Janna shot a look at Lady Romanov. Her eyes dulled. She did not have the usual expression. That feisty and annoyed demeanor she sported when she was around Gaston.
“Now this is the face that I have. You do change a lot when he’s not around.”
“Did you call me for this?”
“Wow, how awfully irritated you are today.”
“I don’t like talking about non-related problems.”
Lady Romanov smiled. Janna calmly stared at the Lady. Her eyes reflected her.
“You do act more professionally when your partner is not around. No, don’t glare at me like that, I mean your family. I do find it fascinating, you three are quite something. I should have hired you two before you turned yourself into employees of the Consortium.”
“The task?”
“So urgent. Talk with me, Forster.”
Janna blinked. She sat on the chair and folded her arms.
“Fine, but you must also understand that I don’t talk easily.”
“Aww, you were when he was around.”
Janna snorted. Lady Romanov leaned forward.
“I’m always interested in strong individuals. You two are quite interesting to me.”
“That so?” Janna snorted. “Are you going to ask us about bioelectricity readings then? How we don’t stock up on ichorium? Please, you’re not the first one, Romanov.”
“Oh my, is it no longer a secret?”
“It isn’t if you pay those fools enough. Not that they’d bother. Exemplars are ‘inferior’ to the Breakers, isn’t that what they say?”
“Perhaps, but you two are natural. It is something that would be quite something to have.”
“Not really. The Breaker formulas can still be improved. Maybe it’ll take years, but it will. Not that it matters. The world got what it wanted when they had Exemplars dissected. You could find yourself a mutate for all I care.”
“Indeed, those abominations do show promise. Mutation is a dice roll and creating the perfect Exemplar happens only by chance. Just like some of the Breakers have superior strength and others can produce fire by using their ichor as fuel. The difference is quite something, don’t you think so?”
“Maybe. Not that I care about it.”
Lady Romanov shrugged. She behaved as if she had temporarily given up on asking Janna something.
“What do you think of the current state of affairs, Miss Forster?”
Janna blinked. “Could be better.”
“How so?”
“I should be asking that.”
Lady Romanov nodded quietly. She pressed a button on her desk. Revealing a hologram presentation. In the presentation there was information on the state of affairs. The resolution of nations summarized neatly to digestible parts. And opinions on what they should do to prevent what happened in Japan. Janna found their actions and ideas somewhat abhorrent. If anything they were pushing the idea of enforcing a state-mandated filtering system.
A system that prevents any breakers from using their powers unless they are ‘permitted’ to do so. It was a system similar to the disruptors, but was much more limited to prevent.
“Cuffs again?”
Lady Romanov pressed next. The slide describes a module that would be attached to the bracer of a breaker which would be the receiver, allowing the system to designate permission.
“Easy to understand where they are coming from. Too bad it wouldn’t be easy to pass it. Considering how many regulations that we have already.”
“Are you going to?”
“Of course not. It is unpopular despite the recent problem. There is rightful concern, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is unpopular.”
The restrictions could cause problems. The idea is built on placing disruptors on specific points of the area where they would be targeted by a filtering system.
It was a system that could be used against the breakers. To tame them even further.
“Are they going to run it?”
“They might. But we know that it wouldn't be easy. There are problems with the disruptor system in the first place. It functions by cutting off and dispersing the ichor on the surrounding area. It also disturbs the Breaker, ichorium-based engines, cutting off their supply of Ichor. There was a reason it didn’t work in the Americas. Not that they would be able to cuff them in the first place.”
“So it’s getting brought up again.”
“Restrictions have always been around. The world has ended already and we are still in fear against the threat of a nuclear fallout. Difference is that this time there is another worry.”
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“Is this about the cult?”
She shrugged and relaxed on her chair.
“The Cult’s actions have been successful. They were fully prepared, patient, and were direct in their threats. They didn’t care about manifestos or reason themselves in front of the world. They did what they wanted, got their results, and left.”
They didn’t want to rule the world. They didn’t want the world to fear them. They did what they did for their own goals. Not for anything other than to reach the desired outcome.
Janna feared the cult for that. One Cultist isn’t a threat, but them working together for their shared goals made them a collective monster that two nations failed to fell.
“This wouldn’t change anything.”
“It doesn’t. The system, if implemented, will be a bother, but we tend to make gear that resists these disruptors. The newest version is a problem.”
Janna sagged her shoulders after Lady Romanov stopped speaking. “So? Only called me to inform me of this?”
“You already know this. If anything, I’m thankful that you are taking his place at the moment. You are a reasonable woman, Forster. You know how to benefit both sides. Now, I’m not saying that he is inadequate, but it is hard to scheme against a man who you don’t know if he’s well-connected or truly just acting out a singular role.”
Janna leaned forward. Eyes digging a hole in the Lady.
“If you want assurance. Talk with the UEDF and the Earthside Consortium. You are the lioness of your company, they’ll listen to you.”
“Oh, they will. But I don’t like working without an assurance. So it would be quite assuring to have someone of your rank and influence speak with me.”
Janna shot a dull look and rested her hands on the desk.
“I worked in the council of the UEDF. There are a lot of fools and smart individuals in it. Some are ambitious. Some are always subtle. Some are scheming. I noticed those who are confident tend to not care about what they say. You speak like this because you are already confident. That I’d follow every step? Gaston, he doesn’t care, he couldn’t care less about schemes. He does his work, even going an extra mile if needed to. You understand what he wants and what I want. Thing is, that I’m not as tolerant as Gaston. You have nothing to offer me. We both know why you kept us both, but you also know that we don’t follow you simply for the benefits you try to offer us.”
“I know. That’s why I’m trying to be as friendly as possible. I’m not implying that you two to lick my boots and bark for me. Cooperation, Miss Forster, I don’t believe that there are people in this world who do things for no reason.”
“And I should say it simply. I don’t want to be part of what you’re trying to play. I’m here as an Adjutant for the Earthside Consortium, while also representing the United Earth Defense Force. Do you want to solve your problem? Then please, do it yourself.”
Janna said plainly without tone in her voice. Lady Romanov got the clue and shrugged. She pressed a button on her desk and moved to the slide to the next problem.
On the slide was information regarding the disruptors and the recent increase of biomass entities signatures on European Nations and on the borders of China. There was a manhunt for every suspected Cultist. Even those who are not involved with the Sitra Ahra Cult are hunted, questioned, and tortured for any relevant information.
“Intelligence Agencies have not been saying anything. Most of them are quite humbled. You’d think that a group who should be the one keeping an eye on these fanatics would be the first to detect that there is something else going on.”
Janna folded her arms. Her eyes remained on the slide. Lady Romanov continued.
“Some say that most of them have been compromised. Others think that there is something going on. It’s hard to believe that the world-renowned agencies would have a hard time detecting them… that is unless.”
“That they are supplying them? Hoping to get something?”
“Perhaps, you do know that there are many who have been interested in the cult for a long time. It’s only in recent events that they became the number two enemy. Is the Cult a legitimate worry? Of course not, but after they transported that BEHEMOTH and made that big explosion. They are. Every nation has become interested in their tech.”
Janna remained unpleasant. Lady Romanov closed the presentation and sat across Janna with fingers interlaced. There was a cold threat seeping out of Lady Romanov. But Janna wasn’t the kind to be simply intimidated.
“I really like you, Janna Forster. Much better than Gaston Hardy. You are a woman who draws the line clear. I love that about you.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but I assure you that I say this to every fill de puta that tries to do so. We already agreed on something, remember? That we will look the other way when we can. Not do your work for you. What happened here was simply for the best interest of the three parties. The Consortium, the UEDF, and you had a problem that needed extra work. I assure you that it wouldn’t happen again unless there is a need for it.”
“So is that why you sent him? I didn’t think that he’d know Lionel. Mr. Hardy is quite connected.”
“Why wouldn’t he be? My Gaston has been working with a lot of people since he became a Freelancer.”
“Seven years as a Freelancer with minimal record of combat. I guess that he’s more fond of paperwork. I do wonder whether he’s interested in taking more active roles. Then again, he accepted this urgent task that sent him somewhere.”
Lady Romanov breathed in and out.
“I need you to act as my assistant in the next few days. We will keep the agreed arrangements. The rest of the days will be quite hard. Interviews, Q&A’s, and negotiations regarding the ichorium that we acquired while harvesting the BEHEMOTH and the biomass entities. We’ll also have to make sure that the mining rights that we’ve gotten before the event remain intact. You’ll be with me during the bid for the organs as well. Have you been to an organ bid, Miss Forster? Ah, of course you have, so be prepared for it.”
Janna stood up.
“Anything else?”
“A shipment will be coming later. It will contain the replacement gear for the cubs.”
Lady Romanov fished out a document. Janna took the document, scanned it, and then glared at it.
“Mortimer, huh.”
“Yes, what about it?”
“I guess business is business.”
“Of course it is, there is no rule saying that I can’t. And Mortimer’s goods have been quite high quality lately.”
She took a metal container from somewhere and placed it on the table. She unlocked the safety mechanism and took out a crystal that radiated with an unearthly glow.
It was an ichorium crystal no doubt. But it was purer than anything that Janna had ever seen.
“An Ichorium Ore that had reached an unusual level of purity. A ‘friend’ sold it to me, Miss Janna Forster.”
Janna grimaced. A victorious smile appeared on Lady Romanov's face.
“What do you want from me then?”
“Like I said, Miss Forster. I only need you to be my assistant while the Adjutant is away and be around while I do some personal dealings. Do we have a deal?”
Janna inhaled quietly and nodded her head.