Honkai Impact 3rd: Don't Die For Me/ Book 3 Paradise

Chapter 85 Blooming Plot

<Black Rose Headquarters>

"We've failed."

Four figures, Petals, in looming darkness facing a single candle-lit woman. They could see her assets bare and the poor man beneath her, most likely dead from the torture. Emelia licked her lips, was this mutiny? Reporting the obvious while she was enjoying herself. This was the furthest boundary they crossed, none would ever disrupt Risa Scharaic.

"Whatever will I do?" Emelia chuckled, while she rolled her fingers on the man's neck.

"Out of bed with you, you harlot!"

Snap! The faint pulses from the man bound by her whip ceased. Three of the four stepped back from the light of the candle. Emelia paid them no mind as she reattached her mechanical hand. Countless bands of leather wrapped around what was left until all traces of symmetry disappeared. One arm was slightly larger than the other.

"Why is Europe in chaos? Why is the Black Rose the greatest enemy of the current church?"

Emelia slipped her perky figure into her undergarments. She combed her jet-black hair with her hands. Her thorn whip released the man as she grasped it. With a flick, faint droplets of blood sprinkled the room.

"It was me," She continued, cooling herself from her pleasure. "It was I who found the traitor that led to her Ladyship's downfall. It was I who found the Revelation he carried. With its truths, I sprinkled faith into the common people and it was they who reproached Schicksal. Cain's rule was challenged and the more he fought against our truth the more those common sheep flocked to this new church."

Emelia inched closer to the lead Petal. An imposing one, almost too tall. She holstered her whip and peered into her colleague's eyes.

"I'm the last Petal bonded to the Rose Head. What did Risa promise us when we joined? Hmm?"

The Petal starred back. The rest of them shifted, perturbed by their realization.

"Anything we wanted." Came the hoarse reply.

"In exchange for our desires, we served her. She treated us well. Her qualities were worthy of sacrifice. All of us were willing to follow her but what did she want? What was her greatest desire? Was it to see the Black Rose flourish? Was it merely power? We don't have that answer, the Head before her death. A handful of our strongest Petals are either dead or captured. Yet our industries, though restricted, are far from crippled. We'll never reach the heights Risa brought us to but to remain as the unseen hand in Cain's rule is all too easy."

"That's true," The tallest petal swallowed her pride. What did Risa desire? Only one person could answer that and they weren't them. "If we were to operate under our previous guise and remain hidden our power may dwindle somewhat but the Rose would remain."

"Even if our headquarters were destroyed today, as long as enough of us survive, the Black Rose will persevere. Notice the ninth Petal is missing? Sent away to free our sisters. Though we can't trade livestock as freely as before, swine will always crave their flesh."

"Then why does the youngest lead? Why does the 203rd Petal lead the Black Rose? Your contributions are admirable but you're a novice."

"I have a vision and our sisters agree. I've said this before, the war will be our requiem for the Head. It'll be our goodbye before we follow what we can illuminate on her Ladyship's desire. That being said, we'll forever mourn her, as what is the Black Rose without her?"

They couldn't breathe, saliva clogged their throats. It was as though they had swallowed clay. Only incremental breaths through dusty vents kept them alive. Sane. In all honesty, they weren't the most qualified of Petals. They were average at best, and most Petals followed Emelia's design.