“Well then, perhaps we should begin. Your father has taken great lengths to build his candidacy towards King Reign’s court around both your death and the death of your mother. You being alive already dispels the first position,” Freddie poured out a glass of wine, handing it to Iblis whom joined them at the large table. “But we need more than just that. Though possible, there are no sorts of necromancy that can absolutely erase a death as brutal as what she suffered and pretend it never happened.”

“So we can’t run from that,” Astrid’s voice was a bit uneasy, not just a byproduct from the wine that she had made a point of slowing down with, but also with the conversation shifting to that of her mother, the first murder that she had committed; an act that came about of her being a ghoul, but nonetheless blood that was on her hands all the same.

“There were never any plans of that,” Freddie retorted, a gleam in his eyes, a truth that he knew. “Rather, instead of discounting your father’s tragedy, we turn it into the byproduct of his own circumstances.”

“I don’t understand.”

Iblis reached across the table, putting forward an item in front of Astrid within his palm hidden. As he loosened his grip and flipped his hand to reveal the contents, Astrid felt her heart sink. The item, a small pendant that she once wore as a child, reflective of a time back when she were raised by her mother. It had been years since she could last remember seeing the item, it having been something that she lost sometime around when she had become a ghoul herself. How this man had managed to come into possession worried her enough. What terrified her was what he may have known.

“I don’t envy you, having to live with such a plight.” Iblis’ words were calm, but there was an underlying cruelty and almost mockery with each word that came from his lips. “To become what you are, not quite an undead fiend, nor quite a human any further. One can hardly fault a young girl motivated to become strong to live up to her father’s name that she descend down a darker road.”

Following the conversation, Lady Tsara looked at the pair, Iblis and Astrid, with disbelief. So much of what she knew of Astrid never included anything relating to her being a ghoul, an attribute that she hardly wished to have known, least of all by those closest. Lady Tsara had become basically the last of her family that she wished to associate with. To reveal what happened to her, what she had done, Astrid feared how the woman would have responded.

“Worse even, to lash out at the woman whom wished only the best for you… A tragedy… But I feel lost within this story so often is how the young woman must have felt. To have lost control, find herself a pariah, a monster even. Forced into secrecy over a crime that likely never would have come to pass had it not been for dear old daddy…”

Despite her somewhat drunken state, Lady Tsara was able to follow the conversation surprisingly clearly, at some point piecing together that the death of Astrid’s mother had been by the hands of Astrid herself. Though in disbelief for a moment, to hear more of what Iblis said, the fact that Astrid had been made a ghoul, that her father likely had known to and kept that secret hidden. As much as a part of her may have wished to hold Astrid accountable, she also reasoned the woman had suffered for years knowing what she had done. If anything, all this had managed to do was to further reinforce her motherly instincts towards the woman and strengthen her contempt towards Astrid’s father.

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“Astrid, I had no idea…” Her words were weak, finding it difficult to do anything other than give the woman a hug, holding her as tight as she could. Astrid could not help but feel grateful that Lady Tsara could not see the tears forming within her eyes. She wiped them down as the woman released her grip, regaining her composure before anything further happened.

A hand gently placed upon Lady Tsara’s arm broke up the tender moment, “With respects Tsara. Time is of the essence.”

Similarly to Astrid, Lady Tsara composed herself again in a quick matter, “Right. Of course.”

“There will be time to go over the details in greater depth later. Needless to say, Iblis has volunteered to provide his aid, of which will be absolutely necessary for all of this to work proper.” Astrid looked to the man, curious to what the man was able to do, and for that matter, why he wanted to help. Freddie had made a point to say that this man essentially ran Oak Town. What interest would Oak Town want with being involved in Crocus politics? The city had hardly ever wanted to be involved, as best as she had come to know growing up amongst her father’s circle. “However, he does have something that you must handle, Astrid.”

“Of course…” Though she wished to pretend that this would have been a surprise, it was far from it. Seldom did anything come without a catch, and for what she were involved with, knowing the figures that she was having to deal with, it would have been under the ideal of situations wishful thinking to believe that there would not have been a significant price that would have to be paid.

“Iblis will explain the details as to what he requires of you. Sadly, while you two had the luxury of spending the morning enjoying my spirits, there are still those within the more legitimate lines of work that would seek out my patronage. If you would excuse me,” Freddie stated as he got up from the table, prepared to take care of the business up front that had managed to maintain his secret identity as a senior member of the Underworld within Crocus. Lady Tsara, although still stunned at the revelation surrounding Astrid, joined him, both as a measure to sober up, but also to allow Astrid the necessary privacy with Iblis.

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As the plan were explained to Astrid, it became very cut and dry.

A person needed to die, someone whom if Iblis even sought to try to find would find himself, Phantom Lord, and by extension, Oak Town, into a very deep and contentious point.

But her, as a nobody – for lack of a better term – was perfect. There would no connection between her, if she were even caught.

Coming up with a rather quick ploy, Astrid sought the expertise of Freddie, who was both frustrated at the idea of being delayed in work, while also excited at the idea of being further involved. Putting a pair of wine bottles away, he excused himself from his duties as he departed into the streets, disappearing for a time before finally returning some hour or so later.

“The Hotel Rexford, located right within Crocus. Be there in 20 minutes.”

That was all that was said, all that needed to be said. Freddie had been hardly one to provide too much. There was mutual trust between him and Astrid to some degree. He expected her to do what was necessary and to be as resourceful as she needed to be. Meanwhile, she should not have come to expect anything be handed to her.

And so, she left for the Hotel Rexford, arriving there plenty of time before the scheduled meeting. An ideal situation really. All she had to do was wait at this point.

A minute or two further passed and finally the door of the private room that she were in opened. An elderly man, someone whom she had a hard time believing to be her target. When he asked if she knew Iblis though, it immediately confirmed any sort of suspicion that she may have had. She said nothing as the man started to move towards the door again, but in that same moment she pulled out the pistol that she used earlier upon the Senator, pointing it towards the man’s chest and fired once, the bullet penetrating through his heart and causing him to fall over.

Astrid did not even bother to check to see if he were still breathing, proceeding towards the door, walking over his body, and then firing another round which struck him again in the chest towards the upper chest cavity, securing any doubt that he would have lived. Sliding the gun back into her coat, she quickly found herself walking out one of the exits before any attention could have come her way.

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Spells Used:

• Name: Colt's Special Bullet
  Rank: S
  Mana Cost: 500
  Requirements: Winchester's Colt
  Type: Offensive
  Element: Arcane
  Range: 25 Meters
  Cooldown: Once per topic
  Duration: Instant
  Effect: The user aims the Colt by holding it steadily with one hand. The user then shoots a special bullet that cannot be dodged and deals S-rank damage on hit. Posessing potent magic capable of exorcising even undying creatures, this bullet is capable of killing or incapacitating an enemy who would normally be immune to vital hits if it strikes either the head or the heart (Or the place where it would be located).
  
  
• Name: Colt Single Shot
  Rank: S
  Mana Cost: 500
  Requirements: Winchester's Colt
  Type: Offensive
  Element: Arcane
  Range: 25 Meters
  Cooldown: 5 Posts
  Duration: Instant
  Effect: The user aims the Colt by holding it steadily with one hand. The user then shoots a regular-sized bullet that is formed from the users own mana at the aimed target.