king_of_flames | Sixteenth Move

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Sixteenth Move

[Video]

[The video feed comes on and shows one thing:]

[The holder is one Roy Mustang. A close look at the background will show that he's currently in Goldenrod City.]

Well, that's it. I've got all eight badges of Johto. All done in under a year, too. Who's willing to bet that that's a record? I know I'm willing to bet it is.

So, now it looks like I either get to just hang around until the Pokémon League begins accepting challengers, or go for the badges of Kanto. I suppose I have some time to think about it.

[Video; Filtered to Hughes]

Hey, Hughes! How about joining me for a drink to celebrate my achievement? My treat!

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How could anyone forget!

[ Gonna grab a small booth slightly in the back, for more privacy. ]

Have you been in town long?

[And as they sit down, a larger group comes in and takes the table next to them. They're wrapped up in their own conversation.]

Nah, I just got in today. I beat Clair first thing yesterday morning, then spent the next day flying back here. I wanted to get back quickly.

[And then, his face grows serious.]

After all, we both know a man who'd be all too happy to blow things up.

[ He frowns at that, leans in a little, and lowers his voice. ]

Yes... he's already suspected me of betraying the organization.

[ We'll just go with not mentioning any names, for now... but he's making sure Roy knows exactly who and what he's talking about. ]

He's helped me by giving me information... but he claims it is because he's 'curious' to see what I do. And that he'd rather level the battlefield.

[ A pause, as a waitress arrives and he orders himself a drink. He doesn't speak again until she leaves. ]

It worries me, that he's so well-informed, and I'm not. [ Sitting back a little ] I know he was involved in the... incident that occurred when I first arrived. And I while I've got no information on the most recent incident, I'm sure he was probably involved as well.

[ Was that a lot of information? Sorry. He couldn't say any of it over the 'Gear... ]

[Roy orders his own drink, and waits for Hughes to finish.]

Enigmatic as ever. Do you think you can figure out a way to find out?

[ He sits back and smiles at that. ]

I figured I could start putting in for more work hours! It never hurts to save money, right? I'm paying to house two teenage girls, after all. And it wouldn't hurt to be prepared if my beautiful wife or little daughter suddenly appear here! A man should always have savings. A promotion would be nice too...!!

[ Translation: gonna try and climb the ladder a little. Information should be easier to get if you're up at the top, right? ]

[Okay, Roy can't help but laugh at that.]

I see you've taken my gimmick and put your own spin on it!

It's a pretty nifty little gimmick.

And one that works out, to boot.

I should use it more often, then. Gives me an excuse to talk about my lovely family.

[ Not that he... ever needed one... ]

So, do you know anything about the man who made the broadcast in the first place?

[Yep, he's quick to change the subject when Hughes mentions his family.]

[ Oh, you learn quickly, Roy...

Let him think for a moment. And then lower his voice. ]

Not much. He goes by Cobra Commander. And back in the end of March, he was asking for Kimblee. And men named Kato and Ishtar. If those names mean anything to you.

Kato and Ishtar...no, can't say those names have any meaning to me. Do you know anything about them?

I'm afraid I don't. Unfortunately, you don't learn much as a grunt...

[ Pause. ]

You know, this would be a lot easier if we switched places. You're the ambitious jackass who wants to climb to the top. I'm just a family man.

Too late for me to become a double agent now. The organization is filled with too many of my enemies, even if they are all from home.

[Roy still has no idea that Cobra Commander considers him a threat.]

Ah, that's the Flame Alchemist. Always making enemies.

[ Grinning and mostly joking. ] Does this mean I should stop associating with you as well? It might be bad for my image to be seen around you.

What, you can't turn it into a convincing double agent story for the others?

I'll have to take a few more lessons from you before I get to that level!

Hey, even I'm not the authority. I never did tell you what happened when I tried to go to Lieutenant General Raven, did I?

No, you haven't... I'm taking it didn't work?

It backfired completely. I used a secret test of character that General Grumman clued me in on, then slipped the fact that Bradley was a homunculus to him as if it were a rumor.

Turns out he and the rest of the senior staff were in on the plot.

[ Laughing at that. ]

I'll remember to skip out on that sort of test of character.

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