Before the time that Pan gets executed. We go back two weeks as Pan works in the Maria Bakery.
The bakery has grown in staff and in income, Santiago doesn't even need to work his old back anymore but he's still involved in management.
It was another calm yet busy day for the bakery, and Pan or Clara's hands aren't mostly needed.
That's why Basilio is urgently searching for them, roaming around the bakery's facility.
"Where are you, Pan?" Basilio muttered as he looked worried.
"You too, Crispina. You're not stationed at your post..." Basilio says as he opens a door to the back of the bakery.
"Clara... She's gone too... Where are those three?" Basilio sighed, he looks at his hand
He was a scrolled up paper, it had some importance since Basilio was almost afraid of it.
Though as he stood there in silence, he heard some noise in the storage area. Rummaging, whispering and items clacking, Basilio knows where they are now.
Basilio quietly yet quickly approached the storage room, eavesdropping on them.
"H-Hey, careful. You're going to make things fall over..." Pan whispered.
"Sorry..! Getting a little excited, I guess..." Crispina chuckled.
"I get to kiss first, you got her kiss afterall, Crispy..." Clara whispered.
"No fair..! We BOTH had her first kiss..!" Crispina pouted.
"What are they talking about?" Basilio thought before he blushes himself, this is some spiciness.
"Calm down, you two. Let your Bread Mommy handle this..!" Pan whispered before the sounds of intimate kissing was heard.
"H-Huh? Hey, wait... I have a mission..!" Basilio shakes his head before he kicks open the door.
Immediately, all three looked at Basilio with shock and fear. Pan was in the middle of kissing the two, like, there's two Pans in the room, one for each girl.
"Ah- Umm..." Basilio becomes red.
"AAAAHH!" Clara and Crispina screamed in fear and embarrassment.
They then pounced on Basilio and started slapping him. At the end of the onslaught, Basilio's face was red.
"That's pretty neat, P-Pan... You can make two of yourselves now..!" Basilio says through the pain, his face is so swollen that he can barely see.
"Y-Yeah, I learned how to do this after I knew how to split my cores." Pan then gives her clones a high five before fusing.
Clara and Crispina are in a corner, steaming red from embarrassment. Pan just chuckled before touching Basilio's face.
"Argh- That hurts..." Basilio flinched, backing off.
"Hahaha! You look like you got stung by bees! Ah- What's that in your hand?" Pan took notice.
"Ah, right..! I was here for this reason!" Basilio says before unscrolling the paper.
Basilio then gives it to Pan and she reads it. Her eyes widened, as she can't believe her eyes.
"A Suspicion Notice? What the hell is that?" Pan says before looking at Basilio. Clara and Crispina heard it and rushed to their sides.
"Did she say 'Suspicion Notice'? What reason do they have to do that?" Crispina asked.
"Wh- What's a suspicion notice?" Pan says as she looks at the two.
"It's when the mayor or Knight department suspects someone for any threats. They're forced to close down their business or home and they conduct an investigation." Clara explained.
"A search warrant, huh?" Pan thought.
Crispina healed Basilio's face and he lunged forward to Pan, panicked and worried.
"But this is suspicious in itself! Before a suspicion notice, a knight would ask us for interrogation first!" Basilio says.
"Hm, isn't that what Viktor's lackeys tried to do to Clara?" Pan asked.
"Yes, but they're acting on their own volition. A Knight that's directly from the mayor must be issued to conduct an interrogation of the suspected person." Clara says.
"So in other words, this is illegal." Pan says before crumpling up the paper and throwing it aside.
"It's still no joke! Now there's gonna be Knights that'll investigate!" Basilio said.
"This is so sudden... Why are they out to get us?" Pan muttered.
"What can we do?" Crispina says worryingly.
Pan thinks for a moment before looking up at the others.
"We have no choice." Pan declared before furrowing her eyebrows.
And the rest just stayed silent and nodded. And so, the Maria Bakery will have to close down for investigation.
Clara and Santiago are the owners so they answered to the Knights, while Pan hid in the veil of the Guild.
Pan, ofcourse, witnessed the investigation herself. She used her adept skills in flour manipulation to hide in plain sight, watching them.
"Okay, you asshats. I've got my own experience of corruption back in my world, let's see your 'investigation' take place..." Pan thought, posing as a sack of flour amongst other sacks of flour.
"Are the guys posed up out there?" A Knight asked to another.
"Yeah, everything's clear. Let's get started..." They then called another Knight from the main lobby.
They went into the storage room and put down a big sack. There's some moistness around and smelled horrible.
"What's that?" Pan noticed it, she squints her eyes as the Knights uncovered the bag.
"Jeez! This smells so bad..." A Knight said.
"Yeah, just bare with it. We're almost done here..." Another Knight said as he pours the content of the sack onto the floor.
"Ah!" Pan was shocked to see what it was.
It looked like a goblin, but dead and beaten. They laid it out and took position around the bakery.
"Just what in the hell-" As Pan was wondering what were they about to do, one of them suddenly slashed the products in the storage room.
At the same time, two of the Knights started to clash swords with each other while grunting and shouting, making it out there's a battle going on.
"Agh! A goblin was in here!" They shouted.
The onlookers outside were shocked to hear that, worried about their valiant Knights.
Meanwhile, the Marias and Ina Siblings are utterly shocked to hear what they're doing.
Pan was shocked as well, as they started trashing the place while covering it up as a monster attack.
"How could this be!? A monster in our village!?" The Knights yelled once more, the townsfolk's murmur grows.
"How could these people do such a thing!?" They continued.
Clara was having none of it, she was about to confront the Knights but was stopped as her arm was grabbed.
She looked over to see Crispina, shaking her head at Clara.
"Tch... Is there really nothing we can do?" Clara muttered.
"We can't fight back against the government... Not like this." Crispina muttered back and Clara just surrendered.
"Pan, I know what you're seeing right now. This isn't right..!" Clara thought.
"But I want an answer..! I want to end this kind of cruelty once and for all..!"
Meanwhile, Pan was getting more and more ticked off. The sound of sword clashing and the bakery products getting ruined was adding to that growing anger.
"Why..." Pan thought as the sounds got louder.
"Why even in THIS world..." The sounds are deafening.
"Do I have to face against..." Pan's flour was acting up.
"Why do I have to fucking face government corruption!?" Pan lost control for a moment, making a noise before going back to normal.
A knight noticed the sound and went to investigate, looking around to see if there's anything else around.
He then approaches the stacked sacks of flour, and he thinks that it's a good idea to slash them up.
He then quickly realises that it was a mistake.
"Psst." Pan called out and he looks down, wondering what that sound was.
Pan then grabs the man's neck before slamming his head against this wall, making a sizeable crack on it. This alerted the others but Pan went back into her sack form.
"Shit, he had a bad fall." One of them said.
"Let's get out of here, we can use this to fuel the illusion that they're hoarding monsters." The Knights says and they carried their injured brethren out.
Once they're out, Pan went back into her human flour form and went to the Goblin Corpse.
"Poor you, being used as some sort of framing tool." Pan says.
Pan pats the Goblin's head before entirely consuming it into her flour body.
"Assimilation it is, a neat Slime Trick but feels disgusting to do." Pan then quickly moves out the bakery before the Knights realised they forgot the corpse.
And when they did, they're just confused to where it went. Though the traces of Goblin blood was enough to make the evidence.
As Pan returned to the main group, they went back to the Maria Household to discuss about what happened.
"How could they do this!? We worked THIS hard to get to this point and now they're setting us up!?" Basilio wasn't happy, this was truly unfair.
"What grudge do they have against us anyways?" Basilio looks to the others.
"That's what I've been wondering..." Clara says as she holds her chin.
Pan was looking outside the windows, deep in thought. Clara noticed and she knows that she's thinking why as well.
"In any case, it's risky to open up the bakery for now. The public is having our doubts about us, and it's obvious they're trying to force us to do something about it." Santiago says as he rubs his beard.
"But what? What is their justification to do such cruelty!?" Crispina says with irritation.
"What are they getting out of this!? What are they trying to find!?" Crispina says with continued desperation.
"They're looking for me." Pan simply said and they all looked to her in confusion and curiosity.
"Viktor croaked. He told those guys about me, and now they're trying to drive me out." Pan then looks at the others and nodded.
"It's obvious that they'd ask him, but why would they go the lengths to forcing me to get out?" Pan asked.
The others are just as confused as her, though Clara has some idea to what's happening.
"Maybe... Just maybe, there could be some other force at play. Something or someone that doesn't want you here..." Clara says before she looks back to Pan.
"The Mayor of Anihan won't just do something without reason." Clara says
"I know him, Mayor Malasin. He's a lazy fool but a textbook Mayor for the village." Clara continued.
"Even if it's for nefarious reasons, he should announce any of his intentions to the village. This includes the suspicion notice."
"What happened recently is too sudden, they're definitely trying to force us to comply." Clara then stands up before approaching Pan.
"I do think they're coming after you as well, Pan. The reason is unclear but the intention is there, what should we do?" Clara asked and the others stared at her for an answer.
"Hm..." Pan looks to Clara and then at Crispina.
"There's no 'we' in this one. I'll have to do something to get them off your backs on my own." Pan says as she pats Clara's hair before holding her chin..
"But for you, I want you and the others to investigate. Learn about what's happening in the village." Pan says with a smile and Clara blushed.
Crispina was suddenly at Pan's side, holding her arm.
"What are you going to do, Pan?" Crispina asked curiously.
"Let myself get captured, ofcourse." Pan answered.
"Eh!?" Everyone was shocked but Pan laughed it off.
"You'll get executed!" Clara says in fear.
"Relax, don't you remember?" Pan says before she makes two of herself.
"I can have another me. This is what I'll use to fake my execution." Pan says before she fusing back to her clone.
"After negotiating terms, I'll agree to turn myself in and in the event of an execution, I'll be going under a fake alias and documents to investigate on my own side." Pan says before looking to Crispin and Clara.
"That'll mean that I can't have you guys coming to me, it's for your own safety." Pan says a bit sadly, the situation is this dire for her to leave this household for now.
"W-We understand..." Clara says.
"Dang it... Just when it was going so great for us..." Crispina whimpered.
"I'll come by and visit, gotta make it sneaky though." Pan chuckled.
"I'll make sure Cali knows about this, me and him will do our own digging." Basilio says.
"Speaking of which, tell Cali that I'll renew my Adventurer's Card under my new alias." Pan says as she approaches Basilio.
"My new name will be 'Crisostimo', I'm a novelist and an adventurer. This will be my new identity until we sort out this village shenanigan." Pan exclaimed.
"Got that, Cali will have no reason to refuse." Basilio pats Pan's shoulder.
"In that case, alongside figuring out why they would do this. I'll do my best to achieve a dream I want." Clara says as she approached the others.
"I'll become a mayor within the year. This place needs to change." Clara declared.
"Heh, my poor daughter doesn't share the same baking dream as me." Santiago says.
"We'll start applying you for a position in this village then, for now, you need a good reputation." Santiago says and Clara was happy to hear her father support her.
"Crispina and I will due our best to get stronger. So we can fight to protect you when your identity is revealed." Basilio bravely declared.
"Yes, that'll be our promise." Crispina nodded, running to his side and facing Pan.
"Alright, looks like we have our own plans and goals. But before we can do that, we have to set up for my fake death." Pan smiled as she looked at the others.
"Here's the plan..."
A week later, their grand plan begins.
Basilio informed Cali of the situation and agreed to renew Pan's Adventurer's Card under the news alias. Though needing a last name, Pan's identity as "Ibarra Crisostomo" has been formed.
The Bakery was still closed due to the events, but this gave way for Basilio and Crispina to go on more daring adventures to make themselves stronger.
Clara had begun to study well on the realm of politics within Anihan. Her skills in baking was triumphed by her gained knowledge.
And Santiago did his part to spread good word about his daughter, the best he could atleast.
Still, their plan hasn't started until they they pull of Pan's fake execution.
But there'll be no trouble, Pan was confident that it'll go their way with this one simple act.
One Night, at the Knight's Barracks within the village.
Santiago was running towards the barracks with a panicked look in his eyes.
He reaches it and called out for help the best he could.
"Help! My daughter! She has been taken hostage by a monster!" Santiago exclaimed in panic.
Hearing this, some of the Knights gathered to check this man's claims.
Upon reaching the Maria Household, the place was a wreck at the outside.
Basilio and Crispina, under a mask to conceal their identity, we're facing off against Pan, who was holding Clara from behind at her neck.
"There! She's been taken!" Santiago says.
"The Anihan Knights!" Basilio says in a fake voice.
"We need your help, this monster is far more than we can bargain for."
"Yes! Shishishi! She is very strong!" Crispina was in a fake voice too, a little over the top but it's working.
"Adventurers? I see. We will aid you in slaying this Beast. Unhand her!" The Knight pointed at Pan.
"Come any closer, or this pretty damsel will get smothered!" Pan evilly cackled.
"Oh please! Don't hurt my daughter, you fiend!" Santiago says angrily.
"Hehe, who says I'll hurt her right now? I'm thinking of other things..." Pan then licks Clara's neck to ear.
"H-How degrading..! Please, help me!" Clara says in fear.
"I know she's putting on an act, but d-did she really have to lick me there..?" Clara thought as she's trying her best not to look flustered.
"I wish that were me" Crispina thought.
"Ah! She must be the monster the mayor is looking for..! The one that Viktor told us about..!" Another Knight whispered and Crispina can hear them clear as day.
But for now, the Knights nodded at each other before charging forward.
"Tch, one of them talked about something. It meant capturing me was more important than saving Clara." Pan thought.
"Clara, now..." Pan whispered and Clara nodded.
Clara then hits Pan with the back of her head, making her let go. Clara then falls on the ground, covering her head before the Knights dashed over her to pierce Pan's body.
"Agh... That lady was stronger than I thought..." Pan says before she slowly passes out, but she's only pretending.
"Alright, here we go." Pan thought as she waited for the Knights to take her in.
The Knights then nodded at each other before dragging Pan's body. They looked at the Adventurer's and the Marias.
"Rest assured, citizens. This monster has been neutralised." The Knight says.
"W-What are you gonna do to it?" Santiago asked.
The Knights just stayed silent for a moment, they looked at each other like they're trying to come up with a reason for just taking Pan in.
"Interrogation. This monster can speak, it must hold information." They then walk away without uttering another world.
Once they're gone from view, Basilio and Crispina unveiled themselves.
"So it begins." Basilio says.
"It was nerve-wracking to see Pan get struck like that. But she's stronger than before, I'm confident we'll get this plan through." Crispina says with a determined smile.
"Phew... All that running is making my body ache. What say we get some tea to calm ourselves with, right Clara?" Santiago turns to Clara and he's shocked, as Clara is acting a little weird.
"Y-Yes, that would be n-nice..." Clara was still on the ground, covering her head and slightly trembling.
"Ah! Clara! Are you okay?" Crispina goes to check as she kneels down to her side, holding her back.
"I-It's nothing, I'm just a little, a-ahm..." Clara can't even make out words.
Crispina then turns her over to see her face, her eyes immediately went dead blank.
"P-Pan's tongue s-still has an effect on me." Clara was flustered and blushed, she was holding it in but she was fantasising about that neck lick.
"I really wish that were me..." Crispina says in a monotone way.
"Stop it, you two! Let's get in the house before anyone notices." Basilio says before carrying Santiago and rushing inside.
"Right!" Crispina and Clara immediately stood up and followed.
Meanwhile, Pan was dragged to the prisons. She was thrown in one of the cells under handcuffs.
"Argh..." Pan then sits up, looking outside the prison bars.
She overhears the Knights talking, honing her ears.
"We got them, mayor! The monster you're trying to look for!" They said.
"Excellent, you all will be paid handsomely. But for now, I'll look at this fiend myself." Another voice said.
"The mayor, huh? Let's see what slimy face I'll see." Pan thought as he heard footsteps approaching.
And Pan finally sees the face of the mayor, she glares at him with great bloodlust.
A short, obese man with a moustache that covered his mouth. He wore round glasses and he was balding. Wearing classy black coating with a white uniform, he's the textbook example of a mayor.
"So you're the monster that defeated Viktor Malvado. My most trusted knight defeated." Mayor Malasin says before looking at Pan from head to toe.
"You truly are a monster, you take on a human form to take advantage of us."
"You're lucky that I'm in here, if I were free, I would've killed you and everyone in this prison!" Pan cackled.
"How cruel... Your fate is merciful compared to the heinous things you've done. I will be personally there to see you die." Malasin then walks away, leaving the prison cells in silence.
Pan thinks the coast is clear but she feels like it's not time yet. It felt like someone was still here.
And then suddenly...
"Another monster capable of human intelligence?" A voice echoed, it came in the prison cell but there's no figure to look at.
"And who are you?" Pan asked, this may be a clue to what's happening in the village.
"You don't know who I am? You're a monster capable of human speech and intelligence, yet you don't even know who is your Princess?" The Voice echoed.
"P-Princess!? GOD DAMN! I wanna see you, but no... I have to keep cool..." Pan thought as she clears her throat.
"Nope, I don't know any princesses." Pan says.
"If you do not know who I am, then you are a rebel! Every monster in my territory utters my name in fear!" The voice says.
"You are among those who wish my reign to fall, or..."
"You are trying to steal MY territory."
"Can't say, Princess. I'm just a really hungry monster." Pan smirked but it stops as soon as she saw glowing eyes in the darkness.
They were fiery orange, like flames and the sun. They are filled with malice, evil yet a sense of royal reverence that made Pan weak yet energised.
Whoever she was facing, it was a figure of both power and position.
"I'll see to you that your execution be painfully swift." The Princess says.
"Looking forward to it." Pan smiled with cheekiness.
"Heh, stubborn till the end..." Then both the eyes and the voice disappeared.
Pan was now clear to speak our her thoughts, this part of the prison was empty.
"So there IS another force at play here... Some sort of princess..." Pan says before looking around.
"A Princess of Monsters, huh? I'll have to do my own digging from now on. But first, I'll have to execute this part of the plan first, hehe..."
And so the day of her execution came, and now that we kept track of the events prior to her execution, it's time for her fake death.
"Can't wait to see how this goes!" Pan's supposed last words.
And then immediately, the platform she's in engulfed her in flames. Pan then let's out a grievous and painful scream.
Everyone in the crowd stood in silence, this was far too cruel and violent than they thought.
The mayor was there, smiling in both glee and satisfaction.
"T-This isn't our usual execution..." Clara thought as she stopped fake crying.
"Fire..? N-No, that's way hotter than normal fire. What is that?" Crispina thought.
"Advanced Fire Magic, huh?" Cali says.
"Huh? You seen this kind of thing before?" Basilio says.
"I've felt it before. I've fought a monster with this kind of magic before, back when an invasion happened far from Anihan Village." Cali then squints his eyes at the fire from the execution.
"In any case, this kind of magic shouldn't exist in this village... Not even I can cast that kind of magic." Cali says.
Basilio looked nervous but he just kept chill and watched this execution end.
As the fires dissipated, what was left are charred remains of burnt flour and dough.
Everyone sighed that it was over but for the Inas and Marias, it was the start of their bigger goal.
"So it's time..." Clara thought before looking to Crispina.
"The plan..." Crispina thought before nodding and the two regrouped with the others.
"Pan's plan of finding out who would do this..." Basilio thought.
"For some reason, I can't help but hey excited at this whole plan." Cali thought before smirking.
And as the crowds dispersed and celebrated, in the distance, just behind a house, someone was holding up and reading a book.
They tipped their hat before pushing themselves off and walking away.
"Just you wait, Princess..." The figure says before looking straight forward.
"Pan 'Ibarra Crisostomo' Disalo is coming for ya!"