Baron reached out to the side of the train, taking a moment as he grabbed a flag pole that flapped from the side of the train, and broke down the pole with a snap. He sheared the flag off the pole with his kukri, tossing the thin rod off the moving train as he began to roll up the flag to improvise himself a red-and-black armband. Chimeratic didn’t keep track of who was who for the most part, so a guy no one recognized wouldn’t immediately raise alarm bells. So long as he wasn’t recognized, although that shouldn’t be an issue given the few that did know what he looked like weren’t able to access the metaverse anymore.

“Doesn’t sound like too bad of an idea. But if an actual Chimeratic guy comes through for the inspection, they might be a bit harder to fool than the average shadow.” Baron shrugged, as he started to tie the impromptu armband around his bicep. “Or easier, depending. Some of these guys are just dumbasses.” He said with a slight chuckle.

There was the off chance something went wrong, though. So, almost casually, he pitched an idea to them as if it was an afterthought. “If I get into trouble, I’ll make a lot of noise so you know the score. Hopefully, that won’t happen, and Chimeratic won’t realize they’re being played until it’s too late.” He then turned back towards the train’s controls, and paused for a minute. Fortunately, shadows weren’t always the smartest creatures, not to mention people on occasion, so the large lever and overhead handle that made up the brakes and whistle respectively weren’t hard to miss, and were clearly labeled. He figured that was about all he needed to know, anyways.

---

The rumble of the train speeding along the tracks accompanied by the feeling of the sun within this domain. It smelled of burning coal as they began to move to their positions, with Noblesse producing what appeared to be a scarf, handing it to Baron as a disguise. He would recognize it as a scarf popularly used by Chimeratix.

"It's quite alright", he placed his hand on his shoulder reassuring him. "You need only keep them occupied for a little while, diplomacy was never the plan", saying something so brazen with such a calm, almost gleeful expression was truly an interesting experience, he gave Baron a thumbs up before hearing Signora pipe up.

"Ah indeed, it might work on shadows for a little while which should give us ample opportunity".

The settlement began to become visible on the horizon, and Noblesse began to move to his own spot for hiding, which was just the passenger car right before the driver. Among the boxes of fake gold too, which he saw Thespian see fit to slide right into and submerge herself.

---

OST: Suspicion

As the train drew closer to it's destination, BARON in the driver's compartment would be able to see it... A proud, looming figure of a noble dog that seemed to look over the town. Setup in front of the town like a welcome monument you would see entering a town somewhere in the west, although he could only infer that it was proud from the way it was displayed. He recognized it, rife with graffiti and tags, along with the symbol of the Chimeratix messily sprayed on it's side. It sat on a large podium, and stood perhaps his height at least twice over, looking almost exactly like another very familiar dog in Shibuya, the Hachiko. As if that wasn't obvious enough, the signboard below it read "Hachiko Town".

As the train rolled into town, peeking out from the windows one could see the place was in quite a state, houses half repaired or half destroyed, trash lining the edges of the street, creating a sort of make-shift pathway where people have swept it aside, graffiti tags everywhere from small, to entire murals. The train station was uniquely not as poorly kept, perhaps because it was bustling and in constant use by a group of Shadows. They seemed to be preparing to receive of the cargo on this train.

It eventually pulled in, the big lever would allow the train to stop, and a button or two letting it's engines cease to fire up.

"This cargo's late! What was the holdup? We'd been sittin' on our asses for the last few minutes", it must've been when the train had to stop when the group arrived in this world... Still, Baron had a great view of what they had on offer here for the group to clear out.

Several shadows were in the far back, seated, sorting, or moving supply. A couple back there seemed to be on lookout. In front there were a few more, two or three already headed to the cargo carriages to start moving the loot, with a few more watching the process as guards. The one talking to Baron right this moment was a bit bigger, likely a greater shadow like before with Cerberus. There were a great number of cargo boxes at the station though, perfect for using to sneak around, not to mention the back of the station was quite dark save for a few hanging lights that illuminated tables filled to the brim with gold, being counted by shadows that looked like bank tellers. The roof was also high enough that one could feasibly jump up onto the station's awning without giving much opportunity to be spotted.

"The boss is gonna be real mad, heard it was high alert, so this is just gonna give him more work! Well whatever if we get it off quickly enough no one will notice right?" The shadow looked up and down the train. Nothing looked out of place, except for one thing...

"You look like the boss though, where was the other guy? Weren't there a driver with ya?" At the very least... It seems like he expected to see someone from Chimeratix, or at least, it wasn't strange for him to see one.

---

Signora looked out of the train's windows as they were nearing the town.

It was obviously some sort of warped iteration of the Hachikō-guchi in Shibuya Station, judging by the familiar dog statue. If the Metaverse were the world of cognition, and this was the section of the cognition world ruled by their target. Did the scenery here reflect how they perceived Shibuya Station?

Quite likely, considering that the whole Wild West theme was probably a representation of the target's twisted idea of 'absolute freedom'.

She wondered what the graffiti and murals signified, however. Perhaps how they saw the Shibuya Station as the Chimeratix's 'territory', and they could do whatever they wanted there?

Well...Signora supposed that it didn't really matter. Either way, that did not change their purpose here. If anything, if her interpretations were correct, that only reinforced that the Chimeratix needed to be taken care of.

She prepared her phone once more to summon Lucrezia, as she saw shadows approaching the train.

Noblesse had given her the okay, so it was time to work.

Aside from the femme fatale reputation her persona had, Lucrezia's ability to charm enemies en masse was probably derived from the Authority she received. Which...made her have mixed feelings on using them, as one of the primary reasons she joined up with Noblesse was to make up for what she did, using her Authority recklessly without proper prudence.

Also, someone who charmed others to do her bidding veered a bit close to the false persona she was accused of employing, ensnaring men with her beauty for selfish ends.

On principle, anyway. In practice, of course, Signora realised that it was different circumstances and rather than for selfish ends, this was really her charming people for good.

With a sigh, she stepped forward, pressing on the Black Crown App.

"Lucrezia!"

Beckoned by Signora, Lucrezia manifested once more, both of her arms raised upward, as if aiming at the sky. The arrows loaded on the crossbows glowed brightly before transforming into light that coalesced into a heart-shaped cluster of light above Lucrezia.



Quickly notching an arrow of her own, Signora then fired at the heart-shaped object, dispersing the lights in a hail of arrows with heart-shaped tips, hitting the shadows that were gathering in the area.



Removing her mask, Signora gave the shadow inspecting the train a shy—almost coy—smile. Her voice took on a pleasant tone, and a blush appeared prettily on her cheeks.

As much as she had mixed feelings about it, if she were honest, Signora had to admit that acting, including acting in a way that would conventionally be considered attractive, came naturally to her. Which was part of why she had mixed feelings about the whole thing in the first place.

"Ah...please forgive us for the delay, sir. But there is a good explanation, I assure you..."

She then turned to Baron, signalling him to take care of the rest with his know-how of Chimeratix, "Isn't that correct?"

Osamu readied himself, spending the last few meters of the train stopping to hype himself up for what he was about to do. He prepared a short, but effective script in his head, trying to appear as a merciless taskmaster that punished incompetence, a tyrannical yet effective leader, someone who wasn’t to be messed with or questioned. He knew exactly what he was going to say and how, as he brought the train to a screeching halt.

Then he looked over to Signora as she stepped out of the train, seeing her user her persona’s powers and, more importantly, take the mask off. Osamu immediately went visibly pale. He didn’t know just how complete the influence of that power she’d used was, but THAT broke one of the biggest tenets of Chimeratic: “No names, no faces.” If she didn’t get all of them, or the control wasn’t complete, that risked unveiling them before they were even off the train. He needed to find some excuse for that, and he needed it now. Thinking on his feet, he figured he’d just have to turn the wrath of the facade on her for a moment, hoping she’d forgive him for it later.

With a quick, aggressive, and angry-seeming gesture to put her mask back on, trying to appear as an infuriated superior in an attempt to salvage that from any that didn’t have their will completely overwritten by her own. “If you don’t put that back on, so help me…” He said, facing back towards her with a menacing tone, but the panic was evident across what parts of his face could be seen due just how catastrophic that could be if it wasn’t corrected. He then turned towards the investigating larger shadow, dropping the panic for faux rage. In theory, people would outrank shadows here as people could think for themselves, and he needed to leverage that. If they respected people brought here by the sovereign, then they’d respect him until he was proven as an invader. So, hoping it would allow his abilities to capitalize, he used that. With a hand behind his back, he tapped a button on his phone, and though his authority was weakened in here, he hoped that between it and Signora’s mass charming, it would give him enough control of the situation to keep things from turning sour.



“She’s new. On the level, but still new to the whole concept of keeping your fucking identity SECRET.” The last word he shouted for emphasis, in an attempt to keep with the angry superior appearance, and appear as though he was chastising her. Still, the delay needed an excuse, so he moved back to the small script he’d started working on as the train drew closer to the station.

“The engine started having problems. The driver was too incompetent to fix it, so I threw his ass off the train and fixed it myself.” He stated, trying his level best to appear as a mix of infuriated and annoyed, using the height of the engine relative to the platform to loom over the shadows present, or at least meet the big one at eye level. “And if everyone here doesn’t want to be answering to the sovereign, I suggest you get moving on unloading the cargo. Now.”

---

Meanwhile Thespian watched everything unfold from a small hole she made to peek at the conversation. Watching on how her two allies would escape this predicament. She cannot help but be reminded of her photography job at the school paper, finding the correct moment takes time, looking from the background and acting like a fly in the wall. In a way she is on her element now.

Watching closely she watched as Signora easily snatch the hearts of the shadow with a well placed shot. She briefly felt fear as she realized she was about to commit a faux pas only to be saved at the last moment by the Baron. For all they say that Kasuga-san is a perfect woman, there are things that's just beyond.

A relieved smile gave way for a smirk, perfection is overrated. Whoever looks beyond the facade is just setting themselves up for disappointment. She knew, just look at the fanclubs of her mommy dearest.

She held on her phone, monitoring the emotions keeping the shadow moving and adding a dash of urgency in their head. That should keep them from asking questions and make them narrow visioned to notice any cracks.

She then turned of her phone and watched what happens next.

---

The moment Signora began to ensnare the shadows, her captive audience having their eyes glued to her, some even waving and encouraging her like a fan would an idol, Noblesse had begun to move. Like a shadow he slipped through the crates and into blind spots. What was most important here was for him to identify the crux of this whole operation, who most likely resided in an office somewhere in the station building. Well, that probably wasn't hard to find, it was most likely somewhere by the money counters and teller shadows.

The larger shadow talking to Baron began to waver as it was affected by two authorities, though the one in front of him demanded greater priority. The story he was given explained everything but he couldn't help but feel it was just a little off... However, that wasn't it's problem.

"Alright fine, no need to mention the big kahuna. Oi you lot! Stop gawkin' and get the goods off the train!" It seems they bought it. Just as he makes that command the shadows start to swarm around the cargo carriages, which were a bit further down the tracks, spreading them out further from the shadows working guard and counter at the station.

As this all went on, Thespian would find something interesting. As she monitored the little flames of her authority, she would notice something that stood out... She can of course recognize the flames of humans, that being her current team mates Noblesse, Signora, and Baron, but there was another... Much further back, so it was faint. As she watched, she would notice the signature belonging to Noblesse was closing in on it. That must be his target.

Meanwhile, Baron and Signora who had eyes on the station itself could see Noblesse, peeking through the rafters after he makes it past the awning and into the main building. He was taking it slow where he was, but as soon as any of them made eye contact with him, he did a signal with his hand, clenching his fist. Pick a moment, pick a target, go wild.

Baron stepped off the train, but still tried to keep that air of menace as he walked onto the platform. He placed his hands behind his back, walking across the platform before turning on his heels to seemingly inspect the shadows as they worked. In truth, he was mentally debating his opening move, trying to figure out how the crew would go about dismantling these shadows. The force, as it was, was far too large to let just hang around behind them, not to mention what would happen when they found the signs of battle inside the train, or the upended crates they’d used to enter unnoticed. He glanced back to where Noblesse had made for, in time to see his silent signal. Even if it had been a good idea to leave those shadows alone, Noblesse was likely about to do something that would make that impractical.

Alright, then. Showtime.

He took a moment to look around, finding each of the others as he glanced down at his phone, as casually as anyone would check it. He sent a simple message over the group chat Seiji had made for them.

>Still too many for my tastes. I’ve got a trick to stack this deck in our favor. It’s gonna hurt a bit, so brace yourselves. Take out as many as you can before they realize what’s up. Kicking off in 10s.

Baron readied himself, the warning being as much to him as to the others. The charmed shadows would be helpful, keeping the shadows confused and fighting each other instead of the party. Or at the least, would be helpful to get the drop on the horde. Their distraction from getting into the train cars with a sense of definitive urgency would also help for that. And with those charmed shadows as an anvil, the group itself would make one hell of a hammer.

As he counted down the seconds, he found a spot where he wouldn’t be seen immediately, given how the shadows were preoccupied with their tasks, and gave the others enough time to position themselves for an alpha strike to kick off the festivities.

As he prepared to call upon Lackland once again, he heard his persona's voice, a prelude to the power it was about t unleash.

---

---

Prince Lackland materialized in a burst of crimson metaflame behind Osamu, as he conjured forth the power that would hopefully carry them to a swift victory. “Tear them down!” He ordered, as his persona took a clawed gauntlet and held it out, ordering the whole group forward silently. White flames washed over Baron first, then each of the others, bringing with it a short but painful burst. Baron had experimented enough to be prepared for the burning pain, brief as it was, that precluded the massive wave of power that washed over him, as the same occurred to each of the others in kind. They were faster, stronger, and tougher. He figured it’d be more than enough to make sure they could destroy the shadows before they ever realized what was happening.

---

Thespian would let out a curious smile as she tapped the faint flame on her phone as Noblesse. Nothing invasive, she just wants to see what emotions the two are feeling, like skimming through a script.

She took her time heading to the site of battle briefly staring at the Baron causing the chaos promised on the group chat. Normally she would be jumping her way into the fray slamming shadows with her staff and Daji's aid. But she had a prize in her eyes.

Firing a few stray Eiha as she move around. Thespian would slowly withdraw herself from the battle, tailing Noblesse from afar and with the help of phone his and his target's flames.

"Now let's see who are in the dark."

---

Signora gave a grateful look to Baron and nodded.

"R-right. Sorry, sir," she said, going along with the ruse.

Since the whole basis of that particular attack from her persona was probably how Lucrezia was said to have enchanted many noblemen with her beauty, she thought it would be more effective if she took off her mask.

But thinking about it over, she WOULD be in trouble if her attacks failed to charm the shadows.

Fortunately, in this case, it seemed to have succeeded, judging by how the shadows were fawning over her.

A moment later, she noticed Noblesse's signal to pick a target. Taking out her phone, she saw Baron's message that he was about to do something and to wait for him to make his move first.

'Understood', she replied quickly, before placing her finger just above the Black Crown App, ready to use it to summon Lucrezia again, at a moment's notice.

The message said that it would hurt a bit, but at least that would make the signal clear—



"Urk...!"

She winced, nearly dropping her phone after being assaulted by a sudden burning pain.

Baron said it would hurt, but...it was more than she expected.

"L-Lucrezia!" Signora summoned her personal, almost fumbling the name, as the pain subsided, having her persona shot at the nearest shadows using [Double Shot], albeit somewhat delayed in seizing the moment due to the momentary pain.

---

The time had come and just as Signora and Baron virtually open fired upon the entire convoy of Shadows, immediately slaying a few weaker ones, while the ones remaining fell back and transformed into their true forms, Noblesse was already on the move. A swiftly moving shadow upon the rafters would swish past and overhead the counters and tellers who stood up and looked at the commotion. The station office in the back was his target...

----------

OST: Keeper of Lust -Scramble-

The Shadows that Signora and Baron had attacked were none too pleased, and while their attention were now fixed upon them, Thespian would find it quite easy to slip past them. When she checked on Seiji's flame, there was a distinct sense of excitement, but also a tinge of violence. He was... Having fun? Though that little bit of violence she detected felt far too extreme for the situation. Still regardless, it was like looking at a wolf hunting prey.

"Intruders! Intruders!... What the hell're you yeller'bellies doin'?! Get out there!" The larger shadow in charge who had also taken cover was barking orders, despite also cowering away. The subordinates looked at each other with a bit of fear before finally jumping out, their forms changing in a blanket of black shadowy ooze as Garms and Orthrus appeared. The larger one would finally emerge too, his form changing and shifting as the long, white body of an Inugami emerged and began to attack.

Just as it appeared like the players were lined up for the match, the glass window of the station's office shattered as two people came flying out of it. A black-clad man wearing what appeared to be a scarf and bandana in Chimeratix's colours, and Noblesse himself, who based on the pose, kicked him through the window, immediately chasing after him. It was... A human? Not a shadow. While that wasn't an unusual sight in the Metarealm they normally traversed, somehow it was a bit of a surprise here. The Chimeratix member brushed himself off, getting up as he faced the situation around him, Noblesse slowly walking towards the group as he introduced their target to the fight.

"Aw man! This was supposed to be an easy gig, just sit here in the Domain all day and make easy cash... And you you blue caped asshole, I turn around and there's a boot in my face! Didn't even say hi! I'm gonna make you pay especially...", the Chimeratix member reached into his pocket and pulled his smartphone out, tapping it as a red flame enveloped him too, but rather than the special Personas the group all possessed, his was a normal one. Appearing behind him was a tall figure with a stone mask and hammer, he called it's name, "Ippon-Datara!"

"Hmph, now let's take them out, all at once!", Noblesse's declaration to the Liberation Brigade rang loudly as Napoleon appeared behind him, ready to fight.

---

Thespian tapped at Seiji's flame with tinge of curiosity, she's not the type to call people out but excitement at the prospect of committing violence is a little cause for concern. She mentally put Seiji at the top of the list of the people she will perform a background check later, Hikari is a well known person in the school and rumours would be enough for Osamu for now. Regardless the pieces are laid and the actors are set, its time for them to play their part.



"Daji, I'm getting bored, let's spice thing up." Shirona spoke as she summoned her Persona holding on her shoulder. With a stretch of a hand and the Persona's fan, a mist of began appearing letting the scent of alcohol feel the surroundings. And while her allies would remain the same.

Everyone would fall into a drunken stupor.

---

Signora was about to let loose an arrow she had notched at one of the shadows when two figures came barreling through the station's window. It took her a few moments to realise that it was Noblesse kicking someone else through the window. Judging from the Chimeratix's colour worn by the second figure, it seemed to be a member of the Chimeratix.

She really wished that Noblesse would give them a heads-up on bringing in a Chimeratix member. Though, to be fair, Signora did realise that after Noblesse went off on his own, it was probably difficult to find a way to contact them.

Still, perhaps they should see to some better means to communicate while on missions.

"Lucrezia!"

She summoned her persona once more, taking advantage of the stupor inflicted by Thespian on their opponent to attack the Chimeratix member with [Double Shot].

Baron grinned with the surge of power, scanning over the field. Only now did he norice the Chimeratic member launched back towards the rest of the crew, which he noted as most dangerous single combatant. But the shadows, even incapacitated as they were, still were a risk. All it would take was for a couple to get lucky despite their afflictions. Better to not give them the chance if possible.

He knew all too when the potent boost from Lackland wouldn’t last forever, so they needed to strike now while the iron was hot. The large, one-legged blacksmith looking persona screamed ‘physical damage’ to Osamu, so he decided that if he wanted to draw attention in any meaningful way, magic was the way to go.

Stepping back to get everyone into his field of view, he called upon the power he’d grown all too familiar with, screaming from his heart as he summoned Lackland; “PERSONA!”



A part of him had to admit, as he saw the two young women spring into action, they definitely knew how to think on their feet. Had they been just a little slower on the uptake, the whole crew likely would’ve lost their initiative in at least one of these fights. But through improvising and ramshackle teamwork, they’d already brought down shadows none of them, save maybe Noblesse, could handle alone. And even he likely would’ve been worn down by now without help.

Well, if this is what I’m working with, I better step it up to make sure I’m not getting left behind!

---

The pervasion of pink mist that flowed from Daji's fan like a gust of wind would bring all of the enemies into a drunken stupor and inflicting the Dizzy status. Their vision began to become distorted, and their precision began to lower. Before they were given a chance to take an action, a Garm was taken out by a Double Shot coming from Lucrezia. To top it all off, they were barraged with a brilliant array of blue explosions, softening them up and knocking Inugami and Garm off their feet. Seizing the opportunity to thin their numbers more quickly, Noblesse fired off a One-Shot-Kill on the stumbling Orthrus leaving just Inugami, the Chimeratix member, and a Garm standing.

The Chimeratix member though affected by Thespian's Deer Gallery managed to cure himself of it as he pulled out what looked like a drink and took a long swig. On closer inspection it was a bottle of water, bringing him a bit more clarity, though he still seemed affected.



"You're gonna have to do better than that!... Ippon Datara!", the tall, menacing looking Persona lunged forward at Noblesse with the sledgehammer and brought it down. Noblesse quickly attempted to avoid it, but ended up taking the strike as he slid back from the impact. Guarding himself with his saber.





Meanwhile, the Inugami managed to get up and conjure a blast of fire on Baron's position, casting Agilao as a burst of fire exploded. Although, with it currently Dizzy, the attack might miss the mark by quite a wide margin. The same would apply for the Garm, which had to lunge forward for it's own attack, putting it in a precarious position as it would miss entirely. Between the two, the Garm would be defeated by a mere breath, while the Inugami had a bit more meat on it's bones... Despite it's elongated appearance.

---

Signora looked perplexed at the drink that the Chimeratix member had just drunk, which seemingly cured him of whatever was inflicted on him by Thespian.

'There is a drink that can exert some effect in the metaverse?' Signora thought. If so, then did they not have access to such concoctions? Something which the means of production were exclusive to the Chimeratix, perhaps?

In any case, with the Chimeratix member managing to recover through that drink, there was the possibility that he had more of them and might even use them on the shadows.

Which meant it was probably ideal to try to defeat the shadows now while they were still under Thespian's spell.

Summoning Lucrezia once more, Signora ordered her persona to attack both the Inugami and Garm while they were still confused, using [Double Shot], aiming one arrow at the Inugami and the other at Garm.

Having finally clocked the Chimeratix grunt whom Noblesse had singled out, he recognized the man as likely the more dangerous threat. After all, while shadows could fight, Baron had rarely met one that could plan and exploit on the level of a human opponent. Despite that, he still realized the thug would be far less of a threat without his back-up, so instead of turning straight onto the thug, he decided to focus his attention onto the Inugami while his power still lasted.

Baron saw as the large blast of fire flew towards him, followed shortly after by the Garm’s jaws, and didn’t pause to think. Between their dizziness courtesy of Thespian, and the boost to his own agility from Lackland’s power, he sidestepped the Garm’s lunging bite, and turned in time to duck the large fireball from Inugami, letting it splash against the station behind him in a burst of flame that silhouetted his form for a brief instant. He stood up slowly, letting his mantle billow for a moment before lunging forward in a new burst of aggression.

Counting down the time until this extra boost ran out in the back of his mind, he opted to make the most of it as he looked back at the Inugami who’d just placed itself in a rather unfortunate situation. With the beast being dizzy, and Signora’s arrow flying for it, he rushed it with his Kukri, hoping to cut the thing down before it could make any further attempts, and hopefully leave the Chimeratic goon to face them alone.

---

Thespian will keep a keen eye on the 'leader' of this shadows. She never saw someone shrug off Daji's signature move with just a drink and if her impression of the leader just being a pawn at best then she could expect whatever organization this is going to be prepared with her tricks. Good she just needs to figure out new ones.

Holding her staff, Thespian leapt into the fray swinging a few hits against the Chimeratix member with Daji's support as her allies clear out the shadows. She needs to be quick before the recovery completely sets in.