– POV General –

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for coming in such great numbers to attend our very special auction that the city of Belfort has to offer you tonight ! Get your signs because it starts in 10 minutes from now with our cheapest but not less incredible lots !”

It was almost 8pm, Saturn day as the auction of the richest found in the city to the East in the fanciest neighborhoods finally began. Twenty minutes had passed since the group had split up and already the stage of the Opera House had lit up. A man wearing a white wig had suddenly spoken, taking care to speak very loudly so that the huge hall could hear him.

It had been built in such a way that the voices on the stage carried far thanks to the echo and the corridors that were open offering a view on the center. The vast majority of the guests had already arrived with their signs, seated on different floors according to their rank or importance. Once he was sure he had everyone's attention and silence, the host cleared his throat to announce news that might disappoint many.

"There has been an unforeseen event, however, so I regret to announce that Lord Hamilton and his family will not be able to attend this evening. A last minute messenger from the mansion arrived a moment ago to bring us a missive to inform us. The entire Von Kokosnuss family apologizes, wishing you an excellent and interesting evening"

Making a slight bow, the man on stage was doing his best to show his good faith to those who were beginning to raise their voices. Of course everyone in the room was disappointed that most of them were not meeting the Lord of the City himself. However, the purpose of the evening was not to curry favor with him so without further ado, the host took the floor to change the subject while waiting for the ten minutes to pass.

"AHEM SO ! Since we're going to start shortly, while our lots are all prepared backstage, let me explain to you how the auction works..."

So it was with a powerful voice that the man explained how it was going to happen, that is, with an auctioneer handling the bidders. The whole Opera House could hear him and as he continued, two people on the top floor froze. Hestia and Kali who had used those 20 minutes to gather as much information as possible, had just heard the news about the Kokosnuss' absence. 

"Did you hear that ?"

"Y-Yes..."

"Damn it !! Of course nothing is going as planned, I wanted to wait for the Lord to arrive to leave ! Tch, a change of plan is coming."

"E-Eh ! W-Wait !"

Without taking the time to listen more, the young blond woman grabbed her friend's hand in order to drag her down the hallway towards the stairs. Unfortunately, Kali had not changed yet and was wearing shoes that were not really adapted to running. Noticing this, Hestia would gently tug on her arm before grabbing the young Quartermaster in her arms like a princess to go faster.

"W-Wha..."

Kali wasn't expecting this and as her Captain ran down the stairs with a frown and a straight face, she blushed. Her whole body was shaking slightly as her eyes were fixed on Hestia whose golden hair was falling on her face due to her speed. Not wanting to risk fainting, the young woman with coffee-colored eyes took her courage in both hands to ask a question in order to change the subject.

"W-What do you want to do ?"

"Go to the mansion of course, I have no reason to be there anymore and we have done our part of the job. Just enough time to find the two brothers, warn the others and then I'll leave for the mansion as planned !"

 

Soon enough, the two young women would arrive in front of the door leading to the balcony where everyone must have been gathered by now. Gently placing her friend on the ground, Hestia ran her hand through her hair with her eyebrows still furrowed at the news. She couldn't help but feel annoyed and as she spoke and was about to open the door she suddenly stopped after glancing at her friend.

"The rest is up to you. Here we are, you go to...eh ? Kali are you okay ? You're shaking and you seem nervous, would you be cold ?"

"N-No I...am fine..."

Without warning the beautiful blonde had stuck her forehead against that of Kali which was burning making her tremble even more despite herself. She did not dare to speak or even breathe being for the first time so close to the one she loved in secret. Her heart was pounding as Hestia separated from her suddenly before removing her coat and placing it gently on her bare shoulders with a smile.

"Not the time to get sick huh, Quartermaster fufu~"

Kali could smell her Captain's recognizable and atypical scent as it was a mixture of cold vanilla tobacco and sea salt. Finishing with a wink behind her white mask without suspecting what she was provoking in her, Hestia turned to open the door. The plan had changed but since they were all already there, while she was going to leave with the two brothers, the others were not going to return without helping them.

______

In the wide dark streets illuminated by moonlight and stars, three figures could be seen running towards the north of the city. Two were on the ground and the third was jumping from rooftop to rooftop at an almost inhuman speed, almost giving the illusion that it was flying. Hestia and the two brothers had just left the Opera House after they decided not to change groups, determined to fulfill their part of the mission.

The young blonde pirate had left her mask behind, no longer wearing her coat but a cloak covering her face with a hood so she wouldn't be recognized. Seth was wrapped around her waist where her black-bladed sword, pistol and hunting knives were. In a few minutes they would be in front of the Kokosnuss mansion and Hestia couldn't help but think of her companions as she sped up.

"I'm counting on you guys..."

______

"Good, then we agreed. Now that our Captain, Buggy and Douggy are gone we're going to loot these auctions despite Achi Von Kokosnuss' absence."

"I hope it goes well for them, the three of them have to steal the map and find the young noblewoman to take them back to the ship before the early morning."

The remaining five hysterics were gathered on their private balcony and had also been stunned by the news of the Lord and his family's absence. The idea that in addition Hestia Hellfire was accompanied by only two men to carry out her mission had also been hard to accept. Yet, as Joe had said, not being by her side didn't mean they couldn't help so that's why he raised his voice again to reassure Mysie.

"Of course it will be fine ! But since there are more of us, let's create a diversion here to make their job easier, we have 15 minutes to find the lots, slaves and animals."

"So we’re following the plan ?"

"We're following the plan."

Although the objective had changed, the Cerberus Sailing Master had still used the information they had all gathered to create a strategy. It was no longer about kidnapping Lord Hamilton's young daughter, but about messing up the auction. To do this, nothing better than to free the rare exotic animals, the slaves, steal the most interesting lots and set the building on fire.

Thanks to their little exploration, they had discovered that most of the men in charge of security were in fact the guests and their own bodyguards. As for the Opera House, the officers were mostly located in the basement where the different rooms were where the lots were waiting before being presented on stage.

The plan was to break in, block all accesses, liberate and steal before setting fire to the Opera House and escaping through the large garden at the back. If the five pirates could do this, all the attention of the city would be focused on their position, leaving Hestia and the two brothers with a better chance. Even from a distance it was a team effort and they were all determined to never let what he had experienced happen again.

"So it's time, let's hurry, let's go to the basement since the auction has already started it's the perfect time. Lucas, since you discovered his entrance with Buggy earlier, guide us"

"Yes"

Joe was the strategist of the group, but in the absence of the Captain it was up to the Quartermaster to take charge, so Kali did. They had all changed into guard-like clothing and carried their weapons. Tonight they were all ready to spill blood without mercy if it meant succeeding so after a nod from the young woman, they finally left the balcony to head for the basement.

______

"This is it ?"

"Mmmh."

The five companions were in one of the empty corridors of the ground floor behind a wall staring at a very large door guarded by two people. When Lucas had explored the area, he had been told that the lots were all well guarded in the basement from this door. So they had to go through there, block the doors and use the 15 minutes they had left to make as much of a racket as possible. 

"So ? How do we proceed ? We can't all show up without raising too much suspicion, and most importantly we can't make any noise yet." 

"That's why it's up to Kali and Mysie to play and handle it, these two men will definitely be more sensitive to women. Can you do it ?"

Joe, who had taken over command of the operations, would then answer Lucas in a whisper before turning to the two young women behind him. Remembering what had happened on the ship he couldn't help but be a little worried but what a surprise it was when Joe met their eyes. Not a trace of fear could be read in Mysie and Kali's eyes as they answered more confidently than ever.

"Yes."

"Count on us."

Without saying a word, the two young women looked at each other before nodding their heads, adjusting their masks and standing up in silence. The next moment, they were walking down the corridor, finally appearing several feet away from the guards who were holding their swords. Taking a deep breath, as the men called out to them, the girls decided to play it cool to get closer to them.

"YOU ! Go back to where you came from, this is no place for personal guards !"

"Excuse us gentlemen but...

...we got lost and we don't know where the stairs are"

Although almost dressed as officers, Kali and Mysie had done their best to look as innocent as possible, wearing two shy smiles. They hid their weapons behind their backs and walked forward with an almost charming look on their faces. It worked as both men relaxed slightly before scratching the back of their heads embarrassed to have been so rough with two lost young women. 

"O-Oh...uh...well, it's quite simple, retrace your steps and turn to the first right to get to the hall."

"You should find the main grand staircase that will be able to take you to the upper floors, here is the basement you will go down instead of up haha~"

Like two idiots, the two guards blushed at their beauty as the two friends were now very close to them still smiling. As they were about to point them in the direction, suddenly two daggers went into their jugular killing them instantly. Kali and Mysie had been very quick and hadn't hesitated for a second making that innocent smile disappear from their faces instantly.

"Hmpf !"

"F-Fuck, oi !"

They had both quickly grabbed the dead bodies of the two men before they crashed to the ground but they were still heavy. Blood was running down the garment as the rest of the group rushed to assist them. Lucas stayed near the wall to keep watch, leaving Edward and Joe to deal with the two bodies which they hid behind one of the large thick curtains hanging on the left wall. 

"Kali"

"Yes"

Letting her friend take the body, disregarding the blood, the young Quartermaster grabbed the keys that hung from her victim's pants before going to the door. As she glued her ear and closed her eyes, the roots of her brown hair began to turn dark red. Endowed with a gift of uncommon hearing, Kali did her best to try to determine what was behind it.

"Two large corridors with I would say 15 to 20 guards in them, they seem to extend not too far and I can't tell exactly how far. Some of the officers, the ones in the left hallway are on patrol going back and forth and banging on...bars ? Wait a minute ! I can also hear...it's the slaves. I couldn't tell how many since they seem motionless and their breathing is shallow but they are indeed locked up."

Kali had concentrated as hard as she could to try and determine as best she could what was going on underneath despite the exhaustion she was feeling. Especially in the beginning, using a gift was always very tiring and even though they had practiced it had only lasted a few days since their Awakening. Still, by listening to the footsteps, voices and breathing she had been able to deduce more or less how many people were down there.

"Are you sure that right now the corridors contain 15 to 20 soldiers ?"

"I'm sure Joe. There's two other entrances if I'm to believe the sound of the wind so more guards could pop up but right now they're between 15 and 20. Let's assume there are 20 but I'm sticking with what I heard."

"Very well then I propose that we get inside before we deal with all the men making sure no one alerts the rest of the security. We'll block all the doors while we do what we have to do but remember, we have just 15 minutes to spare, not one more !"

Everyone nodded their heads in earnest understanding the importance of this operation and what its failure meant to them. They knew that they were about to enter a place where Astrionite chains were numerous and that this time gift or no gift they had no right to make a single mistake. Joe turned once again to his Quartermaster to wait for the confirmation of his superior before passing the key in the door. 

______

"I can't believe we're stuck here guarding slaves and overpriced goods for people who don't hesitate to spit on us and look down on us. Damn nobles, tch ."

"Ssshhh shut up ! If anyone hears you, you could be in serious trouble."

"Oh yeah ? Like what ? Dying ? Pffhahaha~ You know what ? I'm going to live a very long life I can guarantee you !"

*creak*

Two officers posted at the bottom of the small stairs were sitting on barrels discussing or rather grumbling as the sound of the metal door at the top creaked. Cutting off their conversation, they stood up straight, not knowing why it had opened when it was supposed to be closed. Peering into the narrow, dark and damp place, they could suddenly hear a confident voice.

"Hey ! Shifts over, guys !"

"Eh ? Already ?"

"Yeah we got in trouble up there so the boss sent us to replace you considering the state of our uniforms, at least you both can get some rest, lucky bastards."

As the two men squinted their eyes to observe in the gloom, finally the silhouette of two people coming in their direction became apparent. One was very tall with long brown hair and the other a little shorter with silver-blond hair, both wearing blood-stained uniforms. They had their hands in their pockets and as the two officers finally saw them in the light, could not help but ask questions.

"Wow man ! What happened ?"

"W-Why are you covered in blood ?"

Reaching the level of those they were cheating on, Lucas and Joe would take their best embarrassed smiles before answering.

"Oh it's not ours, but that of a woman who tried to touch my sword before severely cutting her wrist. It wasn't pretty brrrr"

"Yeeeaaah, so we were asked to come down to replace you, I guess we'll get fired after the party haha~. You better hurry up and get up there before someone comes to check if we're doing our job right."

Taking on a panicked look, the two pirates were urging the two officers who didn't want any trouble to get out of there as fast as they could. Without even checking the veracity of their words, deceived by the uniforms they hurried up the stairs with a big smile. The idea of being able to rest was divine but as they reached one of the darker corners, three people suddenly pounced on them.

"Ah !!!"

"Hmmmpfff !!!

Edward, Mysie and Kali who had been hiding in the gloom had popped up, the girls again stabbing their daggers into one while Edward strangled the other. They had managed to get rid of the first two guards quietly, but it was only the beginning. It was a race against time pitting the five Hysterics against a dozen officers, time was running out and Mysie was sure to remind them.

"The 15 minutes start...now !"