Bent Fate (An Arknights Fanfiction)

Chapter 84

Zero takes the cup close to his mouth, secretly taking in the aroma. He glances at the tea in it before taking in a little. The hot liquid burns his tongue and lips.

Kal'tsit and the daimyo turned their heads as Zero jerked back. Shocked, and yet carefully, he places the cup down.

"Sorry..." he whispered, blocking his mouth with a fist.

The daimyo keeps staring at him. "Tea is best served hot."

"I know, I know..." Zero raises his palm. — "I mean, I understand, Your Majesty."

The old man watches as the sankta takes out a handkerchief and wipes his lips.

He eventually stops, and looks back at Kal'tsit who is patiently waiting. "As I said, let us go back where we left off — some things happening in the territories held by the enemy.

"We received reports of, and actually have witnessed several skirmishes escalating within the eastern plates."

Kal'tsit remained silent. The man went on.

"Upon taking a closer look, investigators have identified what seemed like a group of people inciting said battles, but their intentions still aren't clear."

"If I could take a guess, Reunion is not on the smaller side of the scale of non-government organizations. It's a big group, and misunderstandings are commonplace." Kal'tsit said.

The oni nods as he thought of it. "But this particular band seems to have a good fight against most of Reunion, were they... an elite squad of the infected movement?"

His tone sounded as if he wasn't finished talking, or asking, and Kal'tsit listened.

"On a most recent report, this band has been spotted near the eastern towers..." he adjusts himself on the cushion as a samurai comes from behind and hands Kal'tsit a tablet. "Now that I have brought this up, I remember one of two northern towers have collapsed, just before we commenced a counterattack."

"How are they...?"

The daimyo suddenly looks at Zero as he asked.

"... the north, I mean."

"Rebuilding the district would take some time, and more so thanks to the destruction of the tower." the daimyo answered with a sarcastic tone. "And here I was thinking.... could it be, that this band of rebels of a rebelling infected organization are also behind that unfortunate incident?"

"If they are, then they are well set on whatever their goal may be." Kal'tsit concludes.

"Inspections of the rubble revealed hundreds of weapons and equipment. Uniforms too, and all of them are the remains of Reunion soldiers." the old man talked with amusement. "It was a lake of dried, but still new blood that was burried in the ruins."

"That could be why they are so confident in doing such a risky task. It goes without saying that when destroying such a massive structure, all personnel should be at a safe distance. This group must be a formidable threat."

"I have thought of that..." the daimyo was staring at the table's surface as he spoke, but then raises his gaze and meets Kal'tsit's, "And with a group with those capabilities, they shouldn't be left freely roaming the city."

"But they are doing us a huge favor." Kal'tsit tells him.

"They do. But right now we know for certain that they would destroy the towers of the east."

"May I ask," Kal'tsit spoke right after him, "Why are these towers so special?"

Zero's pupils moved from corner to corner as the samurais around made weird motions. Whispering something amongst themselves? Some are exchanging glances.