Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Upper Moon 3 and Muzan Kibutsuji
The faint hum of the castle's wards filled the room like a distant melody, just loud enough to remind anyone inside that they were being watched. Muzan Kibutsuji stood near an ornate wooden cabinet, his movements deliberate and graceful as he poured a glass of dark red wine. The liquid shimmered under the flickering torchlight, casting tiny reflections onto the polished surface of the cabinet.
For a moment, Muzan did nothing but stare into the glass. His crimson eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light, were fixed on the swirling liquid as though it held the answers to some great mystery. Silence hung heavy in the room, but it wasn't empty. It was charged, like the calm before a storm.
On the opposite side of the room, Caleb Hart leaned casually against the stone wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest. The position looked relaxed, but his sharp eyes betrayed his alertness. He was studying Muzan intently, watching every gesture, every flicker of expression. Caleb had learned long ago that Muzan's silences weren't idle. They were calculated, filled with thoughts that Caleb could only guess at.
Minutes passed. Caleb could hear the faint crackle of the torches on the walls and the distant murmur of the wind outside the castle. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he broke the silence.
"So, the Museum of Great Britain in London?" His voice was steady but carried a hint of curiosity. He didn't doubt Muzan's plan he never did but the mention of a museum had thrown him off. It seemed... mundane, not the kind of place Muzan usually concerned himself with.
Muzan didn't respond right away. He lifted the glass of wine to his lips, taking a slow, deliberate sip. His movements were almost theatrical, as if every action carried a hidden meaning. Finally, he set the glass down with a soft clink and turned to face Caleb.
"Yes," he said simply, his voice as smooth as silk.
Caleb raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "And what's so important there?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral. "Doesn't seem like the kind of place to hold anything valuable."
Muzan's lips curved into a faint smile, cold and sharp like the edge of a blade. "Vibranium," he said, his voice dropping slightly as though the word itself were a secret too dangerous to speak aloud.
Caleb straightened, his casual demeanor shifting. "Vibranium?" he repeated, his tone a mix of surprise and doubt. "In a museum? That's Wakanda's thing. How the hell would it end up in London?"
"Because people only see what they're told to see," Muzan said, his tone calm and confident. "It has been sitting there for decades, disguised as a common artifact. No one recognized its true value... until now."
Caleb frowned, his mind racing. Vibranium was no ordinary metal. It was nearly indestructible, capable of absorbing vibrations and energy in ways no other material could. Wakanda had hoarded it for generations, using it to build their advanced technology and secure their unmatched power. The idea that some of it had slipped through their fingers and ended up in a museum seemed unbelievable.
"How do you know it's there?" Caleb asked, his voice more serious now.
Muzan's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "I have sources," he said curtly. "Elliot confirmed it. The Vibranium is there, waiting for us. But," he added, his tone darkening, "there's a little problem."
Caleb tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of problem?"
"The museum's security is laughable," Muzan said, a hint of disdain in his voice. "It won't be an issue. But Wakanda will notice. The moment we take it, they'll know. And they won't let it go without a fight."
Caleb let out a low whistle. He lad heard enough about Wakanda to know what that meant. The secretive nation was a technological powerhouse, fiercely protective of its resources and entirely self-sufficient. Trying to steal from them was akin to signing a death warrant.
"So," Caleb said after a moment, his voice calm but firm, "we get in, take the Vibranium, and make sure no one knows it was us."
Muzan smiled again, his sharp teeth glinting in the torchlight. "Exactly. No mistakes. No traces."
For a moment, the room was silent again. Muzan poured another glass of wine and handed it to Caleb. It was a small gesture, but Caleb understood its significance. Muzan didn't trust easily, and this was his way of showing that he valued Caleb's loyalty.
Caleb accepted the glass, his fingers brushing against Muzan's for the briefest moment. Their eyes met, and in that instant, an unspoken understanding passed between them.
"Alright," Caleb said, his voice steady. "I'm in."
Muzan's smile widened, satisfaction gleaming in his crimson eyes. "I knew you would be."
Caleb drained the wine in one smooth motion and set the glass down on the nearest table. Without another word, he turned and left the room, his boots clicking softly against the stone floor.
Once Caleb was gone, Muzan allowed his smile to grow wider. He turned back to the cabinet, pouring himself another glass of wine, though this time he didn't drink it. Instead, he stared into the dark liquid, his thoughts racing.
"Vibranium," he murmured to himself, his voice low and filled with anticipation. "Once it's mine, I'll fuse with it. Its properties will become mine indestructible, unyielding, but It took more time than I thought it would."
With a flick of his wrist, Muzan summoned a glowing blue panel before him. Its light illuminated his face, casting eerie shadows that danced across the room.
[System Panel
Identity: Muzan Kibutsuji
Age: 1,000+
Progress: 100%
Sun Weakness: Removed
Separation into Another Body: Requires 1 Material Fusion Point, 1 Biological Fusion Point, and 1 Energy Fusion Point
Fusion into Original Identity: Requires 1 Biological Fusion Point
Items: Clothes, weapons, $2,000,000 in cash, and other valuables
Item Repair Function: $1,000 per item
Material Fusion Capability Points: 7
Biological Fusion Capability Points: Locked
Energy Fusion Capability Points: Locked.]
Muzan's eyes flicked over the words on the panel, his fingers hovering over the glowing buttons.
[Do you want to cancel the roleplay as Muzan Kibutsuji?]
[Do you want to roleplay as Yoriichi Tsugikuni?]
"Not yet," he muttered, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "First, the Vibranium. Then, I'll decide what comes next."
The hum of the wards seemed to grow louder, almost as if the castle itself was alive, resonating with his excitement. Muzan took one last sip of his wine before turning away from the cabinet. The plan was set, the pieces were in motion, and soon, the Vibranium would be his.
As the torches flickered and the castle walls seemed to whisper secrets to one another, Muzan's mind raced with possibilities. He wasn't just thinking about the Vibranium he was thinking beyond it. What came after. What he could accomplish once the indestructible metal became a part of him.
"Near Indestructible body." he whispered, the word rolling off his tongue like a promise.
The night outside grew darker, and the wards hummed on, a steady reminder that the castle, like its master, was always watching.