(Chapter 99 Raid)
A week had passed since Tempest's birthday, yet the events of that night weighed heavily on his mind. Tirpitz, his assassin, lay in the infirmary, her condition critical but stable. Tempest had ensured she was under the best care possible, even inviting Sigewinne to personally oversee her recovery. His mind was now a storm of frustration and anger. Every time something tragic happened, the Fatui were at the center of it all.
The Fatui were behind everything, the reason his Father once plotted a coup against Furina, the twisted games Columbina who toyed with his mind, and now, the assault on Tirpitz. His patience was running thin, and his heart seethed with the need for action. He had tolerated their machinations long enough, but this, this had pushed him to his breaking point.
"Tempest, you've been staring at that crochet for ten minutes now..."
A soft voice broke through his thoughts. It was Nahida, sitting on the couch in his office.
Tempest sat silently at his desk, holding the small crochet figure of Furina, the birthday gift that seemed to have become an anchor in this sea of turmoil. His fingers traced the delicate yarn work, but his mind was miles away, caught in a whirlwind of anger and helplessness.
"I'm not reading your mind."
Nahida continued, her voice calm but filled with concern,
"But I can sense the storm brewing inside you. Your thoughts are restless, aren't they?"
Her words were gentle, but Tempest's expression remained distant, his gaze locked onto the little crochet. It was a gift that represented warmth, yet in this moment, it seemed a fragile contrast to the chaos raging within him.
"I know what I'm going to do, Young Pasha."
Tempest finally spoke, his voice low but resolute as he turned his gaze from the crochet figure to Nahida. His golden eyes glinted with a determination that was almost unnerving.
"And I don't think you're going to like it."
Nahida, seated gracefully on the couch, met his eyes with a soft, knowing expression. Her small frame seemed to radiate both understanding and a subtle sadness as she responded, her voice calm and steady.
"I won't stop you, Tempest. I probably can't, even if I wanted to."
She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
"But remember this."
She continued, her tone gentle yet firm,
"You will not be punished for your hatred, Tempest. Your hatred will punish you. The fire you're feeding will burn everything in its path, including you."
Tempest clenched his fists, her words echoing in his mind. But he had already made up his mind. Consequences be damned.
"I'm... I'm going offline for the next few days."
Nahida said softly as she approached Tempest, her voice laced with a mix of concern and reluctance. Her delicate steps echoed in the room as she drew closer.
"Be careful, Tempest."
She added, her compassionate eyes searching his, hoping to convey the weight of her words. It was more than just a request, it was a plea.
"I will."
Tempest replied, his voice steady but distant. He gently patted her head, his hand lingering there for a moment as if trying to reassure both of them.
A small, sad smile formed on Nahida's face as she pulled away. Without another word, she exited his office, leaving behind an air of unspoken tension. Tempest watched her leave, feeling the weight of her warning settle heavily in the room, though his mind was already set on the path ahead.
"I thought you were different... You gave me a clue about what my Father was planning. You made me believe there was something more to you."
His hand clenched into a fist, trembling with suppressed rage.
"I was fucking wrong."
He spat the words, as he stood up his voice filled with anger and betrayal, the realization hitting him harder than he had anticipated.
Tempest exited the room, determination fueling his steps as he made his way to the mansion's infirmary. There, nestled in the bed, lay Tirpitz, her face peaceful in sleep despite the heavy bandages wrapped around her body. Sigewinne sat nearby, her watchful gaze fixed on her patient, a hint of worry etched on her features.
"How is she?"
Tempest asked, his voice low but filled with concern. He approached the bed, his mind brewing with hatred at the sight of Tirpitz, who had fought valiantly and now lay vulnerable. The room felt heavy with the weight of unspoken worries, and Tempest hoped for good news despite the grim reality.
"She's recovering, but it will take weeks, perhaps even months, for her to fully heal."
Sigewinne replied, her tone a mix of relief and concern. She glanced at Tirpitz, whose features were still strained from pain.
"Thankfully, her body wasn't completely charred thanks to the rain, but she was having a hard time eating. Her throat hurts every time she tries to swallow."
With a sigh, Sigewinne continued.
"And despite her condition, she still insists on eating raw fish. It's funny how her preferences haven't changed even in such dire circumstances."
She shook her head slightly, a small smile breaking through her worried expression.
"That stubbornness of hers shines through, even when she's down."
"Thank you for coming here, Sigewinne."
Tempest said, his voice heavy with gratitude. He took a moment to glance at Tirpitz before continuing.
"Neuvillette's going to kill me if he finds out she's like this…"
"Oh, he definitely will."
Sigewinne replied, gently patting Tirpitz's head, her fingers brushing over the remnants of her injuries.
"So, you better bring her attacker to justice, Your Grace. It's the least you can do for her after what she's endured."
Tempest nodded solemnly, determination flickering in his golden eyes.
"I will make sure that whoever did this pays for their actions. I promise you that."
Tempest declared.
"Good."
Sigewinne replied, her expression resolute.
"I'll stay here for the next couple of days before returning to the Fortress of Meropide. My friend's well-being is of the utmost importance right now."
She looked at Tirpitz with a mix of concern and affection, her heart heavy knowing the challenges her friend faced ahead.
"I want to ensure she's stable before I leave. It's hard to focus on anything else when someone you care about is hurting."
Tempest nodded, appreciating her commitment.
"Your presence will mean a lot to her. She needs someone like you right now."
Shortly, a frantic commotion echoed through the hall, and shortly after, Melissa burst into the infirmary, breathless and wide-eyed, clutching a scroll tightly in her hand.
"Your Grace, he found it!"
She exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency.
Tempest's heart raced at her words, sensing the weight of the moment. He leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently on Melissa, eager to hear what she had uncovered.
"What did he find?"
He asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil churning within him.
Melissa handed the scroll to Tempest, her hands trembling slightly as he accepted it. He unfurled the parchment, scanning its contents, and soon a wicked smile began to spread across his face, a mixture of relief and vindication washing over him.
"Hotel Bouffes d'ete... I fucking knew it..."
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In the planning room, Tempest gathered fifty of his finest knights, handpicked for their exceptional skills, along with his trusted commanders, Rohan, Falric, and Constantine. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, each knight standing ready for the mission ahead.
"Stone, why don't you explain how you found their hideout?"
Tempest asked, his gaze fixed on the man who stood among them. Although Stone's original purpose had been to train the future Ghost operatives, the urgency of the situation required his expertise. Tempest still felt a deep-seated disdain and mistrust toward him, but the collar around Stone's neck, a device designed to inhibit his abilities and ensure compliance, provided a layer of security.
Stone cleared his throat, the tension in the room palpable as all eyes turned toward him. With a slight nod of acknowledgment from Tempest, he began.
"The hotel is... strange in how it operates."
Stone began, his tone raspy as he spoke, giving an unsettling edge to his words.
"Every time a visitor asks for a room, the staff insists the hotel is full. Naturally, that raised my suspicions. I followed a kid around, thinking he was just a cleaner or maybe the son of a guest, but it turned out I was wrong. I trailed him inside and noticed he took an odd path, leading me downstairs. The place was like a maze, twisting and turning in ways that made me uneasy. It was there that I knew I had stumbled into the Fatui's lair. Sigils of their insignia were plastered all over the walls, marking their territory. Oh, and all those people who were supposedly guests? They're just actors, every single one of them is a Fatuus."
Stone paused, letting the weight of his revelation sink in, his eyes darting around the room to gauge the reactions of the knights and commanders.
"Let's just kill out everyone in the place and be done with it. These Fatui are all complicit, whether they're playing the part of guests or staff. We can't risk letting any of them escape to regroup or retaliate later. A clean sweep will send a message that we won't tolerate their presence in Fontaine any longer."
Stone suggested bluntly, his raspy voice dripping with an unsettling enthusiasm.
"And we don't have to worry about civilian casualties, of course."
He glanced around the room, gauging the reactions of the knights and commanders. Stone's proposal hung heavy in the air, a dark cloud over the gathering, as the gravity of their mission weighed on everyone present.
"Are you going to inform Lady Furina about this?"
Constantine whispered into Tempest's ear, his tone laced with concern.
"No, not yet. But I'm willing to accept any punishment from her."
Tempest replied, his voice steady but strained with barely contained frustration.
"This isn't about her, Teacher. This is about the damn Fatui, and I've had enough of their interference in our affairs. We can't afford to hesitate or show mercy any longer. They've already wounded one of my closest allies, and I refuse to let them continue to operate with impunity. It's time to take a stand."
"We will proceed with Stone's plan: we'll storm in and kill everyone. No prisoners."
Tempest declared, his voice resonating with authority as he turned to face his knights.
"This is not a mission for mercy, it's a strike against the heart of our enemies. I expect complete loyalty and precision from each of you. We've suffered enough from their games, and tomorrow midnight, we will show them the consequences of crossing us. Is that understood?"
The knights nodded in solemn agreement, their expressions hardening as they prepared for the battle ahead.
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Every knight in the room shouted in unison, their voices echoing off the walls, filled with determination.
"Hm, well, I do love a good bloodbath."
Constantine remarked with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with a hint of dark excitement. He leaned back slightly as if savoring the anticipation of the chaos to come.
"There's something satisfying about delivering a well-deserved reckoning to those who think they can toy with us. Let's make this count."
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Midnight cloaked the Court of Fontaine in darkness as five carriages lay parked a distance away from the Hotel Bouffes d'été, their occupants poised and ready for action. Inside, the knights held their breath, anticipation coursing through their veins.
"Hmpf!"
With a swift and silent motion, Stone appeared behind a guard stationed at the entrance of the hotel, his movements fluid and precise. He slit the guard's throat with a swift flick of his wrist, the man's body slumping to the ground as Stone quickly deactivated his Ghost suit, seamlessly blending back into the shadows. He dragged the lifeless form away from sight, ensuring their approach remained undetected.
"It's locked."
Rohan announced, his hand hovering just above the doorknob of the hotel. His voice was low but firm, tinged with a hint of frustration as he assessed the barrier standing between them and their target.
"Stand back."
Constantine declared, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face. He pulled out a blunderbuss, its barrel glinting ominously in the dim light, and took aim at the doorknob with unwavering confidence.
"Better put on your gas masks now, it's gonna be one hell of a party."
He added a glint of excitement in his eyes.
With a deafening blast, he fired the weapon, shattering the doorknob into splinters. Without a moment's hesitation, he kicked the door open, the sound echoing like a thunderclap through the silent night.
"SURPRISE!"