"Again," Lupe Shimada orders.
"Yes ma'am," the catgirl maid beside her turns, readying the club in her arms. "His kneecaps this time?"
The gangster tied up before these two maids sobs. A portly man, gone to seed. Contusions disfigure his face, tears leak freely from his swollen eyes. He's been bruised, battered, pretty horrifically tortured. The man spits, coughing up blood.
"I told you all I know…" The Jade Tiger flunkie cries out.
"His kneecaps this time." Lupe nods.
"Alrighty~!" The catgirl maid cheers, swinging her club down. Crack, crack, go the gangster's kneecaps as they're caved in. Bone splinters, cartilage is crushed.
"ARGH!" The man lets out a guttural scream of pain.
Lupe sighs, palming her face. "One at a time, Mariko. Too much pain all at once will send him into shock."
"Oopsie!" The catgirl giggles, sticking out her tongue. "My bad! What else are we going to break?"
"Keep going until he's dead, then dump the body in the nutrient reprocessors. I've got to go check on some other things; I'll be back later," Lupe instructs.
"Okay~!"
Lupe then trots out of the room as Mariko continues to swing away at the gangster tied up in that chair with her club. More meaty thwacks, more pained sobbing, the dull sound of bones breaking and muscle bruising…
Two other gangsters are tied up in the next room, guarded by another maid. Lupe pulls up a chair, sitting down in front of them. She sniffs, then gags a little. The acrid scent of urine burns at her enhanced nostrils. That'd be the gangsters, pissing their pants at the sound of their friend getting brutally tortured.
"Are you ready to start talking now?" Lupe asks coolly, as casually as if she's simply asking what these thugs thought about the latest episode of Birtulon.
"F – Fuck you, bitch-" One of the gangsters calls out. Lupe clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
"The hard way then. Yvonne?"
"Yes, boss?" The catgirl stands up straight.
"Break his pinkies," Lupe commands.
"Okay~!" And with a swift motion, the catgirl does exactly that. She grabs the gangster's hands, exposes his pinkies, and pulls. The man lets out a shrill shriek as his phalanges crunch and snap.
"Ho – Hold on…" The third, unmaimed gangster wiggles in his chair, desperately trying to free himself from his bonds. "We've got the info, I swear! It's all on a data drive; we were going to give it to you! It's just… Someone offered a higher price! It was nothing personal, I swear!"
Lupe clicks her tongue. Gangster scum, all the same. The same as the rat scum who bundled Lupe into a container to be sold in this wretched city so very long ago…
"There's… There's no point in torturing us more, you know!" The gangster continues, seemingly emboldened by Lupe's silence. "You know it doesn't work like it does on the sims, right?"
"I know. Torture's an exceedingly inefficient method of extracting information," Lupe speaks up now. "It is, however, particularly effective when it comes to… Creating a few examples. For future use."
"E – E – Examples?!" The gangster squeaks out.
"While you were unconsciousness, we installed Virtusim implants into your necks," Lupe reveals. "They're recording now. Every sensation, every ounce of your fear and pain will be recorded for posterity. Feel grateful; your miserable deaths will be put to good use as a warning to future contractors who renege on their deals. Who try to sell information about the mistress to outsiders."
"Wait…"
"Yvonne, start breaking things. Like I showed you," Lupe stands, brushing down her uniform. "I have to go report to our mistress."
"Okiedokie, Lupe! I've got it from here! Say hi to our mistress for me~!" Yvonne cheers, grabbing a nearby club.
"Remember, start with the extremities; work your way up from there," Lupe instructs. "And avoid the head. The Virtusim's fidelity will be degraded if you give these thugs a concussion."
"Got it!"
Lupe stands now, and exits the room to the sound of clubs striking flesh, bones breaking, cartilage getting crushed…
Just another day in service to mistress Alice.
--
"And that's my report," Lupe finishes reading out her findings to her beloved mistress.
The sinful, sensual succubus Lupe pledged her soul to lounges in her seat, feet propped up on her desk. She regards Lupe through lidded eyes, eyes that glow faintly pink with her arcane might. Lupe swallows, resisting the urge to bow in Alice's presence. As sexy and seductive as Lupe's mistress appears to be?
She's also, very clearly dangerous. A lovely pink rose with the sweetest perfume, gorgeous to behold.
So gorgeous you almost forget about the poisoned thorns she hides, thorns that lurk just beneath her perfect exterior. Thorns so sharp and lethal, they'll shred anyone who dares to mistreat her.
Confident, beautiful, and deadly in equal measure.
This is the form Lupe's beloved mistress takes.
"There are really only four gangs in the city?"
"Yes, mistress," Lupe intones. "Rather, there are only four major gangs worth talking about."
"Right, because there are, like, a million minor poser gangs," Alice sighs out. "Because there're like, a million criminals in Terminus City. Okay. Lay it on me. Who do we have to be worried about?"
"Ever since Infinity Princess' return to Terminus City, crime rates have dropped precipitously," Lupe rattles off easily. "They remain significantly higher than the global average by a wide margin, but overall the city's seen a 50% decrease in crime over the last few years."
"That's my love for you~!" Alice grins. "Gosh, she's so cool…"
"… Indeed," Lupe coughs, trying to shove a few stray thoughts down into the back of her head.
There was a time when Lupe prayed for Infinity Princess to come and save her from her kidnappers. From the rancid thugs who smelled of alcohol who'd laugh in Lupe's face, taunting her about her fate. Her fate to be sold off, to have her death filmed for… For…
In a way, Lupe's almost relieved to have most of the memories of her past life suppressed. The transformative process, the procedure that turned Lupe from a simple girl into Alice Takanashi's wolf-eared adjutant? It did more than alter her body. It altered her cognition as well.
Lupe's intrinsically aware that she's not the girl she used to be. And she hasn't been for some time. The old Lupe Shimada would've been sick to her stomach at the thought of torturing people. The old Lupe Shimada wasn't even named Lupe Shimada. She was named… Something else?
… It doesn't matter now.
"Despite this, crime remains a constant in Terminus City," Lupe continues her briefing.
"Let me guess; it's just that a lot of the criminals these days specialize in pettier crimes, yeah? Stuff that won't get Infinity Princess or the other Magical Girls kicking down their door?"
"That's correct. It's at the point where the most powerful criminal syndicate in this city errs more on the grey side of the law. The Bertoulli Group, a conglomerate of mafia, triad, and yakuza organizations who've banded together and gone… Legit, so to speak. The Bertoulli Group officially runs the nightlife of Terminus City. Hotels, casinos, clubs, bars, brothels…"
"All places where they can push drugs, run guns, and do other shady stuff?"
"The Bertoulli Group doesn't smuggle weapons, mistress," Lupe corrects her mistress. "All the weapons they sell have been cleared with the Corporate Council and other regulatory agencies. It's the same with any pharmaceutical or recreational substances sold at their establishments. Their licenses are all up to date. They do, however, engage in predatory lending…"
"And they'll send some guys to bust your kneecaps if you can't make your loans, got it," Alice drums her fingers on her desk. "… I mean, if that's the worst they're doing, then I guess we can leave them alone? Or maybe work together? These guys sure seem saner than the other lunatics out in the city…"
"Indeed," Lupe nods.
"Alright, who else is there?" Alice asks again.
"The Zealots of Samnas, mistress," Lupe continues. "To put it simply, they're demon cultists. Demon cultists who go out of their way to enhance themselves with cybernetic augmentations."
"… Oh gosh," Alice sighs out, rubbing her temples wearily. "Do I even want to know?"
"As I've discovered, these cultists believe that blood sacrifice can act as a conduit to open the gates to the Nine Circles of Hell. They perform their rituals using their own cast-off body parts, which they then replace with mil-spec cybernetics. Most of their members suffer from Theseus Syndrome…"
"Which means they've modded themselves out so heavily, they're all psychotic," Alice groans. "Gosh, these cultists…"
"Indeed. The Zealots are responsible for roughly a third of all violent crime within Terminus City. Multiple counts of larceny, kidnapping, theft of cybernetic modifications, assault and battery, murder..."
"… Human sacrifices so that they can try to summon demons?" Alice asks.
"Indeed."
"… That's not even how magic works," Lupe's mistress throws her hands up in the air, scowling heavily. "If it were that easy to summon demons any chump who threw blood and body parts into a circle'd be able to pull it off… Ugh. Okay. Has this cult seen any success in their rituals?"
"Not as far as I'm aware, mistress," Lupe shrugs. "Although… There have, always been rumors surrounding this organization, and the number of imp sightings in this gang's territory has indeed been on the rise..."
"Ugh," Alice groans, facepalming. "Fine, put a pin in this, for now; we'll return to these lunatics later. Who's left?"
"The Pacific Liberation Front," Lupe answers promptly.
"… Even I know about these morons, and I basically lived under a rock for the last few years. Eco-terrorists, right?" Alice asks.
"That's correct, mistress. They go out of their way to antagonize the industrial corporations that run this city…"
"They blew up a tanker three months ago and created an ecological crisis in the harbor to protest the ecological crises the corporations have caused," Alice replies flatly. "Literally the worst oil spill since 2132."
"… That is correct."
"Were these the same idiots who tried to blow up City Hall a while back?" Alice says.
"Indeed. To finance their 'interventions'…"
"Drugs, women, guns?" Alice asks.
"That is indeed the case, yes," Lupe nods.
"And then there's the freakin' Jade Tigers. Do I even want to know what the deal is with these guys?"
"The Jade Tigers are an offshoot of the Bertoulli Group, mistress. Specifically, it's where the violent fringe elements of the Bertoulli Group coalesced after they were jettisoned from their original syndicates. As a result…"
"Okay, so the sane criminals kicked out their psycho, lunatic counterparts, and that's the Jade Tigers?" Alice summarizes.
"Yes, mistress."
"More drugs, women, and guns? And a healthy dose of human trafficking as well?"
"Indeed. The Jade Tigers go out of their way to do the things the Bertoulli Group will not do. They engage in cargo theft, piracy, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, the manufacture and distribution of illegal narcotics, human trafficking, and…" Lupe hesitates now.
Dare she ask her mistress about… Perhaps, seeking revenge against… Against…
Lupe shakes her head, putting those dark thoughts out of her mind.
No.
Best… Not to think of such dark things. Lupe Shimada is Alice Takanashi's faithful maid. Her devoted adjutant. That's something Lupe can take solace in. Her new identity and body are all gifts that have been bestowed upon her by Alice Takanashi.
Lupe gave in, so she could forget. Gave in to her kind, sweet-smelling mistress. Offered up her body and soul so she could finally relax and stop being so… Afraid.
So then, why is it that Lupe still feels afraid just thinking about the Jade Tigers…?
"… Lupe, come here," Alice orders now.
Lupe squeezes her eyes shut, even as she trots around the desk so she can stand by her mistress' side. Of course, Alice would pick up on the conflict raging in Lupe's soul. Alice Takanashi is extremely perceptive, after all. Lupe knows this much. As lazy, hedonistic, and fun-loving as Alice appears to be?
Her pink eyes have a way of piercing right into your soul.
It's a quality Lupe particularly adores about her mistress. Her wonderful, hypnotic eyes.
"Put your head in my lap, Lupe. Okay?" Lupe hears Alice asks. Dully, the wolf-eared maid makes to obey this order. She sinks to her knees, resting the side of her head in Alice's soft, sweet-smelling lap. Her cheeks squish up against the delicate, yielding flesh of Alice's thighs. Lupe feels her eyelids flutter as she stares up at Alice's exposed navel, at the complex pink tattoo emblazoned above Alice's crotch.
It's so warm and nice-smelling…
Soft fingers pat Lupe's hair now. Lupe's ears twitch as Alice rubs them, gently teasing the silver tufts of fur.
"Good girl, Lupe. Good girl," Alice coos to her beloved puppy. Unbidden, Lupe's tail begins to wag as Alice pets her, stroking her hair. "Lupe's a good girl. A good girl, okay?"
"… Okay," Lupe feels her eyes closing. It'd be so easy to lose herself in this comfort again...
"Thank you for telling me all about the gangs in this city. Do you have a more elaborate report drawn up?"
"Yes…" Lupe murmurs into Alice's lap.
"Just leave it on my desk at some point, okay?" Alice's gentle voice calls out. Her tones are soothing. Warm and dulcet. "Hmm. I'll have to prepare something special for the maids for working this hard… And something special for you, too, Lupe. Okay?"
"Mistress, I don't - "
"You're a cute, good girl who's been trying her hardest Lupe. And cute, good girls deserve all the cute, good things," Alice hums. "What would you like? A collar, maybe? A cute collar?"
Lupe shivers. A collar… It would be the ultimate demonstration of Alice's authority over Lupe's new body. The Lupe Shimada of a month, a year before would have probably howled with rage over the idea of being collared like an animal. Would have screamed and fought, kicking and screaming all the while.
"A collar sounds like a nice idea, mistress."
The Lupe Shimada of today? Well, a part of her still rebels at the idea. But it's a much smaller part now. A quieter part that's slowly begun to fade out of existence. The much louder, more dominant parts of Lupe eagerly, fervently wish for a collar to be placed around her slim, pale throat.
Because serving at the devil's side is better than being cast down into the pits of hell. Being comforted by warm, loving hands is nicer than starving on the streets. Lupe's old life was so hard and cold, filled with too many struggles. Lupe's old life ended anyways when she was scooped up by Nagata Kenshiro and tossed into a shipping container with a dozen other broken girls to be sold to a Virtusim producer who specialized in snuff pornography.
At least now, Alice gives Lupe pets. Calls her a good girl. Shows Lupe love and affection. At least now, Lupe has friends.
And with a collar, Lupe would have proof that Alice does actually care, in her way. The ultimate proof, in fact. A collar would be something that the Lupe of today would wear proudly.
Lupe's content with her life right now, content with not being first in Alice's heart. Lupe's honestly content with staying as a loyal, devoted puppy to her mistress Alice Takanashi.
Just as long as Alice doesn't throw Lupe out into the cold again…
"I'll look into getting one. Now stop being sad already!" Alice's head rubbing becomes more aggressive.
"… I'm not sad…" Lupe protests weakly.
"You were totally being sad, Lupe. Do you want to talk about it?" Alice asks, her other hand coming down to trace the contours of Lupe's spine, massaging the knots out of Lupe's back. Lupe lets out a quiet moan of relief at these ministrations, at the way all the tension's begun to vanish at the touch of Alice's magical hands.
"… Nnh~!" Lupe groans out. "… Not at the moment, mistress. I wouldn't want to bother you…"
"Pish, posh," Alice waves away. "You're my adorable puppy! You wouldn't be bothering me!"
"Still, maybe… Maybe later…" Lupe's tail wags, thumping away under her seat. Ah, it's so nice to get headpats again after so long…
"Yeah, you're overdue for a headpatting session, huh?" Alice taps Lupe on the forehead now. "Alright, come on. Get up. We're heading to bed. You're obviously stressed, and I can't have that! Come on; we're cuddling until you get all that yucky stress worked out of your body, okay?"
"… Okay," Lupe mumbles as she gets out of Alice's lap, standing up again. "But mistress, work…"
"Work can wait!" Alice insists, her eyes blazing. "The health of my adorable minions comes first! Come on, lemme give you all the cuddles you want. Okay?"
"… Yes, my mistress."
"Excellent~!"