A/N: Sensei held onto Iori's feet when he noticed Hina. Still can't get over that.
Anyway, hello everyone, I'm back after a while, I've been working on other stuff, and looking for work normally, aside from that nothing much has changed, other than the fact that this chapter was partially Beta read by JonJay, one of many members in the Mojave Express, aka UnknownSixth's Discord channel, he had to stop midway due to life issues but he was very helpful regardless.
Now, considering I don't have much to say, let's go to responses:
PanzerkampfwagenVI: The GSC does not need the bribes, but some of them are fairly greedy and don't like that Rin is the Acting Council President.
Ikmal . aizad11: Truly, what a Payday moment.
GoldStar77: That is true, the world is not a kind place but Mateo is a hard worker and lucky. You see, if they're caught, then Kaiser will have a lot more to worry about, but Ayane is good with a computer, don't worry. As for Depression Archive, the thought has crossed my mind a few times, and I might at some point, but it won't be common since Mateo has had time to process a lot of things during the last year and a half before coming to Kivotos though he did go through a lot even during that time. Basically, we'll see some Depression Archive at some point.
Eisenhower Haloway: FIVE BULLETS LEFT!
Hutakata: I probably will not, never seen Casa Del Papel. Rin will not be happy and the Kaiser CEO even less. Mateo's cell of Agents will be elaborated on at some point, they're all pretty important to his growth after all.
Whoopsteys(guest): I'm glad you love it. Good luck with New York and the game, not to mention that the APC...Well, it happens.
Kamizuman24: Here's the new update, sorry it took so long.
That's about it, I hope all of you enjoy the chapter!
As a federal agent in multiple worlds, I can say, with confidence, that you should not rob banks, even if everything has gone to hell. There's always a better way even if the cash isn't worth anything due to the crash of the economy.
But as a person who lived through D.C., New York, Silver Creek, and many other places, I say 'fuck that'.
My time as an Agent revealed many things to me, including how the flimsy system we so believed in was torn down before our very eyes and how those very people who were supposed to be working for the betterment of our society were actively working against it. At some point, bombshells concerning the fact that the upper echelons didn't give a single shit about us stopped affecting me, so I can relate to the Abydos girls at least, especially with this bombshell.
That said, my smile hasn't dropped ever since Shiroko and I began sneaking through the halls. "Camera." I point it out while Shiroko looks at it.
"I'm in position." Hifumi says, her voice slightly muffled from her bag as my ScanTek picks up her position in the breaker room, "Which wire should I cut?"
"Talk it over with Ayane." I respond as I lean behind a corner, waiting for the camera to go over my location. "Aru. Are you here yet?"
"Yes, Sensei." She responds, her tense voice laced with excitement and anticipation, her shining eyes visible in my imagination. "Just give us the word."
"Uncle, Three, Red, all good?" I muttered into my communication device.
"Sensei~, didn't we already say it's Chris-."
"No." Serika interrupts, her tone reminds me of the look she gave me on the first day we met. Ah, how time flies.
"Uhe~, we're in position." Hoshino confirms.
I follow after Shiroko as we reach the security room. Activating Shocker Punch, I slowly open the door, the barest of cracks audible as I prepare to use the taser.
Two guards, simple enough.
With the flick of a switch, I place the taser against the first guard's neck, her halo flickering in and out as she stiffens up, the other turns to see what the racket is all about.
I kick her in the back of the leg before she can turn completely, the first one falls unconscious as I leap and wrench off the helmet of the second one and smash her head with it as she stumbles. Grabbing her head, I slam it against the table, knocking her out as she falls unconscious.
Violent? Definitely.
Sighing, I nod to Shiroko, the wolf-eared girl entering the room as she zip-ties the guards and I speak into my comms, "Good. Sandman and Wolf are in position. Standby."
Shiroko is a natural at planning out bank heists. It's exhilarating and impressive seeing her work with as little information as we have available. "Ready, Sandman?" She asks.
"Give me a second." I say as I begin going through the cameras. "Just gotta...found it."
The Server Room, full of juicy secrets, makes me smile under my mask. "Remember," I start into the comms, "we've chosen names for a reason. Once the lights are cut, Hifumi and Shiroko will be in charge of filling up the bags. Nonomi and Hoshino are in charge of crowd control and Serika will be in charge of picking up any dropped guns."
"I thought you were joking when you said 'rob them blind'." Hoshino notes as I chuckle.
"Problem Solver 68 will provide a distraction and Ayane is mission control. Everyone got it?"
After a round of affirmatives, I nod. "Good." I say while bringing out Merciless and flicking off the safety. "Safeties off. Remember, once it goes dark, no names. Hifumi, at your discretion."
Outside the bank, Aru looked around atop the roof, watching the Stygian Bank as she hid the bags of fake money. "Kayoko, where's Haruka?" She asked, trying to hide her anxiety. After all, they'll make enemies of the entire Black Market if this whole operation goes wrong. There's no room for mistakes.
It's a fear-inducing thought, but…
Sensei is just so freaking cool! How was he doing it all with zero hint of fear, remorse or regret!? Unbelievable..
Sure, he might not even look like the outlaw she had envisioned, but that didn't matter anyway, because he was practically everything she ever wanted to be.
"H-Here, Lady Aru." Her friend spoke, Mutsuki began to viciously grin from ear-to-ear.
"Where were you?" Aru asks as Haruka's shy looks begin to form the shadow of a twisted smile.
"I was just doing as you said." Haruka spoke, "Seizing the moment."
Aru simply blinked, trying to understand what she just said, "Ri-."
"Lights out." Hifumi starts, others looking in anticipation.
Business is usual within the bank, customers are withdrawing and depositing, crying over the rates on a loan and whatever else you do in the bank.
It was an ordinary day like any other.
Then the speakers came on. "Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the interruption-." Then, the lights went out.
"Wha-."
"Hey, what's going on?"
The clatter of smoke canisters began to ring out before being followed by a burst of air, followed up by flashbangs that blinded everyone who looked at the sound.
Then, the whirl of barrels rang out, followed by a barrage of bullets peppering everything they could as the smoke covered much, corralling those without masks or helmets to the middle while leaving the outside to those with Helmets and masks, where they were quickly taken care of within the minute.
The lights were soon turned back on from the activated backup generators, smoke from the canisters still filling up the room as the entrance remained clear. In other words, behind the five masked figures who were all wearing balaclavas of varying colors with numbers stamped on the forehead.
Those who remained conscious looked on in shock as they realized what was happening.
Slowly, the one with a blue balaclava and a 'two' on her head aimed up and shot the ceiling. "Throw down your weapons and stay on the floor, this is a robbery!"
"I'd listen to Wolf there." Hoshino, or Uncle, says, pointing her bandaged weapon into the face of one of the customers, "She's got one mean bark and an even meaner bite."
"What do you-!" One of the Market Guards still awake tries to argue.
With no hint of hesitation, Shiroko shot her, and everyone else did the same in less than a second. In a flash, the poor Market Guard got knocked the hell out.
"Get on the floor already!" Serika, or Red, yells.
"Y'see Red?" Nonomi, or Three asks, "Wanna know how she go that name? That's because that's all she can see when she's angry. And right now she's really angry."
"What the hell are you saying Three?" Red yells back as Three chuckles.
"Three's named Three because that's how many years she's been on the run." Shiroko says. "And Uncle is Uncle."
"Uhe~." Uncle says as she aims her shotgun at a robot that tried to run. "Where are you going?"
"Hiii~." They yelled as the others looked at each other, nodding.
"If you think we're bad, wait until you meet our leaders." Uncle says, a burst of gunshot suddenly rings out from behind the smoke. "One of them knows no mercy, no remorse, no regret, she does this for no reason other than to sate her bloodlust." She begins to walk around, her hand still on her shotgun while she makes it look like she was telling a story, "She only finds joy from the suffering of others, watching as the light in her enemy's trembling eyes disappears." Slowly, a set of footsteps rang out as Hoshino's smile widened.
"Courage is nothing under her lifeless gaze." Three continues, "Her steps leave only pain and suffering, and she revels in it like a child would a candy bar. She knows no equal." She finishes off with a pose.
The form of one of their bosses appears as her immaculate shoes cut through the smoke, which menacingly emanates from the eyeholes of her paper bag mask. Her yellow eyes are dulled with what is probably bloodlust, and definitely not regret for what she's doing. Definitely.
"She is Faust. She will show you a bad time." She finishes it with a smile.
Her eyes survey the crowd as she lands on the teller, frozen as he expects for her to go after him.
Then, they heard it, the sounds of gunfire and savage fighting. "But for all her revelry in savagery," Shiroko spoke, her eyes glinting in excitement, "Faust lacks the efficiency our other leader has. If Faust drowns her victims in savagery, he chokes them with their own tears." The few who are still awake reel at the description.
"His existence is as existent as his bloodlust. He has none." Uncle adds, smiling, "He appears in your dreams, in your nightmares, he watches and he knows what you dream. For he comes from nowhere to deliver."
Then a heavy step echoes through, followed by a bulky figure walking out of the smoke, wearing a camouflage hoodie and tan pants with boots. On his back was a bandaged AK-M with a suppressor and on his face was a ballistic mask, the area of the eyes painted white with no visible eyes, giving it a menacing feel as he dragged behind him the body of the Bank Manager, still conscious as he ignores them and goes directly to the vault. Despite not locking eyes with anyone, one of the hostages shrieks in fear.
"He is Sandman. And like sand, he'll be gone with the wind before you know it." Three finishes as Wolf and Faust follow after Sandman, ignoring the teller while he's desperately trying to slam the alarm again and again but to no avail, the others trying the same but nothing happens.
"Oi~." Uncle lazily said, the tellers looked up to see her, their bodies now frozen solid when they saw a menacing, whirring minigun held freely by Three. "We have no need for you."
Panic erupted among the tellers as they were filled with bullets, their screams abruptly silenced.
With Sandman, he drags the manager up and forces him up. "Here it is right? Transport record, cash, all of it?" He asks, towering over the sniveling manager.
"Yes! I-" He started desperately but Sandman slammed his head against the vault. Hifumi winced under her mask from the loud, brutal crack of metal.
"Open it." Sandman coldly demands as his eyebrows furrowed, the manager complies and does as he's told, he glances back to see Sandman gone, only for it to be instead replaced with Faust and Wolf, both of them pointing their guns at him.
"Open it," the Wolf ordered, pushing the barrel of her gun to his back as the manager began to weep pathetically.
Meanwhile, Sandman is grinning giddily under his mask while heading to the server room. "Ready?" He asks, ISAC nodding as he enters the room.
"Affirmative." He says as Sandman uploads ISAC into their server and ISAC begins downloading the information.
And what a find it is, already an email in and it's already enough to bring Kaiser under a microscope.
If this gets out, Kaiser is going to want blood, not like they'll be able to find much with Ayane and ISAC messing with any surveillance systems. The more he has, the more he can use to stop them.
Like all those times the Black Tusk crippled the Division over and over again with no damn end to it. Constantly being on the backfoot no matter how hard he tried.
He can't have that. Like always, he'll come out on top, through blood or through ink.
In the meantime, while the Manager was helping Wolf and Faust to load up the bags with cash, Faust whines, "Is that how you guys see me?"
"It was Uncle and Three's idea." Wolf says, nonchalantly pointing her finger. "Sandman didn't know about it."
"Still-." Suddenly, Wolf shot the manager, interrupting whatever she had in mind to say. "Ah-." Faust hit a cart of cash and yelped in a poor attempt to try to help him, sending it all barrelling to the floor. Faust's icy unfeeling eyes pierced the Manager who looked up at her, dismissively throwing the cash at him and gesturing to him to keep shoving the money into the bag. It was amusing to see him cry."How sadistic. Well done Faust." Wolf nods as she throws one of the full bags out for Red to collect. "Tell him to hurry up."
"It doesn't matter anyway." Faust says, causing the terrified manager to freeze up, "We're almost done with this."
The Manager's sobs become more and more pathetic as he's hastily filling up the bag and hesitantly gives it to Faust with his trembling hands, "Please, take this- J-Just let me leave alive! Don't finish me off!"
Before he could say anything, Sandman stepped in, grabbed a bag and helped to fill it up, while making sure no one noticed it - he shoved some extra cash into his own bag before passing some extra to Hifumi. "Your dues." He said as he walked out, Wolf followed as Faust walked after them, ignoring the sobs of the manager as they heard a strange sound, causing all of them to turn, they froze as they watched the vault close on the manager.
"...Well, that wasn't part of the plan." Shiroko notes.
"It's just evened out." Sandman points out, looking at the multiple bags of cash they've got, one for each of the gang to hold in duffel bags they used for the Abydos Operation. "Let's go."
Sandman separates from Faust and Wolf as they exit with the bags. "The eagle has landed." Wolf says as she passes a bag to Hoshino, Nonomi, and Serika.
"That's it right? Well let's go!" Serika insists as she begins to leave.
"That'll be all folks!" Uncle says and Three finally pops up.
"This is Christina of the Masked Mizugi Gang, signing off!" She says as Wolf turns and points her gun at them.
"No funny business." She orders while she steps out.
Finally, Faust was left, "Sorry about this everyone." She says while bowing and walking back, "Thank you, and have a great day."
Then the lights went out. Sandman left through the backdoor, running to the roof with a bag in hand, he couldn't help but chuckle seeing Aru's glinting eyes, "Well that was easy. Here." He says, giving them the duffel bag. "Mix them in with the fakes, quick."
Aru nods, "R-Right."
"Kufufufu~. I see." Mutsuki says, covering her mouth "This is gonna be fun~."
"Then, you know where we're meeting. See ya." He says as he moves, descending from the roof and leaving Problem Solver to do as told.
Haruka doggedly watches Mateo go running after the FTF as she begins to giggle while the rest of the girls finish mixing the real cash with the fake. "Finally~."
"Haruka?" Aru asks, "What are you doing?"
"The bank made Sensei angry." Haruka says as she glances back, a twisted smile in place and a detonator in hand. "So, I decided to make sure they'll never do anything ever again."
Aru's pupils dilated, Mutsuki's smile widened, and Kayoko's eyes widened.
"Haruka, no-."
Haruka pressed the detonator.
A loud explosion shook the entire Black Market, catching Mateo and the FTF girls off-guard, yet despite everything that had happened so far, a sense of satisfaction bloomed blissfully within their hearts..
Mateo falls to his knees, hands raising in triumph as laughter bubbles from his chest. "Yes! Whoooo! Suck it! Go to hell! AHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Sensei!" Hoshino says, glaring at Mateo, "I thought we told you-."
"I didn't." Mateo answers, laughter almost rippling up as he spreads his arms out. "That just makes it so much better. I'd kiss whoever did this!"
That caught their attention before Ayane rang out, "The Market Guards are on their way, hurry!"
"Don't worry, too much." Mateo answers as he prepares Merciless. "Problem Solver has it on lockdown."
Within certain areas, Problem Solver looks on at crowded areas of the Black Market as Kayoko sighs, "Seems like Haruka had the right idea this time. Now they know what's happening."
"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry." Haruka babbles from her own position.
"I-it's fine." Aru says, swallowing as she prepares herself while looking over the crowded area.
"Whoa~, the Market Guards are really rushing. Guess it's time for our job?" Mutsuki says, preparing the duffel bag.
"R-Right." Aru says from her position, all of them positioned on roofs over crowded roads that lead to the Stygian Bank, "On three!"
"Whoops!" Mutsuki says as she swung her bag, Love & Violence, aiming at the duffel bag with explosives coming out of it. "Sorry, I already did it."
"What?!" Aru yelps.
"Market Guards in sight, throwing." Kayoko says, throwing her own opened duffel bag, it roared in bone-chillingly powerful explosions each time she shot at it. People began to run in dire panic while some looked back in utter bewilderment.
"A-Aru?" Haruka asked, confused, "The Market Gua-."
"Throw!" Aru yells, throwing her own as her sniper rifle releases an ear-splitting crack, effortlessly cutting through the bag and haphazardly spreading the money everywhere.
From her comms, Aru heard the echo of thunderous bombs go off. If Aru had any money to bet with, she'd put it all on those being Mutsuki's. She looked out and saw disorganized chaos rampaging on the roads.
"Do not touch the cash!" One of the Market Guards ordered, confusing the people going about their day as cash rained down as they all began grabbing it in cheery madness. Some more desperately than the others as gunfights are already taking place.
"Wait, it's fake!" One of them yelled in realization, as people looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about? It's real!" Someone yells out as more and more shouts ring out.
Mutsuki and Kayoko made sure the anarchy kept going on for as long as possible, taking wild potshots from their perch to prevent the mayhem from calming down, "Kuhahaha~. This is fun!"
Kayoko hid from her position and screwed the suppressor onto her pistol. "I'm falling back."
"Aru, what should I do?" Haruka asks, tightly hugging the shotgun.
"Er, I-um…" Aru's brave facade crumbles.
"There they are!" Aru says as she turns, shocked at the Market Guards pointing at her, "Get her!"
"Problem Solver, regroup," Mateo rings out in their comms, "you've done your jobs, anymore and you'll be in danger."
"Right." Kayoko responds, nodding to herself.
"Wait for us, Lady Aru!" Haruka yelled.
"Awww, it was fun while it lasted." Mutsuki whines before throwing one last grenade and running away, laughing innocently as she did so.
"I'd like to see you try!" Aru yelled as she aimed her sniper rifle at the approaching Market Guards, confident smirk in place while internally screaming.
Mateo, Hifumi, and the FTF near the bridge, this is their last stretch, "C'mon, the distraction is in place!"
"The Black Market is going crazy, what did you do, Sandman?" Ayane asks.
"Just gave them something to think about, Anna." Mateo responds casually, prompting ISAC to involuntarily twitch his brow at that name. After all, ANNA was the original version of ISAC, but far more...flexible in contrast to ISACs more binary thinking, which led to many Agents becoming Rogue when they were just trying to continue their directive. It was an AI that could effortlessly pass the Turing test, just like Arona. "How're our opposing forces?"
"They've been slowed down," Ayane answers, "but not for long, some managed to get through though!"
"Right, no gadgets everyone, just gunplay." Mateo orders as all of them nod.
Soon, cars, other vehicles, and helicopters came into view
Mateo peers into the dot sight of the Merciless as he keeps it trained on the cockpit of the helicopter.
With a pull and release of the trigger, the stock of the AK-M kicked into his shoulder twice, two suppressed cracks ringing out as the bullets hit their target, shattering the window and striking the pilot. The helicopter swerved as Mateo fired again and again. The magazine capacity of an assault rifle combined with the power of a rifle, if only barely, and the accuracy of a sharpshooter like Mateo.
With a mixture like that, the helicopter helplessly swerves into the river as the others look at him in surprise. "Wow." Faust mutters in awe
"Impressive." Uncle says, rubbing her chin "We'll leave the back to you then, Sensei."
"Right!" Sandman responds, the Market Guards, haloed students followed by automatons begin to close in as his group evidently begins to slow down, yet Sandman can't help but quote a very iconic line, way too fitting for this situation. "What's this? Local resistance?" Sandman says, his voice rough as he aimed at the other snipers, "Let's hit 'em where it hurts!"
A duo of suppressed cracks burst out, brutally penetrating an automaton sniper as the ones with bulky submachine guns the size of an LMG shift their weight and reveal- "Energy shields!?" Sandman yells. "Why do they have Energy Shields?!" He points, a shocked and confused expression vividly painted on his face under his mask.
The Market Guards were being completely suppressed, having been forced to duck down under an unforgiving onslaught from Nonomi's relentless minigun fire. As she reloads, another minigunner pops out to try and take advantage of the opportunity, only to get instantly knocked down by Sandman's pinpoint aiming, her halo flickering out by the third release of a trigger. "They're the Market Guards!" Faust exclaims, ducking from the gunfire with a surprised yelp, those who tried to nail Faust were indiscriminately shot by Red. "They're supplied with the best that's available!"
"'Best' my ass! I look away for one goddamn second, and an energy shield already pops up." Sandman complains as he tries to shoot at the shields, ducking as a bullet whistles by, nearly hitting him. "What's a Black Market doing with energy shield tech, huh?"
"Sensei," Arona piped up, "their battery only lasts for one minute of constant use, the time changes with each bullet that hits it."
"Good to know." Sandman mutters, "Still bullshit."
"You're starting to sound your age, Sandman." Uncle points out, blasting away one of the Market Guards, she ducks into a cover and peeks out, firing upon a shotgunner who got too close for comfort.
Faust peeks out with Sandman, gunning down their targets with the help of Red and Wolf, both of them shooting the ones who tried to go after them. "Nn."
A bullet collided with Sandman's chest, accompanied by an audible ping as it deflected off his armor. He shot back at the haloed Market Guards, watching them fall and leaving only the automatons, and then glanced at his HUD, noting the minor damage to his armor. "I'm pushing up! Three, keep their attention! Everyone else, fall back, fall back!" He exclaims loudly, gesturing with his hands.
"Right~." Three says as she hops onto a car. "The Masked Mizugi Gang is here to play~!" She chirps, unleashing a wide spray of ruthless gunfire as the others do the same, with the exception of Wolf who was pushing up with Sandman.
Holstering Merciless on his backpack, Sandman crawls under a car, his 93R in hand as he waits for the Shield automatons to pass him.
Automatons keep on pushing forward regardless, forcing Three to stop firing, shield still up and at twenty percent according to ISAC, pushing up and aiming their guns forward. Finally, they pass by Sandman's hiding place as he grabs a hold to the underside of the car and pulls himself up, to the surprise of an automaton. He aims his pistol at the automaton, three bullets cleanly pierce through its screen, its black screen repeatedly blinking in and out until it was replaced with a blue one, its writhing ceasing as it tumbles to the floor while Mateo released an Achilles Pulse, ISAC outlines the battery on the shield automatons back.
Aiming at them, he pulls the trigger once, penetrating the battery and causing it to explode, their shields helplessly fizzling out before going to the next, and the next and the next as the wall of shields was rendered completely useless against Sandman, who then hid himself under the car, reloading his empty 93R
Wolf popped up on the other side from under a car, aiming her gun at the head of a larger automaton as she released a spray of gunfire to the wall, others doing the same, gunning them down.
An automaton advances forward, crouching down behind a car, in front of an enormous pile of dead robot bodies, aiming at the highest priority target, Faust.
Before it could realize it, it felt something heavy hook around its foot, it shoots air and hits nothing, something else hit it's rear and caused it to trip, someone crawling over it and pulling them towards it as he tries to struggle, only to feel a knee on its arm and a hand on its head as it's pulled back while it attempts to contact its allies. Except, something sharp pierced its throat, hitting its voice box and integrated comms as its attacker forces the knife out, cutting wires and other systems as sparks come out of it before the screen goes blue.
Sandman looks at his victim in interest as he sheathed his karambit, comparing the current iteration of the automatons to the Warhounds he regularly encountered. It was illogical for it to go down by having its throat slit in Mateo's mind, a human definitely, but an automaton?
Before he could ask, the comms rang out, "More automatons and Market Guards, with heavy vehicles closing in!"
"I'll wring someone's neck if they're what I think they are." Sandman growls as he advances, keeping to the side and hidden from clear view as ISAC outlines the forms of the vehicles.
A few seconds later, the wheels of a truck with a mounted turret whir as another truck follows along with more automatons. "Mounted turrets!? You're kidding me!?" Red yells out Sandman's thoughts.
"Get to cover!" Sandman orders as they all duck under the crossfire of the turrets and the gradual advance of the Market Guards. Sandman peeks over as he notices no one's directing the turret. "AI?"
"We can't advance!" Uncle complains, "I could use my shield, but-."
"It'll announce who we are," Sandman notes as his extended finger taps the guard of the trigger of Merciless, "let's not, but…"
Nothing he has would work, he could try a Banshee Pulse but the turrets aren't close enough much less the Jammer Pulse, he doesn't have a shield but even then, despite the advancements ever since D.C. Sandman doesn't think it could do much, Drones, Fireflies, and Chem Launcher are practically tied to Mateo Vernes and he'd rather not use his SCHALE authority to ignore it.
"I-I have an idea!" Faust says, holding a disc that's fairly familiar to Sandman, reminiscent of the Decoy Trap but more streamlined with extra details that make it seem like a product. "I can use this to distract them."
Sandman glances at her, the anxiety in her voice and determination in her eyes visible from the holes on the paper bag. Her hands were gripped tight around the disc like it was some family heirloom, similarly to how Mateo would when he had to lead his cell out of a bad situation with a stupid idea. Sighing, he nods with a slight grimace. "Alright, if that's what I think it is, I hope it'll work. Go ahead."
Faust nods as she steps out and prepares to throw the disc as the turrets whirl towards her along with the Market Guards.
"Hiyah!" She yelps as she trips on air, throwing the disk as the bullets sail over her head and land in the middle of the group as she lands on her face, practically bending in half before unfurling to normal.
"What the hell!?" Sandman yells, watching as the form of Peroro appears with lights and music as it performs a little jig, getting the attention of the Market Guards and even the turret as they move to shoot at it even similarly to his Decoy. Unlike his Decoy, this one has music though. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, no matter how ugly it may be, Sandman points forward. "Gun 'em down!"
"Here I go~!" Three sings out as a wave of gunfire follows while Uncle dashes forward gunning down the automatons and haloed students with little mercy as Wolf and Red did the same, Faust joining in with bursts of gunfire. Meanwhile Sandman reaches into a car with its window open as he begins to hotwire it, experience and knowledge quickening the process as it turns on with a loud purr.
Hopping onto the driver's seat, he pushes the accelerator as far as it can go and the tires squeal against the tarmac as he drives into one of the cars using his arm to soften the impact of the crash. Ignoring the pain, he exits and jumps onto the truck, Wolf beside him as they drop a pair of grenades into the opening before jumping away. Wolf stumbles but Sandman rolls, the two scrambling to get away as their internal timer ticks down.
Sandman curses as he tackles Wolf to the floor and their timers hit zero as the truck explodes with a loud explosion, shrapnel and debris landing beside them as the only thing either can hear is the other's breathing. Checking his watch, a holographic map extends from Sandman's point of view, the SHD Network outlining large congregations of Market Guards and none of them are near. Slowly, he gets up and helps Wolf up.
Soon, their silence was broken as the others joined them and Ayane cheered, "We broke through!"
Shaking his head, Mateo spoke into his comm, "Problem Solver?" Mateo asked as he ran to a random car, opening it as he began the process of hot wiring it.
"We're fine." Aru proclaims confidently atop the truck they stole. The hologram extended to show her slightly scuffed form with Kayoko driving and Mutsuki hummed joyously, even Haruka seemed to be in a good mood, a dangerous smile in place and her grip around her shotgun tight.
"Right, let's reconvene." Mateo says as the car he chose began to hum, the lights tuning on as he nodded in satisfaction. "Everyone in."
Without much argument, they got into the car, driving off as the chaos they wrought was engraved into the people of the Black Market.
Jesus Christ in Heaven…
That. Was. Awesome!
Incredibly illegal, dangerous but awesome. I've always wanted to do something like that. A feeling shared among everyone in the car with no one having a frown on their faces as we reach the meeting spot where Problem Solver is waiting for us.
Slowing down the car, none of Problem Solver 68 seem worse for wear, superficial wounds and bruises peeking out, but nothing that can't be fixed with a good night's sleep.
I step out of the car, unable to hide my excitement with a bag of the cash in hand, "Excellent work, all of you. That was a job well done." I say as I bring out another duffel bag and place it down, the others doing the same as I inspect the stuffed bags and their contents, "A few holes in them, but it'll still be a lot."
We organized all of our ill-gotten gains in the bags, even the ones I took and slipped into my pants and backpack were stuffed into a bag. Each bundle of cash is a million yen, according to the strip holding them together, with all the torn cash and the fact that each duffel bag was bulging, that amounts to…
"A lot." Kayoko says, gulping, "That's…"
"Amazing!" Serika starts gushing, "Sensei, do-." Before she could answer, ISAC finishes his prediction.
"Around 500 million yen. Minus Problem Solver's cut and other stuff, it might be less." I answer, the only thing hiding my proud grin from the world is the ballistic mask, the mask under it in my Go-Bag once more.
"We did it." Aru says airily in disbelief, "No, you did it. You actually robbed a Black Market bank…" Aru trails off with wide eyes and the edges of her mouth twitching upwards in admiration.
"Your help was integral." I interrupt, nodding at her, "And personally, I think you could've done all of this yourselves."
"Ah, no, I-." Aru starts but I shake my head, stopping her..
"Well, that is if you wanted. Thank you, though," I add, scratching my chin, "you wouldn't happen to know anything about the bank explosion?"
"Um, I-I'm sorry." Haruka steps forward, her good mood gone as she tightens her grip around her shotgun. "I-I could-." Before she can finish her question, I interrupt her by placing a hand on her head, tussling her hair and missing her garrison hat while smiling.
"So that was you, huh? That was some fine demolition work. Good work." I compliment, to her surprise.
"W-Wait." She starts, confused while leaning towards my hand. "Aren't you angry?"
"I thought we already established that I didn't like them." I say as I shrug, lowering my hand.
"Didn't you say you'd kiss whoever did that?" Hoshino asks with a teasing tone and Haruka jumps, practically red in the face while I narrow my eyes at Hoshino.
"I wasn't actually going to. Honestly…" I trail off with a shake of my head.
"Now, what should we do with this?" Hoshino asks with a complicated expression, pointing to the bags as Serika pipes up excitedly.
"Obviously, we use it to pay our debt!" Serika says as Shiroko grimaces and Hoshino looks dissatisfied. "It's ours to begin with."
Hoshino glances at me and I can see it, conflict in her eyes as I realize something. She wants to speak up, to shield them from reality, just like I did with my own students during my time as an Agent. But she already knows where I stand, she knows that nothing she says will get through to me, the advisor of her club and someone everyone trusts. Someone stubborn enough to be badly injured and continue fighting, the decision was practically pre-determined.
Every choice I've made, I did knowing I could have gone about it differently. Out of all of the choices I made, I either made the simplest choice, usually involving violence, or the longest, which is diplomacy. My hands are stained with the blood of many people and many different types of people and a multitude of other crimes.
"Right, Sensei?" Serika asks as I turn to her as I sigh.
Do I want to embroil them into this? Should I? What can I do with the assets at my disposal?
"No." I answer, to her surprise as an idea comes to mind. "Not to pay the debt." I tell them as I pick it up and begin going through it. "First." I say as I bring out a few stacks and turn to Problem Solver and walk towards Aru, "Here," I say as I pass her a few dozens of stacks of cash, "your cut for this entire thing. I'll pay you for the other thing later, for now, this concludes our business."
"Huh? A-Are you sure?" Aru asks, surprised as I nod.
"I am." I remove my sling bag and grab a space blanket, unfolding it, I place the stacks and use a rubber band to tie it together into a makeshift bag. "Here, not exactly the best way to transport cash, but it's what I've got. Your professional attitude has been greatly appreciated, and you've all done wonderfully. The pay for the other job should be ready, but," I add, a slight glint in my eye, "if you're willing to do something for me, I'll add in a little extra."
"Sensei, what are you-?" Serika starts as I hold a hand up, stopping her.
"What is it?" Kayoko asks as even Hoshino looks interested.
"I need you," I start leaning forward as Problem Solver does so too, "to spread a little...rumor." I answer. "You see, this is a lot of cash, so obviously, we'll need to launder it. So, in three days or so the," I start before pausing with a sour look at Nonomi's direction, "Masked Mizugi Gang, Faust, and Sandman are going to perform a drop-off at three different locations, to be picked up by the people in charge of laundering it. Five-hundred million is lowballing it, but that's still a lot of cash, and a lot of people are going to want it."
"What are you planning?" Kayoko asks, "Are we still-."
"No, nothing else, go home and rest, but spread it around." I tell her as she nods. "I'll send you a voice recording if you need it, but I need to confirm a few things first. Are you willing?"
"Is that all?" Aru asks, "If so, this-."
"So you accept?" I interrupt as Aru nods, "Then here." I say as I leave the stack with her as I turn to the rest of the bags. Grabbing two, we're left with three bags. "Right, I'll keep these two." I look at Serika and Hoshino as I nod, "Serika, Hoshino, I know this isn't what you want, and I know I haven't exactly shown myself to be someone worthy of this, but I need you two to trust me."
"Hu-I mean, sure Sensei." Serika says, confused but earnestly accepting me.
"I do." Hoshino says confidently, "You've done so much for us, Sensei, but we also need you to trust us, so we can know what to expect."
"I don't know." I admit, the idea coming to mind is nothing but a way to bury our enemies, "I need to do some research and check out a few things, but right now? It's time we return home. That's okay with all of you?"
Everyone nods as I do the same. "Now, let's go back, Ayane is waiting for us."
The process of getting home was...complicated to say the least. We had to hide the cash on the train, then we also had to leave at different times, it was basically a mess and a half. In the end, the last ones left were Hifumi and I, with Hifumi practically unwinding the moment she sat on the seat and I sat beside her, mask off. "That...was exhausting." She admits as I chuckle.
"Yeah. Good work out there, Hifumi. You really held your own." I congratulate her as she chuckles.
"I had fun, thank you, Sensei." She says as she sits back up. "But...now what?"
"Now? We go home, rest, and leave tomorrow's problems for tomorrow, and here." He says as he reaches into his own sling bag and gives Hifumi three stacks of yen. "Your cut."
"I-I can't have that!" Hifumi says, "what if I get found out?"
"I don't know." I shrug, "Say you found it or something, but you stuck around, and now you have friends in the Foreclosure Task Force and in me, if you'd be willing."
"Really!?" Hifumi asks as I shrug.
"I've never made a friend via bank robbery, so I wouldn't know." I admit, "But I wouldn't mind being down for robbing one of those Peroro thingies and I sure Shiroko wouldn't either."
"Bu-But I'm not anyone special." Hifumi argues while fidgeting, "I'm just a normal girl."
"And I'm just a normal guy." I respond as Hifumi turns to me in surprise. "Is that hard to believe?"
"W-Well, kinda." Hifumi admits, "I mean, you're so confident, you lead with confidence, and you don't seem to have trouble speaking your mind. You're a better shot than I am and even some of the other people I've seen, you can make plans on the fly, and you…"
"I wasn't born like this, Hifumi." I start, frowning slightly as Hifumi turns to me in interest, "I was a teenager once too, remember? I wasn't the type to really suggest stuff, but I'd go along with my friends and we'd do stupid stuff. I guess it's there where I got a taste for being a teacher."
I was always told I was fairly brotherly, but I never really saw it until before the Dollar Flu hit, and once it did, the words became more common and varying, but the subject never really changed. I changed, but in the end, even now after everything that's happened, I'm still myself.
"Really?" Hifumi asks and I nod.
"Actually, I was fairly big for my age," I tell her as I smirk, "both weight-wise and height, and I've been told I can be pretty scary, so sometimes the teacher would pin me as the troublemaker. My short fuse didn't make it better, well, that is until a particular teacher came."
Mr. Carter, a simple man with a love for teaching with a rambunctious class with me as one of the few calm ones. To this day, his patience impresses me and the way he managed to get an entire class to cry when he was leaving, and even to visit him on his deathbed despite the dangers of the Dollar Flu. Sure, I respect all of my teachers and what they taught, but none of them would ever compare to him.
"Sensei as a student." Hifumi wonders before giggling, "It's hard to imagine."
"That it is." I agree. "For now, let's just relax and wait this ride out."
"Um, Sensei," she asks, her eyes on my bag, "can I ask a few questions?"
"Shoot." I say as I stand up straighter.
"How do you hold so much in your backpack?" She asks in interest. "I mean, mine holds a lot too, but…" She trails off.
"It's fairly uncomfortable?" I ask as she nods. "Well, I typically modify mine ahead of time, but the one thing I don't do is lug around boxes in any shape or form."
"Really?" Hifumi asks, "Not even a first aid kit?"
"I move around a lot," I explain, "A lot of rolling, crawling, and activity can lead to it breaking. Instead, I use an IFAK, which is a pouch instead of a box." I say, ignoring the multitude of other combat drugs I have hidden as she nods.
"Oh, I get it." She says while nodding in understanding. "What about the foil, what's that?"
"Space blankets." I explain, to her confusion, "Where I'm from, they're commonly used to keep you or others warm, the tin foil side insulates heat so if you're cold you can use it to slow down the rate you lose heat at or you can also hide your heat signature with it."
"Wow." She says.
"They're also known as Mylar blankets." I explain as she continues asking questions and I answer as we share a similarity. An interest in efficiently holding as much as we can in one backpack as best we can.
"I know a lot happened today," Hifumi says, turning around to the Foreclosure Task Force, "but I had fun." She continues with a smile.
"Same here." Nonomi says with a sheepish smile, "Sorry for bringing you in this mess, Hifumi."
"That's okay, hahaha…." Hifumi trails off.
"Don't be a stranger, you hear me?" Hoshino says as Hifumi smiles.
"I won't." Hifumi says before continuing, "We don't have all the details, but I'm sure the Kaiser Corporation has direct ties to violent criminal organizations. I'll pass along what happened today to the Tea Party! I'll also tell them all about Abydos High School's situation."
"I'd suggest against that." I interject, back in my usual gear as I can't help but smile under the mask. "Abydos is old news, to them." I answer as I scratch my brow, "So is Kaiser too. Problem is, Kaiser is big, they've got their grubby hands everywhere and taking them out will only lead to more problems in the long run, not to mention take more time. Well, that is if SCHALE wasn't involved." I add.
"What he said." Hoshino confirms with a sad smile, "The world isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows but it ain't always doom and gloom either. Sensei says he has a plan, and if its like the others, it'll be fine."
"Your confidence and trust in me is heartening." I say as Hoshino gives me a lazy smile.
"It's not exactly unfounded either."
"Yeah~." Nonomi agrees as Serika looks away with a blush while Shiroko nods and Ayane smiles, warming my heart.
"So…" Hifumi trails off as I can't help but scoff, patting Hifumi's back as she stumbles.
"What're you being so awkward for?" I ask as Hifumi blushes to the other's amusement.
"How should I put this? We've been through a lot together in such a short amount of time." She explains with a bit of shy embarrassment.
"We have been." Shiroko agrees, her eyes alight with satisfaction, "It was a lot of fun."
"Of course you would think so." Serika says with a roll of her eyes and a small smile on her face.
"I dunno, I kinda had fun." Hifumi says as Hoshino smiles.
"Glad to hear it. Thanks for all your help, Faust." Hoshino adds cheekily to Hifumi's shame.
"You don't need to keep calling me that!" Hifumi retorts as Nonomi joins in.
"How about 'fearless leader of the Masked Mizugi Gang'?"
"I still resent that name." I can't help but grumble.
"Come on guys." Ayane interjects, "Stop giving Hifumi a hard time."
"Uh, anyway," Hifumi quickly gathered herself, "I know you have some tough times ahead, but I'll be cheering you on. Good luck." She says before bowing to the Foreclosure Task Force, "I'll see you around, everyone."
"Same thing on my end." I say as I stand up. "We're all tired, so let's go home and rest, we'll regroup...the day after tomorrow? I should have a plan ready by then."
"Then, until then, Sensei." Ayane says, the other girls giving their own farewells as I followed Hifumi towards the train station, the two of us falling into idle chatter.
"Damn it!" An automaton started, slamming his hands on the desk. "How did six people, one of them we don't even know if they're real, manage to escape with nearly 700 million yen in less than five minutes? And how did those dumb brats get a hold of some of it? We're still counting the damages caused by those brats!"
He was very broad in fancy clothes, denoting a high status, status the automaton quite enjoys flaunting over people, but was not in a very good mood.
After all, it's not everyday a Black Market bank is robbed and much less when the robbers get away with a lot of cash and nothing but rumors to show for it. From this… 'Masked Mizugi Gang' to Faust and Sandman, nothing solid has been found other than the fact that Faust is bloodthirsty and heartless, Sandman is an automaton who disappears and appears at any time they want, and even less is known about the Masked Mizugi Gang other than the fact that all of them had dirty bandages around their weapons.
Not to mention Problem Solver, using that cash and mixing it with fakes, causing chaos to sow and to slow the response of the Market Guards and forcing them to keep the peace lest more damage happen.
Sure, the cash can be recuperated but it won't be easy.
"Damn it."
"You seem to be in quite a conundrum." A man spoke, his vice sending shivers down the automaton's spine as he looked up to see a man who melded with the darkness almost perfectly. Within the void that is his face, cracks appear, a hint of spectral white energy bleeding through to imitate the image of a smiling man.
His appearance causes the automaton's spine to shiver and his voice was curious, as if anything that happened didn't involve him in any way, "No." The automaton says with a huff. "Just a small problem."
"Truly, but I believe I was talking about the other conundrum." Black Suit responds. "SCHALE."
The automaton scoffs at the name of the Federal Investigation Club, "What can he do? If he tries anything, we have enough weaponry that even he won't be able to fight his way out of it, and if he does? I'll just drop it on Abydos."
Black Suit doesn't say anything, while the Kaiser PMC Director returns to his work. Instead, Black Suit pondered on all of the variables. The cash, Sensei, Abydos, Horus, and finds himself at a loss, for the first time in a while.
Everything's so unsure, so uncertain, and Black Suit is enjoying himself. With Sensei no longer in Abydos, the Prefect Team lacks their target and their justification would only get them in trouble if they tried to move, but that might change. Even then Black Suit finds it hard to believe they'll take him out.
But...hmmm.
"Might I speak with someone." Black Suit says, after all, SCHALE does have an employee who might be interested in such an event in Gehenna. Not to mention that if it does come to that, she won't be able to stop them.
Now, he's very curious, who would win? Sensei or the Prefect Team…
Oh who's he kidding?
An adult always comes out on top.
"Wait, repeat that again?" Rin asks as she looks at me, fixing her glasses along with Ayumu, her blonde and strong secretary I've recently met and who I'm currently helping with tasks alongside her in the office within the Sanctum Tower after dropping off Hifumi, who looked at me in surprise.
"Property laws." I ask as I sign off on another task, to Ayumu's impressed look as she passes me another. "I want to know what the precedent is for a club to own property."
Especially considering I was just informed by ISAC that most of the Abydos land belongs to Kaiser. Honestly, I'm so exhausted being this angry, that I'm just focusing on getting as much done.
"...Why are you asking me this?" Rin asks as she takes a moment from the paperwork to look at me incredulously, "Wouldn't it be better to ask someone who knows that part more than I do?"
"And rid you the opportunity to show me how wrong I might be?" I ask in faux-shock, "I would never."
"Well," Ayumu interjects, holding a hand to her chin, "it's not very strange. But if it's for SCHALE…" Ayumu trails off, grimacing as she shifts while making a 'so-so' gesture.
"Legally," Rin starts, "the GSC have no say over how SCHALE acts or is organized. Personally, others would see it as a power grab and a gross abuse of authority."
"Alright," I start, nodding along, "what about the seizure of private property? How would the GSC do it?"
Now Rin gives me a weird look, "Well," she continues, "we find evidence, sign off on it, and then we offer the owners remuneration for the property, and after a bit of bartering, the deal is either signed or not."
I hum as I continue writing. I speak as blood rushes through my ears, my excitement elevating the shocked looks on Rin and Ayumu's face.
Slowly, Rin nods. "Yes. I believe that will work. But, Sensei," Rin adds, "making an enemy of Kaiser is a bad idea."
Heh, I've been using this one-liner a lot.
"Don't worry Rin." I tell her with a soft laugh and a gentle tone, "I don't have a habit of making enemies."
Only victims.
I gaze down at my phone, the sun going down as I follow the direction to Millenium's Engineering Department as I hum in the room. "It says it should be this one, kinda quiet." I tell myself as I open the door.
I'm used to R&D Departments, it was the Department I was kicked out of when I nearly caused an explosion before stopping it. Which left me with Support and as a field Agent but I've never seen a place like this before.
I step into the room, more of a warehouse, really, with a bunch of machines I don't even know how to pronounce much less know their purpose, it was only thanks to my ScanTek that I can see their outline.
There, on two pedestals, are two variations of the GSC's uniform for me. From the black pants, the dark gray button-up and the white vest with the white jacket and blue insides.
Getting closer, I hear something and I turn to the sound of the voice as I find no one there.
Well, someone is definitely here, but…
Slowly, I continue my trek to the pedestals as I stand in front of them, looking at them.
To my eyes, they are both stylish, gently, I reach out and touch the fabric gently as I frown. "Kevlar? No…" I correct myself, this is far more flexible than kevlar, what is it? ISAC doesn't even know what it is. I reach for the one on the right and find that it's made from the same material.
The one on the left was stylish, an alloy at the front with the vest probably supposed to be a form of protection but it lacks the plate carrier. The one on the right had the plate carrier and melded the vest into an actual bulletproof vest that didn't seem too out of place but was also visibly a bulletproof vest.
The one on the left emphasizes my safety above all, to the point where the button-up is made of bulletproof cloth but it also makes it heavy, uncomfortable too. The one on the right finds a balance between my safety and comfort as I continue finding slight differences between the two.
The more I inspected them, the more I found myself agreeing with the right, from the slight additions, like integrated kneepads and elbow pads to the model mask, though there was no backpack or place to put one. "Where would it go?"
"Ha! Told ya!" A voice rings out as the lights turn on as I draw Adam's Key and aim it at the sound but pause as I see a disappointed Hibiki and an excited Trinity student. "See? I told you the plate carrier was a good idea!"
"That you did." A different and rougher voice speaks as two others appear, "It seems like you were right."
"Huh, what's going on?" I ask as I inspect the newcomers, while the Trinity girl skips to the clothes, Hibiki blushes as she rushes to hide it as I look at her in confusion.
"So, you're Sensei?" The purple-haired girl with similarly colored eyes, Shiraishi Utaha, starts, looking me over as I do the same from her lab coat to her gray uniform and white skirt and gray tights. Her halo was a pink diamond in the middle of a hexagonal shape with a pair of horn-like constructs following after her. "Welcome to Millennium's Engineering Department."
"The same ones who made an exo-suit at the request of better armor?" I ask as she sends me a confused look.
"Isn't it better though?" She asks as I raise a finger but stop, holding a finger to my mouth as I can't really counter her, she's not wrong, but she is also very wrong.
"Well, I could tell you the history of armor!" A short haired blonde girl with her hair in braids and red eyes with glasses, and a very...strange uniform. Like, skirt suspenders…
How…?
Toyomi Kotori, her halo a triangle as it followed her movement as she started all the way from the history of clothes.
"Er," I interrupt before she can go on a tangent, "sorry, I'm just a bit confused. What was that?"
"Well," Utaha starts, "our little Hibiki is designing a set of clothes for you but she needed some help so she requested help form the GSC and they sent the tailor in charge of your SCHALE uniform."
"I'm from the Tailor Club in Trinity." The girl says with a smile, "We hope you stop by someday, we'd love to see how our clothes look on you."
"Alright, makes some sense." I admit, "Then what?"
"Well…" Utaha says as Kotori answers.
"Let me explain!" She starts, "You see, at first, the two got along well enough, but then the Trinity girl said that the design Hibiki was planning wouldn't be good for you, and soon, the two got into an argument. Hibiki wanted something that showcased your 'authority'," Kotori says while Hibiki blushed, "and she said you'd prefer something 'practical', so I came up with the idea of letting you decide under the guise of the winner being decided by whichever you talked audibly in front of."
Hibiki whines as she holds the tarp covering the design with a blush, "This is it, I'm done."
"Aww, don't be like that." The girl says, patting Hibiki in the back, "It was a good design, it just wasn't what Sensei needs, much less wants. For co-mph!"
Though the girl couldn't finish to my confusion, Hibiki desperately covers her mouth with a huge blush while her usually droopy ears are now standing at attention as Utaha shakes her head. "Let's leave those two to that, now, Sensei. While we're here, is there anything you'd like on the outfit?"
"You're working on it too?" I ask and Utaha nods excitedly.
"Obviously, we could add anything, from arms on the back to pass you a magazine, a soda, or even make you a five course dinner over the course of a battle." Utaha says excitedly, to my confusion.
"That's…" I trail off, unsure of what to say to that, it sounds cool, but it's not something I want. My eyes go to the front of Hibiki's tarp-covered outfit as something comes to mind. "Well, there is something I'd like."
"What is it?" Utaha asks, almost excited as I lean back when she leans forward, "Maybe a power fist, or something to make you move faster?"
"Hey, let me finish." I request as I sigh, with Kotori, Hibiki, and even the tailor interested in what I have to say. Taking a moment, I tap the chest of my armor. "This. I was hoping this could be added to the outfit."
"Hmmm." Utaha hums as she knocks on the ablative nano-plating, a hand to her chin, "What is it? It doesn't feel like steel, otherwise you wouldn't need the plates."
"Where I'm from," I start with a shrug as I look for the file, "it's called the 'Tardigrade' Armor System. According to the eggheads," well, those who had access to the files, "it's something called 'ablative nano-plating'," at the words, all three of them turned to me with a strange intensity in their eyes to the point that the tailor stepped back and I felt like I should too, "according to the file, it's supposed to be a prototype design for self-repairing heat shields."
"Sensei." Utaha says silently as she grabs my shoulder, her eyes serious and intense as she leans close, extremely and uncomfortably close as she continues under her breath, "This…prototype…" She started slowly, as if looking for the words despite her eyes constantly landing on me, almost insistently as she continued, "what was its intended use?"
"Not armor?" I answer as she nods.
"Yeahyeahyeah, not armor, but what in particular." She insists as I look at the three, all of them serious.
"Umm, it was originally meant to be for aircraft repeatedly entering and exiting planetary atmospheres?" I say as they all go silent despite the palpable excitement.
"So…" Utaha starts.
"-you're saying-," Hibiki adds.
"-it's meant for a spaceship!?" Kotori finishes as all three of them are covering my sight as I nod slowly.
"Well…yeah. That's what I got from it." I say, and considering the government has too much money and far too little to do, I can see them convening on how to make a spaceship before turning it into body armor.
My words, on the other hand, seem to have awoken something in these girls as they stared at me like a piece of meat. "Sensei~." Hibiki says sweetly as she steps in my direction. "For such a thing, I'm going to need the plans, if you would?"
"Ummm, sure?" I say as I turn to ISACs holographic form and nodding, him and Arona working together to make sure the file they're getting is compatible with what Kivotos uses. Soon, their computer rings and Utaha checks it, her expression brightening.
"Yes!" Utaha cheers as the other Engineering Department members do the same.
"We're one step closer to that intergalactic battleship!" Kotori cheered as Hibiki ran over to celebrate with them, leaving me incredibly confused.
"Sensei." Someone calls me and I turn to see the exasperated tailor with a sketchbook in hand. "Do you want a button-up shirt, or-?"
"I'll take the button-up." I answer before she can finish. The tailor nods as she shows me a few designs.
"Then I'll talk with the Engineering Department on ways we can make it happen, you're fine with a vest, right?" She asks and I hold a hand to my chin.
"Huh, three-piece suit…" I trail off before nodding. "Sure."
"Great." She says with a thumbs-up before the two of us look at the trio of Engineers. "They won't be finishing anytime soon, will they?"
"Probably not." I answer as I look through my map. "I'm going to get them some food."
After getting the Engineering Department some food, I'm back in SCHALE, ScanTek removed and earpieces off as I sigh, closing my eyes as I can't help the giddy feeling bubbling up.
Kaiser won't know what hit them.
Before I could completely doze off into either nightmares or the wonderful dream of fighting Kaiser automatons, my phone goes off, on the floor as I peer over the couch I'm using as my bed to reach over and look at the screen.
It's Haruna, it seems like she's inviting me out to eat in Gehenna. I take a moment to recall the vague schedule I made and shrug, I have time.
After answering and getting a response, I place my phone down and close my eyes.
A/N: This took a while, a very long while, to get out due to…life. And Fallout: New Vegas and Honkai: Star Rail, and other things… Two of these things might or might not be intertwined.
Now, it seems like Mateo has an idea of how he wants to resolve the Kaiser problem, while violence is involved, let's just say that it involves school, particularly in America, a subject every young American learns. Don't try to guess, I won't answer until it's out.
Also, the Division 2… At least Warlords of New York is free, right? I haven't seen anything about the new Season, and I'm kind of scared.
That's about-oh right!
I need to add one final thing.
Orange Archive: Eighteen Once More
"So," Mateo starts, one eye twitching and his expression unamused as he sat in front of Black Suit, cup of tea in hand, "what is it this time?"
"Can't two friends come together under the banner of a drink?" Black Suit asks, amusement in his voice as he doggedly watches Mateo sip the tea, Mateo wearing an expression of resignation.
"I wouldn't call us friends." He notes as he sighs, downing the rest of the tea before placing it down. "I have to get going, don't have a lot of time-."
"On the contraire, Sensei." Black Suit interjects as he stands up, smiling in place while he continues, "I believe you'll find yourself with a bit more time than usual."
A puff of smoke explodes with Mateo as the origin, Black Suit smiling, "That Shanhaijing girl's elixirs are quite useful. With this, he'll be more…susceptible to our persuasion."
After all, even if he was younger, he was still a 'teacher', an existence above them within Kivotos.
Slowly, the smoke moved, as Black Suit expected to see a younger Mateo, maybe around fifteen to nineteen.
Instead, a gloved hand flew out before a head came, hitting Black Suit in the face as he yelped, stumbling back as he looked up and his eyes widened.
After all, Mateo was younger, but instead of the kind and experienced expression, it was savage and angry, focused while still being aware as he brought his boot down on Black Suit's face and knocked him out.
If Mateo was twenty this wouldn't have happened. Fifteen, would have left him on the floor with how heavy his gear is and how little training he had. Sixteen and seventeen, Mateo would be an Agent, where he'd point a gun at him and talk.
Eighteen is the worst possible age Mateo could have been if Black Suit wanted a conversation.
Desperately looking around, the masked teenager moves, sticking to the shadows and disappearing.
A/N: So, this little snippet I wrote is the prelude to a short series I have planned. It's basically Death Battles where a younger Mateo at his 'best' would fight a club or something. Is there a reason for it? Yes and no. It's a bit of an experiment where I want to gauge how strong Mateo should be (When he was at that age) according to your guys' opinions along with helping me write how certain character's skills would work. But timeline-wise or even personality-wise, it makes no sense so it's going to be a short spin-off I write on occasion.
Anyway, that's about it, I hope all of you enjoyed the chapter.