Reinhard blinked, his mind processing what he'd just heard, and then he blankly stared at Klaus in open disbelief. "Wait… Brunhilde wasn't taken by the Mori Empire?"

Klaus's smirk grew as he leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk, fingers coming together. "What's wrong? You don't look very happy."

Reinhard's lips twitched, happy didn't even begin to cover it, but confusion warred with relief. "I am extremely happy." He said slowly. "But Brunhilde was a Sinner, a member of a group that the Mori Empire and the other continents have been hunting for years. So how did you even convince them to let her go? Even if she told them about the other Sinners, and their operation, I don't think that would be enough."

Klaus laughed as he leaned back again, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. "Because of you and the others' act of saving Phane City, stopping Fenrir and the Sinners. Each of you was rewarded with a favor from the Empire."

Reinhard blinked before his eyebrow rose slowly. "Are those favors actually real? And not just lip service or false promises?"

Klaus chuckles. "We made sure they were real. After all, what you did was stop a terrible tragedy." He tilted his head slightly. "I'm sure you noticed it when you visited Nuevo, the appearance of Mori Empire soldiers moving in the city?"

Reinhard nodded as he had indeed noticed them at the entrance of the city. They were with the Nuevo City guards and helping them monitor the security checkpoints that everyone had to pass through. The process had been more thorough than he remembered from before his coma, but he could guess it was because of the Phane City accident.

"Usually they aren't there." Reinhard said. "Did that happen because the Empire has become worried that other Sinners might do something similar in another city?"

"Correct." Klaus's expression turned more serious. "Not just the Empire, but other city leaders and town mayors are extremely worried. They've started accepting Mori Empire soldiers into their security forces, not only to help protect but also to act as a deterrent to the Sinners or any crazy Beast Master."

Reinhard nodded slowly, as that explained why he, Marie, and Joseph had needed to wait for academy clearance before entering Nuevo. He didn't care about knowing why or about seeing the Mori Empire soldiers because he was more worried about seeing his siblings and Anasha.

But still, there was a high chance they wouldn't have been let in at all without it. After what happened to Phane City, it would be insane for any city or town not to take extra precautions.

"None of them wants to take the chance." Reinhard said quietly. "They can't rely on the Sinners being stopped, or on the miracle of the city being restored happening for them."

Klaus nodded with a sigh, some of the levity draining from his features. "Considering what you told me about how it actually happened, such a thing will most likely never occur again."

"No." Reinhard agreed. "It won't."

Klaus drummed his fingers once against the desk. "This is why the favors are very real. It isn't something the Mori Empire can weasel out of or pretend never existed. It's their job to track down and stop the Sinners from causing havoc, and you could say they failed at that."

Reinhard hummed thoughtfully. "I can't really blame them for this, considering not even the other continents together can keep track of the Sinners."

"I agree." Klaus said. "But the people of Phane City don't agree or care. They believe they suffered from the Empire's incompetence. And that complaint is shared by many other cities that are now fearful."

Reinhard sighed. "So it's the classic fear and trauma over logic and understanding?"

Klaus nodded, and Reinhard hummed again.

The dynamic was familiar as he'd seen it countless times during his days with the gang. When new mayors of towns visited, they wouldn't comply with the Boss's wishes.

An example would be set, such as a house being burned down or a kidnapping happening.

And instead of blaming the gang that committed the act. The mayor would be hated, scorned, and scolded by the people affected for not fulfilling the gang's demands.

It was an interesting phenomenon. Did people do it because they were scared of the gang? Or was it simply easier to blame the mayor, who was closer, who was supposed to protect and look out for their well-being?

"Since the favors are real." Reinhard said, breaking from his thoughts. "Could mine really have been enough to free Brunhilde?"

Klaus laughed in amusement. "Fortunately for you, Marie and the others placed their favors on you. They all believed you did the most of the work and ended up in a coma because of it."

Reinhard's eyes widened in shock before his expression shifted to a slight frown. "That's silly. I only made it as far as I did with their help, and they helped turn the situation around."

"It's just them making you more appealing so that the Empire won't skimp on the reward." The familiar voice came from behind him.

Reinhard turned to see Rosaria walking in, her long silvery-lavender hair swaying with each step. She wore a black-white dress with rose patterns that complemented the academy's aesthetic, paired with high heels that clicked against the hardwood floor.

Rosaria moved to stand beside Klaus's desk, crimson eyes regarding Reinhard with something that might have been approval.

Reinhard nodded slowly. "So you used the accumulated rewards, which amount to a significant favor to pull Brunhilde from the Empire?"

Klaus nodded. "We further cut a deal to make it more appealing. Brunhilde won't be charged as long as she does some missions for the Empire and stays under our watch."

Reinhard sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. "That's good."

Klaus tilted his head, studying him. "That's it? You're not going to ask if the favor could have been enough to request the Elixir of Life?"

Reinhard raised an eyebrow. "If it was, you would have mentioned it from the moment I woke up."

Rosaria nodded, her crimson eyes glancing at Klaus before she closed them. "I already pointed this out to him."

Klaus laughed while Reinhard crossed his arms, and he asked. "I'm guessing the type of favor required for the Elixir would be something like clearing Brunhilde or a Sinner like Phineas of all charges?"

Klaus nodded. "The Elixir of Life is an extremely important medicine. Just being able to cure all diseases and curses is only the tip of the iceberg, but it can heal any injuries. The Empire wouldn't have given it to you for the favor. They would have tried to convince you to join them with a bit more freedom than a normal recruit, of course."

Reinhard sighed. "I figured. And I'm guessing that 'bit of freedom' would mean more freedom of movement, but with constant monitoring?"

Rosaria nodded. "You would either have a partner from the Empire assigned to you permanently, or you'd wear a Mythic Key you couldn't remove. It's also what Brunhilde will be wearing to fulfill the whole 'we're watching over her' requirement." She reached into a pocket of her dress and pulled out something black. "Speaking of wearing, here's this for you."

She extended her hand, and Reinhard leaned forward to accept what she offered.

It was a black glove made of supple leather, and on the back was embroidered a symbol. A black swirling circle with a golden halo, held by two intricately carved hands.

Reinhard held it up to the light, examining it as he asked. "What is this?"

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