Two Wrongs Make a Right Ch. 33

Adam meets a very special girl.

-Ruby Rose-

Ruby flopped onto her bed, already changed into her two-piece pajamas, and let out a sigh which ended with a pout as she stared at her scroll, surfing through the endless social media feeds. What else could she do?

She was more than a little mad at herself - how could she have forgotten to ask Blaze for his number? It was such a basic thing to do when meeting someone that handsome; she was so distracted and didn’t ask.

And worst of all, Nines didn't have his number either, which made the whole situation even more frustrating. While they'd confirmed their da... their very casual meeting for a few days from now, Ruby had no idea how she'd actually find him again without a way to contact him. She'd have to wander around Vale hoping to bump into him again, which was honestly a really dumb plan. How was she supposed to find one person in a big city?

Maybe she could bring Nines to help her track him down?

Nah, that would be embarrassing.

Ruby scrolled through her contacts list for the third time, as if Blaze's number would magically appear there. She was so focused on her scroll that she didn't pay attention to her surroundings.

Suddenly, she felt something strange coming from her left side, goosebumps. Slowly, she turned her head and found herself staring directly into lilac eyes.

"Whatcha doin'?!" Yang asked or more like shouted.

Ruby yelped in surprise, dropping her scroll and watching in horror as it crashed right into her face.

"Yang!" she yelled, rubbing her nose and glaring at her sister. "Why would you do that?! It could have cracked!"

Yang just laughed, holding her stomach with her prosthetic arm.  "I couldn't resist! You looked so love-struck lying there, all dreamy and sighing. Just like in class when you were supposed to be taking notes but kept doodling little hearts in your margins instead."

Ruby's cheeks immediately heated up. "I wasn't doodling hearts!" she protested, scrambling to pick up her scroll and clutching it protectively to her chest. "Those were... designs, yeah! Very cool new decal designs for weapons!"

"Uh-huh, sure," Yang mused, settling back on her own bed with a knowing smirk.

“Seriously! Very real!”

Yang's grin grew. "Oh, this is even better than I thought. My little sister has her first real crush! 

"It's not a crush!" Ruby protested, waving her hands frantically. "He's just... he's really nice! And he has these cool eyes! And he actually listened when I talked about Crescent Rose! And he smells like... like... okay, maybe it's a tiny thing but that doesn't mean anything!"

“He?”

Oh, crud.

From across the room, Nines stopped writing and turned to look at Ruby. "Are you okay? Your face is very red."

"Yes! Yes, I'm very much okay!" Ruby replied quickly, perhaps a bit too quickly. She definitely wasn't okay. Yang had just brought up something she didn't want her team to know about, except for Nines who was already in on it. "I'm perfectly fine! Totally normal! Just discussing... things... boring thing!"

Yang leaned forward, her lilac eyes sparkling with mischief. "So tell me about this guy. What's he like? Is he cute? Does he have nice muscles? Good hair? Please tell me he's not some boring bookworm type."

"Yang!" Ruby buried her face in her pillow, her voice muffled. "I'm not talking about this with you!"

"Come on, Rubes!" Yang bounced on her bed, making the springs creak. "I'm your big sister! It's my job to know your potential boyfriends!"

Ruby peeked out from behind her pillow, her silver eyes wide with horror. "He's not my potential boyfriend! We just met! And we're just... hanging out! As friends! Super casual friends who definitely aren't going on any kind of date-like activities!"

"Yep, totally not a date." Yang said sarcastically. "So when are you seeing him again?"

Ruby's resolve crumbled a little. "Thursday," she mumbled into her pillow. "But it's NOT a date!"

"Oh my gods, it's totally a date!" Yang practically shrieked, jumping up on her bed. "My baby sister is going on her first date! I need to tell Dad! And Uncle Qrow!

"Yang, NO!" Ruby launched herself across the room, tackling her sister onto the bed. "You can't tell anyone! Especially not Dad! Or our uncle!"

"That's exactly why I should tell him," Yang grinned, easily flipping their positions so she was pinning Ruby down with her metal arm holding her wrists. "Big sister privilege! Plus, someone needs to make sure this mystery guy knows what he's getting into."

"We're not dating!" Ruby protested, struggling against Yang's superior strength. "It's just... casual hanging out! Between two people who barely know each other! In a completely platonic way! In the commercial district! Where lots of people go! For totally normal, non-romantic reasons!"

“What is all this racket about?!” That is Weiss finally entering the room.
“Weiss help!”

“Nope, you aren’t escaping me that easily!”

“Nines, you too!”

---------------------------------------

-Adam Taurus-

I find myself back in Vale once more after finishing today’s work in Menagerie, exploring potential sites of interest with considerably more time at my disposal than during my last hurried visit to this district. Hours pass as I methodically catalog various industrial facilities, warehouses, and manufacturing plants scattered throughout the sprawling industrial sectors. The sheer variety of industries compressed into such a relatively compact area continues to surprise me, though I suppose it's a practical necessity given that the kingdoms maintain relative self-sufficiency for basic commodities and essential goods to sustain their economies.

Those items they can't produce domestically are typically imported from Atlas and its many corporations, who seem more than happy to export their technological superiority across the world in exchange for influence and profit. The impact is quite visible—the architectural styles and even fashion trends mirror Atlas design principles, representing an interesting form of soft power projection. After all, smaller nations, or kingdoms in this case, typically prefer to emulate the most powerful ones.

Of course, my presence here isn't merely for sightseeing. I've been carefully infiltrating storage facilities and appropriating various materials and components, filling my pocket dimension with anything that might prove useful for our operations back on Menagerie. And now I know that we certainly possess the funds to establish legitimate purchasing agreements, but those will never materialize thanks to the mountain of sanctions imposed on my home. Perhaps we could work through shell companies or intermediary organizations that could place bulk orders and arrange shipping via our captured cargo vessel.

And that's a very plausible plan once I secure Roman’s release, though I'll admit I've been procrastinating on that original plan far longer than I should have, I cannot help but wonder about Neopolitan opinion on that.

Yes, I will definitely need his legitimate business fronts.

But those are thoughts for later. For now, I'm already occupied with one task.

After reaching my pocket space limit, I walk away from the facility as if nothing had occurred, maintaining the casual demeanor of someone simply taking an evening stroll. Even though this isn't exactly the ideal neighborhood for leisurely walks. But nobody pays me any attention as everyone remains focused on their own tasks.

A few blocks later, after turning right onto what I assumed would be a quieter side street, I encounter an unwelcome sight.

A group of rough-looking individuals ahead completely blocked the street which I instantly recognize as the same semi-naked, heavily tattooed gang members I encountered months ago during my escape to Menagerie. They've brazenly claimed the entire intersection, their modified motorcycles parked haphazardly across the roadway while they engage in predictable behavior: drinking, loitering, and generally making nuisances of themselves.

Then that means that the police won't show up just because they are hanging around.

My arrival doesn't go unnoticed. All eyes lock onto me the moment I pause to check the situation, and I can practically feel their collective hostility focusing in my direction. One particularly charming specimen spits on the ground in my direction despite there being a considerable distance between us.

"Fuck off, pretty boy." He gestures toward an iron pipe strapped to his waist.

Such a… cliché response. I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything more complex from their type.

Rather than dignify their pathetic display with any form of response, and not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to my presence, I simply turn around and begin retracing my steps, seeking an alternate route through the district. Behind me, their laughter and sneers follow.

I roll my eyes at their predictable behavior but continue walking without looking back. Once again, engaging with street-level criminals would serve no purpose beyond drawing unwanted attention to me, and I have far more important objectives to accomplish than indulging in petty confrontations.

Besides, dealing with them individually would be pointless—more would simply appear to replace them. That's how gangs maintain their territorial presence; you cannot eliminate them through simple attrition. I'm perfectly aware that addressing such organizations requires a fundamentally different approach than merely killing their members one by one.

However, I’ve been so absorbed in my thoughts that I end up walking considerably farther than intended. I only pause when I notice an unexpected splash of vibrant colors that sharply contrasts with the environment's grey monotone palette. Curious, I stop and direct my attention toward the source.

I discover that I've stopped in front of a toy manufacturing facility, where workers are currently loading delivery trucks with a fresh batch of plushies. Adorable puppies and kittens.

They look so out of place. 

The workers loading the trucks barely glance in my direction but ignore me soon after.

However, I don't lose interest in the colorful display. The sight of those plushies makes me think back to Ilia, my childhood friend and now girlfriend.

We've been officially together for over a week now, and I'm certain she would appreciate it if I brought her back a gift. I can't help but smile at the mental image of her skin changing colors when I present it to her. Though it would be more meaningful to buy one rather than simply stealing one. 

But first I need to return to the commercial district, which means heading to the metro station. Of course, that isn't strictly necessary given that I can open a portal, but I need to use the traditional route since I’m still looking for more points of interest and cannot miss potential targets.

But as soon as I start walking, I stop by the distinctive wail of emergency sirens cutting through the air. A medical Bullhead rushes overhead, its red cross markings clearly visible along with the letters 'LL' painted on its hull as it speeds deeper into the industrial district. I wonder if it was an accident or somebody got attacked.

After a while I reach the metro line and board a moderately crowded train car, picking an empty window seat to get a decent view of the city as we travel through the city landscape and its network of elevated roadways. 

Occasionally shift my attention to the other passengers, people going about their daily routines. Although silent or just using their scrolls to pass the time, it is pretty ordinary and not exactly what one should expect from a dystopian setting.

But then my gaze drifts toward a particular section of the cityscape, and I spot the towering building and quickly identify since it houses much of Vale's Faunus population, the mega block and the surrounding streets. Of course, it could be significantly worse… and I despise that particular line of reasoning that keeps surfacing in my thoughts.

However, my thoughts are abruptly interrupted by an incoming communication. Not a standard call, but rather the direct link when Pod has something to tell me.

'Hello? Heeeellllooooooo? Testing, testing... one, two, three!'

That voice definitely isn't Pod's mechanical monotone.

'Speak,' I respond curtly.

'Oh my! So this communication line is genuinely functional! That's absolutely sensational! Oh wait, proper introductions are of paramount importance according to social protocol databases—SALUTATIONS! My designation is P-E-N-N-Y, and since my progenitor is the distinguished Atlas scientist and inventor Pietro Polendina, that makes me Penny Polendina according to conventional naming conventions!'

The enthusiastic, artificially cheerful tone triggers immediate recognition. Penny. The android girl I encountered briefly in Mistral and helped me to slay the behemoth.

'SALUTATIONS once more, mister... oh dear, I don't actually have your name in my files. How terribly rude of me!'

My mind races through the possibilities. My mental defenses haven't triggered any warnings, which means Penny isn't attempting to harm me or pursue any agenda that would negatively impact me. But our previous encounter was hardly cordial, she was a wreckage and Pod was able to maintain her function enough to charge her laser beam.

Then another realization strikes me, companions can gain access to Company features, though only if I show them and explain to them, otherwise they will be none the wiser. But Penny is an advanced android with adaptive learning capabilities. She could have learned by herself through trial and error and it is very likely how she discovered that she is binded to me.

But it took her a while.

Either way, sheknowing could represent a significant security risk, especially if she's been experimenting while under Atlas surveillance.

'Where are you currently located?' I ask, keeping my mental voice carefully controlled.

'I have absolutely no geographical data for my current position! Except that there appears to be a rather lovely manor structure and an expansive yard area, somewhere strange as I cannot see any proper sky and there's this fascinating red creature that exhibits similarities to a Terrorfang but clearly isn't a Terrorfang since it's demonstrably alive and permitted me to administer what I've learned are called "headpats"! According to my behavioral analysis, headpats represent the optimal interaction for adorable fauna!'

Brutus. She's describing Brutus, the giant man-eating monster, as "cute." The irony isn't lost on me, although I also consider him oddly adorable as well.

More importantly, this means she's somehow accessed my dimensional manor and learned to operate the portal system, which any companion has access to. If she discovered these new abilities while being monitored or in the presence of other personnel…

I must go talk to her immediately. 

'Penny, listen carefully. Have you demonstrated these... abilities... in front of anyone else? Any cameras, sensors, or personnel?'

'Oh! That's a very specific inquiry! Let me access my recent memory files... No! I was conducting independent research in my personal workshop when I discovered the fascinating energy signatures. My curiosity compelled me to investigate further, and then suddenly a strange red spiral of energy appeared in the wall and the moment I stepped inside I was somewhere entirely different! Father was attending a meeting with General Ironwood, so no one observed my departure. Though I should probably return soon before he becomes concerned about my whereabouts...'

Small mercy. But I still need to contain this situation as soon as possible.

The next station announcement echoes through the car, and I immediately rise from my seat. 

At the platform, I exit the train and move swiftly through the moderate crowd and then toward an isolated alley between two apartments. After making sure that nobody is watching or near, so I put on the blindfold first before I open a portal and jump in.

The scenario changes and I appear in my backyard this time and immediately spot Penny waving rather enthusiastically with one hand while the other is giving headpats to my squig, who has his tongue lolling out while wagging his tail like the dog he pretends to be. He could have asked for belly rubs to be honest.

Wait a minute…

Why didn't my squig simply tear her to pieces as soon as she passed through the portal? She is a total stranger to everyone.

Actually, he was docile and very friendly towards Nines when they first met, and the same could be said with the pods, so perhaps he's non-aggressive toward members of my retinue and those who I told them not to, I should test this theory one day.

But I also need a good explanation of how I have a squig (Terrorfang) as a pet.

I don't get much time to analyze this behavior as Penny abruptly stops both activities and tilts her head at an extreme angle; far more than any neck should allow, studying me with her green eyes. Then her eyes widen dramatically in recognition, and she strikes her palm with her fist in an eureka gesture.

"OH! Sensational discovery! You're the White Fang operative who provided assistance during the behemoth battle and repaired me!" she exclaims with a cheerful tone.

But I don’t share that cheerfulness as that statement has caught me completely off-guard. "What makes you say that?" 

I was wearing the uniform that all soldiers use and was wearing a biker helmet, even if it was damaged. All of that for not be recognized. And she was almost turned into scrap, barely keeping the lights on.

However, that only makes the android girl grin widen at my question, practically bouncing on her feet. "Well, you see, I collected as much sensory data as physically possible during our encounter! Though for some peculiar reason, something was actively interfering with my scans capabilities at the time—most unusual and frustrating! But just now I performed another detailed scan and acquired significantly more information than I could obtain previously due to those mysterious interference."

She gestures excitedly with both hands. "A quick cross-reference analysis with my memory files revealed that the data matched perfectly! Therefore, by basic logical deduction indicates you must be the same individual who provided crucial assistance! Elementary conclusion!"

I can only frown at this revelation, if she could do this then it is natural to assume that there is technology capable of that as well. My defenses were chosen to prevent that kind of information from being known, but they didn't fail since she explicitly stated that her initial scans were blocked. The difference now is that she's become part of my retinue when I stamped her and the three days wait time has already passed.

Penny then steps forward and executes an extremely exaggerated, formal bow. "I want to express my most sincere gratitude for your assistance in restoring my body! According to my damage assessment, I would have experienced complete irreversible shutdown without your intervention. That would have resulted in catastrophic memory loss and personality fragmentation, which… which terrifies me."

I don’t fail to notice that drop of tone on the last part but she straightens with renewed enthusiasm. "But thanks to your help, I was restored to full operational capacity with remarkable efficiency! Father found this quite strange since I should have required at least three months for complete restoration, even with his expertise and Atlas's advanced equipment! But somehow I was perfectly functional within a week! Isn’t that mag-ni-fi-cent?!"

Well, yeah. It is another confirmation that the stamp works as intended along with the Body Tune-up. And combined with Pod's technical repairs, it makes a lot of sense that she got back to her feet so fast.

"Let's assume you're correct in my identity," I say carefully. "Then why aren't you attacking me? Shouldn't you be trying to arrest me?"

"There isn't any logical reason to pursue a hostile action against you," she explains matter-of-factly.  "My primary programming directive is to fight Grimm and only Grimm. My secondary directive involves learning as much as possible about the world and its inhabitants, which I am always trying since I love discovering new things!"

She tilts her head again, this time not that ridiculously exaggerated. "You provided assistance when I was in critical condition, which makes you a good person!"

What a simple way of thinking.

There is a pause, and her expression takes a more serious tone. "Well, except if you suddenly attack me, then I will defend myself according to self-defense protocols. But you don't seem inclined toward violence right now!"

That's seriously straightforward reasoning.

"Besides," she continues, her enthusiasm returning, "I have so many questions about this place, I didn’t think it was possible that semblances could be this powerful! The energy signatures I detected are absolutely fascinating! Or is this technological? And your adorable creature here—" she gestures toward Brutus, who rumbles approvingly, "—what species is he? He cannot be a grimm despite the similar physical characteristics but I haven’t found a single animal with any matching data!"

“By the way, I also discovered that I have new extras parts. I checked my original body designs and none of them had these new parts that look similar to female reproductive organs.”

…

Right.

This is going to be a long talk.

-------------------------------------

It takes considerable time and being very careful with my choice of words, but I eventually manage to secure Penny's agreement to maintain absolute secrecy about everything she's witnessed or learned during this. I carefully frame my activities, heavily emphasizing the behemoth hunting operations, as ultimately benefiting all of humanity, which isn't entirely false since my actions will indeed have positive effects for humankind, though admittedly my primary focus is always on advancing Faunus interests.

"I understand the importance of operational security!" she declares, frantically nodding. “Though I must confess, it seems rather peculiar that you're so concerned about maintaining secrecy regarding humanitarian efforts against Grimm."

She tilts her head with a distinctive curiosity. "General Ironwood would be pleased to collaborate with someone working toward protecting Remnant population! He's dedicated his entire career to safeguarding people. A considerable portion of his forces are currently deployed overseas combating Grimm incursions, and he's always seeking individuals who share those noble objectives. Coordinated efforts could prove exponentially more effective than isolated operations!"

I feel tension building in my shoulders at her naive suggestion. The android girl must work with a logical framework that doesn't account for the messy realities of politics and institutional conflicts.

"The General and I have... fundamentally different approaches and perspectives on how best to achieve those goals." I say, thinking my words.

"But different approaches can be complementary!" Penny responds with unwavering optimism, bouncing slightly on her feet. "Father always says that diverse methodologies often yield superior results when properly coordinated and integrated! General Ironwood demonstrates remarkable open-mindedness compared to other generals regarding unconventional solutions, especially when they demonstrate practical effectiveness in the field!"

This girl's innocence is almost painful to witness.

"Penny," I let out a sigh before continuing, "sometimes different approaches aren't merely different—they're fundamentally incompatible at the core level. The General operates within certain frameworks and political constraints that would make collaboration with me... let's say complicated."

I can't simply state the real reasons without potentially causing her to do something rash or she simply failing to understand anything.

"But surely common objectives would override procedural differences?" she asks, genuine confusion evident in her voice and posture. "If you're both working to protect people from harm, wouldn't that shared objective create natural alignment and cooperation?"

I merely sigh, recognizing the innocent faith underlying her question. It demonstrates that she's indeed an android operating on pure logic and all these societal problems are rationally illogical from her perspective. Anything else in this fucked up world doesn’t compute with her.

"Perhaps it's more complicated than simple shared objectives," I begin, but Penny interrupts with sudden realization.

"Oh! Is this about you being a Faunus?" she asks with startling bluntness. "Because that isn't a problematic factor with the esteemed General! General Ironwood has Faunus personnel employed and integrated throughout the various divisions under his command!"

That statement stops me cold. I stare at her, certain I must have misheard her.

"What did you just say?" I ask slowly.

Penny nods enthusiastically. "There are faunus in the military and specialist units! Though they typically conceal their heritage for some reasons that I don’t know."

She begins counting on her fingers. "For example, I'm acquainted with Marrow Amin, who serves as a member of the Ace Operatives, General Ironwood's security firm! And there's this rabbit Faunus who works as a senior diagnostic technician in the engineering corps, though I've never understood why he wears that enormous hat specifically designed to conceal his ears. It doesn't affect his performance when he conducts system examinations on my mechanical components!"

So it's a form of enforced secrecy? Surgical modification? No, she specifically mentioned they're hiding their features rather than removing them entirely, because self-mutilation just to achieve social acceptance would represent an entirely different category of fucked up. 

"You're... you're absolutely certain about this information?" I ask, again. "Or is this supposed integration only applied to General Ironwood's specific divisions?"

"Absolutely certain! My memory files maintain precise records regarding all personnel interactions and observations," Penny confirms with another emphatic nod. "Although, I should note that in other Atlas divisions; those not directly under General Ironwood's command, I've observed no Faunus personnel, only human staff. Although I must say that these divisions have never done joint operations with other divisions."

So Ironwood represents an outlier, a deviation from Atlas norms, and maybe even working with some secrecy. That's... significant information that changes certain assumptions I had from the stoic man.

I cannot help but think back to that confrontation with his forces in Mistral, they didn't attack immediately but issued an ultimatum to surrender. At the time, I interpreted it as typical Atlas arrogance and superiority complex, but now—if Penny's observations are accurate—they actually provided an opportunity for peaceful resolution. Don’t tell me that my kin also died form the behemoth blast as well…

Fuck.

No, not my fault and they still attacked us so this is just another reality of the battlefield.

And Ironwood's reputation suggests he prioritizes practicality and efficiency above all else, so it would make logical sense that he wouldn't discriminate over something as superficial as additional ears or tails.

But the original timeline from my memories showed clear prejudice... though that was after multiple terrorist attacks on Vale when he was already operating under extreme pressure and paranoia.

And my White Fang was practically operating as a terrorist organization after Ghira’s death. Which was promptly destroyed after they killed me. 

However, that doesn't change the fact that Winter remains his right hand, and her hatred for me is unmistakable. But a subordinate's personal views don't necessarily represent their superior's policies, and Winter has numerous personal reasons to despise me given she is a Schnee.

And Ironwood isn't in any council seat...

That might explain everything. He probably views everything as political maneuvering designed to gain leverage in Atlas's domestic political landscape. Winter likely reported our encounter to Ironwood, who chose to withhold that information from the public—probably saving it for maximum impact during the next election campaign where it could be most effectively weaponized against political adversaries just like Sienna mentioned it.

Or maybe I'm overcomplicating this entire situation and creating conspiracy theories where simple explanations suffice.

"Fucking politics..." I mutter under my breath.

"Ummm, what was that?" Penny asks, tilting her head with mechanical curiosity.

"Nothing important, just... very surprised to hear that. It changes certain assumptions I held about the man."

"Oh! I'm so pleased I could provide useful data!" she exclaims. "I do so enjoy sharing information and learning new things about how people think and organize themselves!"

However, Penny freezes for a moment, her mouth forming a perfect 'o' shape before she presses both hands to her cheeks in apparent distress. "Oh my! I've been absent from my designated location for far longer than anticipated! My not-yet-friend Ciel is probably experiencing significantly elevated stress levels regarding my current whereabouts, and Father will be returning from his meeting soon!"

She begins pacing in what appears to be a small circle, though it looks more like she's spinning in place. "I was supposed to remain in the workshop conducting routine diagnostics, but my curiosity completely overrode my task when I detected these fascinating energy signatures! This deviation from established behavioral patterns could prove most problematic!"

I can only sigh, recognizing the inevitable. There's no practical way to prevent her return without creating significantly larger problems for all parties involved. Attempting to detain her would very likely cause her to defend herself and bring considerable heat from Atlas, especially from General Ironwood, potentially turning a neutral party into an active enemy.

"Penny," I say firmly and she immediately snaps her head toward me and stops her spinning. "Before you return to Atlas, I need you to understand something extremely important."

She nods with a bright smile, giving me her full attention.

I take a step closer, lowering my voice to barely above a whisper. "Everything you've witnessed here, everything you've learned. If you speak even a single word of it to anyone, it would represent a profound betrayal of the trust I've placed in you today. Can I trust you to maintain this secret until I'm ready to share this information voluntarily?"

Penny's expression shifts noticeably, the cheerful enthusiasm giving way to something more serious and contemplative. Her green eyes seem to process my words before she gives me a solemn nod.

"Don't worry about any potential information leaks! Betraying trust is fundamentally contrary to what I learned and been taught. Your secrets are absolutely secure with me, and I would never compromise someone who saved me when I was in critical need! That would be completely illogical and morally reprehensible!"

Then she straightens to attention and executes a crisp Atlesian military salute. "Confidentiality assured!"

Her enthusiasm immediately returns as she skips toward the portal I had demonstrated earlier, bouncing with the same excitement. "Still this has been absolutely sensational! Thank you again for the fascinating educational experience and the delightful introduction to your adorable companion!"

Before I can add any final warnings or instructions, she leaps through the portal with childlike abandon, disappearing back to what I assume is her workshop or bedroom in Atlas.

The portal closes behind her, leaving me alone in the backyard with Brutus, who seems almost disappointed by the departure of his new friend.

That's when a sudden realization strikes me.

I now have a direct portal connection to Atlas thanks to Penny's curiosity. More significantly, having Penny  who has legitimate access to Atlas facilities, information networks, and potentially classified areas, could prove invaluable for future operations. And she could also set up new additional portals all over Atlas.

Too many doors just opened for me.

Am I considering taking advantage of Penny's innocence and trusting nature?

Absolutely. But it's not motivated by malice or desire to harm her personally. Rather, it's a pragmatic necessity; I need every advantage against Atlas when we eventually move against their interests so we aren’t caught off guard.

I should discuss this with Sienna. Her insight is always welcome, well, mostly welcomed.

And that’s the moment when I get a message

"Speaking of the devil..." I mutter, as it is Sienna who is texting me

'Bad News.'

That short, terse message makes me immediately push all thoughts about Penny and Atlas aside, as this now takes priority.

'Where?'

'Your home. Quickly'

I give Brutus a quick pat on the head, then move swiftly toward the portal. Stepping through the dimensional gateway, I emerge in the familiar backyard of our family home, but there's no time to appreciate the surroundings as urgency drives me forward.

I enter the manor, finding Sienna and Kali waiting in the living room. Both women wearing the same expression, tight-lipped and slight frown on their faces.

"What's the problem?" I ask directly.

"There's been a murder," Sienna states without holding back anything. "And it's not just any murder."

I furrow my brow, though I understand that I shouldn't be entirely shocked. Despite our efforts to improve security and social cohesion, murder can occur for countless reasons that remain beyond our direct control; personal vendettas, crimes of passion, simple criminal activity, domestic disputes gone wrong.

"Give me the details," I say, then pause when I realize that's too vague so I word it better. "Is this something we can address systematically through some direct changes to prevent this tragedy from happening again, or was this simply a personal act with no broader implications?"

Sienna closes her eyes and shakes her head slowly, her expression growing even more grave. "The issue is far more complex than a simple crime. The victim was the designated heir of the Thirstfang Clan—one of the most influential clans among our traditionalist factions."

Shit. 

That changes absolutely everything. This isn't just a murder; it's a political assasination aimed to destabilize us.

"Do we have specifics about the murder itself? Potential motives, timing?"

"We are currently conducting an investigation," Sienna begins. "But so far our findings indicate the crime occurred yesterday at night, but the body wasn't discovered until this late morning when the victim failed to report to his father, the patriarch. The victim suffered extensively before dying, a clear signs of prolonged torture, yet the crime scene shows no evidence of chaos or violent resistance. There's absolutely no doubt this was meticulously planned and executed by someone very skilled or with a powerful semblance."

I rub my face and sigh deeply, already visualizing the turmoil this will cause, more work to worry about and here I was, planning to expand in other things because I wrongly assumed that no more stupid problems would occur. This is exactly the kind of thing I’d hoped to avoid.

"I'm correct in assuming that the clan Patriarch is... less than pleased by this?"

"That would be a massive understatement," Kali interjects, her ears drooped low. "Adam, something like this represents a blow clearly with the intention to divide us. I don't believe it immediately threatens the overall stability we've built, but it certainly creates dangerous fault lines that those who oppose us could exploit."

She's right with that line of thinking. But this coalition's stability ultimately depends on my continued leadership and survival, though having a child on the way should provide some insurance against complete collapse if something ever happens to me.

So maybe Atlas is probing?

Kali continues with growing concern etched on her face. "We need answers quickly because suspicions are already spreading like wildfire. Accusations are falling primarily on direct rival groups within the coalition. They're well aware of the clan's traditional succession customs—losing the only designated heir essentially allows another leader to assume prominence once the current Patriarch steps down, either voluntarily or through death. The specific accusation being whispered is that a rival faction assassinated the heir specifically to install someone with more favorable views."

"Fucking politics," I mutter under my breath. "Do you think that's actually what happened? A calculated political assassination?"

"Absolutely not!" Both women respond simultaneously with clear conviction.

But they quickly calm down.

Kali speaks again. "The moderate and liberal factions, despite their fundamental disagreements with the traditionalists, would never resort to something this extreme, I know I can trust them. While they maintain their own military forces and capabilities, they understand that the traditionalist clans form our most experienced soldiers and hunters in Menagerie."

Sienna nods in agreement. "I've been specifically recruiting from their ranks for our new police force because their ideological positions are more adaptable and less likely to create problems with civilian oversight. They have no incentive to risk everything through such a reckless gamble and the payout is equally worthless."

She pauses, tapping her chin for a moment. " However, I do recruit from the traditionalist factions as well, but I'm very selective to avoid importing their more... radical elements into law enforcement roles. The last thing we need is extremism spreading through our future police forces. That’s just a recipe for disaster."

That's correct.

I rub my chin thoughtfully, processing the information. We definitely need to investigate this murder case and do our best to find a culprit, well this is good to be informed but I must leave this issue to Sienna since she will be the head of the police force. But at the same time this also proves to be an opportunity in building trust and showing genuine care for all our people's welfare to prove that they are better off with me and keep abandoning those small divisions.

But that still leaves the critical question of who actually killed the heir and what their true motivation was.

Albeit, I want to believe our people are rational enough to avoid such destructive actions, but that's naïve thinking on my part, so I cannot rule out that possibility either. People act irrationally when they believe they can control situations or expect different results from extreme measures. 

And that's when I remember something that might be relevant to this case.

"Isn't this the same clan from where Trifa comes from?"

Sienna's eyes widened in recognition. "Yes, exactly—Trifa is from the Thirstfang Clan. She maintains strong family connections despite serving in your administration, but despite her radical views she is practically a neutral party as she is absolutely loyal to the legitimate high leader above all else."

"We should speak with her immediately and learn what she might know," Kali suggests. 

I don't see any potential harm in asking. Especially that thanks to the stamp I know she is loyal to me, and she already was loyal because of her strong beliefs.

“Call her.”

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Bonus scene: Price for Loyalty

-Trifa-

Trifa slowly rose from her knees, lifting her gaze to meet her glorious High Leader's eyes… No, that was wrong, she was just looking at his blindfold. Her right hand snapped up in a sharp salute, fist striking her chest. A mark of respect for Adam Taurus and his mates. Although Kali Belladonna had yet to officially join him in bed, it was only natural to already acknowledge her as his rightful mate.

With the salute complete, she turned and quickly left the manor, stepping out into the cool evening air. Her short heels clicked rhythmically against the paved streets as she walked, though her destination mattered less than the deep satisfaction burning in her chest.

Satisfaction at how perfectly things had progressed. The insolent bastard now lay dead, having suffered appropriately for his blatant disrespect toward their High Leader. She had made sure his final moments were educational and painful. About the dire consequences of even thinking about undermining Adam's authority. And she had even extracted valuable information from him before ending that scum. 

Names. Connections. Useful details that would serve her purposes later.

Sadly, she couldn't continue with eliminating the rest of them. Not yet.

They weren't traitors to their just cause by any stretch—at least she could confirm that much from the dead mongrel's confession. But they were nuisances, obstacles that cluttered the path to Adam's absolute authority. Her patriarch included. She wanted to get rid of them all, to clean house completely and remove every petty political game that distracted from their true purpose.

Unfortunately, she couldn't take further action at the moment. Everything was on high alert now, and any additional moves would threaten her High Leader's perfect planning. It pained her deeply that she had caused him this mild annoyance, but it had been necessary. Sometimes sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. Adam Taurus would understand—he always did.

If the situation proved more difficult than anticipated, she already had a contingency plan. A target from her clan's direct rival—a perfect red herring to throw any investigation off the scent and recover balance. 

She just needed to bide her time and keep training. She felt growing stronger each day, her techniques more refined. Soon, she would be strong enough to challenge for the patriarch position herself and clean out those pesky elements once and for all with zero opposition. Then her people could serve Adam Taurus as they were meant to and become even stronger.

Because might makes right. It always had been like that in their world.

Woman or not, might makes right.

And she intended to prove just how much might she possessed.

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AN: This took longer than it should, I’m sorry for that.