So what if I told you guys that I forgot the chapter number and had to go back and find what it was supposed to be?
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        When Ara left him in silence again, he immediately began to search for something to keep his mind occupied. He couldn't fix Dynamo which really did bother him but that didn't mean that he had completely given up on the idea. Instead he decided to focus on his nasod invention that he had yet to name. In fact, it was a name that he intended to give it but naming a weapon of massive destruction was no easy task. He didn't know how long he had sat there starring at his weapons or floating them around him before he had come up with a decent enough name.

         He would call the set Nasod Drive...well, actually, now that he thought about it again, that didn't quite sound right either. Add sighed in frustration as he erased the supposed name from his mind. He looked around the room for inspiration that he was likely not to find since everything was Hamel themed but then his eyes landed on Dynamo. Add blinked once he saw Dynamo sitting the when he'd left him. The idea came to him, to use that name for his new weapon. It seemed appropriate and had a nice ring to it too.

        Add slightly smiled at the idea and ran the name through his mind over and over as he thought of having his childhood nasod attendant live on through the name of his weapon. He wanted to share the new name with someone, Ara to be specific but the girl wasn't there. In fact, she hadn't been there for a while now and Add had just realized it, suddenly getting a bit concerned. Just as he'd gotten up and headed to the door, he heard a knock. He expected the maid to just open the door, returning with Ara but there was just another knock at the door, making Add a bit suspicious.

        He opened the door with his dynamos ready to attack just in case he needed to. He was thoroughly shocked to see that it was General Astrin standing at the door with Ara, seemingly unconscious, being carried by him. Add was at a loss for words. He was enraged, confused, shocked, jealous, and relieved all at the same time. "You'll come with me or your friend here will find you missing when she wakes up," Astrin said. "What the hell did you do to her?" Add growled, his dynamos giving of a dangerous voltage of electricity as be glared at Astrin.

        "Oh nothing. I just knocked her out is all. I'd say that was showing her a bit of mercy considering what she did to me. Now come on. You're wasting time," Astrin said and he began walking away with Ara. "What?!" Add said. He was still quite confused but he didn't like the fact that Ara was anywhere near the corrupted general so he followed after him. "Put Ara down! If it's me you have a problem with then don't pull her into this!" Add said, truly not wanting Ara to be involved with anything that Astrin might be dragging him into.

         "No can do. I've got to be sure you won't get out of this one so I need collateral. You seem to like her a bit more than average considering that the last time you were in Hamel, you only cared about your mother's well-being," Astrin said as he continued to walk. Add's eye twitched slightly at Astrin's more than obvious statements. "Take her hairpin and give her to me," Add blurted out without thinking for once. He winced once he realized what he'd just done. Ara's power came from that hairpin, or so it seemed so.

         "How do I know you won't leave without it? What's it to the girl anyway?" Astrin said as he suddenly stopped, a mischievous look in his eyes. "She wouldn't let me leave without it. It's the only reminded of her mother's last words to her. She'd kill me if I lost it," Add half lied. Astrin studied him for a bit before shrugging. He suddenly just dropped Ara, swiping the hairpin from her hair as he did. If it weren't for Add's quick reaction and his dynamo's speed, Ara would have hit the pearly white floors.

        "You bastard!" Add growled as he rushed forward to make sure that Ara was okay. It was literally then that he truly took notice of her wardrobe change and a sweet flowery scent flooded his senses. Ara seemed at peace despite her current situation. Add picked her up and followed after Astrin who had continued walking, miraculously avoiding all guards or any other person likely to walk by.

         Add found this detail to be highly suspicious but he couldn't turn tail and run because that wasn't his style. Not just that but Ara's hairpin was in Astrin's custody and Ara would certainly kill him as soon as she found out about it. He was surprised that Eun hadn't aided Ara in her moment of distress when Astrin had attacked her. "Here we are," Astrin said as he stopped in front of a blank wall. He looked at it for a moment before tapping a certain spot on the wall three times.

         A moment later, a door sized portion of the wall was pulled inwards and moved aside and Astrin walked right through. Add followed but was sure that all of this was quite shady. The door was closed behind them by someone whi seemed to be a servant. In fact, there were several other servants visible in the little room that Add found himself in. The extra eyes made him uneasy and his dynamos made sure to let everyone know by giving of a fee threatening sparks of electricity.

         "Alrighty, so here's the deal. I need your friend and your help," Astrin said as he took a seat in what seemed to be a makeshift throne at the back of the room. "I don't know what it is that you need us for but we aren't helping," Add said. Astrin smirked. "Oh yes you will. If this hairpin is as important as you say it is, you won't hesitate to help me. Or I could always steal the girl again and force her to do my bidding," Astrin said as he glanced at Ara. Add mentally slapped himself for creating the opportunity for Astrin to blackmail him.

        "What do you want?" Add growled as he glared at Astrin, still aware of the eerily silent maids and servants in the room that kept a constant watch on him. "I thought you'd change your mind. You see, the king has become a bit too lenient. He's been reaching out to too many of the poor that live in Hamel's less than perfect areas despite them being known to break most of the promises they make. It's sickening really. Those people are just pulling Hamel's overall aesthetics down just by being here. They need to be gotten rid of," Astrin was saying. "We aren't going to help you murder innocent people. I don't care what sacrifice I have to make," Add interrupted. Astrin tilted his head at him but continued speaking anyway.

         "Shut up and listen. That's not what I want you to do and I don't want them dead. They'll just be forced to leave Hamel Capital. What I want you to do is poison the king for me tonight when he summons you and your friend to dinner. Miss Haan will be my personal body guard while I take over the throne and become the new king. I might be willing to increase her rank to one just bellow my own if I feel interested enough. You'll be free to go or do whatever you want for all I care. You won't be in Hamel when this is all over...that's if you aren't killed before I get to the throne," Astrin explained.
  
         Add officially found this man to be a lunatic. His plan was stupid, narcissistic, and crazy much like the man himself. "What the hell makes you think I'd even try pulling that off? I bet you don't even understand what your asking me to do," Add said. Astrin laughed at his reaction to his obviously insane plan. "Oh I understand very well what I'm asking you to do which is why your going to do it and not me. I'm no fool. Attempting to kill the king earns someone automatic capital punishment. If you were to fail, it would be quite unfortunate for you but I'd just find someone else to replace you. Probably someone I also don't like," Astrin mused.

          "You coward! All I have to do is tell the king about your plan and your finished. You'd have no choice but to return that hairpin and turn yourself in for treason," Add said. "Who would believe you? You're currently under investigation and you have a record here in Hamel. That sapphire is still missing you know. And what makes you think I won't snap this hairpin right here and right now?" Astrin said.

          Add didn't believe the hairpin could simply be destroyed in such a way but he didn't want to take that chance especially with Ara still unaware that she was no longer in possession of the hairpin. Astrin's stupid condescending look was really getting on Add's nerves though. "You may be able to break it but I'd still have Ara. She'll get over it," Add said not wanting to give Astrin the satisfaction of winning. Astrin narrowed his eyes at Add.

        "Well you do know that I'm a mage right? Didn't think I was just a knight did you? There's a reason I always win my fights. If you so much as try and tell anyone, I will not only break this hairpin but I'll turn Ara into one of my mindless puppets. I'm sure you've noticed the servants in that room haven't said a word. They're all reported to be missing and no one knows that they're here in this old abandoned area of the servant halls. Don't believe me to be a mage? How about I wake Miss Haan right up and you can fill her in on your assignment," Astrin said.

        He snapoed twice and Ara jolted awake. She was shocked by her surroundings and she even searched her hair for her hairpin making Add feel a bit guilty. When she finally realized that Add was holding her, she looked around seeing all of the mindless servants and Astrin. "What the heck is going on here?!" Ara demanded. "Ara, calm down. I'm going to need you to stay calm and listen to me before you say or do anything," Add said preparing for the possible beat down that he could possibly experience.  Ara was not one to ask questions so when she did, things would not turn out any better than if she hadn't.
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And so you guys will just have to wait for the next chapter to see what happens next. Until next time you wonderful readers!