Savik walked towards the briefing on the night incident with a sense of impending doom. The darkness urged him to respond to the call right away, and he knew that any delay could mean the "Red Lanterns" would have had time to cover their tracks. But he arrived in time and was able to make some arrests and gather important information.
"Tell me everything," said his boss, Captain Stoev, as he stood by the window.
But it wasn't Stoev who drew Savik's attention. Sitting at the table, waving his hand to avoid attracting attention, was none other than the Moscow Governor-General, Prince Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov, the uncle of the Tsar.
"At your service," Savik clicked his heels like a character straight out of an adventure novel.
"Please, continue," repeated the prince, a small smile playing on his lips.
Savik stumbled for a moment, like a young cadet, before quickly regaining his composure. "My team responded to a call last night. We found three new members of the 'Red Lanterns' at the scene."
"Arabs?" Stoev asked for clarification.
"French," Savik replied. "Although it's becoming harder to tell them apart these days."
"What do we know about the vigilantes?" the prince inquired.
"Local residents reported that a couple of strangers took out the 'Reds'," Savik reported. "They were definitely not from around here."
"Are you sure?" Stoev asked as he flipped through the "Red Lanterns" file.
"There were traces of another 'Red' nearby, but he was also beaten and fled. He must have been one of their own. So, the vigilantes are most certainly outsiders."
"What does the report say?" asked the captain.
"Based on the strength of the impact, it appears that we are dealing with a tough guy or a bodybuilder. Someone very powerful. Preliminary estimates suggest eleventh grade," Savik responded.
"Our leader, Chubby, is only in the ninth grade. Are you sure about this?" questioned the prince, referring to the leader of the city's "Defense" team.
"It's not my opinion, it's the numbers," Savik clarified, lowering his head just in case. "But the stranger's strength is not the most alarming part. You should see the rest!"
With that, the lieutenant presented several pre-printed photographs to the prince and captain.
"Sores," gasped the prince.
"We immobilized and handed over the bandits to the Disease Control Center - there's suspicion of plague," Savik explained.
"Not something I want in my city," the prince clenched his fists. "From this moment on, your team will take over the 'Red Lanterns' case. The 'Defense' team will comb through the area and detain everyone who may have had contact with the infected."
***
"Why did you give those people those sores?" Arya asked. "By the way, they looked quite realistic. I didn't know you had that kind of skill."
"Well, it wasn't entirely my doing," I had to admit. "Valera designed the form for me, and then all I had to do was run the biological 3D printer. Once again, the dead rats from the warehouse proved to be useful for science."
"But why?" Arya asked, scanning our surroundings as we continued our night walk.
"So they'll work!" I protested. "We have police, aristocrats, corporations, and it's only our responsibility to deal with the gangs. If they believe they have contracted a disease, they'll stay away from our neighborhood!"
"Do you think they won't dare to touch them?"
"Let them touch them - they're made of rats. But everything else - the analyses won't be done instantly, and maybe by the time they'll bring some order."
"Wait!" Arya turned to me, her gaze piercing through me. "Are you saying that you did all this just to deprive me of prey? And who will we hunt then?"
"Those who are more serious enemies. Those who had the brains and strength to hide."
"Only cowards..." Arya snorted. "Then we have no choice. If they're going to clean up here tomorrow, we need to get our own right here and now."
I scratched my head. When I came up with the "Plague on Both Your Houses" operation, I didn't expect such a finale. Fortunately, Arya doesn't know where to find serious bandits or worse. Right? I didn't say it out loud, but the question was clearly written all over my face.
"Who knows," the orc snarled as she smirked mysteriously. "Let's go, pay a visit to some night guests. Maybe we'll get lucky and someone won't be too thrilled to see us."
As I walked beside her, a song about the wisdom of visiting in the morning played in my head, but there were no songs about night guests. It was definitely not a good sign. For a moment, the thought of leaving Arya alone crossed my mind, but it quickly vanished. It would be boring, and besides, the second reason was no longer important.
Arya led us down a darker street as we continued our walk. "Do you think we'll come across a whole bunch of igigs?" I asked, unsure if Arya was using a nickname for the local superheroes or if she was giggling.
"It seems like there aren't that many of them," I shook my head. "By the way, how are you? It seems like no one hurt you, but these guys can be dangerous."
"Igigs!" Arya snorted with laughter. "Dangerous? No, they're strong, but none of them train like a warrior. It's like adults who are used to fighting with children. But what are they against a real orc?"
"Still, they do fight each other," I reminded her. "They have some experience."
"I wasn't the only one studying this world; I was also preparing," Arya said seriously. "Our prisoner told me a lot, and I know how to pay attention to what really matters."
"What matters?" I asked.
"Do you know how many igigs on average die every year during what they call 'constant clashes' between corporations and gangs?" Arya's voice was low and serious.
"How many?"
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"Seven!" she roared. "Only seven a year! The rest either make peace or are simply arrested. So what serious fights can there be if no one fights to the end here?"
"I honestly didn't know," I replied, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. "I assumed everything would be available on the internet."
Arya shook her head in response. "There are some things that are simply known by everyone, yet not written down anywhere. If you want to truly understand the world, you can't just confine yourself to your home."
Suddenly, a realization dawned upon me. "Hold on a minute," I exclaimed. "You could have easily killed those three lizards, but you only stunned them and left them for me. Wasn't that your chance to show off your skills?"
Arya nodded in agreement. "You're right, I am tired of staying indoors, but I'm not quite ready to break any rules just yet."
I couldn't help but feel relieved that my words about avoiding unnecessary attention had been taken to heart. However, my relief was short-lived as Arya's next words caught me off guard.
"Be mindful of your words," she scolded me. "Next time, if you can't control yourself, write it down on paper, roll it up, and shove it up your..."
I cut her off mid-sentence, my attention drawn to a strange sound emanating from the nearby alleyway. As I peeked around the corner, my heart skipped a beat. Two pairs of legs were trampling through the puddles, moving in perfect synchronization. It was a thug and some hapless victim they were trying to rob.
"Leave her alone!" I yelled at the thug, trying to sound braver than I felt. My eyes quickly assessed his imposing figure, noting his sturdy build and massive fists. His bald head glinted in the moonlight, and the leather jacket he wore only added to his menacing appearance. In my previous life, I would never have dared to confront someone like him, even with my vast experience.
"Get lost, you scum!" the thug spat out with a chipped grin.
"You better leave," I replied, shaking my head and gesturing towards Arya, "or else my companion won't hesitate to give you a taste of her skills."
Unexpectedly, the orc interjected, "I don't think I want to fight right now." She bared her teeth, adding, "You started it, so you should finish it. Otherwise, you'll learn how to loosen your fingers."
She had taken offense! And what perfect timing to make it known. Women are always women, even if they are towering orcs from another world.
"Maybe we can discuss this at home?" I cautiously suggested, keeping an eye on the chipped thug as he pushed his victim aside and closed in on us.
"Nah," Arya retorted with a shake of her head, then gave me a shove forward. "You were talking about becoming a warrior today. So let's see what you're made of - not with your toys, but in a real fight."
As if that wasn't enough, the chipped thug pulled out a massive black rebar with a sharpened tip from somewhere behind his belt - the kind of weapon favored by the tough denizens of Moscow's backstreets.
***
Sitting on the rooftop, Grey Brother, a young mercenary, kept a vigilant eye on the streets below. He knew that his gang was supposed to pass through this route today, openly declaring themselves, and it was crucial that they went unnoticed until the right moment. Grey was confident that everything would be quiet on his stretch, but his thoughts were interrupted when he spotted Blue Whale, a guard he had fought with in the past, emerging from the secret nightclub "Happiness." Grey couldn't help but wonder what he was doing here.
Before he could come up with any explanations, the door of the nightclub opened again, and a client headed straight towards Whale. The client was a rich fool looking for adventure, but instead, the streets would take their toll again. Grey thought that this encounter would end quickly when the fool was cornered by Whale.
However, things took an unexpected turn when two figures emerged from the center of the street. They were dressed in expensive cloaks and exuded confidence. The bigger of the two was undoubtedly a fighter. Grey wondered if the fool had protection, but the strangers did not seem to be in a hurry to fight. The smaller one demanded that Whale let go of the girl, and Grey could sense the tension from the former mercenary as he assessed the situation.
Whale, on the other hand, seemed to be used to dealing with rich weaklings and didn't back down. The big stranger decided not to interfere, perhaps wanting to teach his little brother a lesson. Grey pressed himself against the rooftop, eager not to miss anything. Whale approached the smaller one quickly, not giving him a chance to react, but the smaller one managed to pull himself together, displaying a wolfish, slippery step that made Grey tense up. Even though Whale didn't intend to play along, he didn't have time to react.
The ex-mercenary maintained his forward momentum as he advanced. He wielded his armature in a deceptive motion, only to be met with a surprise counterattack. The Whale had been waiting for this, observing the barely visible black steel in the cover of the night, before throwing a handful of black ground pepper directly into his enemy's eyes. It was a cheap but effective trick, though the small one was protected by an unexpected shield.
"Ten cents for pepper, a hundred dollars for a partial recharge of the defensive field," Grey assessed the situation for both sides.
"You think just because you have money, you can do whatever you want, you rich degenerate?!" Whale snarled, leaping back to create distance and spinning his armature like a staff.
His swift and effortless strikes rapidly depleted the small one's defense, causing it to flicker within five seconds. Grey believed that Whale’s experience would help him finish the fight, but the small one had one more trick up his sleeve. He threw a grenade at the feet of the former mercenary, who was slow to react but ultimately deflected the explosive away. The resulting flash of light illuminated the rich fool huddled on all fours, clutching her bag tightly and scrambling away.
"I'll rip out your heart!" threatened Whale.
"What if I'm a girl with no heart to tear out? Will you let me go?" taunted the small one, reducing his protective field to his face to hide it from view.
"I'll put it in and tear it out myself," retorted Whale, keeping his cool.
The small one hurled another grenade at the enemy, prompting Grey to assess the situation. Despite the stranger's lack of preparedness for a night walk, they seemed well-equipped for battle. Whale expertly blocked the grenade and followed up with a powerful strike to the stranger's ribs using his armature. Although the blow sent the stranger flying a few meters away, Grey was surprised to see that the stranger managed to stay on his feet and only rubbed his protected ribs.
Grey couldn't help but calculate the small one's expenses for this fight - a full shield recharge costing 1,300, two grenades at 50 each, and combat armor of at least second class at 5,000. Despite the costs, the small one managed to hold his own in the fight, and even someone with deep pockets would have struggled to do the same.
As Whale and the small one continued to fight, the small one suddenly pointed out a naked woman behind Whale. Although Grey wasn't particularly interested in naked women, he couldn't resist taking a quick look. This distraction gave the stranger an opportunity to strike, and he landed a swift blow to Whale's chin. Grey estimated that if the stranger had more weight, it would have been a clean knockout.
However, Whale shook it off and retaliated with a powerful hit that sent the small one flying into the arms of his partner. Despite receiving a live projectile to the chest, the partner remained unfazed.
Grey tried to catch a glimpse of the stranger's face, but it was obscured by a gray mask. He speculated that the stranger may have been a member of one of the Triad families who sent their heir to the Empire for training.
The small guy displayed remarkable Eastern cunning as he deftly retrieved an artifact wand from his belt, which Grey estimated to be worth at least twenty thousand. Whale, on the other hand, grew tense as he sensed that the situation had escalated far beyond what could be expected from a typical street fight.
"Hey, kid, hold on," Whale, the former mercenary, raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I think we can still work this out..."
"You guessed wrong," the small guy retorted as he threw the wand forward.
Grey tried to discern what elemental magic was concealed inside the wand. Fire, water, earth, or air - they all felt distinct even to the weakest of igigs. However, this wand contained a non-standard element that Grey had not encountered before. He managed to double the estimated value of the artifact, but it only triggered the release of ordinary ropes that flailed in all directions.
Grey lowered the value of the artifact in his mind as it was an obvious DIY with poorly calculated potential. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that it was forgivable for a newbie to create such a device without prior experience or their own spark. Whale chuckled at the uselessness of the trap as the ropes merely embedded themselves in the alley walls with sharp hooks on the ends, far from touching him.
"You're done for!" the small guy declared as he lunged towards Whale.
But at the last moment, he unexpectedly activated another artifact that revealed his prowess. It was a lighter that produced a stream of flames behind him, allowing the small guy to swiftly slice into the former mercenary. The impact threw Whale back a couple of steps, landing him on the still-taut ropes that stretched in different directions. The moment Whale touched them, the ropes immediately fired back, contracting and twisting Whale's arms and legs.
"One - zero in favor of the new friendly neighbor!" the small guy raised his hand triumphantly and laughed.
Grey slowly backed away, realizing that the fight was over and there was still time before the gang arrived. It was best not to draw attention to himself, so he decided to keep a low profile. The strangers had nothing left to do here and would leave on their own. Although knocking them out would be more reliable, Grey didn't want to engage with strangers who were laden with artifacts like Christmas trees and throwing around money like virgins in a strip club.
Suddenly, Grey flinched when the large stranger looked up and locked eyes with him.
Reacting quickly, the young mercenary dodged out of the line of fire. He heard something whistling, and instinctively turned his head to look up, but it was too late.
A thought flashed through his mind, "He threw it with force..." as a massive stone hit him on the head, knocking him out.
***
As I turned around, I proudly exclaimed, "One-zero!" to Arya. It had been a challenging fight, with our opponent being an experienced and skilled fighter. However, my prior preparations had paid off, and I was able to withstand his attacks and even managed to defeat him, despite being in a child's body.
Arya approached the nearby wall, retrieved a block of fused bricks, and threw it up onto the roof, causing a sudden scream to resonate from above. Everything quickly fell into place as we spent the next few minutes collecting our loot. I disguised the defeated robber's wounds, leaving him be, while the girl who had the purse vanished without a trace. Meanwhile, the guy on the roof had a surprise in store for us.
Suddenly, the radio on the defeated bandit's belt crackled to life, with someone's rough and sharp voice demanding that we confirm the situation. Arya and I exchanged a glance before I leaped towards the fluffy-cloaked body, quickly searching for and retrieving the phone from its pocket. Valera worked his magic and hacked it within seconds, revealing notes with codes for the day and examples of voice messages.
Once the radio spoke again, asking us to confirm the yellow-two code, I was ready. My voice changed to mimic that of the defeated scout, and I replied, "Grey-eleven, code yellow-two, negative. I repeat: negative. Code green-five with transition to green-one."
The radio fell silent, and Arya and I exchanged another glance, knowing that we had successfully completed our mission.