HQ of the Crimson bandits, 12:00 PM:

  *Bzzt* *Bzzt* *Bzzt*

  Reiji's phone was a lightning storm of notifiessages after messages.

  'Prepare for war.'

  A simple message that spread through the crimson bandit’s work like wildfire. Members messages with s and questions, all answered by one.

  'He is ing.'

  "Sir." Hiro entered without asking. Reiji was in the process of sharpening a ninjato; bde shining under his desk lights. "How goes our preparations Hiro?"

  "...Good sir. But the 'Bck Legs Guild' are asking for more." Hiro sat opposite Reiji, watg the methodical sharpening of the bde.

  *Skrrrt* *Skrrrt* *Skrrrt*

  "Double the offer. Promise them the Reapers head."

  "We barely afford to pay them even with their first offer?" Reiji didn't flinch at these words.

  "It's not about the payment. We are all going to go down ihose guilds who sit at our borders will pick apart our carcasses. Scorched earth tactics."

  *Skrrrt* *Skrrrt* *Skrrrt*

  "Why Reiji-" The bde halted. Pointing forward with a deadly tip. Reiji looked down its form, straight to Hiro.

  "Karma. Pure and simple. We have lived lives of dece, profiting off our crimes." The bde returo the desk, holstered in it sheathe.

  "For that and norao our problems. The universe has brought him. Our end."

  "And the uilds?"

  "Those guilds make us look like saints; human traffig and all. We will go down in a bze of war, taking them with us. Perhaps our final good deed will be this." Reiji stood, walking over to his ward.

  "For you. Hiro. This is a on from my former master’s armoury."

  Held in his hands and presented like the most precious of items. Uhed it lit up in a blue fire aura. "It will serve you well iimes ahead."

  "I 't accept this sir. Please you should use it-"

  *Fwoosh*

  A crimson inferno grew from Reiji's hands. A great sword of fmes.

  "I already have my own. Now, get back out there. Answer questions, sooth the men's worries, a me know when the CEOs from the 'Sons of rising sun' and 'Kobayashi syndicate' arrive. I expect to see them very soon."

  "Thank you, sir." A bow followed. Then, a swift exit.

  "Perhaps there is one more thing I do."

  *Click*

  Back at his desk, he flicked a button underh. A s emerged from the desk. S calling for a direct e. For moments nothing happehen a bcked-out face appeared; shadowed like a spirit without form. Its only feature; white eyes glowered through.

  "Why have you called?" There was no use of subtlety, no ming of words. Cut straight to the point.

  "A pleasure to see you too Mr.-"

  "If you have nothing important. This versation is done."

  "Wait. The crimson bandits require your support." Reiji began to rummage through his desk draws.

  "Why? Yuild has nothing worthwhile to offer. Yuild is priming for the end. End call-" Reiji produced a bck thumb drive USB. Presenting it, like a trophy held by a winner. Entering it into the s; the spectre looked away only for moments. Then a pause. White eyes locked upon the mysterious tents.

  "We should level your building for susolence." Silence came from the spectre. Eerie sileheir white eyes studying something for the first time, carefully and ily. Reiji sehe trepidation.

  "And if you do. You will find this will be leaked out. What then?" Words soaked with poisonous taunts. Prying with needle sharp precision.

  The eyes narrow once more on Reiji.

  "What do you want?" Reiji grew a devious smile.

  "onry." Reiji knew how this one operated. The pany guild would not send in their ow, ons. A-rank gate clearing ons is a big business. Who would suspect the crimson bandits for buying and having top css onry? No one, not when they could be found so easily on the bck market.

  "Within the hood day-"

  "One more thing." White eyes. Infuriated by Reiji's gall.

  "I need a ticket. Passage for a restart."

  The spectre hummed. "A coward until the end. You will have your restart-"

  "It's not for me." The spectre uzzled. "Who then?"

  "Hiro Koboyama." Eyes narrowed sharply. Sing through the s like some terrifying judge.

  "Done."

  *Click*

  A ghostly image vanished from the s. Leaving a happy Reiji. Fist smmed in a win.

  The price for his bargain would be the destru of the thumb drive. However, Reiji had no iion of destroying or handing it over.

  He foresaw it all. He and his guild would not survive the night, a fact that he and his men accepted. Bringing down the vultures that circled them. A noble pn. In its own twisted way.

  From the ashes of destru. A Reaper will rise; he would only be a small stepping stone in something far grander.

  Hiro will have passage to another life. He will object, fight his master. He was destined for a better life. Reiji would make sure of it on his st day.

  ***

  The Heart residence, 3:00 PM.

  <8 Hours till siege>

  "Yes, good now add the garlic, slowly, SLOWLY- stop." Eren hastily scuttled from one side of the kit, a hand csped with the force of a titan.

  "I'm doing my best." Emi spoke, h behind the cooking chaos. "Why do I o do this? I am really good at cooking. Aren't I?" Her pleading eyes puffed like a puppy, reading him for any cracks. As, he remained hardened.

  "Yes. You are. But there is no harm in learning more advanced cookihods. you fetch me the eggs?" Eren couldn't find the ce to tell her the truth. Her cooking was shit. Pin and simple. Failing at even the most basic of dishes.

  "Now, 'Slowly' crack them against the side like-" *Crack*

  The egg nded in the pan with a sizzle, along with half of the shell. Eren tried to keep a cool head.

  "Not bad, you remove the shells?" Emi did as instructed, removing the shells, along with half the yolk. Again, Eren bit down frustration. Eyes in a state of perpetual pain.

  It was like leading a camel to water, and watg it drink the sand.

  "Wouldn't it be easier if you just do it?"

  "...No Emi. You o learn." It would be far easier; on Eren and the eggs.

  However, a new nuisance quickly approached the door.

  "Helllllloooooooo!" Lucifer shouted, barging through the doors like he owhe pce. "Emi it is Saturday night. Do you know what that means?" Lucifer sang, dang along as if some musical were underway.

  "Battle Idol." Emi pleted with aement that outmatched Lucifer. Ditg the pink apron, she bolted to join the infernal idiot.

  "Girl. You stay here and cook." With the sharpest tone Eren could muster. Emi flinched back like a scolded dog. Lucifer was met with a simir rea; hands firmly csped upon those bded shoulders.

  *Sniff* *Sniff*

  "I-I'm s-sorry Eren. I'm no good at cooking." Wet trails formed at the base of her eyes, an ability she has retly mastered. To her they were aears. To Eren, crocodile tears.

  Emotional manipution of the highest level. Eren didn't know when she developed such skills. Were these instinctive. Hidden deep in his sister's heart. Did Lucifer teach her these dark arts?

  'This girl. Is such a little sister. Weeping, to get out of responsibility.' Eren couldn't fold to such deception.

  He folded.

  "Fine. But you will help up after. We do more cooking tomorrow." Tears evaporated in an instant. With a glee only a little sister master, she scurried towards the TV. Whilst Lucifer walked with a more elegant strut.

  "No, you. Outside now Lucifer." Eren demanded.

  "Oh? Am I in trouble." Lucifer teased. As always, pying up aing under Eren's skin.

  He pushed his way outside, with the blonde reaper in tow. Closing the door as to keep Emi unaware.

  "Are you ready, Eren? Your first real step treatness." Lucifer muttered with excitement. As always, such a thing seemed to please Lucifer. Violence is in the man's nature.

  "Yes." Erehed out. Pushing aside his o be in trol. There was a rge stake. Trepidation however, isn't in Eren's nature.

  Tonight, perhaps the ward will experience freedom from the grips of the bandits. A new dawn for him. All within his grasp.

  "Do you require my aid? I would love to assist my little dove in flight." A grin of the most demonitentions.

  "No, what kind of Reaper would I be if I 't fight my own battles?"

  "Very well, I will be cheering you on from the sidelionight." A ruffle of his white hair, remi of a dog to its master. Drawing the ire of Eren.

  "MMMMM." Eren growled. Removing the hand with a grunt.

  Lucifer skipped baside. Like a giddy child.

  "Lucifer." The bloopped.

  "Thank you. For being friends with Emi."

  "My pleasure Eren. Your sister is a sweet child. I see why you fought so hard to see her again."

  Lucifer slid inside like an apparition. Leaving Eren in his thoughts; alone on the baly. The afternoon sun nearing the edge of the buildings. With little time left to think. A sharp inhale of the crisp air, refocused his mind on the events to e.

  AnnouEnd ARC 4