Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 688: Espionage

Her hands clasped in shackles, the queen finally returned to her castle. The chaos of the streets helped mask her as just another criminal, but with a strange weapon in hand, she was treated harshly and dragged about by two of the worm-shaped automatons while another one carried her weapon behind her.

Making them do all the work, she expected to be inside the mansion and somehow get rid of the clone of Avarice, but right as she was being taken towards the dungeon, she heard Amedith’s voice along with a handful of others from the hero’s party. Turning her head to the passing group, she was both confused and delighted by their presence.

’Now’s my chance.’ Slipping her fingers into the gaps between her cuffs, Mono sent a ripple of repulsive energy on their opposing sides, effectively breaking them with a cling. The guards instantly noticed her hand spread free and touch them on their bellies, but before they could do anything, she used her power to lift them off the ground and ram into a singular pile of metal and guts.

Sprinting forward with one more of the iron guard standing behind her with her weapon, she finally looked at the party again. The entire hall filled with guests and prisoners was in utter shock from what she’d done; their bodies stood frozen still; however, unlike the regular criminals and citizens, Amedith and the rest were charging at her, falsely assuming her to be a criminal as well.

”IDIOTS IT’S ME MONO!” Screaming at the top of her lungs, she turned around yet again and was met with the guard right on her tail. A gasp of air almost choked her of air, but forcing through the chest pain, she moved her hand onto the oncoming fist of the automaton. The strike from it did send her flying, but in the few seconds that her skin had contact with it, she’d managed to collapse the automaton’s body on itself.

And while its body was still being squeezed to a pulp, Amedith was rushing towards her with his blade clenched tight in his hand. Mel, Aria, and Erika followed right behind him, ready to provide support. However, noticing the swing of his blade just in time, Mono racked through memory and said the first thing that came to her mind.

”I used to make your clothes before the Red madam goddamnit!” Stopped in his tracks by something only Mono would’ve known, Amedith stood frozen in place, unsure what to believe, but then Mono added with an eyeroll. ”We had to make room for your thing down there to keep it from being squeezed too much in regular girl underwear.”

Struck with an embarrassing fact, a deep red blush took over Amedith’s face. But it also convinced him to put the blade away. Walking up to him after hearing Mono’s side, the girls dealt with the rest of guards trying to approach the party with their summoned vines and necrotic arms coming from the floor alone.

”What’s happening here?” Asked Erika, just as confused as everyone.

”I’ll explain everything in a bit.” Looking for her weapon, Mono quickly grabbed it from the carcass of the automaton and lifted it up with the help of her anti-gravity protocol. ”But first, help me get my heart back from the Avarice clone, and yes, I’ll explain why that is while we’re searching for her.”

With nothing but more and more confusion piling up, the party decided to do as Mono said. Following her to what used to be her bedroom, they were met with disappointment as there was no one there. The intensity of the guards had thinned as well, and although some did notice them moving around, instead of chasing the rogue automaton that was Mono in an unfamiliar body, they kept marching towards the exit as if heading out with a destination in mind.

It wasn’t until the party reached the throne room that they were met with a few familiar faces. One was Grace, and the other was the clone of Avarice. The throne itself sat empty, and judging at a glance, the clone had something to say but remained unsure whether to speak or not, especially in front of a strange automaton.

”Who is that?” She asked without wasting a second.

Instead of a response, Mono glanced over at Grace and said.

”Tall girl with a little girl’s heart,” as a flicker of recognition flashed in Grace’s eyes, Mono turned her head towards Avarice and aimed the weapon that she was holding right at her. ”And fuck you, you imposter!”

In an instant, the weapon charged itself to the max, and while’s mind barely held on, the clone actuated a familiar protocol, Aegis.

Lowering herself on her knees, she was ready to take the blow, and that’s exactly the kind of distraction Grace needed to get inside her pocket and grab that iron core. Glancing back right as Mono’s weapon blasted its charge, the last thing the clone deactivated her once–and thanks to the gravitational blast–for all.

”Protocol Aura! You fraud!” And so with her body shutting down to command, the clone that could’ve withstood blows for days without getting tired was shattered from head to toe with no way for her to recover.

Her body blasted through the wall behind the ivory throne and eventually fell out of the mansion and landed in the practice ground.

”That’s that,” wasting not even a second, the queen rushed up the throne with her feet barely keeping her afloat. Grabbing the iron core out of Grace’s hand, she clenched it tightly against her chest and collapsed to her knees. ”Fucking finally...”

And while she recovered from the weapon’s use, everyone else flocked behind her to know the whole truth. But even now, as there was much to be done, Mono advised them to get to her lab after Grace informed them that the clone wanted them to meet her there.

With everything aligning perfectly, it was only a matter of time before the otherworlder fell, but would she take one-third of the world with her death? Or perhaps, a compromise would be reached? Who could say, after all, even now, the threat loomed above their head. Thus, with renewed energy, Mono led the group outside and on their way. Raven and Helga joined them swiftly.

”What’s happening?”

”Long story, I’ll tell you while we run!” Said Mono, and so they did.