The Rebel Doctor

by Kazragoth

Ren Amamiya, leader of the once renowned Phantom Thieves, now leads a prosperous and peaceful life with his friends, and has left the world of the living, fully content in his aged years. The progenitor of Personas has other plans for him, however. One that involves an already ruined world. Well, at least he's already dead when this happened.

12. 2-3: Preparations

"This is the Lungmen News Radio, bringing you breakneck feeds of events surrounding our Great Lungmen. Our top story today. Refugees from the nearby Ursus city of Chernobog are still swarming to the district entrances of Lungmen due to the fallout of the Catastrophe that struck the city a few days ago. Despite the best efforts provided by the L.G.D to maintain order during the surge, Infected refugees are still attempting to break away from the line and slip past the quarantine zones. We'll return after these messages."

"…"

"Hah… I guess it's better than that traditional Yen music, but goddamn this traffic if it's gonna make me late. 10 P.M he says. Now, how do you like our certified tour so far, miss?"

- A Yen chauffeur and his passenger, driving to the District 5 Docks

---

CHAPTER 3

PREPARATIONS

9:26 A.M / Cloudy

Rhodes Island Ark, Healthy Diner

25th December 1096

---

'I will have to admit, Joker. Your method of punishing your peers who have committed a misdeed is creative in a sense.'

Ren decided to respond neutrally. 'What do you mean?'

'It is important to punish those who act out of line, whether it be in war, or in an organization. However, not only have you set a proper example out of Closure's negligence, you have also increased your own coffers in the process. Is this the influence of your covetous nature of a Phantom Thief?'

Indeed, the entire overworked Factory disaster had not left the Sarkaz mechanist unscathed. Ren had proven to be too fast for her, and he immediately dragged her over to Amiya so she can scold Closure harshly. Not only that, but as punishment, Ren decided to confiscate 75% of Closure's shop profits under Amiya's approval for his own use. Safe to say, Closure became utterly demotivated ever since and would probably recover the next day.

The day that they would arrive in Lungmen.

'Maybe. Most of the money will probably end up going back to her anyway. Let's just say that this is also payback to her for trying to swindle me.'

'Your reasoning for punishment may be sound, but do not let it cloud your judgement. Punishments must be doled out in consideration of many. Become too lenient, and it is the same as downing your cohorts to consequence. Become too harsh, and the people will think you are a tyrant.' Shadow's tone slowly shifted to slight annoyance. 'I dislike how your earnings will eventually return in full circle, however. How will your actions be considered as a form of vengeance?'

With sound advice such as this, Ren found it hard to disagree except for the last part. 'I'll keep that in mind. But may I remind you that my actions are my own. How I maintain order in Rhodes is up to me, and it's up to me on whatever punishment I dish out. Besides, knowing Closure, I'm sure she's going to charge me for whatever projects I try to launch now.'

'And you intend to pay her with her confiscated money, demoralizing he further. I will have to commend your cunning for your line of thought, then. On that note, there is no further need for us to speak. Do not waste the food before you, lest your cohort steal it from beneath your nose.'

Shadow receded back into the deepest reaches of Ren's mind on that after note. Ren himself stared at the food he had on his plate, a salad made from fresh veggies harvested from the farm on the Ark (which surprised him), with steamed marinated burdenbeast meat for the carbs. Normally Ren would go out and cook his own curry for breakfast, but he hasn't had the time to properly cook his own, what with the schedule laid out by the chefs like Dur-nar and the recently employed Gummy. He's not going to complain about the salad though. While he was rather confused on what the hell burdenbeast is, one good look and he can tell that it's practically beef.

"Chatting with a Persona earlier, Ren?"

Morgana looked at Ren as he wiped his mouth with his hand, enjoying then same meal as he is. The Joker always knew that Morgana wanted to be a human even after he came into terms with who he really is, and he was proud to know that he has achieved his dream. Morgana had the youthful teenager look going for him, and what's better is that, because humans with animal features dominate Terran civilization, he was able to keep his cat ears and tail, leaving him with 2 pairs of ears, both human and Feline.

Of course, this led to a slew of rounds trying to convince most Operators that this boy is Morgana, which will undoubtedly lead to a new swill on the rumor mill, but who cares? "Yeah. Shadow decided to lecture me on organizational order and punishments."

"Well, I can't really say no to a lecture like that. You're an organization head now." Morgana bit a piece of lettuce before continuing. "Way bigger than what you're used to. That means more responsibilities down the line."

"Yep. Here's hoping I don't end up working overtime."

Morgana nodded as both of them continued their meal, savoring the freshness of the salad. A few chews in however, and someone decided to swing by.

"Mind if I share a meal with you, gentlemen?"

Philemon strolled into their table, carrying with him a small bowl of freshly cut fruits. Both Ren and Morgana reacted with various degrees of response.

"Ah! Mas-Mister Philemon! Go ahead!" Morgana barely jerked back to not blow his cover.

"Yeah, feel free to eat with us, Phil."

"I appreciate your acceptance, both of you."

The Persona Master nodded with a smile as he took a seat beside Ren, setting down the bowl with a light thud. He then grabbed a piece of fruit and took a bite, savoring the taste.

"It delights me to feast on fresh fruits straight from the farm, yet it cannot compare to my fascination that Rhodes Island is capable of growing their own crops to serve as our meals."

"Best not to question it, Phil. All I know is that the Ark is pretty much a small city at this point with how many facilities they have."

"A point taken." Philemon took a bite of another fruit before facing Ren. "I trust you have free time today, Ren?"

"Yeah, why?" Ren replied nonchalantly, honestly surprised as he expected to continue working to cover Closure's slip-up. Amiya however decided to cover Doctor's work today, insisting that he enjoys his free day and he did no wrong.

"Very good. Now, as per our agreement, I believe now is a good time for me to teach you a new technique, should you wish to survive this world."

Morgana craned his head towards his master. "Mr. Philemon, what do you mean?"

"Consider it as part of our agreement between me and the Doctor, Morgana. No harm will be done." Philemon's response made Morgana sigh. Knowing Ren, he'd be willing to strike deals with anyone that can prove to be a benefit for himself. That doesn't mean he's just gonna leave his Confidants in the dirt though. He knew Ren long enough that that won't be the case.

"Alright then, Phil. What's the first lesson in Terran Survival 101?" Ren took a bite out of a lettuce as he spoke.

"This technique will no doubt bolster your capabilities with your Personas, Ren, for it involves the methods of gathering them." Philemon took a bite out of an apple before continuing. "Personas can be gained through bonds with your Confidants and Social Links. But there is another method of acquiring one."

Ren honestly found it amusing that the Master of the Collective is imparting him great knowledge while chewing on an apple for breakfast like a normal person, but the tip alone caught his interest more. "Another way? Now this is interesting. What kind of method are we talking about, Phil?"

Philemon smiled as he took another bite. "I'm happy to have caught your interest, friend. This method of acquiring Personas is what I would like to call, Residual Recollection."

Both Ren and Morgana lifted an eyebrow, with the frizzy haired man popping the question. "Residual Recollection? So I'm gonna be picking up leftovers?"

"The leftovers of man's thoughts, to be precise. Every sentient creature in any world can produce thoughts of their own, and all thoughts will leave behind remnants as they are stored or discarded by the thinkers." Philemon focused his eyes towards Ren as he bit down. "These residual thoughts carry with them inklings of power, and with enough time and focus, you will be able to coalesce these countless residual thoughts into a brand new Persona for your perusal."

It didn't take long for Ren to smirk at the prospect, and it seems as if someone's having the same mind. "Hmm. The acclimation of power from mere residues of thought processes. It seems to be yet another facet of the power you possess.'

Ren decided to respond to Shadow nonchalantly. 'And one I haven't known about until today.'

'Better to discover later than to discover later. For now, we must know the intricacies of this method further. Interrogate him further on the issue.'

Unbeknownst to Shadow, Morgana already got a head-start. "Mr. Philemon, can any Persona user collect residual thoughts for new Personas?"

Philemon shook his head. "While the thought alone can be tantalizing, unfortunately only Wild Cards are capable of such a method. As you are aware, regular Persona users can only have a single Persona as reflections of their own selves, unless there are exceptions to that rule."

Morgana hung his head low over the truth, but as someone born from remnants of hope, he has no right to complain. Meanwhile, Ren followed up with his own question. "And where would be the perfect places to gather these thoughts, Phil?"

"Places that are or were once hubs of humanity, with the common mobile cities in Terra being excellent examples. I know what you're thinking, friend, so yes. The Ark we now stand in also counts."

Ren's grin grew wider as he heard Phil's answer. With the Ark as the perfect test run to try this method out, excitement raged on in his heart as he forked a piece of meat down his mouth, chewing with ease. "I think I know what I'm going to do today."

Morgana and Philemon shared a chuckle at his enthusiasm. "Look at you, Ren. I mean, you can also treat this as a good reason to meditate too. Meditation always helps with focus!"

"I second the notion. However, perhaps it would be best if we all focus on our meals first. It would be a waste to ignore such good food."

The chortles continued as the three outsiders of Terra ate their breakfast, energizing themselves to prepare for the new day before them. Now the question lies in Ren's mind. What would be the perfect place to gather all the thoughts on the Ark?

- Take Your Time –

10:10 A.M / Sunny

Rhodes Island Observation Dock

---

"Well, this place is peaceful, that's certain."

Ren took in a breath of fresh air as he stood on the observation dock, where one can get a view of the barren lands of Terra. One may say that in a good enough vantage point, and any scenery can be breathtaking. Yet, the desolate deserts may serve as a reminder of the remnants of civilization Terra once had before they are swept away. Ren was no historian or naturalist, but he can agree that the scenery of the desert had its own charm. His plan for seeing the sights had to wait, however. Residual Recollection comes first in mind, and it requires his utmost focus. He'll have to thank Amiya later for her advice in a good meditation spot. The Training Halls are sufficient enough, but he prefers to meditate in a place with fresh air. As for Morgana and Philemon, both have gone their separate ways. The Feline went to the Ursus students, and the Progenitor went for a simple stroll.

The Joker also decided to dress for the occasion as well. Gone is his standard issue Rhodes Island standard issue hood jacket and translucent coat, leaving behind his simple white shirt which hugged his torso comfortably, as well as a simple pair of black pants. His mask is also left behind in his room like the aforementioned attire, having no need for something to cover his face. If he's going to meditate, he's going to be as comfortable as he can with his own self as he sits down and gather the thoughts permeating through the Ark.

What Ren did not account however was the presence of another person at the dock, seemingly lost in thought as she stared outward under the bright sky. He can't tell who that person was, granted that he doesn't know anyone in Rhodes other than the ones he just met. All that he can tell is that it's a she, wearing a black hat, with long silver hair flowing down to her thighs. A black cape draped over her body, and she had a pair of loose brown boots. A very odd ensemble indeed.

'I hope she doesn't mind me just doing my business here. She doesn't seem to notice. Wait, is she…singing?'

He may not be able to hear as well as Morgana, but Ren can tell that she's singing a tune, albeit in a very faint tone. Regardless, perhaps her small song may help him focus as he begins to gather the residual thoughts of the Ark. Without much thought, he sat down on the metal floor, crossing his legs and placing his hands on his bent knees, closing his eyes.

"A hunter is walking on seacoast way…"

"With homeland left a mile behind, his path lies ahead…"

His senses are tempered, and under the faint serenade, the Phantom Thief focused his mind, his soul, into the very thoughts permeating within all of Rhodes Island. The tune that accompanied him felt somewhat… slightly harrowing, like the light impact of waves beneath his feet, yet he retained his calm.

"From his forebears and children, he was torn…"

"Into the seas his lover was swept away, floating in the deep, dead…"

The tune soon took a sadder turn as Ren gathered himself. He can sense it, the faint residue of thoughts wandering about like a parade of souls lost without a conductor, yet he can't seem to somewhat call them to his soul. He'd have to concede that this is his first try, so he'll have to consider this as training. At least he's not alone on the dock.

"A hunter is walking on seacoast way…"

"With homeland left a mile behind, they must lament and pray…"

Minutes passed as the woman's serene melody resounded through the dock for the skies and heavens to hear, her unknown audience sitting behind her in meditation trying to gain a new form of power. Ren finally managed to gather the thoughts scattered throughout the Ark, after much focus and mental strength.

"There is no end to his path…"

"The road ahead is shrouded in gray…"

More thoughts began to coalesce in his surroundings, unseen to the eyes of others except his own. The coalesced thoughts homed in into his very being, demanding that he exercises even more focus as he absorbed the thoughts that charged into his soul. The coalesced thoughts gathered together. They joined, they convulsed, they pulsate with power, and eventually, it took shape, slowly but surely.

"A hunter is walking on seacoast way…"

As the melody ends, so too did the process of Residual Reclamation is complete. Ren laid a hand on where his heart is, feeling a newfound power within him. A new Persona is born, created from the residual thoughts of everyone who lived within the Ark, the thoughts of the entirety of Rhodes Island. Counting everyone he's had so far, now he has 7 Personas in his repertoire, counting Shadow. Feeling satisfied with his achievement, Ren slowly opened his eyes, only to find the woman who sang the tune from before now staring at him. Under the shade of the sun making her seem like an imposing presence before him, red bright orbs looked upon the Phantom Thief with absentminded curiosity.

Ren himself didn't know what to do with the current situation other than eyeing her back now that he got a better look. The woman before her is beautiful on her own right, with a gray shirt and a belt wrapped around the middle, followed by long black pants that showed the inner upper parts of her thighs. If he had to launch guesses, this woman almost looked like someone who came straight out of Bloodborne. A Hunter.

Still, the silence between them is slowly becoming jarring for him, and Ren never liked awkward moments slowly popping out of the woodwork. So he decided to nullify it with the only way he knew how. A quick conversation. "You sing well. It felt so calming."

The woman before him blinked a bit before returning to stare. "You listened to me earlier?"

Ren nodded in response. "Yeah. I can feel how serene it was, yet it also felt sad. What was that all about?"

The woman remained silent after hearing his answer. He wasn't sure what was going on inside her head, but he hoped he didn't offend her somewhat. In the end, the woman responded. "It's…it's nothing you should concern yourself with."

That was all she said before she walked past Ren absentmindedly. Ren however was not having it as he stood up and faced her as she walked. "Can I at least give concern for you not telling me your name?"

The woman stopped in her tracks, not facing the Joker as she spoke. "…It's Skadi. I suggest you don't associate with me more than this, lest you'll drown in danger."

Skadi's advice bordering on a warning confused Ren somewhat. "What sort of danger are you talking about?"

"It is… a danger that you shouldn't involve yourself with. Staying with me will only bring you suffering and calamity, so kindly leave me be."

Ren knew well enough alone that Skadi is actively trying to push him away by making her seem dangerous to others based on her words. If he's going to get through to her, what must he do? Perhaps some choice words?

"I've had my fair share of suffering so far, even if it's short. I don't see how associating with you will only make it worse."

The attempt of choice words seems to see a glimmer of success as Skadi stopped in her tracks, yet she didn't even look at Ren. "Your name?"

"It's Ren."

Skadi let out a minor hum, and Ren remained in place hoping she'll stay. His hopes were unanswered however as she walked away regardless, leaving him on his lonesome. Ren let out a sigh of defeat. "She's a tough cookie."

'In more ways than one. Frankly, I find your penchant for encountering people of power to be an intriguing boon for us.'

Shadow's remark made Ren lift an eyebrow as he mentally responded. 'What makes you say that? You mean her hunter-like clothing is no mere costume?'

'Yes. You may be able to guess from attire alone, but I can tell. While you were busy amassing power under her song, I paid attention to her. While she may seem aloof and distant, her power is insurmountable, much like the Confessor, Shining, as you call her, and perhaps even more.' A brief lapse occurred before Shadow continued. 'If you are to gain her trust, exercise caution, much more than the aforementioned Shining due to her wary nature. I very much would like you to try regardless.'

Ren grunted a bit as he listened to Shadow's short analysis of Skadi. The Joker has zero reason to doubt the Doctor, what with his experience as a war tactician who isn't afraid to discard lives if it'll be worth. If Skadi is as strong as she seems and heard, he'll have to be careful not to get on her bad side. Still, while he dislikes Shadow's mild taunt, he's certainly going to try regardless. Someone like Skadi trying to push others away because she doesn't want danger on them is a unique case in itself, and he's going to know why she acts like so.

"Well, if words don't work, like they say, convince through action."

'Yes, display your persistence, your sheer want for association. In the end, she will have little choice but to submit. At this point, it is your most effective strategy.'

Ren twitched in annoyance. 'You're still there? Why don't you go back to your observation corner? I need to see what my new Persona is.'

'If you wish. Your new facet of power must not disappoint.'

And so Shadow retreated back from the forefront of his head, retreating to whatever place he resides in the surface of his mind. With him out of the way, Ren can now focus on the new Persona from the gathering of residual thoughts. Based on his experience, any new Persona he formed from his bonds would need to be identified first, with some requiring to be fused into being so he can properly use their powers. Shadow can cover for the identification, thankfully enough, so he can just focus on fusing Personas.

His newly acquired Persona however is already fresh out of the oven, fully identified and fully formed. He'd have to chalk it to Philemon for teaching him this technique if he can get a fresh new Persona this quickly. He wasted in no time in manifesting the Persona before him, and he already knew his name already.

"Come!"

A pool of light opened beneath the metal floor in front of him as bright wisps emerged from it. The wisps then soon gathered and formed into a shape, slowly dissipating before revealing a youthful man clad in a white coat with black tunic underneath. His shoes are metallic and paired with shin guards of the same sheen. In his hand, was nothing more than a simple sword. His other hand however, held a flag bearing the insignia of Rhodes Island, sided by crosses. His head bore a mop of curly hair, and he had a friendly disposition. What's even more notable is the presence of a halo on his head, along with a pair of translucent wings on his back.

"You called? I hope you don't mind me listening in on your earlier conversation. Your friend seems to be a very forward person."

Ren opted to shake his head. "No need to worry. Shadow has always been like that anyway. That aside, I called you just so that we can get to know each other better. After all, you're my Persona, but you're still alive and breathing."

"Ah, but of course."

The saintly figure before him nodded as he planted his flag on the floor, wearing a mask of calmness. "I am St. John, a mask born from the many thoughts that live in this grand Ark. May we enjoy our lives as we practice our arts, respected by all men at all times, friend."

St. John, the name of the saint who bore the namesake of the first name donned by the late Knights of Hospitaller, a knightly order of warriors who swore to protect and tend to the weak and the poor. As warriors of the Holy Land, they quickly grew in strength, quickly becoming a militant organization before relocating to Rhodes Island, being known as the Knights of Rhodes.

With such an opening statement, Ren can't help but bow slightly at an angle. "Likewise St. John. May we also be inspired to choose with wisdom in our trying times ahead."

St. John smiled justly in response before adopting a grim expression. "Indeed. Since I am born from thoughts, I can feel them circling within me. The emotions are various, both positive and negative. But they all share one thing, and that is their thoughts as an Infected. To think that I have been birthed in such an ailing world."

Ren let out a huff as he covered his face in knowing agreement. "Yep. This world is multiple levels of messed up. But that's why we're here, to steer this world on a far better route, even if it's hard as heck."

"I couldn't agree more. Before I go back into your mindscape, do you mind if I ask something of you?"

Ren can't help but be curious of St. John's request. What would this great figure of a Persona want from him? "Ask away, Jonathan."

St. John stilled his tongue from the name Ren spoke out before chuckling. "I was about to ask if you would fashion me a nickname, but it seems you've figured one already. I wonder why the nickname you gave me is longer than my actual name, though."

"Nicknames are meant so we can get more familiar with each other. Plus, having John as your nickname would be far too obvious for my taste."

"Haha, you have a good point, Ren. Well, in any case, allow me to take my leave. It would be nice to know my neighbors better."

Ren responded with a nod as he dismissed St. John, or Jonathan back into his mindscape. All in all, Ren found himself satisfied with what he did today. He has earned himself a new Persona in the form of St. John, and found a new face in the form of Skadi. St. John was an amicable fellow as he expected, but Skadi will need some effort to properly befriend with how distant she is. If he's going to have any hope of doing so, like Shadow said, he'll need to be a persistent piece of a Doctor to do so.

There's little hope in finding Skadi now, though, so he has to hope he shows up at the same place every now and then. That leaves him with only one question now. What is he going to do now that he's relieved from work?

- Take Your Time –

2:02 P.M / Sunny

Rhodes Island Ark, Modern Music Rehearsal Room

---

Lunch turned out rather interesting for Ren today. Today was Lada's first shift at work in the cafeteria, and he had been treated to his first taste of a Russian lunch. He's well acquainted with honey tea as well as porridge, but this is his first time of having what he assumes to be borscht for lunch. Ren liked it all nonetheless, and he thanked the bright Ursus girl by patting her on the head. A gesture that she very much enjoyed.

The hours before and after lunch however were spent wandering around the Ark trying to get a feel for directions considering its size. He paid visit to the shops available on B1, checked in on the Factories for no more mishaps, and relaxed a bit on the Convalescence Garden above ground, where he basked in the feeling of being surrounded by many flowers and plants. All of the floral greenery around him reminded Ren too much of Haru Okumura, the heiress of Okumura Foods Inc. He was sure she'd love taking care of a garden this big, as well as getting along with its head gardener, Lena the Perfumer. He thought back on their previous conversation.

"Ah, who might you be?"

Ren was snapped out of his daydreams as he faced the young woman with fox ears who looked at him lazing at the bench. "Ah, I'm Ren. I'm sorry, but who are you?"

The woman in question chuckled at his lazy reply. "So you're the Doctor then. I didn't expect you to dress so casually, considering what I heard from visitors. Anyway, I'm Lena, a perfumer. It's nice to meet you, Dr. Ren."

With how respectful Lena is acting, Ren had to straighten himself up to make sure he doesn't seem like a slouch. "Good to meet you too, Lena. By the way, judging by your title, I'm guessing you concoct perfumes for others?"

"That's right, Doctor. I'm glad you know of my work." The vulpo perfumer smiled as she sat down right next to Ren, looking at him. "I also manage the Convalescence Garden as the head gardener. What do you think of it? Isn't it beautiful?"

"Obviously. If anything, I'm impressed that you managed to keep this garden in pristine condition." Ren stretched his arms out before asking, "Do you have others helping you on maintenance?"

"Of course, Doctor. I have Podenco looking after the garden with me, and I'm sure you two will get along just fine."

Ren nodded well enough alone at the thought. If he wanted, he can just relax all day in the garden with Lena by his side. Unfortunately, he wasn't done on his self-tour of Rhodes Island, which means he that has to move, as much as it saddens him. Hence, he rose up from the bench, inviting Lena's curious look.

"Leaving so soon, Doctor?"

Ren turned to face Lena with a wry smile. "Yeah. Still need to get myself used to whatever this Ark has to offer. I'm definitely going to visit again though. With that said though…"

"Yes? What is it?"

With a sheepish smile, Ren replied, "…Do you happen to have perfumes that help with sleep?"

Ren gave the right pocket of his pants a gentle pat, which housed the chamomile perfume that Lena had given to him. Since tomorrow is the day they'll touch down on Lungmen, a little help on sleeping wouldn't hurt. With the safety of his perfume out of the way, Ren surveyed the music room he's in, denoting the vibrancy of the place. Guitars hung on the wall, speakers neatly stacked near the corner of the wall, a drum set, and a bar near the door for procuring headphones and cables. Couple that with the bright lighting and striking color palette of the room itself, and anyone would be all pumped up to rehearse some rock.

With a contented smile, the Joker took hold of a guitar and gently took it off its rack. Back on Earth, he found himself to take up a guitar in his spare time during college, and that carried on until he took over LeBlanc in his adult years. Ren would dare say that he's great with a guitar, but he never went beyond following the rhythm of the music on his playlists. It's a good thing that the phone Philemon gave him preserved his music playlist back on Earth somehow, which means that he can continue his habit without much trouble, and with proper accommodation to boot!

With his playlist in mind, leaning the guitar against the speakers, he took his phone out and searched through his playlist. It took a while, but eventually he found one that suits him for a first endeavor after so long.

"Alright. Maybe a classic will do for now. Last Surprise."

Last Surprise, a soundtrack that has always been a go to favorite in any situation that he deems fit whenever he wants to jam. Back when he first got the song, it carried an extravagant feel with each jazzy tune, which is something that he had no issues with. The rock version of it however came out a few years later after the first release, and this one stuck with him more, if only because he can jam to it while shredding his guitar.

In Terra, however, Ren was dead certain that his playlist is a one of a kind, knowing that it's all Earthling originals. Thinking back on how Receive You – Kiwami, one of the soundtracks in his expansive playlist was used during his evaluation with Sonya, he noted on how very well-received the soundtrack was. Now he wondered how well received Last Surprise would be.

"Well, I'm sure they'll agree that it's worth a hit."

'A hit, eh? You better not give me false hopes, buddy.'

A voice resounded in his head, yet Ren can only chuckle. "That you, Walter?"

'One and only. Soon as I felt that you're gonna be rocking out, I knew I had to pitch in. I even brought a buddy along!'

'Walter, I don't see how dragging me here will do me any good.'

Ren tilted an eyebrow over who the other voice belonged to, and it was the most recent addition to boot! "Jonathan? I honestly didn't expect this." His remark was met with a sigh from the saint.

'I will have to concur with you, Ren. One moment I am enjoying my peace and suddenly Walter here insists I join him against my will.'

'Hey, I made sure to invite you all nice and easy, and you agreed!'

'That however doesn't excuse you from pulling me by my arm. It pains me, and I for one prefer classical music, thank you!'

'First time for everything, right, Jonathan? Hoy, Ren! Get this show in gear so Mr. Saint here can get his first taste of the goods!'

Ren can only laugh as Jonathan let out a sigh of resignation in his mind. Back when he first began his journey as a Wild Card, Ren had to adjust himself to the fact that his Personas are their own beings due to their nature as Shadows that are tamed. Hence, conversations between Personas are prone to happen every single time. Thankfully, he got used to it, and he began to view the conversations as a form of entertainment, one that he can chime in whenever he pleases.

Now however, he's got to put up a good rehearsal for his mental audience. After a short round of pep talk, Ren picked up the guitar once more before giving it a single strum, hearing a pitch that is too high before tuning it down slightly. As soon as he felt the pitch was just right from the second strum, he debated on how to start it off. He decided to play through the first chorus only, if only to shake off some rust. And so he began to strum the guitar, playing through the riffs as he committed the soundtrack to memory. The only issue is that he got off beat occasionally, along with a slip in a chord every now and then.

"Damn. I really am getting rusty. Maybe singing along will shake it off."

'Rusty, eh? When was the last time you shredded an electric guitar?'

'I am sure that is an irrelevant question at the moment. Please continue, Ren.'

The Joker restarted his jam after advising himself. He had to do a lot of guitar shredding before he can even touch the lyrics, but he managed to pull it off and made it through the first chorus without relative issue. Feeling satisfied with his practice performance, Ren resolved to take it up a notch and reach for the second chorus this time. It was a shame however, knowing that a single guitar won't make a full performance complete, unless the whole show is pure guitar shredding. Last Surprise is not one of those songs, and at this point he wished he had a drummer to back him up.

'Well, they do say you can't have a catchy song without a beat, and drummers have all the beat!'

'I wouldn't say that. Considering the genre though, I have to agree with you here.'

"Guess I have to make do then. On to the next."

Ren let out a hum to assure himself before jamming out once more, hitting the chords and losing himself to the sounds of his own guitar. As he lost himself, he thought on the song he's currently playing.

"And as you looked to the horizon, not a cloud…"

Last Surprise had always remained as his favorite, even when the age of music shifted around him back on Earth. EDM and Techno music dominated the ranks in his old age while rock and jazz slowly got snuffed out. He can't do anything about the public's changing tastes in music, but he'll be damned if anyone demands he sticks with the times. If rock and jazz are gonna end up being classics meant for boomers, then he'll gladly be a boomer until he dies.

"You'll never see it coming!"

What also made Last Surprise click with him is how the song resonates so well with his old gig as a Phantom Thief. Getting into elusive escapades, silently weaving his way through Palaces and Jails, outsmarting their foes and beating them at their twisted games. He can't help but reminisce the old days while he shredded the guitar on his lonesome. From their beginning as the underdogs of justice to becoming an absolute threat to society's corruption, he can't help but have a somber look in contrast to the powerful chords he's dishing out.

"It's a trap, one more step, and you're dead."

Now that he thought about it, this whole song in essence is all about being a rebel when directed at the right target, such as the corrupt adults and governments. If he were to publish Last Surprise, as well as the other songs he had that carried the same essence as their own singular album, it would no doubt be a huge hit with the masses, especially the Infected. The one's suffering under an unjust government would be especially motivated by the message the album spreads. He's just hoping that the album won't motivate the Infected to do anything rash like openly instigating their own rebellions.

"I'm coming for you-"

Ren turned his body as he continued to sing, only to abruptly stop everything he's doing when he noticed that someone has been watching him, eyes widening in minor surprise immediately ditching the look in favor of a neutral expression while eyeing her features. A short Sarkaz with red horns poking out of her hat, long red hair split in two and reaching her ankles, casual wear featuring a gray jacket, a white shirt, a short gray skirt, and two stockings of red and black coupled with sleek boots.

'You damn straight she's short! Imma bet she's at least 140 cm, give or take 3.'

'Somehow I'm not surprised that you're making crude comments about the girl's height already.'

While silently agreeing with Jonathan, Ren saw that the Sarkaz girl's expression looked as if she was looking at some superstar, which he assuredly is not! "W…what song was that?"

Ren opted to play dumb for a bit. "What do you mean?"

"The song you were playing earlier! I've never heard it before from any rock band I know so far! Can you please tell me the name?!"

The question hurled by the Sarkaz made Ren sweat due to how insistent she seemed in knowing the song he jammed out to barely a minute ago. He can't pull the "Self-Original" card due to the actual singer of Last Surprise, that being Lyn, and playing the "Retired Singer" card won't do shit because Lyn and the accompanying band doesn't even exist in Terra. He's not going to risk the Sarkaz looking up the names on Terra's equivalent of the internet

For now, he'll have to delay the answer with the tried and true "Counter Question" card. "Before that, though, I don't think it's good for you to ask questions out of the blue when we haven't even known each other. What's your name?"

The Sarkaz girl visibly frowned before fixing back her enthusiastic look "I'm sorry. Where are my manners here? My name's Vigna. What's yours?"

"Ren. Good to meet you, Vigna." He extended his hand for a shake, only to notice her wide eyed expression.

"Hold up. Your name's Ren? That means you're the Doctor, right?!"

It was then that the Joker realized that he's going to add another can of fuel to the fires of the rumor mill, and he can't turn back now after the presence of a physical witness to his rehearsal. Thus, he covered his face and shook his head while responding. "Yes, I am. I'm guessing you've heard of me from the rumor mill?"

Vigna shook her head at the inquiry. "Well, yes and no. I heard how the people from the latest operation recently retrieved their head field commander, so I wanted to find and see the commander for myself." Ren nodded as Vigna continued on. "But, then came the rumors circling around the commander himself, on how he's a total badass with equally crazy Arts and a total looker to boot. Not to mention how he almost tore into the Head Engineer for messing up worker allocations! After hearing all that, I needed to confirm those rumors for myself!"

Ren's expression visibly scrunched as he tried to form the best amicable expression he can muster. Damn the rumor mill! "Well, you've found the man in the rumor. So, did you think those rumors all hold ground?"

Vigna nodded twice at the question. "So far, only thing that checks out is your looks, Doctor. But I didn't expect you to be able to shred the guitar that well! I'm a guitarist myself, but it sucks to go solo every single time."

Ren can find himself relating to Vigna, considering his past experience jamming out alone. "I feel you there. Really makes you want to have a genuine band at your back, huh?"

"Uh-huh! Even still, I won't let that stop me from rocking out, whether it be under rain or shine!"

The Doctor had to grin as he felt Vigna's passion for rock music. Her expressions alone speak volumes of her spirit in doing the things she loves to do. The same expression remained on her as she spoke once more. "With that said, do you mind if I ask you a favor, Doctor?"

"Shoot."

"Can you teach me that song you rocked out in earlier?"

And with that, Ren fell silent once more as he resumed his gauging of options in how to answer her current request. In his deliberations he pulled out his smartphone and surfed through his playlists, making Vigna tilt her head in curiosity. He had to admit though, Philemon did well in organizing his music collection. All of them have been sorted based on the originating franchise, while also being neatly split between the vocal version and the instrumental…version…

A light bulb popped on his head, discovering the solution to his conundrum. Just in time for Vigna to pipe up. "Dr. Ren? What's up? Is that song in that phone of yours?"

Ren snapped back to reality, answering Vigna with a chill expression. "Yeah. You know Rhodes Island just got some visitors, right?"

"Two guys in suits, right? I think those are from… Midsummers Dream Laboratories?"

"Right. Those two plan to be our newest associates, along with our company. Heck, they even gifted me this smartphone to start our first day off. Thing's got a full playlist of music and everything." Vigna's expression brightened up at the mention of the music playlist.

"So, you're saying the song you sang earlier came from the playlist?! Can I have a listen? Can I?!"

Seeing the little Sarkaz girl being this giddy made Ren chuckle. "Hold your horses, Vigna. If you wanna listen to that, then we gotta set ourselves a deal."

Vigna visibly narrowed her eyes at the mention of the deal. "You're not gonna make me do anything shady, are you, Doctor? I know my way around deals, you know? Call it my street smarts!"

"I know, I know." Ren replied quickly to ward off the Sarkaz's wariness. Once her worries are soothed, Ren quickly got into thinker mode trying to figure out the perfect kind of deal that would benefit both sides. For Vigna, it's obvious that she wants to be his student in terms of learning Last Surprise, and potentially learning other rock songs as well. What is to be gained for him though?

With that in mind, he decided to consult the two Personas that lingered in his head. 'Walter, Jonathan. You heard the whole conversation, right? How do I spice up this deal for myself?'

His question was met with laughter from Walter. 'Come on, buddy! This should be easy for you! She's a guitarist, she wants to learn from you. Why not just go a stretch further and form up your own band? We heard your thoughts long enough that you wanted to do that for a long time, and I'm sure Little Red here won't object at all!'

'OK, that there is a no brainer, but we need more than two guitarists for a band. Jonathan?'

Jonathan chuckled softly as he offered his own suggestion. 'I'm sure that Vigna can help you get your bearings even further in reclaiming your mastery over the guitar. Also, there is also the possibility that she is a combat Operator, one that may help you train through sparring.'

Ren considered Jonathan's advice. Operators in Rhodes Island are split into the Combat or Logistics Department. Knowing Vigna, little as he did, she'd be too passionate to just wind up in Logistics. It never hurt to ask though.

"Vigna, you're in the Combat Department, right?"

"Yep. I'm a Vanguard Operator. Why do you ask?" Vigna answered without skipping a beat.

"What weapon do you use?"

"A lance. A custom made one in fact. Why are you asking me all this?" Vigna grew more confused from this line of questioning. Even more so when her superior smiled.

"Let me put it like this, Vigna. With how much I'm on a roll today, I'm thinking of going bigger and forming a band." Vigna's eyes lit up and her mouth opened to speak, only to be stopped by Ren's hand. "I'll also let you listen to the song I played on my phone. I know you want to be the first member to join me, but you're gonna help me train against lancers like you. You also gotta help me learn the guitar to the max. What do you say?"

With how the deal is so heavily stacked for her passions, Vigna had no reason to not refuse. Being in a band with the Doctor playing hardcore rebel rock in exchange for teaching him guitar despite his mastery and possibly sparring practice against him? How could she say no? "You bet, Doctor! I don't really get why you're asking me to teach you guitar when you're already great, but I'll try my best to teach you, both in music and combat too!"

Seeing Vigna's enthusiasm made Ren grin, knowing that their cooperation will not be wasted. "It's a deal then. Let's shake on it."

"Alright!"

The Doctor and the Sarkaz Vanguard shook hands, and with that, the familiar voice sounded out.

"I am thou, thou art I."

"Thou hast awakened to a new bond."

"It shall become the second wind that floweth on the wings of rebellion."

"With the rebirth of the Strength Arcana, you have obtained the fires of grace that shall lead to freedom and new power…"

The Strength Arcana, also known as Fortitude, represents the greater value of inner strength over physical strength. One's self control, bravery, courage, or fortitude when facing tough circumstances is put on emphasis in the Strength Arcana. Simply put, one's strength of heart is the main focus here. How Vigna represents this Strength Arcana though, that's what Ren will find out.

"Well, let's hear it then! I wanna hear it!"

"Okay, okay. Normally I'd have earphones on me, but I left them over at my dorms. Gotta stick with the built in speakers. Listen well now."

Placing his own phone on the speaker box, Ren played the vocal version of Last Surprise for both of them to hear. With how ecstatic Vigna looked and how she's constantly peeking over to his phone, she's loving every bit of it. He decided to stop it at the end of the second chorus however, making the little Sarkaz spout complaints. "Hey! I'm pretty sure we're getting close to the refrain! What gives?!"

In response, Ren decided to raise his hands in defense. "To be fair, I only managed to reach that part on guitar. That means you have to wait till I get to that part."

"What?! That's not fair at all! That means you've already heard the full song!"

"Sorry, to say, but I haven't." Vigna can only pout cutely with her argument shot down so easily. "Anyway, what did you think about it?"

The question hurled towards the little Sarkaz made her straighten up. "What I think? Well…Last Surprise, was it? It definitely has the energy, the beginning solo is already a banger, and whoever sang this song definitely knows how to bring the hype. Not to mention the lyrics! If this was a live performance, it's gonna be a huge hit no matter how it went as long as you don't mess up!" Ren can only puff his chest in pride knowing that Lyn's music still managed to win the hearts of people in another world. "Seriously, Doctor! You're saying your phone had this song from the start?!"

"Yep. I honestly had no clue where the song came from too. I'm sure the guy who gave me the phone can tell you though. Name's Philemon. You can't miss him." At that point, Ren knew that's basically throwing Philemon under the bus, and honestly he couldn't care less, if only to save his own skin.

"Really? He really knows?" With a question like that, Philemon can be saved a bit at least.

"Probably. It might have dated back to before you're even born, and that's my best guess. I don't even know if Phil knows where he got those songs."

With a response like that, Vigna can only lower her head in resignation. Ren can only hope Vigna has given up on questioning where he got his playlist. "By the way, someone clearly sang this, and I don't recognize the voice anywhere. Do you know, Doctor?"

"Again, I have no idea."

"Aw… I really wanted to meet her…" Another sigh escaped the little Sarkaz's lips while Ren breathed out in relief. He really didn't want to deal with this issue any further than necessary.

And it seemed Walter and Jonathan agreed.

'Whew! That was several close shaves in one! You okay, buddy?'

'Barely. I can't believe I'm this stressed out over showing off my playlist.'

Jonathan shrugged while shaking his head. 'I suppose this is the consequence of your music collection being literally otherworldly. Vigna seems downtrodden however.'

'And I know just how to cheer her up.'

How he was going to cheer Vigna up was already obvious. All he did was pat her shoulder. "You know, Vigna? I may not be the original singer, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we sing her song in her stead."

Vigna peered over her shoulder, looking at her superior's calming smile. "You sure, Doctor? Nobody will come after us for this?"

"I'm certain. Think of it as continuing her legacy of sorts. Nobody has heard this song before other than us, and I'm sure whoever sang this wanted us to deliver her message contained in her music. You've heard what the song's all about, right?"

Vigna went silent as she thought over Ren's words. Deep down she still wanted to know the origins of Last Surprise, but all her answers are in Philemon based on the Doctor's words, so she had to believe him. Even then part of her still felt some sort of hesitance, knowing that this song is someone else's original. If what he said is true, and that the music is to be carried on as a legacy, then she'd be honored to carry on in her stead. Not to mention the message it carried, speaking of confidence in challenging your foes while emerging on top, catching them by surprise.

After a quiet moment, the little Sarkaz nodded her head before turning to face the Doctor who waited patiently, a look full of resolve on her own. "Alright, I've made up my mind! If she really wants it to be like this, then I'll be glad to continue her legacy, together with you, Doctor!"

Hearing Vigna's determined answer brought a grin on Ren's face, seeing her youthful passion. "Well, then let's get to rehearsal then! Why don't we start from the first chorus?"

"Well, before that, can I bring my own guitar for this? I always play it whenever I rock out, and I won't settle for anything else!"

"Heh, you go and grab your guitar then. I'll be waiting here."

With a cheeky smile and a nod, Vigna ran off, presumably to the dorms to grab her guitar. In the meantime, Ren sat on the ground, heaving out a sigh.

"Damn. Mental fatigue really hits harder than physical fatigue, always."

Walter chimed in with glee, and if he could pat Ren's back, he really would. 'You said it, buddy. Kudos to you for getting yourself a new link, and a new band member!'

Jonathan however had something else in mind. 'Still, I worry about the future of this bond of yours. No doubt your party of two will soon grow into a full-fledged band of more, and Vigna will tell your band members of how you got these tunes. What will we do in that case?'

'I'll just have to pin it on Philemon and hope that he provides a good answer. With how much I've known him so far, he always seems to give away the right ones.'

'Here's hoping. Well, here's to the formation of your new band! Say, you came up with a name for it yet?'

Ren already had an answer right off the bat, and it made him grin. 'I did.'

'Well, what's the-'

"Doctor, I'm back!"

Jonathan's words were cut off by the sound of Vigna as she jogged towards Ren, carrying with her a red electric guitar laden with various stickers. Ren stood up as soon as he called, wearing a poker face to hide his fatigue. "Quite the guitar you have, Vigna. How long have you had that?"

"Ever since I watched my first rock concert, Doctor! It…really is an eye opener!" Vigna heaved in breaths as she spoke. Running from the music room to her dorm room and back was a bad idea.

As for Ren, judging by her expression, both of them needed rest, and he's ready to capitalize on it. "That so? Well, why don't we sit down for our rehearsal?"

"Yeah… Took the words right out of my mouth!"

Both guitarists proceeded to sit on the floor right next to each other, their guitars laid on their side as they let out a sigh. As soon as they properly relaxed themselves, Vigna broke the ice. "So, Doctor. When was the last time you played guitar? By the look of things, you seem like a pro."

Ren's eyes grew somber at the redhead's question. "Well… sorry to say, Vigna, but I don't remember. When they woke me up, I have no memory whatsoever."

"Wait. You have…" Vigna's eyes widened in realization before guilt overtook her. "I'm sorry! I really shouldn't have asked…"

"It's alright, Vigna. If I forgot my memories, the best I can do is make new ones. That's the best way to move forward, right?" Ren patted Vigna's head as consolation, yet she seemed to be pouting.

"Yeah, you're right. And don't pat my head so much. You might make me shorter."

"Okay, okay." He lifted his hand away from Vigna's head and moved it to his guitar, picking it and getting into position. "If it's anything, I may not remember much, but I don't think I've played a guitar before this."

Ren's ploy of lifting Vigna's spirit up seemed to have work, if her wide eyes were any indication. "Wait, if that's true, then you're an up and coming rock prodigy, Doctor! I'm actually jealous! I can't learn my way with the guitar that fast!"

"Heh, even prodigies still need to learn from the experts. With that in mind, let's get started on practice, shall we?"

"Yep. Let's start!"

Ren and Vigna began their practice in earnest, playing their guitars to the beat of Last Surprise together. If their practice has shown anything, Vigna is eager to learn, and she appreciates any helpful pointers. Soon enough, they were able to play the song all the way to the end in 2 hours. Ren may have placed full focus in shredding his guitar in resonance with Vigna, but he can tell that he's gonna have a lot of fun playing music together, especially once they start their own band!

'Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.'

'Uh-huh, we can't be forming bands this early. It's only been a few days!'

'Agreed. I will admit though, I think I'll enjoy this rock music from now on. It brings so much vigor!'

'What I tell you, Jonathan? I told you you're gonna like it!'

Well, at least Jonathan and Walter are enjoying the show too.

- Take Your Time –

6:11 A.M / Cloudy

Rhodes Island Command Center / Desert, 4 km away from Lungmen

December 26th, 1096

"Morning. You two wanted to see me?"

"Ah, Doctor! Good morning!"

'Good morning to you, Dr. Ren. We have urgent matters to discuss here, yes."

Ren had to admit, having a personal assistant in the form of PRTS was quite a boon for his overall daily schedule, though he had to request that she disables her automatic timer function for her as soon as she woke him and Morgana up. The effort it took to get PRTS' support was a different matter however, since he has to connect to the AI manually and it took some mental strain on him yesterday. Luckily enough, he managed to recover relatively easily and proceed with his agenda smoothly later on. His first agenda was to visit Closure regarding his grappling hook project, and he wasn't surprised that Closure was still sour and slightly fearful of him, considering the chase and her punishment. All of her misfortunes led to their conversations quickly veering into awkwardness, and Ren had to bribe the capitalistic head mechanic with half of her confiscated money just so he can get business flowing.

Luckily enough, Closure, despite their horrid interactions earlier stayed true to her word and began working on the grappling hook project with the design already put into completion. All Closure now needed to do was gather the proper materials that are durable yet light enough to not be uncomfortable weight on Ren's hand, as well as wire strong enough to support his weight. Ren was also able to fulfill his second agenda by asking Closure about Terra's state of the internet, which luckily didn't incur any weird reactions this time, either out of amnesia or fear.

According to Closure, Terra's internet situation has reached the point of intercity and citywide networks. While that is to be the case, intercity networks tend to be limited, and the amount of info you get online is also barred by the city you're currently in. Even though Ren has to worry about Vigna looking up his songs on the internet no more, the fact that internet usage is barred by city made him frown as a user of the World Wide Web. Yet another thing he has to acclimate to as an Earthling, and he's hoping that Terra will be able to develop their own WWW soon.

With yesterday out of the way, now Ren has to deal with today. "Well, what is it you want to talk about, Dobermann? Today is the day we arrive in Lungmen, no?"

"You catch on quick, Doctor. However, before we get to that…" Dobermann pointed to the cat sitting primly next to him. "I'd prefer if Morgana were to go somewhere else for our brief meeting today."

The feline in question immediately spoke in defense. "With all due respect, Ms. Dobermann. I'd appreciate it if I stuck around for this. I promise that I won't leak this to the other operators. Gentleman's honor!"

The instructor's eyebrow twitched hearing Morgana's reply, and after seeing Amiya's pleading expression, Dobermann had no choice but to comply. "Very well then. With that out of the way, Doctor, I'm sure you're well aware of the aftermath of your rescue operation in Chernobog, correct?"

"I was successfully rescued by you guys, as well as the U.S.S.G. joining us, right? I don't think we need to mention anything about Scout's team this morning though."

Both Amiya and Dobermann caught Ren's implication, and both Ren and Morgana grimaced seeing their faint forlorn expressions before it faded away into seriousness. "…Correct, Doctor. In any case, after the operation, we are planning to head to Lungmen, the nearest mobile city from our current position. We have evidence pointing to Reunion planning to target Lungmen next, and Dr. Kal'tsit is currently there to prepare for negotiations with Lungmen's leader for cooperation in dealing with the Reunion threat."

The very mention of Kal'tsit sent a chilling sensation of fury into Ren's mind, and it was child's play to know the cause. He decided to question the matter. "Are you sure Kal'tsit will be able to handle the negotiations? Even if she's very capable, I don't think they'll be able to trust us so easily."

"True. We may be an Infected organization, but I trust Dr. Kal'tsit. I'm sure she'll be able to reach an equal agreement for us!" Amiya answered with a confident smile, yet that soon faded once she saw the Doctor's frown, and so did Dobermann with a stern expression on her features.

"Somehow, I doubt it. The public in general doesn't trust Infected, so I don't really trust that this leader will give us the leverage to act. We don't even know how the Lungmen leader generally acts in politics, and I'm no fan of those."

"Then what do you suppose we do, Doctor? If we are to stop Reunion, we have to gain Lungmen's cooperation no matter what, even if we end up on the losing side of the argument."

Dobermann's sharp question was answered with a quick reply from Morgana. "Why don't we just ask our newest associates regarding Lungmen's leader and his stance on the Infected? Any insight would help us in preparing should we actually negotiate."

The instructor let out a grunt at the cat's answer. "Hrrm. You raise a fair point, Morgana. If we are to negotiate, we need to know who we're dealing against. Consulting Mr. Kaleidus and Mr. Hasegawa would be a good move here."

"Great. Amiya, can you schedule a meeting between us later on in the morning? Invite Phil and Zenkichi into the meeting as well."

"Okay, Doctor!"

Amiya nodded earnestly as she replied, eliciting a smile from Ren and Morgana. Dobermann cracked a grin at how cautious the Doctor is being right now. "In any case, should the negotiations are not called off and we succeed, we may have to engage in further urban warfare. We have a new set of tactics employed just for this, and I hope you'll be capable of executing them in actual combat."

"I take it we're gonna go through this in our drills then?"

Dobermann briskly nodded. "Yes. Amiya, Doctor, please complete your combat preparations for your upcoming drills. Especially you, Doctor. You will need to assign squads for your drills today, so please inform the Operators you've chosen to prepare themselves soon. You need to prepare for combat as well, Morgana, in case you want to join in as well today."

"I respectfully decline, Ms. Dobermann. I'm fine enough watching from the sidelines though."

The inspector let out an amused huff at Morgana's refusal before going away to the Training Hall. Ren and Amiya both looked at each other, with Morgana right between the two before they both smiled and grinned in their own ways.

"Well, break a leg, you two. Don't slack on your training now!"

"Mm! We will, Morgana! Let's both do our best, Doctor!"

"Right. Now let's go. We don't want to be late for Dobermann's drills."

And Ren knows full well what happens to those who are late, which is something he doesn't want to experience, ever.

- Take Your Time –

10:03 A.M / Slightly Cloudy

Rhodes Island Meeting Room 1 / 3 km from Lungmen

Dobermann's newly employed tactics for urban warfare proved to be something that Ren had slight difficulty in. But, through Shadow's guidance and his quick thinking, he was able to master the tactics handed out easily. In regards with the squad, he chose to call upon Reserve Ops Squads A4 and A6 with Amiya as an extra, and he was glad he did, considering that one of those tactics involved slowing enemy movement down for so they can be whittled down easily by other allies. The drills involved taking down a variety of enemies from Slugs, Rioters, and Reunion Heavy Defenders. Orchid's Arts in particular lent considerable aid in slowing enemy movement for Steward, Amiya and Midnight to bust through the Heavy Defenders while Spot held the line. Catapult in the meantime was proficient in blowing stuff up, making her an excellent operator to handle the swarm of slugs while being aided by Adnachiel and Popukar (Ren was slightly appalled by her chainsaw the first time she saw her). As for the Rioters, they were swiftly dispatched by Melantha with Cardigan and Ansel by her side downing any Rioter that comes through them.

All in all, the drills were a success for everyone, and Dobermann was pleased by the results. Obviously they were hungry after such grueling practice, and Ren decided to treat them to a surprise. Any invites for breakfast were brushed off by his Operators as he immediately rushed for the cafeteria, grateful that the place was still relatively empty, with only Gummy manning the kitchen. Even more grateful when he saw that Gummy hasn't even started cooking yet, so he enlisted her help in his surprise, which made the little bear girl ecstatic. By the time Reserve Ops Squads A4 and A6, Amiya, Dobermann, and Morgana came around, everyone but Morgana had shock riddling their faces as they witnessed a line of Operators waiting to be served with a hearty breakfast with Gummy, Dur-nar, and Ren at the very front.

As for Ren, he found himself having a blast from the past as he served the many Operators lining up the cafeteria his famed Leblanc curry, immortalized in his soul with how many times he has served it in his past. The same goes for his specialized coffee expertise which accompanied the current breakfast, and it quickly became a hit at the cafeteria so much that many wanted to have seconds. Ren had to figure out which spices are available in Terra, and he was pleased to know that the same spices on Earth exist in Terra. He didn't expect to find Colombian Bucaramanga Supremo beans in the pantry though, much less in Terra, but he's not going to question it.

"Doctor? Why are you smiling? Did something happen?"

Amiya's questions brought Ren out of his musings as he faced her on his left, still retaining his reminiscent smile. "Just remembering breakfast at the cafeteria is all. I didn't expect my curry to be that popular."

Dobermann at his right let out a snort of amusement. "Heh, you'd have to be insane to think that curry of yours won't be popular, Doctor. I swear, ever since you came back to us, you've been full of surprises, both in combat and daily life."

Amiya nodded quickly in agreement. "Mhm! Not to mention the coffee too! I've never had coffee that is so sweet and rich before! And I can still taste it! How did you do it, Doctor?"

"What can I say? Maybe my amnesia gifted me with hidden talents? Who knows?"

Both girls laughed at Ren's dismissive reply, with the man in question having his own little laugh. All the Doctor can think of is how the "Cookbook" card played so well for how he made the curry. Philemon really thought of everything when he gave him his smartphone. The lie became a truth when he found a cookbook app which listed every single recipe he found and listed in his life on Earth, curry included. Granted, there was no need for a cookbook for the curry when Sojiro's recipe is imprinted in his memory for life.

Right before the three can engage in further small talk, the door to the meeting room slid open, and in came Philemon and Zenkichi who they invited personally to the meeting. Philemon kept his neutral smile, yet Zenkichi seemed slightly haggard. Regardless, their arrival quickly shifted the mood over on the round table.

"Mr. Kaleidus. Mr. Hasegawa. It's good that you two can join us here."

"It is good to see you as well, Ms. Dobermann. You as well, Ms. Amiya and Dr. Ren."

"Same here. Honestly I didn't expect you two to call us here, especially since it's not even a week after I'm an Operator. I didn't mess up, did I?"

"Course not, Zenkichi. You know what? Why don't you two sit down for now? This is far more important than your work ethics." Ren's assurance calmed the ex-detective down as he sat down at Amiya's left, with Philemon on Dobermann's right.

With all players now at the table, the meeting can officially begin with Amiya saying his leading piece. "Since everyone is now present, I'd like to begin this meeting with the intention of figuring out what we should do moving forward. More precisely, we need to discuss on how we can negotiate with the head of Lungmen so we can reach an agreement on equal terms."

Zenkichi quickly interjected as soon as knew what the meeting is about. "Hold up. You guys are planning to negotiate with Chief Wei? I'm pretty sure I know what the purpose is, but mind clarifying as to why?"

Dobermann clearly didn't like how Zenkichi broke into the opening statement so early, yet she can only sigh quietly. "The reason as to why we are negotiating with Chief Wei, as you've mentioned, is because we gathered evidence to point that Reunion is planning to attack Lungmen next. With how Chernobog suffered from a Catastrophe, the amount of supplies in the city may not be enough for any expansion attempt."

"And knowing this, Reunion decided to target Lungmen as their new home base. Lungmen is one of, if not the most economically advanced mobile city in Terra. Such a move isn't surprising."

Amiya nodded at Philemon's deduction with a serious expression. "That's right, Mr. Philemon. There's also the fact that there are waves of Chernobog refugees who escaped to Lungmen. There's a new wave of refugees heading for Lungmen last night, and judging by their speed, they'll arrive in the afternoon."

"With that in mind, Rhodes Island has decided to negotiate with Lungmen so we can safeguard Lungmen from the Reunion threat as well as secure an equal exchange of information between both parties. Dr. Kal'tsit is already stationed in Lungmen preparing for negotiations later on today."

"However, we need to know how Chief Wei acts when it comes to political negotiations like this, and that's where you two come in. I'm sure you dealt with him before, since you're guaranteed to negotiate with him to build your organization in Lungmen. How does Chief Wei act in negotiations like this, and how likely are we to achieve equal terms with him?"

Both Philemon and Zenkichi stared at each other after that exposition dump regarding the evidence they've gathered as well as their plans in Lungmen. In the end, Zenkichi let out a sigh while Philemon grunted, the former choosing to speak first. "Alright, let me get one thing straight, this Dr. Kal'tsit of yours hasn't scheduled an appointment with Wei yet, right?"

Dobermann lifted an eyebrow at the question hurled. "…No. he would have informed us already if she did. Why?" The frown Zenkichi displayed was not a good sign.

"Then I'll be honest, you three. I don't think Rhodes Island won't have what it takes to reach equal terms with Wei. At best, you'll be no more than their attack dogs."

Zenkichi's answer left many negative reactions on the Rhodes Island side, and Amiya had to question him. "Why is that, Mr. Zenkichi? Surely Lungmen knows how much of a threat Reunion is, right?"

"That's exactly it, Amiya. Lungmen knows that Reunion is a threat, except that it's not gonna be a threat that warrants their full attention. At this point in time, the L.G.D may have gotten quarantine zones up and ready for the Chernobog refugees and prepared against possible infiltrations. But after seeing what they're capable of from our drones, the L.G.D's prep ain't gonna work anymore."

"Then it's even more vital that we bring this issue up toward the officials. Yet, I have a feeling that it's not going to be easy despite the facts." Dobermann saw Philemon nod from the corner of her eye, as if she needed more headaches today.

"Your feeling is correct, Ms. Dobermann. To start, I assume that Rhodes Island has never directly interacted with an actual government before?"

"Yes, Mr. Philemon. We try our hardest to remain neutral in our standing regardless of whatever political conflict we come across." Amiya answered to the best of her ability, but after seeing Philemon's expression grow a slight sterner, she feared she answered inadequately. Ren at her side can only sigh, already noticing the issue.

"That is the main cause of our conundrum, Ms. Amiya. I do not blame you and Rhodes Island for maintaining neutrality in this turbulent world. However, in this situation, it is because of said neutrality that you lack any form of credibility that you can use to push your demands onto any government official, much less Wei Yenwu who can't be so easily swayed."

Ren decided to fish for potential solutions after hearing the opinions of his fellow Earthling allies. "Will you be able to back us up, you two? We may not be able to do this alone, but what about together?"

Zenkichi can only put up a sad expression in response as he replied. "As much as I want to hope that we can help with your negotiations, Doc, we won't be able to do much. While Midsummer is a big organization, we're an independent one, and that means we barely hold any dice. You people belong to an organization that is not only private, but also practically foreign to all other nations. Not to mention an organization meant for the Infected no less! I don't think I need to explain how Lungmen's general public views the Infected here. Granted, the Infected have a home in the slums, but the opinion still stands!"

The Rhodes Island officials present can only either hang their head low, show a frown of frustration, or grit their teeth. Ren especially since he pretty much didn't doubt Zenkichi's earlier statement. Like Zenkichi, he can't really blame Rhodes Island modus operandi when dealing with politics, and he's hating the fact that it's now going to bite them back in the ass. As much of a damning meeting this has been, he's not going to allow Rhodes to end up being the L.G.D's lapdogs. His rebellious soul won't have it.

'As expected, like me, you are not giving up easily in the face of adversity. The art of politics is, while an art, a heinous activity that I am not fond of partaking, for in the end, someone involved will receive the bitter short end of the proverbial stick.'

Shadow's sudden chime-in is one he didn't expect, yet it is surprisingly a welcome one at this point. 'Nice to know that. Since what you said also implies that you've done your fair share of politicking, any ideas on how we can shift the scales to our favor?'

'You are slowly losing your animosity towards me. Excellent.' Ren frowned at the old Doctor's offhand comment, prompting him to continue. 'Irrelevant topic aside, at this point in the game, conventional tactics will no longer hold ground, and any hope of us having an equal agreement with this Wei Yenwu will require us to share sensitive information that is preferably unrequired to do. No. What we need to employ is the unconventional.'

'Unconventional. What do you suppose we should do, then?'

Ren can hear Shadow letting out a chilling laugh. 'Should it not be obvious to you now? You seek to to attain enough credibility so you can achieve victory against a seemingly indomitable wall. 3 days have passed, and evidence has stated that their actions prove that they lack provisions for the long run. As one who masters infiltration, surely you must realize what they will do.'

It didn't take Ren to catch on to Shadow's words, and it didn't take long for him to get a light bulb. 'You know? I think I have an idea.'

'Then let us hear it. I will supplement it with my own thoughts as I see fit.'

While Ren and Shadow are busy cooking up their own scheme, Dobermann and Amiya continued to discuss various avenues as to how they can achieve equal agreement with Wei Yenwu. Yet, every piece of info they acquired from Philemon and Zenkichi only supported the difficulty of the negotiations, much to their annoyance. Wei's cautious nature that seemed over the top in Zenkichi's opinion, the existence of Ch'en-hui-chieh as the L.G.D's top superintendent and will no doubt oppose their proposition, and a myriad of other things that didn't ring well in their ears.

By the end of it all, fatigue was ridden in the faces of everyone faces except Ren, and looking at the clock, at least 20 minutes have passed ever since the meeting began. With a downtrodden expression and her rabbit ears drooped down, Amiya looked over to the tired Dobermann and spoke quietly. "Is…is there nothing we can do, Ms. Dobermann?"

"I'm afraid not, Amiya. Whether we like it or not, we have to subject ourselves with an uneven agreement with Lungmen. It's our best bet now."

"…Guys, I have a plan!"

Ren's sudden declaration drew all attention towards him with Amiya speaking up. "You do, Doctor? That's great!"

Dobermann snorted in amusement. "Heh, I knew you were going silent for a reason. What's this idea you got in your head this time, Doctor?"

"Well, we're both all ears here, Doc. Let's hear it."

With all eyes and ears on him, Ren gathered his breath and thoughts before speaking. "First of all, currently, we don't have any form of credibility that can help us in any form of politicking. When we don't have it, we just have to make it."

Amiya tilted her head curiously. "Make our own credibility? What do you mean, Doctor?"

"I'll get around to it, Amiya. On that note, do we have any associates that are already valid Lungmen citizens?"

"Well, we have already established contracts with Penguin Logistics in the past. They're certified Lungmen citizens, and I'm sure Emperor would be happy to hear from us again. Why do you ask?" With how Ren was smiling with her answer, hope began to rise within her heart as Ren continued.

"That's good. In which case, we have to call Kal'tsit back, fast."

And said hope quickly fizzled sideways as both Amiya and Dobermann looked at Ren with perplexed expressions. "I'm sorry, Doctor, but why do we have to call Kal'tsit back? Wouldn't it be better if she remained in Lungmen for the negotiations?"

"That's exactly why we have to call her back, Amiya. As we stand, like Zenkichi says, we're gonna end up as the L.G.D's lapdogs if we proceed as is, and I sure as hell don't want that to happen." Ren's fiery reply surprised the rabbit girl as he continued. "We already have evidence that Reunion's gonna go after Lungmen next, so I'd say we go off and see if that evidence ends up becoming fact."

The perplexed expression remained on Dobermann as she pondered over the suggestion. "So you're telling me that we have to infiltrate Lungmen ourselves in order to prove that Reunion has infiltrated Lungmen already?"

Zenkichi crossed his hands behind his head, leaning back on his chair as he spoke. "Seems like it, and I have to admit that that plan ain't half bad. We've had dealings with Penguin Logistics before over in Lungmen, and even though they're a very rowdy bunch, they know Lungmen from the back of their hand and get their job done. Hiring them to find Reunion in the city would prevent any form of scrutiny on you guys from the officials."

"There is one problem to your plan however, Dr. Ren. While enlisting Penguin Logistics to aid you in your search is a solid plan, every search must have a lead. Currently, while you carry evidence of Reunion planning to attack Lungmen, you have no lead to act upon your evidence. It will be like walking through the desert without a map."

Philemon's small gripe was answered in a succinct manner. "If you ask me, that won't be much of an issue. In fact, we have the perfect candidate for our infiltrator."

Everyone went into thinking mode trying to figure out who the perfect person is. Amiya got it first. "Oh! Mr. Kevin! He's ex-Reunion!"

"Wait, Kevin? You mean that guy with that dysfunctional backpack?! Damn, I couldn't even tell he was a former earlier! He didn't have their usual getup!"

Zenkichi's outcry aside, Dobermann smirked at Ren, clearly impressed at how this plan is slowly coming together. "You really thought everything to a T, haven't you, Dr. Ren? Kevin's former status as a Reunion member allows him to predict how Reunion themselves would infiltrate large cities like Lungmen, as well as how they operate under the radar. The question however is how we're going to sneak Kevin into the city."

"Simple. The wave of refugees from Chernobog is still travelling to Lungmen at this point in time. We'll just have Kevin blend in with the refugees all the way until they reach the entrance, and it should be smooth sailing from there. We can also send Morgana with him as a helping hand. No one will suspect a cat strolling by the gates anyway." Ren answered with pure confidence, which served to bolster the morale of everyone present. Even Philemon let out a chuckle at his confidence.

"Truly, your capability to think of such plans without so much as slight hesitation is a terrifying force to contend with, Doctor. If you truly believe that such a plan will succeed, then you will have Midsummers' Labs full support."

"Yep. We got your back, Doc. Don't forget that you still have us behind you to push you on!"

Ren nodded in satisfaction hearing promises of support from both Philemon and Zenkichi before looking at both Amiya and Dobermann, the latter speaking up. "You don't need to say anything, Dr. Ren. This plan of yours may be insane, but if you're already laying so much groundwork from the start, then it's up to us to see how far it goes."

"Right, Doctor! Seeing you this fired up is enough for me to believe in your plan! I'll help as best as I can!"

Having support from everyone present, confidence swelled up within Ren as he was eager to set this plan into motion. Shadow remained silent in this whole affair, yet the Joker can feel a glimmer of satisfaction within him. After all, who doesn't like a plan coming together nicely?

All that's left is to execute it. "Alright, I think we can conclude this meeting already. Dobermann, go and find Kevin and Morgana. I don't know where Kevin is, but Morgana's most likely with one of the U.S.S.G girls." Dobermann quickly stood up, spoke a word of farewell, and left the meeting room. "Amiya, where in Lungmen is Kal'tsit staying?"

"I think she's staying at the Feng Wei Hotel in downtown Lungmen, Doctor. It's the closest hotel to the L.G.D Headquarters and Dr. Kal'tsit told me yesterday that she checks out today."

"Right. You go and ask Kal'tsit to stop any attempt at negotiating with Wei, and fast. Zenkichi, see if you can hook up someone from Midsummers to pick her up, maybe give her a tour if we arrive in Lungmen late." Both people in question gave their affirmatives as they made quick work on contacting their respective peoples. Philemon in the meantime remained seated, and frankly Ren had no clue what to task the Progenitor with as outlandish as the thought was. All he can do now is sit down on his own chair, watching work be done.

Hopefully everything proceeds smoothly, and he won't have to hear any bad omens this time around.

'A word of warning, Joker. I may not have known Kal'tsit long as a Rhodes Islander, but I know her well as a Babel executive. Knowing her level of authority in the past, I have no doubt that she is one of Rhodes Island top executives in present time. While Amiya is now head of Rhodes Island, convincing Kal'tsit to back down after much preparation on her end will be an annoyance in itself, even with Amiya doing the work.'

…And his latter hopes were dashed as quickly as he thought it.

- Take Your Time -

10:37 A.M / Sunny

Feng Wei Hotel, Downtown Lungmen

The Feng Wei Hotel, one of Lungmen's top rated business hotels, centered in the middle of downtown stood proudly among the many other skyscrapers and buildings that littered the sides of the street. On top of being close to Lungmen plaza and the business district, it is within a 5-minute walking distance to the Lungmen Guard Department Headquarters, which served as the main base of Lungmen's police force, as well as the seat of power for Lungmen's ruler, Wei Yenwu.

And within the hotel, a white haired lynx dressed in green sat at one of the tables at the restaurant area near the lobby, recently finished eating the hotel's specialty Lungmen style fried rice without so much as a speck. Any dishwasher who witnessed her conduct when eating would be joyful beyond compare seeing as they don't have to deal with any leftover scraps. But to approach the woman in question would be another thing entirely. Kal'tsit, on top of barely showing any form of emotion, is also a woman who prefers zero nonsense. It's not that Kal'tsit lacks the capability to express emotions like a doll. Rather, she prefers not to show emotions when it's not necessary.

And right now, an arduous task lies in front of her, which comes in the form of negotiating with the head of Lungmen itself, Wei Yenwu. As of now, the threat of Reunion looms over this independent mobile city as the nearest city to Chernobog, given how most of the Chernobogians fled to Lungmen to seek refuge. As the most experienced leader in Rhodes Island's top brass, it's her duty to convince Wei Yenwu to exchange information, as well as allow Rhodes Island to operate freely on Lungmen grounds. A thought crossed her mind to bring Amiya with her, perhaps see the sights with her, but she is still too inexperienced to deal with politicians like Wei.

'Amiya is still too young as well. She needs to grow and learn more about the world.'

And to conveniently cut her away from her musings, her smartphone vibrated in her dress pocket, prompting her to pick it up. Seeing that Amiya was the caller, she decided to answer her.

"Good morning, Amiya. What is it?"

The sheepish voice of Amiya came from Kal'tsit's phone. "Ah, good morning, Dr. Kal'tsit. I want to ask about our current negotiation plans. Are you about to schedule an appointment with the leader of Lungmen?"

"I am about to leave for the L.G.D to do just that, Amiya. Is there something you wish to say?"

"Yes. Uhm, can you cancel those plans, Dr. Kal'tsit?"

What Amiya proposed to Kal'tsit evoked her concern for the young rabbit girl. She had already discussed this with Amiya and the other executives, that securing cooperation with Lungmen is to be their utmost priority through any means necessary, and failure isn't an option. Why would she ask her to stop the attempt when it's just about to begin?

With a slightly quieter tone, Kal'tsit began her questioning. "Amiya, we already discussed this beforehand. Reunion is planning to take over Lungmen, and unless Rhodes Island doesn't intervene, this city will be overrun like Chernobog. Who suggested this?"

Amiya on the other side answered with hesitance. "You may not like this, Dr. Kal'tsit, but Dr. Ren was the one who suggested this in the first place."

Dr. Ren.

The moment he heard that name, her heart grew colder knowing that the Doctor was involved. When Amiya requested for an operation to infiltrate Chernobog and retrieve the Doctor, she was secretly against it for her own reasons that she would rather not explain to the young Cautus, not at the moment. To show such vitriol would be unbecoming of her to her subordinates, however. Hence, when the meeting came to discuss such matters, she abstained. Given how Rhodes Island is slowly going under without the Doctor's presence, not to mention Amiya's persistence to bring him back, however, the rescue operation was approved regardless.

When news of the Doctor being safely rescued and brought back to Rhodes Island reached her ears, so too did the news of his amnesia came to him. She nonetheless decided not to interact with him at all, and that was helped by how she chose to come all the way to Lungmen once Reunion's plans to attack the city were discovered. The fact that Dr. Ren wanted her to stop her plan to negotiate with Wei Yenwu goes directly against their overall objective. As much as she wants to veto his plan out, she has to wonder why.

"…I see. Why is Dr. Ren proposing this, Amiya? Does he not know that this goes against our goal of protecting Lungmen?"

"He actually knows about it, Dr. Kal'tsit, and he proposed his own plan in turn. He thinks his plan is much better after we discussed it all."

The Doctor proposed his own plan after hearing about their objective? Kal'tsit found herself confused as to how cancelling their appointment plans will help at all. If anything, that would be detrimental considering their time constraints. They just don't have the time unless something else comes up to delay Reunion's advance, and she highly doubts it. Not to mention as to how Doctor himself is suffering from amnesia. She's not going to trust the plans of an amnesiac when her own plan formed by Amiya and Dobermann is about to begin.

"Tell Dr. Ren that I disapprove of his plan. We simply do not have time for whatever nonsensical plan he has right now."

"Eh?! But Dr. Kal'tsit! He… ah, wait a minute, something's come up." Kal'tsit can hear faint sounds over the phone, voices she can barely recognize or tell before Amiya came back. "Uhm, Dr. Kal'tsit? Someone wants to speak to you. He thinks it's very important that you listen to him."

Kal'tsit quickly anticipated that it was the Doctor who wanted to talk to her. Who else would want to debate with her regarding the Doctor's plan other than the Doctor himself? She really didn't want to deal with him right now, "first impressions" be damned. She was already prepared to reprimand him harshly when she answered the call once more.

"Hello?"

"…Good day, Ms. Kal'tsit. I must admit that I didn't expect our reunion to be over the phone like this, much less in such a serious circumstance."

And any intent of reprimanding the caller died in the lynx's throat, along with a very rare expression of surprise once she realized who was speaking over the phone. Memories flooded her head as she thought back on that day. A day that she considers to be one of the more hectic days of her life.

The party held by Count Vincent. The snowy night of Toron County. Her status as a Laterano cleric. Her meeting with Heidi, the young daughter of Count Thomson. The coming of Ursus' will, bent on punishing the fleeing traitor.

And the intervention of one singular man. The one who calls himself an observer.

"…Mr. Philemon Kaleidus. What are you doing at Rhodes Island?"

Philemon assumed a calm tone as he responded. "As once before, you hold no patience for nonsense. I assume you have seen glimpses of Midsummers' Dream Laboratories during your tenure in Lungmen?"

Kal'tsit thought back on the previous days. She did see a large building southward from the L.G.D HQ a few ways off, as well as various ads displayed on screens at some skyscrapers at night that bear the same name in question.

"So you lead Midsummer Labs, Mr. Kaleidus."

"Yes. And after the incident at Chernobog, I have deemed it proper to establish a proper cooperation contract with Rhodes Island, Ms. Kal'tsit. It is a shame that you were absent when the contract was signed. I would have hoped to discuss conditions with you."

Kal'tsit found herself unable to react properly to this unforeseen development. On one hand, she wanted to curse herself for not anticipating Philemon's sudden intervention, and another part wanted to ask herself why Philemon chose to ally with Rhodes Island in the first place and at this point in time. Philemon's seemingly whimsical attitude in action or words may seem tactless, but they were all done with good reason. That in turn made him hard to read, even for herself, annoyingly enough.

Still, with Philemon's presence at Rhodes Island and with recent proceedings in mind, Kal'tsit reached the next plausible conclusion. "We can discuss these conditions at a later date. Did you have a hand in concocting the scheme Dr. Ren had made?"

"No. Your friend here has devised this scheme alone. A risky, unconventional, but high-yielding plan that I can't help but marvel at." Kal'tsit's eyebrow twitched when Philemon addressed the Doctor as her 'friend'. The CEO, oblivious to the fact, continued. "However, me and an associate of mine supplied your associates with information that led to Dr. Ren employing this scheme in the first place. It is with this in mind that I will inform you that any attempt you will make in ensuring an equal agreement with Wei Yenwu will fail."

Kal'tsit narrowed her eyes at such a claim as she replied. "And why are you saying that to be the case? If you know of our plans, you must have known that we are currently hard pressed for time with Reunion planning to attack Lungmen soon."

"In that case, surely you have known the current condition of Rhodes Island, Ms. Kal'tsit. Based on what I have learned from Ms. Amiya and Ms. Dobermann, Rhodes Island maintained their neutrality in the turbulence that is Terran politics. That however will prove detrimental in this endeavor since you hold no credibility in the eyes of governmental powers since you will be viewed as a foreign power." The tone used by Philemon as he spoke reminded Kal'tsit of a father chiding her daughter, and she didn't like it at all. "In the end, even if you were to disregard me, you will fight a losing battle, Ms. Kal'tsit. I understand that due to the situation presented, you are forced to make a hasty move like this. However, it is in times like this where we must be more patient than ever and devise other ways to achieve our goals."

"Is that why you chose to provide information to Dr. Ren? So he can devise this other way you speak of?"

"I simply provided the fire to light the candle, yes. Still, I humbly request that you think this plan of the Doctor once more. If you do not wish to trust the Doctor with this, then you can place your faith in me instead, even you may hold me in low regard."

Kal'tsit has to admit that in this current moment, the leader of Midsummer Labs and so-called observer is right. While she already knew the risks that Philemon presented her with, it was the situation itself that pushed them to make such a decision that has a chance to end in failure. What's important however now is gauging how big of a chance Rhodes Island has in making sure their proposals don't get rejected outright by the Lungmen head despite those risks, and Philemon is her only source of information.

Schooling her face into her usual no-nonsense expression, Kal'tsit spoke over the phone. "I will have to trust you then, Mr. Kaleidus. Allow me to get into specifics. How does Wei Yenwu behave and act during negotiations such as this?"

"I am happy you are willing to trust me, Ms. Kal'tsit. Truly, I appreciate your willingness." The elated tone he's using was enough for Kal'tsit to tell, yet the tone quickly shifted to seriousness. "Now, in regards to negotiating business, Wei Yenwu is someone who cannot be shaken easily. Our only saving grace is that he always keeps things in a civil manner. You must already be aware, Ms. Kal'tsit. To get what you want in these negotiations, you must be willing to trade it with something of equal value."

Kal'tsit found no merit in Philemon in reminding her of the obvious, yet she had a bad feeling of what came after. "True to your neutrality policy, I doubt you would be willing to trade sensitive information regarding your company for his own. Your foreign status also denies you of your chance for a temporary defense cooperation pact. Wei Yenwu places high faith in the L.G.D, and even if should the pact be sealed, it would still be too high of requirement in his eyes. At best, you will have no choice but to obey under the L.G.D's command during your tenure while dealing with Reunion."

Philemon's final evaluation felt like several nails on a coffin that signified their chances sinking lower than the black ocean. Kal'tsit bit her lip as she quickly assessed the info she received. If Rhodes Island were forced to act under the L.G.D's orders, their freedom of movement and action will be severely limited, whether if the person moving out is Infected or not. Not to mention the lack of information they'll have should the operation be approved under such terms. If they are going to fully protect Lungmen, then Rhodes Island must be allowed roam freely.

Yet, a part of her was slightly indignant knowing that she has to abide by Dr. Ren's plan if Rhodes Island were to have a better chance at achieving equality at the table. However, she has to shove her indignant feeling deep down in favor of listening to the plan in question to see for any chance of success.

"…I see. Very well, Mr. Kaleidus. As things stand, I have little choice in the matter. I want to know what Dr. Ren has planned."

The lynx can feel her old friend putting on a pleased smile on the other side as he spoke. "Excellent. In that case, allow me to explain how it will proceed…"

Kal'tsit's ears were soon paraded with the details and intricacies of one plan made by one Dr. Ren from one Philemon Kaleidus. A plan that, while bold and risky, also worked on controlling said risks with the current situation in mind. Infiltration on discovering proof of Reunion activity in Lungmen through the Chernobogian refugees, making use of their Penguin Logistics affiliates to aid in the search, and all done while minimizing any chance of drawing attention towards Rhodes Island. Kal'tsit did know that while he lost his memory, he didn't lose his strategic capabilities. This unconventional plan is simply proof of that fact, and it reminded the head medic of the Doctor's time in Babel, creating so many plans that make best use of the situation and current forces at hand without any hint of hesitation. However, the same may not apply for his current behavior. Unlike the many Rhodes residents, Kal'tsit paid little attention to rumors, and preferred to see the truth for herself.

And the truth of the Doctor's personality will soon be made clear today. His plans have all led to success in the past, so she'll have to see if success will also apply to present plans. "I understand now. Tell Amiya that I approve of Dr. Ren's plan. I'll cancel our previous plan in favor of his. I severely hope this will not end in vain."

A sigh was heard over the phone as Philemon spoke. "How relieving. I assure you that your decision to trust me, as well as Dr. Ren by proxy, will not be fruitless. You have my word."

To hear this from Philemon of all people did little to soothe her nerves. Ignoring the cheering Amiya in the background, Kal'tsit spoke lowly. "However, I will tell you this, Mr. Kaleidus. Once I return to Rhodes Island, when time permits, we have much to discuss. Kindly keep these words in mind."

"…But of course. Given how much time has passed, no doubt we each have our own stories to tell. I have already assigned someone to escort you to the docks when the time is upon us. I have belief that he will not disappoint you."

With the silent intensity of both parties fading away, Kal'tsit let out a fatigued breath. "Well, in any case, there is much I have to do for my departure. When will your escort arrive?"

"In 7 minutes."

7 minutes is pretty much enough time for Kal'tsit to pack her belongings and check out, though with barely enough time to spare. "Very well. Excuse me while I go prepare myself. Good morning, Mr. Kaleidus."

"Likewise, Ms. Kal'tsit. May your journey home pass without issue."

As soon as the phone call ended, Kal'tsit found herself letting out a deep sigh, having to deal with a new pair of headaches in the form of 2 men. One of them is responsible for the death of her closest friend back in the Civil War, and the other one who acts completely out of whim, yet seemingly has a multitude of secrets deep inside him. She knows one can be dealt with quicker than the other, but for now, she has to get out of the Feng Wei Hotel. Today is check-out day, after all.

By the time she got out to the front entrance, briefcase and suitcase on hand, a grayish blue limo was already waiting for her. Standing in front of it was a man with black hair reaching down his waist, a pair of black tinted glasses adorned over his eyes, and a long buttoned gold coat and long pants being his attire of choosing. The draconic horns and silver tail he had signified his Lung heritage, and he had a crooked smile on his face.

"Ms. Kal'tsit, I take it?"

Kal'tsit approached the Lung man while maintaining a wary behavior. "Yes, I take it that you are Philemon Kaleidus's escort?"

The Lung man nodded in a pleased manner. "Ah, wonderful. And I thought Philemon would screw me over on this errand. Well, allow me to introduce myself, as future associates." He shoved one hand into his pocket, while his hand was outstretched to Kal'tsit as a gesture of politeness.

"I am the Rumormonger, Shang Baofu. At your service."

- Take Your Time –

10:20 P.M / Clear

Lungmen, District 5 Docks

"It's a good thing that they allow free docking for friendly mobile cities. Otherwise we're gonna have problems."

"Mhm! I'm happy that we arrived safe and sound. By the way, we've already prepared your passport for tomorrow, Dr. Ren."

Ren responded by patting Amiya on the head with smile, eliciting giggles of delight from the young Cautus. Both of them are waiting by the ramp leading to the Ark, considering that they were waiting for Kal'tsit's arrival by lieu of Philemon's escort. The problem however is that it is already 20 minutes after the promised arrival. Thankfully, Amiya and Ren both have various topics to pass the time.

"Anyway, since I don't have to worry about being detained by the L.G.D with my passport up, all I have to do is meet up with this Emperor guy, right?"

"Yes, Doctor. Emperor specifically said that he wants to meet you on your lonesome. Maybe he wants to see what you look like?"

"I doubt it, Amiya. We're talking about the boss of Penguin Logistics here. It can't be that simple of a reason."

Ren let out a snort as he looked on to the bustling city in the far distance. When Amiya dialed up Penguin Logistics, she was immediately greeted by a deep yet shrewd voice belonging someone who isn't afraid to throw up colorful language. He didn't manage to catch how the conversation went, only going by Amiya's words. By the time the call ended, she told him that Penguin Logistics will agree to assist in their plan of revealing Reunion activity in Lungmen, but only if they can meet the person who made the plan up in the first place, alone. That person would be Ren, which means he has to depart for the city the next day. Ren silently swore that he's going to sleep once he's done dealing with Kal'tsit, and hearing Shadow's grunt of approval once he did swear made for another rare moment where they actually agreed on something.

"Well, we can only wait for tomorrow, Doctor. By the way, I wanna ask something."

"Shoot."

"How long do you think Ms. Kal'tsit and Mr. Philemon have known each other?"

"…Now that's a question both of us want to know the answer of, Amiya. I don't think even Phil is going to tell us the exact number, and usually he's so open."

Ren had to admit. While he's not as shocked as Amiya and Dobermann when Philemon addressed Kal'tsit as if they were long lost pals, he didn't deny that he was surprised in the slightest. The Progenitor had 31 years to establish his presence as a Terran resident and build his influence so he can be the private company CEO of today. The question lies in whatever the hell Philemon did during that admittedly huge timeframe. For a human, 31 years is a very long time, but for someone like Philemon. That amount of time may as well be inconsequential of him, despite his now seemingly human status. In reality, however, Ren deems that at this point in time, they're not in a position to ask Philemon to relive his past, and the same goes for Kal'tsit.

"Well, even Mr. Philemon has his own secrets. Maybe this is one of them?"

"Yep. And that means we shouldn't ask any more about it. By the way, look."

Ren pointed forward at the distance with Amiya looking at his direction. A pair of headlights were approaching at high speeds towards their position. Once it got close, they can see that they're headlights belong to a vehicle. The vehicle soon came at a stop before them before the sound of engines being turned off can be heard along with the lights. Two people emerged from the front seats, one of them being a draconic man sharply dressed in gold with a briefcase on hand, and another being a feline woman dressed in green, carrying a suitcase and briefcase on her.

Amiya's eyes lit up with joy at the sight of the woman, yet the growing chill in his mind had the opposite sensation, one that carried great hatred.

"…Kal'tsit..."

So this is the Kal'tsit that Shadow dislikes so much. Judging by her expression, he can see why the ghastly soul disliked her, seeing as she stared at him coldly as if she can stare directly into his soul, with an equally dark soul staring back in even colder intensity. Luckily enough, he has his mask and hood on in case she can kill with her eyes, and the gold man spoke up to break the ice as he approached them.

"Sorry for the lateness, you two. Traffic picked up near the Quarantine Zone, and the situation got quite rowdy. You're Dr. Ren and Amiya, correct?"

Ren quickly answered the man's question just to avoid Kal'tsit's gaze. "That would be us. You're one of Philemon's boys, correct?"

"That I am. Shang Baofu, the Rumormonger, at your service. Listen, the intensity between you and that Kal'tsit fellow is so thick you can chop it in half with one hand." Amiya and Ren both looked at each other, silently agreeing with a nod. "With that in mind, do you mind if I go on ahead? Wouldn't want to be the fourth wheel in this spiked tricycle."

"You can, Mr. Baofu. I'm sure Mr. Philemon is waiting for you too."

"Good girl. I appreciate it." Without so much as a word, Baofu quickly fled the premises without so much as a word. With him out of the picture, Kal'tsit slowly approached both Amiya and Ren, staring at the latter in the same cold gaze. The silence during the whole ordeal was so deep as the feline woman and Doctor engaged in a staredown that may very well last forever.

"Dr. Kal'tsit… Please don't give him a hard time… after so long…"

Kal'tsit looked at Amiya who stared at her pleadingly. With her acting that way, she can only sigh as she took in a deep breath and exhaled to calm herself down. After that, she looked back at the Doctor, speaking slowly.

"I hope our decision to bring you back… is not a mistake. Welcome back, Dr. Ren."

Letting go of the briefcase, she stretched her hand out to the Doctor…

"It's good to meet you, Kal'tsit."

And Ren shook it firmly, as if to signify his return.

"I assure you, my return will not be in vain."

---

Personas

---

1. Imp

Level: 13

Resists: Fire

Trait: Explosive Specialist

- All attacks have a slightly larger range.

Skills:

- Fire Shot (Strength-based Agi)

- Fire Bomb (Strength-based Maragi)

- Head Crush (Close-range light physical attack that may Daze foes)

- Single Shot (Ranged Physical attack)

- Critical Wave (Wide-range Physical attack. 50% crit and miss chance.)

---

2. St. John

Level: 12

Resists: Light

Weak: Dark

Trait: Fellowship

- Raises attack dealt and reduces damage taken by 5% for each ally standing.

Skills:

- Blinding Strike (Wide-range light physical attack that applies Sukunda)

- Hama

- Kouha

- Makouha

- Rise of the Knights (All allies gain this Persona's trait for 3 turns)

---

Patchworking!

- Slight edits for 2-3 as well as a rewriting for Zenkichi's part when he talks about Lungmen's Infected status. (Thanks, Windraider!)

- A class change for Walter on 2-1

---

Not much reviews to be had overall here this time, I see.

3 months ever since I updated! Yes, I actually counted the months, and that's mainly because I want to. I'm pretty sure it's way too late for me to say this, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May the days going up till now are blessed with wealth, joy, and luck for us writers, readers, Doctors, and everyone out in this world!

Frankly I wanted to finish this before New Year, but progressing was far slower than expected. One because I had difficulty in progressing Vigna's part. I'm sure a lot of people love our adorable redhead shortie guitarist, and I'll admit, with Vigna around, I wanted her and Ren to form a band together, playing various music ranging from Starset, Pine Soot, Persona 5 Strikers, and any other music that rolls over my head! I'll admit that my way of evading the music origin questioning may be lopsided, but I hope you can bear with it.

As for St. John, as well as how he was born, this was a method that my friend talked proposed to me way back when we talked about how Personas can be conceived outside of negotiations, fusions, and Shuffle Time. I'll admit, the idea itself was amusing, gathering so much residue in one place and turning it into a new facet of power. When it comes to the Persona itself, I hope you'll find him to be a good addition to the party. When it comes to looks, anyone who played SMT 4 before can imagine what he looks like. I mean, we already have Walter!

Now to the meat of the meal. We're heading back into the canon road as we proceed towards Lungmen! If you've read this far though, you'll know I'm throwing canon out of water yet again. This is mainly because I admittedly disliked how Misha and Alex (AKA Skullshatterer) both kicked the bucket in canon, as well as how the meeting with Wei went. To change the outcome would be an overly titanic task. The issue at hand is that it's very hard to convince Alex to switch sides due to his zealous hatred, though to be fair, he had to watch his parents get dragged away by Ursus officials, as far as my memory serves. It doesn't help that Misha is one of those types with quiet resolves, and you can't shake those kinds of faiths! The issue in regards to Wei's meeting can be read in the story in this chapter.

So this is what I came up with to change the flow of canon. I'm not going to go into how this will end, but I will cry if this plan of mine goes up in smoke after so much discussions that I had to make this. I wanna know what you guys think of this plan. Would you like me to go through with it, or is this a bad idea? Keep this in mind as you answer the question. I'm willing to piss off Ch'en to make this work.

All explanations aside, by the time I finish uploading this, it's 1 in the morning, and today is the day for the Arknights 2nd Anniversary video! So much events, so much joy, so much rewards, and I still can't send a card to express myself! How do you Doctor's feel when you realize that we've reached our 2 year milestone ever since we began this journey. Express your thoughts in the reviews along with your answers! Are you also prepared to bring Shotgun Ch'en home while celebrating Summer in Winter? I surely am not but I will try like hell anyway!

Now, Here's to another year of Arknights for us Doctors! And here's my two phrases of wisdom to remember!

Take your time.

Us Doctors must always stick together!