1 DAY LATER.
CITY OF DAMASCUS, URZIKSTAN.
"Urzikstan? This is the place he was in the beginning of the viewing yeah?" Felt asked as she turned to the duchess.
"Indeed." Crusch answered for everyone else.
"Damascus? Are we going to see another city of Subaru's world again?" Felix asked with glint of cheer in his voice.
Maybe seeing something as incredible as the city they saw before will make people in the room smile more.
The screen lit up to show an immense bird shaped like thing, making a loud noise as it was approaching what looked like mobile stairs coming near to a door in the front.
Everyone widened their eyes in shock and awe.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" Otto shouted uncontrollably.
"It's…A bird?" Julius tried to answer with a slacked jaw.
"Eh, those got bigger…" Al scoffed under his helmet.
"Mh! I told about these, I suppose." Beatrice said with a huff. "These are planes. Bird shaped like object that can fly and transport people."
"But didn't you saaaaaay those were for war my deeeaaaaar Beatrice?" Roswaal inquired to the little spirit.
"Hmpf! I never said exclusively for war." She replied, not bothering to look at the clown.
The door opened as one man wearing a blue uniform was hooking the stairs to the door and going down, leaving the way for people to go out of the plane.
"Who is this?" Asked Wilhelm as he narrowed his eyes.
"His uniform looks like what Lady Karsten is wearing." Ricardo pointed out, making several people look towards the duchess.
"Mh…We're not the same at all …" She silently tried to argue, looking at her clothing.
Multiple people came down, when the camera focused to one man in between, wearing black cap and rather casual clothes along with a large bag strapped to his shoulder, Subaru.
"Subaru is wearing other clothing again!" Petra exclaimed, trying to cheer people up.
"Those choices of clothing is truly something else…" Julius said as he wondered, tapping his hand on his chin.
"Yeah, never seen things like that in here…" Anastasia answered with stars in her eyes. "The design, the quality, the look…"
"But is it me, or big boss bro looks good in any things he wore by now?" Mimi pointed out, making people stare at the outfit.
"Yeah! Capn' is always cool after all!" Garfiel cheered, acknowledging the little cat's words.
"Yes! Subaru-kun is always handsome!" Rem cheered while leaning forward.
The scene changes to Subaru coming closer to a man wearing a military uniform and a weapon to his waist to whom he gave papers out of his vest. He took it and opened a kind of little book in which we could see a photo of Subaru along with things written on the side.
"What is this…" Crusch asked in wonder with eyes narrowed.
"Subaru is presenting it to this man…Maybe it's a rule?" Emilia tried to answer.
"You're on it, lady Emilia." Al voiced out loud.
Everyone turned toward the helmeted man in hurry. Now that they all knew he shared Subaru's origin, he was the one who could answer most of their questions easily.
Seeing the attention on him, Al cleared his throat to explain out loud.
"It's what we call a "passport". Basically, when you travel from a country to another, you need to have these papers with you." He explained." It shows your identity, where you come from and sometimes can justify the reason of your trip."
Several candidates widened their eyes, like Crusch, who put a hand on her chin as she stared the floor, deeply thinking about this.
"It could be a good thing to incorporate here…" She whispered to herself.
Anastasia was one to have the exact same thoughts as the knights looked at each other with surprised faces. The idea didn't sound bad for them as well.
The man looked back and forth to the photo and Subaru, before closing the little book and looking at him right in the eyes.
"American?" He said in a weird accent and a stern gaze.
"Only working for them. I'm Japanese." Subaru replied confidently.
"Doesn't matter." The man replied, with a bitter and upset expression. "You should know that western people are not welcome here."
"Why is that guy so mean?!" Mimi shouted.
"Every time he gets somewhere, he is greeted by dislikable people…" Tivey winced, continuing the thoughts of his sister.
Several people reluctantly nodded to this statement.
"Who is that guy anyway? Is he important?" Felt asked, outraged by his way of greeting her big bro.
"He looks like a guard or something…" Otto answered, analyzing the outfit.
"Yea. He's carryin' a gun like capn'." Garfiel pointed out for everyone, showing the pistol at the man's waist.
Petra frowned and pulled her tongue to the man, showing her displeased thoughts in the least rude way she could.
Frederica patted her head as she was proud, she did so.
Subaru rolled his eyes as he sighed in frustration. Then he nodded his head and turned his gaze again to the man.
"I'm not here to be liked. I'm here because I have a job to do." Subaru told him as he pointed to the second paper under his passport.
The man narrowed his eyes and looked to the second paper that he unfolded to see another picture of Subaru along with "PRESS" written on it.
"Journalist?" The man said with a raised eyebrow." What are you here for?"
"Journalist?" Repeated Ricardo with a confused expression.
Several people instantly turned to Al.
"Er, journalists were the guys who had a job to inform people of their country about things that happens in the world." Al tried to explain.
"What? But isn't Subaru-kun a soldier?" Rem argued with a confused expression.
"He was…Don't tell me he is doing several jobs?!" Ricardo exclaimed as he immediately leant forward, thinking about a revelation he might have made.
"What?! Another work after what is he already going through?!" Emilia shouted as she looked back and forth to the screen and Ricardo.
"My hero is really working too hard…" Rem winced while cursing the merchant princess from stealing his place.
"Stupid Barusu…" Ram uttered under her breath. "Why do you keep worrying those who care for you...?"
Subaru took his bag as he opened it to the man, showing filming materials and one giant camera.
"Rammaza." Subaru spoke with a rather cold tone.
The man widened his eyes in shock.
"What?! But…" The man stopped as he noticed the serious look in Subaru's gaze.
"Woah, woah…What is happening now…" Felt said with a worried tone. She didn't even let go of Subaru yet.
"The name of that city seems to have surprised him." Priscilla replied, narrowing her eyes. "Something might be happening there."
"Something not good…" Frederica whispered. Worried for Subaru…And her brother.
So he backed up and sighed as he looked around him with something akin to pain in his eyes.
With a nod of understanding, he looked to the papers as he folded it back in the passport and handed it over to Subaru.
"Enjoy your stay in Damascus." He said with a low voice.
"شكرا " (Thank you) Subaru answered.
"Did he…" Emilia uttered with wide yes.
"Yes…He just spoke another language." Ram said with surprise in her eyes.
"Well he just said "thank you" though…Everyone can do that nya." Felix exclaimed.
Wilhelm glanced to him, noticing the glint of bitterness in the knight's voice. Which made him shake his head in disappointment as he understood.
Scenes changes to Subaru making a sign to a car, that stopped in front of him.
The driver put the window down, an old man with gray hair and beard who looked at him with a smile as Subaru handed a paper to him.
"OI IT IS EA-"
"No garf!" Frederica corrected with a tap on his head. "The car isn't eating anything."
"BUT YOU SEE IT DON'T YA?!"
"Ah…Rammaza?" He said with an Arabic accent as he looked at him with a small smile.
Subaru nodded his head in approval, then the man made him a sign to get in which he did.
Scene changes to the back of the car as the engine started to roll away from the airport, the camera going up and showing more and more of the buildings all around the airport, made of stone and looking less well done as the precedent city the cast saw, along with the plains of sand around the rocky area and the mountains in the back.
Everyone looked at the scene in awe and shock. This place was nowhere near the modernity and luxury of the previous city they saw. Some were impressed by such differences while the most minimalistic ones where already wondering about the standards of living and situation of this place.
The scene changed to the inside of the car, as Subaru was looking out of the window, narrowing his eyes to the dilapidated buildings and the people outside.
"This place doesn't look too good…" Anastasia winced, noticing the buildings to be damaged.
"Indeed." Priscilla answered behind her fan." It seems this place is in a lower level than the last we saw."
Several other people watched the screen with troubled expression following the princess's words.
Children were playing as the adults were seated outside, watching them, speaking to each other with smiles and laughs, in the middle of the streets of the city.
Subaru winced a bit, even if he had a small smile to the sight of the people being happy and alive, as he knew the quality of their life wasn't as great as it was supposed to be.
'Damascus…I would have loved to see what you looked like before...When you were not the shadow of yourself…'
"…What?" Emilia uttered with a hand on her mouth.
"That's what we thought." Crusch sighed In grief." It looks like this city have been damaged by something…"
"Not something. We know what." Ricardo growled as he remembered the last viewing.
Mimi and Tivey looked up to the dogman with confused and saddened expression.
"War…" Roswaal whispered to himself, narrowing his eyes to Subaru in the front row.
"How much will I discoooooover about you, Subaru?"
The old man in the front looked in the mirror up his head, reflecting the determined eyes of the young man gazing upon the city he was passing in, he smiled himself as he focused back on the road.
"Mh? He seemed pleased?" Tivey said with a curious tone.
"I think this one is a good guy, don't ya worry, I have my instincts for that." Ricardo said as he pated Tivey's head.
Suddenly, in the radio up front, a song started to play, a song that made the man widen his eyes and smile widely, humming in unison of it.
"What's this?" Felt asked as she heard the song.
"Sounds like a…A music?" Reinhard answered as he searched from where that could come from.
"I see no bard with them…" Julius said as he rubbed his eyes, suspecting his eyesight. "No wait, there is several instruments…There can't be only one."
Al scoffed at the people searching for the music as he leaned in his chair with a nostalgic smile.
"Man, that's one of the thing I missed the most." He chuckled as she closed his eyes to appreciate the song. Whatever it was, he didn't care. He just wanted to hear it.
"Dali oh…Dali oh…" He started humming, catching Subaru's attention.
"That's not the driver, his voice is different…" Anastasia pointed, still searching.
Priscilla found herself to be looking for the source of the song as well, as troubled as the others to find out what was creating this melody.
"Hey that song sounds nice!" Mimi said as she listened.
"It's true that it sounds…Appeasing?" Emilia wondered, her eyes twinkling in awe to the melody.
"Why do I feel it familiar…" Otto said as he narrowed his eyes.
Subaru started to listen as well, as a man started singing, the screen providing subtitles to the cast.
"Oh…To that our heart is sad for…"
"Our eyes have been tearing for years…"
"Oh, my lovely country…"
"I am sorry, the Arab world is still asleep."
"What is that…" Rem stuttered in a low voice, reading the subtitles.
"Is it the lyrics of the song? What the man is singing?" Felt said with stars in her eyes…Until she read the subtitles.
Her smile started to fade, as those didn't seem cheerful at all.
"While the melody is pleasing…It doesn't seem like the words spoken are." Priscilla thought out oud.
Everyone silently agreed with her.
Subaru widened his eyes as he came a bit closer.
"Elder, what is this song?" Subaru started speaking, in a language that has been heard before.
Everyone widened their eyes in surprise and shock, as Garfiel and Otto immediately turned to Felix.
The old man widened his eyes in surprise as a wide smile found its way on his face, laughing softly to the sudden words he heard.
"Young man, how come you speak the language of our ancestors so purely?" He asked with a fond smile.
"Well…He-"
"Nah, shut it now." Garfiel laughed.
"Yes. Do not worsen your case, Felix-san." Otto replied with a sly smirk.
Felix gritted his teeth as he looked away from them with a huff, as Crusch turned to him with worried eyes.
What might be happening to him…?
"Big boss bro is really polite with him…" Mimi said with a soft voice, in wonder to the tone of voice Subaru was taking.
"He is showing him respect." Wilhelm answered for everyone with a fond look in his eyes. "Subaru-dono has proper manners."
Emilia looked at the old man and nodded her head several times in acknowledgement.
"Mh! Mh! Subaru is reaaaally well-mannered!" She said with a proud smile.
Her knight was having such a good figure now!
"I'm sure he must have some wonderful parents…" Crusch wondered with a small smile.
Subaru rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"I…I learned, elder. Some time ago already…" The camera focused on Subaru's eyes turning a bit grim as he spoke those words.
As he seemed to remember something.
"He learned the language…" Julius voiced out slowly, eyes wide in awe.
"Hmpf! You are all impressed for such stupid things that it worries me to know you by Betty's Subaru's side, I suppose." Beatrice huffed with a smug.
"How many times do I have to tell you that my contractor is not to be underestimated, in fact?"
Emilia and Rem both chuckled at Beatrice's statement. They both knew how true it was, after all.
"Wait, how many languages does he speak?!" Otto shouted in frustration.
"We'll never leave you alone Gaza!"
"Who is Gaza?" Emilia asked, turning to Aldebaran.
The helmeted man just shrugged in confusion.
The old man turned his eyes back on the road as he sighed with a nostalgic feeling in his eyes.
"This song, young man…Is an history. The history of our people." The old man spoke.
"The history of a country that has been invaded, raided, tortured…While the entire world watched and did nothing." He continued, sighing in remembrance of his own words.
Subaru frowned as he looked to the driver with confused and troubled eyes.
"What…" Reinhard uttered, eyes wide.
"They watched the country suffer and did nothing?!" Felt roared in fury from her place.
"I mean…They might have a reason…" Ricardo trying to understand, unsure of his words.
"It's surely a war." Julius said as he leant in his chair with a respectful look for the driver.
"No. A war is a thing. If the rest of the world just watched and did nothing to help them…" Crusch growled as her fists were shaking. "Then it is nothing but unacceptable."
The duchess growled her words making everyone hear and wince to them. They knew what she was referring to. They couldn't blame her for that.
"They got sick due to endless problems."
"And the corruption of the governments."
"Corruption of the governments?" Anastasia frowned deeply as she read the subtitle.
"Could it be…That they got betrayed by their own…?" Frederica winced with a hand on her mouth.
"You are speaking like you saw everything up close…" Subaru commented, noticing the look in the eyes of the old man.
"Rawaji is the sound of the oppressed people!"
"Whom you do not hear!"
The old man continued to smile as he carefully listened to the music.
"I did see things, young man. I had to make choices and that is one of the reasons I am here now." He confidently admitted.
"What a courageous old man…" Petra said with a smile and tears in her eyes to the song.
"Yeah…Despite what he lived, he's still smiling" Garfiel said as he nodded to the old man's bravery.
Subaru leaned back in his chair as he seemed thoughtful, before nodding his head as he looked into the old man's eyes using the mirror.
"I am sorry." He ended up saying. "But I can see you are still smiling; it is a good thing. That means you are still able to look forward."
The old man started to laugh as this comment, making Subaru chuckle as well.
"Seems they have a friendly banter…" Rem commented, happy to see someone finally treating Subaru kindly.
"Man, Natsuki-san is way too good with words…" Otto said as he smiled to his brother on screen.
"Yeah." Emilia said in a hushed tone. "He is."
"We are aware of your manipulation!"
"Because we are eagles who do not bow!"
"This song sounds really…Saddening and inspiring at the same time…" Crusch commented, impressed by the strong words she read.
"I was thinking the same." Wilhelm continued." It has to be something to boost morale."
"It most surely is…" Al voiced to himself under his helmet.
"Well, I have to." He continued with a fond look. "If they take away my happiness, they win. Smiling to hatred is my own personal revenge."
"That's…" Frederica uttered.
"A very powerful way of taking revenge." Wilhelm strongly stated.
"There is no better vengeance than showing your happiness to those who tried to drag you down."
"Something that Subaru does every time…" Petra said with a small smile, holding onto her big sister's cloth.
Everyone in the room acknowledged those words immediately.
In the front row…A fiery princess widened her eyes as she stared to the screen, lost in her thoughts. The last words of Wilhelm still echoing in her mind.
"Showing your happiness to those who tried to drag you down…" She whispered to herself as she slowly looked to the boy by her side.
What a foolish old man. Equal to that foolish boy.
Right…?
Subaru smiled to these words as he leaned back in his chair, looking out of the window again as the music continued.
He closed his eyes as he started to think about this entire situation over.
'Yeah, I remember about it. One of the first thing we've been taught when entering the army was here... An entire other world. A world where people cannot sleep, eat or breath less they want to be killed by cowardly kings and oppressive dictators. Corrupted leaders that couldn't handle a global wide revolt happening towards their thrones, who decided to kill and burn their people and nations down to the ground just to keep their power with support from outside invaders, being cowards and traitors. All the while selling their resources and countries, honor and heritage just to keep sitting on their thrones until they are not needed by those who holds them on a leash…Middle east in a nutshell.' He thought to himself as he gazed to the dusty horizon of the road.
"Such a horrifying world!" Unable to keep her horror to herself, Frederica shouted in distraught as all around her were slack-jawed at the grim turn of judgment upon the people who lived through these lands.
"Is there no end to this world's darkness?" Reinhard spoke through a hoarse tone that showed his despair and heartache for the people that were cursed to live in such a land.
All of the candidates, even the naive Emilia could only stop and think about what might happen to them had they been the ones who lived in such a place. Would they fight for their own or for their people?
"These people are born at a disadvantage… and they keep fighting?" Anastasia asked as the thought of being stripped of all dignity and sheltered by oppressive regimes filled her with horror as she couldn't think of a higher power that oppresses entire populations.
Moreover, the horror turned to absolute disgust from everyone else as they all heard about the leaders of this world…
"Corrupt dogs." Priscilla spat softly as she waved her fan around and kept her eyes closed while imagining herself decapitating all of these cowardly scum.
Emilia's frown couldn't show just how heated she truly was as her fists clenched up in anger.
"This world is one where these amazing creations were invented… yet these heinous crimes are allowed to be present?" The silver-haired lady whispered in a spine-chilling tone.
"Unfortunately… it appears such a world has been dealing with the consequences of that. 'A world wide revolt.'"
Emilia, Anastasia, and Priscilla all looked at the green-haired duchess as she kept watching the screen with a look of battle hardened resolve.
All candidates and knights couldn't even comprehend such a massive movement being true.
"Who could just help me?"
Everyone's breathing hitched to these last words…Until.
Subaru finally sighed as he leaned down in his seat with a tired smile on his face…Opening his eyes with a pure look of determination.
Emilia held a hand to her chest as she gritted her teeth to Subaru's look, as a smile slowly formed on her face.
"He will…" She whispered. "Subaru will!"
"Of course he will!" Felt exclaimed as she heard Emilia's words, making everyone turn to her.
"Now that he's here, he will help them! He will make things right!" She continued to shout to everyone.
Priscilla could only give a roll of her eyes at the cheesy display of the commoner queen-wannabe. Of course he will. It was such an amusing habit.
As the scarlet-eyed candidate thought this, Anastasia couldn't help but frown a bit in contempt or in worry, her face looked like it hadn't seen emotion in a long time. Such is the way of a merchant.
But she was truly compelled to rub on her beloved scarf with her trembling hands.
She didn't like this.
And it seemed as though the noble head of the Karsten house agreed as Crusch's face formed into a hesitant yet slightly down-word smile.
Showing her worry for the boy as well.
"In what kind of mess did I put myself in again…" He whispered to himself.
Otto and Garfiel both chuckled to their brother's thoughts. While it didn't feel like it, they knew he was saying that with a false desperate look.
"You're used to it, moron!" Otto laughed loud.
"Yeah! Don' try and look like it's somethin' new!" Garfiel roared with a smile.
Julius and Reinhard chuckled to this as well, sharing the thoughts of these two as they perfectly knew Subaru was here…To help.
"It's what you always do after all…" Reinhard said with a smile of gratitude.
"You fool of a hero…" Julius said a he shook his head.
The scene changed to the car rolling away in the dusty roads, out of the city as it disappeared down the road, the camera going up to the mountains away and the sun coming up.
"Mh…" Crusch tapped her chin with her gloved finger, as she admired the scenery.
"Crusch-sama?" Felix asked, curious of the look his lady was harboring on her face.
Crusch snapped out of her thoughts as she turned to her knight.
"Doesn't this place looks like…Or at least, seems like a description of the Augria sand dunes?" She thought loud for everyone to hear.
All the knights of the kingdom instantly widened their eyes, along with the green merchant.
"That's true!" Reinhard exclaimed.
"While I have never really been there, it does seems like this resembles the description…" Julius continued with eyes wide.
"What a marvelous observation, Crusch-sama!" Felix cheered.
"So that's why it felt familiar…" Otto whispered, staring a the screen with eyes glued to the scenery.
The scene changed to the car stopping by the road, as buildings and structures of a town is seen far ahead.
"Here, young man?" The driver asked as Subaru got out of the car.
"Yes, elder. It will be enough. I will walk for the rest." Subaru answered with a smile as he gave money to the driver.
"He's stopping here?" Emilia asked, troubled. "Isn't the city still far?"
"He has something in mind." Crusch continued, tapping the princess shoulder softly." Look at his eyes. There's something he is thinking about."
The old man reached his hand to take the money and looked back and forth to Subaru and his hand.
"What is this?" Anastasia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Is he paying him with this? With paper?"
"That's not paper lady. That's money." Al answered for her.
"They're paying with paper in your world?!" Felt exclaimed in surprise.
"Is paper so rare that it became an exchange currency?!" Otto asked in surprise to the helmeted man.
"Since when is paper rare!" Petra exclaimed to the merchant.
"What? No it's jus-" Al stopped as he saw several people debating on that under him and the claims they were making.
"Oh, fuck it." He sighed as he leant down in his seat.
"You have been through a lot haven't you, young man?" He said.
Subaru seemed really surprised as he got taken aback by this sudden question.
The cast was equally surprised as they looked to each other with critical and worried eyes towards the old man and Subaru.
"How…" Reinhard thought out loud.
"I recognize these eyes." The old man continued with a laugh as he held Subaru's hand.
"Peace be upon you."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"He…He knows?" Felt said in a low voice, directed towards Emilia and Crusch.
"He does." The duchess answered in a hushed tone. "He definitely does."
"How…?" Emilia asked with confused and worried eyes.
"Sometimes…" Wilhelm closed his eyes in respect. "One lives a life long enough to recognize things at first sight."
Upon these words, everyone closed their eyes in solemn respect to the old man.
"Peace be upon you too, honorable elder." Julius and Reinhard both bowed as they whispered in respect for him.
Subaru nodded his head as the old man turned around and drove away, leaving him on the side of the dusty road, as he narrowed his eyes to the city onward.
"There we go?" Otto inquired with a drop of sweat on his forehead. "Usually it's when Natsuki-san is looking at his target that things starts."
"Yeah that's true…But we're not in his point of view yet?" Felt pointed out.
"Hm…Maybe this isn't the beginning yet." Priscilla voiced out.
(The Mandalorian theme starts playing)
Scene changes to Subaru going on the empty, rocky area as he takes place behind a giant rock and opens his bag in which he takes out a piece of tan cloth and the camera that he started to dismantle, the angle showing the entire thing to be actually empty of any electronics as he takes several pieces inside, including what looks like a grip and lower part of a pistol.
"What? Wait that's thing is empty?" Otto asked with a raised eyebrow.
Al stood frozen as he slowly started to understand what was happening.
"Not supposed to be!" He chuckled out loud.
Subaru then starts to assemble the several pieces together in a decent speed, as it bit by bit takes the shape of a pistol, a colt 1911.
"HOLY HELL!" Al shouted in awe. "That's some next level cover up!"
"Wait…You mean that…" Ricardo said as he turned around.
Al shook his head while laughing.
"My man used the journalist thing as a cover to smuggle his weapon. Now he passed security and guards armed up to do his "job"." He explained.
Emilia slowly turned from Al to Crusch…As both of them harbored the same shocked expression, before turning to the screen.
They didn't know what to think between being impressed by this…Or a bit scared by how shrewd and cunning he was.
"BIG BRO IS AMAZING!" Felt screamed in absolute awe. "He had the perfect strategy!"
"He didn't try infiltration…" Mimi said as her mouth fell stupidly.
"No, he really just passed in front of them all like it was completely natural…." Tivey continued, gulping his saliva.
"Walked off, hiding right under their nose…" Anastasia whispered.
Priscilla smiled in absolute delight to the boy's plan. That was really more and more exciting.
Meanwhile…
"WHAT?!" Julius exclaimed, his voice filled with fear. "He constructed his weapon this fast from pieces?!"
"How?! He can do that?! He just needs pieces and he can craft a…A gun?!" Felix shouted with horrified eyes.
Reinhard gulped down as he didn't want to think about a scenario where Subaru would do that…In this world. He was really glad to not have him as an enemy…
Everyone else stared at the screen with wide eyes and slacked jaws, some shivering to the idea of having to meet a gun.
"Mh...That's…Unexpeeeected…" Roswaal uttered in worry.
Ram cleared her throat as she gripped her chair handles tightly, afraid and worried…
And Al…Oh Al was laughing his ass off in the last row, looking above everyone shitting themselves to the simple idea of Subaru going rogue.
"I mean yeah, they have a right to be scared." He said between his laughs.
Then, he took up a map in which coordinates were written along with markings that he read along with his phone in which a compass was, all the while he seemed to scan the area with his eyes, until he stopped to a building.
He looked back and forth to the map and the building, nodding and taking bullets out of his bag that he put inside a magazine, before clapping it inside the pistol and loading the barrel, as he reassembled the camera and put it in the bag again.
"Alright, now that is becoming serious…" Ricardo exclaimed.
"Gun is loaded…He's ready for it to go down." Al continued.
"But what did he do just now…? It's like he was looking for something." Felt inquired to everyone.
"I think…" Reinhard wondered as he was still half in his thoughts. "That what was written on the map and his…Metia, helped him to find the building he was looking for."
Several people turned to the sword saint, as his explanation seemed coherent.
"He's really resourceful." Anastasia whispered as she bit her lip. "There's no way I'm leaving him in her care."
The scene changes to Subaru approaching slowly from the other part of the city, observing the guards as he comes closer to the building without being spotted, before entering by a cracked window.
Inside, he is shown taking his gun and approaching forward in the darkened corridor, only lightened up by cracks in the ceiling.
"Am I the only one who's feeling hot right now…?" Otto commented as he pulled his collar with his finger.
"It's really starting to get worrying, indeed." Julius said as he leant forward.
The angle changed to the side, showing Subaru slowly walking and approaching towards a door…Until a barrel came closer to the back of his head along with a loud *click*.
Emilia gasped in fear as she recognized the barrel of gun.
"Subaru-kun!" Rem cried.
"No!" Crusch shouted.
Priscilla narrowed her eyes in confidence with a smirk. She knew there was nothing to worry about.
"Not Russian? And not a bad approach at all…" A rather feminine voice spoke in Arabic.
Subaru sighed as he slowly put his hands up, showing the gun in evidence.
"I am here to meet Karim…Captain Price sent me."
And the screen faded black.
"What?! What happened?! Why is it turning black?!" Emilia started to cry in worry, her heart not stopping to beat under her chest.
"Hey, hey calm down! We didn't hear any gunshots!" Al argued. "He's surely not dead."
Emilia looked up to him with tear filled eyes as she tried to calm herself down. Her eyes slowly lead to Subaru right in front of her, as she saw Felt gazing at her.
Felt smiled in understanding and loosened her grip on him, inviting Emilia to feel him a bit. An invitation that she gladly took as she slowly posed her hand on Subaru's shoulder, happy to feel his warmth.
"Thank you…Felt-chan." She whispered to her, earning as wide smile from the little thief.
Crusch looked at her on the side and frowned as a pout formed on her face…It was a bit unfair for her wasn't it?
She turned to the screen again, awaiting for it to lit up. Waiting for Subaru to come back on sight.
"You're okay…Right?" She whispered to herself.
Scene changed to show the city of Rammaza from above as the sky was clear and the sun hitting the city with its bright light.
A rather loud sound was heard as a plane passed in front of the screen, shooting a place in the back and creating an explosion.
It's…!" Otto tried to say before he saw the explosion.
"By the dragon…" Reinhard uttered in shock.
"It happened so fast! It just passed and created an explosion!" Julius continued in shock.
"Yes." Beatrice winced as she took a hold of her contractor. "This is what I told you. A war plane."
Several people in the room shivered to the name itself. Fast flying object that was creating such damages instantly? That was perhaps the most horrifying thing they ever heard.
"Pfft." The clown chuckled." I can do that tooooo"
"Yeah, but you're a disgusting creep. A warplane is looking cool at least." Al scoffed, making everyone in the room laughs to the rant.
Ram growled towards the helmeted man in anger. How dare he insult her master?!
URZIKSTAN.
RAMMAZA.
"Al-Qatala's claiming responsibility." A feminine voice started to speak, recognizable as Laswell.
"On orders from the wolf in Urzikstan…" A male voice replied in a tired tone, which was price.
"Those are…er…" Garfiel scratched the back of his head.
"The guy's voice is Price!" Ricardo exclaimed, remembering the badass bearded man.
"Yeah, and the girl is Laswe-"
Otto stopped speaking immediately as he felt a threatening aura coming off of certain people near and behind him, making him choke on his last words.
"Ya okay man?" Garfiel said in worry.
Frederica titled her head in worry as she tapped the back of the merchant, coughing loudly as he glanced to his left, meeting with the scarlet eyes of the devil.
He simply gulped down as he redressed on his seat.
"Yeah…I'm fine…Thanks Frederica-san…" He said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Subaru should be on the ground there by now. Looking for the stolen gas."
The screen started to slowly go down as Subaru was seen being brought by 2 others inside a building.
"Subaru!" Emilia exclaimed.
"What is happening?" Felix said as he observed the screen.
"Looks like he has been taken prisoner…" Wilhelm said as he understood the situation.
"That was to be expected…" Julius said as he cleared his throat, noticing the several worried gazes.
"I'm ready to bet right here and right now that he is prepared." Ricardo voiced as he puffed his chest.
"Yeah!" Garfiel smiled to the dogman. "Capn' always has a plan!"
"Well, he'll need the liberation forces on his side, so I made him contact the CO." price replied.
"So, you know commander Karim?" Laswell questioned.
"karim? That was the name Subaru-kun mentioned." Rem noticed as she remembered the last scene.
"Indeed." Crusch nodded her head." It's planned. I'm sure."
"We're acquainted." He briefly answered. "I told him to use my name…Or they'll kill him."
"Hell, good luck with that." Al scoffed, earning glares from everyone in the room.
"I wasn't referring to his-Er…Nah, nothing." Al grunted as he ignored them and kept looking at the screen.
Scene changed to Subaru being brought inside of a room as he is forced to sit down, held at gunpoint by a soldier on his side.
In front of him, a large table, onto which Subaru recognized his weapon, lightened up by a small window on the side with three other people at the other end shrouded in the darkness, as a woman advanced closer to the table.
"What is your message from captain price?" Spoke the lady in a rather cold tone.
"Her tone and her position…"Crusch narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "She is the one in command."
Priscilla nodded her head to the duchess's words as he came to the same conclusion.
Subaru cleared his throat as he looked at the lady with a focused gaze.
"Commander Karim…" He started. "I'm-"
"CIA." She cut him, expressionless. "You are not the first one to come around here. However you are the first one trying to contact us."
She crossed her arms as she as she looked down on him.
"I'm listening, CIA." She sternly added.
"Harsh treatment again for our boy…"Ricardo winced.
"It's normal this time…." Anastasia explained as she closed her eyes. "Natsuki-kun is a stranger who came from nowhere to contact them. There's no reason for them to trust him."
"I hope for them that they don't do anything to my contractor, in fact." Beatrice growled out.
"Yeah, what you're gonna do? Go in their world and make them pay?" Mimi laughed.
However, she stopped her laugh rather quickly as she noticed that Beatrice was hardening her gaze to the screen.
"Wait you're not serious?!" She exclaimed in shock.
"I don't think we should underestimate the loli." Al said with a troubled tone. "If it's her she might damn do it."
Subaru sighed as he looked briefly around him and meet the eyes of the lady again, inspecting him from her position.
"This is rather classified…" He noted, making a sign to the people around them.
The woman titled her head as she narrowed her eyes to him.
"Go cousins, get ready." She spoke in Arabic.
"Alright, so she's really the one in command." Otto said as he gulped down.
"I hope this doesn't become too hard for him." Frederica said as she hugged her little maid.
"There's no way Subaru would mess up!" Petra tried to argue…Something that some people strongly doubted regarding certain events.
People in the room all acknowledged to the order as they went towards the door behind Subaru and left the room, as Subaru glanced to them until the door was shut.
The woman leaned forward, taking support on the table as she looked right at Subaru.
Subaru turned to her.
"Forty-height hours ago, terrorists stole a shipment of Russian gas."
The commander titled her head as she seemed thoughtful for a brief moment.
"Only Al-Qatala would do this." She replied.
"Things are getting serious…" Julius said a he leaned closer, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, it seems like they know those…"killers" nya." Felix continued, remembering the meaning of "AQ."
"I remember that "Price" fella speaking about the resistance forces." Anastasia pointed out. "Maybe those "killers" are their enemies too."
"The killers would have the power of an entire country while a resistance fights them?!" Reinhard exclaimed in shock.
"Talk about a messed-up situation…" Otto winced.
Subaru scoffed as he got up from his chair to the side of the table.
"The Russians makes no distinctions between Al-Qatala and your people."
"And I make no distinctions between Al-Qatala and the Russian army." She replied with a forced chuckle. "they are both terrorists."
"Uh…Wait why did the "Russians" entered the discussion?" Tivey said in a confused voice.
"I agree." Crusch said as she nodded her head. "Is the situation more complex than we first thought?"
Emilia breathed out with a troubled expression as her eyes stood glued to the screen.
"In what situation did you put yourself in again…" She whispered.
The scene changed to show Subaru standing before the sunrays of the window.
"We would never use those poisons." She said confidently.
"Poison? The gas?" Anastasia questioned.
"What is a "gas" anyway?" Garfiel said in a loud voice.
Several people turned to Al, curious and eager to see what he would respond…As the helmeted my simply clicked his tongue and ignored them.
"Eh…Come on man." Ricardo asked with a friendly smile.
"Nope. Don't remember." Al answered.
"…You are lying…" Crusch pointed out with worried eyes.
Al stood his ground as he kept ignoring them, keeping his sights on the screen.
"Then help us track it…" Subaru answered with a nod to her previous words. "Before they-"
"Before they what?" She cut her with a false, curious tone. "Take it to Europe? To America?"
The lady scoffed as she shook her head, the situation being falsely amusing for her.
"We live like this every day…"
"What are they living…" Reinhard said in confusion and fear. "Why does she look so desperate…"
The door behind her suddenly opened as a man entered, speaking sternly.
"Commander, it is time to go-" He stopped as he looked to Subaru standing.
"Who is this?" He said as he turned towards the woman.
She glanced towards him and crossed her arms as she turned back to Subaru.
"CIA, this is my brother and lieutenant, Hadir." She presented.
"The commander…The lieutenant…This resistance has an organized army." Julius said as he crossed his arms.
"This is the base of every military force to have a hierarchy." Wilhelm pointed out. "Some are made to command, some to fight."
Hadir narrowed his eyes as he walked towards him in a slow pace.
"You are CIA?" He inquired.
"He works with Captain price." She answered for him.
Hadir scoffed as he past behind him, as Subaru kept keeping an eye on him.
"Then you kill Russians, yes?" He asked.
Beatrice narrowed her eyes in anger towards that man.
"Woah eh…" Ricardo growled with an unhappy expression.
"Straight on the killing matter uh?" Felix spat in a angered tone.
"Wait, isn't these people…Those Subaru isn't allowed to attack?" Reinhard voiced out loud as he remembered the first viewing.
"Yeah!" Mimi exclaimed. "Laswell lady told him he couldn't!'
"Tch."
"Then why do they talk about killing them…? And why is Subaru the one asked that question?" Julius pondered…Trying to understand.
"Subaru isn't a killer!" Emilia exclaimed in anger.
"No but he is a CIA." Al answered, making Emilia glare at him. "I told you these guys are the elite for a reason lady. Don't think they earned their reputation by sitting down around a table with their enemies and talking things through."
Emilia and Crusch widened their eyes as they gritted their teeth towards toward the one-armed fighter situated above.
"Even so, you do not need to phrase it like that. You know Subaru-sama, you know he isn't this kind of man!" Crusch shouted back.
"Oh I know lady, but I'm tired of y'all screaming and low key berating him for killing bad guys. He's strong. Hell he even have a reputation strong enough to make their leader fucking piss himself just by seeing him and you're all here crying out every time he's fighting or that his skills are recognized." Al spat out with a condescending tone.
Everyone in the room stared at him with mixed feelings, confused and troubled expressions. His mistress herself stared at him with narrowed and mean looking eyes.
But not because of him.
Because he was right.
"I'm not questioning him to be a good guy people." He concluded. "But he's doing what needs to be done, exactly because he is a good guy."
And those last words…Echoed into the minds of everyone.
"I have…Friends who can help us." He answered with a nod. "But your sister decides what's next…"
"Of course,…" He replied as he came back to Subaru's right. "My sister is in command…"
"…And the Russian army is still here, Farah." He said as he looked at her.
"Why do I feel that his words were aimed at her right now?" Anastasia said with a raised eyebrow.
"Because that's the case." Priscilla continued, unhappy to see that man seeming to question his sister to be in command.
The commander looked at both of them.
"This occupation must end." She said as she put a point in the last word. "That we can all agree on, right?"
Subaru nodded his head.
"An occupation? Military one?" Wilhelm raised his head, troubled.
"Wait a sec…Are these Russians…" Anastasia started to pierce through.
She sighed as she leant forward the table, as the screen went up, showing the entire map from above with circles traced on it.
"General Barkov's men control the city. We have plans to change that." She said as she took a bullet and placed it in the middle of a red circle.
"G-General Barkov?!" Reinhard exclaimed in surprise.
"That's the mean guy from the beginning! I remember! Big boss bro had to steal his gas before being attacked!" Tivey exclaimed, making everyone remember.
"Holy shit!" Ricardo grunted.
"That's true!" Garfiel roared as he stepped forward.
"So these "Russians" are here? In this city?!" Felt inquired, earning nods from everyone.
"We have no missiles but…We have our ways. " Hadir said as he lifted his head with a smirk towards Subaru.
"Missiles?" Crusch repeated with suspicious eyes.
"I…Kind of don't like that smile." Otto scoffed.
"Me neither." Frederica continued.
Behind all of them…Al laughed silently.
"That's going to be awesome…"
The camera changes towards the lady's face as she focuses her eyes to Subaru.
"If you stay, we can help you. But if you stay…You fight." She said, harboring a strong gaze.
Many people stood impressed by the will the lady's eyes.
"Alrigh' she has some backbone!" Garfiel roared in excitement.
Priscilla and Crusch both nodded their heads, acknowledging the lady's behavior.
"Did she just asked Subaru to fight?" Julius chuckled.
"Dumbest rhetoric question I heard." Felt chuckled back.
Emilia softly smiled to the little blonde. She had to recognize that when it came to fighting, Subaru would never back down.
Subaru looked at the map before raising his eyes towards her and smiling as well.
"Then, let's fight." He answered in arabic.
Hadir chuckled as he nodded his head, picking up the colt on the table and tossing it to Subaru.
"Welcome to Urzikstan, CIA." He said with a wide smile.
"Damn he's cool." Otto said as he shook his head tiredly.
"Let's go Capn'!" Garfiel roared in awe, stars in his eyes.
Rem smiled confidently, soft eyes directed to the screen.
"Go, my hero…Help them."
Priscilla softly smiled as she looked at him.
"Come on. Impress me even more like you always do."
Subaru grabbed his pistol as he nodded to him with a confident smile on his own.
"Follow me." The commander said as she took her rifle, showing the way to the two other men going after her.
The camera then came closer to the map as the music became louder and louder, focusing to the red circle and bullet situated on the table.
And the screen went black.
"Alright, now it will start…" Otto said again, now sure of his words.
Everyone leaned forward, ready to see the viewing.
"These tunnels are our lifeline." Farah said as the screen was still black.
A screeching sound was suddenly heard as a red light suddenly appeared in the hands of Farah, with what looked like a flame at the end of it, revealing her, Hadir and showing the cast that they were seeing in the perspective of Subaru.
"Yeah. Yeah, there we go…" Ricardo said in a low voice, picking up Otto's words.
"What is she holding? It's a flame?" Felt asked with a curious look on her face.
"I have no idea but it does look like fire." Reinhard answered, curious as well.
"We have intel Russian troop commanders are in town today. We're going to ambush them." She informed him
She started walking in the tunnel towards a ladder as Hadir and Subaru followed her.
"How?" Subaru asked.
"Explosives." Hadir answered with a laugh.
"Uh uh…That's one hell of a ambush." Ricardo laughed.
"…Well, that'll get their attention." He scoffed back.
The dogman scoffed to the similarities.
"And pull security away from the Russian base, leaving it open to our attack." Farah continued.
"We must hold nothing back." Hadir said in a cold tone as he directed to Subaru.
"Too far on that path and we lose ourselves." Farah corrected her brother.
"Wise words, lady…" Wilhelm said as he shook his head. "Wise words…"
He knew perfectly what it was to lose himself on a darkened path.
Several other people nodded to her words.
"You have no idea." Roswaal commented.
Ram simply looked up at her master with a worried look.
The three fighters approached a ladder leading up and out of the tunnel. Farah handed off her flare toHadir.
"Get set for the airbase attack." She ordered him.
"Be safe." Hadir nodded to his sister, before turning to Subaru, handing a pack to him.
"C4 with remote detonator."
"Thanks."
"Watch my sister. Good luck."
"Watch his sister?" Ricardo laughed. "Did he just…"
"Sounded like an "authorization" for me!" Al laughed loud…Making several ladies including his glaring at him.
Subaru nodded to him as he took the C4 and followed Farah.
"You too."
Subaru climbed up the ladder behind Farah, eyes up in front of her behind. Farah knocked on the trapdoor leading out of the tunnel, which is opened by one of Farah's men who helps Farah out of the tunnel.
Beatrice kicked the chin of her contractor immediately to punish him, making Reinhard wince immediately for him.
Rem glared at the screen in anger, her horn nearly showing.
Emilia harbored a troubled expression before shaking her head strongly. Subaru isn't like that after all.
Crusch grunted as her honey-colored eyes glared in anger to the screen.
Priscilla scoffed as she saw this inferior rear on the screen.
"Pathetic." She commented.
Anastasia simply chuckled to these idiots getting jealous for nothing.
As she was squeezing the hand of the sleeping boy a bit harder.
"Hello, Tariq."
"Quickly now, come!" Said the old man as he helped her to go out.
Following Farah, Subaru goes out of the tunnel as well when he is noticed by the soldier.
"Who is that...?" He said with a wary tone.
"He is trustworthy." Farah replied as she directed towards the table in front of them.
Farah guided Subaru to the table as she hands a scarf to him.
"Here. Put this on."
Subaru took it and wrapped it around his face, making it so only the eyes are visible while Farah makes a hijab with her scarf.
"How do I look?" Asked Subaru.
Farah narrowed her eyes as she came closer, approaching her hands from Subaru's head as she was adjusting the scarf a little bit.
"Hand-"Beatrice started
"Hands off!" …Crusch screamed, to the surprise of everyone looking at her…
The duchess's face became as red as blood when she noticed her scream and everyone staring at her, before she cleared her throat and quietly seated down.
"Mh. That'll do." She smirked with a satisfied expression.
Priscilla and Emilia did however glared heatedly at the tanned woman.
"Tariq, what's the report?" She asked the man as she came closer to him, while he was observing the front of the house by the window.
"Russians are just outside. If they see your weapons, they will shoot." Tariq informed as he saw Subaru's weapon at his waist.
He then took a device that he handed to Farah.
"If that happens…" She said as she took the device. "Our plan fails before it even starts."
"Things seems to be calculated…Let's see how this goes." Julius stated as he focused on the screen.
Subaru nods as he open his vest to conceal his pistol there. Farah put her scarf up her face and made Subaru a sign to follow her.
The door opens to lead into the front of the house, in the streets of Rammaza. There, Russian soldiers are seen interrogating several civilians, beating up one, and leading another away in front of everyone's eyes.
"What the-" Garfiel jumped out of his seat with anger in his eyes.
"WHAT the fuck!" Ricardo growled out.
"What are these soldiers doing?!" Anastasia commented with critical eyes. "Beatin' up civilians?!"
"Those are Russians…" Reinhard glared in anger. "The occupation forces…"
"Please! I don't know what I did wrong! I don't know!" A man cried as he was getting beat up.
"Because of you- no more rations today!" The solider shouted while he angrily hit him multiple times.
"I didn't steal anything!" The man cried more.
"I don't get it…Why…Why are they doing this?!" Emilia screamed as she felt horrible for these people.
"It seems they accused him to steal…He's paying for that." Felix answered, still angry.
"What is wrong with those soldiers?! This is nothing but a supposition!" Felt screamed in fury.
Priscilla hardened her wrathful glare as she felt strongly like burning these Russian soldiers to death.
Subaru is growling in anger as he assists to the scene, seeing everyone looking away and Farah continuing to walk in the streets of the city. Understanding that he can't do anything, he simply continues to follow Farah.
"Farah…" He called the commander.
"I know." She immediately answered, keeping the pace.
"Subaru…" Emilia whispered. She understood how much guilt he had to carry right now…To be this powerless.
"SHIT!" Felt screamed while punching her chair handle.
Reinhard hung his head low in guilt and pain. He knew he couldn't do anything right now. And he knew his friend was feeling the exact same thing right now.
Subaru grunted as he followed her into the passage of what looked like an abandoned bazar.
Loudspeakers throughout the city boomed with the voice of General Barkov.