Chapter 14

=== LUNGMEN ===

Late afternoon on the same day.

Kal'tsit and a few Rhodes Island operators stood waiting at the designated meeting point.

"Are we really leaving Amiya out of this?" The Doctor whispered to Kal'tsit while they waited.

"Amiya is busy meeting other suppliers, Doctor. We're just receiving a new batch of medical equipment."

Officially, anyway. Kal'tsit had informed Rin through her weird bird carrier to bring their objective after the medical equipment arrived. If the LGD became suspicious, then it would be all too simple to explain that their extended stay at the rented warehouse was for Kal'tsit and Rhodes Island to inspect the equipment delivered. She was one of Terra's greatest doctors after all. It was well within expectations for her to personally check the merchandise.

The sound of trucks arriving outside the rented warehouse moved Rhodes Island into action. Two operators sent by the Columbian PMC organization Blacksteel Worldwide opened the warehouse doors and allowed the trucks to reverse into the bay area. Each truck carried one medical instrument due to how large they were. A team of experts slowly unloaded each machine in front of Rhodes Island. Once they were finished, Kal'tsit signed the paperwork on the delivery. The delivery team boarded their trucks and left quickly.

"Franka, Liskarm, Guard. Help me setup each machine. We're going to test them."

Kal'tsit started directing the operators while she prepared the first of the instruments. It would be slow on the first one, but they should considerably improve on speed once they knew what to do for the second and third machines.

In the middle of setting up the equipment, a new group arrived.

"Hello-!" A Sankta carrying a sleeping child waved as she walked in from a side entrance. A grey-haired Lupo and blue-haired Sarkaz followed behind her.

"Huh? Why are-?" One of the operators voiced his confusion while the others quickly reached for their firearms.

"Stand down, everyone." Kal'tsit stopped the Rhodes Island team from bearing their arms on the unknown arrivals.

Another trio appeared a few moments after the first group. Just like them, they also carried sleeping children.

Kal'tsit looked over the new arrivals and crossed the faces she didn't recognize. The children were also deducted from the options which meant-

"Misha?" Kal'tsit looked at the grey-haired girl carrying one of the children. The girl's eyes widened when her name was called.

"Y-yes?" She answered hesitantly.

"...I see." Kal'tsit's gaze moved over to the sisters. "I was not aware there were children."

"They are with Misha. We couldn't leave them behind." Rin explained. Misha shrinked as she realized that her demands to bring the children had consequences.

"Kal'tsit? W-what's going on-" The Doctor shut his mouth when the green-haired feline shot him a look.

"What do we do with them?" It was clear what Kal'tsit was asking.

"Misha agreed to come along as long as we keep the children under protection. Rhodes Island is more than capable of taking them in."

"The LGD will have questions. Rhodes Island does not have a history of taking in employees who bring no particular skill set." It would threaten the cover they had.

"Not even future prospectives? You could take them in as apprentices for Rhodes Island."

"Rhodes Island runs on a strict budget. Our monthly expenditure takes into account every operator, every research project, every military operation. Adding three children on board means to redirect resources that could be used for others." Rhodes Island wasn't a profitable organization. Every single cent went into research and operating the landship and its personnel.

"If it's that hard, then we'll pay for them under a throwaway account." Rin waved her off. "With Misha here, both the LGD and the Reunion have lost their objective.

"The Reunion was after Misha?"

"Our contacts have mentioned that one of their commanders were hunting her down." Skullshatterer to be exact. Good thing that Sakura had identified one of the leaders early and stuck a familiar to keep an eye on him. "They'll eventually figure out that she isn't there anymore once the infected stop reporting her presence."

"The LGD will launch a search over the city."

"They'll figure it out earlier. Our exit wasn't as smooth as we liked."

Kal'tsit furrowed her eyebrows at Rin.

"They know that there is a third party in the works. But there are too many third parties in Lungmen to begin with. We're practically ghosts compared to the others." Rin reassured her. "What's more important is that we find out what the Reunion wants Misha for. The LGD wanted to secure her from them."

Which made no sense. Misha wasn't involved with the Chernobog Sarcophagus outside of her father, Sergey. She was a civilian through and through. The Reunion and the LGD must've thought she knew something about the lost technology hidden underneath Chernobog.

If Misha was ever spotted with Kal'tsit, then kiss goodbye to their freedom.

"We'll continue this talk another day. I have equipment to check. Please leave them with Franka over there." Kal'tsit pointed to the brown-haired fox who looked all too thrilled with the idea of handling children.

"Haaiiii~! I'll take care of them!" The Blacksteel operator's tail wagged excitedly.

=== REUNION MOVEMENT ===

Talulah stared down the doctor.

The rest of the commanders didn't need to be in attendance anymore. The only leaders in the room aside from her were Patriot and FrostNova.

"You've heard my demands."

Talulah closed her eyes.

"What makes you think we'll let you treat the civilians?"

"You lose nothing."

"For each civilian you treat, one Reunion fighter does not."

Talulah noticed the look Patriot was giving her. "Speak your mind, Patriot."

"...I do not see a problem with it." His deep voice cut through the tension. "Some of the Reunion have family members who are also infected. They count as civilians, so we could just prioritize those."

It would inspire the other infected civilians to join the Reunion once they saw that the families with Reunion members were getting prioritized. Talulah could see where Patriot was going with this.

"That does not support our current objectives." New members need training. New members need equipment. New members need rations. All of which were going into their preparations for the next move. Hundreds of Reunion fighters were slowly infiltrating Lungmen for the invasion. Faust, Mephisto, and Skullshatterer were on their way to the city to command the rebels there.

"We have more than enough after capturing Chernobog."

Much of the Chernobog's supply depots were stored underground to secure them. The city was devastated on the street level, but the Reunion were just digging through the rubble to access the hidden warehouses.

"Even if we agree to his first request, the others are..."

Talulah looked at the list and read it again. She was just making sure that she read it right. There were only 2 requests.

"...access to the kitchens."

"Denied."

"Approved."

Talulah blinked and looked at the other two commanders. She hadn't expected them to be on opposite sides of an issue.

"We're not letting an enemy have access to our food supply." It was all too easy to poison the meals.

"A separate kitchen."

"All available kitchens are being used for our soldiers."

"Civilian kitchens." The civilian kitchens were far fewer- only meant to support the prisoners with as little resources as possible. They were lucky enough for Patriot to get Talulah to agree to that much. She wanted the prisoners gone. Thrown out into the wastelands and out of the Reunion's hands.

"Is there a reason why you're insistent on this?" Patriot looked at FrostNova.

"...me and Faust have worked with him before. His cooking...it would keep the prisoners happy. Less problem for the guards."

There was some story behind that, Patriot assumed.

"Why do you want the kitchens?" Talulah decided to question the source directly. She shot the perpetrator with a questioning look.

"I want to help civilians."

"FrostNova." Her eyes switched to the commander. "You know him best. What happens if I refuse?" The entire plan to capture Shirou came from her after all.

"He...he won't do anything."

"And if I agree?"

"He might become more amenable to our demands."

Talulah was more inclined to shut down the request just to stop any future ideas.

But...

'Let him cook.'

Her inside voice spoke.

.Her inner voice spoke.

"Very well." Talulah lowered the small list of demands Shirou had. There were only two to begin with. "I'll send men to watch over him. Return to your duties."

Patriot and FrostNova stood up. The former headed straight for the exit while the latter stayed.

"Permission to bring him to the civilian kitchens." FrostNova asked.

"As you wish." Talulah rose from her seat and left the two alone in the room.

Shirou looked at FrostNova. For some reason, she was supporting him.

"Thank you."

"Why?"

"For helping me."

"Who said I was helping? The civilian kitchens are understaffed. You cooking helps us." FrostNova was adamantly looking away from him.

She would never admit to him that she ordered a few of her yetis to bring extra portions of the Fuyuki Clinic soup. Which she would scarf down away from prying eyes.

Too bad the yetis knew she was eating it in private. They, along with many others, had tasted a brief taste of paradise during that short time. The soup had ignited conversation about who the master chef between the three doctors were. In the end, the votes were tied between Shirou and Sakura since Rin had never been seen outside with an apron.

"Is that so?"

FrostNova kicked him in the leg.

"Move it before I freeze you in place."

"Yes, yes." Shirou raised his hands while walking out the door with a glaring FrostNova following him.

.

.

.

FrostNova rubbed her eyes.

This wasn't a dream, right?

She wasn't the only one.

The assigned kitchen staff behind her were also gaping at the storm brewing in the makeshift kitchen.

What few ingredients that were supplied for the shared community meal were flying off the cutting boards in record speeds.

Yes, cutting boards.

Shirou had hijacked the half dozen or so wooden boards away from the staff and arranged them around himself. The instant the vegetables landed on the board, they were swiped into the boiling pot of stew in a blur. They plopped on the top of the soup, breaking apart into clean portions without even seeing Shirou cut them.

Once all the bags were empty, Shirou moved on to the meat, carving them into small chunks and throwing them in just as quickly.

The smell was simply heavenly.

"W...what the fuck..."

"Who is this guy?!"

"He's using the same ingredients we are-! How does it smell so good?!"

"Please! Make me yours-!"

Screech.

FrostNova's mind jump started at the last comment- and so did everyone else's. They turned to the female feline salivating in the middle of the group, her eyes deadset locked on the cook.

"You."

The girl didn't react as she continued to stare at the chunk of meat who hijacked the kitchen.

FrostNova's eye twitched.

Not on my watch.

"Get out."

"H-huh?" The girl realized as the rest of the group parted around her. She was left inside a gaping hole.

"I said. Get. Out."

Weird. She wasn't normally like this, but FrostNova was feeling awfully aggressive.

"Eeep-!"

The cat immediately ran off when she noticed who gave the order. Everyone else shuffled nervously. They hadn't even noticed that a commander was in front of them.

"Well? What are you all standing around for? Go help the other kitchens!"

The rest scurried away, a few stayed behind.

"M-ma'am, we've been ordered to watch over the prisoner by the lead-"

"I can watch over him just fine. I think the rest of you should go help the other kitchens." FrostNova glared at them.

Just like that, everyone was gone.

Just the way she liked i-

"FrostNova? Where is everyone?"

Her mind screeched to a halt.

"I ordered them to help the other kitchens since you..." Her eyes looked at the finished preparations except for the pot heating the stew. "...finished everything."

"Really? I needed them to taste it once it was finished cooking. I had barely anything to work with."

"If you need someone to taste it, then I'm enough."

"...I also need them to watch over the stew while I go help the other kitchens." Shirou deadpanned at her.

FrostNova blinked as the words settled on her.

Fuck.

"I'll call them back."

She turned around to hide the flush of embarrassment crawling up her face over the mistake.

What am I doing?!

.

.

.

Dinner...was like a dream.

FrostNova was lost in bliss as she scooped up another spoonful of the heavenly gift that was Shirou's cooking. Compared to it, everything she had eaten in life was practically garbage. A single tear slowly slid down her cheeks as she basked in the flavor that filled her mouth. She didn't care if the prisoners nearby were also celebrating as if it were a party. All her attention was on the meal in front of her. She had pulled rank not to get one serving, not two servings-

...but four.

She wasn't the only one taking advantage of the situation. The lucky Reunion members on cooking and guard duty over the prison camps had jumped in line to also get servings. The cooks had the upper hand when they snagged first dibs before the civilians could even line up for the stew.

Shirou took one look at FrostNova's expression and smiled. Seeing his food bring joy to people always brightened his mood. Shirou had to cheat a little because the ingredients allocated to the prisoners by the Reunion weren't fresh. At least they were still edible. Someone in command must've cared for the prisoners.

In the distance, Patriot managed to stop himself from sneezing.

"...how are you so good at cooking?" FrostNova couldn't help but ask after finishing her food. She even went as far as to lick the bowl clean out of desperation, but she was too far gone to even notice her actions.

"Plenty of practice." Shirou answered while helping himself to a serving of dinner. He also set aside some for Nearl later.

"Practice?" FrostNova looked at her empty bowl. Was this how cooked food tasted like? Most of the food she remembered were cheap bread and ready-to-eat packets. Even then, the flavor was horrible due to how cold they became once brought near her body.

"Yes. Cooking is my hobby."

Hobby.

FrostNova never had a hobby. Most of her life was lived in the wilderness away from the cities. Her childhood was spent working in the mines and her teens spent roaming with the Yeti Squadron under Patriot.

Ever since Shirou's appearance, things had changed. FrostNova's control over her Arts improved. She could finally taste food properly. More importantly, she was now able to spend more time with the others without pushing them away with her frigid weather.

It...was nice.

"Can you...can you teach me how to cook?" The words slipped out of her mouth before FrostNova realized. She quickly clamped her hands over them once she did. Her eyes darted to Shirou who didn't look bothered by the request.

"Sure." Shirou could do that while cooking when he wasn't busy treating the Reunion or the civilians.

FrostNova was simmering into her palms. What was going on with her? She didn't like what she was feeling. Was it something she ate? Her stomach definitely felt like it was rolling.

So why did she feel...happy?

She wanted to run. But at the same time, she also wanted to stay.

FrostNova continued to glare at the source of her problem as he served dinner to the prisoners. The ever clueless redhead smiled as he handed over another serving to a hungry child.

For once, she couldn't take her eyes off him.

.

.

.

Shirou handed Nearl the can of stew through the bars before he was escorted into his cell.

"Where did you get this?" The blonde Kuranta asked after she received the soup can. The Reunion didn't have the convenience of keeping meal trays around as a rebel faction, often relying on make-do alternatives to serve their needs.

"I cooked it." Shirou nonchalantly answered while padding down the torn cot provided to keep them warm. Well, more like he cooked all of it.

"Wait, they actually gave you a kitchen?" She couldn't believe it.

"Only access to the civilian kitchens." He explained.

Nearl looked at the soup. It looked a little better compared to what they'd been served the past week. Canned rations and maybe some bread if lucky got tiring when it was the only option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The soup had cooled long ago, but Nearl was still able to pick up a sliver of it's aroma.

It smelled good.

She didn't have a spoon with her, so Nearl wiped the lid with the hem of her shirt before sipping.

It was good. Very good! More than what she had expected. It wasn't as good as the chefs of House Nearl back in Kazimierz, but it was comparable to the food served in Rhodes Island.

When Nearl tilted back the can to consume more of the delicious meal- only to find it empty.

What?

She looked inside the can to find the soup gone.

"Where did the soup go?" Nearl blinked as she stared at the empty can.

"You just finished it." Shirou had watched Nearl down the soup in her mesmerized state. He could understand their situation. The meals they were serving didn't look delicious. Shirou could only improve the taste so much with the techniques available to him. The meal must've tasted a little bit better than the bland rations they were being given.

"But...but I could've sworn..." Nearl trailed off while looking at the can dejectedly. She didn't notice but her mouth warped into a cute pout.

"I'll make sure to bring more tomorrow after I cook again. Everyone seemed to like it."

Like was an understatement. The prisoners were celebrating despite being captives under the Reunion.

"That...that would be appreciated."

"I'll turn in early tonight. They told me that I'm to start treating their fighters early tomorrow. Good night." Shirou fixed his position one last time before nodding off.

"..."

Nearl couldn't sleep. If anything, the meal only made her crave more for her comfortable bunk back in Rhodes Island. The dish was in both ways a blessing and a curse. It was delicious, but it also made the situation all the more miserable.

.

.

.

The following morning.

Patriot dug into the beef and potatoes cooked by the camp chefs. It was an upgrade compared to the usual fare back when the Reunion roamed the wilderness. They had access to Chernobog's stores and the Reunion were eagerly using the captured supplies to reward themselves. Patriot kept a strict eye over the resources, but he allowed more leeway when it came to perishables.

It would be a waste if they went bad after all.

"Is something wrong, FrostNova?" He looked at the girl he had saved from the mines long ago. She had grown on him like a daughter.

FrostNova looked distracted while she poked the potatoes in front of her.

"Not really."

Patriot could sense that something was different with the young Cautus and decided to leave it alone. If she wasn't comfortable with sharing the issue, then he wouldn't press on it.

Once they were finished eating, FrostNova shot her question.

"...can I ask a question?"

"It depends on what you're asking for."

FrostNova held her tongue for a bit. She didn't know how to begin the conversation. What could she do? Ask why she was feeling tingly inside? At the same time, she wanted to push the problem far far away from herself.

"I...I want access to ingredients like the ones in our kitchens."

FrostNova switched the question into one about food instead of the original. She couldn't bring herself to ask about the bubbling emotions she experienced the prior day.

"Hmmm? Go ahead."

Patriot on his end was more than happy to let FrostNova do so.

"If you wanted access, then you didn't have to ask me."

"I-I wanted to learn how to cook-!" She fumbled the excuse. Not much of one, since she did want to learn how to cook.

Patriot looked at her.

"...I see."

"I really do!"

"I believe that. You've started trying new food out ever since your powers have withdrawn." Food tastes different depending on how the body feels. Patriot could understand FrostNova's newfound interest in food. Unlike the rest of them, she had an even smaller range of options to eat from.

To see her recover a little bit of freedom lifted his spirits.

"Just make sure not to let it distract you from your responsibilities."

"I won't."

FrostNova really felt like banging her head on the table.

.

.

.

Shirou stretched his legs after the morning session. The last 5 hours had been spent on a chair treating Reunion members with the worst infections. More than a few needed a consoling shoulder as they broke down once the Originium marks disappeared from their flesh. Shirou tried his best to explain that the infection wasn't completely gone, and that at best they were at the beginning stages of Oripathy. That didn't matter much to them because Shirou's treatment had extended their life by a considerable degree- if not back to a natural lifespan if they avoided making the infection worse.

The contingent of guards around Shirou kept their eyes on him as he walked around the small clinic provided to him. Not that it was much of one, they just rolled in a single hospital bed into the ruined shop and cleaned all the debris from when the front was destroyed. Talulah had ordered to keep him isolated from the other doctors and under a tight watch. They didn't stand a chance against him, but Talulah gave them express orders to fire at the prisoners should Shirou try to escape.

That was enough to keep Shirou from making any dangerous moves.

Except...that didn't stop him from doing much else.

Shirou saw enough landmarks to figure out where his and Nearl's prison were. They were west of the city center where the previous Chernobog government existed. More importantly, Shirou had seen the Reunion's remaining forces.

He did not like what he saw.

Much of the forces he spotted around were stronger and more organized than what he saw during the invasion of Chernobog. The numbers he had seen during the invasion had also decreased by a huge margin.

So...where did the rest go?

They could've been spread around Chernobog, but Shirou should've at least seen some of the newer rebels around. The best way to consolidate power was to spread it across the entire army. Which meant having both veterans and newbies equally scattered.

The Reunion were making moves.

=== LGD HEADQUARTERS ===

"I'm fine now." Ch'en grumbled one more time as the doctor checked on her. The third checkup in the last hour.

"We can never be too sure. Arts don't obey rules." The doctor looked over her vitals again.

"It's gone...whatever she did to me." The sudden urge to throw up along with the weakness in her body disappeared after an hour.

Hoshiguma stood off to the side while watching her friend. When she received the call for help, the Oni rushed over along with reinforcements to find Ch'en and the squads under her knocked out of combat. They tried to secure the area and search for the culprits but the results came up short. Once Ch'en recovered, she quickly recounted the event.

"I will return for another checkup tomorrow. Call me right away if you feel any side effects." The doctor ordered once he finished the last round of his analysis.

"Yes, I'll make sure to call." Ch'en sighed. It was the best course of action for now.

"Ch'en...you're sure that there were three of them?" Her green-haired friend reconfirmed.

"Yes. Only two engaged in melee. The third initiated the ambush." Ch'en couldn't tell much about her opponents. Their most distinguishing factor being the unusual motorcycle suits they wore to hide their identities.

Yes, motorcycle suits- including the helmet.

Rin made sure to pick the most jarring illusion to cover them with. Rather than giving their opponent time to put too much attention into the illusion- which would've broken it- she took the other route and threw her off guard instead.

It was very effective.

"...and they were dressed in motorcycle suits."

"Before you say it was a hallucination, I fought them before I lost." Ch'en growled as the other officer in the room- Swire- forced back her laughter behind her hand.

She could barely contain it.

"PFFT- BAHAHAHA!!!" The tiger exploded into laughter as her superior glared at her.

"It's not a laughing matter." Hoshiguma sighed. In any other scenario it could've drawn a small chuckle from the Oni, but seeing Ch'en taken down worried her.

"O-oh but it is! The great Ch'en Hui-chieh was brought down to her knees by two motorcycle riders!" Swire cackled while holding her stomach.

"There were two of them tag teaming me-!"

"You've fought more dangerous threats. Maybe it's time for you to go back to training." Swire added one last remark.

"Swire, that's enough." Hoshiguma stepped in to stop the Beatrix heir from pressing any more of Ch'en's buttons. "Keeping up with Ch'en is no small feat. Those two are dangerous."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Swire waved her off. "While the two of you were playing hide and seek with the Reunion in the slums-"

"Fuck you-!"

"-a little rat of ours contacted me on a possible lead." Swire ignored the cussing dragon in front of her.

"Lin?" Ch'en paused from seething.

"Yes." The tiger smugly pulled out her phone. "She told me to call her once the two of you returned."

Swire didn't have to worry about anyone tapping into the line. They were inside the LGD headquarters- the most secure facility within Lungmen. Anyone who tried would be arrested within the hour- and that was if they broke past the firewalls first.

"Lin, everyone's here." Swire's tone turned serious, dropping the teasing voice she used on Ch'en.

.

.

.

Lin Yuhsia stood within a nondescript room while reviewing what she had learned.

"Okay...remember when you asked me to keep track of any suspicious dealings?"

"Yeah."

Ch'en's voice wasn't directly next to the phone's speaker, but Lin could tell she was nearby.

"Remember Einzbern Enterprises?"

"...they went inactive more than a week ago."

"We kept an eye on their trail. You know how some businesses use the underworld to hide suspicious dealings away from Lungmen?"

"We are aware."

"Good. Because we tracked one of their transactions down here. They forged some paperwork three weeks back along with a deposit into a small firm."

"An underground firm?"

"A holder. They hold your money for a cut." Such things were common in Lungmen's underworld. Lungmen was a city built on business, it made sense for the less savory side to also dabble just like it.

"What did they do?"

"It's what they didn't do."

"Pardon?"

"The firm's management got...replaced a few days ago." Most probably dead and rotting in a landfill somewhere. "The new management cut a few corners to get more profit and screwed up."

"Screwed up? How?"

"They didn't launder enough."

"So what does this have to do with Einzbern Enterprises?"

"It's who the money went to."

"Who?"

Lin drummed her fingers on the wall. She knew the organization to a general degree, but hadn't expected them to entangle themselves into something a city as big as Lungmen was involved in.

"Rhodes Island."

===

Author's Note

So...stuff happened recently that's connected to my long break from January to February. I don't really want to expand into it too much but I'm thinking of asking for a little help on the real world side of things. If you enjoyed reading this work, a little donation would go a really long way.

https://ko-fi .com/w1nterf0x

I've set a personal goal for 3 updates this month. Maybe reach a 4th if I can push it.