"I'll be honest with you, chu, that has got to be the worst reason I've ever heard."
Don't get him wrong, Warechu was more than happy to be free of the mechanical bindings of before, but that hardly excused the hacker's weak line of reasoning.
"Eee hee hee hee hee." Anonydeath's school girl giggles only riddled the mouse's fur even worse. "Oh, don't be like that. You know I can't miss out on a wonderful deal like this~"
"Why can't you just be a peeping-tom like everyone else?" Warechu was immensely uncomfortable looking at the scene displayed fully across all thirty or so monitors.
The cybernetically armored hacker just clasped his hands playfully... or would that be 'her' hands - honestly, Warechu couldn't ever really tell, and so he just used whatever; the voyeur never seemed to care either way.
"Oh but I am. Look at her~" Anonydeath's voice deepened as the words slithered out in a pseudo-mock moan. Both the lust and adoration present in that simple command made Warechu freeze up; he knew Anonydeath would never lay a hand upon his beloved goddess willingly, but the extent of which he lusted over her image was revolting.
Never to touch; never to feel; only ever to admire.
Anonydeath was the type of creep to lounge about day after day, staring at the screens meticulously; always sure to view each and every inch of the goddess in an endless cycle of insatiable desire. He wanted to view her every waking moment, be it clothed or bare; not seeking to have her physically, but rather, to own her appearance.
Warechu might have felt the need to step in had he any worries that his once criminal partner might try something drastic, but fortunately for everyone involved, Anonydeath sought only to watch, and oddly enough it was only through her office; Warechu had yet to see an image or photo taking place in the woman's bedroom or washroom - at least Anonydeath had some integrity, albeit not much. Gamindustri's number one hacker, the metaphorical god of machines who could take command over all that was technological...
Was a Noire addict.
"Oooh, look look look, she's picking up her favorite pen again!"
"Her favorite pen, huh?" The Lastation Goddess was indeed using a pen; scribbling away at some documents or whatever. Either way, the clearly more ecstatic watcher stared at the screen with a form of captivation that prompted a question from the much less caring mouse. "So uh, you getting all this?"
"Every second of it; All being recorded and uploaded to my personal cloud~"
"Right, chu." It was wild how the goddess was the one being spied on, and yet Warechu felt lightning ripple across his body all the same. Either way, it was time to 'pop the question' again, and Warechu was hoping for a little more luck this time. "Are you certain there's nothing I can do to convince you to help us?"
"Unfortunately, no." Anonydeath came down from his high as he answered. "As I've stated the first time, my benefactor has provided me with the greatest setup to date, and I'd rather not risk losing it, even for you my fuzzy little friend."
"And that same benefactor is having you just... watch over the house while she plays with her toys?"
"Well, yes." Anonydeath spun around, bringing out a lazy tone. "I keep her systems alive and updated, and she provides me with whatever she wants." The mechanical madman linked his hands, leaning down as he crossed one metal leg over the other; it would have been rather threatening had the limb not been a bright neon pink. "She herself might not be all that bright - or even mature for that matter - but her mother is quite the force to be reckoned with. Whoever sent you to capture her daughter must have a death wish, because nobody crosses the Lerulians unscathed; especially those trying to kidnap one of the founder's children."
"Hold up; did you say Lerulians?"
"You've heard of them, yes?" Anonydeath chuckled next. "Certainly it must be a surprise to hear they've expanded to Leanbox, or has that information not crossed your path?"
Warechu, despite being of flesh and blood, was currently in the middle of an internal update. However, unlike the pitiful little humans, being a mouse offered him a higher intellect - in his humble opinion - and so he spent little time improving his internal sensibilities, perfectly providing the appropriate response.
"Who's daughter?" Okay, so it wasn't perfect, but it was the only thing on his mind. Now, Warechu did have an idea, but he was really hoping it was wrong.
"Why, the illustrious maiden Zaeda, of course. Come now my old friend, I thought you were smart enough to do some background checks before embarking on something so scandalous as kidnapping."
"Of course, Zaeda... her."
What dumpster have I thrown myself into? Warechu liked to think of himself as a clean mouse; the pinnacle of his kind. With that being the case, he had yet another wonder plaguing his mind in regards to the garbage he was apparently swimming in.
"Quite." Anonydeath clapped his hands. "Now it seems you realize that whoever sent you to capture the girl clearly isn't all that bright."
"Maybe she wouldn't be, chu, if it wasn't Zaeda herself." Right as he said that, Anonydeath paused.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard what I said, chu. Zaeda was the one who sent us to capture the girl; said she wanted to enact her 'justice' because the kid stole from her."
"Stole... oh dear." What followed next was a hefty sigh. "I see... so that's why the little lady wants me to so vigilantly suppress her movements. This is... troublesome."
"I'm confused now." Warechu admitted, knowing full well Anonydeath wouldn't ever bring up his admittance to anyone; none shall know of his lack of understanding. "You were suppressing her movements... despite knowing she was essentially untouchable?"
"It was her decision really. One moment I'm all set up in my old hideaway, sorting through the month's newest additions to my collection-" He waved over to the little laptop sitting on a stool a couple feet away from the main setup, of which an image of the Lastation Goddess bearing an old timey maid outfit was displayed across the screen. "And the next moment someone is already calling through my private line. I was curious, so I answered, and the girl said she not only knew who I was, but offered me a deal that sounded too good to be true; but here I am regardless."
"Okay." Warechu was skeptical that this was the entire cast of events, but ignored it in favor of the subject at hand. "So... assuming this setup was the reward: what did she have you do? It couldn't have just been to mask her movements?"
"In a way it was, and it wasn't."
"You lost me again, chu."
"She wanted complete anonymity; both on, and offline. To put it in basic terms: she wanted invisibility... or, at least the next best thing." The fluorescent fiend sighed again, crossing one arm across his lap and holding his armored head in the other. "Poor girl is a social butterfly though, so much so that she had me 'collecting' a few playmates for her to spend time with."
"Playmates..." Warechu's eyes bulged, and then toughened. "Are you saying all those women we saw were-"
"Brought here for the girl to socialize with: yes, that is very much the case. From how long I've known her - though it may be little - she sees the world and everyone in it as toys. Poor dolly's been spoiled her whole life I'd assume, so she doesn't see most people as anything other than tools for her own amusement. Strangely enough, I believe she's afraid of something; every now and then she has me confirm if she's still invisible to the tech world. If what you say is true though, and it is indeed her mother who's asked you to grab her, it would explain her apprehension."
Duh... I could have told you that, chu. Warechu shook his head, and looked back up at Anonydeath to speak again.
"Zaeda mentioned the girl stole something from her: know anything about that?"
"Nothing. With how many times she's checked in with me, she never once mentioned anything like that."
"Drat." That didn't help; not that it mattered anyway - they were asked to collect the girl, not recover what she stole. Even so, kidnapping your own kid was a little extreme in Warechu's books, but then again these were the heads of a criminal syndicate, so what would he know anyhow?
"Drat indeed. Regardless of what she took, I'm betting the punishment for such actions is quite extreme; nobody hires a professional hacker to help them avoid a simple spanking after all."
"Right... but I still have one more thought, chu." Warechu sent a puzzled look towards Anonydeath. "How did you get the taxi system under your thumb?"
"Them?" He then giggled for what felt like the hundredth time. "They aren't really 'under our thumb' so to say. Sarah simply waved her mommy's money before the cab company owner's face; he caved faster than my Noire spouts orders."
"And they're just cool with the fact she's a serial kidnapper?"
"They know who she is, and if we're being blunt, I don't think they know her mother is out to get her; they must assume Zaeda's allowed this."
"Darn, chu. I knew she was powerful, but I didn't think she was that powerful." Warechu made a personal note to never get on their boss's bad side.
"Not quite. The Lerulians have very little influence here in Leanbox; at best they purchase eggplants."
"Huh?"
"Yep." Anonydeath swiveled around again, turning one of the Noire monitors into an image of a graph. "Eggplants are still legal here, however over in Planeptune they've become a fairly lucrative - and profitable - resource. The nation's own gangs have a monopoly over the market, but rumors claim the Lerulians are trying to break into said market; making a deal with their 'would-be' competitors to offer a steady supply chain. They set up a line to import produce for planting within the nation, both making a quick payout as well as securing a steady relationship with Planeptune's local underground; potentially getting enough good graces to prove trustworthy and open up other co-operative projects."
"Okay, whatever." Warechu already knew about the whole vegetable trade, but that wasn't the big thing right now. "You said they have little influence here, but if that's the case then why were the taxi guys cool with all the kidnapping, chu? Yeah, money is great, but if they get caught then they're all screwed; they have to know that. Is the money they're getting really that much?"
"Erm... not quite." Anonydeath sounded... uncomfortable, and instantly Warechu was questioning why. The perverse internet veteran was cool with so much other trash; whatever it was that made him uncomfortable must have been crazy bad. "You see... Leanbox's citizens are a... peculiar sort, similar to Lowee in a way. You know how Lowee prefers... let's just say 'younger' looking girls to dot over."
"Yeah?" Warechu had seen it first hand; had the nation not valued 'family friendly' as much as they did it would be criminal with the types of shit they were into.
"Well... Leanbox is the opposite; they fancy themselves as 'elder enjoyers' to an extent, so..."
"They're legal." Warechu did not hesitate to mention that, especially with his mind still reeling back from his thoughts on Lowee.
"Quite, and still better than Lowee. However, with this in mind you should also know that - like over in Lastation - the people here are somewhat obsessive over the types they idealize. With that in mind I should inform you that Zaeda spends some of her off-time modeling for a few magazine companies, and has gained quite a few admirers."
"She has a bunch of simps then; what of it, chu?" Warechu was well aware of those social losers; fantasizing over an impossibility, believing they'd have a real chance with their little crush. It was incredibly pathetic in the rat's opinion, and the little guy was personally glad that he himself wasn't infected with such idiocy.
As the readers were seething from such blatant hypocrisy - a few or so even calling bullshit, and one embarrassingly named after a fictional character; my condolences - Anonydeath continued on with a nod.
"Yes, and would you know it, the taxi company we've roped into our employ is made up of hearty old men with simple dreams and joys."
"You telling me they're all simps, chu?!"
"I'm not 'telling' you anything, but let me ask this; did they have any magazines in the cab you took?"
"A couple."
"And did you take the time to check what was inside those pages?"
"No."
"Because I have, and let me tell you this: they've never had an issue without Zaeda filling out the 'business casual' section near the front... or the 'summer fun' part along the back."
"Geeze, don't these guys have wives or something?"
"Perhaps, but these are men well past their prime, and not exactly pretty ones at that." Anonydeath gave a sympathetic sigh. "I partially feel bad for them; they're not trying to be creepy, they're just hoping to reignite the flames of their youth, back when they were young men simping for milfs. Who better to drool over than the current most popular one of that genre?"
"One: I didn't need to know that. Two: how do you know that? Finally three: what does this have to do with their willingness to risk everything?" Warechu most certainly didn't need a crash course in pervert history, and he wanted his friend to know that, and probably everyone else for that matter - had anyone else been present that is.
"Ah, my simple, innocent little woodland friend; the knowledge of 'helping' an idol is the payment - the money is just a nice bonus. The men at the company recognised Sarah, and were instantly on board."
"That's just sad, chu." The mouse had, in that very moment, lost all ill-will towards the taxi crew - just being themselves was punishment enough for their crimes. "And here I thought my partner's adoration of cartoons was pathetic."
.
.
"That's weird..." Linda paused; her outstretched hand only mere inches away from another door.
She'd been checking rooms for the past fifteen minutes now, curiously still in search of her partner. Many were empty, with several leading to offices and bathrooms, living rooms and more. Oddly enough she hadn't run into him yet, which was concerning for a number of reasons. The rat was a lot of things, but a blatant idiot was not one of them, and so the fact she hadn't found him yet meant there was a chance something was wrong.
That wasn't what bugged her though.
"Strange..." Linda stared at her hand, pulling it back a little and observing it closer. It looked fine, and there was nothing off about it, yet there was a tingling in her body, and a desire that seemed to swell within the limb.
"Why?" It wasn't like her to get such a strong surge of emotion, and yet here it was. "I... no, I need to."
She clenched her hand into a fist, bringing it in as she shut her eyes and admitted the truth to herself.
"I'm kicking your ass later, Warechu." There were no 'ifs' 'ands' or 'buts' about it; she needed to beat him - it was essential. This innate desire to punish him came seemingly from thin air, and instinctively gnawed at her core. She would reap this vile reward upon him, and yet knowing this essential truth, she was left wondering...
What crimes prompted this need for justice?
.
.
"Sad as it is, they've worked wonders so far." Anonydeath turned back to the mouse in a playful manner. "We've almost collected a whole set worth of girls; just a few more and the dollhouse will be ready." He stopped, sighed, and crossed his arms. "But I don't suppose Zaeda will be all too pleased with that, will she?"
"Not a bit, chu. Are you finally coming around?"
"Unfortunately, it seems I must. Pooie, and I'd just gotten set up in the perfect place too."
"Well, look on the bright side, chu: maybe the boss will reward you for helping us catch her kid."
"Do you believe she would?" Anonydeath perked up again, and his lights seemed to shine a little brighter.
"No, not really, but we don't exactly have much of a choice, do we?"
"Still as much of a buzzkill as ever." Anonydeath erased his previous excitement. "But a correct buzzkill nonetheless. No, we don't have much of a choice... Well, you don't anyway: I'm certain I'd be able to hide myself for a little bit at least, but it wouldn't last long."
"So we're essentially in agreement right, chu?" Warechu won; he knew he won. Yeah, he didn't have to really fight for it, but a win was a win, and he took those.
"It appears that we are-"
A metal grate slammed right next to Warechu's side, and the little guy bounced several feet in the air; startled by the sudden noise and object by his side. He landed on the ground again, both aware and full of shock as a woman came tumbling after the metal.
"Agh, crap, that stings..."
"Oh." Anonydeath looked over towards the girl curiously; not that you could tell with his helmet and all. "Well hello there."
The woman's eyes widened, and she hopped to her feet.
"D-drat..."
"Linda!?" Warechu yelled, staring with a healthy dose of stilted shock, to which the woman whipped around.
"Warechu!? Finally, I found you!" She did a quick fist-pump. "I knew it!"
Warechu was so shocked, so confounded to see his partner again that he didn't move a muscle as she dashed for him. So incredibly frozen was he that the little guy all but rebound onto the floor as he collided with and left the back wall. Linda in respects merely clenched her wrist with her hand, twisting and stretching the fingers of the other as she let out a content sigh, seemingly satisfied with the quality of the punch.
"There: all is right in the world again." She then paused, taking on a more casual stance as she cast her eyes towards the neon metal-man sitting patiently in the chair. "Anyway: who the heck are you?"
"Anonydeath to most, but the name changes depending on the website." He clapped his hands with a gasp. "Would you happen to be the friend our gray little acquaintance spoke of?"
"The rat?" Linda sent a quick look over to the motionless body of her previously conscious partner, spitting out a quick 'meh' before facing Anonydeath again. "Pretty much. So, what were you two up to?"
"Scheming to capture Sarah."
"Is she the bitch capturing everyone here?"
"That is her." The pink one stated, and Linda smirked vengefully.
"Cool, so how are we doing this?"
Author's note
...
This one was a bit interesting.
No Kurome this time, but the pair have Anonydeath on their side, so that's partially a win. Zaeda's a milf now, and no, there's nothing any of you can do about it. We finally have the name of our first target too, not that it matters much; a target is a target. Kurome will probably make her appearance in the next chapter, after all, we can't exactly expect her to stay away for too long - especially considering Linda's track record for trouble.
See you later.