James and Charles crashed at 6:00 in the morning. They had such a good time at the bar, that they only left when the sun was rising. The morning showcased various flying cars leaving their apartments, the budding sun being reflected across the millions of glass planes on the various skyscrapers.
After making it back to Charles’ warehouse, they said good morning to Charles, frightening grandma before crashing inside in one of the floating cars that were being taken apart. The comfortable leather seating made the mind and eyes shut off at record speed.
When noon rolled around, the two woke up full of energy, they still chuckled and had bits of laughter from mere glances at each other. It was a night to remember.
James watched Charles work on his projects, which he planned to sell to the highest bidder and make some money.
I’m sorry buddy, your projects will have to be put on hold. James thought with a smile on his face, his figure back to being the calm and gentle martial warrior he was before, unlike the morning when he had long lost his headband alongside various alcoholic smells.
There was a self-made radio that tuned in to the main news station of silver city. Both James and Charles's favorite newscaster, Scarlett Rosewater.
However, one could tell that even she couldn’t keep her voice when reporting the news today.
“The… four conglomerates that control, or rather… had controlled, 50% of Silver City’s trade as well as the four biggest Underdark gangs… have fallen last night.”
It was a mere sentence, however, it was like a miracle to all of Silver City. The gangs were vicious, evil, and capable. The conglomerates were similar, just working in the light of day, unlike the gangs working in the dark.
“Even now, when asking the remaining gang members and even corporate workers, they all have no idea how it even started. The general understanding of the situation is that… the top brass of both business and gang, had started a war within a mere 6-hours. ‘
Investigators say It started when the electrical grid in the districts spiked 500% before experiencing turmoil for the rest of the day. Afterward, it was said that during dinner for each corporate boss, there were multiple attempts of poisoning both food and drink, furthermore, it was a high-quality forbidden poison that was capable of evading the six senses. Only when the damage had occurred too late did the corporations realize.”
The way the lady on the radio spoke was straightforward, her details were simple enough for the common man to understand and interesting enough to be entertaining for all.
Hah, she has even been on my trail before. Though I may be one of the lucky few who escaped her sight. James deliberated in his thoughts.
Scarlett Rosewater was one of the Silver City's most famous celebrities as well as the one most feared, she had connections to every anti-crime as well as investigation department in the entire city.
Hmm, if Gran is the watcher who reaps in the dark, Scarlett is the other side of the coin, the angel who watches in the light. James concluded.
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The calming and entrancing melodic voice of Scarlett Rosewood continued to come through clearly from the radio.
“This morning, the conclusion of the all-out gang and conglomerate war truly escalated when each of the faction’s most precious household items were taken, only to be found in the other’s glass towers by spies. With the leader’s crippled or even killed by the poison, the power was centered on ambitious leaders, causing internal and external conflict to be created. Assassins, gang members, and even office workers were sent to disrupt each other.
With the intention of not only getting the household item back for their respective factions, but also to gain merit to become something of a leader of the faction, it was estimated that 40,000 people had perished in combat or accidents during last night, and this figure isn’t coming from just Silver City but globally as the consequences of the corporate-war are incredibly far-reaching.”
James startled to chuckle, he had a bright smile on his face. If an average person heard the number of 40,000 deaths, they would be shocked and stunned, at least a little remorseful. Yet James felt as though he never felt better.
Finally, this will cause the later Eternal Faction War to be meaningless, the number of lives saved could be counted into the billions! I did it! I actually did it! James had a bright smile, his fists clenched, his thoughts loosening themselves slightly allowing the meandering ambition to come to his mind.
“HEY CHARLES!” James got up and shut his radio off, he walked towards his best friend Charles who was occupied still welding something together.
The bear-like man stopped and turned around.
“Wassup bro?”
“Want to grab some lunch?”
“Sure, let me finish this weld real fast, the muffler for the Xero X-12 is almost fully attached.” The bear-like man, Charles said.
“Got it Hound Dog.” James said coolly as he went to the side room where nan was.
Entering the large dark room, James saw dozens of screens depicting various locations, all cameras laid across not just the Blackmarket but some were hacked into traffic cams, business cams such as banks, and even other black markets.
I can’t believe her husband, my teacher, was able to hack the literal city, he was what made hideouts away from the marauding gangs possible. James said in nostalgia.
“Hey nan, I wanted to ask something and even mention something to you.” James said, his voice was gentle at first but his tone turned serious towards the end, though it turned more to a whisper out of Charles's earshot.
Grandma Teresa was sitting in a large comfy leather chair, she spun around and motioned James to sit on a bench that was against the back wall. The room was large, but it was full of TV’s other than that was a table, Grandma Teresa's chair, and a leather-topped wood bench slightly further back.
“What is it James?” Her voice seemed slightly rash, old age could be heard deep from within like an ancient turtle speaking from within its aged shell.
“I know you saw what me and Charles did last night.”James began.
“Charles and I, brat you're not a kid anymore, learn some grammar.” Grandma Teresea immediately corrected James.
Wha- damn. I still am weak in front of you nan.
James was stunned for a minute before he laughed out loud.
“Ahh, why was I worried nan, all I’ll say is the world is going to change, real fast and hard too.” James began his eyes soft as he cherished Grandma’s Teresa's cold stone look in his eyes.
“What are you talking about brat?” The elder tilted her head at an angle in confusion, an eyebrow was raised.
“The world… is going to end,” James said in a neutral voice, as if one was casually ordering water to drink at a restaurant.
“Huh?” Grandma Teresa's eyes popped open wider than he had seen in these past three months.
‘..
“This is going to happen…” James started to converse with Grandma Teresa, opening up about the secrets hidden from the big bear in the other room, he told her of his plan.
Hopefully, this will change your fate Nan, I know you have ambitions, even in your old age.
“Nan, if we do this, you’ll have a second chance, we will have a second chance… all of humanity,” James said almost in a whisper.
“How… do you know it will happen as you say?” Grandma Teresa asked with suspicion and confusion.
“3 months ago, I dreamt of it all, I saw glimpses of the future. You never asked but I knew you were curious why I had suddenly started working out and stopped hacking freelance… because I’ve seen it… lived it”
“...”
“A… lucid dream?”.
“You want me to kill four random ass people in a trial thingy because of a dream. I hate young people.”
Grandma Teresa raged and then shooed James away as he said yelling, you’ll see!