After their venture with Team Revival, Reformed Society ventured south to Montwise, where the city was more bustling than expected.
"I must be a fool to have followed his orders. Anyone else would set a trap to kill me before I could kill them. But I know him. He didn't choose this place to lure me into a trap. There must be some other reason… This will be the last time I put up with Father's schemes. It's time to see what he has in store for me." Thronè said.
"Is it just me, or is this city more bustling than expected?" Valfor said.
"It probably has to do with this." Kayra said as he spots posters of the Brave Adventurers with the underground arena in the background.
"Well, what do you know? He's at it again." Cheetah chuckled.
"Yep. Typical Ishihara. Can't even go to an underground arena without making the front page." Esmeralda said.
"If Father has been here, do you think he watched what went down here?" Valfor asked.
"Most likely. Any good assassin would keep their eyes and ears wherever they can." Esmeralda said.
"Let's go." Thronè said.
The group made their way through town as it soon turned to night as they arrived on a stone bridge and saw Father looking out into the distance.
"I've been waiting for you, Thronè." Father said. "Are you and your friends prepared to die?"
"Not today. Not marked on any of our calenders." Kareem said.
"Though, we could ask you the same." Cheetah said. "You picked quite the spot for a final resting place yourself."
"Now, now… Don't be so hasty, dear kittens." Father said. "Why not talk a little?"
"We don't have time for that." Throne said.
"Come now, Thronè. Give me one last chance to speak with you." Father said. "After all, only one of us will walk away from this."
"In that case, you may speak. You have the right, after all." Bassam said.
"I doubt it would matter to some of you, but… I was born in a poor town." Father said. "I learned how to thieve and wield a dagger just to survive. In time, there was nothing I couldn't steal. Before long, the town I lived in felt much too small. I left for the city when I was seventeen. After that, I joined the Blacksnakes. I was once tasked to sneak in and loot a certain manor… And that's where it happened. It was like destiny…"
"Did you…meet someone else there?" Kayra asked.
"Yes… A woman, she was there to clean up the place too. And as you can tell, she killed my mark before I even got there." Father said. "Her name…was Marietta. And… It was the first time that…I fell in love. I wooed that woman. It took me all night, but I eventually won her heart. We were young…unfortunately. Time passed, and eventually, we decided to run away together."
"So, this Marietta… Is she really…?" Glacius asked, starting to understand what Father is trying to connect.
"Yes. At the time, she was the leader of the Blacksnakes. There is an abandoned church up ahead." Father said. "That's where we swore to love each other forever…"
"If only that was the case, right?" Agursu asked.
"I'll be waiting for you all there." Father said. "Come and find me when you are all ready." he said as he walked along.
"Why would he bother to say all of that? What was the purpose of it all?" Rhatla asked.
"Was he trying to say something to Throne?" Agito asked. "I mean, shot in the dark, but maybe he really did care for her in his own way."
"Of course he does, Agito. He taught her everything he knows, remember?" Toya asked.
"Even so, he never treats her with the same disdain that Mother does, from what we have heard." Koren said.
"We'll find out more once we go after her. For now, let's head to the church." Nesma said.
Throne and Reformed Society had soon reached the church and went inside as they saw Father in front of the altar.
"So, you've all come." Father said. "This is where it happened. She and I swore an oath of love to one another here. Back then… I had decided to put thieving behind me and live an honest life. Not just for myself, but those who depended on me."
"I have a feeling I know where this is going. Marietta…is Throne's mother." Glacius said.
"Then that means…" Throne started.
"'I'm your real father, Thronè.' If only that were the case. I wish it were. But saying so would be a lie." Father said.
"What do you mean…?" Throne asked.
"Marietta met another man. She fell in love with him… And killed our baby." Father said.
"*Gasp*" Riesz said as she put her hands over her mouth.
"That's… That's so sad…" Belladonna said.
"Marietta left me… And eventually had that man's child. That child was you, Thronè." Father said.
"This man… Who was he?" Rayleigh asked.
"The founder of the Blacksnakes. The beginning of it all." Father said.
"How's that possible? The only way that would be possible is if he was…" Luke said.
"...Immortal." Cheetah finished.
"Cheetah… What are you saying?" Poison Ivy asked.
"Think about it. If you are immortal, then you are no longer restricted in the confines of aging. You would be free to romance whoever you want, and no one would be able to stop you." Cheetah said. "My guess is, Marietta wasn't the first woman that the founder was able to entice."
"You mean, he's been at this for as long as he has been immortal, with so many women? How lecherous can one person get?!" Agursu asked.
"Well, Father? Have we hit it on the head?" Letfor asked.
"Thronè…" Father said. "You should've been MY daughter!" he said before pulling out a knife and charging at Throne as she blocked against it with her own.
"Father…!" Thronè said.
"I raised you as if you were truly my own, more precious than anything…" Father said before breaking the clash as he skidded back to the opposite side. "But enough talk. Everything I've done…has been for this, and this alone."
"What's…gotten into him?" Tear asked.
"It doesn't matter. I have made up my mind, Father. I will kill you, and leave the Blacksnakes. I will finally be free. This is where you fall." Throne said.
"I never cared about the Blacksnakes. To me, it was nothing but a nest. A way to sate my bloodlust. Ever since that moment… My heart's dried up. Only blood can keep it from falling apart… But it thirsted for more, Thronè… So I killed and killed… Again and again and again and again…! And every time I did, my thirst was quieted, but not quenched. Hahaha… Hahahahaha! Now, let me see you and your friends bleed, Thronè…!" Father said.
"Thronè, let's finish this. I can hear his bloodlust crying out to him." Cheetah said.
"Right. Lances, axes, daggers, wind and light. Those are the best tools to defeat him." Thronè said.
"Ready, Riesz? Here we go!" Belladonna said.
Bloodthirsty Assassin Leader
Father
"Let's go, you two!" Aoesia said as she fired arrows from her bow as Kayra and Letfor zip past Father to deal multiple cross slashes with their spears.
"Kareem, Bassam, let's follow it up!" Nesma said as Bassam fired a blast of darkness and Kareem rapidly attacked with his spear before Nesma charged at Father in a burst of light.
"Riesz, get ready!" Belladonna said.
"Yes, Belladonna! I won't hold back!" Riesz said before rushing at Father and delivering a rapid flurry of spear slashes before following up with rapid-fire spear thrusts and finishing it with a powered charging thrust that caused an explosion. "Raging Fury!"
"Go!" Belladonna said as she rushed at Father with rapid claw strikes before summoning Hexas. Hexas then did a few motions with her hands before unleashing purple bolts from the sky, dealing heavy damage to Father. "Cheetah, Thronè, finish it!"
At this, Cheetah and Thronè both charged in, clashing dager and claw against Father's own daggers.
"Very good, you two. How does it feel for you and your friends to cut through my flesh…? Does it feel like your hands were destined for this?" Father asked, laughing.
"We're not like you, Father. Reformed Society don't kill because they find it satisfying. Well, sure, some of them do, but… At least it's their choice, on their terms. I want to be like them, too. I want to be free." Throne said.
Father then maniacally chuckled at that. "Then free me while you're at it."
"Another one of your antics, is it?" Cheetah asked.
"No, my precious feline. I raised Thronè… to kill me." Father declared. "I've waited for this…for so long."
"Y-you what?!" Thronè asked in shock.
"Come now Thronè. Put an end to me. Pierce your dagger straight into my heart…!" Father said, pushing Cheetah and Thronè back.
"Wh-what…?!" Thronè asked.
"Kill me! Kill me now! Thronèèè!" Father cried.
"Fine then. If this is the way you want it, then so be it." Cheetah said. "We will at least grant your final request."
"Be careful, everyone! He's driven himself completely mad!" Jessica said.
"His attacks will strike us down in one hit if we are not careful!" Esmeralda said.
"We'd better finish this guy off fast before he offs us, if that's the case! Give em all you got!" Captain Cold said.
Father then relentlessly struck at anyone in his sights, trying to slash anybody he could with his numerous daggers.
"Let's see if I can stun him. Behemoth Bash!" Zamazenta said as he rammed right into Father. This sent him stumbling back and faltering.
"Good one, Zamazenta! He's wobbly!" Angelo said.
"He won't stay vulnerable for long. Let's finish him!" Zamazenta said.
"Let's claim the first key to your freedom, Thronè." Cheetah said.
"Yes, Let's." Thronè replied.
The two struck together at Father again, and this time, they were able to strike him. Cheetah ripped into the assassin with her claws, rapidly shredding him, before Thronè rushed in for the final blow and did exactly what Father wanted, piercing her dagger straight into him.
"Hah… That was very good, Thronè… I'm so proud of you." Father said.
"For as long as I can remember… You've taught me how to wield a dagger." Thronè said. "I killed people, just like you told me to. But this is the first time…I've ever felt afraid. Afraid…to lose you." Thronè said. "Father… would it be okay to call you 'Dad'?"
Father couldn't help but let out a smile. "Finally… I've become a real father… I'm so happy…to have a daughter… But Thronè… You won't be free, even after I die… With my key, and Mother's… You'll be able to meet him… Your real father. I ask all of you… Please… Watch over Thronè… Give her the freedom she deserves… And the life that I wish…I could've given her…" he said, giving Thronè his key.
"We promise you. We will give Thronè the life she wants. Just as soon as we free her from her torment." Cheetah said.
"You know what… you have to do then. Find Mother… take her key… and then… go… and meet Thronè's real father." Father said before finally passing away dead, Thronè sharing a quick moment of sadness and silence.
As morning dawned in Montwise, the group decided to give Father a proper burial, even if he was their enemy.
"I got what we came here for… but my heart is not yet satisfied. Instead… it feels empty." Thronè said. "What Father said, before he died. Do you all think I won't be free? Even after he's gone?" she asked Reformed Society.
"Hard to say. But there is only one way to be sure." Letfor said.
"You're right. We need to go to Wellgrove and take the other key that Mother has." Thronè nodded. "Still…what does it mean to be free? Who is my real father? I can't really say Father's words are out of my head."
"There are still so many questions left unanswered. However, we won't be able to answer them standing around." Bassam said. "We need to head back to the western continent, and make our way to Wellgrove. It is there we may find some answers."
"You're right, Bassam. Let us depart. We have another parent to see." Cheetah said.
"Right. And in terms of going to see Mother… unlike Father, I have no remorse or second thoughts on killing her." Thronè said.
"You're not alone on that, Throne. Esmeralda and I have a few choice words for her." Glacius said.
"Then lets get going to Wellgrove, so we can stay them to her face." Esmerelda said.
And so, Reformed Society departed with Thronè to Wellgrove. As they traveled, Thronè's mind kept racing, mulling over Father's words. Until, somewhere along the way… her mind went blank.