Birthday/Streamer Anniversary month is finally over. Had an absolute blast despite the suffering (lots of pushups and nasty/painful foods). Still have to do a harmonica horror stream where I play Exorcist: Legion in VR with a harmonica strapped to my face, so every scream gets amplified. Waiting on the payout, which should come in a couple weeks, but I think we got around $800, which I'll be donating to my friend's GoFundMe as planned. Probably add a little extra of my own money too, just to help out. She's even promised to get a goose tattoo if we can hit her goal by Halloween. Not holding my breath, but if anyone out there has a rich relative that would like to help a worthy cause (permanently making her Team Goose), then feel free to send them my way!
Still waiting on insurance to work things out. Getting repairs done next week with my own insurance but need the other company to hurry up and accept fault so they can waive my deductible. Gotta check in with them again soon and start demanding to know what the hold-up is.
A truck loaded with crops from the south waited impatiently for their turn to enter the gates of Mistral. They'd made decent time, only to find a line of vehicles outside the capital city that stopped and started seemingly at random, turning the paved path into gridlock for the first time the delivery drivers could remember. Slowly, the truck inched closer and closer to the gates, eager to complete their delivery and allow the faunus crew a chance to catch a much needed rest before the long drive home tomorrow. Eventually, their turn finally came and they pulled up to the entrance, curious to see what the holdup could be.
"Pull off to the side," the guard ordered, waving them toward a small staging area surrounded by visibly armed men.
"What's this-"
"Off to the side. Now."
The driver hesitated, looking between the guard and the rather intimidating inspection area where another truck sat, its contents emptied from the back and their entire crew being questioned separately. The truck they'd followed in had been cleared without any additional search. It might've looked like random searches, but the fact the other one picked for search was entirely staffed by faunus didn't go unnoticed.
"You can't do this!" the driver protested loudly, making sure a group of nearby pedestrians heard the commotion. The guard flinched at the attention, giving the driver momentum. "It's because we're faunus, isn't it?" His lack of immediate answer only further condemned the guard's actions. "I knew it! This is discrimination! There's laws against this kind of blatant racism." Laws that carried a pretty hefty penalty for anyone breaking them. His two coworkers nodded along from the cab, all of them painfully aware of the protections afforded them. Given Mistral's track record, every single faunus they employed knew exactly what sort of protections were afforded them, just in case something happened.
In case something like this happened.
The guard looked around nervously for backup, but the only other guard nearby was busy with the other line of vehicles, waving most through after a couple of questions and a quick glance in the back. He couldn't leave his post to go look for help, either, since the line of annoyed vehicles would spot the opening and waste little time taking advantage of it. He'd either have to let them go or fight it out, and the driver had no intention of making things easy.
"Look, it's not my fault. My orders are-"
"Screw your orders, man! I've got a delivery to make, and if I don't get there on time, it comes out of my pay." Which he didn't have much of to spare. "Now, I'm heading into Mistral, one way or another. So why don't you make this easy on everyone and just let me through?"
Either let him through or have a fight in the open with everyone watching. The gate guard had been at this for hours, enduring all sorts of complaints and abuse his entire shift. The first few times, he'd apologized and pretended it wasn't getting to him, but he could only flag faunus vehicles for so long. This wasn't even the first one to notice. So far, he'd done his best to put up with complaints and kept things moving, sending the targeted vehicles for further inspections over the protests of the drivers. They'd found nothing so far, which only made it all worse.
Letting one through with a quick glance wouldn't hurt anyone. These guys didn't exactly look like terrorists. They'd been searching all day without even a hint of the White Fang. Did anyone really expect them to be dumb enough to attack the city? Not when the whole place was on high alert like this. They'd even brought in several Huntsmen to patrol the streets and keep an eye out for trouble. And of course, there was always-
"Is there a problem here?" The guard snapped to attention at Winter Schnee's sudden appearance.
The driver seemed far less afraid of the Specialist. "Should've known one of you would be involved."
Winter ignored the snide comment, choosing to focus on the guard instead. "I asked you a question."
"N-no problem, ma'am." None he'd admit to. "I was just about to send this vehicle for inspection."
"And I was just about to tell him where to shove it."
As she'd thought. Judging by the panic on the guard's face, he'd been considering breaking her orders and letting them through. Good thing she'd been watching. "Proceed to the inspection area. Once you've been cleared, you'll be free to go about your business."
"And if I refuse?"
Winter wasted no time summoning two of her security detail from nearby. Rifles immediately aimed at the driver as she ordered, "Out of the vehicle."
"What's the meaning of-"
"Exit the vehicle!"
"On the ground!"
Her men knew the drill, barking orders forcefully enough to shock the man into compliance. He fumbled with the seatbelt and made it halfway out the door before one of her men grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to the ground, pinning him while the other ordered the passengers out. "Detain them," Winter instructed, ignoring their protests as much as the flash of scrolls nearby. She had more important matters to deal with, such as making sure the guard had something to do rather than stand there gawking at the display. "Take their vehicle to inspection. After that, report to my lieutenant for instructions."
His instructions would be the same as for every man she'd sent his way today - a reminder of why they were on guard and then being relieved to file reports. Every man had their breaking point, and what she was asking of them was no easy task. A new guard would be sent to take his place shortly and the cycle would begin again.
"Atlas scum!" Apparently the driver hadn't learned his lesson yet. "You can't just march in here and treat people like this, just because we're faunus!"
"Actually, I can." Winter turned slowly to the man as he was lifted to his feet, hands cuffed behind his back. "Executive Order 3780 grants me the authority to question, detain, or arrest anyone suspected of participating in or aiding terrorist activity in or around the city of Mistral. Furthermore, any assets or property of those suspected of the aforementioned crimes may be searched and/or seized at my discretion." His silence was telling. And welcome. "Your vehicle and its contents will be searched and returned to you in a timely manner. Until then, I would advise you to cooperate with local authorities and answer any questions they may have."
And they would have plenty of questions, beyond the usual list of any faunus entering the city for the next few days. This wasn't the first person she'd sent their way in cuffs, and she doubted it would be the last. Tensions were high, and they were only going to rise the longer she had to impose such draconian measures. The media had already caught wind of the potential scandal and were practically drooling over the story. A quietly signed order giving a foreign official broad enforcement powers targeted at faunus? Even the tabloids weren't sure how to respond at first. Now, they were busy ripping her apart in every news cycle, no thanks to the Council that had chosen to blame her for the heavy handed approach.
They'd been the one to sign the order, though they'd made sure to cover their tracks as well as they could. Nowhere in the order would you find any reference to faunus or even the White Fang for that matter. Words like terrorist, threat, and organization were used to paint in broad strokes, even if everyone knew exactly who the order was aimed at. That way they could claim innocence and shift the blame to her for taking it too far.
In the meantime, she'd continue carrying out her duties, uncaring for what the media or their ignorant audiences thought. She'd keep them safe, whether they appreciated it or not. The Head Councilor had painted a target on the city with his announcement - a target that would be on her back soon enough when their fake prison transport took off for Atlas. Better her and her men than a city full of civilians. If her measures managed to catch Taurus and his counterparts, they'd realize she was right. The Council would naturally take the credit, proclaiming their brilliance in cooperating with Atlas to take down the White Fang and safeguard their citizens. If all went well, they'd come out looking like geniuses.
If it didn't go well, they'd blame her for everything.
Politics never changed. She'd just have to make sure things worked out. Ideally, she'd catch Taurus trying to infiltrate the city and prove her suspicions right. She felt confident she could take him down if he appeared, but just to be safe, she had snipers up on the wall, reinforcements waiting nearby, and even a handful of Huntsmen spread out in nearby quadrants who would move in to support when called. There'd be no mistakes this time.
"Maybe the White Fang's got a point."
The muttered complaint from the driver couldn't stand. "Take him to the holding cells," she immediately ordered. "Maybe a night in custody will help clear his head."
By the time the driver understood what was happening, he was already being dragged away. White Fang sympathizers would not be tolerated. Not right now. Mistral couldn't afford to deal with those that might aid the White Fang's infiltration, and while she knew the backlash for that would be swift, it would also send a message. Already his passengers were on edge, eager to cooperate and avoid a similar fate. Their compliance would be rewarded with a quick release once they were cleared of any wrongdoing.
If Taurus tried to sneak in and make an attempt on the prisoners before their alleged journey to Atlas, she'd make sure he paid dearly for it. Every vehicle that was even suspected of being a transport for the White Fang would undergo intense search, starting with unloading everything and inspecting every package and crate big enough to house a person. Sniffer dogs would do a once over of the entire vehicle, searching for any signs of life. Inspectors would check every nook and cranny of the vehicle, including the undercarriage. Finally, the whole thing would be run through an x-ray before being released. So far, they'd caught a surprising amount of illicit drugs, not to mention a few cases of human trafficking. Everyone involved had been arrested and turned over to local authorities, and while it felt good to save a bunch of girls and even a dozen children from being trafficked - the latter made her sick to her stomach - they still hadn't found a single trace of the White Fang.
Yet.
Checking vehicles was only part of her strategy. The slow trickle of foot traffic presented a vulnerability. Under her orders, every single person entering the city would be required to show their face. Cameras connected to the latest in Atlas AI monitored all gates, as well as the airship docks, for any recognizable faces from the White Fang. Taurus would be easy to spot, given his scar, but he wasn't the only one they had to watch out for. Just the main one.
As the next vehicle approached, Winter resigned herself to the thankless task of initial inspections while she waited for a new guard to relieve her. A family of four returning from a camping trip. Nothing too unusual despite the dangers of venturing outside the walls. The father was a registered Huntsman, so she assumed he could take care of himself and his family. Children in the backseat. Trunk full of poorly wrapped sleeping bags, a bundled up tent, some basic supplies, and about half a tree's worth of wood chippings and leaves. Nothing suspicious and nowhere for Taurus to hide. They were on their way in no time.
Maybe she was overthinking things. Sure, Taurus would be desperate to get his team back, but would he really risk infiltrating Mistral with so much at stake. He seemed a rather emotional man, prone to taking risks when he felt pressured yet always defying the odds. Fortune favored the bold, it seemed. More than that, he'd shown steadfast loyalty to his men, a trait that had likely helped him rise in the ranks so quickly. He'd nearly sacrificed himself back in Mantle to let them escape, choosing to face her himself rather than retreat. With four of his team captured, he'd stop at nothing to get them back.
But charging a fortified Mistral was foolish, even for him. The more tactical approach would be to ambush the transport. Perhaps he realized that and had decided not to bother with Mistral after all. Better to fight her alone than with the support of Mistral.
Not that it mattered. Either way, he'd be wasting his time. Councilwoman Brooks hadn't gotten her a location yet, but what she had been able to find was that the prisoners had already been moved to a secure location, meaning even if Taurus somehow succeeded in penetrating their defenses, he wouldn't find his team. Just like how he'd be sorely disappointed when he found out the transports held nothing but Knights and her security team. She had a feeling they'd try to force them to land somewhere up north shortly before leaving Anima. She'd already picked two teams of Huntsmen to be on the ground for an ambush, though they'd mostly be there to ensure Taurus couldn't flee when he realized he'd been tricked, not to mention Mantas ready to rush to the scene the moment she sent out a distress call.
Just two more days and she'd have him. There'd be no escaping this time. He'd be walking right into her trap at last. All she had to do was dangle a little hope and lure him to his doom. She'd do her best to take him alive, of course, but she'd learned never to underestimate the slippery faunus. If push came to shove, she'd rather bring back a corpse than risk him somehow getting away.
In the meantime, she'd make sure Mistral remained an impregnable fortress, just to be safe. Trap or deterrent - both meant the civilians would be out of harm's way. If Taurus had any intelligence at all, he'd see the futility in trying anything and steer clear of the city while she was still here. Running off and getting himself captured or killed would hardly save his friends. He'd have to wait for the transport. That, or he'd try something on Atlas when he had more time to plan. With only a few days to overcome her security measures, there was no way he could hope to succeed. He had to know that, meaning the more intensive she made her search, the less likely there'd be anything to find. Taurus would bide his time, unknowingly walking into a far greater trap in the process.
Only an idiot would risk attacking now.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Adam felt like an idiot.
Bad enough he was sneaking into Mistral with the entire city on high alert, but his method of infiltration left much to be desired. That's what he got for letting someone else make the plan. Sienna assured him it would work and even had plans in place to cover for him. She'd sent a few shipments ahead from their shell companies to test the defenses. The first two had called back to say they were flagged for inspection. The third lost their driver after he complained, though it sounded like he'd just spend the night in a cell and be out in the morning. Their contacts in the city had even gotten video showing pretty much every faunus-driven vehicle being chosen for extra security. Hiding in the back of one of their trucks would've gotten him caught.
On foot wasn't an option either. Facial scans at every entrance and the airship docks meant he wouldn't get very far. Even Blake and Ilia would be in danger there. Atlas absolutely knew about the daughter of the former leaders of the White Fang, and if they'd sent a spy into the White Fang ranks, then they knew all about Ilia, too. He'd bet his last lien Atlas had pictures and a file for every member of Team Alpha.
That didn't leave a lot of options on the table, which was how Adam found himself in his current situation.
"This is humiliating."
"It's not that bad," Blake argued, crammed in between him and Ilia.
"Yeah? Well maybe next time we can hide in a shipment of cat food." Blake's ears flattened as she shot him a glare, but right now, he didn't care. Not when he was freezing his butt off crouched behind boxes of steaks. When he got back to Reyno, he'd be tracking down the one responsible for this.
The three of them felt the truck lurch forward yet again. "How long is this going to take?" Ilia shivered as she pulled her coat tighter, as fed up with the situation as he was. "And why'd we have to come along? Couldn't you meet this spider lady on your own?"
If only. "Part of her demands." Which still felt rather odd. Him coming in person was fine, but why'd she want the girls to tag along? In fact, he had a lot of questions about their host and her methods. A face to face felt unnecessary, but to hold it in some nightclub in Mistral? Did she want them to get caught? And why was she willing to work with the White Fang in the first place?
Sienna had given him a crash course on who he'd be dealing with. By all accounts, Lil' Miss was pretty much the most powerful woman in Anima, rivaling even Haven's Headmaster in influence and control. Mistral's dark underbelly was run by all sorts of crime families, but she sat at the top of it all. She had a reputation for cunning and ruthlessness that kept people in line. Those that stood against her rarely did so for long.
Basically, Lil' Miss wasn't someone they wanted to anger. Sienna had made that exceptionally clear to him, as if she expected him to start a war or something. He had no intention of getting on her bad side, especially if she had what they needed.
First, though, they had to actually get to her.
"Coming up on the inspection point shortly," his earpiece rattled off, connecting him with one of the men up front. Sienna had been particular about their drivers, picking a couple of trusted men from Reyno who had no visible faunus traits. They looked as human as anyone else, which should help them slip through Mistral's dragnet. "Looks like our diversion worked. The Schnee's busy with the other lane right now. We might just make it through."
Might? That didn't fill him with confidence. If Mistral found out he was here, the whole city would crash down on him in the blink of an eye. Heck, Winter Schnee was apparently a stone's throw from their vehicle and would almost certainly lead the charge against him. He didn't fancy a rematch right now, especially when she had all the advantages and support.
The truck started and stopped two more times before Adam heard muffled voices outside the vehicle. Something tapped against the truck's thick wall a few times, moving toward the back rhythmically until it stopped somewhere near the rear doors. After a few seconds, the latch unhooked loudly, the truck letting out a displeased hiss as the cold air of their confine met the warmer night air outside. It perfectly hid the sound of him readying his sword as the three of them anxiously waited in their hiding spot.
"Pretty big load," an unfamiliar voice declared.
"People gotta eat," their driver answered, hidden from view by their strange barricade of boxes. "Can we hurry this up? I don't want these things warming up."
"Relax. It'll only take a minute." The floor vibrated slightly as someone climbed aboard. "Just gotta take a quick look and you'll be on your way."
Adam wasn't the only one to brace themselves as they heard the guard moving around. If he found them, they'd have no choice but to cut him down before he raised the alarm, though even that would only buy them a few seconds at most. Someone would obviously notice the missing guard and come investigate. Their whole operation was about to be blown open by someone who wasn't paid nearly enough for what was about to happen.
Their wall of boxes shifted slightly as one of the ones on top vanished from sight. Adam waited, ready to topple the remaining packages onto their inspector at the first sign of trouble.
"Looks good to me," the guard reported a few seconds later, replacing the missing brisk in their wall before walking away. "Nice cuts, too. Almost wish I had reason to confiscate them."
"Only if we can split them," the driver joked. The pair laughed as the door closed and once again sealed them in. Unfortunately, it also shut out the tiny bit of heat from outside and soon the room was plunged into iciness once more.
"That was close," Blake said, finally slumping back now that the threat had gone.
Ilia did the same, shoving her hands back in her pockets to hide them from the cold. "Looks like the plan worked." Barely. Still, barring any further problems, their path should be clear. The hard part was over.
They all breathed a sigh of relief when the truck began moving again, putting distance between them and the gate. A few twists and turns later, they finally came to a stop. Adam was already on his feet by the time the doors swung open. "Coast is clear."
"Good work," Adam replied, extricating himself from their narrow hiding spot at last. As part of their plan, the truck had stopped in the warehouse district and would continue on to complete their delivery once Adam had gotten away. Some fancy restaurant would discover they'd accidentally ordered extra this week. They'd probably fight it at first, but a quick check of their system would show the duplicated order. Their account had already been charged, meaning someone would be in trouble when corporate found out, but they'd take the delivery and move on with life, unaware they'd been used as cover.
The truck had parked in front of one of the warehouses, much as a few others were further down. No one paid them any attention, though. Everyone here was on the clock and in a hurry to get their own goods offloaded so they could call it a day. Adam nodded to Blake and Ilia as each of them pulled the hoods of their coats a little tighter and waited for their opening. As soon as the nearest crew disappeared from view, the three of them shot from the truck into a darkened alley and away into the city.
Three shady figures in hoods darting through back alleys should've been cause for concern, but this was Mistral. Down in the lower levels, everyone knew to mind their own business. Few even bothered to look their way as they hurried through the maze of alleys, snaking further and further up toward the cliffs that separated the upper class from the filth down below. The further they went, the brighter things got, until they'd nearly reached the elevators leading up to the rest of the city.
There, just on the cusp of the upper levels, sat the Luck of the Mountains, a brightly lit nightclub that seemed to lure in passersby with the promise of music and drinks. A well-dressed man strutted in with a woman half his age draped on his arm, the two of them stepping aside for a man that stumbled out, chased by their looks of disgust at his obvious intoxication. A group of teens that almost had to be from Haven came strutting along a moment later, all of them in high spirits as they headed into the establishment. A friendly man in a purple suit smiled as he held the door open for them, letting the noise inside slip out into the night to entice more its way.
Adam had never been somewhere like this before. Even now, as he heard the faint hum of music waft through the air, he felt the urge to head inside and see the luxury and glamor a place like this offered. Part of him wondered what it would be like to fit in at a place so fancy. Rubbing shoulders with people who could afford to bask in such finery and waste an entire evening without a care in the world. It sounded otherworldly compared to the life he'd led where tomorrow was never guaranteed.
He shook off any thoughts of that better life a moment later, fully aware of the problem they faced. "How do we get in?" He hadn't meant to say it out loud, but the two girls were probably wondering the same thing. Lil' Miss hadn't exactly given them a way through the very public entrance without being noticed. He doubted anyone would miss the trio of armed faunus showing up, especially given how infamous he was. Even if she had a private room for their meeting, they still had to get there.
Eventually, Ilia was the one to offer an idea. "I could go."
"By yourself?" Ilia was no slouch, but of the three of them, she was easily their weakest fighter. If something happened, she'd have the hardest time fighting her way out. "It's too dangerous."
"More dangerous than you walking in the front door?" She had a point there, but just because his idea was awful didn't make hers any good. "I'm the least recognizable of the three of us. I'll just walk up to the guy at the door and ask for Lil' Miss to let her know we're here. She's gotta have a way for us to get inside, right? Like a back door or something. If she knows we're here, she'll tell us how to get in."
Because as dangerous as it was for them, even a crime boss wouldn't want people seeing her entertaining Adam Taurus. If word got out, no one would dare visit her nightclub for fear of crossing paths with him. The Council would almost certainly have to act at that point, unable to turn a blind eye to her inviting terrorists into the city under their noses.
Ilia was right. Lil' Miss had to have some sort of plan. They just needed to get in contact and wait for instructions. After that, they could worry about getting the information they came for and sneak back out of the city before anyone was the wiser.
"Fine." He didn't love the idea, but it was the best they had. "Just go in and make sure Lil' Miss knows we're here."
"She already knows."
All three of them jumped at the voice behind them, spinning around to face the unexpected threat and ready for a fight. The woman before them was unarmed, holding her hands out to emphasize the fact. She wasn't exactly dressed for the cold nights of Mistral, sporting barely any clothing at all but looking perfectly comfortable in the rather revealing ensemble.
Adam could've sworn no one was there a moment ago. He'd been overly cautious the closer they got, and while not all of the alleys were empty, he was pretty sure he would've spotted someone like her. It was almost like she'd appeared out of thin air.
"Lil' Miss sent me to welcome you," the woman said, pointing to a tattoo of a spider and web. Sienna had mentioned that most of their organization sported matching tattoos, including Lil' Miss herself. "She's waiting inside."
"And how exactly are we supposed to get inside?"
"Follow me," she replied, leading them out onto the open sidewalk. Adam hesitated for a moment, but with their hoods up and being escorted by someone who would draw a lot more eyes than they would, he decided to risk it.
He'd expected her to veer off before they reached the main entrance, but the mystery woman instead marched straight for the front door, nodding her gratitude to the doorman. His eyes widened for a moment when he spotted Adam's face, but he quickly schooled himself back into politeness without a word.
The inside proved even more opulent than he'd imagined. The chandelier in the lobby probably cost more than all of Reyno combined. A few people milled around, mostly using the nearby bathrooms, but the vast majority could be seen beyond the open doorways that led into the main room. Even from here, he could tell the place was packed. The music he heard earlier came from a single woman on stage whose voice and smile seemed to warm the entire room.
"So where are we meeting?" Adam asked, eager to get out of the open as soon as possible. He looked around, spotting a door marked PRIVATE and nodded, assuming that would lead to their rendezvous.
He was wrong. "Lil' Miss has a table inside."
Inside? As in, inside the main room filled with people? Normal people who probably wouldn't love the idea of being in the same room with the most wanted man in Anima?
Ilia was the first to speak up. "You're kidding, right?"
Apparently not. "Lil' Miss assures you you'll be fine."
"And we're supposed to just trust her?" Powerful or not, all it took was one random person raising the alarm to ruin everything. "She'll get us killed."
"If Lil' Miss wanted you dead, you'd already be dead." Such confidence in her boss. Then again, she worked for the woman in charge of the most powerful gang in Mistral - a place known for its cutthroat criminal families. You didn't claim the top spot by accident. "She doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Now or never, then. Either they trusted her, defying every instinct in his body that said this was suicide, or they left and hoped she wasn't spiteful enough to rat them out before the reached the wall. He'd probably burn their bridge in the process, ensuring she never wasted her time helping them again. She might even work against them, helping their enemies track their bases down. She'd been the one to find Euryale for them, after all, so locating Reyno and Nonemu would be a walk in the park for her.
More importantly, if he walked, they'd never get the itel on his missing team. He needed to know where to find them if he had any chance of saving them. Taking down the escort would be risky, but better that than striking out blindly. If he knew where they were, maybe they could hit it before the transfer and catch Mistral off guard, especially if she could give them as much intel as she did with Euryale. She might also know the exact route of the transfer, which would help them set up the ambush. Either way, Lil' Miss had what he needed, which meant he had to talk with her.
"Lead the way," Adam said, even if he could feel every hair on his body standing on end as they entered the main room. They turned sharply almost immediately, passing by several tables as they headed for a VIP area - a slightly raised platform with a bit more space and a commanding view of the room. It also gave the room a clear view of the table where a single woman in purple sat, watching their approach with interest.
Lil' Miss didn't exactly live up to her name. She looked a bit shorter than him, but this wasn't some tiny, frail woman who would be knocked over by a stiff breeze. More than that, her very presence seemed to dominate the space, making the men around her seem insignificant in comparison.
"Glad you could make it," she said the moment the three of them reached the other side of the table where a trio of chairs awaited them. Her voice was thick and sweet, somehow equally welcoming and menacing. "Take a seat."
"Thank you." Adam glanced around nervously, but so far, no one seemed as panicked as he felt.
"Such manners," Lil' Miss hummed as she took a drag of her cigarette through a golden holder before tapping the burnt end into a nearby ashtray. "But the three of you must be roasting in those coats."
He was, but he had a feeling the heat would be a lot higher if he took it off. "We're fine."
"I insist." Her voice took a sharper tone as she narrowed her eyes, making it clear she wasn't making a suggestion. "Place like this has a dress code, and I like to look a man in the face before I make a deal."
More demands. He was already getting sick of letting her call the shots. "You sure your guests won't mind?"
Lil' Miss gave him a satisfied smile as she sat back and looked around the room. "They'll be fine."
He didn't share her confidence, but they'd come this far. Leaving now would be just as dangerous. Maybe more so. Carefully, he slid the coat off and let it drape across the back of his seat, waiting for the room to erupt into chaos at any moment.
No one moved. The most wanted man in the Kingdom had just appeared in the room with them, and no one cared. He saw a few people glance their way, but they were just uninterested glances, drawn for the briefest moment by his movement before returning to the woman on stage. She was good, but surely someone would find him more interesting than a song.
"Much better," Lil' Miss said as Blake and Ilia followed suit. The three of them sat exposed, but no one seemed bothered by their newest arrival. "Now, I don't like doing business on an empty stomach."
As if on cue, four waiters appeared in a flash, each with a small tray in hand. Identical bowls were placed before each of them filled with cottage cheese of all things. A few bright berries sat atop the snack, adding some much needed color. The waiters then deposited a drink for each of them, though that's where the similarities ended.
Lil' Miss had a simple flute of champagne, while each of their drinks were more colorful and varied. Ilia's looked like a rainbow in a glass with layers of bright colors all the way to the bottom. Blake's on the other hand, consisted of a single shade of purple throughout while his own shone red with strange tendrils of black swirling within. He had no idea what any of them were. Lil' Miss clearly enjoyed the theatrics of the color schemes as she took dainty bites of her cottage cheese, watching them the entire time. Ilia carefully inspected her drink before taking a sip. Her eyes lit up a second later as she sucked down half the glass. Blake, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the cottage cheese, taking careful bites and leaving Adam the odd man out.
He'd never really cared for cottage cheese. He'd tried it a few times, and while it wasn't awful, it wasn't exactly something he'd go out of his way for. Instead, he decided to opt for the drink. A quick sniff revealed little other than a distinct scent of alcohol. He tilted the glass back, foregoing the straw entirely. It burned all the way down his throat with a fiery bitterness he hadn't expected but found oddly welcome. He dreaded to imagine how high a proof had been mixed in, though he could taste some sort of strange spice he couldn't identify. He had to take a sharp breath afterward, much to their host's amusement.
"I take it you approve?" Maybe a little more than he should. Part of him wanted to down the rest and maybe a few more, but getting absolutely plastered wouldn't be a good idea. No point getting the intel if he was too drunk to remember it afterward. Ilia, on the other hand, held no such reservations as she polished off the last of her drink and was delighted when another appeared a moment later. Reading his mind, Lil' Miss promised, "Don't worry. Theirs are virgins. We wouldn't risk running afoul of liquor laws."
The men around her laughed at her little joke. Adam was just grateful he wouldn't have to carry Ilia out later.
"Now then, I assume Sienna already filled you in?"
Adam nodded. "She said you know where my missing team is being held."
"That and more," Lil' Miss promised, sipping her champagne before continuing. "But this ain't a charity, and information don't come cheap."
Payment? "I thought me coming here in person was the price."
"This? This was payment for the last favor," Lil' Miss explained. "Well, part of it. Atlas plans aren't exactly easy to get a hold of."
A reminder of her capabilities, and a promise of more if he cooperated. The Euryale intel had been beyond anything they'd imagined and had helped them plan for everything in detail. They'd need the same thoroughness here, meaning he had to agree to whatever she wanted.
Sienna had warned him about her, so he came prepared. Adam tossed a bag of lien across the table. It spilled open on impact, letting some of the payment slip out into view. Lil' Miss smiled, "A good start, but I had something else in mind." Something else? He didn't like the sound of that. "This is the second time the White Fang has come calling. If we're going to continue doing business together, then I need something a little more valuable than lien."
He dreaded to imagine what she had in mind. "Such as?"
His concern must have shown. "Just a favor. It won't even be out of your way." Adam didn't really have any reason to refuse yet and waited for more. "There's someone else being held at the same facility that I'd like you to pay a visit while you're there."
"You want us to get them out, too?" He didn't love the idea of rescuing more than his team, but if he was already there, then what could it hurt? Especially if it helped him get his team back.
Lil' Miss shook her head. "I want you to kill him."
She said it so casually, like ordering a hit meant nothing to her. Then again, given who she was, maybe it did. "You want me to what?" Adam lowered his voice, realizing how loud he was being. Murder was hardly something they wanted to be overheard discussing. "Who?"
"Uh uh. Not until I know you'll do it." She was cautious, keeping information to herself until it suited her. "If it helps, he's a criminal. Human, too. You'd probably want him dead too if you knew him."
Said the woman who ran the most powerful criminal organization in Mistral. Regardless of the target, doing hits for the mob didn't really appeal to him. "And if I refuse?"
"Then your little team gets to rot away in a cell for the rest of their lives."
She had him, and she knew it. He needed her intel, and all she wanted in return was for him to kill off some criminal. Probably a rival or something that had gotten himself caught. Or maybe one of her own men that needed to be silenced. Did it really matter? If killing whoever they were meant he got his team back, then wasn't it worth it? He'd killed a bandit for Blake. Why not a criminal for his team?
As long as he could guarantee her intel was good. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"You can't." Her blunt answer stunned him. "Just like I can't trust you. But what we can trust is that we'll both do what's best for us. What's best for our families." Her crime family and his actual family - his team. "Double crossing you would gain me nothing."
"There's a pretty steep bounty on my head," Adam pointed out. She could make a lot of money turning him in.
Lil' Miss fixed him with the flattest stare imaginable. "Do I look like I'm hurting for lien?" Sitting in her own nightclub with an entire criminal enterprise at her beck and call? No. She was probably the type who wouldn't even bother picking up money she dropped. The effort wouldn't be worth it. "Information's valuable, but do you know the one thing you can't put a price on?"
He could take a guess. "Reputation."
"You're smarter than you look." Was that a compliment, an insult, or both? "If word got out that I was peddling fake info, no one would ever trust me again. Reputation is everything in this line of work."
He could understand that. After all, he had a reputation of his own. Just the sight of him was enough to end most fights before they began. How many lives had been saved by his reputation. And not just his men, but his enemies, too. They'd surrendered rather than fight to the death, knowing their only chance of surviving was to avoid fighting at all.
"But I understand. I wouldn't buy something unless I knew it was worth the price, so I'll give you a freebie. How's that?" Lil' Miss nodded to the woman who had shown them in. She stepped forward with a folder. "Thank you, Cammie. You know your team was captured. What you don't know is how many survived."
"They're alive?" He knew some of them were, but how many and exactly who? "Tell me."
"Glad to see I have your attention." Lil' Miss tossed the folder across to him. "Four of them. Marcus, Indie, Nag, and…Azul? No, Azure. I always get those two mixed up."
Adam nearly tore the folder in half as he ripped it open, Blake and Ilia huddling close to see. Inside were pictures of his missing team in custody. Sure enough, all four of them were there. Some of the pictures were mugshots, but she even had images of them being escorted off an airship together. Enough proof to give him hope of getting all of Alpha Squad back in one piece.
"How did you get these?"
"The same way I get everything else," Lil' Miss bragged. "You can't keep spiders out forever."
If she knew they were alive, then she had to know where they were being kept. She called this a freebie, but all it did was emphasize just how valuable making a deal would be. She had everything he needed, and all she wanted was for him to take out some criminal while he was there.
"I'll do it."
Lil' Miss smiled at his agreement. "I knew you would. But there's just one problem."
"Problem?" He said he'd do it. If she had the information, then he'd get his team out. All four of them.
"You've got a little infestation that needs taken care of." When her message didn't click, she added, "A spy. I believe you know her as Orion." He definitely understood that. "I'm not in the business of sharing with third parties."
"We're handling it," Adam promised.
"You mean by taking out that little relay point?" She really did know everything, didn't she? "That'll slow them down, but exactly how long do you think it'll take them to notice?" Hopefully a while, though the way she said it made him doubt that. "You've got less than a week until the scheduled check-in, and if you don't get the coded response right, they'll know something's up."
"And you know the response?" Adam guessed.
"I do, but that's not for sale." Adam snarled at her refusal but did his best to bite down on the annoyance. "I want the spy dealt with, or the deal's off."
"That only gives us two days." Two days to find the spy, deal with them, then make a plan and rescue his team.
"Then I suggest you hurry."
She wanted the impossible. "I can't."
"Not even if I tell you who your little spy is?"
She knew? Who was he kidding, of course she knew. Why else would she make such a big deal about dealing with the spy first? The only way they could hope to meet her deadline would be with more information - information that she just happened to have ready for them. Which meant he'd need to make another deal. Suddenly, the term spider felt overly appropriate as he found himself getting caught in her web. "What will it cost us?"
"More than you know. But the information? Call it an investment." Cammie disappeared for a moment, returning shortly with another folder. They both knew what was inside. "If I'm gonna have you running a job for me, I need to know you can do it."
They'd fought Atlas on their own turf, taken down Euryale, and looted Paulownia. Taking out a single person in their own base was nothing in comparison. "We can handle it." Adam reached for the folder.
"I think you misunderstand me. I'm not worried about them. I'm worried about you."
Him? Adam had never given anyone reason to doubt his resolve. If anyone could be counted on, it was him. "I'll take care of it personally. You can count on it."
Lil' Miss still held onto the file. "I like your confidence, but they're just empty words if you can't back them up with actions."
His patient was wearing thin. "What makes you think I won't?"
"Because I don't make it a habit of doing business without knowing who it is I'm doing business with." Then she should know he was tired of her games. "I need to know just how far you're willing to go. What lines you're willing to cross. More importantly, I need to know which ones you won't."
She wanted to know how far he'd go to get his team back? Fine. He'd show her.
Adam was on his feet in a flash, his chair toppling back as he grabbed the hilt of his sword and made to leap across the table. Her men saw the danger and tried to intervene, but none of them could get there in time. Maybe once she felt his blade against her throat, she'd realize her mistake. If not, then perhaps her little organization needed new leadership.
Blake screamed his name. Silverware clattered. The music grew louder. Adam's sword began to hiss as he tore it free.
Adam woke up face down on the table, his hand still on the hilt of his sword but now with several guns aimed directly at him. His body felt like lead as he struggled to move. Lil' Miss took a lazy bite of her cottage cheese, not having moved an inch despite his attempt on her life. She nodded to the side, where Blake and Ilia were standing, knives pressed to their throats in a clear threat.
"Cute, but better men than you have tried." Two of her men came around and dragged him off the table and back into his seat. He tried to fight them, but his arms felt dead. "Now, if you're done, I'd like to get back to business."
Almost immediately, his body snapped back to normal. He would've fallen out of his chair at the sudden shift if not for her men holding him down. They let go once he regained his composure and returned to their boss' side. "H-how did-"
Lil' Miss nodded to the stage. "She really is an amazing singer, don't you think? She used to work here, but sometimes, you have to let them leave the nest."
The singer? "What does that have to do with anything?"
Lil' Miss ignored him. "I asked her to come back and visit her old stomping grounds for a few days. Sort of a homecoming tour. Had a feeling she might come in handy."
It took him a bit to piece it together, but now that he thought about it, the answer seemed obvious. "A Semblance?" Adam looked around, finally noticing the dazed, pleased faces on practically everyone in the room. It was like a trance. They still drank and occasionally chatted, but for the most part, every person in the room was focused on her and her alone.
Well, every person not wearing a purple uniform. The Spiders wove through the group, as likely to bring you a refill as they were to pick your pocket. Drinks flowed freely, the waiters helping themselves to payment with generous tips straight from wallets and purses. No one batted an eye or seemed overly concerned at the casual looting.
'I think he gets the picture," Lil' Miss said, waving her hand. Ilia and Blake were released and returned to their seats, rubbing their throats as they did. "Now I like a little fire, but be careful you don't burn yourself in the process. As for this…" Lil' Miss held up the folder, staring him in the eye before holding it out for him. "You want to know where your team is? Then I expect you to deal with her first." Adam took the folder slowly, unsure what all the fuss was about.
Until he opened it.
"I trust you recognize her?" Of course he did. How could he not? It wasn't as obvious in the more recent photos, what with her White Fang mask and change in hair, but the older pictures were more than familiar.
Especially the one of him and Sona together.
"Are you sure?"
"Who is she?" Blake asked, pulling out the picture of a much younger Adam alongside the leader of Team SPVC. He'd lost the picture so long ago, and yet here it was, back to haunt him. How on Remnant had Lil' Miss found it?
"That's Orion," Lil' Miss answered. "Or Sona Puppis, if you want her real name, though I doubt Adam's forgotten it." He hadn't. "Maybe now you'll understand my concern." Taking out a single fighter wasn't the issue. He'd done that plenty of times, even killing a Huntsman.
Sona was a Huntress as well, but not just any Huntress. She was the reason he'd wanted to become a Huntsman so long ago. The first person to make him truly believe in himself. He'd started training because of her. Whether she knew it or not, she'd unintentionally helped set him on this path. He hadn't spoken to her since he got sent to Katai and couldn't write her anymore - Madam de Thom didn't feel it was worth paying postage, and since she controlled what little money he had, there wasn't anything he could do at the time.
Now she was back, the Huntress out to vanquish the monster.
"So my question is, Adam, can you do what it takes to get your team back? How far will you go to bring them home?"
His past versus his present. He still idolized Sona and everything she'd stood for. A faunus Huntress and the leader of a team, chasing one of the loftiest goals right alongside humans and excelling at every step. She should've been an inspiration to the White Fang. A warrior proving just how capable faunus could be. Instead, she'd become their enemy, sneaking into their ranks to betray them to their enemies and see them destroyed.
His heart ached at his answer. "As far as it takes."
Sona's back! For anyone who doesn't remember, she and her teams were the one to hunt down and kill the Alpha Beowolf for Shizukana back when we were still in the single digit chapters. Always intended to bring her back at this point. Just had her waiting on the sidelines for over 100 chapters. Not sure if anyone caught the allusion of calling her Orion, since she's the leader of Team SPVC (Space), all of whom were named after the constellations/stars that make up Argos. Yet again, those girls are taking up a lot of planning time in hilarious ways.
Had to speed read parts of Roman Holiday in prep for this chapter. Most of the stuff about the nightclub, Lil' Miss, etc. is from there, after all. Also, that is indeed Honey Wine from the same story with her ridiculously useful Semblance, though at this point in the timeline she's already running a club in Vale (and Roman/Neo have already risen to power). Personally thought Roman Holiday was their best book yet and really enjoyed it, though MrsTheGoose became much less of a Neo fan after finding out just how sadistic she really is. not sure how that one surprised her.
But best part of this week's chapter goes to the scene transition. Some of my finest work.
Next chapter: Adam goes after Sona.