Ep8: The Negotiator

He wasn't the same for the first few days after getting the 5000G. He spent most of his time around the castle, wandering around like a banshee while waiting for his new weaponry. Going to his first kill didn't help him in the long run; it had only been a temporary distraction from the memory of his family. Soon, the new sword and guns were delivered to his doorstep. A longer, better blade with a red line down the middle, with freshly refurbished pistoles to go along with it.

His mood seemed to lift as he admired his new weapons, but the last kill was still on his mind. Her perfectly contempt face staying there after taking a bullet to the chest as he trailed his finger along the smooth metal of the gun. Not even this was seeming to help him with the nagging feeling…

The coffee that was served every morning became his escape from his thoughts. He could drown memories in a jittery feeling and a scalding hot liquid going down his throat. Before he knew it, it had added itself to his daily schedule.

On one of his jogs out of the castle, he saw a sign for the post. He ended up being drawn inside, sending a letter to his father before continuing to the tavern. Waiting for a letter back ended up eating away more, until he decided enough was enough. He went up to visit the king, who was ever eternally lounging on his throne. "Never thought I would get a chance to talk to you again," Geo went, pulling out a board with pieces spread out on it. "A game of chess?"

"I would like to request a day off," Lao said matter-of-factly. Geo's smile diminished out of disappointment, but it never left. "Already? I'm sure it hasn't been too long."

"I have family matters to tend to," he explained, never leaving the last stair. "I need to ensure they are alright."

"Any other details I should know about?" Lao shook his head in response. He didn't feel the need to be an open book to Geo. "Very well then, but while you visit, do you mind converting the Realm for me?"

"What?"

"This is my condition." He started setting up the board as he explained. "I honestly do not know where you have come from, but there is a good chance it is still affiliated with the Order. It is always hard to convenience someone of an ideology they go against. However…if we use a pawn that is already on their side, it suddenly becomes a matter of a simple errand." He knocked the white bishop off with the white pawn, replacing it with a black bishop instead. "The seed is planted, and then they can finally learn the wonders of co-existing with mamono."

"Sorry to stop your plans, but I am not exactly the best person to be convincing,"

"Then I will send Addianas with you. Deal?" Lao was unsure of how he would convince others to join the faction, but it gave him a chance to visit his family with notice. He accepted the deal and went back down the steps, to in his thoughts to remember that Geo wished to at least play a game of chess before he went. He sped down the spiral staircase, stopping to retrieve his weapons before continuing out of the castle. He took a map with him to find his way back to his hometown, not bothering to wait for his escort. He didn't need to in his eyes, as the knight could easily catch up.

It wasn't as easy for Add as he thought. He managed to get halfway through the industrial town before he heard the familiar pattern of metal on pressed dirt. His head was suddenly put under a headlock as chops repeatedly hit his dome. "Agh!"

"Idiot idiot Idiot idiot!" Add kept repeating as he punished the cadet for making him run for so long. "Do you know how hard it is to run in armor!?"

"You have never not worn armor! Ow…"

"That isn't the problem," After one last good chop to his head, he lets him go. "Now I'm sweating too much under this. You are lucky you have your blue robes on, light and breathable…now where are we going?"

Lao dusted himself off, rubbing his head before focusing back on the map. He pointed to a label with two tools crisscrossing each other, noting that it was an industrial town. "I lived here, at the old saw mill"

"That's not too far. Just passed the tavern town." Seeming delighted that there wasn't too much path to transverse, he walked along. No one batted an eye at Add's grey metal armor, but the blue coat that concealed Lao's being made him look like more than a rebel than a knight. Both of their suspicions was confirmed when they passed a family traveling on a horse-drawn wagon. The one at the helm looked at them with wary eyes, while the family in the wagon seemed to shrink back inside. "You should probably pull down your hood," Add said.

"No, this keeps me from being found out. We're in Order territory now," Lao only pulled his blue hood over his head more, checking if all his hair was tucked in under. "Why don't you take off your helmet?"

"It's not needed. You can hear me perfectly fine, and I can pretty much do anything in here!" He goes into a cartwheel to prove his point, without even pausing his stride to get into position. "As easy as it looked!"

"Wait, can you take off your armor?"

"Easily yes. It's not cursed armor or anything, just simple well made protection." He patted his shoulder, Lao hearing the clunk of metal against metal. "Any other questions you have for me Lao?" He thought about it for a second before coming up with another, more personal one. "Are you married to Melisa?"

"...w-what?"

"You...Melisa seems to like you." Lao wondered if he would be blushing under his helmet right about then, but didn't push the issue. His superior seemed to stew for a moment, looking down at the ground while thinking up an acceptable answer. "Has she...told you how we met?"

"So you aren't married to her?"

"No, but….."

I found her as many others did; by stumbling upon her and happening to be one of the few blood sources in her vicinity. There was a bit of a fog, and I had gotten lost on my way to Marylin's town. That was when I ran into her, both of us bumping into each other. It would have been a normal awkward interaction, but her nose had gotten a whiff of my scent. Covering her nose, she told me to hold still as she looked for a gap in my armor. She found one large enough at my neck, biting down while holding my waist with her arms. I felt dizzy as she drained the blood from my body, but it was nothing fatal. She pulled away and just like that, she disappeared as randomly as she came…

"Until I saw her two days later. From what I could tell, certain Orderite blood is her favorite, which is why I guess she is still around," Add finished. "Don't tell her I said this."

"I won't."

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Add continued driving the small talk between each other until they reached their destination. It wasn't the map that told them that they were here, it was the smell. The nostalgic smell of fresh, non-sentient nor corrupted wood that had been sliced and cunt down. He folded his map and made sure his hood stayed on, not wanting to give away his identity. Add whistled as they walked beside the mill, seeing all the land that had been cleared and everyone working. "So this is how the Order gets so much material. There must be loads of towns just like this one, supplying the legion."

"Yes, we are rather proud…" Lao spectated. He was happy to be home, but he felt so out of place now, the blue and gold on his coat making him stand out. If he was going to be caught, he wanted to be caught somewhere that was private. "So, what do you do on these missions?"

"We just talk. It takes a bit of time, but King Geo sends us out on trips before he or another higher rank comes themselves. A good first impression makes all the difference." He took a short side trip over to a bread stand, where he got a loaf to eat later before going back to Lao. "Do you happen to remember anyone we can start with?"

"My mother's house. If anything, they are the best ones to start with." Add looked concerned as Lao responded. "What?"

"I don't know, going back to see your family could mess with the process. Isn't there some other building that is significant?"

"I don't see anything wrong with it."

"But there is. You're just using it as an excuse to go visit family. Everyone goes through with it Lao. You can visit on your own time, but we are on a business trip. Can I trust you to be the first one to understand that?"

"..."

"You're going to sneak away aren't you." The silhouette of Lao's eyes, the only thing visible under his hood, looked down in shame. "Sorry, Sir."

"I guess not. Fine, but tell me where the head of this village is first." Lao pointed towards the hill they looked at earlier. "From what I remember, the important people would usually gather there. I was too busy to know for sure though."

"That would be good enough for now. I'll meet you back here by the time our shadows had disappeared. Is that alright?"

"You could have just said Noon." Add chuckled and started walking towards the hill, leaving Lao to head to his formal home. Nothing much has changed in the time he had left, other than some vine cutting and gardening to keep the house nice and tidy. He could still see the window of the floor where he slept. It brought back nice memories, especially the one of when he went out into the city with Leana for tea.

He went up to the front door, thinking about more warm memories while knocking. They were all nice, but who was Leana? Was she an old mate that he had stumbled by while she was clothes washing? A relative? Aunt? Now that he thinks about it, what city was he even….

"O-oh my." He stopped questioning his mind, seeing his mother look up at him. His heart seemed louder than before to him, or was that his nervousness for seeing his mama again? She looked around him, her eyes seeming filled with fear and shock rather than a nervous but welcome gaze. "I-I'm sorry sir, but….I don't wish to make a scene, but please don't take anything…" she stumbled over her words like a tumbleweed, acting like she was talking to a thief rather than her…

Oh right, he had his hood on! "No! Mother it's me. I would never do such a thing!" he hurried inside and took off his hood, laughing as his hair fell around his face. The reaction he had expected finally happened, his mom in disbelief before tossing it aside to hug him. The difference in their size was just as different as before, but her smaller form felt safe all the same. "Lao, you've come back...but your sister, she is still out…"

"That's fine, At least you are here. Is father around?" he looked around, seeing if he heard any of his trademark grunts anywhere. "No, he is at work at the lumbermill, as usual…"

"In his age?"

"Oh right. He's a foreman now. He decided to finally move up after you left. You should have been there…" his mother rambled on about his promotion, Lao following her around while she recalled the day he came home with the news. Lao followed with his own adventures, but when he got to the part about Melisa he caught himself. "Oh? Dear you stopped…"

"Um…" He couldn't tell her about Melisa! Actually, he couldn't tell her practically anything at all! "Well…"

"Did...did something happen? Did a monster girl…" Well no….if you excuse his commander-oh fuck oh shit. "Of course not!" Lao lied, struggling to maintain it. It was the first time he had lied to his mother in a while. It felt bad, but he didn't know what would happen if she heard the truth. "I fought them off real hard mom. They did manage to get a blade and their hands on me, but your boy is alright."

"Awww, my hero!" She seemed too happy to catch on. Lao sighed in relief. They both kept chatting with each other, his mother preparing rabbit stew in the meantime. Seeing a bit less to talk about, Lao decided to head back to where Add said to meet. As it was almost noon, there was more activity to walk around, but no Add in sight. He walked to and fro, passing the center multiple times while looking for a person in metal armor. Noon came and passed, the shadows starting to show up again on the opposite side. Thinking he had found the person he was looking for, he decided to go to other nostalgic places of his past.

The first was his local church, a small building with a cross engraved into the top of the wooden foundation. The corners were the dustiest places he had ever seen, with loads of particles floating in the air that the sun was able to shine down upon. One tinted window of the Chief God in all of her holiness sat in the back, overlooking proceedings with the pride of an immortal. Any other Lao would have felt safe, as if angels were sent down to each person that prayed there to ward off the evil mamono, but to him now, it was more so indifferent than inspiring. Only two people were in there, with one being a priest, and another being a gruff man with his head down praying to the heavens. He knew that out of style hair anywhere, the rounded belly he had on his front, the untoned yet strong arms that were down.

"Father?" He said under his breath. Both of them looked up, his father's eyes seeming to soften. "By the gods' grace, she has blessed thee sir!" The father stayed in silence, staring at the hooded person standing there. He just seemed to drift closer to him, tears in his eye welling up the more Lao took up his vision. "You...can't be my son...an orderite would never hide his head from the chief god's blessing." Once close enough, he removed the hood, seeing his face for the first time. "Oh god it really is you!"

"Hi Fa-" All 200 and change pounds of affection hugged Lao, crushing his windpipe in a bearhug only a relative could bring. "I thought you were dead son! We got word of what happened at the camp, and I got so worried I tried sending word, letters, but everything came back negative...I couldn't bring myself to tell your mother and daughter, they would have been torn. I just knew you had to be alive, I just knew!"

The priest chuckled, just as happy as him. "You would not believe how many times he came in here. Especially after…"

"Quiet Nance! But she isn't wrong. Lao, you would not believe the things they sent me after telling me that you were dead. Boy, if I could believe it now! They thought you were spotted with a vampire, but lookie here! No bite on ya! I just knew that my boy could never, ever be…"

"C-corrupted?"

"Nance, now I told you to let me have time with my boy!" Lao's dad angrily turned to her, only to see her point her staff at Lao in fear. He turned back, seeing Lao's form starting to give off purple in the stained glass-filtered sunlight. "No...no not my boy. Boy, say it isn't true! You were just in a realm for a bit too long, right?"

"I'm sorry father, I…"

"Shut your mouth…." The words from his dad came out broken, cutting through Lao with the harshest of disappointment. "I-I can't believe it...you married those demons! You tied the knot with them Lao!"

"Well, no, I'm not married…"

"Oh?"

"No, I just got caught by a kitsune…but hear me out. Please." The father was still torn, but he nodded, stepping back from him in case the corruption could spread through contact. Lao started to explain everything, except this time, he didn't stop. He talked about how he first came across a vampire, then joined a new faction, and killed a lilim right after killing her target with the two guns he has by his side now. His father and the priests just listened solemnly as he talked, until he finally shut his mouth and nodded.

"Son….It is great you have killed some demon spawn, but this...you left the order?"

"Father have you ever met a monster girl?"

"Yes, on the battlefield. They were the most dangerous things you could encounter for me, even before the succubi took over. Now son-"

"What about not on the battlefield?"

"...s-son…"

"Father. Please." His dad scowled, but he shook his head. "Nance, can you believe Lao?"

"No but….I-I haven't really met one I didn't have to smite.."

"Exactly. All of our interactions beforehand were in situations that didn't allow for us to understand the other side. Maybe if we just meet with other ones that are peaceful like us…"

"This 'Geo' person could be using you. I'm not going to lose you because you bought into his ideas for 'peace' and 'togetherness'!"

"I know father…"

"So what am I supposed to do? Just let you lose yourself?"

"No, but I can assure you if I do find that I was just a pawn…" Lao trailed off, taking out one of his revolvers and spinning the barrel. "...I'll kill him." His father, although touched by his tenacity, still didn't want to just let Lao go. His frown moved around his head as he stewed, thinking of what he should do as a father. In his eyes, suicide or death by ax would have been a better fate, but if he was still single now, even with traces of corruption on him…

"Fine," his father settled on. "But keep your hands out of that damned kitsune tail. I...I trust you, but if you fall…"

"I won't." His father nodded and walked towards the door of the church. "And make sure you see your sister. She's worried sick about you."

"I will father."

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"Sorry that the meeting took so long! It was just so easy to get them to try coexisting with a few mamono!" Add said, eating some loaves of bread as they walked back to Geo's castle. "Then again, it means they would have more people to chop down faster. Nothing gets the to say yes faster than profit, amirite?"

"Is it possible to kill the king?" Add stared at Lao confused, not processing what he had said. "Hmm?"

"Sir, it is possible to kill Lord Geo. In case…" Add thought about it, hurrying to chew his food before answering. "So you have thought about something going wrong?"

"What if...what if he is just using us to corrupt more territory?"

"He would never! Besides, only the top ranks or those he entrusted with the power could kill him."

"Entrusted?"

"Of course! He knows he isn't perfect, or that he could be turned into a puppet to do someone's bidding. Because of that, he had other's create a plan for killing him as a last resort. He would be there…." Add starts before chewing a piece of the bread. "And then he would be gone, with someone else to take his spot. And on and on, if it needs to be."

"Yes...thank you for bothering to answer Sir."

"You're getting really comfortable with using Sir Lao. Have some bread," he said. Splitting the bread between the two of them until they got back home.