Chapter 561: 'Peaceful Takeover'

Whimpers hindered by the sound of his own saliva, the more the helper, a man in his early twenties with black hair and dirty acne-filled face, squirmed, the more the dagger dug deep. No sense of tact nor care towards the watching crowd, the lonesome figure had his knee to the helper's neck. He pressed hard in sync with the blade. 

"Someone…" cried the few managing to speak, "-stop him," said they in horror. The growing tension defused – the father and the husband stepped back.

"H-h-he's h-had e-enough," stuttered a frightened Jen who coward behind Rena and Lampard. As for Leonard. He was nowhere to be found. 

"You sure?" returned he unshaken by the cruelty, "-I could dig another if he'd like," leaned to whisper, "-give up yet?"

"Pl-please," coughed he, "-I d-don't want to d-die."

"Then behave," he stood without pulling the weapon, "-where's the doctor?" looking around showed a large table holding supplies, multiple tents in which the benches from the cafeteria were disguised as the beds held patients. Some went back and forth to the headquarters. The unlucky ones unable to get in the ambulances were kept away from the remainder; add to such, those afflicted by the curse were also held in the same tents. Nurses were scared to even venture anywhere close, healers sat hurdled back-to-back besides crates of empty potions. None had the stamina to move, the last of the potions was up to debate, first-aiders had no say in the matter. 

"He just left," said the nurse from before, "-he's going to get help from Meke."

"Look at that," snarled the husband, "-the doctor ran away. Go on missy, why not join him. All they care about is helping the military officials, we count for fuck all, don't we."

"Shut up!" voiced the father, "-you have no right to question their priorities after the mutiny. Fuck you, every single one of you, rot in hell, I very well damn curse you, and if the devil was here, I'd make a contract without a second thought!"

"There's no need to call on the devil just yet," added Igna deeply, "-both of you, go one on one, fight for the potion, isn't that the way the world works, survival of the fittest?"

"W-well," gulped the husband, "-m-my w-wife needs immediate care," sweat filled the cheeks above the bushy beard.

"I'll do it," firmed the father, "-if I can't save my daughter, there's no need for me to stay here." The pain stung, each time he'd glance woefully at the girl, the feeling resounded. 

"Backing out?" he glared and vanished, "-how about this?" dagger to the wife's neck, "-she's nearly dead. I'll kill in an act of mercy. The girl has a better chance. Besides, didn't the doctor say, potions heal physical injuries, not the curse. The latter needs to be cleared by holy water or have an exorcist perform a cleansing ritual." 

"Igna?" paused Anna, "-w-what a-are you saying?" she limped over per Frost's ever-caring squadmate. 

"A triage," said he making for the center, "-so, what will it be, a daughter or a wife? The ones who instigated a pointless mutiny or two bystanders."

Murmurs swept the onlookers, "-what are you doing?" whispered Rena pulling onto Igna's stained shirt, "-why are you trying to have them fight?"

"Let me go," he pulled, "-I don't know you." 

"Come on man," said Lampard, "-there's no need to treat her like that."

"Lampard, I respect you as a person, don't make this any worse. I honestly, don't care." 

"Dude…" sighed Frost, "-how immature can you be, come on man, grow up."

"Says the man who knows nothing about the reality of the situation. This petty squabble is nothing compared to the atrocities suffered by those who really need the potion. Have a look inside the tents, I can feel it from here, the taint of the monsters, it's repulsive." Each word shut their advances, it stung, yet, all was justified.

"Enough," mumbled Jen, "-it's not their fault," said she shedding tears, "-I c-can't a-accept t-this."

"Pathetic," he scowled as if staring pure human trash, "-you're disgusting." 

Meanwhile, the father took a battle stance. Resolve was made in the stature. As for the husband, he knelt at his wife's side to mumble a few prayers. 

"Igna," said Lingling and her companions struggling onto the yard, "-please, help them." 

"Why are you guys here?" he rushed to their side, "-got a death wish?"

"Come on," said Lucia regretfully, "-I hate to ask this… d-do something about them, heal them as you healed us." 

"On one condition," he stood, "-take Ling back and rest." The crowd's silence broke; the daughter's health deteriorated. The pulse slowed; the loss of blood grew harder to endure. The desperate nurse tried her hardest to stop the bleeding.

"Listen here," cried the father, "I'm ready to fight to the death."

"Don't worry," said Igna walking over, "-let him have the potion. Didn't he do so for the sake of protecting the adventurers?"

"What are you saying?" exclaimed he reaching for the collar, "-I made up my mind to die for my girl, don't tell me to back out," the face pulled closer, "-I don't want to lose her, not anymore, I can't bear the pain of losing another loved one, I'LL KILL HIM, I SWEAR!" 

"Please," sobbed the nurse, "-don't die on me."

Helplessness, desperation, the folly of losing someone close. He'd experienced it before, the pain of losing someone. Chef Leko rushed to mind; images of himself returned, how miserable it was, how the world crumbled, how the single amber light extinguished. Everyone here felt the same, regardless of the reason, they'd suffered. 

"Don't worry," said he gently breaking the grip, "-I'll try my best." Quick to rush at the girl's side,"-nurse, do you have experience in surgery?"

"Y-yeah," said she a little flustered.

"Good, then we won't need you," pointing back, "-bring all those who were left to die. Everyone, have the survivors separate more thoroughly."

"W-who a-are you?"

"An Alchemist," he flashed the crest, "-understand now?"

She swapped to a stern expression, "-what are your orders?"

"Do as I said, have people who can be treated by potions at the entrance. We'll heal those mortally wounded right here, is that clear?"

"S-sure," and so, with the help of Jen and her party, another triage went underway. The little lady was taken inside the military quarters. 

"Igna, I heard you were in a pinch," spoke the earring, "-better give thanks to Lady Viola later."

'That's Julius.' The cacophony of airplanes approached from the direction of Rotherham. The TU-05, the heir of the old TU-03, made a hasty descend bearing Phantom's crest. "Don't worry, we've brought supplies and plenty of medics," said he over the channel.

'Cousin, I knew I count on you,' stood inside with a dying child, '-I leave the rest to you and Éclair.' 

Landing at the Southern entrance (facing the Azure Wall) a well-organized team of healers, medics, and doctors rushed the battlefield. Some carried guns and other weapons. Julius stood at the summit of the ramp, '-Cousin, the amount of trouble caused… my head, it's about to explode. Éclair threw a fit, Lady Viola is forcefully pulled from her station. Aunt Courtney starts to send death threats, I'm beat. Pulling supplies and medics this short a time is hell, never again, please no.' 

Those left injured were taken care of immediately. The operation went fast as someone else had readied the fighters as if expecting the support. 

"-A-are we save?" 

"Yes, we're here to help," reassured the medics.

"W-who are you p-people?" asked the nurse helping to move an unconscious man.

"Support division of Phantom's private army. Now, if you'd please?" 

She moved out the way as others took over her duties. 

"Is this any way for a prince to behave?" inquired a lady dressed in black. 

"Lady Serene," sighed he, "-how's the situation?"

"Pretty hectic," said she scrolling through messages, "-the whole situation doesn't bode well. We're forcing our help onto a military establishment. Questions will be asked, trust me."

"I suppose Aunt Courtney and lady Elvira aren't getting involved?"

She shook her head with an 'uh-uh'. "-It's a mess the young master must take care of. Isn't that, right?" she winked.

"Lady Serene," said at the end of his rope, "-do you enjoy teasing other men?"

"What ever do you mean?" coyly avoiding the subject, "-Lieutenant Mello's in charge of this outpost. I heard from the guild he's on route." They passed the remains of a bloodbath. 

"Young Master, please," said the leader of the advance squad, "-we've apprehended the officers."

"Come on," he facepalmed, "-this is supposed to be a good-faith operation, not a siege."

"There, there," grinned Serene, "-a job well done. Conversation will be easier."

'Apprehended the officers', face to what the leader meant, the sentence was a little off the mark. In no way was it apprehension, the squad stormed the building and held unsuspecting uniform-wearing men at gunpoint. Some were tied and pushed to the corner, others had collar bombs around their necks. 

"Phantom never ceases to amaze," said the prince dusting off the issue, "-have the men released. And for god's sake, don't put collars around their necks."

"Understood," saluted he signaling for a more human take-over. 

"Who are you people?" argued Sergeant Appy. The cozy office turned upside down. Table wedge between Corporal Tommy and Zoey. Appy knelt shackled by strong cuffs. Viola sat peacefully with tea in hand. 

"Enough," said Serene, "-leave us be." Footsteps marched on outwards.

"My neck," complained Zoey, "-who the hell does this on an already injured woman."

"I'm afraid Phantom does," replied Viola.

"I do apologize for their rougher way of treatment," said Julius pulling a seat, "-shall we discuss business?"

"Phantom?" inquired Appy, "-why are you involved here?"

"Simple," said Serene allowing for Julius to have a break, "-we were called to help this sorry excuse for an outpost. The death toll, the number of injuries, is this supposed to be a joke. Do you know how much this is going to cost? Money aside, why are the defenses so lax. There's no way to protect against monsters if they climb over the wall, was that something you never thought about?" 

"Our defenses are none of your concern," voiced Zoey, "-this can be seen as treason." 

"Worry not my dear," said Serene with the gentlest and most patriotic way imaginable, "-treason isn't part of this discussion. Shall I bring up the incompetence of the military to care for their people? A look outside and I'm pretty sure the officers here could be court-martialed. There are even rumors floating around about soldiers opening fire on innocents?"

"It's a lie!" cried Appy, "-they mutinied against us." 

"As a sergeant, you have authority over the corporal, meaning, the responsibility of keeping the peace is in your hands after the lieutenant left. Anyway, we're not here to cause trouble. This can be overlooked."

"I'd much appreciate the negotiations to happen without me on the floor," exclaimed Appy.

"Fine, fine," a flick of her finger and the cuff slit, "-shall we start?"

"Might I ask a question?" inquired Tommy.

"No," said she, "-let me guess, you want to know why Phantom is here?"

"Yes," he gulped, her acuteness sent shivers. 

"Easy, we came to help our young master."

"Young master?"

"Yes, that is all you need to know. He asked to bring supplies and save the injured fighters. The takeover is a necessity, one must never be too cautious. The Guild must have enlisted countless ambulances to make the trip south. We'll treat and heal as many as we can before leaving."

"What are your conditions?"

"I've already forwarded the bill to the guild as well as the military."

"But we never asked," voiced Zoey.

"Either pay or the whole ordeal gets published as a scandal of the military," facing Viola, "-I'm sure a Platinum Adventurer's testimony counts more than an officer, considering the mutiny." 

"Alright, alright, we get it," said Appy in a tone of defeat. Serene's way of negotiation was the devil's work – inherited from King Staxius.