Chapter 24: Lacci Crudeli (3)
While I had expected for something incredibly insane and terribly messy to be waiting for me right as I returned back to London, I really was caught mostly unprepared for what I was 'blessed' with when I finally arrived at the headquarters. The little convention held at Birmingham had opened plenty of doors for me to explore as I quietly started to waddle the massive lake that was the British Empire's politics.
With many members of the Liberal Party and several 'wayward' Conservatives present in that reunion of important traders, I was quick to make a few new friendships along the way. Starting from the Churchill family, with little Winston still eight and completely distracted by the troublesome experience of his first school years.
I would've been happier to meet him at a later date, but I was still glad to have been capable of getting this much of an important first step in an amicable relationship with the future 'British Bulldog'. Instead I found my uttermost attention stolen away by a tense conversation with Henry Asquith.
The one that was possibly going to become a possible candidate to lead the Liberal Party in two decades from now had yet to make a serious commitment to politics, still a law practitioner that had just recently started to make a name for himself in some important criminal cases.
He seemed rather staunch in his current positions, but he mellowed a little bit as I coaxed him to relax and allow me to logically disprove his economic thought. Being a supporter of the traditional Free Market, in contrast to the imperialistic perception that was dominating the Liberals' majority, he seemed rather intrigued by the chances of 'integrating' some advancements within his state of education.
George would be around me during the whole event to make sure that, as I mingled with the other guests in an effort to secure more support and 'loyalists', I didn't make acquaintances with some unpleasant fellows that were invited despite some suspicious behavior regarding corruption and other unsavory things.
It was slightly frustrating, but not enough to get a proper and visible reaction out of me as I had a full year to grow accustomed to the attention. Plus, the fact that Jojo was there too at the behest of his own father trying to not make things awkward for himself with his simple understanding of the family business, meant less staring from the old Joestar and more chances of me exploiting the event as much as possible.
Eventually the entire thing came to an end, and while I had made some early plans to linger some more in the city, the letter I received from Hannah warranted no little concern from my part as I quickly cut my visit short.
After making sure I wouldn't end up causing any problems to my 'father' by leaving so abruptly, I decided to take the first train back to London and return back home, my mind providing some irking thoughts over what might be happening back in the heart of the Empire.
Hannah's letter was… confusing. While she seemed to be serious with the tone used in the missive, I could easily recognize a degree of 'awkwardness' and 'mirthfulness'. As if she was consciously keeping from me something deadly important and… perhaps something I had to legitimately worry about as I made my way back to London.
Instead of staying for a couple of hours at the manor, I just arrived there to drop my luggage, quickly taking a carriage to the city and see what was going on and… why people were now starting to worry about a possible return of Jack the Ripper. I knew he was dead, but people that glorified murderers were hardly deterred by the minor effort I had spared to limit the sale of large numbers of knives.
Maybe it was paranoia speaking, but for a time even Jonathan thought Dio had perished back in the original Phantom Blood. Yet, surprisingly enough, Dio survived as a head. Could it have been possible for the serial killer to have accomplished something like that? Could it be that he was behind the slaying and that Hannah had somehow managed to capture him?
Knowing the young woman, it wasn't that impossible for her to bolt at the chances of making an example out of Jack. I could still remember how perplexed she was when I first announced the murderer's passing and how it had happened. Maybe she would've wanted more, and I knew that the girl was easily one of the most vicious beings in the world when it came to take revenge on someone or something.
I could only dread the chances of this wanna-be ripper ending up taken by the half-vampire and brought back to the headquarters. To be tortured in the slowest and most cruel manner possible by the angry young woman… and then I would have to come in and take several hours to clean the whole room.
Nothing worthwhile was lost, except for time that could've been better spent working and being productive.
When I arrived at the headquarters, I noticed no clues that could've helped me either to change my mind or confirm that my worries were indeed correct. In fact, the large group of workers from the various divisions created within the building were greeting me with absolute glee and relief, the kind of combo that would be dispensed when the boss was back and things were going to be a little less uneasy.
Quite normal considering how destructive Hannah tended to be while I was away for business or for nobles' gatherings.
"Robert," I called out as I finally came in sight to see the older blond giving me a nod before approaching me. "I hope things have been fine there."
"Mostly so, sir. The Ripper scare is spreading a little among the people that live near Whitechapel. It's only natural for many to worry about a surge of crime now, but I believe Hannah managed to catch the real perpetrator and stop them from killing once again," Speedwagon explained. "In fact, I believe she is currently in your office trying to finish the paperwork about it."
I hummed, looking around as the whole workforce was finally returning to their posts, allowing me to enjoy some private discussion with the trustworthy aide.
"I suppose she has disposed of the body," I commented, surprisingly enough drawing a frown from Robert.
"Body? Oh no, she said that the killer was removed on the spot. She also mentioned that it wasn't a copycat."
...Truly? Then how is it possible that followed part of Jack's pattern in killing their victims?
I held back from asking, now noticing a note of perplexity hanging on Speedwagon's face.
"There is something else you wish to bring up, Robert? I can tell you're concerned about something."
…
He sighed. "Bhediya said something about crazy fellows, but he didn't say much before going back to play with Sarah," The blond replied. "And I believe Hannah returned… with a pet. I believe it is a cat or something of that kind. White fur, some bloody patched on there but-"
"I believe I will go and check now," I interrupted, feeling a sense of worry once more boiling from within my chest as I considered this curious 'animal' to be reason to be worried about. Weren't vampires capable of creating monstrosities between humans and pets? At least, that's what I could remember the original Dio being able to do due to 'boredom'.
Ignoring the confused look on Robert's face, I picked up my pace as I walked up to the door that led inside my office. I gave a simple knock before pulling down the handle and entering inside. Hannah's violet eyes quickly staring up from the paper as she regarded me with a surprised look.
"Oh, Dio. I wasn't expecting you to be back so early," She greeted mirthfully. Her voice appeared to show no hints of manipulation, and there was no strain on her face that would confirm any forced reaction to this situation. Plus, this was pretty much the usual reaction she would have when I would return from trips so far from home.
"Good morning, Hannah," I greeted quietly, my eyes lingering on her face as my mind tried to get hold of the uneasy sensation I was now feeling now that I was inside my office. Something was definitely here, and I could tell that it wasn't a simple cat or another pet of that sort. Something malicious, something filled with twisted desires. "I decided to return earlier. I've heard your message about this troublemaker that was killing in a similar way as Jack."
"Already dealt with it," The girl assured. "Still, I'm glad to see you back. I hope things went well for you at the convention."
...Why was she looking so at ease? If Hannah wasn't going through any form of mind control, she should've reacted quite visibly to the frustrating presence that was within this room. While the perception's range of my Stand was just enough to get hold of this third occupant, the brunette should've perceived that something was indeed wrong right now despite her limited vampirism.
"We gained a couple of friendly supporters," I commented, moving to the wooden coat hanger to leave my blue coat onto it and taking this opportunity to give a full look around the room.
I couldn't see anything suspicious, or anything that should've warranted a guarded stance around. The fact the woman's smile widened as she noticed that I was indeed giving a proper analysis to the situation was enough to confirm that she knew that something was wrong… and it wasn't anything to worry about in her opinion. Yet the wave of danger that I couldn't pinpoint was more than enough to keep being concerned about what was going on.
Turning again to stare at the young woman behind my desk, I decided to be more direct on the predicament.
"Hannah, what… who is in here with us?" I asked with a serious tone. "I can sense that someone is in here and you seem to know that too."
Her violet eyes gained awareness, with her lips twitching in clear amusement at my words. But I wasn't finding this hilarious, especially since I could tell that who was in there was nobody that could be trusted. No humans should've been able to produce so much blood-lust without a good enough reason to do so.
"I suppose you're correct. We're not alone," The girl admitted, my blood going cold as I saw her turn to stare right to my right shoulder. Something- no, someone was sitting on it. I turned to glance at the being behind this, and my fear vanished in a single glance despite the horrible creature that was now perching on there.
Lucy Lacemaker didn't greet me at first, her mismatched eyes trying to gain a jump out of me, but narrowing in surprise as I merely stared in calm shock at that development. Tilting her head to the side, I finally blinked while I made a quick recovery from that unexpected scenario.
And while I was keeping quiet, I knew it was a possibly bad scenario. Not for us but…
"Hannah, I see that… you got yourself a peculiar friend."
The half-vampire giggled and nodded. "Yes. Lucy, I think you already know Dio, and Dio, this is-"
"Lucy Lacemaker," I interrupted quietly, this time the critter holding back the renewed surprise as I continued to talk. "I wasn't expecting to make your acquaintance, Kivouachian."
"Oh, there are many things people don't expect while I'm around," The creature lamented. "Like corpses. Or salted tea."
I could only nod at that response, deciding to not stay put and approach the desk as to sit down in the chair in front of Hannah. While I was doing that, my mind quickly brought up all the information I knew about the kind of issue we had at our hands.
Kivouachians were 'primordial beings'. Creatures that had been prospering ages prior to the Big Bang, all living under the brutal society that existed within their 'world', the Kivouack. It was almost ironic how these beings were 'similar' to the Pillar Men in terms of physical advantages.
Both races centered their supremacy over others thanks to their full control of their bodies. With the Kivouachians being blessed by the lack of a natural weakness, leaving just heavy firepower or anything that could disrupt their regeneration as means to exterminate those vicious creatures.
What really worried me about the discovery of this series to be part of this universe was… the chances of an enormous problem coming back to threaten my chances of bringing eternal peace in this world. One thing that was kept a secret known only to the oldest Kivouachians was the reason that led to the Big Bang.
A creature that had no face and no desire. A 'curious monster', one that wanted to learn and devour whatever it saw fit to kill, assimilate or 'shatter'. Mandus was the name of the catastrophe that ended the Kivouack, and that ultimately led to the creation of our planet. Not much was known of this entity, only that by all means this could easily be considered an eldritch beast of absolute power and dominance.
Hopefully it is dead. It has to be dead…
"I suppose the Mannequin was set free," I commented quietly, allowing for all that madness to sink in my brain as I engaged in that complicated mess of a conversation. "Are the culprits-"
"Dead. They tried to bail but were caught just in time," Lucy mirthfully commented, humming as she stared at her paws. "How do you know this much about us?"
"The Joestar library is an immeasurable source of knowledge," I calmly lied. "There are a couple of obscure books that have some interesting descriptions of Gods of old. Creatures that would capriciously lead people to success or to their horrible demise."
"I don't believe books can-"
"And I've had the chance to see some of the investments taken by a certain Fontaine," I added another lie. "I might not have full control of London, but I know when something unusual is happening inside the city."
"Bollocks," She remarked foully. "There is no way you managed to track him. All proxies were unaware of the truth."
I shrugged. "Then I believe miracles happened, dear Loki."
Grin twitching at that old name of hers, Lucy shook her head in vibrant amusement.
"So you really know about us. I'm actually surprised. I really am."
"And I guess Ludwig will be even more surprised when we will have a meeting," I muttered with a nod. "I know he will want to have a proper agreement now that I'm back."
"Wait, you… Dio, you already knew about the-"
"Kivouachians?" I interrupted with a quiet voice. "I had for a while now. Never saw it fit to discuss it since I didn't have any reason to approach them. Well, until now."
"Yes, I can see that being quite the fright," The usually murderous critter pointed out. "Still, he will probably receive you as soon as possible. What with the fact that I'm now working as a 'diplomat' for you-"
"Diplomat?" I questioned suddenly, confused by this new information that actually explained why Lucy was here… and also not. Lucy was, by all means, not fit for that kind of rule. Not because of a lack of capacity to fit well, in fact I was well aware of her past as a 'stern judge' that pressed on the keeping of many of the old Kivouack's rules.
"Since Lucy became a friend of mine after I proved my worth to her, I decided to propose to have her be a liaison of sorts for the Kivouachians. An attempt to build a bridge between us and avoid any incidents in the future," Hannah explained with a small smile. "I decided that it would make for a good start to make progress at this 'mutual discovery'."
I nodded, turning to Lucy and then back to Hannah. "And she didn't ask for anything else in return?"
"I'm willing to be a torturer when it's needed," The critter pointed out mirthfully. "But… Do you have an alternative? I can tell you're thinking of something you can offer me."
Smiling at her, I offered her a nod. "Hannah, can you please prepare a glass of water?"
The woman gave me a confused look at the simple request. Still, she went through with it, and offered the glass for me to place right on the desk for Lucy to look at. Holding a Steel Ball in my left palm, I allowed for the difficult Golden Spin to happen, with the energy created by the powerful ability soon shifting the content of the glass into something that the critter recognized the moment the transmutation was over.
"Is that… Alcohol?"
"One thing that I know that makes you stand out from the others, Lacemaker, is that you have found a way to sleep, something Kivouachians shouldn't be able to achieve," I elaborated confidently. "What I just did is something that Hannah too can do, and that is turn water into beverages we have experienced."
Still skeptical, the critter jumped off my shoulder and sat on the desk, lifting up the glass and giving it a quick sip. Her eyes widened in awe and… soon she was downing the entire brew in a single take. Pulling the glass away, her grin expanded in pure giddiness at this discovery.
"You can do this… with all amounts of water."
"That is correct."
My smile widened as she started to giggle, this one lacking any past amount of maliciousness that the Kivouachian was known to show around quite eagerly so. Despite my early worries of Hannah having brought in something incredibly terrible that would've killed us all…
She ended up bringing us someone terrible that would've killed everyone but us if we asked her to.
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