Silently all on her own. The blonde woman partakes of a parfait inside a cafe with a fancy wooden interior. With busy bodies all around her, shuffling through documents and busy with their laptops. Rays of light pierce the large windows of the shop, outside. Crowds of players, some with furry ears, some with scaly ones, with and without tails to those large burly Orcs to Elves and Humans. All in suits and devoid of their fantasy outfits as they strolled along the hasty morning. The cold weather was still there, but the skies were clear and the foreign Sun was looking down on the city with a wide smile, encroaching every corner of it with its yellowish light.
For a moment, even though she had her sharp ears exposed. The woman looked like she was but a single cell in a vast complex body. Though people would sneak stares to look at her beauty, everyone was busy with their own thing and would quickly wave there eyes from looking at her as she herself was in her own place. Quietly enjoying the solemn atmosphere of the busy city coffee shop, eating her food and occasionally looking out the large windows and the cars driving through the wide four lane street and the people of the city going from left to right. For a moment, she was but a pretty woman, in a busy world, in a foreign culture and place.
“Look, I know you're new. But we just can’t have this!”
A suited player slaps down a thick slab of paper into their table. Pointing his finger at a Lizard player whose tail is as stiff as concrete.
“Fifty pages?! Are you kidding me?! I can easily dumb this down to fifteen! Why are you using big words and terminologies when we're going to present this to a bunch of Natives who don't even understand modern accounting?!”
The angry human player then shuffles through the pages and stops at the images of a graph and a pie chart.
“Like look at this! Why did you do this? We’re here to sell. Not to teach them economics! They're stupid but not dumb! Ahhhh this is why I don’t like taking in people with no experience.”
“Sir, let’s calm down.”
“Why are you siding with him?! I know you were new once but we can’t have this! As your Manager, do you know what will happen to OUR rating?! Sale Team One will be fully removed at this point! We’re already shortmanned!”
Elizabeth tried to pry her eyes away from the scaly person getting a beat down by his superior. But she started eating more and more as the tension rose with a grin on her face as she watched the drama unfold before her. Ignoring the opened police and city documents she has on her table.
“I’m sorry sir.”
“YOU BETTER BE!”
“Yes sir.”
The Manager gives the Lizard player a stare and then he takes the bottle of Vodka and pours it into the glass of the scaly man in a suit.
“Drink up. Ahhhhhh…”
He immediately puts both of his hands up on his face and crawls it up and down.
“Jam. We’ll have to resend that to the Senior Manager.”
“It’s fine sir. It’s not like I was planning on going home early anyways… no family waiting for me.”
“And newbie. You too.”
“Yes sir.”
“Hayysssttt… my stress. Why am I stressing myself out this much when I got teleported into a fantasy world? Should I just become a merc?”
“Uhm sir. May I ask a question?”
“Haaaaaa…. Ask.”
“The Dictionary of Accounting you gave me.”
“What? Are you giving up already?”
“No sir. I’ve reviewed it.”
“What? It’s only been a week.”
“Yes sir.”
“Ehhhhh… Jam. We might actually have something a bit useful here.”
“Don’t know about that Manager. But tonight, we’ll test that out.”
“Hm. Newbie.”
“Yes sir.”
“Pick up my calls from now on. If you don’t know what to answer, hang up.”
“Hang up, sir?”
“Hm. Hang up or make some excuse. If they're speaking a language you don’t know, just apologize or…”
“Hang up, sir?”
“Exacto. Alright! Finish up! Morning meeting is over.”
The trio then picked up their laptops and binders. Putting it into their briefcases and walking out at a hurry. Elizabeth, already half way through her strawberry parfait just looks around her which were all players of differing species, all wearing business suits and had their own cases with them. Many are revising paperwork and others, rechecking what they’ve printed.
“How are humans able to live in this life? Just watching from afar is already giving me a headache.”
She then shuffles through the Detective reports and she tilts her head at the final page.
“Thus, I may conclude that a small or large part of the Local Government might be involved in the Terrorist attack. I’ve had a particular eye on the Vice Mayor and a female City Councilor. But both of them have been too busy for an interview and I’ve been caught up with the Night City Killer Case. As SateSec and the Military will be taking over this case tomorrow. I’d like to recommend to you, Chief. That you perform a quick shake up if possible. The state of things will only get worse, and if acted upon slower. They might catch on. What public info I’ve gotten on Mana Core Terrorism (See Addendum 5: Mana Core Corruption Public Hearings). Seems to me that there’s more than ten players involved here. From the Internal Security, down to the Military and the Local Government Administrations. I recommend reading more files in the recent scandals Pre-Teleportation on the Guild of Ervtes, I already worked on that previously with the Fraud and Corruption Division Detectives in a joint operation with the Homicide Team on the banning of a former player on wrong allegations. I suspect these old rotten apples have mutated into something bigger, and must be dealt with immediately.”
Her reading was then stopped as she could hear a player slapping a binder on the cranium of another. “You want to lead your own Project when you can’t even do a simple Business Item? Really?” The two suited humans had laptops in front of them and coffee as the one holding the binder reached his head up to his head and then down to the table. Sighing heavily.
“Tell me, why did you leave your adventurous work? I’m sure being out there, in a fantasy land full of real Elves, Vampires, Werewolves, Goblins, and Dragons beats being in a gray cubicle on a gray floor with gray rooms.”
“I did bounty hunting work… but one day. I didn’t know I hunted down an escaped slave.”
“And? That shits normal here. You really wanna work here? We might be in the city, but we now have to work with the Natives. That includes Nobles with their personal slaves, you know?”
“Y-Yes sir.”
“Are you crazy or dumb? You seriously wanna go back to this type of life?”
“The fantasy world isn’t what I imagined it to be sir…”
“So? Are you really gonna give up just like that? How will I know you won’t back down from a client who has a thousand slaves huh?”
He uses the binder to give the player another slap on the head.
“Don’t do this shit alright? We’re a team now. So consult me if you don’t know something, our Company works differently from the ones you worked on back in Earth. We have different methods and ways. Sheesh, and you expect me to read this crap you call a report?”
“Sorry sir.”
“Here take this.” dropping the binder, takes out paper money. Shuffling through it, he gives the player a thousand bucks. “Buy something and sell it to a native. Come back to me afterwards. You worked with them for eleven months, what the heck did you learn? Come back to me when you’ve sold one to a Native. Fuck off. Oh! And afterwards, be sure to write a report!”
The talk down player then stands up with his head downwards alongside his pointy elven ears. While the other one reaches for his inner pockets and takes out a lockett. “Hello, yeah. I’ll be heading there tomorrow. Tell the Client the shipment of Arcane Rocks will pull through. We just called a supplier. Assure them this stuff is from Tur, the other world and is top quality. Made with the most modern machines and methods.”
Seeing that it's finally died down. The woman comes back to reading the police and government files she’s been given.
“Haaaaaaah…. Should I give him the chance?”
“Hm? Are you getting soft Manager?”
“The man knows his bearings but he still needs some help.”
“If he can, why not? We need a big project to make the Director happy with our first quarter performance. He knows his way around the Nobility more than us. He might come in handy in the future. He just has a hard time dealing with Natives when it comes to selling.”
“Yeah… haah… this is so stressful. It’s like, all he saw there were flowers and pretty things. There’s a reason why I chose to be here when I could be there making a name for myself as an Adventurer… eh. So, about that proposal.”
She then stands up. Packing all of the folders into a used bag. Walking outside and into a phone booth where she makes a call.
“Hello My Lord. I’d like to request for files available with your clearance concerning the scandals and corruption cases before the teleportation.”
“Sure, I’ll give Bahamut a call then. How has your breakfast been? Have you eaten?”
“Of course, My Lord. I’ve eaten. I’ve also gotten a taste of your life.”
“Ah, you're in Central right? Yeah, that’s the business district for you. You’ll see the life I lived after I left the Army. It ain’t much but it puts food on the table. What about blood? Have you drank enough?”
“Hm. I’ve drank enough blood for today. Thank you for your concern, My Lord.”
“No probs. Anything else?”
“Well… what’s a Project? I saw a man scold his employee for trying to suggest a thing.”
“Ah, it's a Business Project. Back on Earth, I used to sign documents like that. Yeah, it's a thing usually done after the Manager has trusted one of his members as his name is also on the line alongside his entire career. Seeing that he is being scolded, he must be new. Pretty bold, but before that. He needs to learn a lot.”
“Hmmm… interesting.”
“That’s accountancy for you. Heck, you know, my Degree was meant for more Blue Collar jobs. So when me and my friends opened our company. None of us had a lick of idea on how to do any of that. We had to learn from the ground up too, so this kinda makes me reminisce. Ahahahahah.”
“What a peculiar life. And much of this is spent in those cubicles like in the City Hall right, My Lord?”
“Well… it depends. Sometimes you’ll have to meet with a supplier or talk to someone from another company that you’ve contacted for your project. Heck, you’d even go down to the factories itselves and see if they got what you need. I even had a story when the factory we’ve always had went on a strike. I had to get down there and talk to them. Just to find out the problem was in the office, someone had the bright idea of giving them a quota they couldn’t meet.”
“Ehhhhhhh…”
“Yeah. They also complained about having outdated machines. I had to personally apologize to each and every one of them and make sure to give them the most modern ones.”
“Did you hate it?”
“Hm?”
“Did you felt anger, My Lord?”
“No. I felt that I was missing. I didn’t do my best, so my factory workers were given the bad end of the stick. Yeah… I couldn’t sleep for days after that. Heh.” She could hear him sniff through the phone. “I actually went to each and every one of my factories that makes Heavy Duty Rims for our company. Since we’re a transport company after all, it's better to buy factories that can produce the rims we need and yeah… I found a lot of problems you wouldn’t see when you're in an office shuffling through documents and papers. Doesn’t help the factory managers sometimes lie to us telling us they can do it when in fact, they can’t.”
“Hmph.” Elizabeth smiles as she holds the phone with both of her hands. “I couldn’t believe you could hold such a cold stare, My Lord. When we were transported back to your memory. Your eyes seemed like it was from an entirely different person.”
“Because it was. Maybe you don’t notice since when you change with people, you’d always seem to be the same person with them. But war… It's a phase in my life that I take no pride in. All the medals and ribbons I wear, sometimes I wonder if it was better to be called a coward and a traitor. But things are different in Asia, you know. Everyone knows their part and you can’t say no since the entire community works together. If one mother sends their son, the rest have to do it too… It's your duty. You can be selfish when you're alone.”
“I don’t think you're that weak, My Lord. You seem to be strong enough to be the best man I’ve met so far.”
“Oy… what is this? Did you buy anything expensive? You don’t need to butter me up.”
“No, My Lord. I was just curious of your life before coming here.”
“Is that so? You better not come home with ten bags. We won’t have enough space in your room's wardrobe.”
“Of course not, My Lord.”
“Well, thank you. Helps me remind myself why I wanna go back home. Why I’m putting up with the UN and their crap… haaaa… I sometimes wonder if it was better that I quit Eldwoods and wander around with Bahamut.”
“Then what would mean we wouldn’t meet, My Lord.”
“I don’t know, since you all believe this thing with the Gods and such… I don’t really still understand it but if I am taking what you are telling me with the Gods having long since existed here in Threa, and their actions all seen in everything and their hands in the Heroes and Saints. Fate might lead us all to each other anyways.”
“Then, I shall get going, My Lord. I’ve taken up enough of your time.”
“Don’t worry. The Airbase is still a mess. Oh, have you seen our replacement for Phones?”
“Ah, you mean the Lockets, My Lord?”
“Hm. That’s Threa’s influence on us. Something more handy than the Phones we have. It has unlimited data and signals! Wow! We should try integrating those in our armies… wait.”
“It’ll take them another ten years to do so?”
“Right out of my mouth. These dumbheads would probably debate on a supplier, then who’ll manufacture it and then the tactics that needed to be changed. Oh yeah! The budget too! Nevermind that.”
“Ahhahahaha, then. I shall get going then.”
“Hm. Take care Elizabeth. You know, talking to you like this makes it seem like your just a normal woman.”
Her cheeks go red and holds the phone closer to her sharp ears. “W-Who told you to be that smooth. To say such things in the morning, My Lord. Aren’t you a loverboy?”
“What? No. I was just…”
A big wide smile appears on her face. “Thank you, My Lord. I’ll be sure to do my best today.” she hangs up with her sharp ears painted red. She then puts her hands up her face and then to her ears. Noting how soft it’s become. She then walks out of the booth looking down with her ears red and a wide smile on her face which she hid amongst the crowd of players going about their day.
The long blonde hair of the woman sways wildly as she faces the bus stop. After a ten minute ride. Elizabeth walks into the open hallway inside the Main Zavalda Police Headquarters. Its floors were busy with people in suits as she strutted along. The high and mighty aura of the Vampire Queen in a modest motherly floral dress made everyone look at her and the sparkling golden long blonde hair she has that almost touches the cold marble floor of the government building. With fancy chandeliers and marble pillars. It looked more like a museum than a police headquarters.
Seeing the long line to the elevators. She makes a detour to the staircase. The clipboard next to its door shows a dangerous Native with white hair and young features currently missing and with a handsome bounty on his head for whoever could capture him alive. Another one next to it was a missing poster to a player who hasn’t been seen for ten months.
Reaching a door, she breathes in and opens it.
“My Lord!”
Entering it, she’s only left with a large chair that’s turned around into the window.
“Oh… it’s just you Bahamut.”
“If it isn’t the Bloodsucker’s first Queen! Hasn't Master told you he’s at the Airbase?”
Bahamut spins the large office chair around, intimidatingly brandishing the black leather military uniform of Eldwood’s Officers Corps. With an oversized peaked cap, the dark colors were in stark contrast to her pale skin and bright golden eyes.
“Master has left these files for you. I did a bit of reading and the corruption scandals all had involvement with Longway Logistics’ higher ups and Government Officials that have a connection to them. But no action was taken as everyone who was going to testify was either banned or left the Guild before they could speak.”
“Well, well, well. I must give credit to these humans. They're more slimy than I thought.”
“Hm. I also recommend looking at who has a large share of Longway. It's not only the Government and it leads back to someone I've encountered.”
With the Dragon handing to her a thick file, Elizabeth sighs at it. Opening the folder and quickly skimming through the Player Profiles and their stats. Almost all of the players involved with Longway are all high level and either in big guilds like Libertus or Breznick to even smaller ones like the Shineguards and niche guilds like the Men of the Woods.
“Hmmmm…'' She then starts taking one of the papers and starts looking through matching company names or partnerships. “To think… well. It's pretty ingenious. You do not need to pay everyone in the pyramid. Just one or two will suffice and this is a perfect representation of that. I am done.”
“Already?”
“Yes, now be a good Dragon and abide by our Lord's wishes. Do not wear that outside nonchalantly.”
“Hmph! As if! I am a mighty Dragon! I do not care for the little opinions of the humans! And I am given an entire Battalion of soldiers to control! I shall show them what it means to be led by a true leader!”
“Did wearing a uniform make you more crazy today or is it just me? I swear last night you were still normal… or what would be normal behavior by Dragon standards.”
“Ha-ha-ha! I now know why humans like these things! You can truly feel the authority and control, this cloth visualizes my position in the hierarchy, my amazing power and level!”
Elizabeth makes a deep sigh, the same one Paul would when dealing with Bahamut. She then takes some of the papers and the ten people that took her attention.
“Just behave, Our Lord is right now away and I do not want him to go back home with more troubles.”
“Don’t worry Bloodsucker! I got this thing in the bag! Ha-ha-ha!”
“Haaaaa… I feel like I am already tired for the day." But before she could walk out, the woman stops. “Tell Our Lord to prepare to imprison some high level people. One CEO and his Executives, and five or six Government members. I’ll leave the Longway people for the Countess to deal with as she knows that place better than I am. I’ll be in the Hall, I think I’ve seen some of these people already.”
“Of course. I shall notify Master then.”
“Good. You do know where our Lord will be the entire day right?”
“Ahhhh…? Master told me he was going to the Airbase to clear up the mess with a bunch of trains that needed to be transported. Master said he’ll be there the entire day if not even tomorrow.”
Exiting out the office, the woman breathed a long sigh as she walked to the elevator and down to the ground floor. Everyone was smitten by her as she walked through the open lobby with a supermodel stride and a confident posture. Walking through the front door, the woman completely disappears. Leaving the guard baffled, and what was left was a rosey scent that blew with the cold wind. Left in the office, Bahamut swings the chair back to face the window. “Hmph. What’s gotten into that Bloodsucker? She seems to have a better morning than usual.”
Miles away on the Airbase. The General is looking through a clipboard as a huge steam locomotive is loaded into a C-5 Galaxy.
“Are we sure we can’t make four flights?”
“Yes sir. The airbase is still not up to fully operational standards. We can’t have four flights till all of the hardened underground tanks have been confirmed to be safe for use, sir.”
“Then why not just park a bunch of tankers on the tarmac huh?”
“If you want sir. We can do that. But we advise against it in case of another attack.”
“Do that. I want this done and written off by the end of the week. Fifty flights, there’s literally nothing in the airspace apart from the fauna and believe me, they won't be attacking again. They tried once, they succeeded. Their second attempt failed thanks to Bahamut. Their Third will be one out of desperation.”
“You seem to be sure sir.”
“Bahamut already made them fuck off once. That was in the Mayor’s office. Second time was at the Seaside Church. Believe me, they won’t be trying anything unless they’ve gotten cornered.”
He then looks through the papers.
“Who the fuck is the Fifth Airlift Wing?!”
“Oh, they’re the ones who own the damaged Super Galaxy sir.”
“Then why is this in the document of working operators then? Get this removed. Geez.” He then reaches for his jacket’s inner pocket and crosses it out.
“And the Thirty Sixth Airlift Squadron? Shows here they got Hercules?”
“Yes sir. Their aircraft is behind the Hangars.”
“They're already tasked with munition stockpiling. Hmmm…”
A plane flies by, making the General look up into the skies. “I hope they're doing fine.” he then looks back at the clipboard on his hands as he is led by the Captain around the tarmac of the battered airbase.
Already, with the clear sky and the open sun, most of the city’s snow has melted and its dullish colors surface a bit from the beauty of the white colors of winter. Though the temperature was in the negative still, the snow was already letting up as the new year carries on. Flying through the skies of the metropolis. Skeleton soldiers litter the junctions and the rooftops near it, building fortifications and hardening walls of government and military offices. On some of the locations, Anti Air weapons platforms were being lifted up by cranes. Even the heavy Gepard and 2K22 Tunguska were emplaced on the roofs, immobile but with a better coverage while on some locations, cache’s were being piled up in alleyways.
Suddenly, a winged officer pulls behind the Vampire. Using his whistle to tell the woman to land. She sighs and follows as instructed and the two land on the sidewalk. The officer quickly got to his radio. “We got times one female, Vampire. Purebred so it seems, she’s walking in the open sun without any debuffs. Ma’am, stay there. I’ll approach you when backup arrives.” she crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. “About one eighty centimeters tall, long sparkly blonde hair, emerald eyes, Caucasian.” A Cruiser then arrives. The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was painted blue with the Zavalda Police Department sticker on both sides of it and two officers exit out and nod to the one that stopped her.
“Alright. Good Morning ma’am. I’m Officer Blake Thompson of the Air Department, player name is BalloonManThreeSixty. May I ask why you're flying so fast? We have a limit to prevent damage to windows.”
“I’m headed to the City Hall. I apologize if my speed was not to the standard of the city.”
With a queenly pose and elegant tone in response, the officer nods at her as he wrote down on his notepad.
“Do you have an ID or any License? I’d also like to see your Wing Flyer Certificate.”
She hands over the Government ID she was given and the officer took a quick look at her then down to it. It had no pictures and only information that its a permit for the holder to pass through any restricted areas without any need for checking. It was then signed by a 5 Star General. “Hmmm…”
“Officer, I must really get to the city hall. May I be allowed to go?”
“Sorry ma’am. I’ll have to confirm this with HQ first.”
“Of course. Please do make haste.”
He goes into his radio and after a few minutes. Returned the ID and the officer nods. Letting her fly away. As she flew through the city and to the direction of city hall, it looked like the place was becoming more and more militarized, with more soldiers and armored vehicles patrolling and littering the road. Injecting the various camouflages worn by both players and skeletons into the more vibrant and colorful modern outfits worn by the citizens. Arriving at the City Hall, the place was littered with soldiers and armed guards. Everyone is visibly heightened as she shows her ID to the gate guards. Letting her in after a quick X-Ray.
Inside the Administrative building, everything was seemingly going into overdrive. With people carrying stacks of paper by hand or cart going left or right, up and down. Taking the elevator to the 3rd floor and waltzing straight into the office of one of the city councils.
“Ma’am, you can’t enter this place.”
She ignores the girl on the desk and continues walking in. Breaking the lock of the door, spooking a woman in a large shoulder padded pink business suit as she was in the middle of a phone call when the Vampire waltz in. “EEEEEKKK!” Elizabeth slams the door and shows her Military ID. “Hello Matilda. I’d like to ask some questions on behalf of your overall Government. I’m sure you’ve met my Lord. He had met you before at the City Meeting.” she then stands up and throws the phone at her and then some fireballs which she just tanked without a problem. “Done?” the woman in her purple frilly gown suddenly, then sits at the guest chair.
Legs and arms crossed, she points her finger at the table. This prompts the City Councilor to also stand down as guards rush in. Opening the door, the first soldier that walked in got a PVC card thrown right in front of his eyes. Making him stumble down. Taking it, it's a signed ID letting the owner of it have full access to the city and all of its resources. Looking up, the description was thorough and what got his attention was the signature of the Colonels and the 5 Star General himself. “I-i-i apologize, ma’am. U-Uhmm… Please carry on.” With a fast salute, he then makes his men retreat. Leaving only the two of them in the office.
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“Now then.” Elizabeth wipes her exposed shoulders from the dust that came from the hinges of the door. “May I ask what’s your involvement with Longway Logistics? I believe two Detectives came here before. Investigating the Terrorist attack.” The City Councilor’s face immediatey turn to anger.
“T-those two again?! I swear, their out to get me! I have no involvement! I’m innocent! I will not speak further until a Lawyer arrives! How dare you do this to a Democratic city!”
“Heh-heheheheh…” the air suddenly turns heavy and the suited woman backruns to the wall behind her as Elizabeth’s emerald eyes stared into her soul with pure dread. “You don’t want to push me. There’s a time limit and we’re almost up. I will not let any more trivialities to slow down the progress. All of you have been stalling, My Lord has complained to me last night how your Mayor hasn’t even given out the permission form for his application to visit the Core. Do tell, why shouldn’t I pull your skin off and behead you and have you staked?”
“Y-Y-Your crazy! All of you Vampires are insane! Ho-how can you say such things with a straight face?! Are you out of your mind?! I’m a City Councilor! You can’t just do that and-and get away with it!”
She didn’t even blink and Elizabeth’s nose was up her right cheek. With a devilish smile on the woman, the City Councilor cowered in fear in place.
“I-i-i am a shareholder! That’s all! Those damned Detectives!”
“Is it?” She then materializes the paper with her information and taps her nail at it. “It says here that you also have connections to its higher ups. You're closest to the ones we also have a target on. Coincidence? Or is it a ring of corruption and got sprinkled with a touch of the Rebel group? It’s always the weakest links like you that cause the ripples that start the downfall of Governments. Tsk.”
“What do you possibly mean by this?! I am a Shareholder. Of course I am involved. But I merely-” her lips are then closed by the Vampire. “You already said it. You are aware that a Politician being in a corporation's major shareholder is not accepted by the city of Zavalda’s policies, correct?”
“I was voted in! Everyone knew I had stocks in Longway and I am still in my position! Now stop this before I sue you! I won’t take it to those damn leaking Cops but straight to the Guild of Ervtes! They’ll have you baptized and burned!”
“Sue me? Pfftt… I am not a citizen nor from your world. I’m a mere Fourth Party meddler. I suggest you tell me what I want before I become violent. None of the soldiers out there are willing to interfere, even if they hear your screams as I mutilate you from limb to limb slowly. I also know the nearest Altar. You can try killing yourself now, but I’ll be there waiting for you.”
“Okay! Okay! What do you want! I can’t tell you much since I’m just in it for the money! I’m not like the others who want power! Money is all I want!”
“What is Longway involved in? From here, it looks like it's mostly just a cell of the Government used to get discounts in moving large amounts of equipment… and yet why is a Pharmaceutical company also involved? And why is your name…” she then takes the paper and puts it next to her face. “City Councilor Matilda Haines, player name HKSeventy has stocks in both of them? I’m sure you're already risking putting stocks in one company and telling them when the Government will be making adjustments so that they won’t lose money all of the sudden and they can even profit more with having insider information. But what’s the Pharma involved in? Their CEO is also a suspect already, and I need to find that link and seal this now.”
“This could literally mean anything. Are you insane?! Do you know who you are violating? And how did you get your hands on that document?! That’s a violation of my rights! L-Loook! I uhhh… I just tell them bits and pieces of information. They only profit a wee bit and not out of this world increase in sales!”
Elizabeth then seemingly appears next to her left ear. “Rights? The Government does not care for your or anyone's Right if it means their power being questioned. I for one know as I also did the very same thing. I suggest you speak before I am forced to do more unethical means. No one above you cares, and no one below you gives a lick of attention. It’s just you and me.”
Matilda walks a few steps to the corner. Touching the blinds. “Don’t you even think about it. Jump out the window or kill yourself. I will come after you. I already know your scent.”
“Tsk!” seeing that she’s cornered, the woman’s eyes wandered like crazy. Looking for a way out. “Just tell me, what’re the dirty deeds of Longway and the Pharmauetical company involved. How did a Native become its Executive in a matter of months, and most of all, how come the UN doesn’t know of it.”
“Heh-heheheh-heh. Do… do you seriously think the UN gives a flying fuck what happens in a random city in the corner of this huge ass globe? I’m sure you’ve seen it. Without a proper internet, we have to run things like it was in World War Two but with thrice or even four times the components. With so much paperwork going around. Do you think some high and mighty boy at the top of the chain will care?”
“Ah I see. The failures of bureaucracy. I do indeed know, I have seen it first hand. Then, now that you are singing. Expanding on my query, what’re the dirty deeds of Longway and its connection to Bedlam Pharmaceutical Company? I also know they are involved in espionage. The Countess finding out one of their members is a spy already says as much. There is a web here and I wanna know how far spanning it is.”
“Check the trains.”
“Trains?”
“Yes, cross the bridge. On the other side of the river is the city’s industrial sector. The huge trainyard there is involved in smuggling. Longway owns the railway there, check the double stacks without papers. Bedlam is in control of the LNG used by the Government, there the ones who turn it into usable fuel by the military. It's their subsidiary Bedlam Chemicals! Longway just delivers it to the Emergency Storages around the city in tankers! I-i didn’t know another party would use this to commit a terrorist act against us!”
“Finally, I thought I was going to make a bloody mess here. It's not another party, it's a party that you might've unknowingly been helping since the beginning. Good, good. Anything else you’d like to add?”
“Will this mean I get immunity?”
“Hmmm… I’ll ask My Lord about giving you something of sorts. Now, don’t tell this to the Secretive Organization of armed men. Though I guess they already know.”
“W-Wai-wait. I’ll need a signed paper of my immunity!”
Her phone then rings, the two look at her desk and Elizabeth picks it up.
“What a troublesome person you are…”
The mysterious and muffled voice had a deep tone but the character of his voice was muzzled through the lines.
“Oh please, you are talking to the woman that brought down the human Kingdoms without firing a single arrow. You hear that? Tell your Master or Masters that your days are numbered. You either come out or I will make sure to unravel your entire operation and destroy it all without even the consent of My Lord. Also, dare use that former Captain of My Lord against him once again and I will be more violent to you.”
“Do you even know what were trying to do? You don’t get it don’t you? How about this then. Don’t you want that precious Lord of yours to stay here? Have someone to spend your eternity with?”
She pauses a bit. Her free left hand turning into a fist.
“How dareth thee… thou wouldst use such methods against me?” Elizabeth’s thin long eyebrows then points inwards, her mouth opening to reveal her fangs as her grip on the handset of the phone becomes more and more stronger. The plastic creaking. “I’ll haveth thee castrated and thou’s loved ones burn’eth to the stake for all to see for such denigrating tone to mine Lordeth. Beware whomever you may be, that man is stronger than thoust think.”
“I already know who and what he is capable of. That’s why I’ve halted all of my operations. I forgot to take into account that a pig backed up the corner will do everything of its power to protect itself. These pigs will go as low as bringing a calamitous being like you to a city full of innocents and a God that doesn’t know how to connect with humans to a place full of it. Don’t worry, its not like you’ll be able to do anything. Things are set in motion, and I know your trying to get ahead of it.”
A smile then appears on Elizabeth's face. “Oh, thou art thinking I do not invite calamity to thee? Nay, I allow it.” her emerald coloured eyes turn gold as her hair sparks even more. “Cometh thee, open the Gates of Hell itself and I shall wrap it with thine eternal gore. I may finally fight an opponent that is worthy of thousts power and statue.”
“You truly are a crazy bitch. Well, come and try. If you do force us to move. I’ll give that StateSec woman a little tip on finding us.”
“Ah, a game. And what thy want in return?”
“Tell us…” a pause comes and Elizabeth breathes out, calming herself. “The location of the Fountain.”
“Hah… ahahahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Her maniacal laughter scares the City Councilor even more than when she was being threatened, without question, the woman returns to cowering in the corner as the pretty golden eyes of Elizabeth become smaller and start shaking all over. Her eyeball looked around at an insane pace. All of the sudden, she calms down. “You humans are truly entertaining. So… that was why you cometh to my land. To my Kingdom. Thou wasn’t there for the negotiations but for that.”
“... You live up to your years of living.”
“Of course, such trivial things can be immediately discerned for those who had lived as long as I had. But… you will not find it. I do not even know if it still exists. What? Since thou cannot get my blood, after that failed attempt to collect mine. You're now thinking of making your own from scratch? Ahahahahaha, you humans are truly fools. No wonder you created this city and its machinations. None of you have understood the beauty of life, do try. Resort to such means, unleash upon Threa another Archaios. I’d like to fight another Primordial Vampire anyways. That whore you sent to stealeth mine blood was but a toy when I had my powers back.”
“... … … …”
“I got it all unraveled, didn't I? You made those moves back in the Vampire Kingdom for you have lost your chance with My Lords out of this world recommendation of partnering with the Vampires than war. You made a hasty decision and got into action, but we stopped you unknowingly. Ah, how the fates work. Your words will not work on me. But I shall partake of this game.”
“... … … Good. If you force us to make a move, I’ll be sure to tell your StateSec a tip to where we are.”
“Oh, and I am not stupid. You have something planned do you not? I’m guessing to that woman Morgan Kitter, whom My Lord does not trust.”
The phone then hangs and she gently places it back. “Thank you for the information. Feel free to return to your duties.” Walking to the window, she opens it and transforms into a Vampire Bat. Flying away to the West of the city. There she could see the huge exhaust stacks of the factories. The closer she got, the more her ears get irritated by the incessant sound of heavy machines and vehicles going around nonstop. To her surprise, most of the employees are mindless skeletons, the undead operating complex machines and producing products straight out of an assembly line. With the occasional player in personal protective equipment overseeing if the operation of the industrial site is going fine.
Reaching the railyard. The Crimson Bat landed atop a light pole as the ground constantly shook from the thousand ton freight trains passing through without stop and the Shunting engines assembling the next consist to be pulled into the open world. The huge yard had not only boxcars, autoracks, and loaded flatcars but also military trains. As she scanned the place, one was already getting assembled and reached far beyond the area. Making its tail end out of her line of sight. Everything was so busy that she ignored looking for anything specific and turned back into her normal form.
Walking around the muddy yard, the concrete below her has long seen its better days. With her heels having to tilt at bad angles. Though with a composure, not even the uneven ground made her stop from walking about the busy place. With mobile cranes stacking container vans from the trains rolling left and right. The skeletons operating them functioning without question as it unloaded heavy ones and loaded in empties.
A jelly man having a joyous time eating fast food and listening to songs on the radio gets a sparkle on his sight, looking out the window of his barracks, the man could see a beautiful blonde woman walking about the site without care. “What the…” he then storms out of the building in blob form. Slithering around with an extra hard hat on him. “Hey!” Elizabeth turns around and her head tilts at the sight of the ball like transparent jelly speaking to him.
“Do you know this site is off limits for people without hard hats?”
“...I do not need it. Even if I was to get crushed by these heavy machines. I’d merely return without a singular scratch.”
“Even still, we have regulations, pretty lady!”
The Slime then throws the hardhat at her which she catches. Though he had a very manly voice, fit of a middle aged thirty year old man. His character seemingly doesn’t have any mouths or eyes or a face at all. Putting on the hard hat which was a form fit for her. The Slime gestures for her to follow. “Quite an experience. I’ve never talked to a Slime man before.”
“You a Native? Ya’know your kind is off limits from the city.”
Showing her ID, the Slime extends its body to it and seemingly scans it without any eyeballs.
“Oh great, if it isn’t the G-folks. Alright, I guess you have questions? Come to my office then.”
Entering his barracks, the quant office had a single light bulb and shelves full of sliding folders and binders. The lone picture hanging behind his chair is that of an Adventurer Group posing in front of a cave. With one being a jelly man consuming a Hobgoblin. Reaching his seat, the Jelly man changes his form into that of a liquid human wearing a hard hat and a high visibility vest.
“Now, please take a seat. You can put the hard hat on the table.”
He then offers her some candies which she took.
“So, what is it? If it's something about the delivery schedule. Tell the Mayor to go suck a fat dick. I’m already working twice the overtime to keep the trains loaded on weekends and it's still not enough." The liquid then changes to red, as if nerves appear inside its body. “There’s also the fucking trains to sent to the Vampires! Pssh, can you believe this shit? They put them on the sliding meant for cargo! The headache it's causing me is such… aaaarrrggghh!
“No. I’m not here for that.”
“I see. What could it be then?” his jelly body then returns to a white color. With his wet fingers tapping the wooden table.
“Do you know of any illegal activities happening around here?”
“Pfft. I could go on till next year if you want me to list them all.”
“Then, let me be more specific. Anything about smuggling?”
“Smuggling? Hmmmm… well. If its arms. I know Yard Number Three has gotten a spike in missing weapons inside container vans.”
“Anything else? What about creatures or humans?”
“That I do not know. Transport of those stuff is usually regulated to the more specialized folks. I mostly handle the unloading and loading of container vans going to and fro the city.”
“Tsk. Hmmmm… then at night. Does anything interesting happen? Anything about Bedlam?”
“Apart from rumored ghosts…” he then takes a newspaper, on its frontpage, a breaking news about the recent alleged sighting of the Hero Prince James and the Sword Saint Elizabeth found working together in Geraldia. “There is this.” He then makes a drawing of the nearest railway sidings. “At siding Fourteen and Sixteen, I don’t know if it's just my eyes but I could’ve sworn that I see shadows of people going about there.” he then draws the cars. “It’s usually a double stacked flatcar, the bottom one getting opened by something.”
“What time?”
“Usually at twelve in the evening. This happens daily.”
“Anything else happening at that time?”
“Hmmmmm…” something then clicked on his head. “Bedlam, Oh shit! Vans from the Bedlam Pharmacy usually arrive to pick up materials for their fancy potions. But that’s usually on the other side of the yard and doesn’t involve me.”
“I’ve also been investigating them. What do they usually sell?”
“Oh man. Everything, Bedlam was originally owned by one of the OG potionmaker in Dark World. The man wasted his life away at perfecting potions so that the community could expand on his findings. If you ever find a potion like this.” opening his drawer, he shows her a vial with a logo of a sword and a phoenix. “This is a product of them. Good stuff, they also make high level ones but for stuff like that. It’s preferable to seek a High Level Mage instead as they can make you some specific orders. The ones here actually from Bedlam Chemicals, which is a sub involved in making Diesel and Gasoline. Also the JP ones they use for the military and LNG terminals.”
“You're awfully well versed in this. May I ask what level are you?”
“I’m only sixty. Before this, I was running with a group.” he turns around, showing his adventure team. “I was the Frontline Slime man, I specialized in quick melting and stealth. I am a Liquid Magic, and my main Art is anything that is wet. Even to your sweat.”
“What about True Magic, can you do that?”
“Oh that? Dang no. Though the end level of my Art, the True Magic I’d first be able to reach is one about literally shifting the weather of the world to move to my will… I never really got into it. The switch happened and the group disbanded. We were all too afraid of Threa.”
“Hmmm… that’s unfortunate. Magic is hard to come by for the normal human. For mere Commoners they’d need to work very hard to even attain a Trainee level of skill for magics.”
“Maybe if I get fed up with this job, I might tutor. That nearby town has a lot of people anyways. I’m sure I can make a quick buck if I tried… but so far. I don’t think I am ready to leave city life. Maybe the daredevils with batshit insane minds can take dying over and over again, getting brutally mauled or crushed just to go for it again but not me. Not here.”
“Hmmm… and how are you so well versed with Bedlam?”
“I talk to their representatives. Like a lot, since they are one of the only Merchant Companies that knows how to make LNG from the natural Methane from Threa, the UN orders like huge bulks! I’d sometimes have three kilometer long trains of nothing but their gas.”
“Interesting, so this is the raw form of what will be the fuel you use on all of your vehicles?”
“Yes, and Zavalda is a military city and an industrial one. The LNG terminals here aren’t what they seem. The ones inside the city are Emergency ones meant for times of All Out War.”
“Then, I wish you the best. I do thank you for helping me Mister…?”
“It’s Sir TenseiSuraimu. Or Fernandez if you want my real name.”
“Thank you Mister Fernandez.” she elegantly bows to him and the Jelly man shoos her away. “Hey! Don’t forget your hard hat!” he changes to the color blue as the man returns back to his work. A blob of hand protruding from his main body and touching the pen to sign documents.
Hours later, the train yard was still going in full steam. Seemingly having no breaks for its undead crew even at the dead of night. The machines have no rest as the industrialization continues onward with an unrelenting might. Elizabeth’s nose then perks up. Smelling traces of blood somewhere from atop as the winter wind blew heavily. She turns around and looks up to one of the exhaust stacks of a nearby factory to see a lone man standing with what is seemingly a top hat. The only red warning light masking his slim figure.
Landing on Siding 14, a player wearing chainmail opens the container van.
“I have no idea what was inside of that thing, but it worked. Two sixteen year old pretty boys from the Noble. Right here.”
“Thank you. My Lady would surely be happy with this.”
“Payment?”
The man throws him a coin pouch which he opens, he smiles and nods. “Alright, take ‘em.” he drags out two young boys wearing a nobleman's outfit. Putting his hands on their shoulders, he tips his fedora and completely disappears right before the players eyes. “Damn Vampire players. Always the crazy ones. Alright, the rest of you. Follow me. We’ll drink to forget what we’ve done today!”
Miles inside the city, the Top hatted man makes sure the two boys are presentable and clean. Sneaking them into a Grand Hotel in Central and up the elevators with his own Staff Card. Reaching the 51st floor, he knocks on the lone door there and it immediately opens. He is greeted by two tall women wearing 1900s Royal Gowns and wide brim hats. “Oh my… finally. I’ve been starved for so long.” their eyes glow red as the top hatted man brings the seemingly blankly faced boys into the Living Room where they stood frozen.
“How much did you have to pay for these two?” The one wearing a red gown takes a wine glass and fills it. “Fifty Maximallus coins, My Lady.” already, the one with the blue gown takes one of the boys to her room. “Already? You should wait for me, you know?” The lady in the red then downs the entire wine glass and the two women enter the room with one of the boys.
Left alone, the man opens the door to the lobby and to the Janitor's room. Taking the Mop and Bucket. As he hums silently, his hair raises out of nowhere. Even though he himself felt no danger. His body was seemingly responding to something. He turns around to face the closed elevator doors. Quietly staring into its floor which was going up. Loud moans could be heard from the doors they left open and soon, silence. “Joach! Where are you?” The elevator stops at 35 and then goes back down again. “Ahem, here My Lady! I’ll clean it up immediately.” he enters the room once again, now with the two tall ladies all bloodied and their gowns almost revealing their chest.
“Haaaa… this one didn’t last at all.”
“I’ll drink more wine. Hurry will you?”
He bows. Closing the main door and to the bathroom where he fills the bucket with water and strong deodorant in his pocket. The long brown haired vampire licks her fingers and sucks the blood and flesh under her nails as she waits while the blue one continues to drink wine. All of the sudden, the two froze in place.
“You feel that Anne?”
The blue gowned woman with wavy long black hair wipes her mouth with tissue, though it didn’t help with the amount of blood that’s on her.
“Yeah… I do.”
With a quick glance at each other, they walked to the sofa and sat down. “Joach! Open the door for us.” The man then returns with a bloody mop and a bucket full of blood and guts. Walking to the main door, he swings it open just to be greeted with a blonde woman with the same height as the ladies he was serving.
She slowly lifts her right finger and points to her nose. “I smelled blood. The tastiest blood of them all, the blood of a young pure man who is well off.” She said it with such sensuality that everyone was just left amazed at her aura and the lust exuding from her presence alone. Walking into their room without care, she bends down with her left hand on her hip to look at the young man's face. With a blank and empty expression.
“I’ve come to ask you all a question.”
“If you wanna join us two, you can. I’d love to have the company of another beautiful specimen like you.”
“No. I am not interested in that. I am fulfilled enough. My question is… who did you talk to? To get this young tasty man in here?”
“Oh. And why should we expose our smuggler? Do you think we’re stupid?”
Standing up, Elizabeth walks around the boy and to the front of the sofa. With both her hands on her hips. “No. No I do not, but I am quite offended by this… presentation.” feeling her overwhelming presence, the two vampiric women fixed their posture and position.
“Who did you contact to get that boy in? Aren’t natives not allowed in this city? Oh, and does none of you know the Laws of Vampirism in this world?”
“...”
“No? The Laws the sole and only Kingdom of the Vampires implaced to prevent another Night of the Bloody Fangs to occur?”
“Let’s just say… he’s a good man and a medical practitioner.”
“Ah, a Doctor. Of course, and what does he need from your cooperation? Could it be… your blood?”
The two vampires' eyes perk up, their slits for eyes contracts and before they could stand up, Elizabeth was already before them. Both of her hands are just waiting to squeeze their throats. “TAHAHAHAHAHA! Do you whorish cretins dare to stand before me without my permission? Do not dare to oppose the might of the Blood Queen. How dareth thee taint the already broken reputation of the Vampires with such acts of insolence!” Joach on the other hand slowly slips away into the main room and presses his body on the door and on the knob as a scuffle could be heard. After some horrific screams and loud thuds. A knock comes into the door.
He slowly opens the door to find the large room full of blood and Elizabeth, covered in red liquid. “They told me you know who?”
“Yes Ma’am. The person is from Bedlam Corporation. He works for the logistics division. I am just… wow.”
Even with the horrific sight before him. The Vampire kept his posture and straight back. Though his eyes didn’t dare to look at Elizabeth’s golden pupils.
“Is this… the same Vans that arrive at night to collect materials for their potions?”
“Yes ma’am. They exchange the cargo into the normal box trucks headed to the Bedlam Tower in the Commercial District. They should be coming in the next few hours, they space it out so no one would immediately know it was them.”
“That is odd though. What is truly inside these vans?”
“Materials not allowed by the UN and…”
“And…?”
“People. To test on… they do the exchange a block away from Bedlam Tower. In an alleyway parking lot in Bran street. I think they’ve been contracted by someone, their CEO is quite a peculiar man who holds a grudge to the people of this land. He was kind enough to share that to us.”
“Good boy. I’ll be off then, I recommend you bring that boy back to his town. Those two won’t be eating anything soon.”
Opening the window, the woman leaves just like that. On the sofa were the two women standing frozen still. “Joach. There are some things in this world that are far more Evil than the Devil itself, Dracula and Carmilla would be jealous of that woman…”
Grappling the side of a warehouse in the Industrial Zone, the Crimson Vampire Bat looks at the alleyway parking lot. Only one van remained and a refrigerated box truck getting loaded with unmarked crates alongside what are seemingly Grunts and Foot Soldiers of the Corporation. The men all left with blank expressions like their husks. It quickly finishes and the truck leaves into the open street. Driving to the back of the Bedlam tower where the loading area can be seen with three other vehicles.
As soon as it turns into the back, one exits out and Elizabeth stands opposite of the building. Looking up at it as if she was staring down the structure's intimidating aura and the huge neon word “Bedlam Pharma - Owner of Bedlam Group” on its roof and the colorful blue and green light strips that run from its ground floor to the top. Giving much needed life to the darb gray concrete of its build. She sneaks into the back and armed guards with assault rifles and corporate uniforms stood await. CCTVs were also scattered alongside what she could feel was magic seeping at the level of one's knees.
A truck then starts up and points to the exit where she’s on. As the vehicle passes by, there is no one. Miles away on the Downtown Police Station, quadrupedal robots are helping rebuild it after the disastrous shootout in the Operators. Elizabeth walks in, brandishing her ID card to everyone that dares impede her walk to the top floor and to the Captain's office. To her surprise, Alana was there. Reading a Manga as the man got some coffee brewed.
“Oh. Another beautiful visitor. How can I help you?”
“Countess, I can see that you're done with your investigation.”
“Hm. I came here to look into Rivera. I was coming to visit the Dragon when I noticed a familiar looking poster on the staircase.”
“And I came here to look into him and the Mayor.”
The Captain then stops. “The Mayor? What does he have to do with any of this?”
“Do you know most of your city officials are involved with the Corporations and own stocks?”
“I know one. But not the rest, even the Mayor was one investigated for it. Found nothing. The City Councilor you attacked? She’s also pretty much out in the open with her having Shares in Corporations.”
Elizabeth then walks up to him, looking down on the man. “Tell me. Does he have any involvement with Bedlam?”
“Bedlam? The Pharma? No. Bedlam is one of the biggest producers of Potions and Gasses in the community. This is why I am really shocked that you women are looking at them. They’ve long helped the community and even us. But I understand where you're coming at, Miss Minuit here has been talking my ear out about their CEO and how strange he is. Doesn’t help his praying to a Dragon God known for its destructive capability. ”
“Things change Captain Hedon.”
“Geez, uhm just let me get Miss Minuit here her coffee and I’ll get you the files you want. Also, tell your General to calm his pecs down. There’s no virus or anything tampered in the system. Which is in of itself strange.”
Elizabeth then sits on the second visitor chair in front of his desk. Looking at the decorations of the Captain. He then gives the Countess her coffee and sips his. Going into his computer as dust falls on the corners of the office with skeletons doing construction work even to the cold night.
“Sorry about the place. They did a good job in this office most of all, heck. They didn’t even bother opening the door. I was killed when one of them shot the locks off and kicked my door in. I didn’t even get to react to how fast they were.”
“Are you aware of their gear and kit?”
“Yes madam…?”
“Just answer me.”
“Their kit is pretty much special forces if given any thought. They were wearing kevlar helmets and those black vests they wore had special anti magic properties. I didn’t get a better look as their green laser pointer aimed at my head but I’m pretty sure those guns were NSGWs firing caseless bullets. No trail for us to track and the cameras were already out when they went into the Server room. We don’t know what they did to it.”
“See Officer, I was attacked too. Yesterday, I faced those men again in a van.”
“Oh, so that was you? Yeah I had some officers check that scene. No bullets left or traces of anything. It looked like a freak accident except the roof was literally sliced open like a sardine can.”
Going through the police database, he spins the monitor around with two windows open. One for the record of the Mayor and the other one for the CEO of Bedlam. Elizabeth and Alana looked closely at the records, exchanging the mouse as they read through their files.
“Didn’t the army give you their files?”
“No. Only the bottom feeder ones for the cops.”
Elizabeth then squints even more as she backreads into the file of the Mayor.
“Hmmm… Captain, where did they went again?”
“Who?”
“The black uniformed soldiers.”
“To the server room. They were supposed to torch it I guess seeing they bought incendiary grenades with them. Fools, this is why we have a secret back up one in the Mayor's office. Ahahahaha!”
“I see… and could they have modified it by any chance instead?”
“Modified? What do you mean by this madam?”
“It's just a hunch but this doesn’t operate like they usually do. Why did they come here? Do you have anything that could be incriminating to the Higher Ups?”
“Let me see… the Investigative Department was after them but then the UNs Tax Bureau came in and took everything. There’s also the other fact that… this might sound like a Conspiracy Theory. But they might’ve infected it with a Sleeper Virus that only activates in a certain moment.”
“The Tax Bureau huh… Do they have an office?”
“They do. Back at the city hall, West Wing. They took everything about Fraud and Tax avoidance allegations.”
“Alright. Countess, do you wish to join me? As so it seems that we are reaching the pinpoint we’ve been looking for. I also have a lot to tell you on the way.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Hmph. I win.”
The two stand up, leaving the pages at the “Recorded Infractions” and Rivera having none and the Mayor, one fraud allegation that was saved as “Not Trialed”. Though the Moon and its satellite was already over the city, the two Vampires kept working. Returning to the city hall that’s now having its walls sandbagged and the storage rooms being filled with munitions. The hallway to the elevators even had an M2 Browning facing the entrance.
Looking at the shiny plague, the Tax Department was on the 4th floor with a 24/7 hour service marked on it. Not wasting time, they waltz directly to the floor and the office. Inside, they met with two players having a conversation. One being a woman with curly brown hair just below 6’0 having a conversation with a suited man that’s waving an envelope. The two look at the door and met eyes with the Vampires.
“Isn’t that the StateSec… Countess?”
“It is, Your Majesty. I think we all ended up in one place.”
“Interesting! Such interesting things! Oh I miss this. What a goose chase this has been. A wonderful game!”
“But Your Majesty, are you sure they’ll keep the end of their bargain?”
“Of course. They have something planned for that woman. Whatever it is, they want us to follow the trail.”
The woman then exits out the office of the man and crosses her arms as she faces the two.
“And if it isn’t the woman out of time, and out of place.”
“Hah. Some tone you have for a mere snack. I dare you to continue that attitude against me.”
“I know who you are, Queen Elizabeth Bartley. Ancient Ruler and Genocidal Dictator that took over the planet once with her Vampiric Undead Army in a spit of depression. I’ve investigated you. Don’t think I’ll let you walk so freely around this city.”
“Ah, good to know my name and achievements are remembered in such fondness. Now, step aside. I do not waste my time on those who dwell in my shadows. Stalk me all you want, I doubt much of my life has been recorded outside of the Kingdom.”
“Don’t. The Tax Department isn't willing to spill anything… not unless I get permission from my Higher Up.”
“Oh spicy. I like a good argument. Step aside mobile snack. I shall deal with this with my charms and words.”
“I told you, and they wouldn’t be able to help. The man they put in charge is more akin to a robot than anything else.”
“Hey! I can hear you, Director Kitter!”
“Hmph!”
The StateSec Chief then leaves. Leaving them with the man as he returns to his office chair. Waving for the two to come to his personal office. Entering it, the man instantly closes the shutters and the door. Performing one last check on the street outside and then sitting down, twiddling with his thumbs.
“Look, I guess you want me to spill the beans with the Mayor's taxes?”
The two Vampires looked at each other and then to the man, nodding silently.
“Well I can’t. Someone deleted all of it, I have no idea why, which is what has been bugging me. Grrrrrr… and here we were preparing a Hit Squad to kidnap the Mayor for Tax Evasion. I also fear that this Autorun Virus isn’t finished yet. Whatever those Black Ops goons did, they wouldn’t waste an opportunity to just delete some minor things from the server that everyone virtually knows of. This might have just happened to throw us off with StateSec.”
“Excuse my English. But the Tax Department has a Hit Squad for Tax Evasion?”
“Everyone here is armed and has magic. Of course we have our own SAT of sorts to deal with strong people. The Mayor himself is Level One Hundred. He isn’t to be played with.”
“And Bedlam?”
“Oh man, we HAD a shit ton of dirt on Bedlam. One of our Operators actually linked Longway to be involved! Imagine that, a Government Subsidized Transport Company is involved in this whole web of shit… thing is…”
“It was all deleted?”
“It was, but we have back ups don’t worry. The problem was if this was to leak out, it’d be a monumental shitshow for both them and us. We were planning on keeping these underwraps but they were faster... But something isn’t right… to go this far to just delete this? They could’ve easily sent someone from the inside to do it. But to use a Bioweapon? No. Something else has to have happened. We have hundreds of backups, for them to go this far… hmmm…”
Alana then stands up, with her hand on her chin as she looks out the window. Staring through the slits in the shutter as soldiers down below could be seen patrolling and guarding their alley and closed store.
“Even then, we can’t just remove them can’t we? The people voted for them and so if you were to do so…”
“It’d make us look very bad. Hence why I need to make sure all of the information I have in hand is facts, because if I start a trial now. It's assured that the city will be shaken, and I’m debating if it's worth it with how tumultuous the current situation is.”
“In these types of times do I wish to be back in a Monarchy. We’d have no problem removing bugs like this from the Kingdom’s innards. It’s like a cancer that you cannot remove because the people will get angry. Then, how long will it take you to prepare everything? I have someone who will remove these people quietly. But I need solid proof to show.”
“I can get it done in a day or two. That’s why my entire office is empty. I’ve sent everyone out to reinvestigate everything, look into their files and scour things once again. I’m sure they're up to something more. Why would they delete files that we have back ups of? They haven’t even tried to stop us. I fear that we’re already too late. They’ve done there part, and are now left behind for us to tear apart. If only I can link those two with solid proof.”
“I can actually help you there.”
“Hm?”
“As I was tasked in investigating Longway by M’Lord. I found out it transports containers from Bedlam, including those that are smuggled. As the train that was transporting them were also military ones. Giving them no question to get people in here. I also have dirt on a City Councilor and Bedlam Chemicals. If you need a strong connection, there it is.”
The man then stands up. “Tell me more. I’ll get my agents back here.”
“Wait, didn’t you already know of this?”
“The City wouldn’t let us. We had to perform a grueling five month investigation through papers and what numbers that didn’t match. That’s why we had to wait for so long. We were piling it up to make sure whoever Lawyer they hire wouldn’t be able to weasel their way out.”
“Goodness, didn’t that already seem like a red flag?”
“The Tax Department doesn’t really have that much power unless the City allows us to. That’s how we were kept in check.”
“Haaaaah… then prepare your Agents. Both of us we’ll be busy with our own things. We merely came here to further confirm our suspicions.”
“Hm. But this means the Terrorist Organizations have more people in the Government than we expected… tsk.”
After a long explanation to the Head of the Tax Department, his jaw dropped at what he was hearing. When Elizabeth and Alana concluded, he stood up straight and stared into the abyss.
“H-Holy shit… could it be that the Organization was behind this all?! The CEO of Bedlam, that young kid. I knew it was fishy but I didn’t know it was this bad! That means, we’ve all been played since the start…”
“More to add to that is that the Organization might be the one behind having that teeanger become the CEO of Bedlam. Wasn’t he wanted in Avaria with a bounty on his head? Could it be that their goals intersect somewhere that might lead to the both of them uniting together?”
Hearing this, the Tax Department Head had to put his fingers up his chin. His eyes then lit up and his expression in absolute shock.
“No… that’d be far too Evil. None of us even knew they were using people to experiment volatile Vampire blood on. We thought it was more of a scandal or fraud…”
“It’s a mere theory, but it all aligns, doesn't it? Both Bedlam and the Organization are working on the same Bioweapon, which are also interconnected now, using Longway to ferry materials and smuggling things they both need to further their objectives. One might want to take revenge on the Kingdom that put a bounty on him, and another, wanting to create chaos and instability so that they might be able to look for the Fountain of Eternal Life without anyone getting in their way… like General Jackson.”
“I’ll call the UN! You two go! This is big! Way too big!”
As the two Vampires were about to leave. The Tax Department Head turns his face as he was holding 1 on the Telephone. “Also, about Rivera, that kid. If what you're saying is true, it's not a mere bounty. The Wanted poster was about a powerful experimental Psychic that got away-” Alana turns around and slices a bullet as a window completely shatters and Elizabeth's head completely explodes as her hands throw a chair into the way of another bullet headed for the Tax Department’s Head. Alana looks at her and sees that her head isn’t rehealing but her hands gestures slicing someone’s head off. All of the sudden, the Tax man drags both of them into the hallway as he loads a revolver.
“Jesus Christ! That’s some bullet!”
Elizabeth opens her palm, her engraved silver .50 AutoMag V Heavy Pistol ready for action. She held it tight and near her chest even though the woman had no head and was bleeding from her badly blown neck.
“Do you know what it was?”
“Yeah, it's meant to be used against Vampires. Looks like they're gunning for the both of you. Miss Elizabeth! The game is on and there after you!”
“I shall take care of it. If I cannot kill him, then I shall distract him. Can you heal her majesty?”
“Yes. Yes I can. Give me a minute or two to undo the curse. Ah shit, I haven’t done this in a while.”
“Hm. Worry not, this shall be fast.”
Alana stands up and upon hitting the door, a sniper rifle pops out which she kicks upward and with a powerful punch. Blows the shooter a few meters back into the side of a desk. Donning a Black Ops uniform decked out in gear and not a hint of skin showing, the man slowly looks up through his blacked out goggles. Alana sniffed the air as she pointed her finger at him.
“Ah, it's you. Captain Benedict. We meet again, I believe M’Lord is somewhere else right now. You better run along and begone before Her Majesty awakens.”
“Good to see my Colonel’s lackeys doing more work than an entire Department in the matter of two days. How has he been? I believe he's been working for quite some time in setting up fortifications around the city.”
“I do see the humor in it. But his fine, M’Lord has a talent for being busy. More than I have since he is human.”
In the Hallway, the Tax man shivers as Elizabeth taps his shoulder and points at the phone on the other office. “What? I need to concentrate or I’ll start saying the spell out loud and they’ll hear us!” She then makes a cross with her hands and points at the phone again. “How can you even see? Can you even press the numbers?” The headless body of the Queen just makes a thumbs up and the man sighs as he rolls his bloodied sleeves. Bullets whizz past his head as the two battle it out inside their office. Large calibers of a sniper rifle followed by small ones from a pistol.
Outside, the skeletons get their squads together and prepare to storm the place while players just blindly run in. Zooming past the marble tiles of the City Hall as players working overnight rush to the exit. “CALL THE COLONEL! THE FUCKERS ATTACKED THE CITY HALL FOR A SECOND TIME!” on the third floor, East wing Tax Department. The entire place has been riddled with bullets as vehicles could be heard outside rolling into the street to respond to the shooting.
“You're quite fast for a human.”
“Of course. Unlike your Lord. I am not a hulking Knight Class. I’m an Assassin hybrid. I must say, real Vampires are way better than the ones we have.”
He then loosens his helmet’s straps as he drops the massive Denel NTW-20, with its barrel hot red and smoke emitting from its receiver into the floor and opens his palm. “Cosmos Waterfall.” an eye catching sky blue longsword appears from thin air, with seemingly small sparkling gems on its blade. As it slices through the air, it leaves a trail of thin vapor with it. Alana on the other hand unsheathes her own magnificent silver sword. A helicopter then hovers at the window, its searchlight gleams the two’s sword. One of great blue and one of an intense silvery shine.
Outside, the Bell 206 News helicopter that managed to be the first in the scene gets spooked by a low flying Mi-24 Hind. The heavy armored helicopter then turns around and starts flying into it. Forcing the civilian aircraft to wave off as it faces its frontal tri barrel gatling gun into the floor.
“Command, do I have permission to fire over? They're still in the Internal Revenue Service Floor.”
“Negative Rooster. Your bullets might bounce off into the neighboring civilian buildings. Just keep updating us, High Command received a call from the same floor and the units below currently clearing room to room. The big honcho plans to arrive.”
“General Jackson himself sir?”
“Yes, so keep us updated. He needs to know if their fight reaches another place. The man is coming and he is angry.”
Even inside the armored glass, the ringing of the swords clashing and bullets flying could be heard even through it. Inside the Tax Department room, Alana’s sword fighting was at the same level as the Captain. With his magical sword equipped and at the hands of such a high player level, he’d not only use his gun which is capable of firing enchanted bullets that can stop her Vampiric healing, but also a Ether Sword. Every time it’d slice through a desk, it’d leave with it a hot melting blue goop that seemingly distorts time and space itself.
Being quick in her feet, the Countess kicks entire wooden desks and chairs at him; forcing the Captain to constantly weave and not get a proper aim at her as he obliterates the oncoming debris with his sword and bullets. He then turns around, blocking the hands of Elizabeth whose fully healed and her eyes full of blood. Her hands were more than enough to start overwhelming the man as he used his gun to keep Alana far and at bay.
The Queen who had enough of him, punches the man straight in the guts. Throwing him into the office walls and bending his kevlar vest inwards. She then points her gun at him and fires a flurry of bullets which he slices as he starts dodging around the office, realizing he is far more than against the odds now, he rises from the dust of the crash wearing his player armor. The dark color of his outfit had also mixed into it a thick leather. With the only enchanted steel being his gauntlet, sabaton, helmet, and greaves which came from a Knight set. His cuirass being a more padded leather with steel.
“Round Two of the game!”
As he was about to clash with the two Vampires, a Death Knight appears using a Vampiric sword. Making him huff with surprise as its huge shield stops his blade. A woman in a funeral gown then appears. Checking the goop that’s appearing from the office furniture he sliced and tore apart. “Master, he has an Ethereal Sword.” The Black Knight then turns to look at her as his shield gets pushed down by the Assassins' powerful arms. “YA’ DON’T THINK?!” Alana, seeing the chance, kicks his shield. Giving him the push to throw the man and make space.
“Now Mister Benedict. Let’s finish this game. Tell your Boss that he can die in eternal hellfire for daring to use my feelings against me.”
Elizabeth stands next to the General with her greatsword and gun out whilst he stood tall with only the shield and the Vampire King’s Longsword on his hand.
“Stop this now Captain. You know what we’ve been through, this shit has to end now before we all die.”
“I apologize, Colonel. But not today.”
“Don’t you dare run from me, I never figured you for a coward.”
“Things changed sir. Right now, I am outnumbered and outgunned.”
“If you fucking run away. I swear-”
Before he could continue, the man cracked a magic stone and it dematerialized him. “Son of a bitch! I’ll have his head! That motherfucker!” He removes his helmet, looking around at the dust, asbestos, and destroyed furniture that filled the Tax Department room. “Ahhhhh… fuck. What a mess.” he lifts his helmet’s visor revealing his face under the scary Death Knight set he wore and looks at Alana and Elizabeth and gives them both a wide smile. “But, it worked. We forced them to make a move. Hahahahah, it takes one to know one as they say.”
“I may say that your plan was brilliant, My Lord.”
“So, how many mistakes did they make?”
“Oh, do we have a story, M’Lord.”
After telling the General the gist of everything. His face couldn’t show a bigger smile and immediately patted the shoulders of the two Vampires..
“Good work for both of you. Seems like you two really did it now. Ahahahahaha, I knew it. The fucker in charge of the Orginzation is just like me. Former military is just so predictable. Well, did we win the game?”
“My Lord, I think they know.”
“Guess so. The fact that they sent him and did that to you. They really tested the waters now. First Bahamut and then you, Elizabeth. Sheesh. Some balls they have.”
“M’Lord, I think we have to do this now and collect that tip we were promised.”
“Hm, give Bahamut the names. She’ll do the rest.”
“Leave it to me Master!”
As he prepares to exit. Elizabeth pulls him into her and bites in his neck. Sucking the man dry. “Hah… hah… hah… I apologize My Lord. But that bullet did a good number on me.” the General just gives a thumbs up as she sucks his blood.
Returning back to the apartment, the entire group immediately runs to the sofa and chairs. Plopping down tired as Bach in his pajamas walks out of his room yawning.
“Haaaaa… you guys are late.”
“Been busy ugh… Alana, Elizabeth. You two go first. I wanna sleep.”
“If you're gonna use hot water, be sure to wait for twenty minutes.”
“Eh? Why?”
“The sewers have been having a lot of problems recently.”
“Ah yeah. I heard that water was being stopped at some places right?”
“Yeah, they said it was due to the city teleporting into a different place. The gravity is off so the water is not traveling as it's used to.”
“Strange that it only got this bad now. What kind of core does Threa have to have an anomaly like that?”
The General then slumps down on the sofa and places his head on Bahamut’s thighs as she sleeps with her head up. “Well My Lord. I shall take a bath then.” all she heard was his murmuring as he buried his face on the Dragon’s legs and Alana on the other hand stretching her arms and heading to the kitchen, opening the cabinet and getting the pan. Bach sees that everyone was back to doing their thing and he smiles and heads back to his room till the General lifted his face.
“Did you vote for Mayor Cavall?”
“Me? I did.”
“I see… and did you know he had a record?”
“All of them has records, Jackson.”
“True. Shouldn’t have expected much from a bunch of players ugh. Do you know Cavall’s real life age?”
“No, but I think he's an adult. The way he speaks and moves. A kid mimicking an adult can’t do that.”
“Guess so. If he was… perchance removed. Would the people be angry?”
“Hm? Why? Did he finally get exposed?”
The shower then goes as the two talk. Muffling their words a bit while Alana starts preparing some food.
“Maybe.”
“Haaaa… well. If so, then he had it coming. But at the same time, he isn’t the only one.”
“How many people would get riled up and angry though, can you estimate it?”
“Alot since Cavall was one of the OG members of the Guild of Ervtes.”
“Yeah… guess so. You know, I should really go and send a letter to your Guild leader and have him return and sort this shit out himself.”
“Ahahahaha, Sir Ervtes is known to be a warmonger. I don’t think he’d come here unless the war reaches his precious modern city.”
“Guess so. Good night.”
His head then plops back down to Bahamut’s thigh which lightly awakens the Dragon. “Wah? Oh… Zzzzzz…” the two then sleep soundly on the sofa.