"Really?"

"Stop booing me, you know how cool this line is!"

"I do, but you took it from that girl…"

Cid groaned in embarrassment. Yeah, that 'moon is red' line was plagia- uhh, borrowed from some kind of vampire hunter that they met by a chance. That girl assumed they needed help and interjected, dropped a cool line, refused to elaborate further, left. He got enamored with that line and started using it everywhere. And Violet called him out on that.

But what can he do?! It's just… so peak…

"Ara, what are you doing here?" their current partner in cri- agent shenanigans walked in the room and stared at the papers on his table in curiosity.

Fox therianthrope lowered her face, her icy blue eyes focused on the plans he wrote.

"The ghouls might become a problem," he placed his chin on his hands, "As it stands now, the forces that were supposed to maintain order in the city are overwhelmed with amount of undead swarming them… Yes, I am aware they were laughable to begin with."

"That is true, however…" her white tails waved around, "You were claiming to have something under your sleeve."

"Indeed. My people who will soon enter the scene to suppress the enemy forces and allow us to focus on our main goal," a bit of mysteriousness…

"Ho-ho, I am pleased to hear that," his co-partner unfolded her fan and started waving it, "And what is our goal, pray tell me?"

Grin slowly appeared on his face.

"Why, dear Yukime…" he stood up and spread his hands apart, "Take over the Lawless City and make the monopoly here!"

Violet tried to mimic him.

'His plans are…'

Yukime slowly read the papers. It has been barely two days in, and her new allies already surprised her. First, they managed to make sure her roads were properly protected. Second, they completely annihilated all ghouls that managed to get through.

And third, the plans. Even she herself did not know about the fact that both economic giants — Major Corporation Alliance (MCA for short) and Mitsugoshi — planned to distribute banknotes. No, rather, she knew about Mitsugoshi's, but did not know about MCA's. And what John Smith proposed was very simple.

Distribute fake banknotes to bankrupt the MCA.

Why wouldn't he target Mitsugoshi, then…? Could there be something bigger going on that she was not aware of? Is he related to Mitsugoshi?

She played with her fan.

Does it even matter, honestly? He promised to help her in taking revenge against her hateful ex-fiance. As long as she manages to do so, she would be happy.

She will get her revenge, and he will get the control over majority of Lawless City.

A perfect plan.

"It's going as we planned?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Great. Mitsugoshi will not be able to recover from this."

Gettan sat in the office and played with a coin. Cult of Diabolos higher-ups, Knights of the Rounds, were not answering his letters. Probably busy with something, huh.

Doesn't matter. He was way too deep in this shit now.

"Prepare Clovers, it is about time we make an attack on Mitsugoshi's carriages. We need to cut off their supply chain and force their employees to abandon their work. Once we succeed, we will be able to take over and eliminate it. Go, Garter."

"As you command, sir!" his toad-like servant bowed and went out to give out his orders.

Gettan leaned in his chair and sighed.

By his plan, once they succeed, Mitsugoshi will not be able to recover. Public's trust in them will be plummeted, their banknotes will have no value behind them, and they will definitely not be able to produce enough gold to ensure paying out.

He would only need to give out a command, and Mitsugoshi will fall on its knees for him. After that, he can ascend to the Seat.

A perfect plan.

Crimson drank from his glass. Ah, such a perfect taste! This blood was quite good.

"Have you found the suitable victim?"

"Yes, Lord Crimson. The boy has been sent to the room. We are prepared."

"Wonderful news! Soon, the Blood Queen shall show our cattle its proper place!"

The vampires around him murmured in agreement. Wide smile appeared on his face.

The reason why they needed a male and not female, despite their Progenitor being female, too, is because of Possession… Crimson does not know what would happen if Blood Queen gets Possessed, and he doesn't want to know. They needed a safe variant. Moreover, once she is awakened, she will be incredibly thirsty for blood, anyway. They need to prepare a good sacrifice…

His red bangs flowed as he raised his head to look at the moon.

But not now. Now is too soon. The Red Moon is still not in full power. They need to wait for it reach the apex. Then, they can proceed with revival.

"Soon, my Queen…" he gently caressed the red coffin, "Soon, you shall drown this world in rivers of blood…"

With their Progenitor awakened, they will be able to finally take their rightful place as rulers of the world.

A perfect plan.

"We are entering the outskirts."

"Indeed, I can see the reddish light shining upon the city…" Beta squinted.

At first, she didn't understand why would their Lord (and husband!) proceed by himself (oh, and that Witch, too). Now, she realized.

The events happening here were quite major. The fight between economic giants might have been a problem below his standard, but something as legendary as Red Moon? Now that is worthy of his attention.

"Prepare the carriage," she ordered, "Let's see if they take the bait…"

She was still a bit sore after the night, but not enough to impede her ability to fight. And that's exactly what she planned to do… Well, Gamma planned.

The carriage was to transport everything that would help citizen of Lawless City to survive through the Red Moon: food, clothes, medicine, and of course… The fighters themselves. Indeed, Shadow Garden members were participating in operation with intention to cover the city and protect its citizen. Of course, they were, as their Lord said, 'undercover'. Their current attire was nothing like Shadow Garden usual uniform; on the contrary, they used the design Lord Shadow came up with, and fighters were to be presented as Mitsugoshi's own pocket army. A company that can offer peace and high quality products, what's not to like?

However, their capabilities did not end here. Queen Rose Oriana was informed of what was happening in the Lawless City and agreed to send out her own forces in order to clean up the undead, alongside Midgar's Knights. Speaking of Knights, wasn't their Lord's sister here? They have probably already met… Do they need to say that they're now sisters-in-law?…

Beta shook her head. Focus! You have a mission! You husb- uh, Lord believes in you!… Waa, it's too hard! She just got her life dream fulfilled, and now she can't focus on her task!

"Lady Beta?"

"It's fine! Proceed with my orders!" her voice was a bit more stern than she wished to.

"Understood," thankfully, other members did not seem to mind.

And true to their suspicions, once they surpassed a certain point, a group of people appeared from the sides and started taunting them.

"A pity…" their leader started talking with a huge grin, "You simply chose the wrong side. If Mitsugoshi didn't stick their nose where they should not have, you would probably survive another day."

"What?…" all the plans Alpha, Beta, and Gamma painstakingly made… And they just receive the information on silver plate?!

"Indeed. Garter and other companies are too tired of your arrogance, so they hired us to do some stuff on you. No hard feelings, ladies… Hm, actually, there are hard feelings. Yes, something very hard, he-he…"

Beta's face morphed in disgust.

"Eliminate them."

Once she gave an order, hidden members immediately jumped on the 'bandits'. Several minutes later, there were no more mercenaries from Garter's side.

"Hey, have you heard of Mitsugoshi's help?"

"Yeah, seems like someone finally stepped for us…"

"I got a package of food and medicine today's morning! And my son got new clothes!"

"How much does it cost? Is it low enough for someone with barely a hundred Zeni to get?"

"It's a charity!"

"You mean…?"

'Huh, seems like girls actually won over the masses,' Cid listened in curiosity.

Apparently, they decided to bring in the charity event in light (he-he) of Red Moon. Not like he was against it or anything, but that was an unusual decision, especially for a world that was still mentally in Middle Ages…

"Wait, isn't that?…"

"Oriana forces?!"

"Our pleas were heard, first Knights, then Mitsugoshi, now Oriana…?"

"Long live the Queen!"

"Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!…"

Decorated carriages of Oriana Kingdom (or is it Queendom now?) made their way into the city, gathering people around. The armed forces of Oriana slowly entered the scene… Hold up, since when does Oriana have its own army, and quite good at that?…

Cid rushed through his memories and finally remembered about one peculiar document: apparently, Shadow Garden offered their instructors to up Oriana recruits training. Nothing too outrageous, but two weeks with Shadow Garden's personnel were way more beneficial than whatever the hell was going on in Oriana in decades. Well, he gave them knowledge, after all!

Neat. Looks like Tyrant Queen is slowly turning her Kingdom (or Queendom?) into a military powerhouse. He doubts it will be comparable to Shadow Garden itself, but Oriana should still be able to stand equal with Midgar… And maybe even overpower it! Maybe. He can't compare.

"Hey…" Violet nudged him.

"Yes, Stierlitz?" they were in public, after all!

"Do you think we will be able to pull all of your plans off?"

"All. For sure not. After all, some of them rely on the fact that others didn't work."

"Mou!" she pouted, "You know what I mean!"

"Hmm, let's say…" he made a thinking expression, "As long as I can manage to do the RM-A, MCA-D, and MU-S, we are golden. Literally."

Because code names are cool…! And now Violet looks at him in confusion. With a sigh, he first pointed at the sky, then at the Alliance's stores, then at Mitsugoshi's employees. Understanding flashed through his partner's eyes.

But man, he kinda forgot how cool it is when you just roleplay! No need to think about anything, you just do whatever you find good for your stage! Of course, he still has to make sure Mitsugoshi doesn't get into the crossfire, but if his plan goes as well as he thinks it will, Mitsugoshi only wins from that! And even if it doesn't, that's fine.

He has tons of gems and gold from when he was mining through the Earth to find the best things possible for his proposal. He will just give some of them.

If he fucks up, he will pay. Girls are his treasure, after all!

"Hm?"

"What is it, Smith?" Violet tilted her head.

"Excuse me, my partner, I have a sudden deal…" he stood up.

"Sure. I will wait here," she took a 'professional' expression… Yeah, her roleplaying still has some work to do.

He passed the corner and went into Soul Space.

"Well, why did you call me?" he addressed Hams and Todd, of course.

"We finally finished the prototype for a perfect childbirth," Hams fixed his glasses and showed him the papers, "Vitamin, mineral, energy supply, healing and pain relief mechanisms, beneficial effect on the children themselves…" it could go on and on.

"Yes, I can read that…" they managed to write even the most minuscule effects down. The full list was five pages total.

And true to their words, the effects were all around beneficial. Good, good. Though the thing itself should have thousands runes, and that's only one part of it… But it's for his girls, so he will work for it.

Then he found the second list, for another thing.

"Todd…" he thought he was hallucinating, "What is this?"

"Well, since Hams was busy with "Perfect Childbirth Prototype-S", I decided to fulfill another wish of yours," Todd took a proud expression, "Remember when you said that you want to punish Cult of Diablos properly? Indeed, since we have their souls on us, we can make it a reality once we create this mechanism. Just shove their souls into the ritual, grow new bodies for them, and use them as sheep! Yes, they might not give much, but better to have resource than not to have! The healing part will make sure they will always have something to take away! Make them feel what lovely Violet felt!"

Cid stared at cold-blooded Inner Beast silently.

"…What?" Toad croaked, "Do you think I am too soft on them? Hmm, I may be too soft, indeed…"

Hams' and Todd's loyalty only lies with Cid himself, his Shades, and anyone who he develops good feelings for, and unlike him, they are not inhibited by morals. Cid is something that almost nothing, in their opinion, can touch, but Shades and other people are viewed as vulnerable (from Cid's early memories abou them), and because of that Beasts are just as overprotective about them as Cid is (well, they are part of him, that's a given), so they might come up with some… questionable methods to ensure that his friends are avenged.

The question is, should Cid roll with the punishment Todd created? Or is it a bit too much?