Chapter Seventy-Nine: Good Enough for Government Work

Sir Lionheart felt a bit foolish. Here was this huge beast of a man with a feminine voice who had just called him “Knight” with a level of respect.

“Sir, um, you might want to watch the knives. They're hollow and full of drugs that can knock you out.” Sir Lionheart warned.

Richard Dickson walked towards the Haunted Maze Troupers, pulling out his gun.

“Now I don't want to have to use this, but I will in order to subdue you.” He told the Troupers, who stared back blankly. Sir Lionheart squinted. No way…

One of the Troupers let out a high-pitched giggle and threw a knife towards Dickson. It missed, but Sir Lionheart hissed. It had come dangerously close to Dicksons face, which meant-,

“As a member of the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service, I'm immune to petty drugs like yours.” Dickson scowled. He pointed the gun at the Trouper who had thrown the knife.

Sir Lionheart swallowed. It WAS! That gun was a cousin of the Lucky Seven Gun and the Mystic Eight Gun! Did that mean that a cousin of the Lions Claw Blade and the Dragon Scale Scythe was nearby?

Dickon held the gun steady. “Are you going to cooperate?”

Another Trouper threw their knife too, missing Dickson by inches.

“So be it.”

Dickson pulled the trigger twice. Nothing happened.

“Why did they give me this stupid thing…?” Dickson pointed the gun downwards and inspected the chamber. Suddenly, the gun went off twice, right in Dicksons foot!

Sir Lionheart groaned. Loudly. Bloody government employees…

“Fine, let's try this!” Dickson pulled a dagger out of his belt. Sir Lionheart grimaced. Sure enough, there was the talisman attached to the hilt, a hedgehog. Sir Lionheart debated whether or not it was worth the three hours it would take for Belle to explain it to him.

Dickson threw the knife at the Troupers…unfortunately the talisman got caught in his fingers, and the knife quickly turned around and stabbed its owner in the hand.

“Hmm. Unfortunate. Oh well, as you were Knight, I think you can handle this. I'm going to continue my investigation.” Dickson looked at his wounded hand, before walking away.

Sir Lionheart blinked. He looked at the Troupers, who were shrugging to each other.

“I, um…I'll take these kids to Peter Masters, maybe he can analyze what they were given and see if we can't get them some treatment.” Sir Hyper rubbed the back of his neck.

“Good idea.” Sir Lionheart sighed. He noticed one of the Troupers about to hand another little girl a stash of drugs. “NO.” He snatched the drugs away and bopped the Trouper on the head with the butt of his replica Scythe.

—

“Okay, hands up, who actually expected a group with the name Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service to actually be competent? Actually?!” TJ groaned at the restaurant after Daniel had told them everything that had happened.

“I don't think it was him per se, but his weapons.” Belle piped up, her nose (where else) in a book.

“Apart from exposition, do you DO anything?!” Charlie groaned.

“Don't make me reverse Clause you.” Belle threatened.

“What about his weapons?” Daniel asked.

“I'm just looking at it now, it seems -,” Belle started, only to be interrupted by Charlie.

“I called my friends over in Awesomica recently, and they said they'd been looking further into the lore behind our weapons. If Dan is correct, then we're looking at the Speedy Two gun and the Hedgehog's Quill Dagger.” Charlie said.

There was silence.

“Awesome! Do you know about any of the others?” Belle dropped the book and focused all her attention on her best friend.

The others nearly fainted.

“No one seems to have the full story, but it seems these weapons can be traced back to a war 150 years ago. Somehow in this war the weapons were created and made their way around the world.” Charlie tried to recount what he'd learned. “There's seven pairs in total.”

“I've only heard of the Lucky Seven and the Lions Claw, the Mystic Eight and the Dragons Scale, the Palatable Six and the Stingrays Tail, the Quadroon Four and the Elephants Tusk, and now the Speedy Two and the Hedgehog's Quill. There's nothing I can find about the other two.” Belle mused.

Charlie pulled out his smartphone and checked his emails. “Here it is. The other two are the Trinity Three and the Tigers Tooth Scimitar, and the Dangerous Five Gun and the Wolf's Fang Gauntlet.” He said.

“This is all interesting, but how does that help us now?” Sunny asked, again trying to feed her daughter with limited success. “Bloody kids…”

“It's weird.” Belle looked at Charlie. “I've never been able to use the Lions Claw Blade, it's too heavy for me, and Charlie can't make the Lucky Seven Gun fire.”

“None of us can, and none of us are able to use the Lions Claw very well either.” Sammy added. “Except Dan, but he's just talented.”

“I think you need to have a certain level of skill to use these weapons.” Belle folded her hands in front of her mouth and focused. “Or maybe it's a certain bloodline.”

“Neither apply to me.” Daniel said quickly.

“Hmm.” Charlie and Belle continued to think.

“The point is, how are we supposed to keep the Service from hurting themselves? More importantly, how are we supposed to show them that the problem is with the Pleasantville Council?” Tammy banged her hand on the table, making everyone jump.

“Especially as Demon is doing everything he can to keep Dad and I away from them.” Belle sighed.

“Maybe…maybe this calls for something a little bit…covert…” Daniel rubbed his chin, before grinning at Tammy.

“Me?!” She squeaked.

“Of course! The Shadow of the Last Order! The Ghost of the Last Order! Our own invisible informant!” TJ cheered.

“Of course…she'll need some help from the OTHER Knight who just so happens to work for the Pleasantville Council…even if it IS their police force.” Daniel smirked at TJ, who faltered.

“Of course! Demon wouldn't DREAM that one of his cops is part of the Last Order! He might have the reins tight on Belle and Peter, but he knows NOTHING about TJ!” Petunia laughed. “Dan, you're a genius!”

“I know. That's why I'm the leader.” Daniel stretched nonchalantly. Just then, Melody spat up a mouthful of carrots all over his shirt.

“Sorry! She's being difficult!” Sunny tried to clean up the mess as everyone laughed.