Evening in Sowei City. A rather busy morning preceded it, with Dr. Parr, fully recovered at last finally making her way back to her home in the United Kingdom. But the commotion at the castle was far from over, even at this late hour.
More specifically, in the dimly lit Citizen's Affairs office, two people, a man and a woman, were in a standoff. Acting Chief of Police Rowan Callaghan had been called to meet with the minister of Civilian Protection.
"So, Calaghan, what exactly have you been doing these past few months?" Asked Renee, a frown visible on her face, as she sat on her chair cross-armed, staring at the bearded man across from her. The man, unbothered, was picking at his teeth with his pinkie finger, leaning back on his chair, legs crossed.
"Business as usual." Callaghan lied, poker face on. But Renee wasn't stupid, and would never fall for such a lie.
"Is it really? Because I've been getting reports left right and center about this Noir Assassin figure stopping bank robberies and beating up purse snatchers and saving kittens from drains, and it really makes me wonder what you've been doing, exactly?" Renee pressed him, leaning closer to him over the desk separating them,
"Trying to catch him, of course! There will be no vigilantism in my town!" He declared, raising a fist up in the air. Renee pinched the bridge of her nose in disappointment.
"Listen up, Rowan. Tomorrow morning, the Austrian Delegation will arrive, to negotiate about the issue with the heir. Should anything happen, if you're not the first man on the scene, I will gut you and all your men like fish. Am I clear?" Renee exclaimed. Callaghan's face scrunched up.
"Crystal." He responded, and then took his leave. Walking down the stone path outside the castle in the dark, hands in pockets, the Director of AXON thought in silence about what he could do to remedy the situation. After a while, ensnared in his thoughts, he failed to notice a single cardboard box in front of him, that he tripped over and opened. A metallic gauntlet, with a pulsing fiery core fell out of the box and landed on the path, aggressively pulsing and digging into the stone pavement.
A large, creepy smile formed on the director's face, as he witnessed the gauntlet spazzing out. "This could solve a couple issues."
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The following morning, with little to no fanfare, the Austrian Royal Chariot, pulled by two horses, one white and one black, arrived at the steps outside the castle, followed by an entourage of 15 cavaliers. On the chariot itself, were Francis himself and a tall lanky assistant, with small rectangular glasses, wearing a gray suit.
"Quite ridiculous of you sir, to even negotiate with these barbarians. Your father would have-" The assistant tried to say, but Francis was having none of it.
"I don't care, Reeman. You're only here because I wanted to look scary so they'd fold easier. I'd count my blessings if I were you, because they might just jump you." He stated, dismissing his advisor.
"Exactly, your majesty! They cannot be reasoned with!" Reeman argued. Francis simply shook his head, and got out of the chariot, coming face to face with Prime Minister Leo, who had been waiting outside, scowl firmly on his face.
"I see you've brought an audience this time." Leo spat, raising up his chin and glaring at the hatted archduke.
"I'm sure you have your own audience lying behind those doors." Francis retorted, staring back.
"Be wary sir, the Soweian is unstable." Reeman warned. Gaspar pinched his nose.
"You- I have nothing to say. No wonder my father liked you so much. Just stay out here, and don't say anything else. I'll do this one my own." Francis ordered. Reeman gave his lord a bow, and then stood out of the way, a mocking smile forming on his face as Francis passed by into the castle.
The two men walked in silence through the lobby, as they made their way to the meeting room. Leo was standing tall, the bottom of his staff clacking against the marble floor with every step, while Francis had leaned forward, hands in pockets, the both of them glancing at another, preparing their strategies for the difficult conversation that would follow, all while being surrounded by the prying eyes of Jess at the front office, and the Sowei City News reporters in the lobby.
In the meantime, right outside, and with his boss gone, Reeman finally relaxed, leaning ungracefully against the wooden chariot, staring at the sky. Things had gone downhill in the empire, if you asked him. Duke Francis --he refused to acknowledge him as the archduke-- simply didn't have the gusto and flare that his father did, and their neighbors were taking advantage of it. Reeman himself had had to deal with the nonsensical skirmishes in the border with Romania that had begun following the Sowei Revolution, but most egregiously, Soweiland itself had become quite the threat on its own.
Following the reforms Francis had made, most of the military was firmly set on the camp of the old regime, so perhaps this was the perfect moment to demand for some change, what with the military present in the enemy's capital and all. But no, no matter how good the 15 knights were, their numbers disadvantage was far too great, and plus, they lacked in the supernatural department.
"What's got you all worked up there, chum?" Rowan Callaghan asked Reeman, popping up from behind the chariot, scaring him half to death. Reeman took notice of the man's uniform immediately.
"Nothing that would concern the Sowei chief of police." Reeman muttered.
"Really? Cause I know your kind, and I think we can help each-other, advisor." Callaghan stated, then pulled out the steel gauntlet from the previous night, its core eerily glowing, putting it in front of Reeman. The advisor, raised his eyebrow, interested.
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Back in the meetings room, negotiations had already broken down, as the two ends had began yelling at each other. Francis slammed his open palm on the table, leaving an imprint of his hand etched into the wood.
"Enough of this! I demand you to hand my brother over, immediately!" He shouted
"Oh-ho-ho, you did not just slam my table!" Leo exclaimed.
"Gentlemen, please! Here must be a more peaceful way to go about this!" Geowar, also present in the meeting room, attempted to diffuse the situation.
"You are illegally detaining a member of the Austrian royal family! There is no peaceful way!" Francis retorted, angrily pointing a finger at the minister.
"I'd argue we're very legally detaining Sowei Citizen Thomas Gardener!" Leo proposed, crossing his arms.
"You know damn well that's not how it works!" Francis murmured, leaning back on his chair.
"Even still, you can't expect me to release this mass murderer into the wild scot free!" Leo commented.
"He's not being set free, he's being sent to the correct prison!" Francis explained, animatedly waving his around.
"And what the fuck is wrong with my prison?" Leo questioned.
"Watch your tone! It's my good will that even allowed your country to exist!" Francis retorted.
"Are you threatening me, Austrian!?" Leo asked, lowering his voice.
"Do you feel threatened?" Francis replied, smirking.
"Enough of this, I say!" Geowar interrupted again. The tension in the room was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Τhe formerly collected men had broken down into deranged rambling and threatening, that really didn't do anything to solve the problem at hand. Fortunately for them, the problem would take a back seat.
"Uh, Leo… The press just left, you might wanna see this." Jessie said over the intercom, interrupting the heated argument.
Leo raised an eyebrow, and quickly pushed his chair back in an attempt to get up, but Francis grabbed him by the wrist, and dragged him back.
"Hold on now, you can't leave during our negotiation!" Francis sternly spoke, furrowing his brows. Leo scrunched up his face and sat back down, but made sure to turn the intercom to a public radio station, in order to find out what was happening.
"So it appears that some criminal has stationed himself in Sowei City central square, and is threatening the government in what appears to be an armed protest." Soleman's voice came through the broadcast.
"Why are there 15 dudes on horses around him?" Asked Soleman's assistant, Steve.
"Shut up, Steve! He seems to be wearing some kinda gauntlet- hey what's he doing now?" Soleman continued commentating, when suddenly, everything began shaking.
"Earthquake!" Francis exclaimed, and quickly hid under the table, as the entire room shook, the chandelier rocking back and forth.
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Meanwhile, in the other side of town, the Noir Assassin, perched atop a roof, alerted but the unusual shaking that was occurring all around him, was listening in to the police broadcast covering the situation.
"All units, move in. Take that gauntlet off of him!" The chiefs voice could be heard, barking orders with much more intensity than usual. Jon had noticed the past week, that the police were rather late responders, so this was unusual. Regardless, he was closer to the square than the station, so he quickly made his way over as well.
Arriving at the scene, a few police patrol cars, including the one belonging to Detective McCord had blocked out entrances to the square, and were in an active fight with the Austrian cavaliers, who were surrounding a man wearing a gantlet on his right arm, that he had plunged into the pavement. The identity of the man was unknown to him, but he figured he was the ringmaster of the operation.
"Yes, keep wasting all your bullets, officers! You can do nothing to stop the Austrian counter-revolution!" He shouted. The vigilante quickly jumped into the fray, attempting to leap above the knights, but their spears blocked his way, and he was forced to retreat behind the police cars.
"Noir Assassin!" McCord exclaimed upon noticing him. Jon gave him a signal, and he nodded, then yelled "Cover him!", and as he did that, Jon began running towards the horsemen again, covered by the fire opened by the police. Jon ran up to the first knight he saw, and kicked him off his steed, choosing to ride his horse himself, then began running around and fighting the other knights head on, their blades clashing as the were standing on their mounts.
The vigilante disarmed two of the knights in quick succession, and was finally noticed by the ringmaster, Reeman. The advisor ripped out a chunk of the pavement and hurled it towards the cops for cover, as he rushed towards the Soweiland vigilante. Jon, in turn used his grappling gun, to grab the rocky chunk out of the air, swinging it back at the attacker, who smashed through it with his gauntlet as he jumped towards Jon. Aiming for his chest, Reeman launched a powerful punch that Jon narrowly blocked with his Night's Edge. Unfortunately, the force of the punch, amplified by the power of the gauntlet was far too much, and Jon flew backwards into a nearby house, crashing through the window.
"You won't stop me now! I finally have what it takes to bring justice into the world!" Reeman exclaimed, then, followed by two knights watching his flanks, plunged his hand into the wall of the house, and began shaking it with the gauntlet.
The Noir Assassin quickly regained his composure, climbed down to the ground floor of the house, and kicked the door towards the outside, smacking the side of one of the horsed, that kicked off its rider, and began running around in a panic, distracting everyone, including Reeman. Jon took the opportunity and swung the back of his grapple gun upwards, connecting with Reeman's jaw, and sending him away momentarily. Unfortunately, another knight was still there, and he swatted Jon away with his spear, preventing him from finishing Reeman off, and the fight continued on.
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In the meantime, gazing upon the scene from afar was Sargeant McLame, of the Elite Devote, currently in communication with none other than Casey Kane.
"Austrian cavaliers, engaging Sowei police in Sowei land!? Ludicrous!" Kane commented after McLame summarised the situation.
"And that's not all, sir. Their captain, seems to be wearing some kind of earthquake glove." McLame added. "I think I recognise his face."
"Hans Reeman. Typical." Kane deduced, vividly remembering one of his biggest problems from back when he was on the run.
"A few of us are here, should we engage?" McLame questioned. Kane burst out in laughter, the mocking kind.
"Of course you should! These Austrians won't get to do this in my town! And while you're at it, this is a prime opportunity to give the Rookie a go, eh?" Kane instructed, and McLame obliged. Shortly after, 10-15 ED Soldiers came rushing down into the square, McLame yelling orders at them to attack the cavaliers.
"Kane! Again a thorn in my sides!" Reeman exclaimed, and slammed his right fist on the ground, shaking the floor underneath the incoming Elite Devoted. Things were looking rather dire for Reeman, as more and more police cars arrived at the scene, including Rowan Callaghan's own personal cruiser. The man came out, devilish grin permanently on his face, and declared: "Waste em, boys!", before pulling out an incredibly unregistered Uzi, and opening fire upon the cavaliers himself.
"Enough!" Reeman then shouted, and with a slam of his fist on the ground, a wave of rocks went out in all directions, stopping everyone in their tracks. "You think you're enough to stop me!?" Reeman yelled. "No!"
The mad advisor quickly began removing chunks of pavement and hurling them in every direction, then climbed up on the statue of Tom Parp in an attempt to gain the high ground. The Noir Assassin, who had been adjusting to the new situation from atop a lamp post, quickly began swinging towards him, grabbing some boulders with his hook as he approached, and setting them down so none of the fleeing bystanders would be hurt. Jon leaped and kicked Reeman off the statue, but as he was falling, he ripped off the statue's arm, and smacked Jon with it, sending him away.
As the noir assassin was down, Reeman created an elevated platform for himself, then jumped at him, hoping to bash his head in from above! But as he was in midair, a flying figure arrived, flames trailing behind him, holding a rifle, but concealing his face with a ski mask, and smacked him away with the rifle, into a lamp post, head first. The last thing Reeman saw was the flying man punching him in the nose, knocking him unconscious. Following that, the flying man saluted at the officers and took his leave, leaving Jon incredibly bewildered.
Declaring their job complete, the Elite Devoted retreated, leaving the police to pick up the cavaliers and Reeman. Callaghan himself walked up to Reeman as he regained his senses, just to put the cuffs on himself.
"But you said…" Reeman muttered.
"I don't know what this man is talking about!" Rowan interrupted, then lifted Reeman up and dragged him away.
"Incredible work, kid. I knew I could trust you with that transponder." McCord approached Jon.
"I thank you for the trust." Jon responded.
"Incredible work indeed." Said Leo, just having walked in through a portal with Geowar and Francis, who looked incredibly defeated, his hand covering his face. "So, Francis, I figure we can let you have these 16 prisoners in exchange for your dear brother?"
"Diplomatic immunity…" Francis tried to say, but not even he believed it.
"Your majesty, stop this nonsense! They cannot arrest us, get us all out immediately!" Reeman demanded, jumping around from Callaghan's grasp.
"I'm arresting you, you buffoon! And you're so fired!" Francis seethed, slamming his hat on the floor in rage. "What kind of backwater thinking goes on in that brain of yours anyway!? I'm never bringing a delegation to these things ever again! You're all useless!"
Francis stopped rambling, and turned to Geowar, and gave a sly smile. Geowar shook his head, and with a snap of his fingers, opened a portal to Vienna for Francis to take.
"I do so much more than teleport." Geowar rambled, as one by one, Francis' prisoners and horses went through the portal.
"This isn't over." Francis declared, getting a last word in before heading in himself, the glowing spiral closing behind him.
"Welp, all's well that ends well! Cya!" Rowan declared, and quickly turned around to leave, only to find a cross armed Renee in his way, making him skid to a halt.
"Well you definitely arrived this time, but the Noir Assassin did most of the hard work." She spoke.
"When did you get here?" Rowan questioned, to no response.
"Matter of fact, I'd like to thank him personally." Renee said, and took a look around, but no vigilantes were present. "Where'd he go?"