Still nothing.
He had told Arona to send the document towards the GSC, the Pandemonium Society, and the current secretary for the Prefect Team herself. Telling them that Problem Solver 68 will be working under SCHALE. Since then, Rin had accepted the document and officially added PS68 into the club with the Pandemonium Society giving their green light, but in exchange, they wanted to arrange a meeting soon enough in the week.
And yet, there is no reply from Prefect Team ever since Chinatsu had sent that message two days ago. Hans had tried to contact her to ask what does she mean by it, but there is no answer. Perhaps something important came up. He wouldn't blame them for their taxing jobs, considering their position and the reputation Gehenna holds. Either way… he could only wait patiently for now. If there is still nothing… he thought of coming directly to Gehenna directly later in the week.
"Morning, sensei." Ayane greeted. Breaking him out of the thought as he pocketed his phone.
"…Morning." He replied with a small nod.
The bespectacled elf hummed for a moment before she opened her mouth to speak,
"SEENSEEII!"
She was rudely interrupted by a short impish girl that leapt to him and into his arms.
"W-What the?!"
"Kufufu~ I'm not too heavy right? I feel like I'm on top of the world right now!"
"What are you-?! Get off sensei this instant!"
"Aw… but sensei didn't mind! Miss four-eyes!"
In which he replied with a nod.
"Ugh! Don't call me that! It's Ayane!" She spoke in protest, before her tone shifts to concern. "… um… how is your… friend?"
Mutsuki jumped down. Walking to the elf with a slight smile as she poked her cheek. "Aw… Kayoko is doing well. Thank you for your concern, miss four eyes! You're sweet. I'll tell her later."
"Hey! H-Huh!?"
"Well, bye-bye Miss Ayane! Sensei, come visit us later!" Then, as fast as she came, she left.
"That girl I swear…" Ayane sighs before she straightened her glasses as the two continued on walking, before the familiar sounds of a bicycle came along.
"Good morning. Ayane, sensei." Shiroko greeted. Hopping off from her bicycle before walking beside them.
"Oh, Shiroko. Good morning." Ayane greeted.
"…Morning." He greeted as well.
"Nn. Ayane, do we have enough for today?"
"I've checked and asked Serika earlier. She said we… barely had enough. But just in case, she is running a quick errand. She might be a little late… but we'll try to make do."
"Nn." Shiroko nodded before glancing at Hans who is staring with a raised eyebrow.
"Sensei, today is the day of collection."
The clock ticks endlessly, as the students and their teacher watched with nothing on their minds at the robotic collector. Counting each bundle of money with his bare hands as he loaded them inside the armored vehicle. "100… 200… 250."
"Yup! A 7,883,250 yen payment on your loan, including the variable and additional interest, has been confirmed paid in cash. Thank you again for doing business with Kaiser Loans. See you again next month!" The oval headed automaton gave a bow before he entered the vehicle. Starting the engine with a low rumble before it left the school grounds.
Leaving nothing but tracks on the sands as it drove off towards God-knows-where.
"So… that's that. We've managed to get by for another month." Hoshino yawned and scratched her head, yet their eyes never left the empty road.
Hans narrowed his eyes as he lingered again at the "cash only" policy. Remembering the days of Millennium with The Major and his connections with the underground… lingering towards the Valentine Brothers and the Dandyman.
"…Hm…"
"To be honest, do any of you ever got curious why do are insistent on accepting cash only payments? Why go through all the trouble to pay for armored trucks?" Nonomi spoke her thoughts.
"We're on the same boat as well." Serika sighs, dusting off her skirt.
Meanwhile Shiroko kept her eyes on the sand tracks as her thoughts were ran rampant.
'They came every month at this exact time without missing a single minute. Then they would move out of the district and near out to the south… perhaps out of Abydos. By moving on my bike and heading there in 7 AM, considering the shortcuts I can set up-'
"Hey. I hope you're not planning to rob them, Shiroko." Serika narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"!" Shiroko blinked out from her thoughts before she nodded. "Don't worry, I'm not."
"NO DAY DREAMING ABOUT DOING IT EITHER!"
…And her ears fell down. "Fine..."
"Come on guys. All we can do is to focus on the present. Let's go inside." Hoshino pointed out before she walked away, with the rest of the task force following behind as they entered the school, then to the club room with Hans on the very back, closing the door behind him.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Ayana raised her glasses. "First off, is about the previous assault by the Problem Solver 68. Sensei, would you…?"
In which Hans nodded and he took the stage. "…they're a notorious… group of delinquents from Gehenna… as a self proclaimed… independent fixer group." Then he tapped on his tablet.
"With Rikuhachima Aru… as its leader."
"So… they're not recognized officially by Gehenna?" Shiroko asks.
Hans nods. "…Part of the wanted list from the Prefect Team."
"They really do mean business, huh?" Hoshino yawns.
"So they're in violation of school regulations… strange. They didn't… strike me as all that bad or malicious… well…" Nonomi spoke out before she shut herself up.
Hans looked away.
"Wait! Sensei- I'm not- I'm sorry." She looked down before Hans walked to her and gave the blonde a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder.
Ayane cleared her throat. "A-Ahem. Either way, this is a trouble we must… tackle on first. "
"That is… no longer necessary." Hans placed down a document in question. "Problem Solver 68… is now directly under SCHALE."
"WHAT?!" Serika jumped up. "So that is WHAT you've been doing?!"
He nods.
"Huh." Hoshino commented. "So, sensei. Can you make them tell you who is their contractor?"
He shook his head.
"…Heh. Should've known."
"W-Well… that is quite the bombshell. Um… this leaves us at one last option… that is, through the helmet gang and their possible shared backer..." Ayane fixed her glasses.
"…The next topic… of their cash only… policy." Hans spoke.
"Oh, sensei you know something about it?"
'More like having experience in it.'
"…In the underground dealings… they exclusively use cash for a reason… hard to track and leave… no digital traces around." He paused for a moment.
"…A little… too suspicious for my liking."
"Then… it's more of a reason for us to go to the black market." Shiroko follows.
"Yeah. Who knows what surprises we could find?" Hoshino stood up from her comfortable position. "And maybe… some traces that Kaiser may have left."
"Yay! We're going outside of Abydos!" Nonomi cheered.
"I'll be here like always as support. Don't forget to make preparations first… then all of you can go out."
A pause.
"Operation Black Market is a go.
Good luck everyone."
"So… this is the black market, huh?" Serika looked around, followed by Nonomi as the two exited the vehicle. "Whoa! There's a ton of people here!"
"I was expecting a smaller operation." Shiroko looked around as well. Taking in the amount of problem students and criminalistic adults walking round, and going on with their day.
"But this is like a city itself. I didn't realize… an unauthorized district would be so big and busy."
"To be fair, we hardly ever leave Abydos. There are a lot of weird places outside our district." Hoshino spoke out. Still messing with her buttons. "Is it better now?"
"No." Shiroko pointed out. "Let me help you."
Before coming here, they all had agreed on a plan to do whatever they can to hide their identities well. Everyone had their makeover by scavenging the lockers and storages of Abydos and gathering whatever piece of still functioning piece of clothing they had to replace their recognizable uniforms.
You can't be too careful after all in such a lawless place like this, after all.
"Have you been here, Hoshino?" Shiroko raised her eyebrow, fiddling with a worn and torn scarf modeled after a comical world eating worm from the lockers. Feeling a little… disappointed, she had to leave her usual sky blue one.
Or because Ayane still rejected her sewn balaclava as their official disguises.
"Nope. But I've heard the stories. The only one that've been here is still sensei." Hoshino pointed out and raised her brown field cap to the adult.
In which, he nodded as a reply. Triple and quadruple checking their jeep's location and security before he came to them last. Walking ahead wearing nothing but a tank top and a torn cloth as a makeshift mask, leaving behind his greatcoat and usual field cap with a brown fieldcap.
"…Limited… information."
"Uhe… at least it's something, sensei."
"Ugh! I know Ayane said it's a good idea to try to blend in with the local thugs here, but seriously… sensei, do you really have to dress up like that?!" Serika frowns glancing at him for a second before she immediately went to face the other direction as she raised sandblasted hood.
"Well, I don't mind! It fits him!" Nonomi grinned as she lowered her cap. Out of all of everyone, she probably had the most fun dressing up. Wearing an abandoned, and modified black uniform into a coat, complete with a and cap that had a golden button and a rectangular golden plate with a design of a flattened hand with the logo of Abydos on the left of the button.
"Hehe… Good grief." Nonomi struck a pose. "Senior Jo used to do this sort of thing. I wonder… where had she gone ever since?"
Hoshino looked at her solemnly before shrugging, "Probably studying dolphins. It does bring me back." The two looked at each other for a moment. The thoughts of lost friends and time came back around… before the two shook it off.
"Stay sharp, everyone. You can't be too careful in a place like this," Ayane advised.
"Yup, yup. Soo… where to go first…" Hoshino looked around, and the gang followed suit. Walking across the stained bricks as they roamed across the hostile environment.
The thing about finding specific gun suppliers in the black market is about unmasking them underneath the other competitions and illegals around. If you don't have direction and connections, finding the right supplier is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet this is the only option they have.
"Are you still sure we can't use the jeep?" Hoshino spoke out.
"No." Ayane answers.
"Heeh… I'm getting too old for-"
RATATATAT! BANG BANG BANG!
Before she could finish her sentence, close gunshots echoed across the district. Gaining the eyes and ears of other bystanders before returning to their do their business.
Then it was followed by a few pairs of hasty footsteps thundering in the alleyway.
"Stop right there!"
"Waah! Stop chasing me!"
Answered a blonde student as she ran out, with a teary and panicked expression that was out of place in the market with such a horrid reputation.
…Especially considering her attire with her duck-creature-thing? Backpack strapped on her left with her rifle on the right as it sways left and right in sync with her thundering footsteps. As they got closer and closer, her mind tunneled at her chasers. Failing to recognize the students and the adult as they stood in her way, before it was too late.
"W-wait! Watch out!" she shouted before she came crashing into the teacher like a car into a concrete wall.
"OOF!"
She bounced off before she was caught by him.
"Hey! Get out of the way, punks! We got our eyes on the Trinity girl first!" The other sets of footsteps came through as three rough looking delinquents ran up to them, with their guns ready before the blonde delinquent looks around the group.
"…Trinity." Hans whispers.
"Unless… you folks look like you're calm and reasonable. Especially you, big guy." The blonde of the group pointed out to Hans. "Are you a calm… and reasonable, person?"
Their fingers hover above the trigger. "Hell, we could make the ransom a fair split, 50/50 down! If you just hand her over…"
Silence fell.
…And Hans shook his head.
"Tch. Should've known you punks-"
Then he put his hand on her shoulder, before throwing her towards the tall delinquent. Causing the two to tumble and crash.
"THE HELL?!"
And before the last one could do anything, Shiroko ran and bashed her skull in with the butt of her rifle. "Target neutralized." Then Nonomi and Serika raised their hands and struck the other two still downed girls straight on the nape. Causing them to spin and their halos to flicker, before disappearing completely.
"I got her!" Nonomi gave a thumbs up.
"She's done for." Serika huffs.
With that, the event ends.
"O-oh… oh dear. Thank you for saving me. But… um… you aren't going to ransom me as well, r-right?" The girl nervously chuckles.
"Hm… tempting." Hoshino hummed with a thoughtful expression as the girl in question shudders. "Nah… I'm joking. It's too much work, anyway."
"O-Oh… oh! Thank you so much!" Her expression lit up again before she bows down in a greeting.
"My name is Ajitani Hifumi! But my friends just call me Hifumi." She smiles brightly before it fell down. "Just thinking about the trouble I'll get into if I got captured… it's bad enough I snuck out here on my own… it's giving me a headache… haha…"
Hans thought for a moment. Light brown, low twin tails tied with a yellow-black ribbon and wing hair ornament… and a halo that consists of a yellow outer ring with a wing on either side and a plain inner ring.
…Then at her backpack.
"Ajitani… Hifumi… Nagisa told me… about you."
Her eyes widen as she snapped her eyes towards the tall adult… then she took some cautious steps back. "Na- wait… a-are you…?"
Hans pulled down his makeshift mask, and took out his ID. Risky that he had it, but… it was handy to have around.
"Hans-sen- " Then she shut herself up. "Woah, I didn't know you're going undercover, sensei."
"You know her, sensei?" Serika asks.
Hans shook his head. "…Only by name."
"A shocker, heh?" Hoshino quipped as she gave a lazy smile to Hifumi.
Hifumi let out a small chuckle. "Considering SCHALE's job desk… I shouldn't be surprised."
"Anyway, what are you doing in a dangerous place like the black market?"
"A-Ahaha… it's a long story." She scratched her cheek in embarrassment. "…Um, I came here looking for something…"
"!" Shiroko's eyes lit up in a curious determination. "Like a tank?"
"A contraband firearm?" Hoshino followed.
"An illegal contract?" Serika raised her eyebrow.
"A biochemical agent!?" Nonomi joined in.
"What?! Of course not!" Hifumi raised defended as she felt her head spun from the accusations thrown by the Abydos crew at her. Raising her voice as she dug deep into her large bag.
"It's a limited edition piece of Peroro merchandise!"
"Peroro?" Serika was flabbergasted.
"…Limited edition merchandise?" Along with Shiroko as she saw what the girl was saying.
'What.'
"Yup! It's this thing right here!" She pulled out a palm sized plushie of the chicken-duck-creature, with it being suffocated to death by a damn purple ice cream.
Notice the eyes rolling back to the back of its head.
…Hans felt something that he shouldn't as he stared at the abomination of a creature that had mental dysfunction, biting back the urge to just… return to his natural lupus form or... hell, even into his usual hispo just to bite and chew on that… thing.
"A limited edition plush from the Peroro and Ice Cream franchise collaboration!" She gleamed with pride.
"Only one hundred of them were ever made! What do you think? Cute, right?!" She spoke so passionately with sparkles in her eyes, seemingly oblivious of the pitiful and pure disapproving filled eyes from Hans, and rest of the crew as they stare back into the chocked-to-death plush toy, wondering if the girl in question had some screws loose.
All except Nonomi who gleamed as well. Bless her sunshine and rainbows filled heart, being the only one who always knows how to fit in with any kinds of topics and make good conversation.
"Wow! I love Momo friends too! Peroro is so cute!" Nonomi spoke with a smile. "I'm a fan of Mr. Nicholai personally."
At that revelation from her, Hifumi's eyes gleamed even more. Thinking she had found another kindred soul in the widely popular franchise.
"Right? The way Mister Nicholai philosophizes is just so dashing! In fact, I recently bought a compilation of Mr. Nicholai's work, 'Reaching Beyond Good and Evil'! It was a first edition too!" She bantered on with Nonomi, speaking of topics that none other could follow. Names, toys, episodes of shows, anything that is related to these toys that Hifumi is so affixed on. Considering she would risk everything to come to this place.
"I have no idea what they're talking about." Hoshino spoke the shared thoughts of the Abydos crew.
"…You never did care for cutesy stuff, Hoshino." Serika sighs, still watching the two girls as they banter back and forth.
"Huh. I guess I just don't get the young people these days."
The same sentiment Hans could acknowledge. Granted, he only scratched the top of the iceberg that is Kivotos.
"We're practically the same age…" Serika glanced back at Hoshino with her usual disapproval.
"Oh, Where are you girls from?" Hifumi snapped back from her banter of Peroro with Nonomi.
"Abydos actually. Heard of it?" Hoshino answers.
"Abydos… yes, I think I do. From what I had heard…" Hifumi gave a sympathetic look. "…I'm sorry for what had happened there."
"Nah, don't worry. We're still here and standing tall, right?" Hoshino put on a confident smile.
"True." A small smile left the fangirl's lips with a mix of respect for the remaining five. "So what brings you here to the black market?"
The club leader shrugs. "The same thing as you. We're looking for something."
"Nn. And investigating something." Shiroko follows.
"Ooh. I see, I see."
Yet, the conversation had been cut short. Footsteps came along before it stopped in surprise.
"Wait… BOSS?!"
"HEY! THEY DOWNED THE BOSS! BRING THE GIRLS HERE!"
"You'll pay for that!"
The interruption came. Calm footsteps turned sour as other gang members entered the view, with one running out to call for more backup. Glancing down at their still unconscious blonde boss, then to the perpetrators as they raised their guns to them.
"Tch! Looks like we have a fight on our hands then!" Serika raised her rifle before Hifumi forcefully lowered it. "Huh?"
"W-wait a second! We can't just cause more of a ruckus around here!"
"I don't see why not. They started it first." Shiroko raised her eyebrow.
"The Black Market's enforcers might crack us down if we cause more of a scene!" Hifumi answers, hastily slinging her backpack forth. Rummaging through it before she tossed an object to the incoming gangers.
"…Uu- I'm sorry and thank you, Peroro-sama!" Like a frisbee, the object fell on the ground with a thud before it explodes in power, inflating a large Peroro plush in the middle of them. Shining brightly as lights danced around it, with an annoying kiddie music to accompany the plush as it waved and danced back and forth upon the disk.
"What the hell…"
"…Is that?"
"UGH! DESTROY IT! I HATE IT! I HATE IT!"
The gangers immediately turned on their heels and emptied their magazine to the plush out of an unexplained rage and aggression, blinding their eyes as the students made their escape. Unwilling to meet the enforcers of the black market.
"This way! Follow me!" Hifumi spoke out, making a gesture with her hand as she sprinted into a twisting alleyway.
"Let's go!" Serika shouted, tossing a grenade as well, as she sprinted behind Hifumi, then followed by the others.
Passing along some freeloaders and garbage in the alley, they all sprinted endlessly with the opportunity Hifumi had given. And after what felt like the alley would span on to infinity, a bright image of the other part of the black market met their eyes.
"I think we lost them." Nonomi looked behind at the silenced gunshots.
"I think we did…" Hifumi sighs as she took some heavy breaths. Kneeling down a little, from pushing her legs to the limits.
"Nn. This part of the black market seems… kinder." Shiroko looked around the area. It was a far cry from what they had expected and experienced from the brief search they had along the... perhaps more unruly districts. Gone were the darkened businesses, the shady adults, the nefarious gangers and delinquents. Replaced by food stalls, marketplaces, small and large businesses offering services like therapy and acupuncture, tea shops, and everything else in between.
Though that doesn't mean there is still darkness hiding underneath.
"Ah… this is one of the more open ones, so to say. But the rules of the black market still apply here… considering this is still outside of the GSC's jurisdiction. Did you know that the black market's operational scale is equivalent to at least that of the smaller academies in Kivotos?"
"Woah, really?" Nonomi asks.
"Yup! Considering the amount of illegal activities here, the rivalry, and… there are many big corporations trying to monopolize all kinds of illegal trades and activities around here, thus the need of the law enforcement around these parts is guaranteed. There's even a bank around here as well."
"What?! That can't be legal, can it?!" Serika gasps.
"Not in the slightest."
"Wow… I can't believe how organized this is…" Nonomi thought to herself.
"Uhe… you sure know a lot about this place." Hoshino asks.
"Well, I did my research thoroughly before I came here because of the stories… I don't want to end up in a big trouble."
Hoshino nods. "Then it's settled!"
"Huh?"
"Hifumi will be with us till we got what we wanted!" Hoshino looped her arms around the girl. Confusing her even more.
"I will?"
"A kidnapping. I like it." Shiroko approves.
"E-Excuse me?!"
"No, no. They're messing with you, Hifumi. They'd like you to be our guide. If you're okay with it, that is." Serika sighs and gave a reassuring smile.
"Oh! Well… I'm not sure if I'd be that helpful."
"Hee… you did give us a good escape plan from the thugs. If that is not helpful, I don't know what that is." Hoshino spoke out, rocking her back and forth.
"…And you did throw that Momo merchandize to distract them." Nonomi follows, a little concerned. "Are you okay with it?"
"O-oh. It's alright… Peroro-sama had saved me multiple times now… and I can always buy another…" she hastily answers. "…Even if that is the original one I had…"
Then she nods. "I'll do it. I'll be your guide."
"Woo! Here's to Hifumi!" Nonomi cheers.
"…Wait a minute, where is sensei?" Serika glanced around.
"…Uhe? I thought he's with us?"
"Nn. He's there." Shiroko pointed to the adult, exiting out from the alleyway in the last place as he dusted off some dirt off him.
"Where had you been?" Serika asks, and Hans raised a silver disk.
The same one Hifumi had thrown.
"P-Peroro-sama?! Sensei you… you went back to get it?!" She immediately ran towards him. Hopeful, as Hans offered it back to the fangirl.
Her eyes immediately lit up as she inspected it back and forth. Taking in the new and old dents. Though it was battered and scratched with dirt and bullet holes, it is-
…Wait.
Are those that bite marks?
"What the- what had they done? Did someone bite it?!" Hifumi curiously eyed her device again and again in disbelief.
Before eventually she sighs, as a smile crept to her lips. "Either way, thank you, sensei."
"All's well that ends well, huh?" Hoshino gave a smirk.
"Ah, right… so… what are you girls really looking for?" Hifumi asks.
"Illegal tanks and guns." Shiroko answers.
"What?!"
"We got attacked by a gang a while back, and we tracked their stuff to be from these parts." Hoshino clarified, as she raised her hands.
"Oh… hm… there is a district that sells a bunch of those stuffs… even the out of commission and the banned ones near the Stygian Bank. Maybe we could start there." Hifumi tapped her chin before nodding.
"Sounds like a plan." Shiroko nods, and the rest followed suit. Agreeing in their own ways before they moved as a unit, following the Peroro addicted fangirl deeper into the inner hearts of the black market, and to the district.
And after a few good minutes of walking along, they found themselves in a full on weapon's nut heaven.
Guns, grenades, missiles, and even a full-blown Panzer. Delinquents flock around moving in and out, purchasing items for dirt cheap, and others were selling their old… or stolen stuff for some extra cash in their pockets.
Or maybe some chose this as their profession.
Either way, let the search begin.
"I'm beat." Serika sighs, leaning down to feel her trembling knees.
"It feels like we've been walking for hours…" Nonomi huffs.
Unfortunately what Nonomi said is the truth not just a matter of speech by now. They had spent hours walking and asking around peacefully… or forcefully around the area. Seeking any traces that could connect the dots on the abstract puzzle they had.
Yet there is none to be found. Perhaps they haven't been… looking hard enough, or maybe there is truly nothing at all.
Impossible to say.
"Ugh… I'm getting too old for this kind of thing… my knees and back are killing me." Hoshino leaned to Shiroko as she is fighting the urge to fall down and sleep.
"Really? How old are you again, Hoshino?" Hifumi asks. Surprisingly… still brimming in energy, rivaling the likes of Shiroko and Hans. One being a complete workout junkie and the other… hm.
"Like I said, we're practically the same age!" Serika snaps back before she held her knees again.
Growl…
A low grumble came from the stomachs of the students in unison.
And silence replaced it all.
"Looks like we all could use a break." Hoshino sheepishly scratched her cheek.
"Mm! Hmm… I think I'm in a mood for something… oh! Look there! A taiyaki stand!" Nonomi pointed with glee as she made sprinted towards it, forgetting the fact her stamina had died out barely five minutes ago. "I'm buying!"
"What? You're using your card again?!" Serika shouted to the blonde.
"We could always ask sensei to treat us." Hoshino gazed at the adult, who already had brought out his wallet.
"No, that's okay. I insist." Nonomi shook her head, already ordering a bunch of them.
Hans gave her a look.
"Really, sensei! Don't worry about it!"
He shook his head again, insisting of it as he squeezed her shoulder gently.
Eventually surrendering the matter of payment to him with a sigh, but she had forced his hand to make a promise to allow her to treat him one day.
The few minutes then pass in a blur as Nonomi and Hans returned with a large brown bag filled to the brim with the fish shaped pastry, containing with all kinds of colorful flavors the food vendor had to offer. One by one, hands reached out to pick one of it to snack on, chomping down to fill up their already low sugar levels while saving a good few for their operator back in Abydos.
"That's tasty!" Serika chomped on her taiyaki with a wide grin on her lips, with the memories of childhood passing in her mind.
"You take one too, sensei." Shiroko offers.
He picked one at random and bites on it. The sweetness is… not too overwhelming, unlike what he had in Trinity. Finding himself leaning on the custard filling as he devoured one before raising his makeshift mask back on to cover his face.
A pleasant silence filled with nothing more but rustles and silent chewing filling the air
"It's strange." Hifumi spoke out.
"About what?" Shiroko asks while still chewing on her red bean flavored taiyaki.
"At how we can't find any leads by now. That being except for the receipt that the gang had, but it is barely traceable except that it came from the black market. A supplier that had no name and vague addresses. It's like… someone is really trying to hide everything."
She sighs before chomping down a singular bite on a fleeting thought.
"Even the corporations shouldn't be able to manipulate the black market to this extent." She finished her thought, and it was met with a contemplative silence. All thoughts clicked in unison as it returned to the root of their problems.
"…What now?" Serika asks, her appetite falling down at the thought.
"There's only one more thing we could do." Hifumi stood up first. "That building there? That's the Stygian bank. One of the largest banks in the black market, with whispers of around 15 percent of all illicit profits, flow through there." She pointed. "If there is a chance to get a few more clues…"
"It's through the bank there." Hoshino sighs before she narrows her eyes again at Hifumi. "You really do know your way around here, hm?"
Hifumi waved her hands defensively. "W-Well… it's because… it's an internal matter to Trinity, so to say… um…"
"Guys! Hang on a second! Armed forces moving your way! Take cover!" Ayane warns, before rumblings and the march of mechanical footsteps crept closer.
"Th-those are market guards! Hurry!" Hifumi warned, pointing to a nearby alleyway far enough to conceal themselves but still just enough to still have visuals to the bank. And barely a minute later, the familiar rumbles of an armored vehicle came through, escorted by gun wielding automatons with their footsteps echoing across… like an ill omen to those dumb enough to cross their paths.
"Look there! it's… wait… no way." Nonomi spoke out. Her eyes widening at the display they all saw. The familiar armored car. The dusts, the rusts, and when the driver exits… what they had thought to theory is indeed the bitter truth they had to face.
Kaiser Loans.
"WHAT THE HECK?! THAT'S…!" Serika shouted. Pointing with wide eyes and a snarl.
"…I see." Shiroko narrows her eyes, her grip on her rifle grew tight.
Hoshino looked down in a silent fury. Tightening her fists at the truth, trembling from the sheer amount of anger she had.
And Hans stood silent as he felt the shared anger from each and every student with him… and slowly, some of it crept into him as well.
"…Confirmed." In a silent yet furious tone, Ayane whispers through their earpiece. "That's the same Kaiser Loans truck that had collected from us all this time. The same driver, the same plate number, and the same…"
Ayane continued to relay the information everyone knows. Even without seeing her full physically… her tone reveals her trembling and shaking voice.
Something that is truly unexpected from someone like her, yet a sentiment they all share.
Hans was right.
Arona was right.
No more beating around the bush.
"…Kaiser Loans as in… that… that's explained it." Hifumi hastily reached for her phone and snapped pictures of it. Tapping quickly before… she bit her lip and sent it to someone else.
"What are you… doing?" Hoshino spoke in a low tone at the determined Hifumi.
"…I'm sending it to the Tea Party. Kaiser's been trying to extend their reach to Trinity and the Tea Party has been watching them like a hawk to make sure they don't cause any problems for the students." She continued on tapping on her phone.
"Kaiser didn't do anything illegal per se… but they're like playing jump rope between the law, and with this… Trinity will have a solid footing to tighten our policy regarding the corporation."
"Ayane can you-"
"NO!"
Hoshino spoke before Ayane immediately answers in a frustrated snap, surprising everyone for a second. "I- I'm sorry. It's- It's just… I can't pull anything up! They must be working on a closed network or something!"
The sounds of punching are heard.
"N-No! It's alright! It's alright!" Hoshino reassured.
"…Transport papers." Hans pointed out as the driver ended his chat with the employee. Signing a sheaf of papers before he returned inside of his vehicle, moving deeper inside the bank with the escorts following behind as the staff immediately enters the bank as well.
"Good idea." Hoshino nods, her icy rage controlled as she thought of it.
"W-Wait! We can't exactly just… get it. It's inside the bank by now and to make it worse, it's the most heavily guarded bank in the entire black market, crawling with guards and drones alike!" Hifumi warns.
"There's must be another way to get that truck's transport rou-" Hifumi continued before a hand fell on her shoulder, squeezing it tight and interrupting her thought.
"No." Shiroko immediately answers. Her eyes glinting in a strange bright determination, mixed with glee and a righteous fury.
"There's no other way." She declared at last, and everyone except Hifumi immediately snapped back to THE plan she had proposed a way back.
That one plan.
"Pardon?" Hifumi raised her eyebrow.
"It's our only option, Hoshino."
"Hm. You make a good point." Hoshino sighs and nods to the determined wolf, growing with each passing second from the approval coming from her.
"Come again?" Hifumi looked around, still as lost as ever.
"Oh! Now I get it! We're going to use THAT plan, aren't we?" Nonomi smiles, supporting the idea.
"HOLD ON! You can't be serious! You three aren't thinking what I think you're thinking aren't you?!" Serika protests.
And Shiroko answers with a nod.
"Was that a yes?! Seriously?!"
Hifumi raised her hand as she felt a hint of something unpleasant coming up.
"Um… sorry, I'm not sure I follow. What are you all talking about…?"
Only to be ignored again.
"It's finally time." Shiroko reached inside of her bag, and behold… she was right all along as well. Putting it over her head and let her ears to pop out from the holes of the blue homemade balaclava with the number two on it.
"We're gonna hit the bank." Her eyes glinting as if she had found the calling of her life all along in a silent yet apparent look of pure, unfiltered joy.
"What?!" Hifumi looked at Shiroko with a nervous expression. Hoping that she maybe had heard wrong or something.
"Turns out it was the best plan after all, Shiroko." Hoshino grins. Already wearing her pink number one balaclava.
"Excuse me?!"
"Yippee! Time to teach that evil bank a lesson!" Nonomi is reached and wore her green number three balaclava, replacing the black cap she had been wearing.
"Th-This is a joke, right!?" Hifumi desperately clung to any remnants of reason.
"…This is really happening. Well then…"
Serika reached into Shiroko's pack and wore the last handcrafted balaclava she had brought. A red one with the number 4 on it.
"YOU TOO SERIKA?! WAIT… WAIT! EVERYONE WAIT! This, this is insanity! Sensei! Y-You can't possibly allow them to do that!"
In which, the adult she had begged to be a second voice of reason is already staring at a white homemade white balaclava for him with the number 5 Shiroko offered.
"Nn."
"…Hm."
"Nn!"
"…"
Immediately, he wore the white mask with the field cap over it because of him losing a match of mental prowess from the younger wolf.
…And not because he somewhat…wanted to relieve his olden days being in a heist.
"…Copy that. I doubt I can talk any of you out of it at this point… good luck," Ayane sighs. Her exhaustion shows in her tone and in her hologram as it reappears.
Hifumi meanwhile darts back and forth again as if she was in a fever dream turned to a fever nightmare.
"Sorry Hifumi, we don't have a mask prepared for you." Shiroko looks down in disappointment.
"H-huh?"
"They would pin everything on Trinity if we were to be caught." Hoshino grins "Soo…"
"We don't want you to feel left out." Nonomi follows next. Snapping her fingers as she reached for something she had…
"This is the best we can do last minute! Take this Hifumi!" Without warning, Nonomi lunged at her.
"H-Hold on! I never agreed to- A-ah!" She tried to protest, but Hoshino was already holding her tight,
And the the bag where the taiyaki had forcefully worn onto her head. Modified to have holes for her eyes, and the number 6 on it.
"Nn. It fits her." Shiroko nods.
"I even wrote you a number, Hifumi! You're number 6!" Nonomi smiled proudly.
Hifumi's eyes glanced to Hans with pleading eyes to somehow, someway to save her from this.
In which he replies with a shake of his head and his makeshift scarf wrapping over her uniform, enough to hide the school logo on it.
"Whoa! It makes her look like she's our boss! What a leader." Hoshino teased.
"…We're really doing it… we're really going to hit the Stygian Bank." Hifumi repeated in disbelief before she surrendered to her fate.
"Of course we are. We're sticking together today, remember?"
"Oh… How will I ever explain it to the student council…" she mumbles.
"What's to explain?! We're hitting a criminal bank! We're the good guys!" Serika defended.
"Sensei, will you do the honors?" Shiroko glanced at Hans who had chose to remain silent at… everything as he gave a nod as a strange feeling of excitement came into his heart.
"Let us… eat the rich."
"Nn."
"Let's do this…!"
"Uhe, I'm feeling younger already."
"Yay! Let's go!"
"Oh no…"
A sigh came from the earpiece as Ayane raised her hands. "I hereby dub all of you the Masked Mizuki Gang." A nod at what Nonomi had proposed as the rest of the students agreed in unison. Yes, even Serika
And there is Hifumi.
Upon that name Ayane had spoken, her light fully dies out. A thousand-yard stare replaced what glimmer she once had as she stood idle and blank at the bank they're going to hit. Mind broken at the namesake and what are they going to do as her thoughts ran back to reevaluate her life choices up to this moment.
…Is it better for her to be caught and kidnapped by the thugs instead?
On the other side, Hans still had no idea what the hell a "Mizuki" is, but it somehow ripples to cause Hifumi to die mentally.
Meanwhile, leaving Hifumi's predicament, in a shocking move, Ayane reached for her own mask and wore it as well. Light brown with the number zero.
"Let's plan this out."
Aru held her throbbing head as she swiped her phone up and down again. Sitting idle on a stupid sofa, inside of a stupid bank, for stupid-
"…"
No… it's her responsibility it's her choice.
A tired sigh left her lips as she watched friends as they sat next to each other, snoozing their exhaustion out on the worn sofa.
Leaning and cuddling into each other like a bunch of intermingled threads.
…Aru couldn't help but to snap a picture before her thoughts ran back to the moment.
6 hours.
They've been rotting in this accursed bank for 6 long and painful hours as a consequence of her own actions.
Earlier today.
8:10 A.M.
Black Market District.
Problem Solver 68 Main Office.
"I saw what you did. Incredible as a warmup. So… when will the main operation start?" Their commissioner asked over the phone. His expectations grew a tinge to the report he had.
"…W-What?! But that was the real op- I mean, uh, the real operation will be underway soon. That is to say, it'll be in a week… yup. Haha…" she tried to feign confidence, as she spoke the words.
"?!"
"…!"
"Hahaha… that's right. You have nothing to worry about." Aru gave a smirk as she continued spinning her web.
Satisfied, the client closed the call.
…And Aru let out a long breath she had been holding all this time. Holding her already throbbing temples, paling at what she had just done.
"You don't look so good, Aru." Mutsuki asked.
"You're not planning on starting another fight with Abydos, are you?" Kayoko narrows her eyes.
Aru sighs. "I don't know a lot about our client… but I just have this feeling… that they're not to be messed with."
Kayoko folded her arms before she went to scratch her neck. "Aru. You know what will happen, right?"
"Yeah! Those Abydos kids and Hans-sensei are WAAY stronger than we expected! Plus, wouldn't it be we betraying sensei's contract?" Mutsuki pointed out next.
"And don't forget, we are basically broke now. How would we fight them even if we wanted to?" Mutsuki sighs. "We can't exactly ask SCHALE to support us attack to attack Abydos, you know…"
"…I have to sit this out if that is the case, boss." Kayoko follows next as she leaned on the sofa. "…I don't want to repeat what happened last."
Everyone stops for a moment, shuddering at the thought.
"No! No! I-…" Aru immediately stood up, her thoughts running at lightning speed as she tried to think how she can salvage this.
"I…Ugh…"
She is lost for words.
"…S-Should I start looking for some part-timers as hired muscle again…?" Haruka meekly changed the topic swiftly.
"That would cost a year's worth of work to afford them again. Tell me why we signed a lease for this office. It's a waste of money." Kayoko opened one of her eyes.
"It's- a proper business needs a proper workplace! Nobody would hire us if we didn't look presentable!" Aru swiftly answers.
"She has a point. But I wouldn't really care if we started doing business out of a tent in the park like we used to." Mutsuki thought of the past. The nights… the cold… the mosquitoes…
"Agh! S-Shut up! Shut your mouths! All of you!" Aru groans as she fell down on the table, holding her throbbing temples.
…Even if…
"…We'll get a loan." Aru stood up.
"What?! Aru, our bank accounts are frozen, and are you really going to go against not only Abydos but SCHALE again?! We just- why?!" Mutsuki jumped up from her position. Eyes wide and full of questions.
She let out a shaky breath. "…I must see our job to the end… f-for once, you can sit this one out… I'll think of something…" Without waiting for them, Aru left the office.
Yet… not alone for a second as her companions immediately followed behind.
…
Aru wipes her dropping eyelids again. Exhaustion creeping to her body once more as she her eyes wanders at the ticking clock on her dying phone.
…6 hours and a half.
Then, in a miracle, mechanical footsteps came to her.
"Next. Sorry for the delay. Miss… Rikuhachima Aru was it?" The bank examiner walked in holding the appropriate documents.
"You call that a short delay?! We've been waiting here for SIX hours!" Aru immediately shot up. Her exhaustion replaced with frustration and anger.
"What kind of a loan interview is this?! I've been here the whole day and there wasn't even anyone in front of us!" She then pointed to her friends. "Look at my associates over there! We've been waiting for so long that they've passed out on the couch!"
The bank examiner narrows his eyes. "We had some internal issues. Our apologies." He spoke softly before he raised his voice sternly.
"However! I'm not quite sure if you're in the position to make any demands, Miss Aru."
"Ugh.."
"As someone in need of monetary assistance, waiting is the least you can do. And not to mention, it's frowned upon to sleep on communal seating."
He snaps his fingers.
"Guard. Wake up those bums- I mean customers."
A nearby helmeted guard nods and claps loudly. Hiding a satisfied, spiteful grin underneath as she enjoyed watching them like this.
"Heh. Alright, alright! Rise and shine! Time to wake up!" She shouts.
"Eek! The heck?!" Mutsuki jumped up from her comfortable position on Kayoko's shoulder, knocking the punk awake as well, and in a chain event, Haruka as well.
"…!"
"S-Sorry! We're very sorry! We shouldn't have dozed off!"
"Hmph." The guard shrugs and walked away, returning to her position.
"Now, let's see here. Name: Rikuhachima Aru. Affiliation: second-year at Gehenna Academy." He flips through the document before he sighs.
"…Present employment… boss of Problem Solver 68… that reads like a shell corporation to me and your financial documents are a complete mess." He narrows his eyes again as he flips through another page.
"W-Wait! We're completely legitimate! We just haven't received payment on some of our commissions-!"
He had enough. Slamming the document down, he glared at the flinching outlaw and her companions. "Look at this! You only have four people under you, but each has special titles! Staff chief… section chief, and entry-level employee? Are you joking right now? Are you playing make-believe at running a company?!"
"I-If you wanted to get commissions you have to have an image-"
"Then can you explain the extravagant office lease you're paying? You should know better than to extend yourself beyond your means."
"…Y-You gotta spend money to get money…?"
"…"
The examiner sighs and shook his head, pushing away the documents as he tried to keep the professional air around him.
"This doesn't look good on you. My strong recommendation is that you secure a legitimate employment at once. I have a few suggestions-"
"W-What was that?!" Aru was swept with emotion at his… audacious remark.
'I ought to just… shoot this jerk and rob everything- no.. I need to stay cool. If I rob this bank… escaping from the black market is another story… considering all those market guards everywhere…'
Then the intrusive thoughts spiraled on.
'…But is it, really? Maybe they're that big of a deal. Who's to say the four of us won't be able to blast our way out of here and…'
Finally, common sense slapped her.
'…On second thought… I don't have the guts to make the entire black market my enemy.'
…And lastly… self deprecating thoughts entered with vengeance.
'This is so pathetic… I wanted to be the greatest outlaw in Kivotos! But… look at me now… thinking of going against SCHALE and spitting on his promise… the loan right now… the commission… my business… everything I touch turns into a huge mess.'
…
'…I wanted to be a hard-boiled outlaw… a true free spirit, unbound to anything… not even fear…'
The looks of pity from her employees came to mind.
'…Is it… too much to ask?'
"Aru! ARU! Are you even listening?!"
The bank examiner snaps his finger.
"!" Aru jolted up. "O-Of course I am! So… could you repeat that…?"
The adult gave her a look before he sighs. "…I said your loan has been denied. Now, run along."
"Wh-What?! Hold on a sec-" Aru tried to protest. Standing up to reach out… before the lights cut off out of nowhere. Sending everyone to pitch black darkness.
"What's going on?! A power outage?!" the bank examiner asks.
"Did something happen to the breaker?! All the computers are dead!" Another employee shouted.
Then the confusion was broken by a loud crash, followed by gunshots echoing across the bank, sending the blinded and confused customers and staff alike to a frenzy of confusion and terror, boosted by the screams of the guards as their bodies hit the floor, haloes faded as they drifted into unconsciousness.
"Wh-what's happen- AGH!"
Then in a snap, the lights returned to a scene of pandemonium. Guards fallen down on the floor… and six masked assailants stood tall and strong.
Smoke exiting out from their guns and the tallest one with his fists curled, stained with concrete and dust.
And one by one, they all raised their guns again.
"Everyone down! Toss your weapons aside and
hands where we can see them!"
Author's note.
Hey hey, don't worry this one is the real chapter. :P
On the other note, I'm going to rehaul and check up the previous chapters just in case I had missed/and/or fucked up something in the grammar or continuation. See you on the next chapter!