A two days after returning from the Field Trip

(Trails of Cold Steel IV ost - In the Darkness of Ignorance)

"Nnngh… agh…" A soldier grunted, staring at the Flame Emperor before him before falling to the ground in a pool of his own blood.

"Well done, Flame Emperor." A voice said as Thales approached. "Or should I say, Edelgard? That pesky soldier had what was coming for him."

"How much innocent blood must be shed?"

"Until we have accomplished our goal. Rumor has it that Sothis is alive, but we haven't figured out where she is. You wouldn't happen to know where Sothis is, would you?"

"I would rather not say."

"Mmm, very well then. Once we find Sothis, we will be able to fully revive Nemesis and… Fodlan will be in an eternal war. Until then, we will resume with our experiments."

"You know very well that the experiments are barbaric."

"As long as it means what we get what we want… I do not care." Thales turned around. "After all, your friends in Erebonia would make nice experiments for the Crests."

Edelgard froze and cleched her fists. "You would want to kidnap some people in Erebonia for your twisted ideals?"

"Indeed. In fact, we have already brought in a few individuals from Zemuria."

Edelgard turned around. "The last thing we need is a war with Zemuria."

"With their orbal technology? Although two nations possess a powerful military, they will lose nevertheless. Their technology as well as their mightiest of generals don't scare me" Thales smirked. "Not even their Blood and Iron Chancellor of Erebonia. In any case, we have already begun our experiments on the Zemuria's locals."

"YOU WHAT?!"

"Indeed. Though actually, they were offered to us."

"Who and how!?" Edelgard clenched her teeth and glared.

"We're not sure ourselves. However, they possess some interesting technology. I believe he refers to himself as... the Chief of the Gnomes. And he offer an interesting proposal." Thales answered.

"What proposal?!"

"The proposal that I told you. Come, I will show you." He said and then teleported away, where Edelgard would soon join him where they would see Those Who Slither's henchmen using experiments with Zemuria's civilians.

Edelgard clenched her fists, scowling behind her mask. The scene she saw before her was enough to make her angry. "I thought you had stopped this nonsense."

"When there are other worlds besides Fodlan? Surely, there are people who are ripe for the taking." Thales chuckled. "And besides, they were offered to us by the Chief of the Gnomes. How can we refuse?"

"What else did he offer?"

"Aside from offering different citizens from each nation of Zemuria, let's just say a boon."

"Welp, this one's no good." Thales's goon said to the other one.

"He died?" The other one asked

"Yup."

"Throw 'em onto the pile then."

"A pity." Thales said calmly as he walked near the cells while Edelgard walked behind him.

"Thales." Myson approached him.

"What is it Myson?"

"The Chief of the Gnomes is here."

"Oh? Another unexpected visit?" Thales amused. "Bring him in."

"There's no need." A voice said and then appeared was a floating sphere. "Oh? Who's the one with the mask?"

"This is the Flame Emperor. One of our greatest creations. Now what brings you here Chief of the Gnomes?"

"I imagine that the test subjects of Zemuria was hopeless, it seems?" The Chief of the Gnomes asked.

"It is as you said, many of them did not survive." Thales answered.

"I'm not surprised. After all, they're considered weak. I have managed to gather some stronger ones this time."

"Stronger ones you say?"

"Indeed. Some of them belong to the Bracer Guild in the different parts of Zemuria. In addition. I also gather people from Remnant." The Chief of the Gnomes said.

"What?!" Edelgard look surprised behind that masked.

"Remnant you say? I had one of my men investigate Remnant and told me about the Dust, and Aura." Thales said.

"The dust are not important as they're nothing but energy. But aura on the other hand, might be interesting to test. After all, they claim this so-called aura can protect them. I like to see if that were true." The Chief of the Gnomes said.

"Interesting... We have an agreement then. Where shall we retrieve them?"

"You'll find them at the usual place as we discussed."

Thales smirked. "Excellent. I'll have my men retrieve them at once." He chuckled along with the Chief of the Gnomes, as Edelgard walked out, and then teleported away.

"It seems I've offended the Flame Emperor." The Chief of the Gnomes said

"Ignore that one."

"Ah yes. Thales. I also have someone who wish to meet you."

"Oh? And who might that be?" Thales asked.

And then a dark portal appeared as Thales turn and came out was an old man who let out a dark smirk.

At Garreg Mach…

"GAAAAAAAH!" Edelgard yelled in frustration, punching a wall while also out of her Flame Emperor attire.

"You know there's nothing we can do about it, Lady Edelgard… or should I say "Emperor" now?" Hubert said

"I thought we were done with this crap… I thought we were done with putting experimental crests inside of people. It only shortens their life!" Edelgard said, sitting on her bed in frustration. "Me… Lysithea… who knows what'll happen if someone from Zemuria or any other world gets it!"

"You and I both know that we've been manipulated into Those Who Slither's personal war. We had no choice."

"I'm well aware of that!" Edelgard said before sighing in frustration. "I don't even know what to do… we don't have much time left and I'm honestly not sure if I should allow this to continue. They have us on a leash… their so-called alliance… Not to mention this Chief of the Gnomes offer the innocents to them!"

"I don't know about this Chief of the Gnomes person is... but it's possible that he's and his "Gnomes" became their ally recently. This does not bold well." Hubert rub his chin. "He must have come from one of the nations in Zemuria. And according to Thales, he somehow know of their existence and technology. Although I'm not certain of their level."

"I know... but to make matters worst. This Chief has gather more test subjects from Zemuria and from Remnant!"

"Perhaps we should think about this calmly, Lady Edelgard."

"Calmly? How can anyone be calm about this! Those Who Slither are… oh, I don't even know what to do!"

"Perhaps we should… you know."

"That's the last thing I ever want to do, Hubert. We have made so many friends here, especially with those who live in Zemuria, and not to mention that I helped them out in the Beanbean Kingdom… I gain the Firebrand because of them as well, and I even got some pokemon, thanks to them too... so it's just… I don't even know what to do."

"It is a rather difficult situation. And I'm also grateful that I found an... interesting partner." Hubert nodded, referring to his pokemon. "It is rather fortunate that they didn't notice the Rotom Phones."

"If they discovered about pokemon, it would be even direr." Edelgard sighed with disbelief as her hand nearly clench too much. "What am I going to do... I just wish I have the answer..."

"I'm certain you will eventually... But time is running out. We will have to go to... "that"

"I rather not..." Edelgard place her hand on her forehead.

Ooh... poor Edelgard... she doesn't want that decision... But lucky, I have a plan for that. Spekaing off. Wondering about who's this old man appear out of the darkness portal?