Chapter Nine – Yang
Two weeks had passed since Cyrus and Rosaria had recovered the Black Sect's sacred relic, the Chalice of Beginnings. While the objective itself had been successful, Cyrus' near-death at the hands of Löwe, also known as Leonhardt or Bladelord, was weighing heavily on him.
By now, all of Class VII, and a majority of the school had heard about what happened at the Heimdallr cathedral, with the nature of his S-Craft making front page news across Erebonia. A storm strong enough to break one of the cathedral's spires is newsworthy in its own right, but having a dragon appear in the midst of the storm, and having it indiscriminately kill dozens of people was something else entirely.
Fortunately for Cyrus, the general public never learned the truth. The Septian Church, at the behest of the Pope, and likely brought to him by the Black Archbishop due to Rosaria's intervening, told news reporters that the storm was divine punishment for a group of criminals who had made the critical error of robbing Aidios, which was a smart tactic for two reasons.
The first reason was it kept Cyrus out of the public eye for his immense power. Aurelia was already too strong for her own good, and if people found out Cyrus was just as strong, if not stronger, then it would cause problems for the whole Le Guin Family. They would become the target of religious zealots, or Jägers who wanted to prove their own strength by fighting members of the family.
The second reason was that it gave the church the ability to exert its influence over the masses. The very idea that divine retribution was in fact real was more than enough to bring the God-fearing humans into line, but also made criminals and other scoundrels now think twice before deciding to commit sins against the Church.
Cyrus cared not for the church's reasoning behind their response to his S-Craft, all he cared about was the fact he had once again been pushed to the brink of death, only to be saved by an outside source at the last second. The only redeeming factor about the whole debacle was the fact he now knew that, even in the face of death, he would forcibly carry on fighting through sheer force of will alone.
However, that knowledge did not bring Cyrus comfort. He had zero intention of dying every time he came face-to-face with a dangerous enemy, and if the warning he received from Little Bee, the strange Calvardian woman he met in Parm, was anything to go by then he knew he had to get stronger.
That ended up becoming the driving force behind Cyrus' actions since the events in Heimdallr. For the past two weeks, whenever he wasn't tied down with schoolwork, he barricaded himself inside the school's gymnasium, focusing solely on getting stronger. Even when the Fencing Club had been given designated use of the gym on Free Days, he would forcibly remove them so he could go all out in his own training.
"Someone has to do something about this, which is why we've come to you, Laura," Friedel stated.
"I don't understand; why don't you just go speak to one of the Instructors, or Principal Vandyck? What do you need me for?" Laura asked as she was drying her hair after swimming practice.
"You're a swordswoman yourself; Aurelia Le Guin trained under your father – if anyone can get through to Cyrus, then surely it's you," Friedel explained.
"Plus… Well, we don't want to get Cyrus in trouble again. We've already caused him trouble in the past," Alan added meekly.
"Look, Laura, we're kinda desperate here. That arsehole Patrick is already bitching about Cyrus to his shoe-licking friends. Friedel and I can shut him up for the time being, but it's getting harder. Friedel already filled me in on their little spat in the Noble Dormitory a couple weeks ago, so I know it's only going to get worse," Loggins stated.
"Alright, I'll try talking to him, but I promise you nothing. He's barely said a word to us in Class VII for the last two weeks, and every time I see him, I see more and more cuts and wounds on him. Whatever is causing this drive to train himself to death, I can't guarantee I'll be able to stop him," Laura proclaimed.
"Ah, thanks, Laura! You're the best!" Friedel cried.
"Yeah, you're awesome!" Loggins grinned, shooting Laura a thumbs up.
"Thank you, Lady Laura! Even if you don't succeed, we appreciate the fact you're willing to try," Alan smiled, bowing to Laura.
"Please, you can thank me once I convince Cyrus to find somewhere else to train; and even that might not be as easy as just talking to him," Laura sighed as she dropped her towel and made her way out of the pool room and down towards the gym.
From the door, Laura could hear the sound of metal clashing, wood cracking, and even the sound of explosions as Arts hit their mark. Whatever was going on in the gym, Laura knew that Cyrus was over exerting himself past the point of exhaustion.
"You got this, Laura!" Loggins called out.
"Cyrus? It's me. Can you let me in?" Laura called out, banging on the door to the gym.
To Laura's surprise, she heard the sound of objects being moved behind the door, and the deadbolts used to lock the door being released. Gingerly, she turned the handle of the door and entered the gym.
"Laura, good timing; I was just about to take a break," Cyrus sighed as he sat down on one of the benches and dumped a bucket of water over his head.
Laura looked around and was left dumbstruck by the sight before her. All around the room, there were broken training dummies, shattered swords, scorch marks, and fissures in the ground from Cyrus' training. Whatever he had been doing in here, it was far more rigorous than she had ever expected.
"What in Aidios' name happened in here? It's like the place was hit by an earthquake and a hurricane simultaneously!" Laura gasped.
"Well, close enough, I guess… In addition to sword and close-combat training, I have been using some new Arts as well," Cyrus responded as he let the water drip down onto the floor.
"I see you're still using that Nightingale Sentinel Robe you got from Sister Rosaria," Laura pointed out, as she saw the robe tied off at Cyrus' waist.
"Oh, yeah… It allows me to cast Arts without having to piss around with the ARCUS, so it allows me to move and act faster," Cyrus explained as he stood up to show the robe off.
"Cyrus, this needs to stop. Look at you; you're killing yourself in here. I get your desire to train and become stronger, I do, but this… Look at yourself," Laura cried.
Laura made a fair point; as Cyrus stood before her, he was wearing nothing but his black jeans and the Sentinel's Robe, which was only tied to his waist – his feet and torso were completely exposed. It was clear to Laura that Cyrus had been concentrating more on hand-to-hand combat lately, as one of his hands was bandaged up with white cloth that had been stained red, whilst the other hand was currently dripping blood on the floor.
"If I don't push myself here, then I'm going to die out there; at least this way, I can learn where my limitations are, and how to push past them," Cyrus shrugged, running his bloody hand through his hair, leaving a streak of red through it.
"Don't be so flippant about dying, you damn fool!" Laura snapped, slapping Cyrus across the face. "Against my better judgement, I can take you being so dismissive about killing on the battlefield, but I cannot accept your outlandish thoughts about dying in an attempt to gain power!"
"What does it matter to you if I die whilst trying to attain power to crush my enemies? It doesn't impact your life in any way, so why do you care so much?" Cyrus snorted, turning to pick up his shirt and jacket.
"Your back… What in the hell…?" Laura breathed, taking in the sight of Cyrus' back for the first time.
"Ah, that's right… You've not seen it before, have you?" Cyrus muttered, pulling up the Sentinel's Robe and covering his back with it.
"But that's…" Laura whispered.
"Never mind it, Laura; it's not important. Look, I'm done here, so you can tell Friedel and Loggins you got them their gym back," Cyrus snapped as he walked off.
"Wait, how did you know they asked me to come here?" Laura asked as Cyrus approached the door.
Cyrus offered no words in response, instead he kicked up some of the sand underneath him with his bare feet, which only served to confuse Laura more.
'I'm going to get nowhere training like this… Maybe I should go back to the Company…' Cyrus thought as he left the building.
"Yo-ho! Cyrus!" Crow called out as he spotted Cyrus leaving the academy grounds.
"What's up, Crow?" Cyrus asked.
"I need a favour; remember how you said I should just make my scam a legitimate business? Well, I tried, and it didn't work," Crow stated.
"What happened?" Cyrus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Ok, so… I went to the Erebonian Ministry of Business and Commerce, and they turned me down," Crow shrugged.
"Can't say I'm surprised; you don't have a business license or a Class Four Certification that allows you to own businesses that are established for gambling," Cyrus sighed as he began walking off.
"I know that, which is why I said you were the one who was applying for the business permit," Crow beamed, sounding pleased with his ingenuity.
"You did what?" Cyrus hissed, stopping to glare at Crow.
"I told the EMBC that it was your business license that was being submitted with the application," Crow responded, shifting uncomfortably on the spot.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?!" Cyrus exploded. "When did you try and submit the application?!"
"Uhh, like two weeks ago? I can't remember, I just got the rejection letter yesterday," Crow answered.
"FUCK!" Cyrus yelled, punching a nearby wall.
"What's wrong?" Crow asked, looking confused.
"My father owns the business license that we have filed with the EMBC, you idiot! If someone tries to use our license without either of our signatures, he gets notified of possible fraudulent activity. You moron, you should have let me handle it, like I said I would!" Cyrus shouted.
"Ah, so you know why I am here. Good, that will make this talk more streamlined," a deep voice from behind Cyrus spoke.
"Aw, fucking hell…" Cyrus muttered as he turned to face the person who had spoken. "Hello, Father… I trust you are keeping well?"
The man who had spoken was none other than Count Michael Le Guin; Cyrus' father. Count Le Guin was a tall, muscular man, with a thick, silver moustache and short silver hair, a style he had kept since his days in the military. He was wearing an expensive black suit, custom-made by the finest tailors in Ordis. In his hand was an ebony staff, with a golden lion carved into the handle; a necessity for the Count, due to the injury he suffered during the Hundred Days war with Liberl, which left him with a permanent limp.
"Cyrus, care to explain to me why this ruffian was trying to submit an application for a business certification with my business license?" Michael asked, glaring at Crow, his dark purple eyes as intense as his eldest daughter's, before turning back to his son and seeing the state he was in, with his bandaged and bloody hands, blood in his hair and a white robe on. "You're as bad as Aurelia when it comes to your training…"
"Father, please… Crow is just an idiot. I was trying to instruct him in the ways of business, but he clearly got over-excited, and thought it would be ok to use our license to get himself a business certification," Cyrus explained, stressing how stupid Crow had been in order to seek clemency for the second-year student.
"Hmm, yes… That has been made abundantly clear to me, young man," Michael stated, reprimanding his son.
"Father, why are you even here? You rarely leave Lamare, and when you do, you usually have Reginald accompanying you," Cyrus asked, trying to change the subject.
"Reginald is currently waiting in the car just outside Trista. I made it clear to him that I wanted to speak to you and get your side of the story before I go to Heimdallr," Michael stated gruffly.
"What do you mean, 'my side'?" Cyrus blinked.
"Well, there had to be a good reason you'd allow this lowlife to try and submit an application with the EMBC to begin with, and it wasn't just a simple case of fraudulent activity. When your mother found out, I told her that perhaps you had made a critical error in judgement, and I wanted to see for myself, before the authorities got involved and this became a legal matter," Michael stated.
"It wasn't so much an error in judgement on my part as it was that Crow is just an overzealous simpleton," Cyrus responded.
"Hey, uhh, guys? You know I'm standing right here, don't you?" Crow interjected.
"Be silent, boy! This is a discussion between a father and son; you're lucky I'm not having the Military Police throw you in prison for fraud!" Michael snapped.
"Father, that's enough. Crow is an idiot, but he doesn't deserve to be yelled at like that," Cyrus said, defending Crow.
"I've heard enough of this. I'm going back to Reginald and then on to Heimdallr to clear this whole mess up!" Michael grunted, turning and beginning to walk away. "Walk with me, son."
"Yes, Father…" Cyrus muttered as he approached his father's side and began to match his pace, which was still spry, despite his leg.
"Cyrus, your mother and I love you, and will always support you and your decisions; much like we did when you chose to leave us almost six years ago. The same goes for your sisters; we love and care about you all," Michael began quietly.
"I sense a 'but' coming here…" Cyrus muttered.
"Yes, quite… But you cannot trust that boy, son," Michael stated.
"Why not? I know he's an idiot, but he means well," Cyrus responded.
"Hmph… 'Means well', does he? You know both your mother and I have always made you stand on your own two feet, and learn from any mistakes you end up making, but this time, please, listen to your father," Michael pleaded. "That boy will only cause you, and those around you, suffering."
Cyrus and Michael reached the car that was just outside Trista, and Reginald was indeed waiting in the car with the engine running. When he saw Cyrus and Michael approaching, Reginald got out of the car and proceeded to open the door for the Count.
"I will take on board what you said, Father," Cyrus nodded as Michael got into the car.
"Cyrus, I will go to the EMBC and clear up this mess with them, but I will allow you to continue to do as you please, should you so feel the need to. Like your older sister, you are smart, and insightful. Should you wish to continue down the road you are on, then so be it. I trust you explicitly with the company, and should you decide a new business is needed, then do what you must; just keep that boy away from it," Michael stated.
"As you wish, Father," Cyrus nodded as Reginald close the door to the car. "Reginald; a moment, please."
"Sir?" Reginald looked at Cyrus.
"Any word about the letter that was sent to Ferris?" Cyrus asked.
"Ah, yes… After you had Sariffa send the letter to me, I had it all examined, right down to the paper itself. It was very high-quality, which suggests it came from the desk of a Noble," Reginald stated.
"A Noble? But Sariffa said it was likely hand delivered," Cyrus responded.
"Yes, my daughter was right about that, but the paper used can only be manufactured and purchased in Erebonia, and it has an exceedingly high price tag. Only a Noble would be able to purchase it without concerning themselves with the cost," Reginald explained.
"Who the hell would go out of their way to send Ferris a threatening letter?" Cyrus muttered.
"What's the hold up, Reginald? I have a meeting with the head of the EMBC in an hour," Michael snapped, rolling down the car window.
"Apologies, my Lord. We'll head there straightaway. Take care, Master Cyrus," Reginald bowed as he turned and entered the car before driving away.
As Reginald drove down the highway towards Heimdallr, Michael shifted in his seat before letting out a deep sigh.
"That boy is trouble, Reginald," Michael stated.
"You mean that Armbrust boy, my Lord?" Reginald asked, glancing at the Count through his rear-view mirror.
"Yes… I know he's had secret meetings with Croire, but I have been unable to glean information as to what they are about. The very act of a Commoner from Jurai being invited to Duke Cayenne's manor is utterly bizarre," Michael muttered.
"Do you not think it wise to tell Master Cyrus about the boy's relationship with His Grace? Do you think perhaps Lady Mirellia, or even Madam Aurelia might know something? I have heard rumours that one of Lady Mirellia's students visits the Duke frequently. Perhaps she might be able to find out something from them?" Reginald suggested.
"As much as I would like to tell my son of my suspicions about that boy, I cannot. I don't think Croire is aware that I know about their meetings, and if Cyrus reveals to the boy that I know, that could spell trouble. No, Reginald, I need evidence…" Michael sighed, leaving a long pause before speaking again. "Do you think he would be willing to help?"
"I daresay he would… For the right price. But you know how Madam Aurelia feels about him. If she found out her own father was paying the Concierge for his services, I fear that would drive an irreparable wedge between you both," Reginald warned.
"Ah, I guess you are right. You're a good man, Reginald; an ally like you is hard to come by in this day and age," Michael nodded.
"Ally, sir? I am but your humble servant, my Lord," Reginald said.
"No, Reginald, you are far more than just a 'servant'; both you and your daughter have worked for the Le Guin and Florald Families respectively for years. It would be an insult to you and your efforts, as well as your daughter's, to simply call you a servant. No, you are an ally to our family; a steadfast and loyal friend, and I know my wife and children would agree with that sentiment," Michael declared.
"You honour me and my daughter, my Lord," Reginald said after a few moments of silence.
The rest of the drive to Heimdallr was done in silence, but a silence of mutual respect and understanding.
Later that night, Cyrus was alone in his room. For the last few hours, he had been replaying the conversation he had with his father over and over in his mind, and some things about it unsettled him.
Getting up from his bed, Cyrus made his way over to the window and picked up his ARCUS.
"You have need of me?" a familiar voice spoke to Cyrus.
"Yes… My father paid me a visit today, and there are things that aren't sitting right with me about it," Cyrus stated.
"You mean with that fool from Class V, right?" the individual responded.
"Yeah, Crow… Wait, how did you hear about that?" Cyrus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I think it was safe to say most of Trista heard your exchange. Your father's voice is considerably loud when he's aggravated," the individual chortled.
"Yeah, well… I don't get his reaction. I mean, sure, I'm pissed at Crow too for his blind stupidity, but Father was… Well, it was like he hated Crow, which is unfair considering he's never met him," Cyrus muttered.
"Can you trust him?" the individual asked.
"What?" Cyrus blinked.
"Crow… Can you trust him?" the individual repeated.
"Sure, why not?" Cyrus asked, feeling confused.
"Is that right? Tell me what you know of him," the individual challenged.
Cyrus sat there for a good few minutes in silence. What did he know about Crow? All he really knew about Crow was that he was a bit of a carefree goofball, who liked to hit on girls and try to make it rich with questionable methods. Other than that, Cyrus didn't really know much about the boy.
"I… I don't actually know that much, when I think about it," Cyrus stated.
"So why do you trust him?" the individual asked.
"I… I don't know…" Cyrus muttered, feeling at a loss for words.
"Perhaps you should take the time to reassess what it is you know about him, and what makes him trustworthy. If you can't find a good reason to trust him, then keep him on a short leash," the individual suggested. "As far as I'm concerned, you need to get a handle on your own problems, before inviting more into your house with people you don't know or trust."
"Yes, I've been thinking about that, and after what happened between Laura and I earlier, I've decided that I need to return to the Company, even if it's just in an assisting capacity for now," Cyrus declared.
"Are you sure that's wise? I'm certain they would have you back, but don't you think you're spreading yourself thin? The Company has work all over the continent, not just here in Erebonia. How would you divvy your time up between Thors, Class VII, your other commitments, and assisting the Company?" the individual queried.
"I'll manage. I have in the past, haven't I?" Cyrus responded, smirking slightly.
"You have far too many eyes on you now to just up and disappear at random. Plus if you miss your classes, there'll be trouble for you on that front too," the individual reminded.
"I suppose… I'll at least go to the main office in Heimdallr at some point. At least I can make the executives aware I want back in," Cyrus shrugged.
"Ah, speaking of Heimdallr, perhaps you should visit the city at night. I've heard an interesting rumour there," the individual chuckled.
"Oh? What is it?" Cyrus asked.
Before the individual Cyrus was speaking to could respond, they were interrupted by a knock on Cyrus' door. Pocketing his ARCUS Unit, Cyrus approached the door and opened it. Standing before him was Machias, who didn't look happy to be knocking on Cyrus' door.
"Oh, you are here… Good," Machias muttered.
"Uhh, yeah? Where else would I be?" Cyrus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, nor do I care what you do in your spare time, but I need to speak with you. Do you mind if I come in?" Machias gestured to Cyrus' room.
"I'd rather you didn't," Cyrus stated flatly.
"Tch, you damn Nobles are all the same. Whatever. My dad called me earlier," Machias grumbled.
"Ok? Good for you; I saw my father today as well. What's your point?" Cyrus sighed with annoyance.
"Grr… You're lucky I'm even telling you this… Your father's business license is being revoked," Machias stated, perhaps taking a little too much enjoyment from the shock on Cyrus' face.
"Under what grounds?!" Cyrus shouted.
"Fraud, to put it simply," Machias stated smugly.
"My father has done nothing of the sort!" Cyrus growled, clenching his fists.
"Oh, we know that, but it's because of you that he's losing his license," Machias muttered, staring at Cyrus blankly.
"What's this 'we' bullshit? I've done nothing wrong either," Cyrus snapped.
"So you didn't let that neanderthal, Crow, submit an application for a new business with your name?" Machias scoffed.
"No, I did not. How exactly is any of this your business anyway?" Cyrus growled.
"Well, it was my dad who discovered the fraudulent business application to begin with, and as such, he sat in on the meeting your dad had with the head of the EMBC this afternoon," Machias stated.
"Why would Governor Regnitz take so much interest in anything I or my father does?" Cyrus asked.
"That's not my concern, I'm only here to let you know my dad has an offer for you; head to the EMBC tomorrow afternoon and explain the situation, or your dad's business gets seized by the Erebonian Government," Machias declared.
"Go fuck yourself, you little bastard!" Cyrus yelled, grabbing Machias by the neck and slamming him into the nearby wall.
"Hey, what's going on out here?" Elliot asked as he opened his door when he heard the sound of Machias being slammed into the wall. "Cyrus?! What are you doing?!"
"Get off me, you arsehole!" Machias cried, trying to break free of Cyrus' grip.
"You listen to me, you snivelling little bitch. You go back and call your father, and you tell him that I will be in his office first thing tomorrow morning. Any appointments or engagements he has, you tell him to cancel them. I will not let the Blood and Iron Bastard's bootlickers meddle in the affairs of my family!" Cyrus roared.
By this point, all the boys from Class VII had appeared in the hallway and had been trying to get Cyrus off of Machias, except for Jusis, who saw the situation, rolled his eyes, and returned to his room.
"Hey, hey, hey! That is enough! Cut it out, both of you!" Sara shouted over the commotion, with the girls of Class VII following their Instructor down to the boy's floor to see what was happening, except for Fie.
"Your father made a mistake screwing with my father, Regnitz. If yours tries anything to rob mine of his livelihood, I will make sure you are solely responsible for what happens," Cyrus warned as he dropped Machias and returned to his room and slammed the door.
"What the hell was that all about?" Alisa cried, looking very confused.
"That was rather unsettling… I don't think I've ever seen Cyrus that angry before," Laura muttered.
"Machias, you tell me what in the hell that fiasco was all about, right now!" Sara shouted.
"Why are you yelling at me?! I'm the one who was just attacked by that wolf in Noble's clothing!" Machias shouted back.
"Oh, believe me, I'll be speaking to him as well, but for now, start talking!" Sara commanded.
Machias growled in frustration before he started to tell Sara and the rest of Class VII what had transpired between the two boys.
"Ok, no… That's on you, Machias…" Alisa declared.
"What?!" Machias and Laura both exclaimed.
"From my understanding, it seemed like you enjoyed rubbing in the fact your father was threatening to strip away the business holdings of a Noble. If that were a Commoner, would you have been so smug about it?" Alisa asked.
"Alisa, be that as it may, that didn't give Cyrus the right to assault Machias in any capacity," Laura stated.
"Wait, Alisa is defending Cyrus? Did I fall into the Twilight Zone or something?" Rean muttered to Elliot.
"I'm not saying it does, Laura, but you can't honestly think any of that was ok. Not only did the Governor violate several confidentiality laws by telling Machias everything that had happened with Count Le Guin, but Machias used that opportunity to push Cyrus' buttons, and we all know he has a short fuse, especially when it comes to his family. Need I remind everyone about what happened when Patrick made a veiled threat to Ferris before our Field Study a few weeks ago?" Alisa explained.
"Hmm… It does sound like you wanted to rub it in, Machias. I'm not necessarily defending Cyrus' actions, but it does feel like you provoked him to respond with anger," Gaius added.
"Yeah, and so what if I did? It's not like he can just go around threatening people and get away with it! But typical Noble attitude; he does what he wants without suffering any consequences," Machias spat.
"Answer this, Machias; repeating what Alisa said, if Cyrus was a Commoner, would you have acted the same way?" Emma asked.
"He's not a Commoner, so it's a moot point," Machias scoffed.
"Can we just drop Cyrus from the equation for a second? Let me rephrase; if this happened to Irina Reinford, and the Government was threatening to seize the Reinford Group, would you have enjoyed hanging that sword over her?" Alisa asked.
"Well, no… I mean, that's like comparing apples and oranges; Irina Reinford is a respected businesswoman, and a successful one at that," Machias responded, shifting uncomfortably as he spoke.
"Wrong, Mo… I mean, Irina Reinford didn't make the Reinford Group what it is today, that was her father, Gwyn. Moving on though, are you saying that you respect Irina Reinford as a businesswoman, but you don't respect Count Le Guin as a businessman?" Alisa asked, recovering from her near slip of the tongue.
"Alisa does have a point; Count Le Guin is an exceptional businessman, and his first priority has always been to the people of his lands. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure Dad purchased Fiona's eighteenth birthday present from one of Count Le Guin's businesses in Heimdallr," Elliot added.
"Alright, I get it! You all love Cyrus and think I'm the arsehole who's in the wrong here! Just forget it!" Machias snapped.
"Machias, wait. I agree with you that Cyrus' actions were unacceptable, but I have to say that you didn't exactly handle the matter with discretion or maturity yourself. If I had to portion the blame out, I'd say you're probably only twenty percent at fault, as no matter what a person says to another, it is absolutely not ok to assault someone for saying something they don't like," Laura stated, trying to calm Machias down.
"Tch, whatever. Instructor, do as you like, I don't care. But I'm not going to be apologising to that dick unless he apologises to me first!" Machias declared.
"Look, I think everyone is just tired from their Free Day, and you're all getting worked up. I'm just happy that you didn't get hurt, so I'm willing to let you guys solve this on your own," Sara shrugged, going from Instructor to lazy bum in seconds.
"You're happy I didn't get hurt? What's that supposed to mean?!" Machias shouted.
"Be real, Machias. Are you honestly suggesting you could have hurt Cyrus?" Alisa asked, stifling a laugh.
"I have to agree with Alisa here… There's no way you could hurt him," Emma mumbled.
One by one, the rest of Class VII all spoke their own affirmations that there was absolutely no way Machias could hurt Cyrus, even in a mock battle.
"Hmph, whatever. I don't need to be stronger than him; brains triumphs over brawn any day!" Machias shouted as he stomped off to his room.
"Well, you seem to be making friends," the individual laughed mockingly.
"Give it a rest, will you? That moron knew what he was doing," Cyrus grunted.
"I have to say, I'm impressed. You've managed to make that Reinford girl your puppet. I've even noticed she's been wearing a ring too," the individual remarked.
"What's this? I didn't think you were capable of giving praise," Cyrus snorted.
"Praise is earned; reprimands are deserved for acting like a fool," the individual growled.
"So you keep reminding me," Cyrus sighed.
"So, who's next on your list?" the individual asked.
"Excuse me?" Cyrus asked, frowning.
"Will it be the small one? Perhaps even your Instructor? Having her under your spell could make your ability to go back to the Company much easier," the individual commented.
"You really do only think the worst of me, don't you? I've not put anyone 'under my spell', and Sara is far too unreliable to be of any actual use to me right now… No, for now… I think I should probably try and focus on Laura…" Cyrus muttered.
"The Radiant Blademaster's daughter?" the individual asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
"She's the one who has the weakest relationship with me, and if I keep pressing it, our bond will shatter, and the Crimson King demands broken offerings," Cyrus stated.
"Ah, you speak truth with that one… Although, perhaps your Class President could be of–" the individual began.
"Absolutely not. Emma is strictly off limits; do you hear me?" Cyrus warned. "There will come a time when I add her as a piece on the board, but until then, she is to be untouched."
"Hmph, touchy… I suppose it makes sense; once she finds out what you've done, I'll be surprised if she doesn't kill you herself, Dragon…" the individual chuckled darkly.
"She's welcome to try…" Cyrus muttered.
"Barbara! Can you please shift my two o'clock back? His Excellency has asked to meet with me to discuss a few ideas about the next accountability inspection," Governor Carl Regnitz asked as he entered his office.
"Of course, Governor. I'll contact Mr. Joestar and see if he can meet you Wednesday morning instead," Barbara, Governor Regnitz's secretary, smiled as the man walked past her desk.
"Thank you, Barbara. What would I do without you?" Carl smiled as he entered his office and closed the door.
"Good morning, Governor," a cold voice spoke behind Carl's back.
"What in Aidios' name?!" Carl cried as he turned around to see where the voice had come from.
"I'm disappointed, sir. I would have thought your son would have contacted you by now," Cyrus muttered as his eyes met the Governor's.
"You… You're that boy who goes to school with Machias. What are you doing here?" Carl asked, his heart still racing.
"I believe you know why I am here… Michael Le Guin. I understand you mean to revoke his business license," Cyrus stated as he stood up.
"Ah… That… I do apologise, young man, but I'm afraid there's been some sort of misunderstanding," Carl began as he walked over to a door on the far side of the room. "I have no intention of revoking Michael Le Guin's business license."
"Excuse me?" Cyrus muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"The Governor is telling the truth, Cyrus. Revoking Count Le Guin's business license was my idea, and I'd say my plan worked perfectly," Lechter stated as he stepped out from the shadows and stood behind Carl.
"Scarecrow… What the fuck is going on here?" Cyrus growled.
"Well, I had our friend, the Governor, use his connections at the EMBC to flag any business applications that were submitted using the Le Guin Family business license. The moment you submitted your application for a casino, the Governor was immediately notified, who in turn notified me," Lechter explained, smirking slightly.
"Captain, I will take my leave now. I imagine His Excellency does not need me to be present for what you two are about to discuss," Carl nodded as he left the room.
"Ok, and why did you feel the need to do all of that, if you just wanted to talk to me, which is clearly what you want to do," Cyrus stated.
"Aww, c'mon, Cyrus; you're smarter than that. You and I both know that if I wanted to talk with you, you'd blow me off. Nah, for this, I had to really get your attention, and making it seem like I was going to have the EMBC tear up your father's business license and seize his holdings was the perfect way to get you to come see me," Lechter explained, his lackadaisical smile growing by the second.
"So, this was all just some game to you? You motherfucker…" Cyrus growled, clenching his fists.
"Oh, no… This wasn't a game; you weren't even a player. Let me just start by saying this; I know who you are… Yang," Lechter stated.
"I'd strongly recommend you be very careful with how you use that word, Scarecrow. It could get you killed," Cyrus snorted.
"Perhaps, but no-one successful in life gets to where they are without dancing with death," Lechter shrugged.
"So, does that mean you're looking for a dance partner?" Cyrus asked.
"Not I, Cyrus… His Excellency is the one looking for the dance partner," Lechter stated with a smirk.
"Tch, and what does the Chancellor want, exactly?" Cyrus muttered, rolling his eyes.
"I believe you owe him… One ledger full of secrets, if I'm not mistaken," Lechter responded, which made Cyrus understand exactly what was going on.
"You bastard… You set that whole thing up, didn't you?" Cyrus growled, glaring at Lechter.
"Oho, you give me too much credit, Cyrus," Lechter laughed. "I just took advantage of an opportunity, and some whispers I'd heard prior to you joining Thors."
"I see nothing escapes the Blood and Iron Chancellor's web, does it?" Cyrus said.
"Well, being hunted by Ikaruga's Thirteen Death Squads is an impressive feat in and of itself. Tell me, what did you do to piss off the Silver Princess so much that she mobilised her best warriors to kill you?" Lechter asked.
"If you need to ask, then you don't need to know," Cyrus shrugged.
"Ah, touché… Very well… Allow me to take a wild guess then; your actions, either directly or indirectly, caused her problems with her group's hierarchical foundations, so much so that she has decided killing you will be easier to do than immediately try to fix the issue," Lechter mused.
"Sure, if that's what you want to believe, then I will not stop you," Cyrus muttered.
"Well, it doesn't really matter what I think, but what does matter is that you, my good man, have committed a crime; by stealing that ledger, you've almost single-handedly caused an international incident. That ledger contained state secrets belonging to the Principality of Remiferia, and they would very much like to have it back," Lechter stated as he pulled out a file from his jacket and handed it to Cyrus.
Without a word, Cyrus walked over and took the file, and opened it. Inside, the contents caused him to burn with anger. The moment he saw the first page, he knew Lechter had set everything up; starting with the request when Cyrus was in Parm for his Field Study.
Inside the folder, there were pictures, all taken from the area where the train carrying the ledger and cargo bound for Remiferia had been derailed. There were pictures of the train car itself being derailed, Cyrus walking out into the clearing, and even pictures of him killing the assassin who had been sent after him.
"Tch, so this is how you've chosen to act… What exactly does 'His Excellency' want with me?" Cyrus grunted as he threw the folder back onto Carl's desk.
"Well, like I already said, he'd like that ledger you stole so he can return it to the Principality. He'd very much like to avoid a military conflict with them," Lechter stated, which made Cyrus laugh.
"Don't take me for a fool, Scarecrow. You and I both know the Principality has nowhere near enough might to fight Erebonia. They don't even have a standing military; just a 'Defence Force'," Cyrus responded.
"Ahh, I guess you're right, but I had to at least try. Anyway, on to the real reason you're here; Chancellor Osborne wants you to work for him," Lechter stated.
"Fuck off," Cyrus spat.
"Yeah, I figured that'd be your response. Right, let me be clear about something here; you will work for the Chancellor, or we will simply turn you over to the Principality… Or perhaps we should send you to Crossbell? I hear there's a few people there who'd love to meet Yang," Lechter stated.
"If you know as much about me as you claim to, what exactly makes you think the mere threat of the Principality, or the Crossbell Guardian Force will make me bend the knee to Osborne?" Cyrus asked. "Although, I have to admit, I am impressed you know about Crossbell…"
"Tsk, tsk… You're not seeing the bigger picture here, are you? Think of it like this; what'll happen to your family if it becomes public knowledge that you have been arrested by the Principality? His Excellency will be sure to make an example of them by stripping your mother, father, sister, and anyone else related to you of their Noble status and denounce them for having a criminal as a son and brother. They'll be thrown into poverty, and will most likely die in shame," Lechter stated coldly.
"You disgust me, Scarecrow," Cyrus growled.
"Good thing I'm not looking to date you then," Lechter smirked. "Look, it's very simple, Cyrus; either work with His Excellency on a small matter, or destroy your entire family. What'll it be?"
For several moments, Cyrus and Lechter stared at each other, neither man saying anything. Cyrus was weighing up his options that he had laid before him. He could either help the man who was intent on destroying the Nobility, or he could refuse, and watch as that very man destroys his own family. He also considered the idea of just killing Lechter to send a message to the Chancellor, but he knew that doing something like that was arguably the stupidest thing he could do.
"What exactly does the Chancellor want?" Cyrus sighed after several moments, accepting defeat.
"I don't know. He will send for you when he decides your skills are needed. In exchange for your help, His Excellency will forget about the ledger you stole, and overlook your past as Yang… As far as Ikaruga are concerned though… His Excellency will not be able to help you with that," Lechter stated, shrugging when he mentioned Ikaruga.
"Fine by me; I'll show that Silver Bitch that her gripe with me is a foolish crusade, and she should have left me be," Cyrus muttered. "I take it that means we are done here?"
"Yes, that's right… Oh, but there is one more thing," Lechter remembered as he pulled out a large envelope from his jacket.
"How many pockets does that thing have?" Cyrus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That would be telling, Cyrus," Lechter winked as he passed the envelope to Cyrus. "Here; consider this a gift from His Excellency for agreeing to work for him."
Cyrus opened the envelope and found a set of documents, watermarked with the EMBC logo. Taking the papers out completely, Cyrus read the first page, and realised what he was looking at.
"The application for the casino was approved? Why?" Cyrus asked.
"Heh, when it comes to government departments, we Ironbloods have a lot of sway. I knew you'd be smart enough to accept His Excellency's request, so I had the head of the EMBC sign off on the application before we contacted Count Michael," Lechter smirked.
"You really are a prick, aren't you?" Cyrus muttered.
"I guess it runs in the family, huh?" Lechter shrugged as he left the room the same way Carl did.
After his surprise meeting with Lechter, Cyrus returned to Trista. Instead of returning to the school itself, Cyrus instead decided to return to the dormitory, where he ran into Sara.
"Where have you been? I was starting to get worried," Sara stated, frowning at Cyrus.
"Ah, yes, very worried indeed," Cyrus muttered, pointing to the bottles of beer on the table next to where Sara had been sitting.
"What? I drink when I worry; it calms my nerves," Sara shrugged as Cyrus walked over to the table, grabbed a beer for himself and sat down next to his instructor. "Hey! You're not allowed to have one!"
"Put a sock in it, woman; you shouldn't be drinking now either, yet here you are," Cyrus snapped as he started to drink.
"Yeah, but… But…" Sara mumbled, trying to form a response.
"But nothing; I've had a cunt of a day, and it's not even midday yet," Cyrus sighed.
"Wanna talk about it?" Sara asked.
"Not particularly, so let me ask you something else; what's the state of affairs with the class in regards to me at the moment?" Cyrus asked, taking Sara by surprise.
"What, you mean after your little dust-up with Machias?" Sara responded. "Hard to say. Jusis thinks you're both idiots, but that's not really a surprise. I think for the most part, everyone mostly agreed that Machias was out of line with what he did, except for Laura. She pretty much said you were completely to blame."
"Yeah, that sounds about right… That figures," Cyrus whispered as he finished his beer.
"Why? What's with your sudden interest in your popularity amongst the class? Ooh, are you interested in one of the girls?" Sara teased.
"Now, now, Sara…" Cyrus muttered as he reached across Sara and looked at her right in the eye, their faces mere inches away from one another. "Why would I be interested in them, when I'm sat here with you?"
"Wha–?!" Sara cried, her face going bright red.
At Sara's reaction, Cyrus started to laugh as he grabbed another bottle of beer, which made Sara realise he was just teasing her. Despite her face already being bright red, it started to go even redder, as she started to feel the warm sting of embarrassment.
"Look at you, Sara! Has it really been that long since a guy took an interest in you that you'd fall for something as sappy as that?!" Cyrus laughed.
"That's not funny, Cyrus! I thought you were being serious for a second!" Sara cried, her eyes glistening slightly.
"Hold on… Are you… Are you crying?" Cyrus asked, looking at the tears welling up in the corner of Sara's eyes.
"No…" Sara muttered, rubbing her eyes.
"Wow… I'm… I'm sorry, Sara. I didn't mean to hurt you," Cyrus whispered, starting to feel guilty.
"It's fine… I just… It's not the first time someone has done that to me," Sara mumbled, looking at her knees.
"Fuck… What happened?" Cyrus asked.
"It might be the fact I'm already six bottles deep, but let's just say that people tend to treat me like a joke when they find out about my past," Sara stated quietly.
"What, as a Bracer? Why? You were one of the youngest people to reach A-Rank within the Guild; how does that make you a joke?" Cyrus asked, visibly confused.
"Ah, it doesn't matter… Better you don't find out, lest you end up treating me the same as they did," Sara responded, waving a hand dismissively.
"Hey, come on…" Cyrus whispered, grabbing Sara's hand. "I told you something about myself on our first day here. The least you could do is return the favour, or do you not trust me?"
"I know you're trying to make me laugh, but I'm serious; if you knew about my past before a Bracer, you'd probably want nothing to do with me," Sara responded, forcing a smile.
"Alright, look, everyone has secrets; that goes double for me. Eventually, there's going to come a time where everyone learns something about someone else, and that's something that cannot be controlled. What can be controlled is when and how you choose to share those secrets with others," Cyrus stated.
Sara could only look at Cyrus and blink. She knew he was an intelligent person, but she never expected him to be the one giving her advice. There was only a six-year age gap between the two of them, but it was Sara who had an upbringing that left her with the knowledge to survive and thrive in the world they currently lived in. With the exception of the Red Constellation ambush near Liberl, Cyrus was just a Noble who had a cushy upbringing and never had to experience hardship, wasn't he?
"Hey, you want my job? You sound like you'd be better at it than me. Plus, if you did, that'd help me out heaps; it'd really free up my time for more drinking," Sara giggled.
"Hard pass. If anyone is going to want to become an Instructor for Thors, it'll most likely be Rean. Elliot will more than likely be a music teacher, and I suspect Laura will one day take over her father and become the teacher of the Arseid school, but that's about it," Cyrus responded, laughing at Sara's attempts to duck work.
"You've already figured that out, huh? Tell me, what do you think the others will do once you all graduate?" Sara teased.
"Alright, well, let's see… Jusis will more than likely go back to Bareahard and clean up his father's messes. If that man doesn't get himself thrown in prison for how he treats his subjects, then I will be surprised. Machias will definitely follow in his father's footsteps and end up working for the Imperial Government. He'll probably end up licking the shoes of the Chancellor, but maybe that's just my disdain for the guy talking… Fie is a hard one, simply because we don't really know much about each other. I know she likes to nap a lot, but I don't think 'Professional Napper' exists. Based on my limited interactions with her, she seems to possess great agility, and she's very switched on for her age. I doubt she has the level of energy needed to be an acrobat with Arc en Ciel in Crossbell, but she'd make a somewhat decent… No, never mind. I don't know, maybe a special operations soldier in the Army, or perhaps even a freelancer? Gaius will probably return to Nord to be with his people again, and Emma… Hmm, something tells me that girl will spend her days travelling, flitting about from one place to the next, helping people then continuing on her way… I don't know; ask me at the end of the year, any I might have a better idea," Cyrus said.
"What about Alisa? I thought you guys were getting along now?" Sara asked, cocking her head to the side.
"We are, and I know what she'll end up doing; I just don't think I should mention it because that'll give away her secret," Cyrus shrugged.
"What, about her being the daughter of Irina Reinford?" Sara asked.
"Ah, so you did know about that," Cyrus nodded.
"Well, yeah… I am your teacher after all," Sara giggled.
"Not really setting a good example though, are you?" Cyrus muttered, looking at the bottle of beer in Sara's hand whilst raising his own.
"Some people just don't seem to learn, do they?" Sara smirked.
"Indeed… Let's just hope someone doesn't walk into the dorm now and see us, because that's how rumours start," Cyrus grunted as he stood up.
"You don't strike me as the sort of person who'd be bothered by mere rumours," Sara laughed.
"I'm not, I'm more concerned about how it would affect you, given your slovenly attitude and appearance. I can easily explain away any rumours that might start, but you? I'm afraid you'd probably have to move to Crossbell, or Liberl so you could find work as a Bracer again," Cyrus shrugged.
"Aww, you're worried for me? That's so sweet," Sara teased.
"You want me to respond to that, do you? Given how you reacted last time, I thought you'd be hesitant to feel that sting of embarrassment again so soon," Cyrus muttered, turning to look back over his shoulder at Sara.
"Hmm, no… I think I'll just appreciate the fact you actually took the time to be my drinking buddy," Sara smiled as Cyrus left the building.
'Hmm… Looks like they were right. Sara would be a viable candidate going forward… I'll have to keep a close eye on her from now on…'
After the battle between Löwe and Cyrus, in which Campanella intervened and saved both parties, Campanella had taken his suggestion straight to the Grandmaster of Ouroboros, and after some consideration, the Grandmaster decided it would be a viable option to test the waters and see if Cyrus could indeed be recruited. After careful consideration, the Grandmaster had decided on who was going to approach Cyrus and attempt to recruit him.
"Arianrhod. I have a task for you," the Grandmaster spoke as the Seventh Anguis entered the room.
"What would you have me do, Grandmaster?" Arianrhod asked, her steel helmet hiding any expression she had on her face.
"I have mulled over Campanella's proposal of attempting to recruit Cyrus Le Guin into the Society. After giving it some thought, I have decided you are the best one for the job," the Grandmaster stated.
"Oh? And why me, when there are plenty of other Anguis and Enforcers to approach him?" Arianrhod queried.
"Simply put, you are the most level-headed of the lot. I could send the First Anguis, but I'm afraid he is tending to a mission in the East. I have decided that you are the perfect representative for the Society," the Grandmaster replied.
"I see… You could send Campanella, but he'd likely play games. McBurn and Löwe would probably kill him… Mariabell has a vendetta against him, and Elroy would probably lose his temper if he was told no… What about Vita? Surely the Azure Abyss would be ideal, given she's currently in the Empire," Arianrhod muttered.
"Normally, you'd be right, but I have her working on something that is crucial to our Orpheus Final Plan, and having her revealed as a member of the Society now could have repercussions in the future," the Grandmaster explained.
"Very well, Grandmaster. I will make contact with Cyrus Le Guin at the earliest convenience," Arianrhod stated, bowing her head to the Grandmaster.
"Take your girls along with you, Arianrhod. Use them to show Cyrus Le Guin that we are all allies, and those who join our ranks are welcomed with open arms," the Grandmaster suggested.
"As you say, Grandmaster," Arianrhod nodded before she turned and walked away.
"Oh, one more thing… Success or failure does not exist in this task. We are merely trying to see if he'd be worth recruiting. When you do meet with him, give him this," the Grandmaster commanded, flicking something at Arianrhod, who caught it between her index and middle fingers without even turning to look.
"Yes, Grandmaster," Arianrhod muttered as she left the Grandmaster's chambers.
Back in Heimdallr, Cyrus had returned from Trista after spending some time with Sara and was now on his way to conduct some business with old acquaintances in the Empire's Capital. It had been more than a year since he was last in contact with his old associates, as his business dealings with them had conflicted with his journey that he had been on with his teacher since leaving Ordis.
He had left the Company on good terms, and all business he had brokered with them had been successful, in Erebonia, Crossbell, and Calvard. He could see no real reason he would be turned down by them if he was approaching them in search of work. One thing he knew, however, was that upon his arrival, and if the Chairman accepted to do business with him again, he would be administered a test to see if his skills were still as good as they had been when he had worked with them.
Naturally, Cyrus wasn't bothered or even apprehensive about undertaking the test the Chairman would present to him, as he knew his skills were better now than they were when he had left the Company. He knew where to go, and what signs to look for as he approached a building with a small black marking on the side, unnoticeable to the average passer-by, but a clear indication of where to go if one knew what to look for.
Entering the building, Cyrus found himself in a small reception area with a desk, two women sat behind the desk and two elevators behind them. One receptionist looked up and spotted Cyrus, her eyes going wide the moment she saw him. With a silent nudge, she made the other receptionist look up, who immediately sprang out of her seat and disappeared behind a door with a 'Staff Only' sign on it.
"Ah! Good day to you, sir! Welcome to the Erebonian Branch of the Arclight Company. How might I be of assistance to you?" the receptionist asked as Cyrus approached the desk.
"I'm looking for work. Is the Chairman in?" Cyrus asked, returning the receptionist's smile with an empty stare.
"Oh, umm… One moment, please," the receptionist mumbled as she picked up a phone and pressed the button. "Ah, hello! I have someone here looking for work. Is the Chairman in today? I see… Very well, I'll pass that on, thank you."
"So?" Cyrus asked as the woman put the phone down.
"You're in luck, sir. The Chairman is indeed in his office at the moment. He does have a client meeting in fifteen minutes, but I've been told he is expecting you. Please, go on ahead," the receptionist smiled as she pressed a button and the elevator on the left opened up.
Without a word, Cyrus walked past the woman and into the elevator and watched as the doors slid closed. When he walked into the building, he immediately became weary. There was never normally two people in the reception area of the Company, and despite the woman's best attempts to hide it, Cyrus could see she was terrified of him the moment she laid eyes on him. What was going on?
The elevator silently climbed all the way to the tenth floor, the top of the building, where the Chairman's office was. The elevator doors opened with a ding and Cyrus stepped off the elevator and found himself walking on very expensive purple carpet, the material was so thick that it muffled the sound of Cyrus' footsteps as he approached the solid, polished oak doors, which swung open silently as he reached them.
Cyrus watched as the Chairman's office was revealed to him, and immediately, Cyrus became alert, as he noticed that the Chairman's seat behind the desk was empty.
As soon as he saw the Chairman's seat empty, two large men in suits appeared behind Cyrus and attacked him. The carpet was there to deliberately mask the sound of anyone's footsteps so no-one knew someone was stalking them until it was too late.
Cyrus, on the other hand, knew something was amiss when he didn't find the Chairman in his office, so he was primed and ready to fight, which allowed him to leap forward and out of the reach of one of the assailants.
Turning around, Cyrus watched as the man who had tried to grab him pulled out a machete, which was chipped and stained with dry blood from years of use. The other man pulled out a small rope with a weighted object and a serrated spearhead attached to it. Both these men were clearly skilled combatants, but that didn't worry Cyrus, as he knew he was better.
The man with the machete charged at Cyrus again, swinging wildly, screaming as he went. This made it easy for Cyrus to read his movements, and left the attack wide open to a counter. Dodging to the left, Cyrus focused half a dozen quick but powerful punches to the man's ribs. After the first punch made contact, Cyrus knew the attacker was wearing body armour, meaning hand-to-hand combat was going to be counterproductive. He needed a weapon.
As Cyrus was looking around for a weapon, he saw the man with the rope start to swing the object at the end of it above his head. When the object had sufficient enough speed, the man let it go with one hand, allowing the object with the serrated spearhead fly towards Cyrus at blinding speed.
Leaning back, Cyrus was able to dodge the projectile's attack and watch it fly directly into a vase that was on a pedestal next to the Chairman's desk. As he was reaching the apex of his lean, Cyrus had to turn the lean into a backwards cartwheel to dodge the strike from the man with the machete; any slower, and he would have been cleaved in two.
Reaching to his back, underneath his jacket, Cyrus pulled out two small objects and flung them at the man wielding the machete. He had managed to block the first object with the face of the giant blade, but the second object had hit its mark in the man's wrist, causing him to drop the massive knife.
With the assailant crying out in pain, Cyrus took the chance to capitalise and ran towards the man, and slid underneath his large legs, grabbing the machete as he went. As he passed through the man's legs, he slashed at his ankles, severing the Achilles tendons in both feet. The man dropped to his knees, his body in so much pain that he wasn't even able to cry out, a silent scream etched on his face as Cyrus stood up and swing the blade clean through the top of the man's skull, smashing it and slicing up part of his brain. The man was dead before he was even able to register what had happened, and dropped to the floor, a massive pool of blood pouring out from the top of his skull that had been cleaved off.
While all this was happening, the other man had been helplessly trying to pull the rope back towards him so he could have another shot at Cyrus. He was arrogant enough to believe he could catch Cyrus off guard and pierce his heart with the serrated dart at the end of the rope.
As the second man coiled the rope back into his hand and readied his arm to start swinging the dart again, Cyrus threw the machete and watched it spin through the air and bury itself into the man's right shoulder.
With a cry of agony, the man fell to his knees and watched as Cyrus took four large steps towards him and swung his left foot through the air, aiming a kick directly at the man's jaw. The attacker could only watch helplessly as he waited for the kick to make contact with his jaw.
The second man never even knew that he died from the kick. It wasn't the kick itself that was fatal, but the fact a fifteen centimetre blade was kicked through his jaw and into the brain. When Cyrus pulled his foot back, there was a long blade sticking out of the toe of his boot, covered in blood.
"Bravo, bravo! What an exciting display!" a voice called out, followed by clapping.
Turning to look back inside the Chairman's office, Cyrus turned to see a familiar face entering the room from behind a secret passageway, accompanied by a woman who Cyrus recognised as the other receptionist who had disappeared when Cyrus walked into the building.
"What's going on here, Chairman?" Cyrus asked as he watched the man walk over to his desk and sit down.
"Ah, well, you see, I heard you were coming here, so I took the opportunity to greet you with a little surprise. No, no, don't thank me, I just wanted to see if you were still razor sharp, and I'm happy to see you are. What's more impressive is that you still carry that footblade with you, and some throwing knives too. Old habits die hard, hmm?" the Chairman chuckled.
"So, you know why I am here… Something tells me that little 'surprise' wasn't the test you had in store for me, was it, Chairman?" Cyrus asked.
"My, my… You really are sharp, aren't you? No, no… Those men were traitors to the Company, and I had decided they were to be killed, what an honour it surely was for them to be executed by none other than Yang; the Heiyue Company's deadliest Assassin," Chairman Cao smiled, his glasses reflecting the light and obscuring his eyes.
"If that wasn't the test, then what is? Or are you simply here to turn me down?" Cyrus asked.
"Nothing of the sort, Yang. Why, I'm delighted you decided to return to us, even if it is just for a part-time basis!" Cao exclaimed.
"Very well then, Chairman. Who's the target for my re-entry test?" Cyrus asked as he approached the desk.
"This is why I like you, Yang. You don't mince words, you're direct and to the point. Ah, if only you hadn't left, perhaps you and Yin could have become closer than just allies. Imagine the possibilities your children could have had; their mother, the legendary Assassin Yin, and their father, the legendary shadow Yang! Heiyue's two greatest agents! Alas, such a thing will never come to fruition…" Cao sighed. "Anyway, here is your target for your test."
"Give me the mission constraints," Cyrus commanded as he opened the folder Cao had left out on his desk.
"Oh, no constraints; you have but one task; assassinate the Jäger known as 'Sylphid'."