Chapter 1680 …FOR THE BIG MONOLOGUE!

--- Kat --- Enjoy new adventures at empire

"Strdl… Strdl… Strdl… you never could understand my grand visions. I did test you on occasion, subtly trying to see if you could see things my way but you were far too… honourable," Not spat the word like it was a curse. "You’re so loyal that I was tempted to just let you be you know? Hope that loyalty would carry us through. I mean, I am pretty great but you were only ever loyal to my mask. And once it cracked? Well there were no guarantees.

*Right so we’re just letting him monologue then?*

[Well first off. It’s only polite. Second off Hunter has already vanished and he hasn’t noticed. Not sure when or if she’s going to act but I’m sure it’ll work out.]

*Huh, so she has. I wonder what she’s off doing?*

"I had no idea how I was going to get rid of you before the demons here presented a more actionable threat. It meant the Mountain Shaker was willing to allow me to make use of his enchanted death traps. Though… admittedly the results haven’t been as exceptional as I was hoping. This is just the beginning though. I’m sure by the end of it all I’ll be free to act as I want!"

"But WHY sheriff?! Why do this! I… I can hardly believe that you’re not being pressured into this sheriff. Is it your family? Are they in danger? I heard your wife and child vanished recently…" said Strdl with tears in her eyes.

"Well it IS nice to have the family safe and away from prying eyes. My wonderful boss is putting together a grand city you know? And we’ve got some great temporary residences… but as to why? Well I was promised the run of the town and the removal of that damned guard captain bitch! She’s looked down on me for longer then you’ve been alive Strdl. Always butting in on my investigations. Letting her guardsmen act as police… taking credit for MY work," growled Not.

Strdl looked like she’d been slapped… and Katt had a feeling that perhaps Not was being conceited with what he considered ’his’ work. Though the fact that he had a wife and child that Strdl new about did reduce the chance of them being romantic considering how ’good’ Strdl was. *Perhaps more of a father daughter type deal then?*

"Guard Captain Wlma is a wonderful woman and she saved my life twice as a child. I… perhaps she does overstep sometimes, what with the guards usually not having much to defend us from. The infrequent incursions into the town and whatnot… but… but that doesn’t mean she should be barred from trying to protect the people!" insisted Strdl.

"Ha! What a load of hogwash. I never cared about that. What I’ve always wanted is POWER. Power to enact my views on the world! And that bitch Wlma was never going to happy with that. Why, didn’t you notice that all of the more hard-headed police have left in the last few years?" asked Not.

"But… but you said they left to join the guard!" insisted Strdl.

"Oh they did! They did indeed… and they will be removed once I tear the guard apart of Wlma’s dead body. It’s such a shame that most didn’t leave willingly. Means they’ll have a bit of a grudge when we come for them. Makes it more likely they’ll fight back… oh well. Not having to deal with them for any longer means it was a worthwhile trade," admitted Not with a shrug.

Kat blinked and suddenly the prisoner had vanished from behind Not. That was nice. Though Strdl was definitely crying at this point. Not nice. "I… I stopped talking to them because you said they were a disgrace! That they were choosing to stand around instead of helping the community!"

Not just shrugged, "I lied,"

Strdle let out a wail and charged forward crystals growing from the floor all pointing towards Not… and as soon as she got close the wall nearby curved downwards crushing her against the floor. Kat winced, though her brain had managed to catch Strdl making a crystal shield swiftly and hadn’t felt the need to act. Though… perhaps she should have. Kat watched as the stone slab shrunk and encircled the shield that Strdl had made. Then, with a tap from Not it was suddenly transparent? It was odd. Kat could sort of see the dirt still there but at the same time now she could see Strdl again, somewhat dirty but not injured by the looks of things.

"Ah, you always were one to rush into action Strdl. Did you think that the drop was all that I had in store for you? I always knew you were a strong one. It’s why I waited for a chance to use my master’s traps. You may be stronger then me… but you are NOT stronger then him," stated Not with a grin.

Meg let out a laughing cough off to the side, causing Kat to send a raised eyebrow in that direction. Not seemed to have his attention draw that way as well. "Ah, the demons. How could I forget? I was having such fun messing with my precious deputy that I had perhaps forgotten about you. No need to worry about feeling left out. I’m quite sure by the time we’re done here you will be of no further concern,"

"Oh? Finally remembered I’m here? After you set this whole thing up just for us… and yet you’ve been yapping with your old sidepiece here? Makes a girl feel left out it does," said Meg with a grin.

"I will have you know that I’ve never engaged in sexual thoughts let alone acts about Strdl. She really isn’t my type," stated Not with crossed arms.

"Well I mean… she was trying pretty hard to suck your dick just before, even if you were tearing into her a bit. Thought it could be some BDSM stuff you know?" said Meg with a shrug.

Everyone else in the room went red to varying degrees, even Not. He seemed flustered by the comeback while Strdl looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Kamiko and Kat didn’t really know what to say and Lily had completely hidden away in Kat’s outfit. Sure she couldn’t technically blush but that was only by technicality. She felt positively mortified.

"What? No! Why would I do that?!" hissed Not.

Meg shrugged, "Eh I hear some people just aren’t satisfied with the simple stuff and that they branch out later on in a relationship. I mean you already have a kid? That’s just asking for things to get stale as you sneak around them. So you know… little workplace romance…"

"Your mind is filled with filth demon!" hissed Not.

"Oh I’m the demon am I? Aren’t you trying to betray us right now?" asked Meg.

"No! We were never on the same side so it is not a betrayal for you!" retorted Not.

Meg shrugged, "Well I mean if that’s how you see it sure… what about those three though?" Meg pointed at the three police that Kat had caught. They’d snuck off to the side at some point and were hiding in between the spikes that remained, trying to avoid notice.

"Oh… those guys… sort of forgot about them..." mumbled Not.

This distraction was enough for Strdl to break free of her trap. "How can you say that! They are our precious comrades!"

"Look Strdl, I feel like we’ve already gone over this part. They weren’t in on it with me and I was hoping to say they died in the fighting but I wasn’t going to go too far out of my way for it. They were just there because I couldn’t quite get the full numbers I was looking to take on this mission," said Not with a shrug.

"Still! How could you just forget!" hissed Strdl.

"What like you remember everyone we work with…" grumbled Not.

"Yes! I do!" insisted Strdl.

"Well that’s a shame," said Meg drawing everyone’s attention back to her. "See, it seems your faulty memory means you forgot someone else…"

"What?" just as Not made that exclamation suddenly he was bound tightly by a giant snake Kat recognised instantly. The black scaled beast was enough to keep his arms and legs pinned, leaving only his head free.

"You forgot my wonderful Lil Sis!" cheered Meg.

Strdl turned to look at Meg with a frown. "Did you expect this?"

Meg smiled, a big wide grin that Strdl did not like the look of. "Well… yes. Your sheriff is super corrupt. So corrupt I could practically smell it on him. The fact you never notice is a real black mark on your investigations skills if I’m being honest. I would’ve distracted him more myself, but you managed it great at the start! Just got caught a little too easily but that’s fine we can work on it!"

Strdl glared back. She was not happen with that information. Not happy at all.