Chapter Eighteen: The Shadow's Plan

AN: Last chapter was fifteen thousand words, so start pumpin' me to the rankings kiddos.

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Lord Max then gave the two girls a map, and tapped a marked location on it.

"This is one of my bases, the nearest one to the gulch. You tell anyone about it and you die." The man threatened, although it came out with a lazy drawl; like killing them wasn't even a problem or annoyance. Suddenly a burlap bag appeared out of nowhere, startling both of the girls.

He grabbed the bag and took out two medallions. "These are your tickets inside, once inside say the code phrase: 'The brightest day casts the darkest shadow'. That will clear you from getting interrogated."

"My people will allow you inside the armory; make sure to get the shock weaponry. I wouldn't recommend poison, the King Taijitu have a rather grand resistance to it. The last thing you need from the armory will be a flare. I'll have a scout watching you, and once you shoot that flare a vehicle will be dispatched to pick up the cargo." He finished.

"Why are you doing this?" Ilia asked suddenly. "I don't believe the 'bad blood' statement." She narrowed her eyes at the suspicious man.

Max's body language didn't give much away, but his silence was telling. Soon he sighed.

"I need Carrow as an ally. The Iron Legion has been picking up steam and has started bending rules with the entire 'mercenary' loadout; suddenly their power skyrocketed and while Carrow has been holding out, he'll fold when they really start swinging. The only reason they haven't is ironically DeeJay mucking about, and myself pulling clandestine ops. But I can't keep doing these things forever, only a limited amount of hamstrings can be cut before they start clawing forward after all." Max shook his head.

"Basically, I'm using your quest as political leverage with Carrow. We will be forced to go to the table and while stubborn and ruthless, he'll see reason, he's the most 'team player' out of all of us." Both girls pinched their lips together, before nodding and committing the map to memory.

Max then left, vanishing before them like he was never there. The girls started hiking towards the location, sticking with their previous plan of off-roading and avoiding gunshots.

In about a day they managed to find where the place on the map was located, but when they arrived they noticed nothing was there. Completely ignorant of the shifting and boiling shadows casted by twisted trees and cropping rocks.

Three ninjas suddenly appeared out of nowhere, wearing ghillie suits fitted for the environment. Two of the ninjas grabbed the girls from behind, muffling their screams with a cloth covered in Grimm Betel Poison, a narcotic sleep agent that could put down even the toughest of Grimm.

The girl's belongings were promptly searched, before the ninjas found the medallions, they were then promptly kidnapped and taken to the base.

Underneath the roots of a windswept tree a tunnel expanded into a cave system. The cave had various industrial lights hung on metal hooks. The cave had turrets and shadowy figures moved to and fro.

Blake and Ilia were taken to a holding cell. The cells themselves were build on single metal foundations, with three metal bar gates, and a single sliding prison door.

The cells were all spaced separately, at a specific distance from each other making tossing loot to other cells impossible.

They were both placed inside of one, before a bucket of water was splashed onto their bodies. Jerking awake, they took in their new surroundings before their captors spoke.

"Where did you find these." One of the ninja said in a monotone voice.

"You fu-" Ilia opened her mouth to curse them, but Blake held her back, responding to the figure.

"'The brightest day casts the darkest shadow'." She said. The two ninjas looked at each other before nodding. The door opened and they were led to a compound inside the cave. Taken deeper, doors opening almost by magic. Soon they found themselves inside an armory. The two ninjas stopped at a chest gesturing them to turn around.

The ninja 'entered' a code, making rather impressive sounds with his mouth in impression of the lock opening and the chest shutting while his comrade snickered at his misfortune. The two ninjas then just uninventoried a bunch of shock weapons and Ultra-Grade Lightning Dust.

One of the ninjas cleared his 'throat', causing both girls to turn around and gap at the dust. Three cattle prods, four shock batons, and a guassbow with a few bolts.

"This is a Prod MKV; several million amps will charge through upon activation, but it will be rendered useless afterword. Next are the shock 'batons'; they are actually grenades that will detonate in a five meter radius; so unless you want to be a charred piece of meat, I recommend not staying inside that radius. Lastly is the Guassbow. Lord Max just recently designed it, the bolts have a gold lining, thus making it a great weapon to combo with a Prod or Baton." One of the ninjas explained gesturing to each weapon as he did so.

The other ninja spoke up next. "You are to be AT the 'Blood Gulch' in around twelve hours, sleep, rest, eat; do it now." After they nodded in affirmation he continued. "One of us will follow you and call in the transport once the target has been subdued. Please use this flare gun to signal us." A flare gun was presented and Blake grabbed it.

"Your meals will be delivered within the hour, enjoy it slowly, it may be your last."