Chapter 18: Competition

10:15 AM (Japan Time), Sunday March the 11th…

"Hello there, Boss. How'd it go? My little idea…"

"Perfect. They were pounded! The prototypes were defeated. However, Yamato Man beat Blues without having to sweat too much."

"What a pity. I'd loved to be there to see his face."

"Don't worry, Andy – kun. I recorded it."

"Did you get what you sought?"

"Yeah. We can finally complete the side-project."

"Excellent. I've been looking forward to it."

Suzuki was sitting on the chair inside of her room and listening to the conversations next door; she was writing down important words in a piece of paper as if to try to make a connection between them.

"When do you estimate those to be completed?" Kage asked.

"About two weeks… The materials aren't easy to gather and the assembling will have to go through a lot of trial and error before we can get a stable version which we can then replicate." Noir replied.

"Alright… Let's not rush it up! Let's give them the idea that this little project is important… It ain't that much for the time being, but once we figure out how to improve them then…"

"Sure."

"By the way… Is it true that Ikada – san has been tricking Zarashe with stupid pranks? Giving him sour drinks, and such?"

"Too true, I'm afraid. President Hades is to reach a verdict today."

"I guess he'll tell her not to sink his morale anymore and not trick him anymore. I don't think Ikada wants to anger the President."

I don't think this is worth mentioning to Tango – dono…

"By the way! I got a line with Uncle Merton. Shall we try pitting our wits against his?" Noir amusedly suggested.

Uncle Merton? Who's that?

"Terrific. Go for it, Boss."

"… Hello there! You've just called Uncle Merton's Number 1 nephew: Superintendent Oda!"

He's actually calling Superintendent Oda!? And what's with that "number 1 nephew"!? Guess it's like the rumors said, then… He jokes a lot!

"Uncle Moran's Number 1 nephew: Chat Noir."

"So! You're the fellow who wants to pit his wits against mine? I was waiting for your challenge, my fellow!"

"Correct. Glad to be able to satisfy your wish."

"Then… Showdown!"

"As you wish!"

"A gentleman brings a gentle man into a party!" Oda made up a silly pun on the spot.

"A Mexican who tries to ring the White House gets patched to the usual lazy Mexico City Post Office employee!"

"A fellow walks into a bar and asks for both a beer and a mop 'cause he's a skeleton to begin with!"

"The librarian buys a library and invents Library Man to do all the work for him while he enjoys some hot-dogs!"

"A fellow goes to Frankfurt thinking the town is the biggest Frankfurt in the world and ends up disappointed!"

"Man-eater running shoes come down from outer space!"

"Good, my fellow, good!" Oda congratulated.

"Command a commander!" Noir improved next.

"Order an order!"

"Dance a dancing master!"

"… Those are so… silly. Really." Akemi groaned.

"Yeah. I know." Suzuki sighed.

"That's it, Boss! Keep at it! You have what it takes to do it. You really need to show them how you can shine when ya want to. Ya used to be too dry and hostile when we met, but I've helped ya improve."

"I know. Old man Twilight's to blame…"

"Twilight?" Both girls wondered.

"He must've had no sense of humor!"

"None at all. Always so cold and hostile… No wonder."

"It'd seem you've had bad luck when it comes to the CEO of the corporation, my fellow."

"Old man Twilight wasn't a CEO of any corporation. That doesn't matter 'cause what's left of the jerk and the other black-bearded old man is on the bottom of the ocean, within a watery grave."

"So true." Legato muttered.

"Hey, Ijuuin – kun… Do me a favor." Oda called out.

"What? Coffee? Sheesh!" Enzan asked back as if foreseeing it.

"Look up some man named Twilight."

"Twilight? Fancy name! Who's that?"

"Uncle Moran's nephew former boss, from the sounds of it… Some man with no sense of humor. He apparently died in an accident in the sea!"

"Uncle Moran's nephew? Not again! I've got no time for non-existent guys drawn up of the blue. I'm trying to train, SIR!"

"How disappointing, monsieur Ijuuin."

Noir taunted over the line after using a gas mask to distort his voice.

"Noir! You can't be serious, Superintendent! You're speaking with an enemy leader, and you don't say anything?"

"We were having a showdown, you see."

"Showdown? Over the phone? How?"

"Simple. By telling each other what our uncles taught us…"

"You're not gonna tell me the guy is in the club too."

"Blame Miquel – kun! He gave me the necessary morale boost to accept this new behavior." Noir shrugged.

"Kage is there?"

"I'm your kage." Kage made a pun.

"Don't fuck me."

"Who said I was and how could I do that over the phone anyway? Hikari – kun said you were like Holmes. Maybe he was praising you too much. Or maybe your brain's little gray cells have become rusty, too?"

"Grfjtx! I demand to know your ID!"

"Demand? You're not in the grounds to demand. Even if you're Net Police's Cyber CID, I've got no obligation to elude on my ID. It's for my own safety! There are grudge-filled imbeciles out there which would slice my neck off if they knew where I was at." Noir replied.

"What! But what the heck did you do!?" Enzan gasped.

"Nothing. It's just that they want to blame for the death of their boss, when that crazy guy should be blamed instead."

"That "Twilight" guy…? Who's that?"

"Who was the guy? Find it out… if you can. The guy made sure very few persons knew his existence and even less his name… I'm one of those few left alive… The others have been silenced over time…"

"Wonderful! This sounds like a spy movie!"

"What!? Video Man! You're not gonna tell me you were eavesdropping! Were you!?" Noir questioned.

"I apologize, sir! Curiosity got the cat, sir…!"

"Leave now! Before I think it over and shut you down for a month's time as punishment." He icily warned.

"They should invent Superintendent Oda Reloaded."

"Oh come on." Enzan groaned.

"Ijuuin… I can see the sweat dripping down your back and your forehead 'cause I'm a psychic…" Kage joked.

"Hmpf! You don't impress me!"

"Trying to play the cool guy? About time. I wanna see the real guy who bossed Hikari – kun around and showed up to save the day when Desert Man got into the Net Police's HQ thanks to the Muramasa Blade they accepted from the mighty and great Serenade."

"I won't deny that's what happened, obviously enough, but you'll regret challenging me to bring my anger out. This show is mine! Hikari won't steal me the spotlight this time around!"

"I see. If you believe yourself to be so almighty… Why did you behave like that during the apparition of Greizer? Telling him to "handle the rest"! And then you went napping as if you didn't care anymore!"

"Fuck. I'd forgotten about that!"

That's gotta be a spot where he doesn't have a convincing answer ready! He walked into Kage – kun's pace… What nerve!

"… Alright! We managed to settle an agreement so I won't be lured in with those tricks and then get into the trap… That was blowing my morale up like a shotgun!" Zarashe exclaimed outside.

"What did the bitch do today?" Tozukana demanded.

"Yikes! Tozukana – san! Eh… That's… She invited me to green tea but then revealed it was water with herbs mixed on it…"

"I knew it! That bitch is screwing around with everyone! I sometimes feel like breaking that bitch's skull with the riffle's butt!" She raised her voice's volume.

"Do excuse me?" A slightly annoyed voice rang out.

"Who…? YIKES! M-Mr. President…!"

"See?" Lily sounded like she'd seen it coming.

"Oh come on." Beta X groaned.

"Did you just utter a threat upon the life of a fellow companion of our organization, Miss?" Hades icily asked.

"I g-got into a bad mood, sir… I wasn't being serious, sir…"

"It better be so. Rule #11 forbids such things! I could sanction you by having you cleanse the toilets instead of training for another mission. Today I'll let it slip. I just had to settle this matter between Ikada – san and Zarashe – kun, and I didn't like your tone, Miss."

"R-roger, sir… I-I'm going to… Hum… Reflect!"

"Hmpf! So you're not perfect!" Enzan tried to taunt.

"Who said we were?" Legato countered.

"I don't wanna listen to that Blues imitation."

"Kyoudai has nothing to say?"

"Go to Hell and don't come back. Ever." Blues growled.

"Good. I'll pick Lufthansa to go there, then."

"So, Ijuuin. You wanna dig out all you can about us, then? Be our guest, I'd rather invite. We won't get in your way! We don't care what you use to search for us." Kage invited.

"Challenging me? You'll end up regretting it, I'd say."

"Who knows? Maybe Uncle Merton knows?"

"Speaking of Uncle Merton… He once told me to tango a tengu with sevillana BGM…" Oda joined the conversation.

"Not again… Someone bring cello-tape and plug this guy's mouth before he drives all of us crazy."

"Make sure it ain't infected with vile, wise and elite bacteria before using it, though!" Oda warned with obvious sarcasm.

"Come on. You expect me to fall for that one? I'm off! You'll regret pissing me off, you jerks."

"Come anytime." Noir invited.

"We'll lay the red carpet for you, kyoudai." Legato taunted.

"I won't fall for that."

"Well then… My fellows! Let us exchange wisdom again."

"Delighted…"

"That was fun. I now hope to face the real Ijuuin Enzan and not some meek version of the guy." Kage sneered.

"And I wanna see the real Blues too. Next time there'll be no need for the Ryuusei Program. Our own potential will suffice. Our strength which we've built up…" Andy added.

So it's coming down to this: the rivals' race…

"… I tried to search "Twilight" but didn't find much apart from the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for both GameCube and Wii. Wasn't expecting to find it so easily, anyway." Akemi reported.

"Guess Vice President Noir wasn't exaggerating when he said very few persons got even to know about his existence or alias. "Old man" may be a scorning form of mentioning him so he isn't necessarily on his 60s. If they're dead, it hardly matters though." Suzuki deduced.

"… Hey! Felix! How many points did ya score?" Tozukana called out.

"…350." He simply replied.

"Wha~t? You beat my 335 points record? HOW?"

"…Skill." He shrugged.

"Sheesh! Then I gotta get serious in that department too!"

"It ain't like 335 is a bad score."

Tom was trying to avoid Tozukana getting another temper of hers.

"Alright! I'll go for 353 next! Then we'll see which is the best sniper onboard this club! Gotcha, Felix? That's a challenge!"

"…Come anytime."

"Man! Hell! Have it cha way: I need some shooting to take out this frustration of mine! Let's go, Lily!"

"Roger… Huff. What a day!"

"…Competition, huh…" Qong muttered.

"I know it sounds silly to you, who were told how many to kill each day if you wanted to live through it." Tom shrugged.

"…Yeah…That's right…"

"But this is not the battlefield! That woman hasn't been in one, and can't begin to imagine what it is like. I can't, either. Yet you and I cooperate because I'm point and you perfect your aim based on my observations of the terrain." Tom was telling him.

"…Correct…"

"In short! Competition fuels each other's ambitions and desire to be at the top of everything through personal effort. We've come this far we can come farther." Tom continued.

"…Indeed…"

"But we mustn't overdo it so go rest for a while and then we'll go for another round: I'll think of new customizations."

"…Handle it…"

"Roger. Leave it up to me!"

"That was interesting. I'd always been wondering how they interact with each other given their attitude. By the way, Akemi… Are those scars on Tom really the marks of killed Navis?"

"No. He put them there to cause a stronger first impression into the opponent and also to give way to fear and rumors which would make the enemy doubt." Akemi corrected.

"I thought as much… Any grunt would run at the mere sight of those yelling there's a serial killer knocking at their doorstep. Combine that with an emotionless sniper and you get a terrific combination capable of scaring the most macho of mafia bosses."

"Did you tell that to Tango – dono too?"

"Not yet. Those were speculations on my part. I wanted to be sure of what I said before reporting back."

"In our case, I help organize your schedules and make sure to cover our trails when we need to be contacted. This "spy" thing isn't really serious, but at least our safety is guaranteed. I like the thrill of working on the TV then I've got no trouble helping you during the make-up preparations and such. We're partners, after all." Akemi replied as she crossed her arms and leant against a wall.

"True. I hope we can continue together as we were. You're my best friend, Akemi. Please don't overdo it just for my sake. I'm concerned about you, too." Suzuki told her as she took out the earphones and turned the chair to look at her.

"Thanks for the confidence, Martha – chan. I'll do my best and I'll help you in anything I can. We're friends who support each other in a perfectly symmetric manner."

"Even if we don't figure out all of Golden Star's secrets, we can continue here anyway. It's not like the PSB expects it to be easy, anyway."

"Obviously enough. Let's see what the Navis are up to."

"Shah, shah, shah! Now that sounds fun! Good finding, Video Man!"

"Slur – sama said to contribute, so I guess this counts as it?"

"I'll ask Commander Legato once he's done with the meeting."

"Hmmm? Video Man, Burner Man and Needle Man are working together, for once. They seem to be planning something."

"Talk about curious. I wonder what it could be…"

Akemi had opened the holographic display; the aforementioned trio were sitting together in stone stools and forming a circle as they were going over something.

"I'm back from my patrol. Did anything interesting happen, Cosmo Man?"

"Not really, Dark Man. Those three over there have been up to something for a while but it'd seem it's part of something to contribute to the organization as a whole."

"Curious. For my part, I only found a bunch of wannabe thugs who were trying to pose as hitmen from some Yakuza clan. I beat them to an inch of their life and then announced that the Reverse Internet is steadily becoming OUR territory. They obviously fled away while blaming each other for the blunder."

"Hmpf. Weaklings. Fools."

"Obviously enough, Pharaoh Man. We knew that, 90% of the time, we'd have to deal with them. We understood the conditions."

"You're right, Cosmo Man. I do not intend to break the clauses, obviously enough. I must be more conscious of what's expected from us."

Dark Man had come into the system and talked to Cosmo Man and Pharaoh Man as they stood in a corner of the area.

"Is something the matter, my comrades?"

"No, Yamato Man, it's no big deal. We were talking about our duties."

"Hmmm! Excellent! Being aware of one's duties proves that they take their command seriously!"

Yamato Man walked over to them and joined their conversation as he held his spear on his right hand.

"Nobody questioned that. Also, remember that even if those three look very carefree, VP Noir built them. He knew that they would be up to the tasks as well."

"Good point, Cosmo Man. Lord Serenade also spoke of not underestimating others. In fact, being carefree proves they have a wide heart that is less prone to rely on anger."

"Interesting point of view, yes." Akemi muttered.

"I see why everyone speaks of higly of him. He sounds like he was someone who preached not to rely on hatred to win." Suzuki deduced.

"Sorry for the wait, guys. What's up?"

"Commander, sir! I busted some weaklings poking in our territory, sir!"

"Excellent. Hmmm? What are Video Man & co. up to?"

Legato came into the system so the 4 Navis who'd been talking amongst themselves saluted; Legato glanced at Video Man and the other two.

"Commander, sir! We're finishing a project, sir. It's intended to help the morale when there's tense moments, sir. Some crazy humor, sir."

"We're gonna submit the data so that you can study the idea, Danna."

"Shah, shah, shah! Slur – sama told us to contribute, so…"

"Alright. I'll take my time to look at it with Noir – sama. In the meanwhile, don't forget the training. This applies to all of you. Slur – sama doesn't tolerate slack, as you well know. Provide results!"

"I agree. I also should go over the training too."

"Yeah. I'll go to the shooting range, too. Anyway. Morale is good overall. We must wait for the next move… What it'll be?"