(Metaverse, Sae's Palace)
A couple days had passed and the Phantom Thieves returned to Sae's Casino and made it to the next floor; a Shadow Receptionist had told the thieves that if they want to get to the highest floor, they'd have to get 50,000 poker chips for a membership, their first stop was a dice game, where they all soon found out was rigged; Oracle made a plan and fixed the game to where they'd win every time, all the way to a giant slot machine where the thieves made the same plan and easily won the poker chips they needed; getting the membership card, they were able to access the next floor; as they arrived, they were then told that they needed 100,000 poker chips to access the floor where Shadow Sae kept her treasure.
"Wait, we need 100,000 chips just to reach the location", Noir said in shock
"It's getting clearer that she has no intention of letting us proceed onward", Mona stated
"The next thing to do is to play the games on this floor", Light mumbled as everyone proceeded outside, the games on the floor was a House of Darkness, and a Battle Arena.
"The games here might be rigged as well, everyone be careful", Oracle said as everyone walked into the House of Darkness; the Shadow Receptionist then told them that if they reached the end, they would obtain 10,000 poker chips which everyone agreed on; as they entered the room, the Phantom Thieves were greeted by darkness.
"I can't see a thing", Skull stated
"The sign said little darkness, a trick", Queen mumbled
"I'm sensing shadows too, and the layout here leads to dead ends, totally rigged", Oracle stated
"With all this darkness, we wont be able to see the layout or the shadows", Fox stated as well
"Leave the map to me Inari", Oracle said as everyone then began navigating through the darkness, fighting shadows that got in their way, and with Oracles help, they were able to navigate out of dead ends by using vents, and eventually made their way out of the maze and rewarded with 10,000 poker chips.
"10,000 down, 90,000 to go", Light mumbled
"We have the Battle Arena next, we might get the rest of the chips there", Crow stated as everyone then entered the Battle Arena; again, they were told about an entry fee of 10,000 poker chips, if they win, they'd gain 100,000 poker chips, however, only one could go in.
"One on one battles, you all know that this isn't going to be like that", Light stated
"But we need to get into the treasure room", Panther said
"But, who's goin' in", Skull asked
"I'll go", Joker stated handing over the 10,000 Poker Chips that they obtained from the House of Darkness
"Are you sure, you'll be alone when you go in", Fox remonded as Joker only nodded his head
"Just don't do anything reckless", Queen stated as Joker nodded his head once again; the Phantom Thieves walked towards the stands to watch the battle as Joker walked inside the arena, many shadows appeared, which made their statement correct about the battle being unfair; however, Joker won every battle which amazed the Phantom Thieves, they all left the Battle Arena with 100,000 Poker Chips and soon enough, they all made it to the Treasure Room.
"It looks like this is her base of operations, perhaps her treasure will appear on that pedestal", Mona stated, "A lot has happened, but we managed to get up here, Miss Manager's days are numbered",
"Once the calling card is sent, Sae-san's treasure will appear, correct", Crow asked
"Yeah, once the target is cognizant of the danger, that cloudy thing will take shape", Mona stated pointing towards the treasure distortion
"I wonder... what will the treasure look like", Crow muttered
"That depends on the person", Panther stated", for Kamoshida, it was a medal, Madarame's was a painting, and Kaneshiro's was fake money",
"My father's was a plastic model", Noir stated as well
"In other words... the treasure is what marked the beginning of the Palace ruler's aspirations", Crow asked
"It could also be what caused their desires to swell", Fox said
"Thinking about it won't get us anywhere though, let's head back and prepare the calling card", Mona explained
"If it's alright, shall we send the calling card two days prior to the deadline, it would give us a greater chance of seizing her treasure", Crow asked
"Is everyone ok with this", Joker asked as the others nodded their heads, with the plan set, everyone left to return home.
(A Couple Days Later, Real World, Yongen Jaya, Hideout)
The day the calling card was to be sent had approached fast, tomorrow, they would send the calling card, and the day after, they would claim Sae's treasure; the thieves, with the exception of Akechi, all met up at the hideout to discuss an urgent matter.
"Futaba's been monitoring Akechi's phone, we have proof that he has an ulterior motive", Makoto explained, "not only was he trying to frame us, he's the one behind the mental shutdowns",
"So, Akechi's the puppet, if we keep monitoring, he might reveal the true culprit to us", Luna stated
"Akechi had already messed up, when Akira, Ann, Ryuji and I were at the T.V. station for the field trip, I was the only one who mentioned pancakes", Morgana explained, "and when we met up with him again, he was surprised that I was talking; that's when Akira and I began to suspect him",
"I had Inari's help and we both found out his plan, he's going to imprison and kill the leader of the Phantom Thieves", Futaba explained
"Futaba and I scouted around Sis's palace, around the police H.Q.; Akechi mentioned a secret room, and we found it, our clothes don't change there", Makoto explained, "if we're careful, we can have Akechi kill a cognition of Akira, but we have to convince Sis to show him a phone to get both of them in the Metaverse",
"So... Akira'll be the bait then", Ryuji asked in shock
"I trust you guys to accomplish this", Akira stated as everyone nodded their heads and left to go home, with the exception of Luna.
"I don't like our chances with this", Luna stated
"We have no other choice", Akira said
"What if things go south, what if you actually die, what'll happen to us then", Luna yelled
"I don't plan on dying, I'll have you watching the camera's alongside Futaba", Akira explained, "and if the plan were to turn south, I want you to lead the Phantom Thieves in my stead",
"Just... come back safely", Luna mumbled as the two hugged each other.
YOU ARE READING
The Rebel Persona
ActionAfter her parents are killed in a car crash, Luna is sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle, away from her friend and the boy she likes, then a week later the her childhood best friend/crush comes into town. an Akira Kurusu love story Story cover by D...
