It's been an entire hour and twenty minutes since Hans had sent that text.
And it's been an entire hour and five minutes since the neighborhood heard the furious rumbling of an armored vehicle roaring in the middle of the night.
From the distance, the roars continued through the sleepy city. Racing from street to street, passing through empty red lights, then to the outskirts. Ignoring the opened curtains from buildings and curious and scared onlookers who remained walking in the streets.
Moving left and right then all over the sands as it ran through the piercing cold of the desert. Uncaring at how insane its movements are and how nauseous it might be for the poor souls that are inside of it. All it cares about is going faster and faster till the tire goes awry and the engine blows up. A crash waiting to happen, a malfunction in the works.
But still, it sped up. Zooming and plowing through the golden grains as a cloud of fine dust was formed behind it.
"Shiroko calm down! We're going to crash at this rate!"
"Wow! I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster! Go Shiroko!"
"10 kilometers north! Um… Shiroko, how fast are you going?"
"Not fast enough." The wolf girl pressed on the pedal again as it peaked at 80.
"Ahh! Slow down! Slow down!"
The sounds of gunfire and explosions are getting closer now.
"Ayane, sensei's location?" Shiroko asks.
"Just a few clicks ahead of you!"
"Nn." She pressed down on the gas pedal again.
"Uaahhh!"
"Wee!"
"…Shiroko is everyone okay in there?"
"Yes."
And she continued with her reckless driving.
"Alright! His location is close enough!" Ayane spoke out.
With a grunt of affirmation, Shiroko let her feet slam upon the gas pedal as they parked in the middle of the sand. Immediately, she picked up her gun and opened the armored car door.
"Let's go."
"…Ugh…" Hoshino struggled to stand up as Nonomi hoisted her up with her free arm.
"Alright!"
After calming down a nauseous Hoshino, the task force made their way toward the deafening gunfire and explosions. Feet slammed upon the sands as they saw the state of the battlefield from Hans' rampage. Fallen gangers, a few bullet holes, explosion holes, destroyed barricades…
And are that scratch marks on that destroyed truck?
More gunfire was heard as the coming echoes of gangsters came through, followed by more and more panicked shouting of delinquents.
"There! THERE!"
"N-No way! Run! RETREAT!"
"WAIT! DON'T LEAVE ME! AHHH! IT'S BITING ME!"
A loud crash entered their ears as the sounds of something moving away were heard.
"Nn. Must be Hans-sensei."
Then more screams of terror.
Hoshino halted. "Wait. Something is-"
Just as she spoke, a ganger was thrown a few feet high in the air before plowing right next to them and into the sand. Helmet cracked, and clothes torn. Like she had been mauled by a predator.
Hoshino let her heartbeat fluctuate for a moment as she watched the surroundings. Bullets and other gigantic holes all around, fallen bodies, broken and destroyed makeshift barricades and vehicles…
And finally, a strange white mist all around the desert.
"Woah. What happened here?" Nonomi commented, looking at the downed gangster.
Hoshino let her eyes spin to the mist. Twin-colored eyes narrowed before they dimmed, meeting the red irises of the man exiting from it. Surrounded by the aftermath of his one-way combat as fallen helmet gangsters with bullet holes and cracked helmets decorated the golden sands.
And for the moment… she lost her voice.
"Sensei, are you alright?" Shiroko walked ahead first, meeting the adult as he walked out from the mist, unharmed and neutral.
"Woah, did you beat them all alone, sensei?!" Nonomi asked with a starstruck expression.
Hans nodded and pointed to the distance. "Serika… five kilometers."
Shiroko nodded. "Sensei, here." She gave him an earpiece. "You forgot to bring yours."
Hans picked up the earpiece and put it on.
"…Ayane."
"Right here! Already on it! Just a little minute… and there! I'll give you all some visuals right… now! Casting to your phones!"
The screen flickered to life, and they could see the gangers were gathering in the place. A buried and abandoned train station in a long-lost, forgotten district of the largest abandoned district in Abydos. Another cruel reminder of the aftermath of the great storm.
With precision, the task force gathers all that they can see. The barricades they built, and the row of modified Flak 41. The oblivious gathering of the gangers.
"Since when do they have artillery?!" Nonomi spoke first.
"This will be though…" Shiroko frowned.
Hans looked at her for a moment before walking ahead a little, pointing at the armored vehicle they drove here. "…Who?"
"I did." The wolf girl gave a nod.
"Yeah! It felt like a rollercoaster!" Nonomi commented next.
Hans put a hand on her shoulder. "…Great work."
Shiroko felt her face heating up for a moment before she gave a shy nod and the keys. "N-Nn."
And within a few minutes later, Hans was on the wheel and pressing on the pedals. Racing towards the gangsters, and once more, pushing the vehicle to the limits.
That was his plan. To rush in headfirst and let them brute force their way inside. Is it an awful plan? Horrible and perhaps suicidal?
Yes, it is. But they do not have the leisure to think of another plan. It's a race against time. Who knows what they're doing to their friend? This is the most optimal thing they can do, push onward with faith in themselves and in their teacher. Hans frowned at the thought and at his failure to keep her safe. He was responsible foremost, and he should've been there to keep her safe from the gangers.
And thus, because of his failure, here they are.
Shiroko remained neutral, but the worry in her was clear as day. Nonomi is focused and worried as well, even if she still has a cheerful smile and beaming attitude.
But none had the same expression Hoshino had. Unnervingly quiet and distant ever since her eyes had met with Hans exiting out from the mist.
Her lips turned to a permanent thin line, and her heterochromatic eyes would sometimes lose their light as she stared at the steel floors of the armored vehicle.
Or at the adult driving it.
"Closing in! Four minutes!" Ayane said from the earpiece, and with confirmation as the helmet gangers were shouting something in the distance, pointing towards their armored vehicle. And in a span of a few minutes, guns aimed, and flak cannons spun.
And they all aimed at them.
"…Brace yourself." The captain whispered.
And all hell broke loose.
Every single barrel and cannon aimed and fired at a single target without missing a beat. Bullets ricocheted from the metal armor and mortars exploded on the sands, blackening and throwing it high, barely missing the car by an inch thanks to the captain's maneuvers. Then a cannon shot directly in front causing the captain to let the car immediately spin and twist.
He wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Hans pressed down on the pedal
Hoshino gripped her seat as the rain of bullets continued, knuckles turning white as she waited for what would come next. Her gaze focused on the closing gangers at the windshield. Cracked, dented, and pricked with bullets.
Nonomi gripped her mini-gun as she leaned toward Hoshino. Shiroko let her lips curl into a frown, a hand gripped her rifle, and another on her favorite blue scarf.
And Hans gripped the wheel… and stepped on the gas till it creaks.
"Shit! MAKE WAY!"
"GO! GO!"
The helmets shout as the headlights of an armored car come closer to their eyes. Pupils widened as they scrambled out of the way, moving and jumping left and right to dodge.
And barely a minute later, the car rammed through the flimsy barricade the gangers had built, breaking through stacked wheels and sandbags inches before some of them got rammed into the sands or thrown towards the train station, letting their focus on the car as it spun a little from the momentum in hand before stopping hastily.
"Dammit! Dammit! Prepare to-"
BANG!
A helmet shouted before she was interrupted by a door opening and Mausers firing, hitting her helmet with a loud crack as the captain made his exit.
"W- FIRE! F-FIRE!"
Gangers snapped back to focus, aiming their chosen weapons at the captain with a shout and pressing on their triggers.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
RATATATATATAT!
Full metal bullets whirred through the air, spinning to their marks before they missed, hitting the grains and the armored car behind him as the adult moved and dodged with every precise movement and step he made, then he reeled back and dashed towards an unfortunate ganger, gripping her head as he threw him towards the ganger in front of him. Crashing and pummeling through some of them that are unlucky enough to catch her weight.
"AAAHHH!"
More guns are being clicked and reloaded coming from behind him, and just before they fire again,
BANG BANG BANG!
Bullets had already struck their bodies.
Hoshino frowned with her shotgun smoking and an empty casing on the ground. With a grip in her shotgun, she jumped out of the vehicle first before being followed by the others. Running in head first disregarding her own safety as the guns focused down on her.
"Target down." Shiroko followed with a nod, running behind and already firing a round.
"Got it! Charge!" Nonomi continued with a spin of her mighty firearm, letting it spin and spray the ground with bullets.
"Sensei!" Ayane shouted from the earpiece.
"…On it." Hans answered plainly, knowing what was next. He raised an arm and pointed it forward towards the flak cannons. Rushing head first with his Mausers ready in both arms. Pointing and firing as he dashed towards the Flak 41s.
"H-T-They're coming!"
"Don't give up! Get them!"
"…Nonomi."
"Here comes Nonomi!" She smiled and giggled giddily as she sprayed her minigun in a wide arc from left to right. Hitting every poor gangster that is unlucky enough to be at her crosshair.
"Eat this!" a red-clad helmet shouted, raising her sniper and aiming at the blonde pressing on the trigger till Hoshino jumped in and bashed her with her shotgun before she continued with her march.
"Follow her!" Shiroko shot back and raised her rocket drone.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
On cue with the rockets firing, Hoshino let her shield unfold themselves as she walked like a miniature bunker. Placing her beloved semi-auto shotgun, she pressed on the trigger rapidly as the shotgun fired a few good rounds ahead of her rapidly. And behind her, the captain followed her like a hawk.
"No! NO! I-I'll not let you take what belongs to us!" The last red-clad helmet ganger trembled as she raised her rifle, trying to defend the locked-up train car with pure desperation and anger-
BANG!
For it to be useless as she fell. Along with the rifle from her grip.
"My junior is not your bargaining chip." Hoshino coldly proclaimed as she lowered a smoking shotgun held in her dominant hand, aiming perfectly at the knocked-out helmet gangster. She looked at Hans before giving a small nod.
Hans nodded back, walking to the locked cargo as he put a hand to the chains, gripping it tightly before he tore it down like paper and wrenched open the door.
Just in time for the sun to rise and let its light reach inside the dark and cold cargo train.
"S-Sensei?" Her shaking voice came out as she looked at the figure on the door.
"Serika!" Nonomi ran to the cargo, and her eyes met with the missing comrade. Eyes red and wet with fresh tears as her own met with Nonomi's wide open and surprised.
"W-What?! N-N-Nonomi?!" She jumped back, hastily wiping her tears with her dirty uniform.
Shiroko ran in next with a nod. "I see her. She has been crying."
"Whaat? Our little Serika is crying?" Hoshino peeked through with an annoying grin.
"NO! Y-Y-YOU'RE LYING! I WASN'T CRYING!" Serika shouted, trying to defend herself, although the evidence was still clear as day.
"False! I can confirm there were tears in your eyes just now!" Shiroko pointed out with a confident stance and expression as it broke her usual neutral expression.
"Aww!" Nonomi jumped and hugged Serika with a motherly instinct. "Don't cry Serika! We're here now!" She nuzzled her cheeks, much to her annoyance, pushing her body away with an annoyed groan.
"Agh! Go away! GO A-AWAY! C-Can't you guys BE any more grating?!" She pushed Nonomi away again before the blonde released her bear hug.
Hans followed inside moments later, offering her iconic rifle.
"!" Serika released herself as she picked up her gun from the captain's hand. She gave a small nod and sniffed again. The captain gently gave her shoulder a firm grip, as a hand went to wipe her tears.
Then, he offered his hand.
"…Let's go." Serika answers weakly and accepted his gesture. Exiting out the cargo train with the other three following behind as well.
"Aw… Serika!" Nonomi took the chance to hug her from behind again.
"CAN YOU STOP THAT?!"
"Looks like everything is back to normal," Ayane spoke from the comms, and Shiroko handed the cat girl a spare earpiece as she had just lost hers.
"Yup! that ends well! We finally rescued our damsel in distress, thanks to you, sensei." Hoshino grinned. Returning to her previous persona.
Hans could tell there was a little sarcasm in her voice.
But in the end, trouble still stirred. This was indeed… too easy to be true.
"Everyone! Kata-Kata Helmet Gang forces, coming in hot! They got a tank!" Ayane spoke out with urgency, rushing in to provide intel.
"W-WHAT?!" Serika rushed towards a half-intact sandbag barricade. Narrowing her eyes to see the clouds in the distance.
Hoshino let out a yawn. "And when I thought I could have some sleep…"
"A modified crusader tank! Escorted by five trucks!"
"They got tanks?! How?" Nonomi commented, standing next to Serika as she narrowed her eyes.
They already know the answer.
Or at least, a theory.
Hans gazed at the sands. Silently pondered before an idea came to mind. He pointed to the flak cannons. "…Nonomi, Shiroko, Ayane. One shot." Then he pointed to the barricades and towards the cloud of sands rising in the distance.
"…Hoshino, Serika. With me,"
"…I trust you." Hans spoke lastly. And on cue, the girls nodded and ran to do what the captain had ordered of them. Hoshino stood next to him with a silent gaze matching his, and Serika growled out of the pent-up rage from her kidnapping.
"I'm itching to take my revenge… LET THE BASTARDS COME!" She shouted and clicked her trusty rifle.
Safety… off.
Hans gave a nod as he reached for Mausers.
Now… they just need to wait.
"…In range! Fire!"
And with that shout from Ayane, the flak cannons fired. Letting out a barrage of munitions as it aimed toward the incoming threat.
Considering it's just Nonomi and Shiroko operating the row of five anti-air turned artillery, he was impressed, and even so with their operator. Her calculation is on point. Two of the trucks had been struck with a direct hit, and another skidded from the impact.
Now, it's leaving only the tank and some surviving transports.
"RAAHHH!" Serika shouted and fired her gun, denting the armor of the vehicles as they made contact. The others suit. Hoshino then Hans, knowing full well this isn't going to do scarp.
As they got closer… considering their range, Nonomi and Shiroko regrouped immediately as the distance closed and the tank got them in their crosshair.
"HOSHINO, SERIKA! SCATTER!"
Ayane shouted, and Hans immediately picked the two and pushed them out of the way as the crusader tank fired a munition aimed directly toward their sandbags. Hitting it directly as it explodes into a fine cloud of dust and sand.
"Ugh! Thanks!" Serika coughed from the dust and aimed her rifle toward the cloud as a skid and crash were heard.
"TAKE THEM DOWN!"
Followed by a shout, a storm of bullets, and marching upon the sands. The remaining trucks stopped and let the gangers jump out, itching for combat.
Hans fired some shots back before he ran with Serika next to him behind a downed car, peeking out to fire some more bullets, before moving back down before their counterattack hit their heads.
"Wait, Hoshino?! Where are you?!" Serika shouted into her earpiece.
"Ouch! I'm right here," Hoshino spoke out, a few meters away. Reloading her shotgun before firing again. Then, after the gangers made their line, the tank followed behind. Rolling in as it aimed at the makeshift cover they chose to reside in.
"Hey you! Take this!" Nonomi shouted, poking out of her cover from the train carriage and firing her signature bullet rain from her minigun, followed by the fox girl as she operated her drone's last rockets. Hitting on some unfortunate gangers and others banging and denting the tank's armor followed by the rockets exploding upon it, just enough to damage the armor and cause the tank to spin its cannon and aim at them.
"Nonomi, Shiroko!" Serika shouted.
And barely a second later, the cannon fired its load, and the cover was blown into smithereens
"I'm fine!"
"Not fine." Shiroko answers for her.
"YOU!" Serika growled before she let her fury cover her. A fiery blue flame burns inside her and into her bullets, engulfing it with her rage.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" she shouted and fired her wrath-burned bullets towards any unfortunate helmet thugs in her crosshair. With Hans sharing her determination, he too ran out from their covers with their barrels smoking and casings ejected out from his pistols.
Hoshino followed shortly, jumping out with her shield up and ready, and marching towards the goons with her shotgun. Creating a loud enough chaos to distract the gangers from the others for a time window to allow Nonomi and Shiroko to recover.
"Ayane I need a drop here, Nonomi is a little banged." Shiroko said over the comms.
"You too!"
"Already on it! Incoming drop in five!" And on cue, her drone dropped her emergency medical agents. Hitting Nonomi and Shiroko in its radius. They both let out a sigh of relief as the green smoke of stimulants and agents engulfed them. It might not heal their wounds… but it did a good job of regenerating their lost stamina.
"Thank you!"
"Nn. Appreciated."
With that, the two are back into action. Firing upon any gangers and the primary target… the tank. No matter how much they focused their fire and bullets upon it, the armor simply dented and ricocheted the bullets away. No matter how many magazines are ejected, and no matter how angry they get.
This tank is here to stay.
KABOOM!
A fired shell explodes again near Shiroko. But this time she had rolled out of the way, only being hit by shrapnel and the sands that had been kicked up by it.
"AAARGH!" Serika shouted again, shooting at its engines and pipes to cause a good amount of damage. But… it was not enough.
Just yet. Shiroko is out of rockets, they had no time to reload the Flak 41s, and… they had no armor-piercing rounds.
But luckily enough… they had something else.
A weapon manifest. A fist curled and feet stood stern upon the sands.
A powerful soldier of Gaia herself.
Releasing his twin pistols from his grip and into the belt, the captain kneeled… and jumped high toward the tank. A fist raised and tightened, meeting the armor with an explosion.
Crushing the metal and tore a hand-shaped hole, enough for his free arm to grab hold of and wrench and rip open the armor like paper without much resistance. No matter how thick and powerful its modifications are.
Faces of frozen and horrified gangers met the captain's gaze, and before they snapped out of the trance, his hand went to their heads as he yanked them out one by one and threw them to the sands.
And when they opened their eyes, the full anger and stony gazes of the Foreclosure Task Force members, met their eyes.
"Heeeyyy."
"…Ready yourself."
"Oh my…"
"..."
And they felt the biggest beating they had felt ever since they joined the gang. A shotgun to the face, a mini-gun that chased them around, a rifle, and a very angry cat.
Coming down at them endlessly… and without end.
The drive towards Abydos was met with cuddles and shouting from the feisty cat girl. Eventually, the girls all closed their eyes from the exhaustion. Hugging each other as their gentle snores filled the vehicle, leaving Hans to drive and Hoshino to keep him company in the hazy and exhausting morning.
Content in their sleep, as they not only just reunited with their friend, they had gained something in return. With the capacity the armored transport had, they salvaged and looted as much ammo and other supplies as they could, and… any stray wallets that Shiroko… claimed.
Even so, their car had barely 1/3 of their haul. Gathering what they can and hid remaining supplies and somewhere within the area for them to claim later. By Serika and Ayane's calculation… the supplies could free them for a good few months.
Absurd.
"Say, sensei?" the pink-haired girl asked.
"Hm?" Hans let out his voice, keeping his eyes on the road.
"How did Serika get kidnapped?" She asked. Her tone held not her usual funny wits and grumbles that spoke of her "old" age, like when she was with her friends she would gladly. It was distant. Cold. And enough to make the old wolf know of her deep disappointment in him.
And he couldn't blame her for it.
Hans didn't answer for a while as he thought of a… satisfying answer. And after what felt like hours, the captain let his lips to part.
"It was my failure."
A pause.
"….We had a falling out, and we… parted ways." He spoke calmly.
Hoshino felt her lips remain to a thin line and her fingers curled as she gripped on the seatbelt tightly, like she was holding on for something that could tether her to the present, and to quell something she tried desperately to hide.
"Is that so? What happened?"
Hans didn't meet her eyes when he answered, continuing to drive endlessly in the desert. "I was being inconsiderate."
With that word left his lips, Hoshino didn't say anything else for a good few minutes.
"Uwah, really? Glad you could reflect on it." She finally broke the silence, with her lazy persona back on as she left a yawn.
Then she snuggled on the chair and closed her eyes.
"Wake me up when we reach Abydos." She ended the conversation.
Hans didn't say anything else. He gave a nod and peeked at her for a moment and at her still-floating halo above.
Then, when he gazed at the rear car mirror, he saw that Serika's halo had been active all this time. Albeit a little transparent.
Even if she had been closing her eyes all this time.
With that in mind, the captain continued his drive.
"Well done everyone." Ayane smiled gently with relief in her tone and a proud look in her eyes. Then, her eyes went to Serika. Who is still limping a little. Her clothes torn and burnt, and it's clear as day she is still wounded.
"Are you really okay, Serika?" The elf girl worriedly asks.
"Uhuh… yeah… never been… better- "Just as the words left her lips, she stumbled forward. Lucky enough to be caught by Hans.
"Serika!" Nonomi dashed to her.
"…Infirmary." Hans frowned.
At that, the girl shook her head and tried to push the wolf away.
"I'll be fineeEE?!"
Without a warning, and ignoring her "no" the captain raised her into a princess carry and immediately walked towards the infirmary in much of her protest and shouts that echoed all around the school.
"Hehe, sensei is bold isn't he?" Hoshino commented to break the silence. Earning a cough from Ayane.
"O-Okay! First things first, all of you go and get changed and shower. Then we should have breakfast.t.. and later discuss our current situation with sensei." Ayane fixed her glasses.
"Okayy! I'm going in first~" Nonomi giggled and walked out.
"Not if I have something to say about it." Shiroko declared and made her dash.
"Shiroko! No fair!"
"Then ol' uncle Hoshino is going to nap first till they're back…" Hoshino yawned and exited out of the classroom… and went somewhere else.
"OW! Hey!" Serika shouted. "IT HURTS! S-Slow down a little!"
"…Yeah, okay, just like that." She sighed.
The captain remained stoic as he damped her scratches and marks with an alcohol-dipped cotton.
"OW! YOU- UGH! I'LL DO IT MYSELF!-"
Hans shook his head and continued tapping her bruised skin with the cotton.
"A-AGH! Can't you be more- OW!"
With even more alcohol tapping, Hans stood up and wrapped the bandages around, and even some with some band-aids. Decorated with this… mentally damaged tongue duck mascot… thing.
The more he looked the more confused he got.
With gentle hands, the captain wrapped and patched her wounds. On her arms and legs, then on her back. And when he was done, the captain gave a nod.
Serika said nothing, as she inspected the bandages and band-aids. Gently rubbing on them as she let her lips curl down.
Hans gave a nod, a gentle tap on her shoulder, and stood up.
Just then, a voice cut him off.
"…Wait, sensei." Serika whispered as she looked away in a certain shame. "Why didn't you… tell Hoshino… that it was my fault?"
Hans raised an eyebrow.
"…I.. I basically t-told you to screw yourself, sensei. It was my fault that I'm like this." She motioned to her torn clothes and bandages.
The captain shook his head and raised his hand. "…No. It's not. You wished to be alone… and I disrespected your privacy. No one could predict you getting kidnapped, and… it was my failure to be there when it happened."
Serika continued to look down and clenched her fists. "…I'm sorry. For everything I said and… more."
The captain waited for a moment and he nodded. "…It's already forgiven."
Serika nodded slowly. But she had more to say. "…Sensei, I'm… I'm jealous of you." She whispered. "…at how you're able to bring so much hope to my friends."
She continued her talk, her tone slowly getting more pained with every word that exited her mouth. "…I- we thought we were seeing things when you came here, sensei. We're on the edge before then. We're out of ammo, and we're barely hanging on with the monthly payment to Kaiser." she bit her lip.
"That is… till you came."
She then let her eyes meet him. "D-Did you see how Ayane's eyes would sparkle, and Shiroko would as well?! The girl practically hounds you and… she would smile more. And I think Hoshino and Nonomi would agree as well!"
"And… that, I guess, hit a spot in me. I know, I'm being childish. You've done so much… and helped so much. Yet there's me. Someone who lashes out at you… and fell to scams and wasted money." She sighed, feeling the guilt and disappointment as her eyes slowly got wet from her admission.
Hans remains silent. He let his lips hide underneath his olive greatcoat and thought about how to comfort her. This is… something that is still new to him. To comfort someone else, his student for crying out loud!
This is his time to stop thinking as a soldier. A captain. A dog.
But as a teacher.
Hans walked back and sat next to her and… offered her a simple gesture. A firm hand on her shoulder and a gentle squeeze.
"…You're… much more than that. Don't sell yourself short. Without you, who would… be the treasurer? And..."
Hans tugged his greatcoat, and her eyes widened to see an old nemesis of hers. The two scam "Germanium" bracelets. Worn neatly on his right arm.
"…It is indeed… lucky."
Serika's mouth went wide open, along with her eyes. "Wait… n-no way! I-I thought Y-YOU… W-WE… throw them away?!"
The captain shrugged and offered both of them to the girl before she shook her head and pushed his hand away.
"T-Take them! I… It's a scam, anyway!"
Hans shook his head and gave one to her. "Now… you're lucky as well."
Serika desperately tried to hide her curled lips. Rising to a smile. "Y-You.." She then groaned and hid her face. "F-Fine if you insist..." She then wore one on her right arm.
"If you're done, then get out. I'm going to rest." She mumbled.
Hans gave a small shoulder pat and stood up.
"…Sensei?"
His eyes went back to her.
"…Thanks." She said with a content smile before she gently fell on the bed.
Hans gave another nod and exited. Closing the door behind him as he heard Serika rustling into the covers.
The captain pondered for a few minutes before a miniature smile crept on his lips. Patting his arm, he walked away towards the classroom.
But for a moment, he stopped his march.
He swore there was someone here just before.
The meeting starts quickly enough, just a few hours later after the girls are all freshen up and have a fine breakfast in a nearby food stall. Serika of course, got her part of the meal before slumping down on the bed once more.
The clock now pinged at three PM.
Hoshino like always, let her chin rest lazily on the table next to Hans while Nonomi hummed a tune with Shiroko next to her.
"Alright! So… here's what I could find…"
What Ayane could find by digging through their supplies from the day before and today, and with the tank and armored vehicles? It gave her a good leverage to dig and check on any sales in the market. Or rather the black market.
Illegal modifications, outdated and discontinued model, and what bumped it up was their bargain price.
Ayane cleared her throat, then showed the room of her research. Documents she could dig, recent purchases, and changes in prices and supplies in the black market. Recent bids and so on and so forth.
"Turns out? It was bought by their name. Kata Kata Helmet Gang was the one to make such a purchase. The tank, the vehicles, even the Flak 41s. Although even if they're bought at a bargain price…."
She slapped the table to prove her point.
"There is a pointer that they are backed by someone. Because for one, their purchases are done recently in a short span of time. And by short, I mean… yesterday "
The room fell into a pregnant silence.
"…So, sensei's theory of it being Kaiser is plausible?" Shiroko asks. Breaking away the silence.
"Yes, that is true, but…"
"We can't say for sure till we got clear evidence for it." Hoshino butted in and the elf girl replied with a slow nod.
"So for now, we're at a standstill. There are no more leads, and the only thing we can do is wait or… we could storm the black market for more clues." She sighed and cleaned her glasses. "…And that is something I would recommend… doing later and when we have more leads."
"But there is something else we can do!" Nonomi raised her hand.
"Oh? What's on your mind?" Ayane asks with genuine interest.
"A celebration for getting our Serika back! How about I order us something for it? And as a great thank you for sensei right here as well!" She smiled brightly as she reached for her phone.
"Agreed as well! That sounds like a plan!" Hoshino raised her hand in agreement.
"Sounds good." Shiroko nodded.
"Well… I suppose we can, then let's gather our funds together." Ayane reached for her wallet.
"Don't worry, I'll pay with this! What was the limit again?" She reached for a golden credit card as it glowed. Its golden rays blinding those who are unlucky enough to gaze upon it. Like a beacon in the dark, a ray of sun upon their eyes.
Hans immediately raised his arm to protect his eyes.
"GYAAA! N-Nonomi! I thought we agreed not to show that card around! S-So bright!" Hoshino reeled back as she hastily protected her eyes.
"Oh, right." She then pocketed the debit card away.
What the hell is that thing made of?
"…I can cover the expenses." Hans reached into his pockets before Nonomi stopped the gesture with a nudge.
"Nope! It's time for us to treat you back, sensei!" Nonomi placed her wallet on the table.
The rest agreed with the gesture. Ayane started to search for a good bargain, Nonomi on the store, and Shiroko stood up to check on the cat girl.
Meanwhile, Hans simply listened while Hoshino let her get comfy on the table. With a makeshift pillow under her chin. Closing her eyes and letting the illusion of sleep to cloud through her surroundings.
And stealing glances at him every once in a while.
Meanwhile, in a large office hidden from the eyes of Kivotos' daily lives… a low growl from seething fury came from the vocal cords of a large, well-dressed adult. His shiny metallic fingers angrily crumpled the reports of failure upon failure coming from his investment in that fairly large helmet gang.
A tired sigh came next as he stood up from his comfortable chair. Glancing out at the moonlit, starry skies from his high office.
"..Is this really the best an organized crime group can do? Providing them with that tank is a waste."
He spoke to the room as his fingers curled under his hand, tucked neatly behind his back. He is awfully frustrated and disappointed. Before then, the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang gave him progress and, most importantly, success in Abydos. Their constant harassment gained them more land, and by cutting off their supply routes, their downfall was just a matter of time.
Without ammo, without anything… the gang should've brought Abydos to their knees. And yet, this didn't happen. Instead, someone came at the last damn second. Shattering what should've been an easy laid-back victory into an absolute nightmare.
"…SCHALE."
He let out a sigh.
In just two days, the gang instead had been the one to be brought down to their knees. Losing their land, their members, and their power in the blink of an eye. Watching as all of his investments flow down into the drain.
Well… it's not his job to investigate this teacher, and whatever does this SCHALE do or stand for. Abydos is still going to be their primary target.
He'll just let Gematria do their part in this agreement of theirs.
Thinking of a second option, he whisked his suit and walked to his desk, reaching for the phone before punching in some numbers.
"..In that case, I'll simply enlist the services of more skilled professionals."
Ring… ring…
Ring…
click!
"We'll do the crime… if you got the dime.
What can we do for you?."
A low robotic chuckle left the automaton's vocal cords as he sat on the chair.
"I have a special task for you…"
…This sucks. This absolutely sucked.
They just got their butts handed over by the Abydos students, lost their new toys, probably going to get chewed up by the big boss, and now as if things couldn't get any worse… her gang got roughed up by some… rival gang!
BANG BANG BANG BANG!
"!"
She raised her weapon towards the gunshots, firing blindly as the echoes of her friends being shot down bounced all around their base.
BANG BANG BANG BANG! Click click click.
Her eyes dart from left to right and left and repeat. Feeling her knees trembling as she fixed her crooked red-clad helmet and reached for a fresh magazine in her pockets.
Then, as she was just about to reload, a glint came from the distance. Twisting the winds as it came towards her.
"GUH!"
She felt the hard and cold metal of a bullet as it hit her chest. Pushing her down onto the ground as she clenched her bruised body.
And what followed made her blood turn cold.
The sounds of soft and light footsteps filled her ears.
"Hmph. All clear on this end."
Then a second.
"All done over here too, boss."
Then a third.
"Ugh… gah… w-who are you people?" She mumbled, fear in her eyes as she observed her attackers.
Then a fourth. Followed by an awful, confident laugh coming from behind her.
"Heheheheh…"
"GRAUGH! A-Are you grunts from Abydos?! How dare you-" She whipped her head back, only to meet the eyes of a professional.
Prideful, cold, and filled with power she couldn't imagine golden eyes met her own. Letting her to tremble on the spot and realize how fucked they are till it's far too late.
They are not from Abydos.
"Please. And you call this dirty, stinking lair your base? You lot are pathetic."
She walked closer to her as she crawled away from the professional out of instinct. Backing away little by little as her eyes continued to widen, and cold sweat gently trickled along her neck.
"Oh well. I'll put you out of your misery. Don't worry."
"Wh-What?!"
"Relax, we're just here to tell you that you've been relieved of your duties.
We'll be taking Abydos off of your hands now."
She blinked and thought in confusion.
Relieved? D-Did she mean..? N-No… that can't be…
"WH-WHAT THE?! W-Who do you think you a-?!"
Just before she could finish her sentence, she dashed ever so quickly behind her, followed by sharp pain that came to the back of her neck.
SMACK!
With that hit, her fate was sealed. She slowly felt her eyes roll back to her skull, and all she could see… is darkness, before tumbling down upon the cold cement that was once their pride and base on Abydos.
With an amused huff and chuckle, the footsteps moved ahead her.
"Problem Solver 68.
We'll do the crime if you've got the dime."
Her golden eyes narrowed in sheer indifference as her lips curled to an awful, arrogant smirk towards the fallen red-clad helmet gangster.
"The best fixers in all of Kivotos."