I was the misfit from the start. When I was younger, I developed antisocial behaviours as well as a degree of schizophrenia called “Controllable Schizophrenia” or “Faith’s Blessing”, named after the first person to discover it, William E. Faith. It might be a bit hard to find him as he is the one whose name was erased from the history. But I know that sap – far better than everyone who has ever lived – as he was my-
“Eh? Li! Where’ve you been lately? I haven’t seen you for a week now.”
“What goes around comes around”, eh? After the age of maximization, normal, 21st century jobs have become a rarity and a relic. But there are still uses for those set jobs, the highest paying ones at that. And I’m one of the few that have “normal” job – a job of a designer and also an accountant. And that, that is my officemate – Cecile E. Carnation – the one with nothing and everything.
“Well then, I now have just under a year to live. Can’t I catch some slack?”
A surprised but enthusiastic her says, “Well? Are you going to just sit there and weep like you’re dying tomorrow? How about this? I know you can’t get drunk but let’s just go to a bar and let your thoughts get out.”
I reluctantly agree with her as we go to a bar that both of us know is very “fun”. The bar itself is “13 Tailed Kitsune” of the 6th district that’s notorious for having no rules and boundaries other than to respect the owner.
The history behind this place is not an ordinary one as it has been there since the millennium’s turn. Founded by the pioneers of Corp. 51, it’s believed to have been a base of operation for assassinations as well as terrorism. But the truth be told, it never was one. It’s true that it was founded by the infamous Corp. 51 but it has never been used as their base of operation. It is, was and always will be just a bar. But a good bar nonetheless – even though it’s quite violent from time to time.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“So, why do you have only a year to live?” asks Cici.
“Do you remember my district’s doctrine – the one with not leaving anyone behind? Yep, that happened. It’s not your district’s doctrine but you won’t leave me, right?” I answered reluctantly.
“Well... What would you do if I do?” she asked curiously.
And without a second thought, I shed a single tear and said, “You will, won’t you?” And maybe for the first time in a long while, the tension in my chest spiked with a sudden piercing sensation. “F EAR”
“Eh? The one who has permanently engraved his mark as the Angelic Devil would cry in front of me? There is a tale about the one who died just because of him getting to see the devil’s tears. I might die with you if your reputation still holds.” she says playfully and caringly.
With her being almost the same, but the opposite gender, as me, she can easily comfort me in the most indiscriminate and devastating moments. I knew that but, before I could act on my emotions, a voice spoke from my back saying, “Your dream”.
“No, no, sorry, I’m an idiot for thinking you’d leave me. So, so, I know you won’t leave me either way, yes? At least you know my dream, mate. So, you know not to weep when fate gets me”, I make clear of myself. And as an apology, I pay the tab with the infinite credit that I have with her ordering a couple more whiskey.
The Corp. 51 is a place with all the exceptional – ill or not. As I wasn’t the one who’s the most suited to live, I was welcomed quite warmly. As the 51 is deemed to be a terrorist organization by the central government, it burrowed underground and became the management unit of there.
And somehow, I became one of the council members that manage the underground.
Unlike me whose info has just been erased, most of the members of the high council never had a history. As such, they are called the “16 A-non” or “Tailless Foxes”. They often receive assassination orders and other espionage missions as well as terrorist missions, but for the good. They are like me – they are the anti-perfection.