Chapter 10: Taunting
09:39 AM (Japan Time), Thursday June the 28th…
"… Man. This place still gives me the creeps."
Blues was investigating around the area where Cold Man had been deleted.
"Huh?"
He suddenly saw something and hid in the shade: it was a figure which sported a brown and ragged cloak which covered all of its body.
The figure was crouching and examining the ground before they suddenly stood up and spoke aloud: their voice was distorted by a device.
"This is Chaos. The damage in the area is greater than initially thought. It's going to take a while to patch it up. You should tell "Greek" to be more careful next time around! Shirakami is plotting something with a server in an Ameroupe army facility, but he can't access it from the Cyber World, it'd seem. Over." The figure reported to someone.
"Blues. Try to apprehend him." Enzan whispered.
"Roger."
"Blinder Battle Chip, Slot In."
Blues ran towards the figure and used the Blinder Battle Chip: he quickly grabbed the cloak and pulled it off: but, when the light dimmed, the cloak fell to the ground: there was nobody.
"Sheesh. Enzan – sama. He ran away." He reported.
"Blast. We were so close to finding out who "Chaos" is… Let's go report. Maybe we'll have better luck next time around."
"Let us hope so, Enzan – sama."
"Let's scram."
Not yet. You can't know yet. Someone else will know first…
09:57 AM (Japan Time)…
"… So! We still have no information as to who this "Chaos" person is or who is he reporting to…"
Commissioner Kifune was sitting behind his usual desk having his hands below his chin: Superintendent Manabe was standing at his right while Enzan was standing in front of him.
"No, sir. We were very close to ensnaring him or her, but they fled during the flash." Enzan declared.
"You did a good job, though, Enzan – kun. Have you found anything else about that group, the "Committee"?" He asked.
"Not much. I only found speculation and rumors. It seems that the one backing those people goes by the alias of "Mr. Sponsor."… He's rumored to have many businesses." He read a file he'd brought.
"Did you search the flat of that man?"
"There was nothing at all. It seems that he's really a pro. There were no fingerprints anywhere and everything was clean. The only phone numbers were those of the police, the firefighters and the emergency ambulance. The call log from his wireless was clean. No answering machine, either. There were no papers, no cards and nothing."
"Did you find anything about his origins?"
"I found nothing."
"You did what you could. That's good. You're dismissed, Enzan – kun."
"Yes, sir. I will be leaving." He saluted.
"Oh! Before I forget… How is Netto - kun?"
"He's fine: there's nothing to be worried about. But if we could have Laika come over then… His help would be greatly appreciated."
"Good idea. I'll contact Commissioner Malenkov. We need to figure out what's going around here and what happened yesterday."
16:09 PM (Japan Time), Friday June the 29th…
"… He should be about to arrive… Ah! Over there!"
Enzan was standing in the Arrivals Lounge of the Densan Airport when he spotted Laika walking over to him, carrying a small green-colored and wheeled plastic suitcase: they immediately shook hands.
Well. After some convincing by the Commissioner of the Sharo Net Police, he let go of that arrogant behavior and now tries to be more natural. To the point Netto entrusted him with their secret…
"Enzan. I heard about the situation. You're in need of my skills?"
"Yeah. Our top priority is investigating "Chaos". He seems to be in league with that "Committee" and the "Greek" but we want to make sure who they really are: you never know… They could be some mercenary which will then sell us for some money in exchange…" Enzan briefed.
"Please do."
They climbed into the limo and drove towards the town.
"How is Hikari doing?" He asked.
"He's doing pretty well. You know the story?"
"I'm aware that they're twin brothers and I know that he and Rock Man can swap their consciousnesses… I'm surprised that he told me in such a carefree manner especially…"
"I know. I did have a similar behavior with him before but after the Pharaoh Man crisis he told me as well. He insists that there mustn't be secrets between friends." Enzan admitted.
"And I admit my behavior was unproductive. Uncle put it clearly: "you can't force all other Net Saviors to be perfect copies of you, Laika!"… I got punished with cleansing the restrooms for 2 weeks!"
"That reminds me how I went to a company to sign a deal and I got mistaken by a janitor and I had to do all sorts of jobs: I thought it'd help wrap up the business… And then Drill Man showed up to mess it up."
"… Did they really need to make all of this mess?"
"Who knows?"
Search Man and Blues of them were investigating the alley where Cold Man had been deleted at and Search Man seemed taken aback by the high degree of destruction: he suddenly spotted something on a corner of his eye and checked it up.
"Laika – sama. There's a Killer Eye virus. Two o'clock." He reported while getting his Scope Gun ready.
"Killer Eye?" Laika raised his eyebrows.
"I see!" Enzan exclaimed while slamming a fist into his palm.
"Killer Eye can be used as tracers." Blues clarified.
"There's a Battle Chip to do that, right? This how they get the info. They're spreading lots of them and have them record."
"If we catch that Killer Eye…!"
An energy slice appeared out of nowhere, flew across the air at high speed, and cut the Virus in half, thus deleting it: Blues and Search Man looked around but found no one and nothing.
"It looks like someone escaped out just now. I managed to glimpse a Navi's data." Search Man checked with his scan capabilities.
"And they won't make more slips: you can bet on it. They seem to read all of our moves beforehand too… This isn't frustrating enough!"
A piece of cyber paper floated down to their feet, so Blues picked it up with caution.
"What does it say, Blues?" Enzan questioned.
"Well… "Not yet. The time isn't ripe yet. But I'm not you guys' enemy: why I hide my identity is but my own idea of suspense. Chaos." … He wants to play with suspense, huh." Blues read.
"Odd fellow…" Search Man frowned.
16:27 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Here we are."
"Hum. Maybe I expected something far more gallant."
Enzan and Laika stepped into the VP office: Laika looked around while looking curious but, since the blinders were lowered, most of it was unlit and it didn't look that welcoming.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you. Wait a min: I'll grab my papers regarding the investigation." He told him.
"Sure." Laika shrugged.
The phone rang while Enzan was searching his desk's drawers: he checked the LEDs and spotted it was an external call.
You're not gonna tell me it's the old man again… Let's try to be careful. I don't want him setting his icy eyes on me. Enzan grumbled under his breath.
"IPC. Vice President Office." He announced in a polite manner.
This should prove I'm being cautious.
"Ijuuin Enzan – dono…" A voice with a slight foreign accent intoned.
This guy ain't my old man. He couldn't feign an accent and would never use such an honorific. Maybe it'd be best if Laika hears to it, too… I'll use the speaker.
Enzan pressed the speaker button so that Laika could also hear before he gestured with the head to call for his attention: this seemed to be important.
"And who might you be?" He politely asked.
"Call me Talos. Colonel Talos." The man calmly announced.
"Are you part of an army?" He inquired.
"I used to be in the Sharo Army during the last years of the Cold War."
Laika raised an eyebrow and looked hooked.
"Is that so?" Enzan replied.
He was recording the conversation at the same time Blues tried to trace the call.
"But worry not. We are not your enemies. Let's just say that we're neutral but we are more inclined towards the Net Police."
"Really? If that is the case… Why do you need to hide your activities?" He was rather skeptical.
"It's been our policy for almost forty years, my good sir. A war fought behind the scenes…" Talos calmly replied.
"Huh? Forty years… And you started business in Ameroupe. Isn't that right?" Enzan questioned.
"Correct, Ijuuin – dono." Talos confirmed.
"Can I ask what you are up to apart from fighting those people you call the "Common Patterns"?"
"I'm afraid that's Level 3 information." Talos countered.
"How many levels of clearance do you have?" Enzan asked although he wasn't expecting an answer.
"Three. Only the highest executives have the clearance. I myself have clearance up to Level 2." The voice remained neutral.
"And aren't you being a bit reckless by telling me this, Tai – sa?" He tried next.
"I have permission from the higher ups."
"Is that so? And what do you gain from telling me all of this?"
"We simply want to reassure you that we are interested in keeping those individuals at bay. We might use our own methods: do not be surprised at it. I am afraid that other affairs recall my full attention, Comrade. Do have a good morning. Farewell."
Enzan stopped recording and calmly placed the receiver back on its place: Laika looked thoughtful and was rubbing his chin with the right hand as if reflecting.
"Were you able to track it, Blues?" He asked.
"I offer you my apologies, Enzan – sama. The encryption protocol was too complex." Blues apologized.
"But you got a copy of it, right?" Laika assumed.
"Affirmative."
"Let's go back to the Net Police. Search Man can help decoding it." Laika suggested a course of action.
"I agree." Enzan nodded in agreement.
He picked the papers and they climbed back into the limo to drive away: Enzan was looking out at the landscape.
Alright. Next time I'll try asking if they're sure that that "Colonel Thunderbolt" guy won't try to rape Netto thinking it's a new "thrill" which is fashionable… Only a villain would come up with such propaganda! A heartless villain!
"Heh, heh, heh… Heh, heh, heh… Heh, heh, heh…"
"Huh? Did you chuckle, Laika?"
"No. It's coming from the PET."
"What's wrong, Blues?"
"Some kind of encrypted VoIP channel, sir…" Blues reported.
"Who goes there? Shirakami? No, wrong. Your tune is different. You're not Forte either." Enzan demanded.
"Wait a minute, sir… This chuckle… I remember! When I entered the Reverse Cyber World and found that monster…"
"I am "Nebula Grey"!" The caller exclaimed.
"Huh? "Nebula Grey"?"
"Heh, heh, heh… Heh, heh, heh."
"What do you want?" Laika demanded.
"Who knows, spoiled army gnat?"
"WHAT? Spoiled army gnat, you said?" Laika was infuriated.
"Heh, heh, heh, heh… Who knows? You spoiled CEO son?"
"WHAT? Spoiled CEO son, you said?" This time it was Enzan.
"Who knows? You legendary sniper wannabe…?"
"WHAT? Legendary sniper wannabe, you say?"
"Who knows? You legendary swordsman wannabe…?"
"WHAT? Legendary swordsman wannabe, you say?"
"Yes! Just like that: terror and confusion will rule over your bodies and minds and lead you to kin-strife, blood and death! Mwah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah!"
"HUH!" The four of them gasped.
"Such is the desire of my grand Master! The Master which rules it all and rules them all! The Immortal Grand Master!"
"Master! So you're not the Boss?"
"Who knows? You Net Police dogs…?"
"WHAT?" They grumbled.
"Soon! Soon enough…"
"Oi! Wait! What's this about?" Laika demanded.
"The world will end!"
"We're so scared, really." Enzan drily replied.
"Hmpf! So you want to play smart."
"So you're a genius with an IQ of 180." Laika taunted.
"Hah!"
"And you think we'll let you do as you like."
"Hah!"
"No good, Enzan – sama. The encryption is very powerful."
"The signal is being re-routed every 30 seconds! I can't get a hold of the origin point's router NAT or their MAC addresses!" Search Man grumbled next.
"Whatever you do is fruitless!"
"Sure, sure."
"Starting with trying to protect society…!"
"Oh yeah? Whys' that?" Enzan folded his arms.
"Because they will destroy each other…!"
"I doubt that." Laika was skeptical.
"Laugh and grow fat! Mwah, hah, hah! Hah, hah!"
"Tell that to your belly." Enzan came up with a taunting motto and formed a smug smile on his face.
"The bomb's about to go off…"
"WHAT? A bomb! Where? When…?" Both gasped.
"5! 4! 3! 2! 1…! BOOM!"
Both jumped off the seats, startled, but nothing happened: laughter rang out through the line next.
"Hah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah!"
"You bastard!" Blues growled.
"Show your hide!" Search Man challenged.
"No! Not yet. TOO early…"
"Wait! Are you "Chaos" then?" Enzan tried to guess.
"Chaos? Dunno! If you mean the repulsive traitor's pawns then I don't give a cent for them. One day they shall be annihilated!"
"Repulsive traitor's pawns…? So the commander of "Greek" and the other two betrayed your "Master"?" Laika deduced.
"Hmpf."
"Gotcha."
"I'd rather say Malenkov is screwing up with a cadet by now." The man taunted Laika.
"You bastard! Insulting my uncle's honor…! No! You were insulting the Commissioner of the Sharo Net Police!" Laika growled.
"Your old man, Ijuuin, is screwing with the son of some secretary there, in San Francisco." The man taunted Enzan.
"It wouldn't surprise me." Enzan was unimpressed.
"Grin and laugh while you can! Soon the world will end! Once I achieve my ultimate evolution! And my Master will begin a new empire outside of this planet! No! Not begin. Reboot! Reboot the Interspatial Empire! Mwah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah!"
The call finally ended and Search Man grumbled.
"I am sorry, sir. I was unable to get anywhere at all."
"Don't mind it, Search Man. They're serious."
"Guess I'll save it up as reference… If I could meet Blood Shadow or Sigma then I could pass that info into their boss… And maybe their Boss would know who "Nebula Grey", if that's their name, is…"
"Achieve ultimate evolution? Interspatial Empire? What a load of crap."
That's for you, Laika, but I've got a hunch that it was for real…!