CHAPTER 56

EMERALD SUSTRAI POV

She looked at the Faunus in front of her.

The Faunus that Roman should have taken care of a while ago. Really, this was just Mercury and her doing Roman's job. Their wish to go out and stretch their legs had nothing to do with it.

Taking care of loose ends was important.

"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade. Home to every book under the sun."

The faunus was carrying books and she could see the packed books inside the store. It looked like they had made it by the skin of their teeth.

A little late and this guy would've escaped through their fingers.

Really, he should have cut his losses and run. But it was already too late now.

The Faunus put the packaged books aside and turned to look at her "How may I…" he paused, noticing something in either Mercury or her own stature. Something that made him wary. She smiled at him. "How may I help you?" he carried on as if he had not just stuttered a moment ago.

"Just browsing," Mercury said from behind her as he went through the books on the shelves for some inane reason. At least she could count on him to be serious during a job even if the bastard would never shut up outside it.

"Actually, I was wondering. Do you have any copies of the Thief and the Butcher?" she asked.

"Yes, we do." He replied, some of his wariness shining through.

"That's great." She said with an innocent smile. Though not as innocent as Neo. That girl could make you think of her as an angel a moment and then slit your throat the very next.

"Would you… like a copy?" he asked, perhaps hoping that it was the only thing they were here for. Poor guy.

"No. Just wondering."

At that moment Mercury slammed his book shut and she could see Tukson's eyes narrow a bit as he realized that he won't be getting out of this one.

"Oh! Oh! What about, Violet's Garden… in paperback."

"He's got it." Mercury reported from behind her as he browsed through the shelves "Hardback too."

"Ohh… options are nice." She said, pretending to be just a curious young girl even if they all knew better.

"Eh… No pictures." Mercury said in a disappointed tone and slammed the book shut as well.

"Hey!" Mercury said, losing some patience "Do you have any comics?"

"Near the front," Tukson replied.

Then she suddenly thought of a book. A rare one that she had only seen once before despite the legendary tale depicted on it. A book that even Tukson was unlikely to have.

"Oh! No, wait" she said as she leaned forward, her smile dimming a bit "What about, the Third Crusade?"

Tukson seemed to think about it for a moment before he gave her an apologetic look "I… don't believe we carry that one."

Mercury slammed another book shut, the sound ringing even louder in the silent store.

"Oh…" Mercury said and she smiled again.

"What was this place called again?" she asked.

"Tukson's Book Trade." The Faunus replied.

"And… you're Tukson?"

"That's right."

"So then I take it that you were the one who came up with the catchphrase?"

"Yes."

"And, what was it again?" Mercury asked.

Tukson sighed "Tukson's Book Trade. Home to every book under the sun."

"Except… the Third Crusade." Mercy pointed out.

Tukson sighed, looking tired and a little more wary of them now "It's just a catchphrase."

"It's a false advertisement," Mercury said and she decided that it was finally time to end this charade.

"You should not make a promise you can't keep, Tukson." She said "I hear you're planning on leaving. Moving all the way to Vacuo." Not that running would've saved him. But it would be bothersome to chase him all the way to Vacuo when she had other things to do for her Mistress here in Vale.

Behind her, Mercury started to dim the lights of the store and flipped the 'Closed/Open' sign at the front door.

"Your brothers in the White Fang." She said even as she laughed at the thought of them calling themselves brothers when they betrayed each other this easily "They wouldn't be happy to hear that. And neither are we." She paused as Mercury closed all the blinders of the shop "You know who we are, don't you."

"Yes," Tukson said, his eyes narrowed and his body taut like a spring. Getting ready for confrontation.

Unfortunately for him, there were very few people in the White Fang who were her match. And even fewer who could take on both her and Mercury and hope to survive that confrontation. Tukson was not one of those few.

"And… you know why we're here?" she asked.

His fists clenched as he nodded, getting ready for battle "Yes."

"So." She said even as Mercury walked up to her and stood behind her, ready for the inevitable "Are you going to fight back?"

He probably was. No one walks to their death willingly. Not unless they were suicidal and even then the suicidal people sometimes decide to go down fighting in a blaze of glory instead of simply dying as their worthless existence would suggest.

And just like she had expected, Tukson arched his back, his fingers elongating into sharp claws. "Yes!" he said and then yelled a battle cry before he vaulted over the front desk and jumped toward her, swiping his claws at her.

She ducked down, easily avoiding his claws, and a moment later, he went flying with a kick from Mercury, his jaw broken, his teeth scattered and his blood splattered all over the floor. A bit too messy for her liking but they were sending a message.

The poor guy didn't even have aura. What did he think he would accomplish fighting against them.

Tukson slid over on the ground and landed near her, moaning in pain as blood pooled near his face.

"Now that's just unnecessary brutal." She heard a voice from within the backroom of the Store and her eyes narrowed as a man wearing a fully black dress along with black bandages to cover his face walked out of the backroom. Another woman in a similar outfit followed behind him, carrying herself with the ease of someone who knew how to fight and the confidence of someone who knew that they could win this confrontation.

She had a bad feeling about this.

She saw Mercury back up toward the front door but then that plan was dashed as two women in similar outfits walked in.

She… knew who these people were.

A group of people that had been named 'Night Walkers' by the White Fang. A stupid name really.

But, she had not expected them to confront her and Mercury here. Had not expected to meet them at all and she had to admit that she didn't like her chances.

These people had defeated a whole contingent of White Fang grunts along with Roman and Neo without any difficulty.

Her only chance of escaping was to get out of here using her semblance and call for help from the nearest police station by acting like a Damsel in Distress.

The thought was unpleasant but she didn't like her other options very much either and started to use her semblance to weave an illusion of her form around herself. An illusion of her that stays in that place while she'll slip away from the side.

She wanted to take Mercury along with her as well but… she needed a distraction. Well, the guy was a shithead anyway. It would be difficult to find a similarly competent partner but sacrifices must be made.

"You know, at first I would admit that I was a bit… hesitant about this course of action." The man who she presumed to be the leader of 'Night Walkers' said "You people are actively working against the survival of humanity so I already didn't have a good view of you. But after seeing this…" he said as he looked at the dying Faunus, before he bent down and did something to him. Something that made him glow and healed his wounds.

Oh… a healing semblance. She would have to report this to her mistre- A hand clamped down on her throat and her eyes widened as she looked at one of the girls who had come front the front. A girl who had managed to somehow overcome her Illusion Semblance. How?

"Did you really think that you'll be able to escape from here Emerald Sustria?" the man asked and her eyes narrowed and then widened as the woman holding her throat easily overpowered her until she was on her knees, her hands behind her back, locked in a vice grip by the exceptionally powerful woman. A strength semblance perhaps? She had to find a counter to it. And quick.

The man gave a gesture and the two women at the front and back of the store attacked Mercury at once.

The fight was over in a flash and… as she looked at Mercury's legs that had been cleanly cut the thighs, she began to understand how bad the situation truly was.

"You're making a huge mistake here." She said. She very much doubted that a simple threat such a this would deter him and his companions but she had to try.

The man ignored her and walked toward Mercury who was groaning in pain and already going into shock from the pain and the blood loss.

The man then took out his pitch-black sword and… hesitated for a moment before he plunged it down and ended Mercury's life.

Her eyes narrowed.

That kind of hesitation.

Was this… the first time he had taken anybody's life?

It was, wasn't it?

Mercury Black, the son of the infamous assassin Markus Black, killed by a complete amateur.

She would have laughed at the irony if not for her current situation.

"Are you going to kill me as well?" she asked, having ceased her struggling now that she had realized how bad the situation truly was.

If this guy was an amateur then maybe she could… seduce him? No, that won't work. Not when he's already surrounded by women who, from the looks of it, were clearly devoted to him.

No, maybe she could appeal to his sense of mercy, hoping that he had any.

"No." The man said and she felt both hope and terror bloom in her heart "I have… a different fate for you in mind."

"Please." She begged as illusions of fake tears formed in her eyes thanks to her semblance "I… I was forced into this. I… I didn't even know that guy all that well. Please, you have to believe me." She started to sob and the guy walked up to her and put a hand on her head.

"Illusions." He spoke, "They don't work on me Emerald."

And with that, a black substance came out of his cloth and she watched in horror as it started to cover her body.

She started to struggle once again as she remembered how Cinder had used that Grimm beetle to taken the Fall Maiden's power.

Was this something similar? It looked similar.

"For what little it's worth Emerald." The man spoke again "I hope you find a better life, wherever you're going to end up next."

And with that, the substance covered her face and everything went black.

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AN: Jonny boy takes his first life.