."

"How are you feeling? You know, about the heir system thing?"

"I'm…not sure, to be honest."

He nodded understandingly. "Last Autumn is up to something. Their entire M.O. has changed since the last thirty years. They're being cautious. They're taking everything one step at a time. It's all been leading up to something big, yet we don't know the details. We just know it has something to do with this treasure."

"That's…not the only thing on my mind."

He tilted his head toward her. "What do you mean?"

She sighed and reached her hands out to the sky. "All of this. To think I was supposed to be one of these supposed candidates. I feel kind of flattered, but then that whole mentally unstable thing kind of threw me for a loop. Was I…not good enough or something?" She closed her eyes. "Maybe Father saw something in me that wasn't worthy of rulership."

Jason touched her shoulder. "That's not true. Don't go making assumptions yet. We still need to understand what this is all about."

"True." She looked at him. "What do you think we'll find down there?"

"Well, it has been two hundred years. I'm hoping something down there is still intact after being buried in a region-spanning earthquake." He crossed his arms over his chest. "We both want answers. We'll get answers."

She took a deep breath and sighed. "Yeah. Yeah, we will."

"…" Jason sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, listen, before I forget…"

"Hmm?" She perked up as he reached inside his jacket.

"I know we're going to open presents after dinner, but…" He pulled out a box wrapped in discarded newspaper and tied with string. "I figure one gift early wouldn't hurt."

She sat up and smiled. "Aww, Jason, you didn't have to."

He smirked. "Oh, really? In that case, I'll just throw this away—"

Melissa swiped it out of his hands and snickered. "Well, since you're offering, I accept!" She undid the string and neatly unfolded the paper, revealing the plain brown bow with a lid. "Is this a dagger or something?"

He rolled his eyes. "Just open it."

She laughed and pulled the lid off. She paused as she gazed at the item laying inside, unsure of what it was for a second. She set the lit aside and picked the item up. Her fingers glided across soft, green fabric folded neatly into itself. She gently unfolded the fabric and stretched it out to full length.

"This…is a scarf," she whispered.

An emblem was stitched into the center of the front side. It was a blue star wrapped in vines with tiny purple specs resembling flowers. She turned the scarf over and saw secret pockets stitched into the backside, small enough to contain hidden equipment like medicine capsules, pellets, or tiny weapons.

"Oh my," she gasped, her eyes shimmering in awe as she ran her hand across the fabric."

Jason turned away and smiled. "I don't know how to make clothes. I asked Adenine to help me with it. When I told her it was supposed to be a birthday present for you, she was more than willing to lend me a hand. Her way of saying thanks for giving her the courage to…go to that party in Senbo, even if it didn't end well."

Pushing aside the stray thoughts of that disastrous party, Melissa smiled to herself. "It's lovely." She wrapped it around her neck and tied it together. The cloth partially covered her mouth. She giggled and pulled it down some. "I'll have to thank her, too, when we go home." She then frowned. "Poor Adenine. I've been so out of it the last few weeks that I haven't even thought of how she's feeling…"

Jason sighed. "She shouldn't have gone behind our backs with her secret affair, but…I never had it in me to punish her over it. She's doing better last I check, though Prince Erasmus is still a sensitive subject."

"Yeah…I should talk to her when we go home." She smiled at the Pikachu. "Thank you. This was really sweet of you."

"Heh, not sure it was worth pricking myself ten million times, but I'm glad you like it." He looked up at the stars. "I'm…trying to do better showing my appreciation. It's still a foreign concept to me."

"You're learning. That's what counts." She scooched over and hugged him. "And I'm learning, too. We'll help each other in the areas we don't understand, and we'll work together to make Virdis a wonderful place for all kingdoms."

He smiled. "That unwavering optimism of yours is dangerous."

She grinned back. "Well, I have friends I can rely on, so I see it as possible."

"Heh. Then I hope to see that dream come true." He clenched his fist and nodded. "Let's do our best to uncover the truth tomorrow."

"Yeah. We'll find our answers in the catacombs." She looked away and frowned. "I hope we do, at least."

Castle Visconti Throne Room

Angelo and Romano reported to the king after their investigation at the circus. He, Queen Corrina, and royal advisor Guido were in attendance, listening to the two knights as they recounted the details they've discovered.

Massimo pressed his tentacles together and grimaced. "Oh…dear. That is troubling."

Corrina scowled. "To think a vile woman like that was within arm's reach of us yesterday. If she were plotting something, she could have easily…"

"Steel your nerves, my love," Massimo said. "What is done is done. We are still alive and well."

Angelo crossed his arms. "We're still searching for Ms. Yukimura and the two unidentified suspects in the case. We're hoping to locate Zechariah Beaumont tomorrow to get his side of the story, assuming her turns up for work tomorrow."

"I do hope he is alright," Massimo admitted. "No doubt he only went down into the catacombs because he was doing his job. I wish he had reported the trespassing rather than go down by himself."

Guido shook his head. "That is the least of our concerns now, Your Majesty. There is the matter of suspicious hanging around this circus troupe."

Romano glared. "As far as we know, no one else was involved in the incident, only Ms. Yukimura. Mr. Pavone was absent during his crew's performance, saying he wanted to handle a rent dispute with the treasurer. I paid a visit personally. I confirmed with the treasurer that he did indeed see Mr. Pavone earlier."

Angelo continued, "However, when we questioned him, he described Ms. Yukimura as an aloof, distrusting foreigner from the east. He claimed she went out to enjoy the carnival before her next performance and wound up in the catacombs. I find this suspect given she would have no idea where the entrances are, being unfamiliar with the area. Furthermore, she wouldn't have gone down to the catacombs in the first place. They're off-limits, and most travelers to the capital know not to breach the restricted areas."

Corrina glared. "You are saying she went down there on purpose."

"I can't speak to why, but I know she went down there knowing the restrictions." Angelo shrugged. "And Mr. Pavone seemed keen on telling us of her criminal record in the empire, almost like he wanted us to know this was a repeat pattern of behavior."

Massimo grimaced. "Oh dear."

"Unfortunately, we don't have proof," Romano said. "A suspicion of guilt and a renegade foreigner doesn't mean the entire circus is committing malintent. We need hard evidence first."

Guido looked down at the king. "Your Majesty, perhaps it's best we call off the carnival. If this does become a repeat pattern, it could put bystanders at risk."

Massimo groaned. "I know you are right, Guido, but…that would mean so many travelers would have come all the way here for nothing. I do not have the heart to do that. Cancelling everything on short notice, especially when we are only going off one incident…"

Corrina touched his arm. "Dear, the people's safety comes first. We can cancel the carnival for one year."

"…" Massimo closed his eyes and thought it over for a moment. He tapped down on his throne's armrest and huffed through his glorious mustache. After a minute of contemplation, his eyes sparked with an idea. "Perhaps we do not need to cancel the carnival."

Angelo and Romano looked at each other unsurely, then back at the king. "Your Majesty?"

"If this circus is a target of concern, we could increase security to keep an eye on them. We'll even force them to have a few knights overseeing production between performances. If nothing happens, it could really just be a case of the foreigner being a rogue element."

Angelo winced. "Sounds a tad risky, Your Majesty."

"A lot of people look forward to this carnival every year, and I cannot bring myself to turn them away now. A lot of hard workers make profit off this event, and turning carnival goers away could stir discord among the public. We want to keep the trust with the people."

Romano glared. "But this is far more than just the night crimes, Your Majesty."

"We can do both. I am sure we can," Massimo assured them. "We can keep the carnival running and prevent another incident like this from happening."

Guido sighed and shook his head. "This seems like a bad idea…but if you're certain, we will follow your example, Your Majesty."

Romano bowed his head. "I will assemble a squadron to oversee the circus."

Angelo nodded. "And I'll volunteer to run security backstage."

Massimo chortled with delight. "Oh, thank you, thank you! I promise, we will have this mess sorted out in no time. And everyone will be as happy as ever!"

Corrina looked at her husband unsurely, but kept her feelings to herself. "Let us hope so, my love."

Unbeknownst to the current party, caught up in their discussion, a shadow stretched out from under Angelo's shadow. It gleamed up at the throne with its sharp red eyes before darting into the shadows of the throne room's columns. It slithered along the wall before disappearing under the throne doors.

In the dark of the night, the lone shadow slithered out from the castle, jumping between the shade to hide from knights patrolling the courtyard. It passed through the castle gate and made its way up a building, where Chihiro stood crouched over the edge.

The Leavanny assassin smirked as the shadow slithered into his own. "So, I take it everything went well?"

His shadow changed shape, taking on the form of a silhouetted Gourgeist. It glared up at Chihiro with its piercing red eyes. "They intend to survey us. They suspect malintent, but have nothing to act upon. The king is a soft-hearted fool. Continuing this carnival for the sake of his people. I'd be shocked if anyone bothered turning up tomorrow."

Chihiro snickered. "That's the troubling thing about Echo Bell. They're so used to bad things happening that they hope a little festivity will make it all go away. They'll surely be rattled tomorrow, but they've become desensitized to crime in this city."

"They passively go through their days. This isn't happiness, it's a distraction from the harm around them." A sinister smirk stretched over the shadows two-dimensional face. "Someone needs to remind them of what true happiness is, thus they may go on from this world with that feeling at its peak."

Chihiro glanced at his possessed shadow. "You do realize Terrowin will have words about this."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt. Besides, accidents are a common occurrence in my line of work. So, would it be too much to believe the ritual I set up to scare our heir into compliance accidentally went off due to resistance from our dreadful specter?"

The assassin snickered again. "I'm only here taking orders from you, so I take no responsibility for your actions." He stood up and held his hips. "Oh, these little darlings don't know what's waiting for them soon. I can't wait to see a live Scarlet Flame ritual take place."

Itzal cackled to himself. "They think they're one step ahead of us. Oh, they have no idea how long I've been waiting for an opportunity like this."