Waking up, Joran's morning routine mirrored the day before, although he could feel a slight spring to his step. Hastening his getting up, he stepped out into the grand hallway to head towards Hando's room. Callahan also happened to be up and waved to him before he made it there.

With a subtle knock Joran could hear Hondo's voice from the inside, "Listen, I get you're Joran's steward, I really don't need that kind of service..."

Stifling a slight laugh, Joran mocked his attendant's voice, "Well, then I'll just go and cry my sorrows away!"

Hando scuffled to the door, opening it wide open, his aged smile warm, "But if you're actually Joran, feel free to come in, friend."

The duo burst into laughter, and they settled into the guest room. It was large in its own right, but only a portion of the size of Joran's room. Regardless, Hando found it comfortable, and Joran felt more at ease himself.

Hando sighed, "Waking up here confirms that I really did get summoned here to accompany you… And it really means you're now the Joker to the world."

Joran clenched his fists that rested on his legs as they were sitting, "Yeah… Yeah it does mean I'm really not able to turn back."

"You mean you could've anyways?"

Joran looked over at Hando, ignoring the banter and cutting straight to the point, "I mean, yeah. I could have just ran away from this. These past few months, I'd been just a high priority target, while being essentially useless because I had chosen the Sacred Sight Arts- No offense-"

Hando put his hand up, and smirked, "None taken, I understand what you mean."

"… I couldn't be trusted with this 'blessing'," Joran sarcastically emphasized blessing, the scorn freely on display, "… I shouldn't have been given this card. Someone like Drekor deserves it far more than me."

"Maybe so."

Joran frowned slightly, "I can hear the 'but' lingering in the air, Hando."

Hando chuckled, and relaxed himself in his chair, gesturing subtly with his hands, "Well, maybe Drekor deserves it more. Maybe even someone like Jeremiah deserves it more. But that doesn't change the reality that you are the Joker. It doesn't change the fact that you are the one with the limitless potential. So you should press forward with that."

Joran stayed silent, not sure what to really say. On the one hand he understood that Hando was right. In fact, the faith in that system was so irrevocable, Joran still didn't understand why he was doubting it.

But even so, he couldn't help but have a nagging ache in the corner of his mind, telling him how wrong it was… How he felt he didn't deserve to possess such a card.

After a while, Hando clasped his hands together, "Right, then. We have business to attend to as I understand. To the Bloodhound Precinct?"

Joran stood up and briefly straightened himself out, "… To the Bloodhound Precinct."

The duo left the room, and began their descent down the halls of the Palace. Mostly empty because of the early morning, they did end up running into a few attendants that were preparing for the day, as well as a familiar, windswept face.

Drekor saw the two as he was walking down the halls as well, a wide smile plastered on his face when he approached Joran, "Have you two gone to the Precinct yet?"

"No, we got too caught up in our conversation yesterday, so I decided we'd go today instead."

"I was simply too enamored by the events that transpired. This clerk's heart can hardly handle it!" Hando declared melodramatically, feinting that he was dropping to the ground, exhausted.

Drekor laughed, and then thought to himself for a moment, "It's probably better this way anyways."

"What do you mean?" Joran said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, Cael visited the Precinct immediately after the Assembly."

A brief recollection of his memories, Joran remembered the short blonde woman that grated Vera at any turn she could. He frowned, a bit unsettled by the apparent weight of Drekor's news, not understanding what it meant.

"So Audra went there… Weren't they supposed to be working together in the investigation of the sightings?"

Hando patted Joran's back, his eyes opened as he suddenly realized something, "Oh, so that's why the Realm Monarch wanted us to go then."

"Huh?" Joran was puzzled, and when he turned to his other friend for an explanation, was even more confused to see Drekor nodding in agreement.

Drekor spoke pointedly, "You've only been to the Iris Plaza, and the Sovereign Palace in this last month; so I'm not completely surprised that you have no idea how the politics are for the rest of the Major Families."

Getting the gist of where this might be going, Joran nodded skeptically, "This isn't going to be you telling me that the Major Families don't like to work with each other?"

Drekor half shrugged his shoulders, "Eh, I mean that's not completely true-"

"It's not wrong either," Hando interjected.

"Yes, it's not wrong, but I am of a few who would like to believe that we are gelling just fine! Juuuust fine!"

Unconvinced, Joran folded his arms, and smirked, "Uh huh. So I'm assuming Audra went to raise some hell in the Precinct?"

"Wouldn't be the first time she did it, if I remember correctly," Said Hando, who was lost in reminiscence.

Drekor sighed, frustrated, "Basically. She went there to discuss the investigation, and both of them stormed out at the same time, seemingly unable to agree on a focal point for the joint operation."

"How tragic," Joran chided.

Rolling his eyes, Drekor continued, "Anyways, Ruben went back in, but I'm sure he was not partial to any discussions after that. So again, I do think it was for the better you two didn't go until today."

With a sigh, Hando waved to Drekor, "Regardless, we should be on our way to the assignment. Would you like to join us if you're not doing anything?"

"I do actually need to visit Jura, and organize the joint operation our Families will conduct."

"Wouldn't that be a job for, I don't know… The supreme authority of the Terrene Metro?" Joran asked quizzically.

Drekor smiled inwardly, before nodding in defeat, "When it comes to being the Crowned Prince, such is the burden I carry… I get to deal with the paperwork, while my father goes to help administrate the military conjoining."

Joran patted his friend's shoulder, giving sympathy and pity, "It's for the best… Probably?"

With that, Drekor waved and took off towards the Iris Plaza; while the duo continued on until they left the Palace, and headed towards the north, where the grandeur, towering buildings diminished in size and height until they ran through the places that would be considered residential districts. Swathes of homes stacked on top of one another, and in the midst of it all, a beige, metallic structure rose up, its crimson stripe pillars looping around the structure in a rhythmic fashion. The surrounding area was clearly paved for the most part, save for a few other, smaller buildings that resembled the lone, large building. Approaching the main building, Joran could see the emblem of the Bloodhound clan: a red layer pyramid with the middle missing, plastered just above the entryways to the inside. As the day began for many people, the traffic that crowded the Precinct traversed in a wave-like fashion in and out of the doors of the main building, and the auxiliary buildings as well. This included Hando and Joran as Hando expertly steered through as best he could, while Joran could nearly feel the claustrophobia of the bustle choke him out of his breath.

I'd rather be sparring with Drekor right now… Joran lamented as they cleared the main lobby, reaching a long counter that hosted multiple people in clear, red emblazoned uniforms. Hando pulled Joran up with him, and approached a young man who smiled as warmly as he could.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"What brings you here to the Precinct, today?"

"We have a discussion to attend to with Chief Ruben."

"Ah, and you are? I can double check his schedule, but I don't think he was expecting anyone."

Joran cleared his throat, and spoke loudly, "It's the Joker. I am looking to speak with him."

And with that, a ripple of silence stuttered through the building, inadvertently forcing Joran to realize he spoke up maybe a little too loudly. The murmurs broke out cacophonously, the people closest to him utterly plastered with shock.

Joran closed his eyes and sighed. Now I would really like to be sparring instead…

Hando forced out a crooked smile, and patted Joran's back, "Y-yes… The Joker would like to speak with Chief Ruben if that is alright."

"Well of course it is!"

Once again, another wave of silence pervaded the lobby, as everyone, including Hando and Joran turned to the voice, to see a man that stood audaciously, his fiery red suit accentuated with particularly long tails. The man that Joran really would prefer to not be meeting today.

Ruben strutted from the side of the lobby he appeared from, and walked towards Joran, a wide smile and open arms gesturing towards him, "The Joker is a representative of not only the Idaten's will, but also clearly a champion of the people! If it's him, I will gladly attend to him. So it is fine, Attendant, I will host them from here on."

"Y-yes sir. Sorry for the commotion—."

Ruben looked over at the nervous young man across the counter, holding up his hand to calm him down. And then turned back to look at Hando briefly before settling onto Joran. The height difference wasn't immense, but it was substantial enough for Ruben to be glancing down, while Joran's neck was craning slightly with how close the two were.

"This Heca would very much like to discuss topics with you, Joker Joran," Ruben's hushed voice lingered hauntingly for Joran.

As much as he disliked the grandiose style of Ruben, the sudden turn to brevity sent a chill through Joran's back, as he bowed slightly towards Ruben, "If we could impose on you, it would be of great help to us."

"Follow me."

The crowd gave way to the trio who were now returning in the direction Ruben came from, which clearly descended down a set of stairs, going underground into a tunnel that went straight towards what Joran could only assume was one of the few buildings that stood around the one they were just in. As the commotion of the main building faded, Ruben turned so serious, Joran could feel the air snap in half.

"The cities are in slight chaos because of the announcements. Your gamble worked as far as no riots have happened. But there is still uncertainty and lack of faith. I hope you are able to quell these fears of the people."

"I… I see," Joran gulped as their gait increased to keep on going. Joran was certain they would have ran into a neighboring building, but they continued along in the sleek tunnel.

Hando sighed to himself, "To think my student would be able to move the Assembly so much to let him gamble… It palpitates my heart."

"Hah. Don't even humor the thought. Although Joran shocked the Assembly with his performance in the Soma Lum, none of them have forgotten his words afterwards."

Joran could feel a shower immediately turn on behind him, as he got drenched in cold sweat. This was what he was most worried about. And it was just now that he realized they are completely alone in this tunnel with Ruben, the Chief, Master of the Bloodhound Clan. Hando scratched his chin awkwardly, cutting straight to the point as they continued their walk.

"But here we are. You're not here to…. Silence him."

Ruben turned around for the first time, stopping the duo in their tracks, almost bumping into him, and looked solemnly, "I didn't want to. Frankly, I think he's our only chance at repelling the Invasion this time."

"W-what do you mean I'm the only chance?"

"Isn't it obvious what I mean? You saw how discordant the Assembly was. We have factions of Families that are clashing on every single issue that is presented. There are some who would stall out the discussion so that nothing gets done. Audra, for one, is really priming to disrupt every single attempt any of us have tried to make to cooperate. A neutral, reputable figure that suddenly comes into play could help amend the strained relations that have been becoming the norm as of late."

"We heard about last night as well… What happened?" Joran looked to the side, finding the wall of the tunnel suddenly the most extraordinary thing to examine.

"… Word gets around fast, though I shouldn't be surprised. If the Realm Monarch was planning on sending you to me, then it was to be expected news would travel. Yes. Yes she wanted to pressure me in ignoring the order to heighten security in all of the cities. I sort of agree that maybe we shouldn't spread so thinly to cover all the bases, but the order was explicit. Yet here she is, being such a…"

Ruben closed his eyes, inhaling sharply to keep his cool, and sighed out his breath after a few moments, "Sorry."

Joran nodded slightly, a bit taken aback, "It's… uh, fine? I mean, what does she want to do?"

"Pretty much what she asked the Realm Monarch at the Assembly. To not put resources in our southern cities and to focus them North. Although this time, she emphasized on the notion of focusing on just the three cities that line our border to the North: Portsmouth, Evergreen, and Kaywood.

Of course, I rejected that notion immediately."

"I don't understand, why would we not try to secure our southern cities?" Joran frowned, bringing up a question he had since yesterday when Audra tried to make the counter proposition.

Hando chuckled and looked apologetically at Ruben who was dumbstruck by the question he considered to be common sense, "Heh… I tried to teach him as much as I could in 6 months… Joran, it's primarily because to the south of those cities is a wasteland. Nothing could feasibly make it through, let alone the notion of some random Beasts wandering through."

"… I see. So… What makes the North so important?"

"… You're not going to be able to instill much confidence from anyone if you keep asking these sorts of things, Joker."

Hando explained, rushing it along so Ruben didn't lose his patience, "Well, the North is where we came from. It's also the only direction into the Terrene Metropolis. The West is an incredibly difficult to traverse mountain range, and the Mage Isles lay beyond them if you don't go through the Central Districts. And to the East, is an inland sea that is largely safeguarded by the Okeanos Guild in the Borderlands."

"… So how are they coming from the North if the Districts are there?"

"Well, if you weren't thinking so linearly, you could answer that question yourself. Think of it in another way, and you might not be so stuck: 'Where are the Beasts coming from?' And you might realize that the Realm Monarch's concerns are legitimate. He doesn't know any better than us, and would rather make sure we cover all our bases, figuratively and literally."

Ruben's condescending attitude towards Joran started to get him irate, but he restrained himself, and shook his head, "Even more reason for Audra to just follow along the plan that Reigan put down…"

With a defeated sigh, Ruben nodded in agreement, "Frankly, I don't like that you're here with us to figure out where they're coming from… But I don't disagree with the intent the Realm Monarch had with you coming here."

"… I don't understand."

"You will, eventually. Anyways, we are almost to this operation's HQ. Where we were was the Precinct for Crown City. We have an emergency bunker underground not far from Korhal set up and ready for a staff to take over in the event a crisis occurs, such as this one."

Right on cue, they reached the end of the dim tunnel, a door fitted snugly into the wall. Ruben opened the door with a key, and let the duo in before following in, locking it afterwards. The chamber they were in wasn't large, but it wasn't small either. The ceiling was high enough that Joran could jump comfortably, while they could barely see the other side of the bunker. Clamor and scritches of paper filled the room as maybe a dozen or so people worked, but as Ruben spoke, their attention was drawn to him immediately.

"The Joker has come to aid us in our investigation. He is given full authority to any information, confidential or classified. If there are any issues, come directly to me."

"Yes, sir!" The room answered in unison before they resumed their duties, the clamor starting back up as abruptly as it had ended.

"Come," Ruben nodded to the center of the bunker, a few support beams circling around a center console.

As Joran approached it, he could see how it would be a useful position, in the midst of all of the people working, as well as the apparent command console that rested neatly on one of the support beams. Restraining from touching anything, Joran stood awkwardly as Ruben took command of the center circle, his apparent façade returning to what Joran saw at the Assembly.

"Alright, I'd like a brief update! I'm assuming Brandy is still on break?"

A woman's voice rang out from the corner of the bunker, "I'm here, thank you very much!" Joran considered the possibility that the woman was Brandy.

"Chop, chop! It would be pleasant that we could keep our word, so we don't get shamed!"

A lean, scrawny individual scampered from a disheveled work station, a singular screen flickering and paper all over, giving a short salute, "Chief… We've isolated the reports that had validity from the, ah, 'delusional' reports. Here's what we have."

At this, Joran could see the center console that Ruben stood next to light up, with a map he vaguely recognized being of the Terrene Metropolis, and blips of red that littered the borders. Putting two and two together, these were the "isolated" reports.

Ruben scanned the screen briefly, before nodding, a burst of energy making Joran feel he was being pushed out, "Very good, I'm seeing a higher concentration in the Northern regions, mainly between Portsmouth and Kaywood. Let's send out a team and go into that region."

"I'll go with them."

Ruben coyly looked over to the young Joker that uttered those words, "You will?"

Joran clenched his fists, nodding, "I need to do this. It's the least I can do..."

Ruben's eyebrow raised, "If this is about Liam, I don't have hard feelings about it. I wish he were still here, but enough is enough. Fine, go if you want, I don't care. You can call it vengeance for Liam, it doesn't matter to me. We will have plenty of opportunities to call it vengeance in the coming days. I'll tell my team to leave you if you hinder them, though."

Joran scoffed, finally losing his cool a bit, "Yeah well, here's hoping then, right?!"

"Easy there, you're in their bunker," Hando cursed at Joran but just shook his head, understanding the motivation to want to avenge Liam; wishing he could do the same in that regard.

Ruben shrugged, and for a second changed to brevity, "Just try not to die. You want to go, fine. It'll be a good way to test your mettle before anything serious happens. Brandy!"

With her name being called so seriously, she immediately responded, "Yes!"

"You're going to lead the team into the Inven Forest. The Joker will also be accompanying you."

"Chief!"

"As for the rest of you, I want orders sent out to consolidate our forces into the fringe cities. We will attempt to provide support to the Metal Boulder Sect as best we can. We will worry about Crown City, Korhal, Adpol, and Shinal once we better figure out the situation."

The rest of the dozen that were ordered responded with a salute, before scuffling to fulfilling the order.

Ruben lowered his voice, and studied Joran's face, before switching back to his condescending, rambunctious voice, "Lead the way, and be the champion of the people, 'Joker' Joran."