Chapter 64: Almost Near

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

'Thoughts'

"Active skill name or magic spell"

'Active skill name or magic spell in thought'

"Activation phrase"

'Activation Phrase in thoughts'

"Speech"

*action*

Time*

Noise*

(Location)

[Skill Name] - Passive or Active - AP cost: or none

Description: Info on skill

[Item Type]: [Type]

[Name]: [Item Name]

Durability: 100%/100%

Quality: Poor - Common - Uncommon - Epic - Legendary - Ascendant

Grade: E-/EX

Value: [System Point]/(Cannot be sold to [Persona System])

Description: Info on [Item Name]

[Extra Info]: [Extra Info]

Chapter 64: Almost Near

Days?: The Seventh And Last Day of the Week Time Limit Part 2

(Vale: Vale City: Junior's Club: Temporary Dining Hall)

All the guests started getting excited once Neo's explained this last day of the auction could literally change their lives if they win the bid for the last [Item]. No one among the guests has any ideas what it could be, but it should be something worthwhile. If someone from the infamous Arcana said it themselves.

Then, it must be trusted, because of one of the known facts about the Arcana. Is that they would always keep their word, even if it means they lose at the end of the mission.

However, this doesn't change the fact that the Arcana is very dangerous. As every lose would equal to one way to destroy the client's life for causing them to lose a life of a member belong to the Arcana or tricked them.

"Now, I'll repeat our rules just in case for those that don't remember it. Like usual, One: No one causes any trouble during the auction. Two: If you don't have an invite, you must leave, willing or not. Three: You can offer what you think is valuable up for auction to gain enough fund to bid. Which we will do first before getting to the last [Item]. Unless no one here brings anything to auction?" Neo looks at all the guests to see if there anyone among them wished to put something of value up for auction.

However, unlike the other days, no one planned to sell anything today and they have already brought enough funds to win the last [Item].

"Seeing that no one putting up anything for auction, then I shall continue the rules. Four: You must have the correct or above amount of Lien when bidding or you will be kicked out for trying to raise the price for no reason other than getting others to pay higher than the value of the [Item] should be. You can do that all you like, but you also must have enough Lien to do so." Neo glared at one of the guests that tried to do the same thing two days ago.

"And last but, not least, Five: We don't care about what happened to the [Items] you won from the auction once it leaves the building. As it's no longer fall under our protection. So do not expect us to protect you by coming back inside here just because you have the [Item]. We do not have any ownership over it after you take it off our hands." Neo really like this rule, because she saw it happen more than once a few days ago, with the [Talismans] and [Teas] set. It was pretty fun to watch in her opinion.

"Now, that's over with. Today we have our handmade special scrolls. Before you guys think this is a scam. I must have you guys be silence so I can explain everyone why it's so special." Neo noticed some of them already stand up from their seats and was about to shout at the top of their lungs, but thanks to her status as an Arcana member, temporary, but still one. Was enough to stop them in place before things get crazy.

"If everyone remembers how Vale was invaded by the White Fang and the grimm. The Cross Continental Transmit System was close to being destroyed by them if what my information department reported. So, our top members decided to overcome this big weakness of ours and for the kingdoms later on if we decided to. But, enough of that. We managed to create a scroll that has its own CCTS built inside for long distance. However, we made it so that only these scrolls could use this build in CCTS. Also, don't try to re-engineer it and find a way to recreate it. Because we planted a program inside to destroy itself if anyone tries to break it apart to find a way to recreate it." Neo informs everyone the special handmade scrolls before them.

Honestly, I created this long ago and almost all top members of the Arcana possess one. Currently, I'm trying to figure out what methods to build one for the [Dark Hour], because sometime the scrolls won't connect most of the time.

"Why would we want that, when the CCTS still up and running?" One of the guests was stupid enough to ask such a question when clearly Neo just told everyone that this is just in case the CCTS shut down, then everyone can't contact the other kingdoms even if they wanted to. Since if one of those towers fall down, then the rest won't work anymore.

"Anyone got a smart question before we start the question?" Neo ignored the guest that asked the stupid question, much to their annoyance at being ignored, but kept their mouth shut when they know they can't do anything they wished like usually outside this building.

"No? Then, let's begin the auction. As you can tell, we're putting up six special scrolls, which I would like to call them the [World Scrolls] due to possessing the ability to contact each other scroll from anywhere on Remnant. The starting bid is 600k Lien, with 100k Lien at least for raising the bid. Now, who wants to start us off first?" Neo gives everyone a bright smile, causing some to shout at her for her hand in marriage while some actually bid for the [Items].

Leaving Neo to do her job and Pyrrha to back her up. As I start doing my job by protecting the area around the building. Because of some bad history of staying one place too long and being surrounded in all directions wasn't a fun experience.

(Vale: Vale City: Junior's Club: Rooftop)

So without wasting any more time. I climb up the stairs and outside on the rooftop, where the cool night air blows around me once I open the door. Looking up at the night sky, where I could barely see the stars.

Due to the lights all around me from countless buildings still running their busy during the night and with the Second Great War, these businesses are actually helping the army by trying to raise enough Lien to fund the army and the war.

Switching over to [Kiri Nanaya] and deploy [Eagle Vision] on a large scale and made a purchase in my [Persona System] to refill my aura reserve back to its peak. Then, use [Flashing Dash] and [Shadowless Evasion Art] together.

[Flashing Dash]:

Active Effect: The ability to essentially "teleport", or move so quickly that one loses sight of the user in an instant.

Type: Active

Target: Self

Rank: 5

Cost: Vary, lowest cost of [E+]: 1%(15AP:Aura Point) Aura Unit Level per second

While rushing towards the hidden spies, that keep on trying to see if they could find a hold in the defense I placed over the Club's building.

I double check on how many enemies there are tonight and found out they triple the numbers than what it was yesterday. Which was 30 of them before and now there are 90 or so more of them this time and some of them even bring in some heavy equipment against me.

So not to make those that brought these types of equipment here to go to waste. I started off with them first. Sadly, for them, all their scanner devices are useless before my [Shadowless Evasion Art] after gaining [Grandmaster Detection Mastery] to find the right moment to go undetected on their devices.

Since I haven't reached [Grandmaster Rank] in the other [Skills] for the [Shadowless Evasion Art]. I can't completely hide against these devices and just find the right moment to do so. Before I strike.

Watching one of them speaking to someone on their scrolls and discover it was one of the guests in the Club, where the auction is currently going. I would have to guess this group of 3 are from that guest's order.

Waiting for the very last seconds until the other two's attention is no longer placed on the last one with the scroll. I struck; knocking the last one's neck and catching the scroll, where I quickly insert the [USB Flash Drive] into the enemy's scroll that has a pre-existing program to place a virus into their scroll and send it to the other side of the caller's scroll.

Then, I destroyed the scroll and use [Flashing Scabbard] to kill the other two before they realize what happened.

[Flashing Scabbard]:

Active Effect: The ability to attack extraordinarily quickly. Increasing the user's physical attack speed.

Type: Active

Target: Self

Rank: 5

Cost: Vary, lowest cost of [E+]: 1%(15AP:Aura Point) Aura Unit Level per second

Afterward, I destroyed their scrolls as well, then put away all their equipment into my [Inventory] before leaving the scene and head for my next set of targets to get rid of.

Next was a set of 5 and was just across the building from the Club and on the Rooftop as well. Where I discover two of them are holding [Sniper Rifles] while the other two are reporting to these snipers about the targets in the Club, making them the spotters.

As for last one; this one was making a daily update to one of the guests. Therefore, this was my first target as I pull out my [Ice Thorn] and go straight for the kill.

Doing the same as the previous one; I plant a virus into their scrolls while taking care of the ones that have a bit more awareness, but leave those that don't for last until I got rid of the others.

1 hour later*

I finally have gotten rid of all these spies. It would have taken less time if they weren't spread around so far away from each other location. I guess they learned from those previous days to not stick too close to the Club.

Not that it helped them that much from my [Eagle Vision]. Furthermore, I gained a good amount of [System Points] by killing these spies by myself. Making up somewhat of the losses on my [System Points] to refill my aura reserve back to full.

Pulling out my scroll and call for Pyrrha, who picked up after the first beep and her face appear on my scroll's screen.

"Yes?" Pyrrha gives me a smile, which I returned of my own and notices the auction is still going hot, even when an hour passed by now.

"I've finished taking care of our little spies. I'm heading back right now, but put your guard up because I got the feeling some of our guests will cause some problems soon." I said in a serious tone, causing Pyrrha's face to go from her default expression to a blank one she starting to use in a serious fight with her life on the line.

Pyrrha didn't say anything and end the call. Usually, Pyrrha would say something before ending the call, but after a few days of training under Shigure. Pyrrha is trying to develop her mindset similar to Shigure in order to have somewhat a control over her emotions than she already has trained.

Because after a few days of being the host of the Fall Maiden. All of us discovered that being half of the host does have some side-effects, and that happens to cause Pyrrha to be a bit more emotional sometime when she usually more control over what she shows to the world.

This would have been known in the first week of Pyrrha becoming the Fall Maiden, but with all the kinds of stuff, we're going through. Everyone would think it's just because of stress and something else, but was actually due to only having the incomplete version of the Fall Maiden.

It's a good thing, Pyrrha a fast learner and took a few days to get some decent control over her emotion before it gets the best of her during a critical moment.

(Vale: Vale City: Junior's Club: Temporary Dining Hall: VIP Room)

Returning back to the Club's Rooftop and use [Earth Magic] to merge myself with the build similar to swimming underwater, for faster travel and land right next to Pyrrha from the ceiling once I redeployed [Eagle Vision] to find her.

It only took me around 10 minutes or so to get from where I was and back to the Club, and then land right next to Pyrrha, who was looking over the guests below us from the second floor. In a private room for VIP.

"Anything new happens while I was gone?" I ask Pyrrha, who glance at me before going back to look below and sometime around the area for any unwanted guests.

"Some of the guests had to leave due to their tempers got the better of them and made some threats and went physical. I had to drag them out of the building, then a few more tried to do the same when I was just a few seconds away. But, that didn't last long when I throw a few sharp objects at them to make them quiet." Pyrrha replied without a single change in her expression.

I poke Pyrrha in the ribs, causing her to squeak at the sudden poke in her rib from me and quickly took a few steps back before glaring at me.

As a response to her unspoken threats; I just wink at her and pull her into a one-armed hug. "Oh, chill out Pyrrha. I know I shouldn't be the best person to say this, and that's saying something." Pyrrha quietly nods in agreement with me. "But, you don't have to have complete control over your emotions. Just enough to not make you distracted in your fights. I know that happens to me more than once."

"I guess. But, my situation isn't worse than yours, Em." Pyrrha rolls her eyes at me, and find her situation just a bit better. While my case was countless of dangerous [Persona] within my Sea of Souls that could cause the world to be on the brink of destruction if one of these [Persona] ever come out of my Sea of Souls.

Furthermore, [Nyarlathotep] was literally just messing around at the time and never took things seriously or else just a few seconds alone and the world would end.

"No need to bring that sad topic up." I rub the top of her head with my free hand, causing her to pout at me for ruining her hair a little before it took a few seconds to straighten it back to normal.

"Look like the auction is getting close to the end." I said to Pyrrha, where both of us could see that Neo is just about to bring this whole thing a close once the bids went over the limit of what they could take from these guests before other forces would come in for the massive amount of Lien due to their greed overcoming their common sense.

Neo announced the winner in one of the guests, that happen to be General Ironwood, which both Pyrrha and I was surprised to see him here at first since out of the whole week. This was the only day he attended and actually won the [World Scrolls].

Both Pyrrha and I got ready for anything that would bring trouble here once Ironwood got his hands on the [World Scrolls] and for us to grab the 350MIL Lien without any problem. Of course, we made sure Ironwood give us the Lien first and we can actually use it.

Since there was more than once a customer scammed us and discovered the Lien we got were useless due to how there are no Lien inside the cards. Well, the whole world found out the hard way not to cheat us out of our money. My money.

As Neo, Pyrrha, and I carefully watch General Ironwood's movement along with the other guests in the middle of the room. To make sure there are no hidden enemies just waiting for the moment to spring their attacks. I deployed the [Eagle Vision] once more.

However, no one was in the color of a red aura to show that they're hostile enemies and the translation between the two parties was successfully done without any trouble. But, no one let their guards down and watch General Ironwood, along with the other guests walk out of the building without making any trouble for us.

As the last guest left the building, Neo and Pyrrha let out a sigh of relief after a tired work today. Pyrrha and Neo gave each other a high five, then finally lower their guard down just a bit, but not completely since we're still in enemy's territory.

"Man, you have no idea how frustrating to find out the General of all people here and staring at me with those cold eyes of his. I almost feel like he knew who I am, and I mean my actual identity, not the fake one I'm currently using." Neo wipes the sweat off her forehead, she hides under her semblance so no one could tell she was sweating at the time due to how much General Ironwood's present did to her.

Usually, Neo wouldn't be able to speak so clearly to me and would just look at the ground silently until I have to let Pyrrha talk with Neo to find out what's going on. But, seeing how Neo is really tired, mentally, since she still not used to be the hostess for the auction that lasts for an hour or longer.

"I'm pretty sure almost 50% of those spies belong to him. Because you have no idea how high techs these equipment these guys brought with them. Also, I managed to grab a few [Sniper Rifles] and other firearms for me to melt down for materials later. I have no idea if they have any build in tracking chips. So I got to melt them fast once we get back to Mistral." I explain what I found out while taking out the spies outside watching over the Club's building as the auction was going on.

"Do you two know when the others are coming back here, and any news on Weiss' situation if they managed to get the civilians to believe the whole thing is true without causing a panic than these people already are?" Pyrrha frown on how she couldn't get much news from her friends and teams due to most of the channels shows the cause and made up fake reports on the Second Great War.

"Who knows, but we just have to be ready for their arrival and any unwanted followers." I said to both Pyrrha and Neo, as we begin putting away the chairs and tables, and called for the staffs of this Club to return to help out.

Pyrrha walks over the bar, where I placed multiple [Talismans] underneath the counter and just by injecting a bit of aura to activate the rest of them as some of them are already activated way before the guests arrived in the last auction.

These [Talismans]' effects cause the whole building to be protected from unwanted guests from secretly enter the building instead of through the front door. Then, there are some effects that would even disable some equipment like hidden cameras, even our own just in case someone managed to hack those as well.

Another good one was to place a target under an illusion to make it look like actually successfully enter the building without anyone notices and is just walking directly towards the one activated the [Talisman], which being Pyrrha, and unconscious reported to their superior and make it look like they found a hidden spot, where they could pull out their scrolls to report.

But, actually just reporting what they found to Pyrrha instead, which literally just happen a few minutes after we finished putting away all the chairs and just starting with the tables.

This random person happens to be a hidden spy from Atlas, but not under General Ironwood's orders and was under the Council of Atlas. Reporting on what they could find about the Arcana next movement and when they're leaving Vale.

2 hours later*

So far, Pyrrha had to write down these spies' reports, and one of them was from Beacon and a professor as that, who I have no clue the person was. Even Pyrrha didn't know who this professor was and until we found out the professor is actually the 4th year for survival once we search them up.

Pyrrha was started to get tired from all having to write down all these reports, then send them off with one of the [Talismans]' effect of wiping their memories of what happened in the last few hours tonight.

After what looked like the 45th reports; Pyrrha had to call for Neo's help on this. Leaving me and the other staffs that finally arrived to put away all the furniture and clean up the place, to be ready for tomorrow business time.

"Hey, Boss. We've finished cleaning. Is there anything you need us to do before we leave?" One of the staff members reported on their finished works and look like they wanted to get some sleep right about now before they resume their night job here at the Club.

"Nothing else, go ahead home. But, make sure to go the front door and use those [Talismans] while your at it. We don't need anyone following you guys when leaving this place." I give them the go to leave, much to their delight and quickly walk over to the bar to grab themselves one of the stack of [Talismans] ready for their uses.

It's a good thing they are trained by the Malachite twins about the rules in using these [Talismans] and possessing them. As each of these workers only grabbed one each before leaving the building through the front door and rip the [Talismans] the moment they are close to the doors.

Who knew the Malachite twins are strict trainers, because of them. These workers wouldn't dare show any sign of causing any trouble during work time. Plus with that, the job pays well, so that made these workers complain less than some other departments. If they had the same treatment.

"Pyr. Neo. How the reports?" I walked over to the girls at the bar, where I notice both of them look like they wanted to do anything but writing down these reports for us to read and see what's important and what's not.

"My hands hurt." Pyrrha said dryly, as Neo quietly nods in agreement. Look like Neo recover enough to know she in the presence of a monster that could end her life like nothing and just let Pyrrha do the talking.

"Want me to kiss it to make it better?" I raise an eyebrow at the girls, causing them to look away from me and didn't say anything for a while until Pyrrha cough in her right hand.

"We got around 50 and I didn't get to read them again as I was too busy writing down all the things they're reporting. Luckily, I made sure to take out my scroll to record them. Just in case I missed a few things." Pyrrha ignored my second question and replied to the first one.

"Okay, we can read through them while we wait for the others to arrive. After all, tomorrow is the day we're leaving and maybe team RWBY, JNPR would come along if they achieve our agreement." I crack my necks and start helping the girls read these reports we've gladly received from these willing spies.

20 minutes later*

Just as we are on our second report; Shigure and Kirihime returned, but without Izaya, who's the only one missing.

"Where Izaya?" I asked the two, as I pass back the notes Pyrrha wrote down back to her. Then, turn around to give both of them my full attention.

"He went off to find Weiss and the others. Right after we obtain out last stolen information. Also, did you know that there is a wanted poster on Pyrrha's head, alive, and paying high Lien too. Including a small reward for any information related to the whereabouts of Pyrrha's location." Kirihime answered, as she took a seat next to me and look a bit tired.

Shigure walks over to give me a small kiss on the lip before going over to help Pyrrha and Neo on reading the reports we got from the spies under the effects of the [Talismans].

"Huh, we were mostly staying here throughout the whole week and we just let the grunts do the small works." I wonder if this wanted poster of Pyrrha was under Ironwood or Ozpin's orders, maybe even the Council of Vale.

"And doing a one-week special event auction at that?" Kirihime looks at me with a bored expression. "Because some of those [Items] I had to steal back because we don't need the enemy getting stronger by using our own [Items] against us."

"Hey, we made a massive amount of Lien. Furthermore, I knew you or Shigure would steal them from them later on. After all, time is money and I want to make a profit for our organization without having enemies take advantage of us due to using our own kinds of stuff." I shrugged at Kirihime since this wasn't the first time it happens.

With some of the Arcana members would steal some of the stuff we give away as a goodwill. But, no one in the world figures out that some of those things we gave away we took back after a few days or less. Furthermore, we made it so only a special group does this and Kirihime or Shigure would be leading this group sometime.

In fact, Shigure was the one that started this whole thing. After finding out someone in our organization sold some of our gears for a high price just to make some spare cash. Yeah, that person is long dead and we took the Lien and the gears back from the buyer.

After seeing how much Lien we gained from this one small incident; we started making this whole thing a thing. We did make sure some of the [Items] that doesn't have any chance of backfiring us. We left alone, to make it look like a separate organization would steal Arcana's [Items] that left our possession.

"Can't argue with that. So what's our next move, besides waiting on Izaya and those kids achieve in that bet of yours or not?" Kirihime really wanted to return back to Mistral. As the food here wasn't up to her taste and rather not spend too much time here.

Altas was one thing, but Vale didn't have what Atlas had to make the visit worth it for Kirihime. Now, that she's here and over a week now. Kirihime felt the need to return back to Mistral and with the Second Great War started already. The urge to return was almost unbearable for her.

"Missing your husband already?" I smirk at Kirihime, who blushes a little before she levels a glare at me for teasing her a little.

It's a known fact among the Arcana that Kirihime's personality changes a lot when it comes to her husband; nonetheless, he is also a member of the Arcana and one of the main core members as well as being one of the top 10 dangerous people in the world along with Kirihime and the others.

"We're waiting for the others and Izaya. You can call them if you like. Neither Pyrrha, Neo, or I checked at the time. Because we were too busy setting up the defenses around the area and the whole auction thing too." I offer Kirihime to do something while most of us go through the reports before we do anything else.

This way, Kirihime got something to do and help out as well, since we got enough people to go through the reports. Therefore, it was either Kirihime or me, to call on Izaya or team RWBY and JNPR on their status.

"Fine. Give me a few minutes to see what's going on. Just be prepared for the worst and don't worry. I've already called Ziarre to pick us up and request her to come early as possible." Kirihime said to me, as she walks a few feet away to make her call.

"Huh, it looks like Professor Goodwitch is no longer trusting Ozpin any longer. Does that mean she taking up on our deal?" Pyrrha brings up one of the countless papers and one of them in her hands happen to explain just a bit about the inside in Beacon, where Glynda Goodwitch had enough with Ozpin and his group and decided to leave.

"Well, that's a surprise. What's the chance of her being a double agent just to get some inside info on us?" I grab the paper off Pyrrha's hands and read it myself.

"Who knows, we just have to leave it to Kirihime to find out if she likely to be a double agent or not." Pyrrha shrugged her shoulders, then all of us resume our work to go through these reports while waiting for Kirihime's calls to be done and tell us what's going on at Izaya's side.