Chapter 23: Advancement
16:51 PM (Japan Time), Sunday July the 2nd…
"… You still weren't able to locate those two?"
"I shall offer no excuses."
"Sheesh. They saw it coming so they cut off all contact…"
Priest sounded annoyed once Annihilator Man appeared inside of the capsule and bowed.
"I was able to retrieve their Annihilator Chip: it had a transmitter emitting a signal through the IP address I use to remotely control the Net Navis: but there were no other traces. The Chip was at Akita Prefecture's Akita City, My Master." He reported next.
"Directly north of Yamagata Prefecture… It could be that they're heading towards Hokkaido, too… Did you check their flat in Ibaraki Prefecture, too?" Priest questioned.
"I did, but… There was nothing: I later found out that it wasn't their original flag but one they'd stolen off a high school student whose whereabouts turned out to be an infamous "club": Kazuhira pretended to be his elder sister. Hence, all furniture was not theirs and the only thing they took away was their own laptop."
"Damn. And there I go and get fooled…! Ancient was an idiot who didn't know how to appreciate the hand we lent him, so he resigned. But those women…! I'm sure Witch's coding to allow for the SSH remote control has been deleted, too. Whatever! Let them flee to the end of the world: Vadous will deal with that. Let's focus: how is development of the new energy system going like?" Priest grumbled.
"98.5% complete, My Master. All which is left is just small tuning and the economic balance of how much it costs to produce and how consumer-efficient it is."
"Hmmm… Then it could be ready in a few more days… Good enough: my goal is to complete it."
"The only reason we set up Rama was so that you, sir, could have a feeling of being powerful enough to avoid anything happening to your persona, sir? And, also… To have something to take attention away."
"Yeah. Ever since that day I felt like I was in need of power… Those suggestions I read through that forum were good enough reference. Once Rama ends the remaining three will be left to go their ways as they were doing before."
"Yet… Priest – sama. I have lately felt like there was some kind of "presence" lingering around us… And I don't mean the Net Saviors or the Subspace or Twilight, sir. It feels like another party altogether. Someone who might want to steal the research…" He warned.
"… Yeah. I've been having that feeling for a while, too… But I've taken precautions already. I want to be several steps ahead." Priest muttered with a hint of mistrusting.
"What should we do, then, sir? Do we focus on completing the project?"
"Yeah. Let's work on it: tell the three men that they're free to battle whoever they want but don't use the Annihilator Chip: I need you to focus your attention on the project if we want to complete it."
"Roger. I shall be going, sir."
Priest was left alone and he tapped the right armrest while bringing the left hand to his face.
"It's the best solution. This system is an expansion of the super energy system Father designed. It will become a clean energy source which will revolutionize the world in the years to come. We will be able to say goodbye to overuse of oil and coal as well as nuclear energy. And it will be the scientists who promote it, not the greedy markets… Such is my desire and so it shall be!" He muttered.
"Define "greedy", Reclaimer."
"Huff. Go check out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Let's get to work."
I've come this far. I can do it. No-one will be able to halt this revolution!
17:17 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Hello."
"Ah. Colonel. So?"
"I spotted Annihilator Man."
"Where?"
"Akita City…"
"Hmmm…"
Omega and Colonel were talking while standing in the uppermost row of spectator seats in the Internet City Stadium: Omega looked thoughtful upon hearing the info from Colonel.
"They must be looking for those two renegades. Let them be, then. Incidentally… Have you tried to have a look if you could find any evidence of Dark Land being up to something? Schneider Inc. did destroy the weapons the Desert Wraiths did and has recycled all the components to be profitable, so…"
"I went with Zero and Shadow Man to the Reverse Cyber World: it'd seem the Secret Services' departments are still trying to blame each other for their failure at seizing the weapons of the Desert Wraiths before they deserted Dark Land. It looks like the whole structure will collapse any day now and there are talks of possible civilian rebellions. The big boss has given up trying to impose order, too, even with threats." Colonel explained.
"I see. Well then… Let them destroy themselves. One headache less, after all! That's what we intended back then, too." Omega shrugged.
"True. However… Barrel Tai – sa feels like that's like bait to draw the attention out of the general command structure: they have potential to do things without the Secret Service, too."
"It makes sense when you phrase it this way… I'll talk it with Boss: we might be neglecting those guys way too much."
"Yo! Have ya guys seen a monster-like Navi 'round 'ere? I'm his aibou and I was waitin' for 'im!" A voice with Oosaka dialect rang out.
Both turned to the left to see Destruction Man there: he didn't seem to have recognized them, so they seemingly played along.
"Huh… No. We haven't." Omega replied.
"Monster-like…? Hum… I'm afraid not."
"I see… Sorry to bother ya guys… See ya." He sighed.
He headed towards another level and both of them discreetly followed him with the sight without moving from their posts: they spotted him reaching the lowest row and Balrog suddenly flew towards him from the left: they began talking but the noise of the stadium drowned their voices and made it unable to hear.
"Sheesh. We'll have to get closer."
"Leave it to me." Omega grinned.
He quickly ran down the stairs while seemingly looking in a rush and purposely missed one step to crash upon Destruction Man.
"Ow! Sorry… I forgot the time and my girlfriend is gonna be mad at me for being late…" He apologized.
"Oho. Then ya better hurry: it's no good makin' a nice-lookin' girl wait or ya get yer ears pulled." Destruction Man sounded amused.
"Yeah… And they then bring out the flames of Amon Amarth AKA Mount Doom… Bwah, hah, ha~h!" Balrog laughed.
"Huh! I gotta hurry!" Omega played the nervous.
He ran off and picked one of the way outs while grinning: he tapped his right ear pad twice and some static sounded through it along with the yells of the crowd and the voices of both Rama Net Navis.
"… Anyway… We're gonna go take down a big hound together, then."
"Yessir! We goin' to rumble and shake!"
So! They're going to bring down a large infamous club together… Since that's what we do, too, then we're not gonna stop them.
Omega met up with Colonel and signaled for him to come with him: they walked out of the stadium and Omega turned off the radio.
"I put a mike into Destruction Man… He and Balrog intend to take down a large gang along with their Operators at some point today. That falls within our interests, so let's let leave them alone: please focus on the Dark Land front and report any suspicious advancement towards this affair."
"Deal. We'll meet again." Colonel agreed on it.
He walked away while Omega slipped into the crowds as he hummed a tune and tried not to stand out: he spotted Shadow Man standing next to the Cyber World Higureya locale and talking with Davis.
"Yo. Preparing the newest joke directed at Higure, guys?" Omega asked.
"True. Joke Man is our sponsor, see." Shadow Man admitted.
"We're going to make him buy prayer beads, even." Davis chuckled.
Omega lifted his eyebrows as he followed both of them inside of the store: Number Man was humming a tune as helped organize the shelves with Aqua Man's help.
"Good morning. Welcome to Higureya." He welcomed.
"Pyururu~! 'Morning, pyu!" Aqua Man greeted.
"Commander David Bowman tells you to get ready." Davis grinned.
"The old gentleman living in the Amala depths commissions for strife to happen. So be it. Let's use debuff spells to weaken our foes." Shadow Man added.
"Ah. I get it." Number Man sounded amused.
"Ya~h! De masu~! It came, it came and it came~! De masu~! The Serpent God, de masu! Spare me, de masu~!" Higure yelped.
"Oho. Serpent God…"
"Mortal fool! Do not try to ignore my existence! You made a pact with me 15 years ago! Where are the worship stones, statues and monuments you promised?" A commanding voice questioned.
"T-thins changed along the way, de masu! 15 years is a lot of time, de masu!" Higure argued.
"When you make a pledge to the Serpent God for power you give something on return! I shall have those devices which seemingly give you such wealth!" The voice roared.
"N-not the Rare Chips, de masu! Take all the other Chips but please leave the Rare Chips alone, de masu!" Higure pleaded.
"I have run out of patience! You shall be destroyed here and now, you mortal fool! Infinity End!"
"A~H! DE MASU~! MS. GLASSY~!"
There was the sound of an energy attack being shot out and Higure seemingly collapsed.
"Veni. Vidi. Vinci." A familiar voice announced.
"Mi – Miyabi – san! De masu!"
"College of Charleston came to educate you."
"S-Senator Morgangantz, de masu…! Again, de masu…! I've been tricked with a hologram again, de masu…!" Higure cursed.
"Maybe Ms. Glassy's glasses are outdated? As expected of a charlatan and Mara-Hari wannabe." Charles joked.
"Worse: it's a cursed item." Miyabi added.
"OUT! COME OUT OF MY STORE, DE MASU~! Number Man…! De masu! You conspirer, de masu!"
"Tell that to Ms. Glassy: she was an agent working for both Dark Land and that Dr. Gate guy. She had to flee after she was exposed and no – one knows what became of her." Number Man replied.
"Grah! De masu! I'm cursed, de masu! Now I have to go and try to receive forgiveness from Mariko – sensei, de masu!" Higure uttered.
"Pyurururu~! Higure – san is desperate, pyu." Aqua Man muttered.
"True." Omega confirmed.
"Let's go out." Shadow Man suggested.
"And slay a vampire by the way." Davis joked.
"See you around! Aqua Man: you can go back already."
The four of them came out of the store as Number Man and Higure began to yell at each other.
"So?" Omega asked the other two.
"Dark Land, you mean? Too quiet. It was too easy to slip inside. They must want us to build up confidence: they loosened security on purpose."
"Yeah. Zero told me about it, too. They're obviously up to something but they want us to get the idea that they're sucking each other's blood off by now." Davis grumbled.
"Try to keep an eye out on your side, too, Davis and Charles. They could try something regarding the Justice Council, too."
"Of course. Wouldn't be the first time, anyway." Charles grumbled.
"By the way. I can feel the gateman looking on." Shadow Man warned.
"Meh. Not like Twilight will bother with those weaklings. Must be busy trying to avoid his cronies killing each other for supremacy!"
"Crony? Me? Damn you~! Gate Cannon!"
"Slow. Eat plasma in exchange, gateman of Amala depths!"
Zoan Gate Man showed up and tried shooting at them, but they dodged and Omega countered with a plasma round that his chest; he growled and used the "Remote Gate" to flee; Omega holstered the gun.
"There. Learn the lesson, you vermin? Never come back. Hmpf."
19:09 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Really… That's your way of saying "bye" before returning to Sharo Nation tomorrow, Laika?"
"Guess so… Does it bother you?"
"No. It amuses me."
"That's the side of you which draws me."
Laika was making out with Netto: he had that S&M gear on along with a blindfold and his forearms were placed behind him: Laika was lying face-up on the bed and gripping Netto's sides to pump in and out of his insides while keeping him in face-up position as well.
"And you play with the blindfold 'cause I look hotter to ya like this?"
"Yeah. And Enzan told me some tricks, too, but I have my own."
"Then try it: I'll treat you to a Maha Ichiban's meal next time you come back if you can make me moan." Netto challenged.
"Sure."
Laika sucked some of his fingers with his saliva and began to rub Netto's nipples at a soft and slow rate, but Netto didn't seem to notice it.
"Laika… I know you care for me and that you like me: this is just a game we do to make it more "exciting": you're not a soulless man who goes to one of those clubs to abuse a guy. So I won't care if we play a bit. And I'm 16 already! I can face those memories and not feel shocked at all: I just wasn't able to avoid those from happening. I told you over and over again that the deal of 4 years ago made me indifferent."
"Sorry. I still treat you like you were 12 again… You're right: you can't pretend it didn't happen the whole time. Okay. I'll do it, then."
"Go for it."
Laika rummaged inside of a small bag and took out two red plastic clothes peg, which he clipped them to Netto's nipples.
"OK."
Laika began to move them left and right before pulling them but Netto was proving to be more resistant than one would expect.
"Man. What do I need to break that façade of yours, a sacred sword capable of repelling demons?" Laika sarcastically asked.
"Dunno. Ask Tolstoy." Netto grinned.
"Very funny."
Laika then tried to grip Netto's balls but he didn't seem to feel it, either, and he rolled his eyes.
"I give up. I'll treat." Laika admitted.
"Whoa. I guess I'm turning into stone. Well. Since I've been having sex with others for years, it's no wonder."
"Let's keep as we were."
"Sure."
"Here I go."
Laika began to thrust in and out inside while Netto hummed the Star Wars tune: Laika increased his speed and rubbed Netto's cock at the same time: he looked like he was enjoying it and Netto drew a broad grin on his face.
"Here I go!" Netto announced.
He released and his release gripped Laika's cock thus making him release and overfill Netto's insides: his liquid began to slide down and both panted from the effort.
"Huff… Huff… Well… I'll be back in about a week's time since it's just the monthly training exercises…" Laika admitted.
He detached Netto from him and set him on the bed before sitting on his knees above his head and lifting it up from behind to have him take his cock into his mouth: Netto calmly followed the pace set by Laika and licked the head thus making Laika moan.
"You really don't mind it?" Laika asked.
Netto merely increased his own pace as if to reply: Laika closed his eyes and kept on pumping out of instinct until he released: he took his cock out and then shared a kiss with Netto: they broke apart and Laika looked at the white string of saliva linking them.
"I'm going to take this off." Laika told him.
He removed the blindfold and unlocked his forearms: Netto calmly rubbed his eyes and stretched.
"Nothing like a good thrill before supper…" He chuckled.
"Sure."
"Saito - niisan must've gone intensely with Search Man, too. But they don't play like this so it's a different experience for them. And since we've been having threesomes with Tooru – kun… Meh."
"By the way… You seem to have gotten an email." Laika glanced at Netto's Link PET screen.
"I'll check it out, then. It could be important stuff."
Netto climbed out of the bed, picked the Link PET and accessed his inbox.
"From Tooru – kun… Hmmm… It turns out he knew the student whom those two abused of… They'd met at an otaku convention where they cosplayed as characters from a manga named Swordsman Akira… They quickly found they shared many topics and have been in contact ever since then…"
"I doubt those two knowing it…" Laika frowned.
"Hmmm… According to further investigation, it'd seem he was lured out into a trap because those two broke into a flat after posing as 6th graders… Witch did the role while Prophetess played the cousin: while Witch was keeping him busy, she probably went ahead and set everything up: the student was rather disappointed to know he'd been fooled."
"That's a lowlife's strategy." Laika grumbled.
"Yeah… Fueling his mood up to then crush it…" Netto sighed.
"Anyway… Good luck."
"Oi. Don't run off. Wait until I take this off and then dress up again, will you?" Netto protested.
"I tricked you." Laika chuckled.
"You're a nice guy, after all, Laika." Netto admitted.
"Thank you, handsome." Laika teased.
He took off the gear and stored it on a suitcase, which he locked with a padlock and hid under the bed: they then dressed up and headed out into the living room where Saito was speaking to Search Man.
"How was it like?" Saito calmly asked.
"Turns out I'm the new Stone Man. Nothing impresses me."
"Interesting. Not many can resist Laika – sama's strength."
"Oh come on, Search Man! Don't make it sound like I'm a body builder or a boxing fighter… I'm but an amateur at these topics."
"Understood, sir.I apologize, sir. It was meant to be ironic, sir." Search Man apologized.
"I'm not angry at you, mind you. Just surprised at your choice of metaphorical expression." Laika reassured him.
"Roger, sir. I will be careful from now on, sir."
"Did Sigma and Blood find anything?" Netto asked Saito.
"No. Guess Zoan Gate Man will stay away after being taught a lesson a while ago. He's a coward to begin with, anyway." He shrugged.
"Good point. Bah. Let's forget those idiots and have fun!"
"Sure. We could go to the pool and train, too."
"Enjoy, guys. Search Man and I will soon be back!"