Marketplace, Italica

March 30, 2028, 08:10 (30th day of the Crescent Moon 638)

At dawn, the marketplace began to glow as Darius, determined and sharp-eyed, oversaw his bustling entourage preparing for another day of trading. Amidst the mingling scents of produce and slave pens, merchants haggled and buyers inspected goods. Darius, in a richly embroidered tunic, moved confidently through the chaos, his piercing eyes missing nothing. Suddenly, a commotion near the entrance drew his attention—a feline wearing a maid uniform approached. Darius's face hardened as he met the maid's curt nod.

Darius: A maid of the Countess, what seems to be the problem?

The maid, with her feline grace, met his gaze evenly. Without a word, she handed him a scroll bearing the seal of Countess Myui. Darius's face twisted with confusion and then anger as he broke the seal and unfurled the document. His eyes scanned the contents quickly, his expression growing more incensed with each passing second.

Darius: An arrest warrant? On what grounds?

The maid's tail flicked with agitation, her eyes narrowing as she responded.

Feline Maid: On the grounds of violating the slaves' rights laws set by the Count and various illegal activities. Darius, you're under arrest. I suggest you come in quietly.

Darius's confusion deepened into a rage as he glanced at his mercenaries.

Darius: This is absurd! The Countess has no right to meddle in my affairs like this. A maid delivering such an order—do you take me for a fool?

The maid's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile as she met Darius's outburst with a light, almost musical laugh.

Feline Maid: Oh, Darius, you misunderstand. It's not about what you believe. And the Countess's orders are not to be ignored.

Darius's eyes narrowed, his irritation clearly visible across his face. He took a menacing step closer, his voice dropping to a harsh, low growl.

Darius: You're crossing a line, you insolent girl. The Countess has no authority to do this. Guards!

With a sharp snap of his fingers, Darius summoned his guards, who were positioned strategically around the market. The men, armored and ready, drew their weapons and advanced towards the maid. But before they could close in, the maid's feline reflexes took over.

Her movements were a blur of fluid grace as her claws flashed in the morning light. Each swipe was precise and deadly, cutting through the air with practiced ease. The guards fell before they even had a chance to react, their weapons clattering to the ground as they slumped to the cobblestones, their lives extinguished in an instant. Darius watched in stunned silence as his men were dispatched effortlessly. The marketplace fell silent, the bustling noise replaced by gasps and murmurs from onlookers. The maid's claws retracted, her posture relaxed but her eyes were still sharp, locked onto Darius.

Feline Maid: It seems your guards weren't much of a challenge. Now, will you come quietly, or do I need to make this more... unpleasant?

Darius stood frozen, the sight of the maid's swift, lethal intervention sinking in. His pride and bravado had been shattered, leaving him pale and speechless. The once-commanding figure now appeared diminished, his usual imposing presence rendered insignificant in the face of such efficient force.

The maid sighed, her feline grace not betraying any hint of satisfaction. She took a step forward, her eyes softening just a fraction as she observed Darius's stunned expression.

Feline Maid: Very well, if you're going to be this uncooperative, I'll handle it myself.

With an air of practiced indifference, the maid approached Darius. He flinched slightly as she laid a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm but not painful. The once-proud merchant's shoulders slumped, and he made no move to resist as the maid began to guide him towards the exit of the marketplace. The crowd, still reeling from the sudden and brutal confrontation, watched in a mixture of awe and apprehension.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the gathered onlookers, but no one dared to intervene or obstruct the maid's progress. As they moved through the market, her steady pace contrasted sharply with Darius's uncertain steps. His previous arrogance had evaporated, replaced by a palpable dread of the uncertain fate that awaited him. He glanced around at the faces of the crowd, each one seemingly a reminder of his fallen guards and the consequences of his actions.

Feline Maid: You'll find that resisting won't change the outcome. The Countess's will is absolute, and her judgment is not easily swayed.

Darius didn't respond, his silence heavy with resignation. The maid's gaze remained fixed on their destination, the entrance to a waiting carriage that would take them to the Countess's residence. As they reached the carriage, she signaled for the driver to open the door. Without ceremony, she helped Darius inside, her touch firm yet devoid of any unnecessary cruelty. Once he was seated, she stepped back and nodded to the driver.

Feline Maid: Take him to the Countess. And make sure he understands that any further defiance will be dealt with accordingly.

Formal Family Castle, Italica 

March 30, 2028, 08:45 (30th day of the Crescent Moon 638)

Kaine's expression was full of anticipation as she approached the heavy wooden doors of the study. Taking a deep breath, she knocked firmly, the sound resonating with a decisive clarity. Myui, seated behind a mahogany desk cluttered with documents, looked up from her work. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she gestured for Kaine to enter.

Myui: Enter.

Kaine opened the doors and stepped inside with practiced grace. She approached the Countess's desk and curtsied respectfully before speaking.

Kaine: My lady, Darius has been successfully apprehended and is now waiting in the holding cell.

Myui's eyes glinted with satisfaction. She set down her quill and leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed yet commanding.

Myui: Excellent. I trust Persia ensured that the situation was handled appropriately.

Kaine nodded, her expression composed.

Kaine: Yes, Countess. Persia's intervention was swift and effective. Darius did not pose much of a challenge, and he is now securely contained.

Myui's smile widened. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk as she looked at Kaine with a serious expression.

Myui: Very well. I want to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly. Inform Itami and Adam and have them come to my study.

Kaine: At once, my lady. I will see to it that they are informed.

Myui waved a hand dismissively, signaling the end of the briefing. Kaine bowed once more before turning on her heel and making her way out of the study. She had barely resumed her work when another knock echoed through the study. Her brows knitted slightly in irritation, but she quickly composed herself, calling out with an even tone.

Myui: Enter. 

The door creaked open, and Mohmu stepped inside. She offered a respectful bow before speaking.

Mohmu: My lady, Mr. Graves wishes to see you. 

Myui's curiosity was piqued, She nodded, gesturing for Mohmu to allow Graves entry.

Myui: Very well, send him in.

Mohmu bowed again and exited, soon returning with Graves in tow.

Graves: Countess, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.

Myui offered a nod, her expression neutral but attentive.

Myui: Mr. Graves, please, have a seat. I understand you wish to discuss our arrangement in further detail.

Graves settled into the chair across from Myui, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees as he spoke.

Graves: Well before we start I must say, your servants...well, they're quite something else.

Myui: Quite something else?

Graves smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he elaborated.

Graves: Yeah, one of my guys was walking through the market earlier, and saw the girl with the cat ears taking down that slave selling assholes bodyguards like they were nothing. I must say I'm quite impressed. Are all your servants like this? Ahem, excuse my language

Myui's pride was evident as she began to speak, her voice tinged with admiration for her servants.

Myui: Most of my servants were trained by my late father. He believed in the importance of strength and skill, not just for defense but as a means of earning respect and maintaining order.

As she mentioned her father, a shadow of sadness crossed her face. She paused, her gaze briefly distant, before continuing with a softer tone.

Myui: He was a remarkable man, both a fierce warrior and a wise leader. His absence has left a void that is still felt deeply within these walls.

Graves observed her change in demeanor, his expression softening slightly. He leaned forward again, his tone more serious.

Graves: I'm sorry for your loss, Countess. He left a strong legacy, not just in you but in those who serve you.

Myui offered a small, appreciative smile, her sadness momentarily replaced by gratitude.

Myui: Thank you, Mr. Graves. His legacy is something I strive to uphold every day. Now, about our arrangement, what specifics did you wish to discuss?

Before they could delve into the details of their arrangement, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. Kaine, Adam, and Itami entered the study. Adam's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Graves, his expression quickly shifting to one of displeasure.

Adam: Haven't seen you since Belgorod, why in god's name are you here?

Graves leaned back in his chair, a smug smile playing on his lips. He crossed his arms over his chest, meeting Adam's gaze with a look of amusement.

Graves: Adam, good to see you too. As you can see I was just discussing some business with the Countess here.

Adam questioned Graves, his tone laced with suspicion.

Adam: What kind of business?

Graves gave a nonchalant shrug, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Graves: Oh, you know, just the usual. Nothing you need to worry about.

Adam's eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced.

Adam: Oh yeah? Like the "usual" type of business you're doing in Africa?

Just before things could escalate, Itami quickly stepped forward, aiming to diffuse the rising tension.

Itami: Alright-alright, Settle down, let's not turn this into a showdown you two. Countess, what's the current status of the trader?

Myui's eyes shifted to Itami, appreciating his timely intervention.

Myui: Darius has been apprehended and is currently in the holding cell. Thanks to my servant's quick action, there were no complications.

Itami: Good to hear. Does the princess know what we're doing?

Myui's expression grew thoughtful at Itami's question. She leaned back, her fingers lightly drumming on the desk.

Myui: I expect she knows or at the very least, suspects. Even if I detest her I must admit the Princess has always been astute.

Itami frowned, concern etched across his face. He took a step closer to Myui's desk, his voice earnest.

Itami: Countess, it's not like I am doubting you or anything but are you sure about this? You heard what she said yesterday, you could be charged with treason.

Myui however, remained resolute. The memory of her father still lingers in her head

Myui: I must do this if I don't. My father's fight for the downtrodden will be in vain. Human or not, we are all living beings who deserve the chance to live a life free.

Itami was surprised by Myui's response; her maturity far exceeded her actual age. Graves, however, was satisfied by her answer and spoke up with a reassuring tone.

Graves: Don't worry, Lieutenant Itami. The Countess and I have an understanding. If the princess tries something, my men will handle it.

Adam caught Graves' comment and turned to him, suspicion evident in his eyes.

Adam: "Understanding"? What understanding?

Graves then leaned back in his chair, a smug smile playing on his lips as he met Adam's suspicious gaze.

Graves: Let's just say, we have a "deal" that helps us both. The Countess provides certain... amenities, and in return, my men offer their skills to keep things running smoothly.

Adam's eyes narrowed further, his displeasure clear.

Adam: Does state know?

Graves shrugged in response

Graves: Who knows maybe they do maybe they don't.

Adam sighed, recognizing how useless it was to continue the argument. He glanced at Myui's unwavering resolve, then turned to Graves.

Adam: Fine, but if you decide to do anything that will endanger my team—

Graves: You'll put a bullet in my head, don't worry I remember.

Seeing the argument come to quite a violent end, Myui exhaled softly and refocused on the matter at hand. Composing herself, she begins to address the room

Myui: Moving on, I will now explain the trial procedure. It will be held in the afternoon at the grand chambers of the castle and I will be presiding over the trial and delivering the final verdict.

Adam: Okay, is there anything else we need to know?

Myui's eyes met Adam's, her expression serious as she spoke.

Myui: I've asked Kaine and the other maids to look through my father's old documents to find out more about Darius.

Myui then motioned for Kaine, who stepped forward with a stack of papers in her arms.

Myui: Kaine, please present the findings.

Kaine: Certainly, my lady. We've discovered that this Darius fellow has a notorious reputation. He's always treated his slaves horribly, inflicting severe punishments and neglecting their well-being. This isn't the first time he's gotten into trouble; he had numerous run-ins with the previous count due to his despicable practices.

Graves' expression softened, showing a hint of genuine concern as he leaned forward in his chair.

Graves: I know it might seem rude but I must ask, if he had all this evidence against him why didn't he take action then?

Kaine: He simply couldn't, Mr. Graves. When the Count was about to completely shut down Darius' operation, he suddenly received a letter from a powerful member of the senate, ordering him to cease his actions. That senator was a special client of Darius for "exotic products." Moreover, there were whispers that a member of the royal imperial family was also involved. With such powerful connections protecting Darius, the Count had no choice but to back down.

Itami's brow furrowed in thought as he processed the information. He then asked, his voice tentative.

Itami: Could it have been Princess Pina who was involved?

Myui and Kaine exchanged glances before Myui shook her head.

Myui: No, despite her many flaws the Princess would never deal with a man like Darius. She's way too..."Honorable"

Kaine: Indeed, my lady. It's more probable that someone else within the royal family is involved, who specifically remains a mystery

Adam sighed, running a hand through his hair

Adam: Let's not dwell on that for now.

He then turned to Myui

Adam: With Darius' connections, there's bound to be someone who might try to interfere with the trial or worse, try to free him.

Graves leaned back, drumming his fingers on the armrest, a confident and cunning smile spreading across his face.

Graves: If that's the case, why don't we hit them hard and hit them first

Itami: Well if we are going to hit them, we have to know where they are though.

Kaine nodded, her eyes steady as she took in Itami's concern.

Kaine: Fear naught, Mr. Itami, that issue has already been resolved. Mammina

As Kaine called for Mammina, she entered with a map, which she unfurled on the table. The map of Italica showed several key locations marked with red circles.

Mammina: The marked buildings are properties owned by the slave traders' guild that Darius is a part of. We suspect that his associates might be hiding out in any of these locations.

Adam's face grew tense as he assessed the map. His eyes flicked between the marked buildings.

Adam: Yeah...no way we can cover all that.

Myui then asked, her voice steady and composed,

Myui: Can you not ask for help from your superiors?

Adam and Itami exchanged uneasy glances. Itami cleared his throat before responding.

Itami: Well...let's just say we kind of didn't tell them what we're doing...

Adam nodded, adding with a hint of tension in his voice,

Adam: Yeah, they would never allow us to do this.

Myui: Well this is quite the conundrum. My maids, as capable as they are, cannot cover every single location on their own.

Graves leaned back in his chair, a smirk spreading across his face. His eyes gleamed with a mix of mischief and calculation.

Graves: Listen, not every single one of those locations is going to have Darius's associates holed up right? We're just going to have to filter out which ones do and which ones don't.

Adam: And how do you suggest we do that?

Graves' grin widened. He leaned forward, his tone dropping to a more serious note.

Graves: Drones

Central District, Italica

March 30, 2028, 12:30 (30th day of the Crescent Moon 638)

The midday sun cast harsh shadows across the cobblestone streets of Italica's Central District. The normally bustling marketplace was unusually quiet, a heavy tension hanging in the air. A panicked man, his eyes darting nervously from side to side, pulled his hood further over his face as he hurried down the alleyway. He clutched a worn leather satchel close to his chest, its contents rustling softly with each hurried step.

As he made his way through the narrow passage, he heard a faint buzzing sound. It was barely audible, a quiet hum that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. He shook his head, forcing himself to stay focused. He couldn't afford any distractions.

Reaching a nondescript wooden door partially hidden by overgrown ivy, he glanced around one last time before slipping inside. The door creaked shut behind him, the noise echoing in the dimly lit room. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he spotted two figures standing near a table cluttered with maps and documents.

One was a tall, muscular man with a stern expression, his dark hair tied back in a tight ponytail. The other, shorter and more rotund, had a perpetual scowl etched into his face. Both turned their gaze towards the newcomer, their eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Tall Man: You're late.

The panicked man swallowed hard, his throat dry.

Nervous Man: I-I'm sorry. I had to take a longer route to avoid being seen.

Shorter Man stepped forward, his scowl deepening, his eyes boring into the nervous man.

Shorter Man: Excuses won't save you if you've been followed. Do you have it?

The nervous man nodded quickly, fumbling with the satchel's clasp before pulling out a