One month after Shirou started his foray into Chernobog's underworld. Roughly six months since the trio's arrival in Terra.
…
The night wind breezed past the lone individual positioned atop the building.
Cool, silent, and peaceful.
The opposite of the individual's intention.
Shirou's reinforced eyesight- better than any sniper scope- followed his target several kilometers away.
The black steel bow in his hands glinted in the moonlight. To avoid leaving any tracks, Shirou resorted to summoning the iconic weapon to his side rather than purchasing one. Apparently, guns were rare in Terra. Purchasing a sniper rifle would've drawn interest to him immediately.
Especially when the number of untraceable assassinations started increasing in the past month. So far, the only identifiable trait was that each target had been eliminated with an arrow straight through the middle of the head. Not even the projectile used to kill could be found on the scene.
Once again, Shirou was using his abilities to cheat the system.
He calmly pulled the bow back. It took some effort, but the steel bow needed it. It needed to pack as much power into the small arrow if Shirou wanted it to succeed.
The first arrow flew true. So did the following ten arrows.
One by one, the slave traffickers fell.
Shirou used ten arrows, enough for all twelve targets.
Shirou waited for the exact opportunity, shooting the first arrow to kill three targets once they lined up together. The rest was a matter of cleaning up before they escaped.
It was almost child's play.
Another slave trafficking ring's leaders- eliminated.
Shirou allowed the steel bow to disperse into ambient energy, particles of light disappearing off into the night. He turned around and walked down from the roof deck several kilometers from his target.
Earth or Terra, it was all the same.
Slave trafficking was one of Shirou's most despised markets.
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"Shirou, aren't you being too obvious about it?" Rin asked while opening the morning newspaper.
The headlines were about another collapsed slave ring discovered a day after his assassination.
"Rin, I don't care." Shirou answered while finishing up the breakfast he was cooking. "As long as nobody can trace it back to me, then we're fine. I've done this for a whole month now."
Once Shirou had a grasp on the Chernobog underworld, the vigilante quickly activated his Emiya family talent and began beheading slave rings. At first, the slave trade continued but his continued efforts ultimately won. Slowly but surely, replacements stopped coming. Upcoming criminals who wanted to take over the slave business stopped. Word spread that the position was being hunted down by an unknown group.
Shirou didn't know what to think of it. He wasn't proud of his murders- but for the underworld to consider his skill the work of an entire team was humorous.
For a world that had its own magic, the people still stuck to realistic expectations.
"Shirou, just be careful." Sakura pouted worriedly.
Ok, now that was cheating.
Shirou felt some sort of remorse for making Sakura worry.
"I will…" He answered while serving breakfast.
They didn't have to receive patients today. As one of the two days of break they had each month, the trio did other tasks instead.
"Rin, any headway into that device?" Shirou asked while picking some vegetables.
Despite Shirou's attempts to trace the unusual tech they discovered under Chernobog, he hadn't been able to break down its features and capabilities. It had software- one of his worst enemies.
One thing was for sure, it was ancient. Far older than anything they had seen in Terra. Even older than the district encasing it.
Whatever it was, Rin had managed to conduct some tests on it.
"It has some sort of ability to manipulate time. There are others, but this is the most obvious one I could figure out." She answered. "I wouldn't touch it so I asked Sakura to create a clay homunculus and interact with the device."
Sakura had adopted the Matou family magic after it had been literally carved into her body since childhood. While she didn't follow their methods, she sought to recreate them in a more ethical manner.
As such, Sakura picked up on creating familiars.
The poor clay animal returned back to being clay- then eventually dust after entering the machine. Rin and Sakura couldn't tell if it went forwards or backwards in time. As far as they knew, the familiar wasn't destroyed by usual means. Since then, the two have been testing all sorts of experiments with it.
"That reminds me, mind tracing a few swords for us? We want to test something." Rin asked.
"I don't think we can stay any longer."
Rin stopped eating. Sakura lowered her bowl.
The two had hoped that it wouldn't begin.
"It's happening…isn't it." Sakura asked.
Shirou nodded. He shared updates frequently over the past two months since his return to underworld duty.
"The movement has ramped up activity in the last week. I estimate that whatever plans they have will be ready in two weeks at the earliest."
"Shirou…is there any way you can convince them to change their minds?" Sakura asked worriedly.
Shirou sighed. Try as he might, his efforts to curb the Reunion fell short. FrostNova and Faust were sensible individuals, but the two of them were extremely cautious around him. His attempts at bridging the gap were largely ineffective.
Maybe he played the threat card too much. Shirou overdid it at the time when he would've been playing a weak hand instead.
"I have one final meeting tonight. We'll get our answer then."
…and hopefully, Shirou could reach out to them this time.
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The Chernobog slums were bustling tonight. Normally, places like these were quiet as citizens settled in for the night. But in the wee hours of the morning, activity could be seen.
They were subtle, Shirou admitted. His reinforced eyesight followed suspiciously clothed figures moving about in groups and hauling cargo. Hidden in some dark corners, a few men with weapons stood guard. Clearly, they were the protection detail.
So why would citizens working at night- in such large numbers- have the funds to hire security? In the slums no less?
They didn't.
These weren't citizens.
These were rebels.
Shirou quietly watched the Reunion camp from a distant rooftop.
He hadn't been wasting time. While the rebel movement continued its preparations, Shirou had also been organizing his own.
Assassinations of several cartels involved in slave trafficking transferred more power to other groups, centralizing power in a way that reinforced Chernobog's underworld from the incoming threat. Arrangements for refuge in Lungmen and nearby satellite locations had been prepared under the guise of Chernobog organizations, businesses, and families moving. A few attacks on Chernobog's authorities also put the city on alert, increasing the local Ursine government's vigilance.
Shirou hoped that all those preparations wouldn't be used. If they did, then it meant that bloodshed and chaos would engulf Chernobog.
The rooftop service access swung open, the footsteps of two people marked their arrival. The normally cool night breeze turned chilly.
Shirou continued to watch the Reunion's preparations.
"Shirou." A girl's voice uttered his name.
"...is this really necessary?" Shirou asked.
None of the two arrivals answered.
"People will suffer if you continue."
They didn't reply.
Shirou sighed. He turned to face the two.
"Aren't the people suffering enough?"
FrostNova and Faust looked back with conflicted expressions.
"All this…? This won't help the infected."
"If we don't make an example of Chernobog…then will countries listen to us?" FrostNova retorted. Even then, her question sounded shaky.
Almost like she was trying to convince herself.
The past two months had warmed up the two commanders with the Fuyuki doctor. Medicine, food, and other tidbits had been exchanged between the two parties. Whether they admit it or not, FrostNova and Faust found the strain on their bodies alleviated.
"Years. We have suffered years- no- decades…and nothing has changed." Her voice turned resolute as she continued.
"...and what if you fail? The cost in lives and damage will be irreparable."
"The Reunion is committed to the cause…even if our efforts fail, there is merit in them. When the world changes, the future would look back and see that our attempts paved along the path to justice."
"The civilians, those who simply wish to live out there lives peacefully? What about them?"
FrostNova didn't answer.
She didn't have one.
They could say that they wouldn't aim for the civilians but that would be a lie. Half the Reunion persevered in hatred and vengeance. They would target innocents. Even if she and Patriot reigned their forces, they couldn't stop all of Talulah's faction from exerting their warped sense of justice.
Faust also couldn't answer. He, himself, was protecting Mephisto. A friend driven to madness, seeking to inflict his own revenge on the people who hurt him. Those people were now dead, but Mephisto still continued.
"You don't understand…" FrostNova's face darkened.
Shirou kept quiet.
"You've never lost your parents to them. Forced to mine Originium to live another day…getting infected just to survive…" FrostNova growled. "My parents died for me to live! My grandmother was the only one left to take care of me! She didn't even live until I was ten!" Her voice grew into a shout.
"I was going to be executed when I was eleven for a game between the guards!"
Her voice turned hoarse at the last scream.
"Patriot…he was the one to save me…" She hiccuped while recovering. "I was left with nobody…so can you blame us for wanting to fight and change it all?!"
No, Shirou wouldn't understand. His loss wasn't one of anguish. It was a peaceful one. A quiet and silent passing from his father, a determined and fated farewell with a loved one…all of it didn't match FrostNova's pain.
But…fighting for what you believe in…was something Shirou understood.
He could either challenge her beliefs right here…or open her eyes to what her actions bring.
"...but then you would also destroy the lives of others, making you the same as those who hurt you before."
She froze.
"Would all that…be worth it?"
Shirou walked forwards to the frozen commander. He saw the relentless determination in himself from years past, back when his beliefs weren't tempered. Back before the world changed him.
FrostNova walked the same road that would bring many others to ruin. Shirou didn't know if there was anyone there to help her, unlike Rin and Sakura had for him.
"Faust, what about you? What do you fight for?" Shirou turned to the younger commander.
"...to protect my friend."
Shirou saw the boy that Faust accompanied many times. But outside of that, he did not know much else about the kid.
"A good goal."
In truth, that was the opposite of what Shirou would've said had he known Mephisto's true nature.
A lesson Shirou was about to learn for himself in the near future.
"How about you? What pushes you to help everyone?"
Faust strengthened his resolve and shot back.
"We can tell…you've seen the battlefield. What do you see in saving lives?" After all, you've taken them yourself.
But Faust didn't say that out loud. He knew that Shirou was a killer.
Just like the rest of them.
After that first step, nothing ever stays the same. Your world changes.
Shirou smiled sadly.
"Because…I was saved myself…many many times."
Kiritsugu Emiya. Arturia Pendragon. Rin Tohsaka. Sakura Matou.
"...and being saved means the world to us."
Shirou was rescued. Rescued from his dark future.
He owed it all to them.
The two commanders stayed silent as Shirou walked past them. Just before he closed the roof access door, he said his parting words.
"From today onwards, the Fuyuki Clinic will be closing its doors. Farewell."
FrostNova's breath paused.
The closing of the door signaled the end of a line.
"Chief, it's back again."
Ch'en narrowed her eyes.
"Catch that signal. Tap into the connection and listen in."
The intelligence agent nodded and began hacking the call.
Ch'en grabbed the spare headset and put it on just as they tapped in. The signal address had become a common appearance on the Chernobog-Lungmen relay network. For the past month, the network identification number had been spotted numerous times contacting several Lungmen addresses. After some digging on their end, it was discovered that most of the companies were involved in migrants, a few of them catering refuge for infected. A little more digging and they discovered who the Chernobog ID belonged to.
Einzbern Enterprises.
This corporation single-handedly managed to reserve and book housing for over a thousand people looking to move to Lungmen.
It was suspicious as fuck.
They had capital but no background to speak of when Lungmen asked for Chernobog's records on active businesses.
"Good morning, Mr. Einzbern."
"Morning." The mysterious man replied.
The call was being recorded by the LGD so that analysts could break it down later.
"Are you here to ask for an update on the inquiry for available space on our end?"
"Indeed."
"Well sir, good news. As you requested to double the rented housing of your original transaction, we are able to accommodate this increase. These are your Chernobog factory workers, yes?"
"Correct."
"As per your documents…" The assistant continued.
Ch'en frowned. Einzbern Enterprises didn't have many records. What documents were they talking about?
"...we've completed registering them to the Lungmen database."
Wait, what?
"Search the latest additions to Lungmen's immigrant records." Ch'en ordered.
One of the officers nearby nodded and started scouring through Lungmen's records.
"Your assistance is very much appreciated." The unknown man spoke. "My employees shall start arriving in a week. I hope that is not too early?"
"No, sir. We are perfectly able to house them now."
"Thank you. I will send updates later."
The call ends.
Over at Ch'en's end, a small group of information analysts were scrambling to analyze the information collected. Location, content, voice, all of it documented and replicated to be perused.
Whoever this man was, he must be extremely stupid to use a single address for all his activities.
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Shirou frowned after ending the call.
For all the arrangements they made and all the savings pooled together by the clinic, it all amounted to half the job. The other more difficult half is persuading the people to move to Lungmen.
One, job security was one such problem. Here in Chernobog, they were at least being hired for industry. That was not guaranteed in Lungmen. Two, they all had established lives here. Homes and friends. Convincing them to relocate was to ask them to abandon it all. There were more, but those proved to be the most difficult problems.
But the Fuyuki trio still decided to evacuate them ahead of time. Rin and Sakura were out there talking with the clinic patients and distributing the temporary and permanent immigration papers they managed to scrounge with whatever little funds they had. All of Shirou's hideouts, all of their savings, all but the clinic had been scrapped, exchanged for LMD.
At best, they could at least help a few thousand before the Reunion attacked.
Shirou had seen enough of the Reunion to know that organization wasn't their strong suit. If they managed to beat the Chernobog military, then the city would fall into their hands.
It was against his principles, but Shirou wasn't going to take down an entire rebel movement alone. So he did everything else to buy as much time and help as many people out of the city before it turned into a battlefield.
Skilled on the battlefield? Yes. Skilled in information technology? No.
He didn't know shit about how to hack computers. What he did know was to muddy his tracks and activities. By focusing a significant cash flow through the Einzbern account he set up, Shirou was drawing attention away from the activities of several other accounts.
The only information they would find was the fictional name Shirou created.
Kirisviel Einzbern.
No doubt, Illyasviel would be rolling in her grave if she ever heard of his disguise. The idea of combining Kiritsugu and Irisviel's names was horrendous.
But it felt right.
In this world, the name Einzbern could be one of hope. It was the least he could do for Illya and Kiritsugu.
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"So, what have we got?" Ch'en leaned over the monitor.
"Someone named Kirisviel Einzbern. Outside of that there is nothing else." The intelligence operator showed her the screen.
Ch'en frowned.
"Can we request Chernobog to share with us his profile? Surely they have something on Kirisiviel Einzbern. If they don't want to, tell them it's a matter of Lungmen security and that we are willing to pay."
They spent a week lobbying Chernobog for access to the list of companies operating in their city. Surely it would only take them a short while to handle one profile.
"Ma'am, haven't you heard? Chernobog's government has significantly decreased their network activities for the time being."
"What? So even the LGD can't contact them?"
"We're not even supposed to in the first place. We're only guarding Lungmen."
"If a Chernobog citizen is under the suspicion of LGD of being a threat, then that should allow us to force the issue."
"Ma'am…for all intents and purposes, the Chernobog government has gone dark. It has been for the past week."
Ch'en inwardly hissed. How could she have missed such news?
Just what was going on in Chernobog?
Hellagur knew about the Fuyuki Clinic doctors. The trio were becoming a phenomenon in the Chernobog medical sphere after the news spread about their Oripathy treatment.
Nobody knew where they came from, nor could anybody dig much about their past. But they were accepted once the trio proved that they could indeed revert Oripathy stages. The Chernobog hospitals tried to persuade and barter with the trio, but they explained that they couldn't share their technique.
As for their treatment, they were happy to share the conceptual idea.
It was a simple concept.
Transferring Originium particles from inside to outside.
Rin herself provided a presentation of her "Arts" and how she could filter Originium inside the body. Though it was impossible to completely filter out all particles, the reason being that some of them had become too ingrained into the cells of the patient.
That was enough for the Chernobog doctors to back off once they understood how she did it. It was only the means that stopped them from replicating the feat.
Terra simply didn't have technology good or efficient enough to filter Originium from the body effectively.
So, when the Fuyuki Clinic announced that they were shutting its doors two weeks prior, the Chernobog medical sphere erupted in chaos. Doctors left, right, and center swarmed the trio and inquired why they were closing.
It was Doctor Shirou who explained the situation.
"Infected people from the slums alerted them of Reunion's plans."
That was a lie, but a convincing one.
The trio of doctors shared the information with the Chernobog hospitals and the news spread.
Now, Chernobog knew what was going on. The government was in full-swing, evacuating citizens to protect them. The hospitals were doing the same, moving their patients to other nearby cities that could house more.
Hellagur was also moving his patients.
The underground clinic he operated was already empty, just one last patient he had to transport back to the local Chernobog hospital.
"We'll be going now." He informed the aged woman clutching to his arm as he pushed the wheelchair out of the clinic.
The city's atmosphere had changed. In a span of a few days, the withdrawal and evacuation of many mega corporations caused unrest. The rich class caught on quickly once they reached out to contacts and more evacuations started happening. The Chernobog government tried to cover up and reassure the populace that everything was normal. The remaining majority were receiving mixed signals from all sides. The slums were beginning to riot- already aware that something was amiss.
Hellagur gently pushed the wheelchair down the street. It was emptier than before. Few people rushed back and forth, hurrying to return to their homes. They knew it wasn't safe to go out. But what could they do? They had to continue working for meager pay.
They weren't the only ones feeling the nerves.
Hellagur's instincts were going haywire.
Something very bad was about to happen.
The clinic owner forced down the urge to run. Since that morning, his nerves warned him of impending doom. The unforgettable feeling of combat, of being on a battlefield.
But his conviction pushed him to save lives.
…
"Thank you, thank you, thank you…" The old patient thanked him profusely after being handed over to hospital personnel.
The hospital was mostly empty of patients now. Only small pockets of them were gathered and moved to the terminals, then to land transports heading out of the city. The medical personnel had been increased and a whole company of Chernobog soldiers had been sent to protect the hospital. The government was reinforcing defenses and that included medical facilities like the hospitals.
Chernobog was going to war.
Hellagur wanted no part of it.
But, innocents were in the crossfire.
So, here the old Ursus war veteran shall stay and fight.
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It started in the wee hours of the morning.
Hellagur woke up to the sound of a distant boom. Old habits ingrained through his years on the battlefield quickly pushed him into gear. He quickly rolled off the bed and dropped to the floor. After confirming that the attack was not nearby, the Ursus veteran peaked from the side of his room curtain, a method to gain some vision without drawing attention to the position.
In the distant darkness, explosions lit up the night like fireworks. All over Chernobog, plumes of beautiful red-orange flashes followed by obscure blasts filled the city.
Hellagur released a deep rumbling sigh.
The hospital announcement system turned on and announced the attacks on several locations. Whoever was managing the system was quick, he noted. Usually it took a few minutes to receive such information. The soldier manning the platform must've been ordered to expect an attack at any moment.
"All personnel be aware, a contingent of Reunion rebels have been spotted half a kilometer from the hospital. I repeat…"
Hellagur's eyes widened.
What was the Reunion doing this close to a hospital? It was under Chernobog protection, but primarily a civilian facility that wouldn't affect the frontline. The small number of soldiers that could return to active duty after injury were small and insignificant enough that it wouldn't help Chernobog in the short term. Neither side would want prolonged conflict.
Hellagur threw on his coat and hurried down the hospital corridors. They were still empty, but in half an hour the injured and casualties would start flooding in.
"Soldiers, prepare for combat! The contingent has been confirmed to be heading for the hospital's location. I repeat…"
It was the worst case scenario Hellagur had assumed was possible, but was now becoming reality.
If worst comes to worst, he would have to fight.
Even if it meant breaking his vow.
Hellagur rushed to the hospital lobby where the Chernobog contingent was forming. Soldiers were gearing up while earlier platoons headed out to meet the incoming threat.
A messenger burst through the lobby doors.
"Commander! They have a demand! If we accept, they will withdraw."
"What does the Reunion want?" The commander asked.
Hellagur inwardly agreed. The commander was considering all options. The option with the least resistance would save so many lives.
But such things come with a cost.
The problem was, could they manage it?
"Sir, the Reunion leader is asking that we surrender a Fuyuki Clinic doctor named Shirou Emiya to them."
"Someone get in touch with the hospital staff! We need to know more!" The commander barked out.
Hellagur felt their sights land on him immediately.
The old veteran felt the stab of betrayal well up within him.
If he was going to betray information about the doctor that helped Chernobog so much, then the least he could do is learn more about the situation.
"Yes, I know him. But first, let me meet the Reunion leader."
The commander looked at his messenger. No words needed to be said. The soldier ran back outside to communicate their reply.
Hellagur prepared himself. He was a veteran- not a liaison. But he needed every bit of smart he had to reach an accord with the Reunion.
But nothing prepared him for what came next.
When Hellagur sighted the Reunion contingent leader, his heart stopped.
It can't be.
The large Sarkaz officer's expression was also just as surprised upon seeing him.
"...Hellagur?"
"Buldrokkas'tee."
Buldrokkas'tee, the real name of Patriot, the brother-in-arms he once fought with during his tenure under the Ursus Empire.
Once again, the two comrades fought on the same battlefield like many before it. But this time, they stood on opposite sides.
Hellagur already felt like shit. Now, the world was playing a cruel joke on him.
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A week before the Chernobog invasion, a meeting between the captains and commanders of the Reunion took place.
"...is that all? Are we finished?" W stretched backwards. She just wanted to get it done with.
"FrostNova…you had something to share?" Patriot asked hoarsely. His second-in-command mentioned bringing up a topic at the meeting.
The attendants turned their attention to the Cautus commander. FrostNova coughed into her hand to hide her nerves before she gestured for Faust's assistance.
"I'm sure that a few of you noticed our…activities outside the camps."
More like all of them. FrostNova knew that a few rumors had spread on Talulah's side. Patriot's faction respected her status highly and wouldn't gossip about her private life.
W looked at the red-haired captain beside her with a victorious grin and rubbed her fingers together in an extremely familiar gesture. The other captain, a masked female, sighed then pulled out a wad of cash from her pocket and passed it to her.
Wait a second. Was that a bet?
FrostNova paused when she caught the exchange. Patriot looked at the two captains and narrowed his eyes in disapproval.
"What?" W challenged back while pocketing her wins.
Their attention was drawn to the table as Faust placed some bottles from the bag he brought.
"We…made a few transactions with the Fuyuki Clinic for treatment. These are Oripathy medicine provided in return for our…services."
More than a few eyes around the table widened.
FrostNova and Faust didn't use all the medicine. Half of the supply was stockpiled for the future. Now, they were using it for an objective.
"Services?" Talulah frowned.
"Information. There's more to them than just being doctors." Faust explained. "Shirou approached us and we exchanged our service for medicine." More like he threatened them into it.
"We didn't share anything that could risk Reunion's operations. They were more interested in Chernobog if anything." FrostNova added.
"So, you were sneaking out to get medicine? What did the doctor want?" W asked.
FrostNova and Faust exchanged glances.
"As we expected, their clinic is just a cover. They were scouting the core of District 1 and the Chernobog underworld."
"Doctor Shirou is dangerous. He's sneaked past our perimeter several times during the meetings. Just last week he snuck past the camp sentry to meet us one last time." FrostNova emphasized.
"So, you want to warn us about the Fuyuki doctors?" The red-haired captain clarified.
"No, Crownslayer. I want us to capture one of them. Try the medicine and you will understand."
"...is this how you recovered? The soldiers never saw you approach the clinic for treatment." Patriot quietly asked while grabbing a bottle and observing the contents.
"Not only that, they actually make Arts easier to use." FrostNova dropped the bombshell. "This is why they didn't release the medicine to the public, Faust and I had to work for it."
A side effect of Shirou's battlefield potion was that it helped the body acclimate to the corrosive Originium Arts. The more a caster's body adapted to the Originium inside it, the less damage they experienced.
The sudden confession made everyone eye the medicine.
Patriot walked out the room and ordered a guard to bring glasses. When he returned, he placed them on the table. The commander didn't wait and poured himself a glass then drank it in front of everyone. The others were apprehensive. A medicine for Oripathy that helped your Arts? It was like fiction.
"...you believe this medicine is that important?" Crownslayer asked.
FrostNova nodded.
"He's valuable. We need Doctor Shirou captured."
"Why him, specifically?" The same captain continued to ask.
"Because we can force him to work for us." Another voice answered.
Everyone turned to Faust.
"Our last meeting showed us his weakness. The clinic may have been a cover, but Doctor Shirou genuinely cares about the civilians and the infected. We can target hospitals during the assault to draw him out."
It was scummy, but Faust and FrostNova didn't have other options. Shirou was too elusive for them. The only way to meet him was to force the issue. They would've preferred to use methods that didn't involve civilians.
"Is it really effective?" Came the muffled voice from the large captain at the end of the table. "And why hide such an item from us for this long?"
"It was part of our agreement, Mudrock. Doesn't matter anymore since he ended it last week." FrostNova answered the captain.
"Ended?"
"The Fuyuki Clinic closed its doors a week ago. They already knew we planned to invade the city."
A sharp intake of breath drew everyone's attention to Patriot.
"Amazing…" He released with a relaxed sigh while lowering the empty glass. The relief was palpable from his form. Normally, the veteran exuded a strict and rigid presence. If anything, he looked like a peaceful old man. Seeing the results, the others poured themselves a glass and downed the contents of the bottles. After the first sip, they found themselves lost in a pleasant haze.
Talulah was the first to recover.
"FrostNova is right. That doctor is valuable. Patriot, you're in charge of coordinating the doctor's capture. The rest will continue as is."
"Very well." Patriot nodded. As the most capable, handing the responsibility to him was to be expected. He'll have to ask FrostNova and Faust what they know about the doctor.
"Dismissed."
One by one, the captains and commanders left the room.
Omake/Extra
...
"W, pay up."
The two captains were the last to disperse after the Reunion leaders meeting.
"Hmph."
W pulled out the winnings along with her own cash and handed them to Crownslayer.
"I still think there's more to FrostNova and Faust than just being friends."
"You still willing to bet on it again?"
"Double or nothing." W grinned at her fellow captain.
Crownslayer and W felt a shiver crawl up their spines. Both of them turned around to see said commanders looking at them.
Oh, it turns out FrostNova and Faust stayed behind too.
The Cautus (rabbit) commander's chilly glare was oddly adorable, but the following sound of a steel bolt clicking into the crossbow from the boy beside her gave another message.
"R-right. I think there's definitely nothing going on between them." W backtracked.
"She started the bet." Crownslayer threw the other captain under the bus.
"H-hey now, it ta-"
The steel bolt pierced the wall near W's head.
"-akes two parties to make a bet."
Crownslayer looked down.
Since when were her feet frozen to the ground?
Note to self, don't make bets about FrostNova or Faust in the future.
"FrostNova, Faust. We need to discu-"
Patriot rounded from the building corner and stopped at the scene.
"...I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Crownslayer released a sigh of relief at the senior commander's presence. Surely, the second-in-command of the entire Reunion would put a stop to the scene.
"Meet me at the Yeti camp after you're done."
The Ursus veteran turned around and left.
Patriot understood how his adoptive daughter felt. He'd let the situation go.
Just this time.
W released a stream of curses once the Yeti commander disappeared. She couldn't escape either. Her feet were frozen in place.
"Any last words?" FrostNova narrowed her eyes at the mercenary.
"Yeah, chilly bunny girl. You need a boy toy to warm you up. Perfect, there's one right beside you."
Damned she may be, but W did not back down from a challenge.
Crownslayer closed her eyes and resigned herself to her fate. Every word out of W's mouth continued to dig their graves deeper.
Faust loaded a blunted steel bolt into his crossbow.
"I take first dibs on the cockroach."
"No, she's mine."
"See? You argue like a couple alre-"
The sound of a blunt arrow hitting a body resonated from beside her.
"Takes more than an arrow to put me down, Romeo!"
Crownslayer sighed. W wasn't going to back down. This was going to be a long long night.
…
The following day, two frozen statues were found in the camp dumpster.
Author's Note
Answering questions.
To compromise the story for the sake of Rin and Sakura (who are still regular humans even if RIn knows reinforcement while Sakura can learn it). The average everyday object will remain the same weight between Earth and Terra. Only weapons are created to be extremely heavy because they are designed to kill other Terrans (who are also insanely tanky). Need more power to kill dragons and similar species right? I just see no point making cooking pots and pans heavy.
Shirou only needs underworld information. Also it's a matter of testing Earth vs Terra in terms of combat and firearms. From here on out, Shirou will be at a disadvantage against many enemies. Even reinforcement will give him the strength disadvantage against the elite Terrans.
As for how his projections last forever- they operate differently in Terra. Orundum (an Arknights material) is like crystalized unstable mana (super generalized form) which Shirou mixes with his internal Od to project objects. Basically just converting Terran material into other compositions. No Gaia influence on this planet so they don't actively erode when Shirou creates his weapons.
To that random guest, well crap I didn't know Hellagur was in Chernobog too. So I rushed his little slice of the story in this chapter. But don't expect me to continue his presence much, I didn't really consider him at all mostly because I didn't know. Thanks a lot though!
Thank you to all the Arknights players dropping lore tidbits like how weapons in Terra are more melee-oriented and how rare guns actually are. You help me improve the story with each detail! I couldn't have written this chapter without information like this.