"I have found Chika."
Silenced followed. Nepgear's ears blocked the noise around her as she tried to process the information. She tried to speak but found no words coming out of her mouth. She kept opening and closing her mouth, as though she were a fish out of water.
Finally, she finally managed to find her voice again. "H-Hold on... Chika? B-But how..."
"I had no prior knowledge of this until I received an anonymous tip from an unknown individual. They have made a claim that Chika was being kept hostage in one abandoned warehouse that is located in Leanbox." She took out a piece of paper and handed it to her. "They even provided me with the whereabouts that I have written down here."
Nepgear glanced at it for a bit until something hit her. "Wait... this doesn't sound right."
This triggered all the red flags in her. "I mean... this all could be a hoax just to lure us into a trap. Please tell me you weren't actually planning on going alone to what could be an obvious trap in history."
"Most certainly not." Cave shook her head. "I'm not so foolish to attempt it by my own self. It is for this reason that I came to request your assistance on the matter."
"You can't be serious right now." Nepgear muttered to herself. "Look, I hate to be the one who breaks it to you, but it's most likely a trap set out by ASIC Remnants themselves. We don't have confirmation that Chika is even alive, and then some mysterious caller says she's in Leanbox. Should I go on?"
"No, I'm well aware of these facts. These are the exact thoughts that occurred to me. However... "She closed her eyes and paused. "If there is even a diminutive chance that she is indeed alive, then we ought to attempt at least." She looked at her with pleading eyes. "I implore you, Nepgear. I need you to assist me in rescuing Chika as a comrade."
"Cave... I'm telling you it's—"
"I will not be able to live with myself if I don't!" Cave interjected. Her tone made it known that she wouldn't back down.
Nepgear, not pleased, pointed her finger at her and matched her tone. "You won't be alive if you go there! Just... think about this, please." She softened her tone as she gave her friend one last pleading look.
"I'm sorry... but I cannot." Nepgear's groaned as her hands dropped to the side. "I have to insist. I have failed Chika once as a friend, and I will not let it happen twice, even if the cost means my own life. Nonetheless, I'm going whether that you decided to accompany me or not."
Nepgear watched her friend turn around and leave. She sighed. "Hold on..."
Cave stopped and gave her a side eye. "Have you reconsidered?"
Nepgear stood there, her eyes looking back and forth, until finally she let out a sigh. "Fine... I'm coming with you. You're right, we're gotta try at least. Besides, I won't let another friend of mine die on my watch, no matter how stubborn they might be." The last remark was obviously directed at the maid-like girl, which made her crack a small smile.
"I know. It's one of my specials." She nodded in appreciation. "You have my gratitude, Nepgear. I'm truly indebted to you."
"No problem, but... if we're doing this, then we should proceed with caution and plan ahead. It's not ASIC that we also have to worry about. "
"Fret not. I know the ins and outs of Leanbox like the back of my palm. We'll meet at night, just outside the outskirts, when night rolls in. The two of us can handle it."
"Okay, sounds good. I have some business with my friend in the city at the moment."
"Very will. We shall rendezvous at the arranged time, as we have agreed. I bid you farewell." Cave turned and left, leaving the sounds of heels behind, followed by a door closing. Leaving Nepgear alone with her thoughts.
ASIC remnants, the Elite forces, Rei. sudden disappearance, and now this? It was one thing after another, wasn't it?
"Nepgear?" Speaking of which... here comes Histoire with her impeccable timing as usual. "Was that Cave I just saw leaving now?"
"Ah, Histoire, great timing." She turned around and faced the small girl on a flying book. "Yeah, she came to ask me to help her on a rescue mission."
"Again?" She wrinkled her brow. "Who are you rescuing?"
"Apparently Cave got wind of information from an unknown source saying that Chika is allegedly alive and being held in Leanbox." This made her tiny eyes widen, but she quickly regained composure. "Chika, you say? Hm, that could prove to be good news if the information is to be trusted."
"Well, Cave is hell-bent on going, even if it's most likely a trap. So, I'm going with her to make sure she makes it out in one piece."
"I see... Will you two be okay?"
"Of course, Cave is a capable woman, and the two of us can manage it just fine." Nepgear tried reassuring her fairy mother figure, who didn't look convinced. Histoire let out a sigh. "Very well. I trust your capability, but I can't help but worry; it's my nature to do so."
"Hehe, I know. So..." Nepgear started. "Have you seen Uzume anywhere recently?"
"Hmm, why, yes. She came yesterday night and asked me if we had a library that she could use, to which I directed her." Histoire then rubbed her chin. "Come to think of it, I noticed that she acted a bit... strange when we talked. "
"How so?"
"Well, for starters, the first thing she asked me was whether I had recognized her or not, to which I replied with no and it seems to take her by surprise. She seems to expect that I do.
"Huh, that's indeed weird." She murmured to herself. "Well, I'm going to see her now."
She made her way to the Basilicom's library and made her way inside. The library was fairly dim and quiet, though it was for the reason that there wasn't anyone who used the library, so much so that the books here collected dust. So it wasn't hard to spot the blue-haired girl sitting on one of the tables with stacks of books on them and a small lamp.
"Uzume?"
"Ah... Nepgear, was it?" She put the book down, still maintaining that unsettling smile of hers from yesterday. "Lovely morning, don't you agree?"
"It's actually afternoon."
"Is it? Hmm, well, I couldn't tell since there aren't any windows in here." She leaned on her chair and rested her arm.
"Um... Did you spend all night reading?"
"Why yes, of course. There were simply a lot of interesting things in here that I found myself lost in." Uzume pointed at the many books.
"Um, good books, I hope?"
"Of course, I enjoyed the history books the most. Notably, the one about the history of the deity of sin and the previous generation of CPUs."
"Sure... Um, listen, I came here to ask you something. It's regarding the strange energy you have inside of you."
Uzume appeared tense for a moment before she quickly played it off. "Hm, I have no idea what you are talking about. Would you mind enlightening me about this... strange energy that you are referring to?"
"Come on. Don't play dump. I'm talking about the negative energy that you have." Uzume's face remained stoic for a while before she let out a dry chuckle. "I see, so you have noticed. I guess I couldn't keep them hidden for long. However, you would have to know that I can't disclose my secrets yet."
"You still need to tell me. You need to realize that not every day that someone comes with no records and has negative energy. Considering that I didn't immediately throw you prison. I think I'm pretty generous in letting you stay at the basilicom without a surveillance."
"Your kindness knows no bound, your majesty." She rolled her eyes. "If your worried that I'm a member of ASIC, then I can assure you that I'm not with ASIC or in any terrorist group for that matter. As you already know, I prefer working alone."
"Okay, but you know that I just can't take your words for it. It's all suspicious as hell."
Uzume hummed as she rubbed her chin. "Alright, then how about we do a deal?"
"A deal?" Nepgear slowly repeated.
"I'll tell you everything... but only if you can find my lost console. The answers lie within it."
"Sounds... oddly cryptic." Nepgear frowned. "Also, how exactly is a piece of hardware going to prove anything?"
"You'll see. Somethings are best explained by showing rather than telling."
"I'm not sure I follow but okay. Until we find that console of yours, you are in the custody of the Basilicom for the time being."
"Fine with me. Not like I have anywhere to go."
"Good. "Nepgear nodded before she left. As she was about to make her way, she stopped midway. "Oh and this should go without saying, but any attempt to escape or try anything funny will result in an arrest warrant being placed on you."
"Yeah, yeah." She waved her hand dismissively without looking. "Don't you have some other important work to do? I'm going to resume with my reading if you don't mind."
Nepgear rolled her eyes mentally and left the girl to her peace and left the library. As she made her way out of the basilicom, with a question lingering in her mind.
Is Chika really alive?
Author's Notes
New year, same me. Funny thing that happened to me. When I booted up one of the Neptunia games on my hacked PS Vita after I pirated them, I got a message saying that pirating is illegal. I thought they recognized it as a pirated copy somehow, but it turned out to be a simple, warning message they put before the game started. Either that or Idea Factory is on to me. But it sure gave me quite the scare at first.
Next Chapter: Chasing Shadows
IF and Nepgear go and search for clues around the city for the mysterious case of Rei.'s sudden disappearance.
