Chapter 14: Smuggler

Okay. So. Several weeks have passed. Yeah. Weeks. I know.

Usually I talk about just the interesting stuff and leave out the boring bits where it's just me doing-… me stuff. I guess.

Well, uh. I should recap the last few weeks then.

In short, I got some stuff from Vampy, had to bring it to some jerk in Lastation and it went far too smooth. So much so that when I got home I was still wondering when the police would come and knock on my door.

I've been doing this smuggling business for a couple weeks now every weekend and it's the same every single time—Get my stuff, pack it up, take the ferry across the ocean and drop it off before heading back a couple hours later. Really, I figured border patrol would be a bit more strict, but I guess not.

I've made it a habit to visit Lastation's arcades while I'm there. It'd be a waste not to after I went all the way. Right?

Anyway, this smuggling business is actually really good money. But I do try to remember that this is as far as I should go.

Any more and I'd become a real criminal. And probably can go to prison. I don't want that. I enjoy my freedom, thank you very much.

Oh. Almost forgot. Vampy and I. We've been getting closer. But I gotta admit, I'm being a bit of a coward. I've been longing for something more out of our friendship. But I'm not sure how to even confess to her.

Right now, I'm on my way back home on a saturday night.

Things are quiet on the streets. It's just me and the occasional Guild Agent heading home. Guild Agents are weird, man. They work all day every day. Can't imagine loving any job that much you'd wanna work yourself to death. Sometimes literally, considering these guys fight gigantic beasts and monsters.

As I continue on, with some astronomically bad luck, I run into a familiar face.

It's that Guild Agent. The one in the blue coat I threw a brick at when Vampy became CAVE (Cornered Animal Vampy Eh).

She and I exchange a short glance before she calls out to me. "Hey. You're B-Face, right? Underling's friend."

"Underling? That's what you call Vampy?"

"Vampy?"

Right. I guess that is the nickname I gave her and no one else knows it. And I guess 'Underling' is the old nickname this girl gave her from her days in ASIC. Who knew she climbed all the way to the top from being a lowly underling.

I shake my head at her. "Forget it. Yeah. I, uh. I'm that guy you found at the foot of that slope. Hi?"

The brunette looks me head to toe, crossing her arms as she does. "You're looking fine again. Guess it's been at least a month now." She offers me a small smile. "Glad to see you survived."

"Yeah. Thanks again, I guess. Would've been a lot worse without you. So… Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I was just passing by, after all. You got lucky, y'know? Don't go playing near slopes again."

"I won't. Don't worry…"

This feels a bit awkward. She's clearly not being hostile or anything. I mean, she did save my life kinda and I threw a brick at her. So I'm not even really sure whether to like her or not. She's still a Guild Agent, after all.

I should at least try and make some conversation.

"So. How do you and Vamp-, I mean… 'Underling'. How do you two know each other?"

"Hm. Let's see. That was a while ago, actually. I think we met when we both were looking for Planeptune's Mascot. She wanted to destroy it and we needed its help."

I'm not entirely sure what this 'mascot' is, but it sounds important.

"You did know, right?" IF asked. "That she used to be a part of ASIC?"

"… I do. That's something of the past. Don't really care about that."

"And what if she's still a criminal?"

I put a hand in my pocket and take a long breath. Is she on to me? "What are you insinuating?"

She raises her hands in a defensive manner. "I'm not really implying anything. It's just that you should pick your friends carefully. Especially if this someone still might be active in the criminal underworld."

"Might be?"

"Well, she hasn't exactly gone to make an honest living from what I can tell."

I grumble at that. Is she onto Vampy's smuggling ring? Wait. This meeting. Was it really by chance? Shit, she might be onto me.

Cold sweat began running down my back. I clear my throat and nod my head. Don't be an idiot. Don't be an idiot…! Just nod and don't give her anything she can use against you or Vampy.

"Well. If she hasn't, I wouldn't know. We're friends. That's all."

"At least it's good she hasn't tried getting you involved then."

Crud… Now I really don't know if she's onto me.

The most I do is nod my head quietly. As much as I tried, though, I couldn't help but let some words slip. "So, uh… What exactly would happen to people that'd get involved. I mean. I don't really… know what you're implying what Vampy is doing, but. Well. What would happen to them?"

The agent doesn't seem to make much of it. She actually hums in thought, her hands held in her pockets. "Depends on the severity of the crime, of course. Something as low as theft could net someone a couple years in prison. Organised crime? Maybe a bit more than a couple. Hey, if you were expecting anyone to get off with just a fine and a slap on the wrist, you'd be wrong."

I take a sharp breath and clench my fist behind my back. "Didn't think so, no. Well. I'm not involved I guess."

"Right. What I'm saying is… Don't get too attached to her, alright?"

Again, I just nod my head. The agent pads my shoulder as she tells me 'I'm a good kid and shouldn't let a criminal drag me down to their level' before she leaves and I finally realise that she's really implying she's hot on Vampy's tail.

I turn to her with a fierce glare as she walks off so casually. Arrogant little nerd… Who does she think she is…!?

I'm clutching today's payment from my smuggling. She had no idea she was talking to a smuggler just now. If anything, maybe she tried to warn me not to get involved.

Too late for that.

I already am playing this game… But for how long can I keep going?