Chapter 4: Of Deals and Plans
"Darn it, where is he?" Uiharu mumbled to herself. She and Kuroko had been sent to the Seventh Mist mall to find a missing kid due to the parents having to file their taxes and their kid walked away from his chair. She had spent already half an hour looking around the mall, only to end up with nothing. She seethed in frustration; not being able to find the kid was just the tip of the iceberg.
It had been over a week since Aki began training Uiharu, and she hadn't been getting much sleep and was getting more easily flustered and frustrated. Today she yelled, not whined, when Saten flipped her skirt before promptly apologizing. Then she had gotten a tomato-based soup, which gave her heartburn and she had no heartburn medication. And finally before this missing kid case Uiharu had detected a virus on her portable tablet, and had to wipe everything off of it before it infected the Judgement servers; including all of her progress of her various tablet games that she poured days' worth of time into and a couple of essays that she needed to print off for school.
"Grr, my day has been terrible!" Uiharu muttered angrily. She looked out of the corner of her eye, seeing an older girl with a set of rather enviable bust beating up a trio of men, one of whom was moaning in pleasure? She shook her heads, thinking rather cynically that those three probably did something to deserve their fate. She walked past before hearing her phone go off. Grabbing it and answering, Uiharu wondered who it was.
"Uiharu here, how may I help you?"
"Ah Uiharu, it's Kuroko," the pink haired agent said. "I'm calling to inform you the boy has been found; he went to the arcade, and I was able to reunite the boy with his parents." Uiharu sighed; yet again it wasn't her efforts that 'saved the day' rather it'd been one of the high level espers. She shook her envy aside.
"Alright then, is there anything else we need to do?" Uiharu asked. She heard Kuroko check her tablet, a few clicks being heard over the line.
"Ah, let me see…it appears no," Kuroko replied. "Come back to the station whenever you can, it seems we got paperwork until curfew."
"Very well," Uiharu said before hanging up. She turned around only to bump into the girl she saw earlier. "Ah sorry miss, I apologize for bumping into you."
The girl, who Uiharu could now see in greater, had long black hair, brown eyes, fair skin, and had a rather polished looking forehead. The girl smiled lightly.
"Well, at least you have better etiquette than those three perverts," the girl said politely. "My name is Fukiyose Seiri, what's yours?"
"Eh, oh its Uiharu Kazari."
"Well it was nice meeting you Uiharu even if it was by accident," Fukiyose said. "I have a classmate to see, so see you next time."
"You too," Uiharu said, wondering if they would ever meet again. She began making her way out of the mall, thinking about her lessons with Aki and the notebook Aki gave her.
While they've only had one other lesson, it was informative. They had begun with trying to get Uiharu to heat water beyond a boil, and thus far they managed to reach 463 kelvin, or the ignition temperature of matches, or roughly a 24% increase in heat. For cooling things down, they managed 184 degrees kelvin, or the coldest recorded temperature at the Vostok Station in Antartica. Not as drastic a change as with heat, but Aki assured her that was to be expected; you can get hotter for longer than you can get colder. In theory there was an absolute zero, but not necessarily an absolute hot.
Aki explained that the hottest something could get before modern physics simply broke down was 1.41x10^32 degrees kelvin, which as Aki further explained was so hot that no one knew what would exactly happen. One of the hypothesis about what would happen is that much heat, acting a lot like mass at that point, would tear a hole in space time and function like a black hole, nicknamed a Kugelblitz. But it was only a hypothesis, and Aki wasn't sure that even as specific as uiharu's ability was she could reach such high temperatures.
The notebook meanwhile was giving Uiharu a lot of insight and ideas for her ability. It explained the various uses of modifying the temperature of objects. She could obviously freeze or burn things but that wasn't the limit. She could cause, with sufficiently high temperatures, cause the air to red shift into black, concealing her location, something Aki didn't do as she could alter the wavelength of visible light to act like a classic movie interpretation of a cloaking device. She could alter weather patterns to create localized weather events, but again Aki didn't do this as it was very chaotic and difficult to control, as everything from air temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, and many, many more things could alter a weather system. But Uiharu was heavily interested in something Aki did use, heat barriers.
Using a heat barrier to either melt incoming projectiles or freeze fluids in place, Aki noted it was highly effective in fights. Uiharu, tired of being defenseless in the various fights that her friends got into, was instantly intrigued, and tried to alter the air around her hands to act like a heat barrier. Alas, besides causing a fair bit of steam when she was caught in the rain, and then following it with creating a little bit of snow (which melted upon touching the wet ground), she hadn't done much.
"Hey, what do you think the boss is going to do when he hears about the runaway daughter of his niece training a level 1 esper?" Uiharu snapped her head to the source of that person, only to see a tall man in a lab coat with long black hair. He was walking with a blonde man wearing a pair of shades.
"You know how the boss is; wait and observe," the blonde replied. "If what Aki is doing has some benefit that he could exploit, then he will intervene. If not, then he won't do anything. But considering that Aki was trained by the best the family had to offer, I believe that the esper she is working on has potential, and we may be called to lend a helping hand."
Uiharu shuddered at the way the man spoke; it was cold and calculating, with a touch of apathy at the end, as though this was a man willing to go beyond morals to achieve what he wanted. The other man seemed…indifferent, more annoyed and bored with whatever they were up to. However, the two were talking about Aki and, if she was the only one Aki was training, then by extension herself. She began to follow the two, trying to remember what she learned from pop culture and some training manuals on how to tail people.
She tried to keep to crowds going in the same direction as the men, refrained from walking through groups of people going in the opposite direction, and in general kept them in her sight while trying to minimize how much effort she was putting into her effort. It seemed to be working as the two continued to walk and talk all the way out of the mall and towards…she didn't know where exactly they were heading, but it was going further and further away from the developed sections of the city.
"So, any ideas if the boss thinks that this Level 0 that Aki is training could hinder his other projects?" asked the black haired man.
"Doubt it," the blonde quickly answered. "The other projects are still in the early stages, and thus not obvious for someone to interfere with quite yet. Also, remember that the boss has a lot of pull in the city, easily rivalling the Board of Directors."
"True, but still," the other man said. "I'd hate to be on the receiving end of being someone's wrath due someone or something mucking the boss's plans."
"Amen to that."
"Say, what exactly are we picking up?"
"Something the boss has been interested, and myself for that matter. Remember that major pharmaceutical company that went under…three months ago I think?"
"Yeah, don't remember the name but I remember the papers were making a big deal of it. Is it something they had?"
"Sort of; it's the chemical formula for a product they had built to be 'the next big thing' for Academy City, but during testing trials it had some serious side effects. It did what it was promised, but in the subjects it caused radical mood shifts?"
"What, like my ex on her period?"
"No, more like the ax-crazy bastards in slasher films."
"Sweet Christ, so why's the boss interested in something like that?"
"Because it did boost the powers of Espers, and with a training regime it could lead to faster level ups for Espers," the blonde explained. "But we need the formula first before we can go about tinkering with it. Hence the gentleman in front of us."
Uiharu quickly realized her position, nearly completely exposed in a dimly lit parking garage. She quickly ducked behind cover and pulled out her tablet and set it on record. She may have lost her game data, but she sure as shit would have something to ensure she could pursue these men in the future. Whatever they were up to, it didn't sound good.
"Hello there, you got the money?" asked a high-schooler in a wife-beater and a beanie cap. Uiharu spotted a symbol of the Imperial Rising Sun, recognizing the person as a member of the up and coming Rising Sun Cell of Skill-Out.
The Rising Sun Cell weren't like most Skill-Out gangs, content with harassment and smuggling operations. They focused on arms deals, acting as middlemen for big deals, extortion and racketeering, and finally armed assault. The first reason no one could bring them down is because they were rather small for a Skill-Out gang and thus difficult to find, and secondly they didn't so much as care about the class warfare as merely exploit it for their own ends, working both sides to get more influence for themselves.
"Indeed we do, but first, do you have the product?"
"Yeah, was a bitch to get as the warehouse was in that district where a bunch of the other dumbass Skill-Out gangs decided to riot to no end," the high-schooler said. "But we got the plans, although why not the product?"
"That isn't your concern," the blonde said icily. "Just be sure that your operations don't interfere with ours, and we'll be fine." The High schooler snorted.
"Whatever, all I care about is making a buck in this shitty city." The High schooler took the package out of his shirt, a simple yellow parcel that kept covered whatever was inside. "Here's the good, where's the cash?"
"Right here," The blonde said, handing over a brief case. The high-schooler exchanged the package for the case, lifting it up and down to check its weight before opening it. He whistled once he got a good look inside.
"Right, well then, nice doing business with you," the high schooler said. The blonde nodded.
"I wouldn't call it business, more like a one-time exchange, but none the less same to you," the blonde said. The Skill-out members slinked away into a van before pulling out, leaving Uiharu to quietly get it away and give the video to her higher ups for analysis.
While Uiharu made it out of the garage, the two men remained, before looking over the ledge to see the person their boss was interested in going across the street down below.
"Kind of amusing how she thought she escaped our notice," remarked the black hair man. "Katsu, what's your opinion on her?"
"She seems like a pest now, but who knows, perhaps she will be better than those rejects from Dark May Taki," Katsu replied to his associate. "Anyway, you destroyed whatever video she recorded.
"Aye, she will be most disappointed when she finds out that not only was her video destroyed but so was her tablet," Taki said before raising his hand, revealing a large black disc in his hand. "This handy EMP pulse may have a short range and not be strong enough to knock out a vehicle, but tablets sure as shit aren't shielded against them."
"Good, then let's get back and see what our boss wants us to do next; he is about to propose to the headmaster of Tokiwadai to start a program to train lower end espers using their espers and entice Aki into attending."
"Ah, so I assume it is so we can get access to Ms. Kazari's development without having to patrol the city like a bunch of pedophilic stalkers," Taki said. Katsu nodded, chuckling at how absurd it would be if he and Taki were to stalk Ms. Kazari in a black van with tinted windows. Talking about textbook pedophile.
"Yes indeed, but we need to get a move on, I hope that my concoction works."
"Ah, what crazy poison did you make this time?" Taki asked.
"Very simple, a clear powdered form that is able to be absorbed through the skin that acts a lot like Strychnine poison," Katsu said. "When those idiots count their money, they will suffer a death that most would rather avoid via a bullet to the brain then what Strychnine offers."
"Damn, that's fucking brutal," Taki said. "Still, they in general oppose the will of the boss and his family, so they deserve it."
"Yes they do," Katsu said, ferally smirking at the thought that those idiots he was forced to deal with were going to die due to their greed.
"Ah, so relaxing is the Veil," muttered Maximillian, observing the Veil. The Veil wasn't something easily explained to someone unversed in magic, but even to those that understood magic it could still be complicated. It could be called a pocket dimension, one only accessible through esoteric rituals, where all the laws of physics and magic on Earth were rendered null and void. It could be seen as a place where anything and everything was possible and not possible. It could even be called the place where things that shouldn't exist could exist.
As far as the eye could see was layers upon layers of azure blue-colored mist, and anything Maximillian need would easily appear before him. Right now, a nice plush chair was surrounded by a library unlike any man could dream to have. Truly, even with a fraction of the tomes in this library could disrupt the balance back on Earth, but Maximillian couldn't care about humanity; no, only knowledge mattered, and he knew his patron Lord understood his fascination with knowledge.
Maximillian turned his attention to a floating blue orb heading his way.
"What is it you require milord?" Maximillian asked. Through the orb a voice came forth, in a cultured tone that no man could be fit to have.
"Maximillian, you know doubt have glanced into the possible futures that lay before us," the voice said. Maximillian nodded; he had spent some time observing the possible futures about Rubedo had come by.
"Yes, I have milord," Maximillian answered. "Why, do you wish for me to take advantage of the situation for you and the others milord?"
"Indeed, the others grow restless, and I desire to see an almighty clash to occur," his lord said. "I too grow tired of this false belief that continues to festered on Earth."
"Peace," Maximillian spat out like it was something incredibly bitter.
"Yes, peace, or what those insolent fools delude themselves into believing is peace," his lord said. "I believe a great culling is needed, but for that to happen, we Lords need bodies to house our souls, more servants to be at our beck and call, and a large gathering of devouted zealots to follow our path."
"I see, where do you wish for me to start?" Maximillian asked. The orb, despite being featureless, gave Maximillian the impression his Lord was smirking.
"First gather us seven devout servants," his lord commanded. "Through them we can begin the process of giving us Lords a physical form. And when that is completed, you will be rewarded."
Maximillian frowned; he had already been blessed once by his Lord with knowledge beyond reasoning.
"What more could I get?" Maximillian said. The orb vibrated for a few, before a chuckle came out.
"You will be ascended to a status that few could hope to reach; not even the so-called Magic Gods will be able to compare with your power, and your form will be remade to better fit your new status," his lord explained. "But regardless, one thing of note before you begin finding the lords their servants, I have already decided on a suitable person for my servant."
"Is it the inevitable victim of Rubedo?" Maximillian inquired. His observation into the myriads of futures had a few constants, one being that during an ambush Rubedo creates a vampire to act as her servant.
"Indeed, she is much more…worthy of being my servant than that arrogant vampire," his Lord answered. "Therefore, I want you to enter Academy City and begin using rituals to connect her to me; I shall handle the subversion myself."
"As you wish milord," Maximillian said. "But please remember that pride comes before the fall."
"I remember that all too well, but I understand your concern," his lord said. "Now go Maximillian Faust! Go forth and bring about our ascension from obscurity! Bring forth seven servants of Hell and bring forth the day of Judgement!"
"At once, milord Lucifer the Mourning Star!" Maximillian vowed, snapping his fingers. A glow engulfed Maximillian before he reappeared in Japan, in his former uniform. A black M32 officers jacket with matching trousers with a black visor cap with two symbols on it, the first was a silver skulls and bones, and the second above it was an eagle with holding a wreath with a swastika in the middle.
"My lord, allow me to finish what I started for the Thule Society and the Schwarze Sonne Society!" Maximillian said before setting off, wondering how his arch enemy would react to seeing him still alive. After all, not many can claim to still live after facing against the Blasting Rod of Aleister Crowley.
Author's Note: I'm back. Sorry, I know its been a long time, but life caught up with me, and it wasn't sunshine and rainbows. Nothing back happened to me in particular, but family-related drama has caused some stress and winter in Northern Nevada was annoying. Seriously, I hate snow and ice, and I had to deal with it for almost the entirety of Winter here! Ugh, but onto reviews!
-RPGPersona: I agree, the anime is really fluffy and nice, but this story is going to a more somber and serious route. I do enjoy making my stories technical as it shows that the author actually put in the effort to make their story make sense and to have some flow of logic. As for what Maximillian is up to, well you see here he is up to no good. He is setting up Rubedo for his lord's plan, and he is pretty apathetic to people in general. That is all I'm going to say for now, as we will look more into his personality later.
-Guest 1: Dark Uiharu was a joy to write the first time I wrote this story, so I plan on improving her for this one. Just be patient; it shall come.
-Firedusk: Next chapter is here, rejoice!
Guest 2: Alright, note I can only take down up to a max of 3 reviews a day, so give me time to take them down. I will get them down, just give me time.
I don't have anything to say about this chapter, but be prepared for the next chapter! As always guys, please, read, review, follow, and favorite, and I'll catch you guys next time.
PS: In case anyone wonders; I don't cancel my stories regardless of time it takes for me to update my chapters. Unless I state otherwise, the story is alive. Thought I should clarify.
