Vol 1. Chapter 10 – Ammit's Judgment

Stygian Bank, Ground Floor – 3:51 pm

Aru drummed her bicep lightly as the Robot teller across the desk slowly flipped through her file, feeling the strain of the day chewing at the edges of her patience. It was bad enough that the client called her asking for more job details this morning. They had arrived early at the Stygian Bank and then spent almost the entire business day sitting and waiting. According to them, it was just a 'short delay'.

Six hours! She and her friends were in the lobby for six hours! They haven't even had the chance to get lunch yet!

Still, she kept her expression cool and composed. Blowing up at the person in charge of determining whether or not they got the loan wouldn't help. Even if she wanted to pull the rifle off her back and blast him. They needed this loan and she needed to make a good impression on hi-

"Denied."

Okay, well, now he didn't have that protection of being 'in charge of determining whether or not they got the loan'. Still, Aru tried her best to keep her expression calm and cool.

"Could you explain why?" She asked, voice even as she stared down the teller.

If the Adult even cared, they certainly didn't show it. Instead, he just flipped her paperwork close and stared back with equally heavy apathy. "To be frank, Aru. Your organization sounds and looks like a fraudulent company. Your financials are a mess."

OK, now Aru could feel the panic creeping in. "N-no! We're a legitimate business! We just haven't received payments on some of our commissions yet!"

"It gets worse when I look deeper," the Teller continued, uncaring, "Your organization has four people, but three of them have special titles and roles? It reads like you're just artificially inflating the value of your business."

"We're keeping up appearances to attract clients…"

"And this leased office that takes up the vast majority of your income?"

Aru fell silent, staring at the Robot. He stared back before tutting disapprovingly. "I don't think you would fit our client profile at all. I would suggest you secure legitimate employment appropriate for your skills. Perhaps a Larbourer or convenience store employee?"

She was really beginning to regret not just shooting him. Every word out of his damned speaker seemed to be insulting her and her friends. She should just shoot him and rob the place, then book it, guns blazing. The four of them might be able to take on the Market Guard just long enough to get away.

But she couldn't. She couldn't quite see any way out that wasn't covered by guards. She wasn't sure where they stored the valuables. She didn't know how long it would take before reinforcements would get here.

Aru badly wanted to just shoot this Robot for daring to speak to her like this.

But she just didn't dare to make the entire Black Market her enemy. But if she didn't get this loan, then the client would be her enemy, and she wouldn't have any backers.

She didn't know what to do.

Maybe she wasn't cut out for this. Maybe her dream of being the greatest outlaw in Kivotos wasn't meant to be. Maybe all those hours of practiced poses, speeches, and lines were wasted like everyone said they would be. Maybe her best was just mediocre.

Aru felt Haruka's hand lightly rest against her arm.

"Lady Aru," The anxious purplette said, voice filled with concern. "Are you OK?"

The Robot in front of her, however, was significantly less concerned. "Look, Aru. No matter how I cut it, I'm going to have to deny your application. Now run along, I would like to leave on time today."

Aru spun through the playbook as quickly as she could and came out blank. The best she could manage was a "Wa-wait! I still have one thing left!"

The Teller paused, partway out of his seat, and looked down at her. "Oh? And what would that be?"

She never got a chance to answer. The lights snapped shut with a loud *pow, throwing the building into darkness. She heard the Teller shout "What's going on?!" as gunfire suddenly ripped through the air. She only had time to hit the deck, her friends throwing themselves into cover around her. As she contemplated the marble tiles on the floor, she had to wonder.

What else was going to go wrong with her day today?

Stygian Bank, Ground Floor – 4:08 pm

How on Kivotos did her day go so wrong? That's the question Hifumi wanted answered. It was such a simple thing. She mentioned to Nagisa how she missed a limited-time Peroro drop while visiting her one day. She didn't expect her friend to help search for the toy. She certainly wasn't expecting Nagisa to suddenly tell her this morning that one had become available in the Black Market. So, she did some research and headed down to get it.

So, how did this lead to her robbing a bank?! Hifumi didn't even really agree to it, she just kind of went along with it.

"Everyone, down!" Shiroko shouted, firing a round into the ceiling for emphasis. "Toss your weapons aside and hands where we can see them!"

"Or else!" Nonomi chirped cheerfully, waving her minigun around for emphasis.

Hifumi was sweating under her paper bag mask, and that sweat intensified when everyone turned to look at her. She didn't have a choice; she was already in the bank! "Th-this is a stick up... so get down on the ground if you don't want to get hurt!"

That's something bank robbers said, right?! It seemed to be because everyone nodded with approving looks and returned their attention to the people in the bank.

"Do you have any idea who you're stealing from?" One of the Robot tellers shouted, standing up from his desk. His suit was a little fancier than the others. Maybe he's a manager? "The Market Guard will be here in moments!"

"Nope," Hoshino said, popping the P for emphasis as she racked her shotgun. "The silent alarm's already been turned off. We have full control of your systems right now."

The Teller stared at Hoshino, disbelief brightly visible on his digital face, and then at the button he was not so subtly pressing. Meanwhile, another Teller was slowly reaching for a phone. They almost made it but flinched back when a bullet shattered the device.

"Hey! You were told to get down on the ground!" Serika shouted, brandishing her still-smoking rifle menacingly. "Try any more funny business and I'll put holes in your circuits."

Oh, this wasn't good. Some of the Bank staff were getting bold and Abydos might be getting twitchy. Hifumi needed to say something to calm down the situation before somebody did something regrettable. "Please everyone, just do as we say. Please..."

Unfortunately, that got everyone's attention. Hoshino stared at her before a devious smile crossed the pinkette's face. Hoshino turned to her and spoke, just loud enough for the tiny girl's voice to echo throughout the building. "Alright! Everything's going according to plan! Faust, what do we do next!"

"Eh?! Are you talking to me?" Hifumi cried out in surprise. They didn't have a plan after this! Unfortunately for her, Abydos looked at each other, nodded, and seemed to come to an agreement.

"That's right – you're the leader! The boss!" Nonomi answered cheerfully. "And as for myself... I'm Christina of the Masked Swimsuit Gang!"

As the rest of Abydos descended into banter, Hifumi felt a sense of foreboding sweep over her. She just came down to the Black Market to find a collectible. How did she become the boss of a bank robber gang?! What twist of fate led her to this?

"Oh, no... How can I face the Tea Party members now..."

Well, as big of a mess this was, she hoped that Nelson-Sensei was much more successful with her half of the plan.

Stygian Bank, Security Room – 4:10 pm

Renai thought she had it good after the Helmet Gang fell apart. Sure, some diehards stood by Rabu to try to revitalize the gang in other districts. But she knew it wasn't going to work. The rumors were already spreading throughout the Underworld forums. Even if the Helmet Gang ever revitalized, the shame of such a crushing defeat would never leave them. They'd never reach the heights they hoped for.

So, she bailed. A lot of others bailed too. She didn't know what they were up to, but she managed to land a gig with the Stygian Bank's Market Guards. They wanted someone with a lot of real experience and, well, bad as the defeat was; the Underworld was ripe with rumors of what exactly happened that night. The Underworld was looking for people like her, who might be able to prepare them for a repeat.

Well, maybe she exaggerated some of what happened that night to make herself a bit more marketable. It wasn't like there was anyone who would dispute her version of the story. And hey, they agreed to take her on as Security Team Leader, so clearly it worked.

But that experience paid off now. The violence and fighting in the ground floor lobby of the bank had drawn the attention of almost all the Market Guard. Most of them streamed into the lobby, eager and raring to beat back the robbers. Everyone but her, sitting in her comfortable security station in the back of the bank where she directed and watched over the bank.

So, nobody else was around when an intrusion alarm lit up on the console just as the firefight in the lobby began. An alarm from one of the windows on the second floor. The floor held the papers and hard drives that recorded all the important documents, blackmail, and transaction records. The actual beating heart of an illegal operation of this scale, rather than the much less significant money and goods on the ground and basement floors.

Then more intrusion alarms came on, outlining a clear path to the central record room.

Given how bad the fight was going in the lobby, she knew she had to come up with an excuse for not being there. And just so it happened, there was a perfect excuse made up right here for her.

She grabbed her Krinkov off the floor and quietly crept down the secure hallway, avoided the armoured door that led to the ground floor, and crept up the stairs. The server room was just around the corner from the security stairwell, to make sure they could respond quickly to intrusions like this.

As she slinked down the empty second floor, she could see the records room ahead. The secure airtight door, second only to the vault itself in physical security, was left ajar. She could hear a voice from that gap. Light and casual, as if they feared nothing.

"Another 5 minutes? By all means, take as much time as you want. You are the expert here after all."

There was a pause as someone else must have answered on a radio.

"Yes, yes, you are certainly one-of-a-kind." The voice answered, an amused tone creeping in their voice.

Renai didn't need to hear anymore. It was clear that this was someone who was up to no good. She kicked the door open, shouting as she did. "DROP IT! YOU MESSED WITH THE WR-

oh."

The fury in her voice and control of the situation vanished as Renai recognized the person on the other side of the door. She'd recognize that person anywhere. Tall, taller than any person she'd ever seen in Kivotos before. Long blonde hair that went to the waist, tied up in a ponytail and covered with a dark trilby hat. The sunglasses they wore could have helped hide their eyes, but she could recognize that face from her nightmares.

Most importantly, Renai slowly looked up to confirm what she knew, the lack of a halo.

Renai's knees began to shake as the Adult turned to look at her, catching her terrified face in the mirrored lenses of the sunglasses. The Monster twirled an umbrella in their hand and hummed in thought. After a second, they nodded and spoke with a smile.

"Would you like to complete your sentence?"

Taiyaki Stand Alley – 2:44 pm

"I cannot participate in this."

My answer cut through the group, pausing their discussion on analyzing the bank's blueprint. Shiroko looked up at me with the smallest hint of a frown. "Why not?"

"Sunaōkami," I began slowly, even as the rest of the girls turned their attention away from the map to me. "Look at me."

Shiroko did, to her credit, examine me closely from head to toe. After a few passes, she locked eyes with me again. "We might not have a mask ready, but I'm sure I can come up with something."

"That... was not the point I was aiming for." I admitted. Should have been a bit more specific about that. "What I intend for you to notice is that I am possibly the tallest person within a few square kilometers of us, with rather discernible long blonde hair, and most importantly," I pointed to the space above my head, conspicuously free of any glowing object "I do not have a halo. They would realize who I am in a moment after questioning the witnesses. Then, they could attempt to discover your identities by locating where I am."

I was being a bit generous. I had no idea how their baklavas would disguise them. They still wore the same uniform, the mask didn't cover their most distinct facial features, and, most importantly, I could still clearly see their halos. I wasn't sure how it would work, but Shiroko didn't seem the type to overlook that type of detail.

"Furthermore, as a Federal Agent, it would be rather embarrassing to be found committing a crime. I would hate to cause more problems for Ms. Nanagami," I concluded.

"Are you planning to do something dangerous by yourself again?" Serika asked, a frown on her face and ears slightly drooped.

I shook my head as I ran through the situation at hand. "No, in fact, it should be quite safe."

'Arona, have you confirmed the legality of it?' I asked, reaching out through my link with the computer girl. She answered with a quiet hum as she dug through the court records that I had asked her to look into when we left Abydos. I wanted to know just in case we had reason to gather evidence. With my concern now proven correct, it was important for me to know. After a moment, I got my answer.

'Well, it's not exactly approved of, but none of the court documents I can see have ever rejected evidence obtained without a warrant. Valkyrie does it a lot to keep up their arrest record.'

Well, that was the answer. It chafed at my sensibilities, but the sensibilities and laws my crew remembered weren't the sensibilities and laws of Kivotos. My mirth must have shown through when Hoshino called out, curiosity clear. "Something funny you'd like to share with the rest of us?"

"Something of the sorts." I answered, before turning my attention back to Serika. "But to answer your question, Kuromi. I cannot help you commit armed robbery. But if an armed robbery were to happen, it certainly would prove to be distracting. Distracting enough for, say, a Federal Agent to quickly execute a search to retrieve critical evidence of criminal activity."

The entire group perked up at my casual admittance, expressions ranging from approval to curiosity at my plan. After a moment, Ayane's voice crackled over my headset. "Sensei, you don't mean…?"

"Yes. While you are obtaining the current records from the bank staff, I will be obtaining their entire records from the source. My authority gives me sufficient leeway to do so."

Nonomi clapped happily. "Ohhhh! So, you'd be like a spy!"

I ignored Hifumi as she muttered "Oh what have I gotten myself into" as I focused on what Nonomi just said. The rest of Abydos just dressed themselves up for a bank robbery. It would be rather unbecoming if I didn't do the same; both as a show of support, and as a mild deterrence from identification.

I twisted the familiar weight of the inventory log to the forefront of my attention, bringing my focus onto the list of clothing in my stores. The power felt like it always did for a second. Then, to my surprise, something shifted. Colours and shapes drifted to and fro into my awareness as I found my vision split. On one side I could see the alley we were resting at. On the other side was what looked like a laundry room.

I closed my eyes and focused on that image of the laundry room. The image cleared up as details sharpened. I felt my attention twist itself as I felt a part of me arrive in the laundry room.

'Arona?' I called out to the computer with my greater self, even as the part of me inside the laundry room began searching. It was a strange sense, to be able to both hear the alley even as I saw myself digging through piles of olive drab, navy blues, and white battle dress uniforms.

'Yes?'

'I just discovered a new aspect of my abilities.'

There was a hum of curiosity and I could hear the flipping of pages and a pen being uncapped. 'What did you find?'

I paused as the lesser part of me gave up on that part of the clothing pile and moved to another. I heard the faint sounds of pen on paper as I spoke, Arona doing her best to record me. 'I think I just accidentally boarded myself.'

The sound of writing stopped at the end, even as I watched myself dig through a much fancier-looking pile. Officer uniforms, enlisted dress uniforms, a strangely broken half-helm, a peaked hat, and more shoes than you can shake something at. As the 'me' that was in the storeroom sorted the clothing, Arona cleared her throat and spoke. 'What do you mean you accidentally boarded yourself?'

'Exactly what it sounds like. I am currently watching myself search for a uniform in a storeroom even as I speak with you.'

'Huh…. That does explain how you're responding to me while searching…'

Add another question onto my growing pile of concerns. I'm sure there would be some long-winded answer for what I was seeing, but it would have to wait. The me that was in the storeroom had finally found something suitable for a spy.

I reached out to twist it out of storage when I realized something. I would still need to change and we weren't exactly somewhere with changing rooms. Changing in the middle of a busy street was also impractical at best. But I could tell that the me in the laundry room was an instance of myself as well. If that were the case, what would happen if I changed before I twisted myself out of storage?

Well, only one way to find out.

Taiyaki Stand Alley – 3:08 pm

"Uh, is she OK?" Shiroko heard Hifumi ask. She turned to see the Trinity student staring at Nelson with a concerned look on her face.

Shiroko checked the time on her phone. It had been about 5 minutes since the Adult had leaned against a wall, closed her eyes, and fallen still. That meant she was doing something with her powers. So, maybe another 10 minutes before they should start poking? She nodded and answered. "Nn. Sensei is preparing for her part."

"Oh!" Nonomi said cheerfully as she slipped on the baklava, doing her best to tuck her hair into the mask. "This is your first time seeing Nelson-Sensei do something magical!"

Ayane's sigh crackled over the comms, her voice long-suffering as she spoke, "Just because we don't understand how Nelson-Sensei's abilities work does not mean she's magical."

"Yeah," Serika added with a nod. "I mean, is what she can do really that much different than what I can do?"

"What exactly are you guys talking about?" Hifumi asked, looking more confused than concerned.

Hoshino shrugged, her pink ahoge bouncing where it punched through a gap in the baklava. "Sensei's a lady of many tricks, and she likes to keep us on our toes."

"That doesn't really explain anything…" Hifumi muttered quietly. Shiroko heard her clearly, even if she wasn't sure if Hifumi intended for anyone to hear. And if Serika's ear twitching was any indication, the catgirl probably did too.

However, a quiet pop that echoed from behind them interrupted any further conversation. All of them turned to find the source of the noise, only to pause as they saw Nelson standing and stretching. Except…

"When did you find time to change!" Serika hissed, pointing at Nelson.

The Adult was, in fact, dressed completely differently from what she was wearing a few moments ago. Gone was the white and grey uniform and, in its place, a formal midnight blue dress uniform. The Adult now sported crisply ironed dress pants, polished black shoes, a white dress shirt, and a black tie covered by a double-breasted naval coat. There weren't any marks or symbols besides a gold embroidered star above 4 gold bands on the sleeves.

"Well?" Nelson asked as she shifted back and forth to look at herself. "Would this be a proper ensemble for a spy?"

Shiroko saw Hifumi blink in confusion, looking around and behind the Adult, before she asked. "Where did you find those clothes?"

"In storage."

Shiroko ignored Hifumi's muttered "but where?" to focus on Nelson's question. The outfit had the formality one would expect from a superspy, but a certain something was missing from it…

"Oh!" Nonomi cried out with a snap of her fingers. "Maybe if you tied up your hair?"

Nelson hummed in thought, rubbing her chin with one hand and playing with her hair with the other. "Would anyone have an elastic they could lend me?"

Serika pulled one out of her bag and passed it with a light toss. Nelson snatched it out of the air and immediately set about tying her hair into a low ponytail. It looked better but not quite right still.

Serika must have been thinking the same thing because she was staring at the Adult, deep in thought. After a second, she spoke. "Maybe something to hide your eyes?"

A pair of dark brown framed sunglasses popped into Nelson's hand, the lenses a mirrored black. She slipped them on with ease, letting the side shields rest on her cheeks. Now it was impossible to see her eyes from the front or side, but they needed something just a bit more.

"What about a hat?" Hoshino added, staring at the Adult closely.

A black narrow-brimmed felt hat dropped into Nelson's hand. She flipped it around with a casual flick of her hand and planted it onto her head. With the hat in place, Shiroko took a step back and examined the outfit from top to bottom.

There was something distinctly imposing about Nelson now. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the combination of height, dark clothes, and the dark of the shaded alley made the Adult mildly menacing. And that was with the knowledge that Nelson was their Teacher and friend. She was sure that the Adult would scare anyone who wasn't expecting her.

It appeared Shiroko wasn't the only one who thought that, given the nods of approval (and the confused look from Hifumi). Nelson, however, was looking herself over as she twisted and turned. She hummed in thought, frowning. "It feels as if something is lacking still…"

After a second, an umbrella appeared in Nelson's hand. Then, a large metal prybar in the other. The Adult took a look at the two, and then shoved the prybar into the canopy of the umbrella before retightening the strap shut. She gave it a few test swings and, with a satisfied nod, hooked it into the crook of her arm.

"Now that this is complete," Nelson said as she walked up to the group. ", would your blueprints happen to show where I would find their records?"

Stygian Bank, Exterior Fire Escape – 4:00 pm

I was a bit concerned when I found out that the bank's record room was most likely on the second floor. The only way in and out of the second floor on the blueprints was via a stairwell in the staff corridor. The alleyway fire exit would have been ideal, as it led into the staff corridor. However, they had placed the security room right next to it. If I mistimed it, or if I got unlucky, someone could come out of the security room and spot me.

Fortunately, a glance into said alley revealed another method of entry. For all the illegal activity occurring around the Stygian Bank, poor building code observation was not one of them. They had graciously put in a set of fire escapes onto the exterior of the building. Furthermore, it could support the weight of the Robotic Staff.

This meant, by extension of our similar weight brackets, it could support me as well.

'Nelson Sensei, the Foreclosure Task Force and Hifumi are getting ready to enter.'

The comfortable crackle of Arona's voice echoed through the back of my mind and, after a second, an explosion echoed out into the street. I was moving before the sound of the blast stopped, reaching out with the umbrella to knock the ladder down. The smaller explosions and gunfire from the direction of the entrance masked the sound of it hitting the ground.

It only took a few moments for me to scale up the ladder, the metal structure groaning ominously but holding. I slowed as I neared the top, peeking into the second floor just in time to see the last guard running down the stairs.

"Okusora, have you isolated the building?" I whispered into my headset as I finished my ascent.

The sound of frantic tapping and clicking answered me, before she responded with a quick "I have control of their network."

The windows would be a problem for any normal person. Although they looked like regular windows, they were bulletproof up to full-size rifles, and resistant against anti-materiel rifles. They were set into a reinforced frame designed to hold back at least a weak breaching charge. Finally, they recessed the frame into the wall to ensure there was no easy way to access the locking mechanism from the outside. For a second-floor window, it would be rather difficult to break in without a particularly large explosive or heavy weapon. Even with the distraction happening in the lobby, a normal infiltrator would find it hard to bypass the window.

Unfortunately, they did not design windows with battleship-type Humans like myself in mind. I've tampered down my strength thus far to ensure that I could not permanently or seriously injure anyone. But against a window on a criminal enterprise with nobody on the other side? I brought my arm back, and launched it forward with twice the force I've used thus far.

To the credit of the builder, the frame and window held when my fist slammed into it. The glass cracked and the frame bent in, but it remained intact.

The same could not be said of the wall surrounding the frame. While the window held, the punch knocked the frame right out of the wall. The heavy metal and glass object popped out of the wall with a cracking noise just slightly louder than the sound of grenades in the lobby and fell onto the floor with a loud metallic rattle.

'Sensei… was that really necessary?' There was a disapproving tone in Arona's voice. If Ayane had control of the bank's external lines, then there was no doubt that the computer girl was also able to access the cameras. 'I'm pretty sure I could have just unlocked it for you.'

'I admit, it was likely unnecessary,' I replied as I entered through the hole in the wall. 'But it felt appropriate given the others' actions. Now, I believe we have some records to obtain.'

Stygian Bank, Records Room – 4:10 pm

The records room was mostly digital. It made sense given the digital nature of Kivotos, but I was hoping there would be some paper files for me to trifle through and store. Unfortunately, it seemed that the criminal masterminds were smart enough to not keep the physical evidence in the same room as the digital evidence. They must be either off-site or destroyed after uploading. It was all rather good foresight.

Unfortunately for them, no amount of foresight prepared them for Arona. Much like how the windows were never designed to withstand a punch from a battleship-turned-human, these servers were never designed to withstand intrusion from a computerized girl with an obsession for sweets. I hadn't even had a chance to put down the Shittim Chest after I plugged it in before she cheerfully confirmed that she had disabled the server's entire security system.

'OK Sensei, I'm about 74% done!' Arona called out happily, the sound of papers being moved echoing over our connection. 'I've got their entire server downloaded, and it'll only take me another 5 minutes to wipe them clean.'

"Another 5 minutes?" I answered, whispering as I quickly scanned through the documents that had not yet been scanned. "By all means, take as much time as you want. You are the expert here after all."

I felt pretty secure whispering, given the lack of noise downstairs. It seemed that they had defeated the guards, so it was just a matter of securing each of our targets. And frankly, working in dead silence was a bit unnerving.

Arona giggled, and I could almost hear her puffing her chest at the compliment. 'That's right! Just leave it to your reliable assistant Arona! Honestly, the hardest part about this is their out-of-date hardware.'

"Yes, yes, you are certainly one-of-a-kind." I answered, amused. She certainly turned around on this whole 'no warrant evidence retrieval' plan once she got a chance to show off.

Unfortunately, we had to pause any further conversation as someone kicked the door open and shouted, "DROP IT! YOU MESSED WITH THE WR-

oh."

I turned to the interruption and found myself staring down an automatic carbine, held by a thug dressed in Market Guard uniform. They seemed to have frozen after seeing me. I hummed in thought, idly twirling my umbrella. On the one hand, being discovered by a single thug wasn't quite that problematic. On the other hand, I would rather them not attempt to shoot me and hit the servers behind me.

So, intimidation it was. I nodded and smiled cheerfully as I stepped into the light of the hallway. "Would you like to complete your sentence?"

The thug shook her head so violently that I swore the helmet would fly right off. She quickly darted back behind the door frame and, once safely out of reach, she bowed and fired off a rapid "sorryididntseeanythingbye".

Then she turned around and ran away.

I blinked as the thug vanished around the corner. I hadn't even started trying to intimidate her yet. I sighed as I turned back to the table where the Chest was waiting, muttering just loud enough for Arona to hear. "The Market Guards are rather cowardly for elites, are they not?"

Arona didn't respond, but I could almost hear the nonplussed stare over the crackle of the radio.

AN: Nelson back in Chapter 15 was against the whole 'let's do crimes' ideas that Abydos came up with. Which meant that she wasn't really going to be as willing to participate in the robbery. But securing evidence of criminal activity? That is something that she's more than happy to do. In fact, her role as Adviser to a Federal Investigation Club behooves her to do so.

Of course, that does mean Nelson is now distinctly separated from Abydos for the rest of the Black-Market arc. Surely this won't lead to anything.

Thanks again to my friend for Beta Reading.