267 254: A Plague of Phantoms: Privileges of a Demon III

"Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on! NOW!" Lieutenant Cross barked at the soldiers.

"W-We were defending the scientists of the company we were assigned to Sir!" The idiot that punched me exclaimed. He then pointed for the scientist that Pogs kicked away; who was still on the floor holding his gut; and added. "Those crystal-shit lover's evo attacked him for minding his own business!"

"That's a fucking lie! That idiot got too close while the evos were carrying in our shit, so Pogs punted him out of the way!" Haws yelled. He then pointed a finger at certain soldiers and growled. "And one more crystal-shit crack and you'll be shitting your teeth for a week!"

"Why you…" The soldier started only to be cut off by Lieutenant Cross.

"STAND DOWN! THAT'S AN ORDER!" He roared.

The soldiers all took a step back reflexively. Lieutenant Cross shot each man a look then walked over to the injured scientist. He knelt beside him and looked him over and started speaking to him. I couldn't hear what was being said but after a moment Cross stood up again and walked over to our group, stopping a few feet away.

"Seems that scientist corroborates your story." Cross said, his expression seemed mkre relaxed. He looked over at Pogs and shook his head. "You guys shouldn't have evos wondering around like that. I know your boss is a splicer and all but evos are dangerous monsters for normal humans like us. You should really keep those things locked up."

"While I thank you for your concern that's not a problem. I am a splicer and Pogs is my evo." I said plainly. Cross expression changed and became darker, more distrusting.

"Oh! So you're lucky it was just that scientist's clumsiness that caused this and not the thoughtlessness and heartlessness that you splicers are known for." Cross spat venomously.

"Thoughtlessness and heartlessness?" I grumbled then looked towards the others. Haws and Louie both looked pissed.

"Watch it asshole!" Nate snapped. I looked over to Nate and saw him stomping over to Cross. "My wife and son are splicers! They are anything but heartless!"

"Thoughtless though…" Louie said, then suddenly found a spot on the ceiling interesting once Nate shot him a glare.

"My condolences on hearing you tainted your bloodline with splicers…" Cross spat. Nate growled and looked like he was about to launch at the soldier. Haws grabbed the back of Nate's shirt and pulled him back behind him before he could do anything.

"Look here Lieutenant, right now you are not in America and severely outnumbered and outclassed. Don't let the small minded and petty opinions of our homeland be the reason you get your ass handed to you." Haws said sternly. Cross narrowed his eyes at Haws.

"Our homeland…never thought I'd see the day I'd see Americans bowing down and licking a splicer's boots." Cross said. Haws rolled his eyes at that.

"Gods above, this nonsense again. I've been living in Egypt for so long I forgot how nauseating all that splicer hatred is." Haws said then shot me a look. I understood immediately and snapped my fingers.

"Pogs." I said. My Ogrest trumpeted loudly and then stomped over and stood behind me. He towered over me and glared at Cross and the other soldiers. All of the soldiers and scientists took a step back except for Cross and the two that arrived with him.

"Yes Boss?" Pogs growled.

"It can talk!" A couple of soldiers and scientists exclaimed. Cross and the two soldiers with him became guarded and narrowed their eyes on Pogs.

"So it's like the one that our unit leader's brother had with him last night." Cross said cautiously.

"Unit leader's brother? Oh...he's with Logan." Haws sneered.

"I don't give a fuck if he's with the boss's mother, Pogs escort these…gentlemen out of our area." I said then pointed at the crowd.

"As you wish Boss!" Pogs growled and cracked his knuckles.

"Jalavaska! Juten! Rogo! Aldies! Ichitharsis! Help Pogs if they won't leave!" Nate growled, glaring at Cross. The Orkands in Nate's squad all growled in response and ran over to support Pogs from behind.

"Just like a splicer, use your evos when you could've just asked." Cross said snidely. Pogs took a step towards the crowd and then Cross held his hands up in surrender. "Return to your assigned areas people and leave the splicer lovers alone."

"But what if they attack us?" One of the scientists asked.

"If the evos stray from their areas then we'll take them down. For the safety of all the normal humans." Cross said shooting me a glare.

"As if you could, weakling." Pogs scoffed proudly.

The soldiers and scientists all turned and returned to their own sections, though none of them turned their backs on me or the evos. I saw many a threatening glare shot my way as they all left. The last to leave was Cross and the two soldiers with him.

"Okay everyone! We only go so long before we'll have people coming and I don't want fo get chewed out by Jane, so let's get to work!" Haws ordered everyone once the Americans were gone.

'I hope things are going better for Chase and the others…' I thought as I turned to look start helping everyone.

Chase

"So Hideyoshi, where exactly are we going?" I asked as looked at the walls and ceiling of the dark tunnel that Hideyoshi was currently leading Jane, Angie, Fours, Empress and I down.

When we entered the Arosaka center Hideyoshi lead us down a short hallway and stopped midway in front of a painting of some long dead historical figure. Hideyoshi pressed a hidden switch on the picture frame and pulled on it to revel a secret passage. There was no one in the hall or anywhere near where we were as Hideyoshi assured us, we followed him down the passage.

"We're going to meet the Shogun. As Princess Jane said earlier it is improper for the ruler of a country that is hosting Evo-cution that year to be seen entertaining the heads of companies or showing any form of favoritism. For that reason most remove themselves from the event entirely and only allow representatives of the military to make decisions in their stead. His lordship is one such person." Hideyoshi explained.

"So we're going to a secret room to talk with the Shogun." I surmised. Hideyoshi nodded and then stopped. We'd finally reached the end of the tunnel. There was a door with a small light dangling over it illuminating the door.

"Yes, his lordship has a room that overlooks the room that all the government, military, and company leaders are currently congregating." Hideyoshi said then opened the door.

This lead to a decently sized room that was covered in Japanese décor. At the opposite end of the room was a large window pane that spanned the entire wall. In front of the pane there was a raised platform with a palanquin on it. Inside the covered palanquin sat a man shrouded by the sheer silk curtains that covered it. The Shogun, I realized. While it seemed like there was nobody in the room to the naked eye thanks to Bone-lasher I could see that there were several men hidden in the room. Three under the tatami mats on the floor and two in the ceiling.

"Your lordship, I have brought Chase Kingston and his associates. Master Kingston has two of his personal evos with him for security." Hideyoshi said as he dropped to his knees and bowed.

I could feel the Shogun's gaze fall on me through the curtain or something akin to it, something felt slightly off though. I could also feel the hair's on the back of my neck tingle. The Shogun's guards weren't even trying to hide their malice towards me or rather my evos.

"Pleasure to meet you, your Lordship." Jane said bowing respectfully.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked as I stepped into the room.

"Chase!" Jane and Angie exclaimed and shot me glares. I frowned and ignored them and then looked at the Shogun and bowed respectfully.

"Chase Kingston. You're as brash as I've heard." The Shogun said with a hint of amusement, though something sounded off about the voice. It wasn't coming from the palanquin, but rather someone from just beside it. Bone-lasher didn't see anyone with his vision. It wasn't until I saw royal crest on the ground next to the palanquin that I realized what was going on. He was speaking through the crest which was a enchanted item probably passed down through the Shogonate.

"Hazard of growing up as a splicer in America." I said then glanced over at the spots where his guards were hiding. "Like being able to tell when people see you as a threat. Your guards could at least pretend to not be hostile towards me. I could feel their bloodlust through the door outside."

"Oh, so you noticed them. Impressive…" The Shogun said.

"I also noticed that enchanted crest of yours. Made from jade, judging from the color. Linked to the thoughts of whoever activates it to allow them to project their thoughts as sound." I said as I analyzed the runes from afar. 'Wait a second…if that's transmitting his thoughts he doesn't need to be in the room…or he does he…'

"Truly impressive!" The Shogun exclaimed. I waved his praise off as I approached the palanquin and stopped just short then plopped down crossed legged in front of it.

"That's nothing really…I'm actually impressed by the lengths you went to hide your identity, your Lordship. Or would you prefer I keep calling you Hideyoshi?" I said then glanced over my shoulder at the man. His eyes widened in shock for a brief moment then smirked and shook his head.

"What was it that gave me away?" Hideyoshi asked.

He strode around me and walked over to the palanquin then ripped off the curtain to revel a doll dressed in fine Japanese clothes. The doll had runes etched into its face which told me it was another enchanted item. From what I could read of the runes it was controlled by thought much like the crest.

"Was it the odd movements of the mana-doll? My sudden appearance and appointment to the navy? Or the fact my uniform was a little dated?" Hideyoshi asked. I shook my head.

"None of those. That crest, the runes say it can be used to turn thoughts into sound. That meant whoever was using it didn't need to be the one in the little silk box. They could be the guards hidden in the room or the man that showed us the way here. Honestly you being the Shogun sounded more interesting so I went with that." I replied. Hideyoshi arched a brow and then chuckled.

"I shouldn't be surprised. I've already borne witness to your unusual mind." Hideyoshi said.

"You're also less anal than you were last time we met. That kind of tipped me off." I added. Hideyoshi looked pensive then scratched his chin.

"Ah…I knew there was something off about my performance." He said then nodded and clapped his hands together. "Well enough of that, you're probably wondering why I asked to see you privately?"

"Actually your Lordship…" Jane spoke up.

"You may call me Hideyoshi, princess. In fact I would prefer it." Hideyoshi interrupted. Jane nodded and then continued.

"Why go through this entire ruse in the first place? Is Lord Caspian Ascred really your brother? Is your real name Hideyoshi?" Jane asked. Hideyoshi smirked and leveled Jane with a look.

"Why you of all people should know the answer to your first question Jane Yearwood…oh I'm sorry. Jane Solomon." Hideyoshi said then looked to me. "As to your other questions, yes Caspian is my brother as is Martin though they don't know I am the Shogun, and yes my real name is Hideyoshi,"

"How can your family not know you're the ruler of a whole country?" I asked. Hideyoshi let out a mournful sigh and shook his head.

"Subterfuge and misinformation. A necessary evil unfortunately. Few people know the true face of the Shogun and those that do are often found in great danger. I'd like to keep that away from my siblings if at all possible. They have enough to contend with being nobles in their own countries." Hideyoshi replied.

"The deception is to protect them." I said then nodded in approval.

"I understand." Jane said.

"Well now that's that is out of the way onto what I wanted to talk to you about, Master Kingston…."