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Dark. It is the only thing that could describe the scene. Whispers and murmurs comes with that darkness, alongside bitter steps and silent stares. But with a loud click, a spotlight beams, revealing the Chief's pale, smiling mask. She stays motionless under the light, sitting on a chair, surrounded by silver fences. The small, circular stage she's on starts to rotate slowly around. Now in front of her is a giant judge bench, so tall it almost looks like a wall. Her vision now adjusted to the dark, surrounding her are the same benches, four in total, though slightly smaller than the one in front of her.

And around her, below the stage, she sees people, creatures, aliens and robots donning the Knight's blue coat, their badge shining with the slightest contact with the light. They're all staring at her while they sit comfortably on their seats, all absolutely silence.

High officials, politicians, generals, lieutenants- positions that sit below her. That's what the ones watching her are. She couldn't care less to even give them a slight glance, rather she only stares at her front, towards the giant judge bench, belonging to someone she actually respects.

"All Overseers may now step in front!"

Promptly, heavy steps approaches in rhythm. Afterwards, clicks after clicks, spotlight beams every of the judge benches.

But not a single one of their occupant actually comes to sight. In exception to the one occupying the middle, giant bench; A giant moth, its eyes glowing Navy blue, its soft fur white and elderly. Its wings are tightly folded behind its back as its fuzzy antennas glows the same blue as its eyes.

Staring down at the doppelganger, it lays its fuzzy legs onto the table, chaining its claws together.

The Chief immediately raises her head at it, staring with the ceremoniously blank expression her mask could only express, "Prime Overseer, let me explain myself-"

"SSSSILENCE!"

To a furious, serpentine female voice, the Chief glances to her right, towards the lesser bench.

"Letting in a criminal into your possession outside of our awarenesssss... Acting on your own without our conssssent... Both leading to millionsss Roussss worth of damagessss... And allowing one of our own to be taken by the enemy's forcessss... You... Did you know just how much worssssse... You could've done!?"

Hissing with every 's' she spoke, a tall, crimson-haired woman dressed in a kebaya steps into the light. Her pupils are as pale as her sickly-green skin. She has snake-like scales decorating her cheeks to the rest of her body while her lower body is replaced with that of a serpent, long and crimson.

She narrows her eyes at the doppelganger below her, pointing a finger at her as she once again hiss, "You are not to ssspeak. Before we allow you to," Keeping her glare, she revokes her hand to put it onto her chest, "You have no idea what you have done."

"I apologize for my intrusion, Lady Blorong," The Chief bows, though she snaps back up immediately.

"Ehm!" A loud, perhaps intentional cough echoes from her left, causing her to turns to the next bench.

Sitting on top of it is a water-filled fishbowl, attached to it are mechanical, humanoid limbs, advanced and smooth in their movements. With nonchalance, its hands move to lean onto the table as they conjoin their fingers together.

And from whatever outlandish logic, the fishbowl speaks with a diverse collective of gentle, male voices, "Look, Faust. Out of all your previous seniors, you're our favorite. And... We hate to be dramatic but... Well, unfortunately, the snake lady is right," It let out a bubbly sigh, "You did mess up this time around."

"And we just want to know if you're aware of what you did."

To that, the Chief tilts her head, keeping her eyes locked onto the fishbowl, "To be quite frank, Mister Copepodas. I'm well aware of what I did. What you need to ask yourselves if you care enough to actually, well, care. And the same goes for you, Lady Blorong," At the last sentence, she glances to her right, seeing Blorong glaring at her.

The fishbowl, Mister Copepodas snickers, taking Faust's attention back to it, "Hah, well, then... Do us a favor and ask that question."

Behind her mask, a smirk erupts, "Where were you when I requested an audit over the Thalassenia's Knight Department?" To that, a momentary silence commences, "You know how corrupt your nation could get, don't you? Mister Copepodas?"

Copepodas untangle its fingers for a moment, before conjoining them back together, shutting up the whatever hole from which it speaks.

"And Lady Blorong. When was the last time you've visited Mor'?"

"Pardon me!? How, rude of you to sssay that-"

"You should soon, the condition there are far more serious than the one happening here. But, I could already guest you won't do that," Faust tilts her head, her twintails juggling in a mocking manner, "I know you're afraid of your own home."

"Hssss... You..."

"And... Judging from the fact that the last two benches are empty... Well, that explain a lot, doesn't it?" She looks around, seeing the audience whispering and murmuring to each other, before glancing to the empty benches, "'Perhaps they're busy', you may argue. But, if this is as urgent as Lady Blorong mentioned, then perhaps they would've show, won't they?"

Another round of silence fills the room. Both Blorong and Copepodas stays seated, while the Chief stares from below their gaze.

"You are as quick as ever to realize, dearest Faust," Suddenly, the Prime Overseer, the moth sitting in the giant, middle bench speaks with an elderly male voice, causing the Doppelganger to glance, "I see no unbound strings of fate attached to you."

"I'm grateful to hear that, Lord Moth-"

"However, I see someone else's attached to you. Blue, thunderous, warm and kind," The Moth cuts her off, "That someone else are bound to be the harbinger of something big... Yet, it's too muddy to see for this old mind..."

"You must be careful, Faust. That's the final verdict of this trial."

-----

"Due to disturbing the Knight's rules; averting resources, impulsive commands, being primarily responsible for millions of Rouss of damages, and also, being a 'disliked individual'... As writen here, The Chief unfortunately has been put on an indefinite suspension."

Within the canteen of the Intelligence Agency, which is untouched by the Fallen Archangel's wake, Sion stays seated in a table with a meal of Caesar salad in front of him. On the other side of the table is a certain, tall Cyclop receptionist, Cathy, who's closing a document of files on the table as she narrows her eye at Sion.

"So... With the Chief gone..." She leans herself onto her arms, "What are you gonna do about... her?"

Looking emptily at the bowl of greens in front of him, Sion swallows a saliva and purses his lips, "I... I don't know. What's the Overseer's decision regarding her?"

At that, she looks up for a brief second before murmuring, "An execution. But the final decision is still pending-"

"!!!" Sion slams his fists onto the table.

"My fucking milkshake!" Cathy retorts, pulling out a tissue to wipe her thighs.

"Goddamn it!" He presses the side of his head as he lets out deep waves of breath.

"My god, calm the fuck down! Its still pending! And you don't have to slam the table and cost me my milkshake you moron!"

He sighs, letting his breath to stabilize "Then, what are we waiting for?" He locks his six eyes onto the singular green of Cathy's, "Will you help me?"

In the midst of her wiping herself, Cathy scoffs and tilts her head, "With what? Saving her? Hah, don't be silly," She shrugs off his gaze, "The decision lies solely on the Council of Justice. And you know how those guys are right? And to be honest, I don't care whatever that Fae lives or not," Throwing away her sticky, wet tissue, she pulls out a cigarette and lit it up, "Why do you even care about her so much?" Through the mouth located on her throat, she sucks then blows out one cloud of smoke, "Is it another childhood friend scenarios like that Fox's? Hah, that is so predictable and lame."

"I never said that's the case-"

"Don't lie."

He sighs, and nods.

Letting out a slight giggle, she blows out another smoke, "Look, even if she was your childhood friend. What would you gain from her? How are you sure she'll remember you? Have you even tried talking to her yet?"

Sion leans himself onto his seat as he crosses his arms, "Don't you have a crumbling love life to take care of? Stop tumbling over other people's business."

"Well, that's comedic coming from you. You the one that asked for my help didn't you?" She offers him an opened pack of cigarettes, "I need to know what's in for me first."

Sion stares shortly at her cigarettes, before snapping back towards her eye, "Can't you do it from your kindness?"

"You know me, Sion. That's why I have a crumbling love life to take care of."

"..." A moment of silence commence, Sion swats away her offer before standing up and taking his steps away, "Tch. Being self aware doesn't exempt you from being an asshole."

His footsteps goes farther and farther, till they exit out of the room.

"Well, that's what you get for messing up my milkshake," Cathy shrugs and continues her smoke, pulling Sion's salad closer.

-----

"One of the three Agency buildings of the Knight headquarters; The Intelligence Agency was attacked yesterday at seven AM in the morning. As of now, the culprit of the attack is kept classified by the Knight Authorities. However, leaks has been published to indicate suspicious activities within the Agency itself, one of the suspects being a Doppelganger named Faust, the Chief of the agency, who were promptly suspended after the trial regarding the incident. That's it for today's SoundknickNews and be prepared for a cuteness overload after the ad-brea-"

A click cuts off the reporter's words. After that, a clack echoes across the room, accompanied by a masculine sigh.

"They're planning to execute me, don't you know?" Sitting, leaning onto a wall next to a grumpy, blonde lizard, a certain dark Fae, sporting a dark blue inmate uniform rustles the chains wrapped around her wrists, tilting her head as she sighs every now and then.

"Where did you hear that?" Niz says, glancing down towards the Fae beside him.

She rubs her lips together for a moment before answering, "Whispers from those other Knights."

"Haah... Well, just don't think about it. It'll just make you feel worse," Niz grumbles as he sits down, joining her in leaning against the wall.

They both stares blankly at the reflection in front of them, casted by the metallic wall of the Knight's headquarter's hallway.

Red meets red, purple meets purple. Both of them continues to stare, each hypnotized by their own eyes. Though, the one possessing the purples averts her eyes to check on his, seeing him lowering his gaze, pouring his lips.

"Aren't you supposed to be happy?" Azayaka suddenly asks, amidst the silence.

He quickly glances to her, raising an eyebrow, "What?"

"You hate me, don't you?" She sighs yet again as she hugs her knees.

"Well, if you keep acting like an edgy teenager then yeah, I just fucking might."

"Uhuh... What was your name again?"

He stays silent for a moment, before answering, "It's Niz."

"Thanks for the company, Niz," Azayaka gives him a little smile, though her lips soon goes back to purse themselves.

"So, does everyone calls you 'Aza' or is it just Ren?"

"Everyone, frankly."

"I see, I see..."

An awkward silence then plays out. Azayaka and Niz keep on leaning against the wall in silence as creatures sporting the Knight uniform walk past them now and then, each giving them a stare. They're seated on the carpet floor next to a big door, with a label that spells 'Conference room' above its frame.

"So, you're not mad at me?" Suddenly, amidst the silence, Azayaka speaks.

"Hmm?" Niz raises an eyebrow.

"Again, I put Ren... Your friends... In danger," She huffs as she lightly shakes her head, "Last time I did that, I almost killed you too."

She hugs herself tighter, clenching her eyes shut, "And fucking hell... If... If Yuu took him back... T-That means..."

Daughter.

"H-He's gonna-"

Trust me.

"Fuck!" Her hands greet her lips, covering her gasp, "T-This is all my fault-"

"Shut the fuck up!"

Niz's sudden yell cuts her off.

"Listen here, you little crybaby. Fucking stop with the self pity you're always wallowing yourself into, it's annoying," Niz's rough words caught her off guard. Slowly, she relieve her tension and relaxes her muscles, her eyes softening towards the Lizard's.

"What..? What do you mean?"

"My point is, it's not your fault that your obsessive bird friend suddenly stormed in and caused a tornado in a building. And if you want me to be angry at somebody, then, let me be angry at your bird friend, so stop acting like its always your fault," His speech ends with him huffing as he leans closer to the wall.

Azayaka hugs her knees tighter and look forward. Her eyes are now glassy, almost spilling out tears.

"But if it really was my fault, then what use is it pretending that it wasn't?"

"Well, you will no longer be whining all the time. That's a plus."

"..." Her stare pauses for a moment, before a scoff ends it, "Now, I can see why Ren befriended you..."

Amidst the unmoving silence, the door beside them creaks open, introducing a new pair of footsteps.

"Ah, didn't expect you both to wait here," A certain, corpse-like vessel speaks with her soft, coarse voice. Her neck is crooked slightly, a faint stitch visible around her throat. Her pitch-black eyes stares blankly into Niz's, before they avert themselves to Azayaka.

"I've spoken with the an executive director of the Council of Justice. Hence they've decided to postpone the confirmation of Azayaka's execution."

At that, Azayaka sighs and Niz crosses his arms, but another of Anastasia's words caught their hook, "Under one condition though; the blackened individual must now be enlisted as an official, temporary Knight. Thus she must obey every single demands subjected to her. Any Knights are allowed to terminate the individual if they see any attempt of escape made by the individual," She speaks in a robot-like tone, "Fun. No?"

Azayaka and Niz looks at each other, both's lips slightly parted.

"Well then, you two, follow me. Let's greet the new, temporary Chief. She must have arrived now."

-----

Rusty and rough, a slight shutter hissed as the elevator's door opens, revealing the hallway leading towards the First Branch's main office.

With the siblings leading the way, Niz and Azayaka follow towards the door, their steps muffled by the carpeted floor.

As Anastasia is about to open it, the door pulls itself open, revealing the Pink Unicorn, Amura and the Ram Demon, Kai, both staring at the group.

"Ah, you two. Have you met her yet?" Anastasia starts.

"Yea, we were just gonna tell the others to come here," Kai says, glancing back into the office, "Niz, you have Sion's number righ-" Turning towards the lizard, he widens his eyes for a second at the sight of the purple-eyed girl standing beside him.

"Oh, my... Looks like the little fairy is here," Noticing the Fae's sharp glare, Amura gives her a tilted smirk, "You're very lucky. You know that?" She leans her head forward, putting her fists on her hips.

Azayaka internally spits as she furrows her brows, clenching her chained fists while her gaze fights back.

"What's wrong? You mad?" Amura coos, "I was just complimenting you," She says with the most intolerable grin ever, "If only I was there when that attack happens," She pulls herself back up, staring at the ceiling before glaring back at the Fae, "Then maybe, I could've fuck your bird boyfriend's little assho- Eep!"

A karate chop to her head cuts off her words. Causing her to turn around and puff her cheeks towards the tall demon.

"Hmph!"

"Haah..." Kai sighs, "Sorry. Amura here... She's just upset cuz I haven't recharge her credits yet," He says with a gentle smile as he makes a firm grip onto the Unicorn's shoulder, "We'll be off now."

With a slight push, the couple moves forward past the group. As the Unicorn passes the Fae, they both glares at each other for a single second.

"What the fuck is her problem?" Azayaka complains, glancing at Niz.

"I don't know. You tell me," He responds, giving her a shrug.

"Perhaps it's because she still hold some spite over her decapitated arm. You know, just like how that birdman decapitated my head?" Anastasia's sudden coldness causes silence in both of them. Though after that, the pale girl steps into the office, followed by the other two.

The office is just as classy as ever. The tall window panels let the bright rays of sun to hit the checkerboard marble flooring, being absorbed by the black and being reflected by the white.

Sitting on the living area's sofas are two women, both suited in black, one of them wearing the Knight's dark blue coat. Facing away from the door, showcasing her Harlequin Twin-tail is Faust, keeping her gaze locked onto the woman sitting opposite to her.

That woman is tan-skinned, her face embedded with sharp, beautiful features. Her silky-smooth black hair is trailed back, tied into a single motherly braid that lies over her shoulder, decorated with jasmine ornaments. Circling around her neck is a line of suspicious red stitching, a pale gradation spreading from it. Her eyes are a pair of sharp, glowing menacing yellows as they lock themselves to her front.

To the masked Doppelganger in front of her, the woman sneers, tilting her head as she leans back, "So, you've done it again, Faust. Broke some rules and got something back," Her voice is high pitched and soft, though a raspy gasp could be heard as she intakes her breath in between words. Keeping her smirk, she leans forward, giving Faust a mocking glare, "You were much more interesting back then, you know?"

At that, the Doppelganger tilts her head, "Perhaps what you meant is when I kept staying one step ahead of you?"

The other woman giggles, swaying her palm up and down playfully, "No, silly."

"Your form now, why'd you took that of a woman?" She raises a brow, her yellow irises tilting themselves back, "I've always liked you more when you were a big, buff man. How you looked dumb from just a glance. Yet on the inside, you're a manipulative asshole. But now, you're just that. A manipulative asshole. Can't you at least show me that handsome form of yours once again?"

"I'm flattered," Faust palms the center of her chest, "But no."

"Well then, that's a shame," The woman sighs, "I suppose you have nowhere else to go now, huh?"

"Well, I do have some place in mind," Faust looks out pass the window, towards the big, blue sky, "Perhaps, Pluto or Venus," She then shakes her gaze back towards the woman, "While I take my leave, I do hope you keep this agency in-check. And make sure you treat everyone just like how I treat them. Because that's what they're used to," Faust then stands up, out of nowhere, a handheld suitcase hangs from her hand. she gives the woman an elegant bow before turning around, walking towards the exit where the three spectators are.

"Pleasure meeting you again, Faust. Have a nice vacation."

"Yes, you too."

As the Doppelganger walks by, Niz grabs her shoulder, stopping her, "You're going on a fucking vacation!? Now!?"

"..." Faust tilts her head, "Yes."

"Tch," Niz releases his grip.

Azayaka gives the suspended Chief a slight glance as she passes by and exits the room before quickly hiding her eyes away.

"Don't worry, Niz. I've worked with the temporary Chief before and I'd say she's as reliable as our Chief," Anastasia says, tapping the lizard's back as the woman in question approaches them.

"Hello, everyone of the first branch. My name is Elianna Gangsarsari. I'm a Krasue, a Dark Art Expert, an aspiring songwriter, and the former Chief of the Intelligence Agency in the Nation of Mor'. Nice to meet you all. Let's all hope for the best," She introduces, putting on a smile.

First, Anastasia caught her attention, thus she walks closer and grabs her shoulder, "How have you been, Anastasia? Has Samuel been treating you well? Can I see him? I would like to greet him."

"Ah, he's sleeping right now, pardon me. But yes, we've been doing quite well," Anastasia says as she tries to hide her neck with her chalk-white hair.

Leaving her with a friendly smirk, Eliana moves onto Niz next. She holds her arms onto her hips as she makes her approach, giving her a slightly lustrous smile as she eyes him up and down, "Ah yes, the bodyguard. Faust told me a lot about you."

"Name's Niz, Niz Izmax," He scratches the back of his head as he looks away, trying to break her eye contact.

"Well, pleasure knowing you, Niz. Looking forward to working with you,"

"And then, we have... You," She turns towards the last one. Azayaka keeps her eyes looking down, her breath trying to keep themselves calm.

"The Butterfly Phantasm. That's your official codename given by the Knights," She puts her fist under her chin, "But with me, that doesn't matter," She offers Azayaka a hand as she keeps her friendly smile, "I would like to know your actual name."

Her eyes jolting back and forth between her offer and her gaze, Azayaka slightly parts her lips as she furrow her brows, "I-Its... It's Azayaka. But... Just call me Aza," Her cuffed hands goes to accept her handshake.

"My, what a beautiful name," Eliana swings her handshake gently. Azayaka lips forms a small smile as her eyes stabilize themselves to look at the Krasue's.

Though then, Azayaka feels a sudden tug, causing her to fall into the woman's embrace. And to her ear, the woman's raspy voice whispers in a sinister tone;

"Keep you eyes open when I'm here."

Azayaka widens her eyes.

"You'll never be alone."

Immediately, the woman releases her embrace to Azayaka's surprise, "Looking forward to working with you, Azayaka," She then goes to the center of the living area before sitting down on one of the sofas nonchalantly without acknowledging Azayaka's widened eyes.

"Well then. Let's start the day with a discussion on The Wings, shall we?"

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