Two Wrongs Make a Right Ch.28

I'm looking at the map and plan designs sprawled across the table in our meeting room, with six Pod units arranged in front of Sienna and me. Their identical bodies and casings contrast with the different colors in their joints, which saves me the trouble of identifying them or needing to paint numbers on them. Each one has quickly developed their own personality despite being technically the same.

"REQUEST: INITIATE SIMULATION SEQUENCE ALPHA-7 FOR ADDITIONAL DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS." Commands our original Pod unit—the one that came with Nines. Naturally, he's taken on a leadership role among his new siblings, and I think he also appreciates having more like him around to talk with. The subtle changes in his tone when addressing the others almost went unnoticed. With the new units, his workload has been drastically reduced, allowing him to give much better output for each task.

Perhaps buying five additional units for a single credit from the tradehub was too good to be true. Maybe I was scammed in some way I don't yet understand. But I don't fully grasp the scale of the Company’s economy, so as long as one of my needs has been satisfied, it was money well spent. It was a single credit after all. Besides, with Wilma nowhere to be found, I made the decision to proceed alone, not like her input would have been that helpful. 

So far, it's paying off.

"DATA ANALYSIS COMPLETE: GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DATA INDICATES SUBSTANTIAL NATURAL RESOURCE PRESENCE IN THE CAVE." Announces Pod-2, his mechanical voice echoing slightly against the walls. He hovers a bit closer, the blue light of his joints reflecting off the table surface. "ESTIMATED DEPOSIT SIZE: 25.7 MILLION BARRELS. CALCULATION: RESOURCE SUFFICIENCY EXTENDS TO 8.4 YEARS OF PROJECTED MENAGERIE CONSUMPTION PATTERNS. ADDENDUM: DURATION DECREASES TO 6.1 YEARS IF POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS INCREASE BY 25 PERCENT."

And that's for a single deposit. I run my fingers along the topographical ridges of the map, feeling the promise beneath them. There's definitely more around the island, and that's more than enough time to work it. And that’s not even counting that I will make sure to transition to another energy source before the first deposit  reserves become depleted. Just use the first one to set up the right foundations—foundations that can't be easily dismantled by human and Grimm interference.

"NEW PROPOSAL: REFINERY STRUCTURAL DESIGN OPTIMIZED FOR MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND VISUAL FOOTPRINT." Adds Pod-3, her joints glowing a soft amber as she displays a detailed holographic model of a compact processing facility. "TEMPORAL ESTIMATION: CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE CALCULATED AT 4.2 MONTHS WITH CURRENT WORKFORCE CAPACITY INCLUDING SPECIALIZED CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL. RECOMMENDATION: STRATEGIC FUND ALLOCATION TO LABOR FORCE WOULD CREATE INCENTIVIZATION EFFECT REDUCING TIMELINE TO 3 MONTHS."

I study the projection, noting how cleverly the design was made to conceal the facility within the natural rock formations of southeastern Menagerie. From the air, it would be nearly invisible—just another cluster of what some atlesian high-ups dismissively call 'rough-hewn Faunus dwellings.' Their underestimation of us has always been our greatest advantage.

"And what about our recent transaction? The new vehicles obtained from the Spider clan?" I ask, they will soon arrive and obviously are dust dependent, not much but it will add to the current expenses. "Can they be converted to use this new fuel source?"

It's a legitimate question; with a potential energy source, we can shift them. Obviously as a gradual process, as to slowly introduce the concept as well.

"AFFIRMATIVE: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS INDICATE COMPATIBILITY." Responds Pod-4, her crimson joints pulsing slightly as she hovers forward, displaying detailed holographic designs of the vehicles with highlighted points. "ASSESSMENT: MODIFICATION REQUIREMENTS CLASSIFIED AS MINIMAL RESOURCE EXPENDITURE. HYPOTHESIS: IF INITIAL PRODUCTION PROJECTS REACH COMPLETION PARAMETERS, THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS CAN PROCEED WITHOUT SYSTEMIC COMPLICATIONS AS WE POD UNITS POSSESS SUFFICIENT TECHNICAL CAPACITY TO EXECUTE THE CONVERSION PROCEDURES."

I nod, satisfied with her explanation. The pieces are falling into place faster than I'd dared hope with this accidental discovery. Some might argue about potential consequences for pollution but everything is currently at a significantly reduced scale, so it won’t really affect much.

The original Pod then drifts slightly closer, his voice lowering to a more confidential volume. "SECURITY RECOMMENDATION: RESTRICT KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION REGARDING RESOURCE DISCOVERY TO PERSONNEL DESIGNATED AS MISSION-CRITICAL ONLY. CURRENT PERSONNEL COUNT: 7 INDIVIDUALS."

Seven people who know what we've found. Myself, Ilia, Kali, Sienna, the prospector who discovered it (although he doesn't know what it truly was), and the Albain brothers. The fewer who know, the better our chances of developing this resource before the kingdoms catch wind of it. 

Before they try to take what's ours. Again.

"What about our dust reserves?" I ask, my gaze shifting from the oil projections. "How much can we divert from basic infrastructure to military applications once the refinery is operational?"

Pod-6, our military specialist, hovers forward with a precise movement, her green joints glowing as she displays a detailed graph. "ANALYSIS: CURRENT DUST ALLOCATION DISTRIBUTION CATEGORIZED AS FOLLOWS: 52% INFRASTRUCTURE UTILIZATION, 38% MILITARY APPLICATION, 10% STRATEGIC RESERVE. PROJECTION: POST-REFINERY ALLOCATION REDISTRIBUTION CALCULATED AT 10% INFRASTRUCTURE, 65% MILITARY ENHANCEMENT, 25% STRATEGIC RESERVE. COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS METRICS INDICATE APPROXIMATE INCREASE OF 218%."

The numbers are even better than I'd hoped. I feel a rare smile tugging at my lips. With our dust freed up for weapons and other military uses, we'll be able to protect what we're building here more effectively and divert more to reinforce the Mistralian front. And maybe even start planning to expand and retake the lost fronts.

"And the iron deposits?" I press, recalling Pod's initial analysis of the oil sample. My fingers tap impatiently on the table's edge.

"RESOURCE EVALUATION: IRON ORE QUALITY CLASSIFICATION - HIGH GRADE. ESTIMATED DEPOSIT QUANTIFICATION: 800,000 TONS. ASSESSMENT: SUFFICIENT FOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF SMALL-SCALE STEEL MILL. STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATION: PRIORITIZE OIL REFINERY DEVELOPMENT UTILIZING TEMPORARY IMPORTS, SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOP INDEPENDENT METALLURGICAL CAPABILITIES."

I step back from the table, taking it all in. In one unexpected discovery, we've potentially secured energy independence, military enhancement, and industrial development. And the kingdoms remain completely unaware.

Not forever, but I'm banking that it will be a long time before they catch up with what we are doing. By then, it'll be too late to stop us.

I return to the table, placing my palms flat against its surface. "What makes this even better is that the applications for oil are extensive," I look at Sienna who is examining the holographic models with keen interest, her tiger ears flicking occasionally as she is trying to process the information.

I nod in Pod-2's direction, prompting him to elaborate.

"INFORMATIONAL UPDATE: CRUDE OIL REFINEMENT PROCEDURES PRODUCE MULTIPLE USABLE PRODUCTS FOR BOTH DOMESTIC AND MILITARY PURPOSES," Pod-2 starts, his blue lights pulsing methodically as he gets my right hand's attention. "PRIMARY OUTPUTS CATEGORIZED AS FOLLOWS: GASOLINE, DIESEL FUEL, KEROSENE, HEATING OIL. SECONDARY OUTPUTS INCLUDE: LUBRICANTS, ASPHALT, PETROCHEMICALS FOR PLASTICS MANUFACTURING."

And many more, but the fuel is the biggest point of interest. The lifeblood that could power our independence from the many sanctions upon us.

That answer seems to be enough for her as she nods, pacing around the table with a unique  predatory grace. Her golden eyes reflect the blue glow of the holograms as she tries to study them critically. But she is trying too hard to comprehend them as she doesn't really have engineering knowledge for this.

"And do you think that our current infrastructure could adapt to this?" she asks.

"Most of Menagerie isn't heavily dust-dependent yet," I point out, tracking her movement. "We're still building essential facilities. Transitioning now would be relatively painless. But of course we need to develop the facilities to efficiently use and produce everything we have mentioned so far."

We still needed dust but with such precious resources being so scarce of course the people had to eventually live using as little as possible, and focus that use for essentials.

Sienna stops pacing, turning to face me directly. "And what do you think about the factions' reaction?" she asks, her ears twitching. "I have noticed some radicals want another fight, this might create some discontent. They still believe we should be preparing for an offensive.”

Should I send some of those radicals to extremely dangerous missions and hope they die? 

It might turn them into martyrs, something I very much want to avoid. Besides, I still have uses for them.

"They won't complain about energy independence," I respond confidently, crossing my arms. "Especially when it means more dust freed up for combat applications, which if you recall, some of the more militant were quite demanding."

Sienna tilts her head as she crosses her arms in thought, her golden eyes softening slightly. "This is very promising, Adam. But we're getting ahead of ourselves." Her tone shifts to a more cautious one. "As you have noticed and told me many times, we don't even have the basics to begin refining this crude oil. Or any sort of heavy industry."

"The Vale and Atlas campaign taught us the cost of overextension," she adds, one hand unconsciously moving to her abdomen. "I won't see us repeat those mistakes."

I exchange a glance with Pod. "We have more than you might think."

"NOTIFICATION: SECOND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ANALYSIS ON THE PROVIDED DATA COMPLETE," Pod-3 announces, her amber lights brightening as she displays a new holographic map. "DISCOVERY UPDATE: LOCATED DEPOSIT CONTAINS SUBSTANTIAL MINERAL RESOURCES: IRON ORE (HIGH CONCENTRATION), SULFUR (MEDIUM CONCENTRATION), LIMESTONE (LOW CONCENTRATION), COPPER (TRACE AMOUNTS)."

"As you can see we already have an iron mine to exploit," I note, gesturing to the deposit on the map with a sweep of my hand. "And sulfur is a new discovery, but crucial for many future industrial processes."

Sienna narrows her eyes, skeptical but intrigued. "Even with these resources, establishing mining operations of such scale isn't simple, Adam. We'd need secure mineshafts, proper infrastructure, multiple failsafes in case of accidents."

She places her palm flat on the table, leaning forward. "Don't forget many of our people are traumatized. I've seen what happens when we push too hard. These are big projects, and I have a strong feeling that a few heads will raise discontent for the resource diversion to build them." Her ears flatten slightly as she finishes.

Yes, that's always true but then again nobody ever agrees to the same thing, but I appreciate her concerns. But they will fold as soon as I show how dead set I am in my decision. I have their loyalty after all, some probing here and there won’t do much to it.

Either way, I know she's thinking of the same thing I am—the notorious Schnee Dust mines where so many of our people have suffered and died. And I was a victim of that before Ghira rescued me, and then there are many more mines that are from less infamous companies. Although not dust mines. 

"SAFETY PROPOSAL: COMPREHENSIVE PROTOCOLS DESIGNED AND READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION," Pod-5 interjects, his white joints gleaming as he displays detailed schematics. "FEATURES INCLUDE: REINFORCED SHAFT CONSTRUCTION UTILIZING ADVANCED MATERIALS. TRIPLE-REDUNDANT VENTILATION SYSTEMS WITH INDEPENDENT POWER SOURCES. EMERGENCY EVACUATION ROUTES POSITIONED AT 50-METER INTERVALS. AUTOMATED MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR REAL-TIME ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION ASSESSMENT."

Perfect but expensive, we must plan a raid to one of the Schnee outposts to acquire most things.

I will let Pod-5 know this, so he can be included in his calculations.

"We won't repeat their mistakes," I say firmly, placing a hand on Sienna's shoulder, feeling the tension in her muscles. "Complete transparency with the workers. We will guarantee every safety measure visible and explained. Regular inspections by elected representatives we can trust."

Her ears perk up as her expression softens slightly, as she leans into my touch. "I will support you on this, Adam," she says, her voice becoming quite gentle. Then, straightening her posture, she adds with more steel in her tone, "I'll speak with some of the faction leaders personally. So they understand our point of view."

"Thank you," I reply, squeezing gently. "We're not humans. We don't sacrifice our own people for profit."

"And that's why you succeeded where I couldn't," she says quietly, a complex mixture of pride and old envy flickering across her features before she masters her expression again.

"TEMPORAL ESTIMATION: CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE FOR FULLY SECURED FACILITY CALCULATED AT 30 DAYS," Pod-4 projects, her crimson lights dimming slightly. "CAVEAT: TEMPORAL ESTIMATION DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR POTENTIAL BEHEMOTH GRIMM INVOLVEMENT IN THE DESIGNATED AREA."

"What about the Behemoths?" I ask, my attention shifting to Pod-4's caveat. "Have there been other incidents in that area?"

Pod-4's crimson lights pulse a few times.  "AFFIRMATIVE: THREE SEPARATE BEHEMOTH GRIMM INCURSIONS DOCUMENTED AT THE QUARRY SITE. ANALYSIS: NO PERSONNEL CASUALTIES RECORDED. PRIMARY DAMAGES LIMITED TO EXTRACTED MATERIALS AND MINOR INFRASTRUCTURE. ADDENDUM: REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED WITHIN SAME-DAY OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS."

"That's good to know," I nod, relieved that ONLY two more times occurred. Which is another confirmation to me that it isn’t a necessity to mobilize again to deal with them yet as they aren't an active threat to our people. Working around them is much better option at the moment.

However, Sienna's expression remains concerned. "Still, we should consider deploying additional security. Even if their presence scares off smaller Grimms we will need more to keep the situation controlled in case of another incident."

"That’s a must, don’t worry." I assure her before turning back to the matter at hand. "Okay, so about the crude oil refinery..."

"MATERIALS REQUIREMENT ASSESSMENT," Pod-2 interjects, displaying the refinery design once more with highlighted sections. "CONSTRUCTION NECESSITATES ACQUISITION OF: HIGH-GRADE STEEL PLATING (380 TONS), INDUSTRIAL PUMPS (24 UNITS), PRESSURE VESSELS (8 UNITS), SPECIALIZED VALVES (122 UNITS), ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (6 COMPLETE ARRAYS)."

I tap my fingers on the table, thinking what to do here.. "So I need to go back to the mainland to get construction materials. Lots of them." My mind runs through various scenarios, discarding most as too risky or too slow. There is also the company tradehub as an option but very likely they will charge me more and it is definitely not worth it.

Then it hits me. I snap my fingers and turn to Sienna. "Ilia got a lot of ledgers and information from Pax Electronica months ago. She believes the information is damaging enough to coerce one of their ships. We could have them fill it with all the materials we need and send it our way where we can 'hijack' it and take the containers. We have a cargo ship too, even if it is one of the smallest models."

Sienna's ears perk up, her golden eyes gleaming with interest. "Yes, we could. But it entirely depends on how damning the information was. Pax Electronica, company or union, they have weathered scandals before. And it isn’t like the people would care, this would be 5 minutes news and be forgotten soon after."

"Ilia seemed confident," I counter. "Sanus International Lines, it is suspected they are on their payroll and they were trafficking humans too, not just Faunus, which makes it more likely to spark outrage when leaked."

We just need to pressure where it matters.

"That could work," Sienna agrees, holding her chin in thought. "Their local elections will occur in the next quarter. They'd pay handsomely to keep that quiet or lose a few of their assets due to the stress." She leans over the table, examining the material list more closely. "We should add drilling equipment to this list. And more water purification systems, if this is what you are planning. We should squeeze as much worth we can possibly get from these bastards."

After that we spend the next hour discussing more logistics, budgeting, and potential contingencies. And Pod takes in all the information and projects various financial scenarios while Pod-5 outlines the most efficient shipping routes, taking into account the few behemoths we know are in the sea. 

Eventually, the Pods complete their calculations, hovering in formation.

"REQUEST: PERMISSION TO ENTER STANDBY MODE AND PROCESS NEW DATA PARAMETERS," Pod asks.

"Granted. Notify me when you are done.” I nod. 

One by one, the Pods' lights dim as they slowly leave through the window and very likely will open a portal so they can leave towards my Manor where they also have set up their charging stations in the corner of the backyard. Hopefully Brutus won’t be a problem or start chewing on them.

But… But it would be fun to watch too.

But after that line of thought I notice that the room has fallen into silence. A strange silence.

"Sienna, how is Menagerie security so far? Can you give me a report?" I ask after a moment, the question seemingly coming from nowhere.

Sienna looks surprised, her ears twitching slightly. "That's... not what I expected you to ask about." She tries to study my face for a moment. Then she straightens her posture, and clears her throat.

"Local security is actually quite good," she begins, her voice taking on a more formal tone. "The coastal watchtowers are fully staffed on rotating schedules. We've completed training for the next soldiers forming a new company, all combat-ready. But we have positioned them to help with island security as part of the garrison. And most importantly our coasts are secure, thanks to huntresses you recruited. We didn’t get a single grimm incident so far."

"And in your opinion, do you have any concerns?" I probe.

That when she pauses, and takes her time to consider her next words.

And I patiently wait for her answer.

"Yes, I do have some concerns.” She finally starts. “My concerns remain the same as before. We're short on air defense capabilities – if Atlas decided to send airships..." She shrugs, leaving the sentence unfinished as we both know the consequences of that. "But overall, I'm optimistic. We're stronger than we've ever been, Adam. "

“That's good to hear but…” I step closer to Sienna, a question forming in my mind. "Why haven't I heard much about issues in the city? I highly doubt things are that peaceful." I cross my arms, fixing her with a steady gaze. "I'm not that naive that everything is perfect now."

Sienna nods and sighs, her shoulders dropping slightly. "Yes, there are issues, not as much as before, mind you, but they're being handled locally with some soldiers from the garrison forces. They haven't seen much combat, so we use these situations for new trainees to gain some basic experience." She brushes a strand of hair from her face. "Besides dealing with the Grimm, which actually haven't been frequent, nobody has been lost to those monsters. And that’s counting the other settlements, not just Kuo Kuana."

So my initial suspicions were indeed correct. "Continue. I want to hear how you've been handling things."

"We still use the system Ghira designed years ago," she explains, gesturing with her hands as she speaks. "Even if there were rough times and things were degrading fast, the system kept working, not perfectly but it was functional at the very least otherwise Menagerie would have turned into Vacuo. But now with so many problems solved in other areas, we've got it in much better shape. More effective. So now we've streamlined the patrol routes, implemented a reporting system that bypasses clan hierarchies."

So she was quick witted to also centralize power.

"Thankfully, the biggest crime so far is robbery, or arson but it was just due negligence not malice." She continues. "Murder is extremely rare. It only happened once so far, and that was months ago."

"Those are good news." I nod, but something nags at the back of my mind. "But do you think that maybe some factions and clans are hiding the crimes? Handling things... privately?" I watch her reaction carefully at my insinuation.

Of course she is stunned by the suggestion, her eyes widening slightly. She goes silent, thinking deeply. After a long moment, she shakes her head. 

"No," she says finally. "I don't believe that would be the case. The clan leaders know our hard stance, and they fully respect you, even more now that you slayed a behemoth. At most they can apprehend somebody but then they hand it over to us to handle the case accordingly."

Respect for authority, good.

I tap my fingers against the table, considering her response. "I've been thinking about changing the system," I say. "Formalizing it with a proper police force, like in the other kingdoms' cities." I meet her gaze directly. "It would also take away more power from the factions and centralize our authority."

Sienna's ears perk up with interest. "That's... ambitious. How would we structure the chain of command? Would it replace the garrison entirely, or work alongside it?"

I explain my ideas—separate from the military, but with clear lines of cooperation. Accountable to central leadership, not clan elders. Training in de-escalation as well as combat. She asks pointed questions about jurisdiction, equipment needs, potential resistance. Each time, I provide answers that satisfy her concerns.

"While I'm okay with the idea. We need a head for this new institution. Someone with experience in security matters and won’t cause an imbalance of power."

"You." 

Sienna's eyes widen, genuine surprise registering on her face. "Me?" she repeats, as if not trusting her ears.

I nod, moving to stand beside her. "Why not? You have the perfect combination of qualities for this role. Now they respect you too. The biggest problem was about giving power to a faction but with your clear neutrality it makes you the best candidate. And you have experience since you have been doing a fantastic job so far." I smile at her. "And I trust you."

Her ears flatten instantly, a faint blush creeping into her but just as quickly she shakes it off. “Thank you, I won't let you down. I will start looking into this later and select potential candidates in the garrison for these new positions.”

I just nod as a comfortable silence falls between us and that when, a different kind of question forms in my mind. "How are you feeling?" I ask, my voice softer than before. "With the pregnancy, I mean. Are you experiencing any problems? Do you need something?"

Sienna blushes immediately, her ears drooping as she looks away. A reaction that catches me off guard.

"I'm... fine," she manages after a moment, regaining some of her usual confidence. "Actually, I've been reading and heard I should be feeling nauseous or having other pregnancy issues, but I've been feeling fine." She crosses her arms, almost defensively. "Strangely fine, actually."

That does sound strange… Oh right, one of the company perks I had. If I remember correctly, she shouldn’t face any discomfort or complications in her pregnancy. Or something along those lines. That’s certainly very convenient for her, I’m sure many would start raising an eyebrow if she was suddenly nauseous.

Although, now that I think about it, is she pregnant with one baby or two? Or more?

Fuck. I haven’t even considered that possibility.

"Have you told Kali yet?"

Her sudden question breaks me away from my thoughts. 

“What?”

"Have you spoken to Kali about this? Us?"

That particular question hits me a lot harder than it should. "No."

"Adam," her voice carries a warning tone I've come to recognize, "I trust you will handle it, but you are taking too long. I really don't want Kali to learn about this when I start showing." She places a hand on her still-flat stomach. There is no way she would be able to make a excuse as soon as her belly grows round. "She WILL know, she is a very sharp woman and probably would have figured it out by now if it wasn’t that I haven’t shown the early signs for some strange reason. But I know that the longer we wait, the worse it will be."

Her reasoning causes me to drag my hand across my face, almost pulling down my blindfold. Why have I kept postponing this conversation? Every time Sienna brought it up, I deflected with talk of work and more work. But the truth is, even with all planning and extensive paperwork, I've had plenty of moments of downtime. Time I could have used to speak with Kali.

Fuck, even days ago I used that free time just to hang out with Ilia but didn’t even tell her anything.

I've been a hypocrite, holding others to standards I won't meet myself.

I let out a tired sigh, slumping in my chair for a moment, a strange weight settling on my shoulders. Then, with sudden newfound resolve, I slam my fist on the table, startling Sienna enough that her ears stand straight up.

"I'm sorry." I say quickly. Then I stand, adjusting my coat. "Come with me."

"Where?" she asks, wariness in her golden eyes.

"To my home."

"Wait, what?" Her composure cracks again, genuine shock crossing her features.

"We're going together to tell Kali," I state firmly. "I'm not going to run from this anymore. We'll tell the news to her with full honesty." I shake my head, disgusted with my own behavior. "Better to face it than let it drag out again. If I don't do it now, I'll just use these new projects and the discoveries as excuses to postpone it even further."

Sienna's expression cycles through surprise, then anxiety. Her tail curls around her leg—a defensive posture I've seen when she's truly unsettled. "Adam, I don't know if that's... I mean, right now? Without preparation? Maybe a rehearsal?" A flash of something that looks remarkably like fear crosses her face. "Kali can be..."

I extend my hand to her, watching her hesitate before taking it. Then I pull her gently into a hug. "It will be fine." I murmur against her hair. "I know my mother, nothing bad will happen but I will protect you if it comes to be."

"D-Don’t say it like that…" she mutters into my chest, but her body relaxes against mine as she returns the embrace, leaning into me.

And then I feel it—a subtle vibration against my chest. A sound that can't be mistaken.

"Are you purring?" 

Sienna pushes away suddenly, shoving me with enough force that I take a step back. Her face has turned a deep shade of red, as her ears are now pressed flat against her head in clear embarrassment.

"No, I didn't!" she exclaims, her voice pitched higher than normal. "That was... that was just... my stomach growling!"

I can't help the chuckle that escapes me, which only deepens her blush. "Your stomach? Really? That's what you're going with?"

"Shut up, Taurus." She growls, her blush never leaving her.

"It’s not a bad thing." I say more gently. "I didn't know you could do that."

"I don't make a habit of it," she mumbles, not meeting my eyes. "It just... happens sometimes. When I'm... comfortable. Yeah, comfortable."

Interesting.

How did I not notice that unique detail from her? Or was it because she wasn’t fully relaxed? I definitely want to hear more of it and tease her more about it.

"Well, your secret is safe with me," I say, beckoning her to follow as I move toward the door. "Come on. The faster the better."

Sienna falls into step beside me, her composure gradually returning. "Do you think…

"It will be fine."

I hope.

As we exit the meeting room, I realize that I still haven't prepared for this conversation at all. Even those that I practiced alone at my manor didn’t seem to work to form a proper paragraph, and those were for Ilia. I guess some things just need to be faced head-on and improvise.

I truly believe Kali won’t be angry or will lash out against Sienna but one can’t never be too sure when emotions get involved.

We simply walked towards my home.  I could have used my solar surfer, but it's better to walk so I can be alone with my thoughts and give Sienna time to compose herself. Also I do notice that the evening air carries the scent of salt from the ocean, a familiar comfort that does little to ease the tension.

A very long walk follows.

When we reach the front of the manor, I hesitate for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Sienna stands at my side, pretty nervous as well. So just like the first time I take a deep breath and open the door.

Once inside, we soon find Kawakaze drinking tea with Kali in the main sitting room. Kali looks perfectly put together, though the shadows under her eyes betray her exhaustion. And their conversation comes to a halt as they both turn their heads.

"Adam." Kali's face brightens momentarily at the sight of me, then her eyes shift to Sienna and I catch the slight frown that crosses her features, her ears twitching with suspicious alertness. "Sienna. This is a surprise."

"Mother," I acknowledge with a nod. "Could you call Ilia? We need to talk with you both. Alone."

Kali's smile drops immediately and she nods and excuses herself to Kawakaze, who gives a respectful bow before leaving to her room.

Yeah, she and Asanagi are living here. Plenty of empty rooms after all. 

"This way, please." Kali says, her voice tight as she leads us toward the basement—the best place in the manor to discuss private matters.

And naturally there is some tea set on the table.

We don't wait long before Ilia arrives, her skin its natural tan color as she enters with a smile that quickly fades when she reads the room.

"What's going on?" she asks, her eyes darting between us.

That’s when I take notice of Sienna looking uncharacteristically small, her arms wrapped around herself, none of the imposing presence she usually carries. Her ears are flat against her head.  

Kali settles into her chair, hands folded in her lap with a deceptive calmness. "What is this about, Adam?" Her tone might be measured but I know that it carries an undercurrent of steel.

I exchange glances with everyone in the room, then take a deep breath. Because I know there's no elegant way to say this.

So we will rip the band-aid off from the get go.

"Sienna is pregnant."

The words land like stones in still water. 

First is the silence.

Then is the shocked silence as their expressions twist.

"I am the father of the child," I continue, keeping my voice steady. "We decided that—"

"Stop." Kali cuts me off, her voice sharp as she stands. We all look at her as she then walks slowly towards Sienna, who seems to shrink further under her gaze. 

That’s when Kali raises her hand abruptly, and I tense, ready to intervene. For a moment, everyone holds their breath, before Kali sighs deeply, dragging a hand across her face. She returns to her seat without another word, but her knuckles are white where she grips the armrests.

"I should have known you would do this, Sienna," Kali finally says, her voice dangerously quiet. "I should have known. But at the same time, I can't blame you because I do understand why you did this."

Her restrained reaction is somehow worse than the anger I expected. She looks at me, then back at Sienna, frustration evident in every line of her face.

"This is... frustrating. Very frustrating," Kali continues, a tremor entering her voice. "I-I want to blame you, to shout at you and call you all sorts of names, but I simply can't." She slams a palm against the table, making the teacups rattle. "I can't be angry, I can't even be disappointed. I'm just... furious that things had to reach this point. That you two found this to be a good idea."

Her eyes find mine, and I see the storm brewing there. "And you, Adam. How did you even agree with this? Have you truly thought this through? Do you even understand the consequences and all the problems a child will bring?”

"Yes," I admit, not looking away from her gaze. I will not cower from this.

Kali sighs loudly, the sound heavy with disappointment and resignation. Her shoulders slump slightly.

"Mother," I begin, ready to explain our reasoning.

"No, no," she cuts me off, raising a hand. "I understand. Believe me, I do understand your reasoning. No need to tell me." She shakes her head slowly, her ears drooping. "I just... I just wished this sort of news came in much better times or in much different conditions. I wished hearing this—I truly did—but not like this."

She is clearly referring that she was expecting a baby between me and Blake, and thats just hurtful to think about it. A completely lost and impossible future.

Then she turns to Sienna, her expression softening slightly. "Despite everything, I am welcoming to my house, Sienna. Despite your mistakes, I can forgive you, but won't forget them." She straightens, the former Chieftess of Menagerie briefly visible in her bearing. "But I will welcome you as part of my family, our family. If anything, it is for the sake of the child you carry."

Sienna looks genuinely taken aback. "I... I thank you, and I'm sorry." She says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No, no, don't apologize. What is done is done," Kali replies with a tired wave of her hand. "Just please, stay here until your term, please? I will do my best to help you so you don’t suffer as a first time mother."

"Thank you, Kali," Sienna says, a rare genuine warmth in her voice. Then she hesitates, her hands folded protectively over her still-flat stomach. "I want you to know... this wasn't just politics for me. Not entirely."

Kali's amber eyes sharpen. "What do you mean?"

I also turn in surprise at those words.

Sienna glances at me briefly before continuing. "I've always respected Adam, even when I didn't always show it. I saw the potential in him that Ghira did, though I... misdirected it after Ghira's tragic death."

She pauses, fingers curling into fists on her lap. "When I thought Adam died on that mission in Vale, I realized how much I had taken him for granted, used him as a tool for the cause." Her ears flatten slightly. "And then when he returned, when he succeeded where I had failed..."

"You resented him," Kali observes sharply.

"At first," Sienna admits with surprising candor. "Yes. I envied his success, his natural ability to lead. But I also came to admire it." She takes a deep breath. "And yes, I proposed this arrangement for political reasons—to secure my position, to unify the factions. But something changed. Is changing."

She looks down at her hands. "I wouldn't have gone through with it if I didn't also feel... something. Something I'm still trying to understand."

Wow, I really don’t have words.

However, Kali studies her for a long moment. "You know, when Ghira first brought Adam home, I thought, 'this boy will change everything.'" She shakes her head with a sad smile. "I never imagined quite how right I would be."

"Kali," Sienna begins cautiously, "I know our history is... complicated. But I hope we can find a way forward, for the child's sake."

"Our history is indeed complicated," Kali replies, a hint of steel returning to her voice. "Even if you did good work before. You mentored my daughter down a path that eventually frightened her away. You made the wrong decisions out of desperation. You almost led my son to his grave.  And now you're carrying his child." She lets out a short, humorless laugh. "Complicated is an understatement."

"I never meant to hurt your family, I truly acted in the best interest of our people." Sienna says quietly.

"Perhaps not intentionally," Kali counters. "But intent and impact are different things, aren't they?" She sighs again. "Still, the past is the past. This child will be my grandchild, regardless of how it came to be. And every child deserves to be welcomed with love."

"I-I agree," Sienna says, relief evident in her voice. "And I promise you, Kali, this child will know they are more than a political necessity."

"Your child will also know their grandmother." Kali says firmly. "I lost one child already. I won't lose this one." She glances at me. "Either of you."

I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I guess things went well with Kali. Some hiccups, but well. Nothing ever is a smooth ride.

Then I suddenly remember Ilia, who has been sitting there in silence, looking lost and shocked throughout our entire exchange. Her skin has taken on a pale, no a white hue.

"Ilia?" I call softly.

Without a word, she bolts from her chair and runs toward the door.

"Wait!" I call after her, taking a step to follow, but something stops me—an instinct that tells me it would be a very, very bad idea to go after her right now.

Kali sighs, shaking her head. "Don't," she advises, her voice much more gentler now. "Give her time to think. This was too much for her to handle at once."

I nod and sink back into my seat, the weight of the day's revelations settling heavily on my shoulders.

"She'll come around," Sienna says, though she doesn't sound entirely convinced.

"Will she?" Kali asks, raising an eyebrow. "You know, don't you?"

Sienna's ears flatten slightly. "I'm aware."

"And yet you proceeded anyway."

"We all make sacrifices for the cause," Sienna replies, her voice hardening.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Kali says softly. "That you're still thinking of this as just another sacrifice."

"I know you think this is the right path," Kali continues, turning to me, reading my thoughts as she always could. "Just remember that paths chosen for purely practical reasons often lead to places we never intended to go." She looks between Sienna and me, a shadow of old grief crossing her features. "Ghira and I learned that lesson the hard way."

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Bonus Scene: A normal but happy life

The early morning sun cast long shadows across the large fields as Jaune Arc straightened his back, pausing to wipe the sweat from his brow with a well-worn cloth. He surveyed the sprawling acres of the Arc family farm that stretched toward the horizon in gentle slopes of golden wheat and emerald vegetables. The land had been in his family for generations, and every year as harvest season approached, he felt the same mix of exhaustion and pride.

"Looking good, son!" his father called from across the field where he supervised a team of workers guiding the newer model agricultural drones through the rows of corn. Those machines hovered between the stalks, probably checking the crops quality or something high tech he didn’t understand.

Jaune waved back, leaning on his hoe for a moment's respite. Despite the many technological advances that had come to the town decades ago, many in the town still preferred the traditional, or what some weirdos call it, ‘organic lifestyle’.. There was something satisfying about physical labor that no drone could replicate.

His momentary contentment soured slightly as he spotted the NeoHarvest Corporation logo flickering on one of the drones. The massive agri-tech conglomerate had muscled their way into nearly every farming community in Vale over the past thirty years. Their neon green and black logo—a stylized wheat stalk intertwined with circuitry—had become an unwelcome sight across rural Remnant.

Seventy percent. That's what they'd take when harvest came. Seventy percent of everything his family coaxed from the soil would go straight to NeoHarvest's processing plants in exchange for "protection," equipment, and market access. His father had been fighting for better terms for over a decade now, but the corporation only seemed to tighten its grip with each passing year.

"Don't forget to drink water!" he called to a worker passing who nodded in response, wiping his own brow before continuing on his way.

At least the thirty percent they kept was enough to live comfortably. Many smaller farms hadn't been so lucky, their owners now working as laborers on corporate-controlled land they once owned. The Arcs had enough acreage and reputation, something about a powerful and ancient lineage, to maintain some independence, however tenuous it might be.

Jaune's scroll buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, smiling at the message from Ellie. His girlfriend had sent a picture of herself surrounded by fresh-baked goods at her family's bakery in town with a rather suggestive caption.

"Saving the best ones for you! Don't work too late."

Of course he replied quickly.

"Just a few more hours. Then I'm all yours for dinner."

Tucking the scroll away, Jaune looked up at the clear blue sky. Two more weeks of intense work, then the bulk of the harvest would be complete. He'd overheard his father on another late-night call with other farm owners, discussing ways to renegotiate with NeoHarvest. Same conversation, different year. So far, it had yielded nothing but frustration and the occasional veiled threat from corporate representatives.

"Arc farms don't run themselves," he muttered his father's favorite saying, lifting his hoe once more. The family expected a record yield this year, which meant extra income to invest in the new barn they'd been planning. His sisters had already started arguing about what color to paint it.

Well, it could also be a place where his nephews could play too.

As he returned to his work, Jaune felt that familiar mix of contentment and frustration. His friends from school had scattered to academies across Remnant, some training to become Hunters, others pursuing to become corpos. But here, watching over the land that had sustained his family for generations, feeling the honest fatigue of a day's good work—this was where he belonged.

The wheat rippled like a golden sea in the breeze, and Jaune Arc sighed, then smiled. Harvest season was coming, and after that, he'd have time to simply be a young man in love, without the weight of responsibility for a while. But for now, there was work to be done, and he was just the man to do it.

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AN: In a fucked up world, there is always those few despite everything, they are still happy and will be happy. Just something happy for this Remmant. But I genuinely thought about going the same route as other atuhors do and like c*** Jaune or turn him into a girl as another waifu for the harem but nah, lets give the klutz knight a happy ending.