"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: March 1090
Location: Somewhere in the badnds between Bolivar and Columbia.
POV: Narrator
“Get yourself sorted, please do not bring anything that will weigh you down.”
“Children and elderly first, be patient people.”
“I understand, we will do our best to facilitate your needs.”
“We got a wounded here, medic, come here quick!”
“On it, goodness me…”
“The evacuation route has been established, but we will need more time to prep the trucks.”
“I just got word, that a squad of Bcksteel PMC should arrive soon.”
“I want 2-by-2 perimeter control to keep the beasts out. Also please get in touch with Nyx and ask if she could spare some of her time.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“We got an infected having a seizure, get the hazard prevention team just in case!”
“Please make way, stay calm, and follow our direction, alright?”
A female vilger was about to slip off her footing, but a pair of hands secured her and pulled her back up. Others are trailing behind her, and to say they were holding their breath was an understatement. The rescued girl is in shock, but her rescuer frees some time for pep talks.
“Careful there, girl. We got a journey to go, and don’t worry we’ll get you out.” The Rebbah made some preliminary checks to ensure she suffered no wound. He is gd that she is fine and proceeds to start helping others, however, the female Perro couldn’t stop staring at the vilge 4 kilometers away.
“B-but our vilge…” Her voice is heavy, somber, and disbelieving. The fate of pioneers that she learned from passing newspapers turned all too real. The woman’s expression made him gaze sadly, for he understood the pain inflicted by Catastrophe. That same pain is what propelled him to be what he is, to spare others from complete despair.
She is not alone, many couldn’t help but weep as their lives are gone just like that. Years of taming the nd, tilling the fields, and breeding domesticated beasts ended up without any payoff. It is also very concerning how the frequency of Catastrophe has been increasing all these years.
“I’ll see what I can do about that, but first you should get with your family. Calm down first, and then talk with the medical officer if you have any concerns, ok?” A good lie is a preferable balm. Not commendable by any stretch of the imagination, but when the very earth itself wishes you dead, an interpretation is not out of the question.
Her rescuer pointed towards a small group of people consisting of 3 people. They looked at her with concern, and that was enough to cast her hesitance aside, at least for a while. Other than him would be a few others keeping guard and rescuing those falling behind. They all came from all walks of life, and they battled upon an invisible and invincible foe.
[Heads up, we got words that Catastrophe’s signature is going unstable.]
“We can see that, can you work on the transport faster?”
[We are going as fast as possible. The designated safe zone by the Grey Serpent is just 2 kilometers away from your location.]
“It would help if she came here. Heard she could haul up a lot. By that I mean a fuck-ton of a lot!”
[She is busy with construction. Lady Baroness said that she is working her ass doing a 40-men job. Cut her some sck else you want the refugees to sleep in the cold.]
“Copy that HQ, thanks for the update.” He gnces towards the grim and despondent crowd. Their entire life would soon be wiped clean off the map. These people had just gotten back on life, and where did it lead them? He shakes that thought off from his mind.
“How many had been evacuated again?”
[14 vilges, we are doing much better this time around and that means more people as well.] Another team could be heard interjecting their conversation.
[Luckily, not all of them are pioneering vilges. Thank god for the nomads…]
“Yep, good thing that traveling nomads are the norm around these parts, but also fucking hell the timing couldn’t be worse. What are the chances that multiple nomads entered the same region?”
[It wouldn’t happen if those goddamn Columbian and Bolivarian aren’t too busy fucking each other in the ass. Only after they have enough waving and sucking off one another, they then focus on saving their people? You got to be joking]
"Heh, ain't that right?" He smiled grimly while casting a gnce at the sky. He witnessed how the telltale darkness due to Originium's reaction spread like infectious smoke. HQ had determined that a rain of meteor and possibly acid would fell upon the designated zone. The need to quarantine a rge area has been considered due to the lethality airborne contaminant.
There are many such vilges with little jurisdiction in the Badnds despite being beled as Columbian. This particur group just so happens to be found by a traveling group of catastrophe researchers under the auspice of Catastrophe Messenger. What should have been a simple research turned into an all-out disaster.
Calling upon any avaible personnel, the CMs do their best in this thankless and often bmed-upon job. Rarely did anyone among CM that entertained their duty to be heroic. If they looked for heroism, then joining PMCs or being a pencil pusher is much easier. Here? It couldn’t be understated that Catastrophe Messengers never take their creed lightly. To save just one more person is not just a job, duty, or even the morally right thing.
It is a basic form of collective survival, who knows from these rescued people there will be those who make their mark on the world? It could be good, it could be bad, but their concern is rescuing those in need. Switching his channel, he contacted the SAR team that pulled double duty as a scout.
“Scout team, how long till the first wave strikes?” Their commanding officer is coordinating an evacuation of vilgers from the affected catastrophe area. There are hundreds of people being guided by less than a dozen Catastrophe Messenger and able volunteers. They are racing against time due to the unpredictability of the Catastrophe itself. Sometimes it is just a brief storm or mirroring an apocalypse that sted for days or even weeks.
[This is the Scout team, the sensor indicates we would have 10 – 20 more minutes before the sky starts raining on our asses. Break. I got Langley to scoop out ahead through the hidden path, he said the situation was grim by the river.]
“Tell him to evac who he can, I’ll fetch the stragglers myself. Also, get to the next point and keep trying to contact the supply team.”
[Already did, Sir. We got little to no response so far, possibly being stuck near the valley since the temperature indicates it’s going to be a big one, and stly, I heard a few people still stubbornly heading for the mine.]
“What was the weather’s team assessment on that ginormous cloud of minerals above our heads?”
[Possibly meteor shower, the density of Originium is spiking up high in the air. If we insisted on staying too long here, we would be toast and so are the people.]
“Roger, keep a good watch out there, out.” With the evacuation expedited, there would be a few unfortunate souls left behind. Not due to neglect though, the rescuers are mere humans themselves.
[Copy that, we’ll keep our eyes peeled.]
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“Ok, go! Quickly take every valuable you can find, finders are keepers so don’t be shy!” A suspicious-looking Feline and at least 20 or 30 Terrans are swarming the recently abandoned vilge with undeterred steps. One would be right to deem a bunch of unwashed criminals that have been doing this exact stunt before, but their appearance and equipment left much to be desired of such an accusation.
Tattered robes and cloaks or even just a cloth are all they have for their body. Rusty steel and stumpy sticks are their primary means of defense. Makeshift slings or crossbows and bows, with rusty arrowheads of steel or stone. Tattered bags made of leather or dried grass become their lease to cim whatever spoils there are. Poor and starving beasts as their companion sniffs through the vilge for anything, suffering the same way their owners did. Not to mention their clear ck of discipline or coordination where everyone just conglomerated into a hodge-podge team.
They start breaking down doors, windows, and even the weakened walls to gain forceful entry. Once inside they start ransacking the room and kitchen for anything usable. One or two could be seen rummaging through the drawer to find something more comfortable, or at least humane, to wear. Books and the like were thrown aside since they held little value for them.
Jewelry that could be found was pocketed. Knives and other bded, sharp, or at least robust, objects were taken into their makeshift rucksack, along with clothing to share with the group. They survived together or died together, and the chance for otherwise is abysmally lower than their current situation. While the buildings are being looted for anything useful.
A few made their way to the farmnd. These people made their way straight to the messy garden or trudging through the muddy and hastily ditched farmnd. A lot of half-ripened crops made the majority of their spoil, but that doesn’t deter them one bit. These desperate criminals separate into groups of two or just go on their lonesome.
Those who have pangs of hunger cannot bear to hold it any longer and start eating the crops even with dirt and earth clinging to them. Taste of fresh carrots or potatoes overwhelmed their emaciated taste buds. There was never a sliver of thought given to how dangerous it was to eat potato raw, but they don’t care.
Their ravenous desperation is just one of many everyday sights in a nd where w is nonexistent. Especially with these folks who often than not are sporting bckened crystal etched onto their body. Becoming infected is a fate worse than death for the majority of Terrans. Sure it might grant them power beyond imagination, but there are more cigarette lighters than there is a fmethrower.
Burdenbeasts, fowlbeasts, steedbeasts, and some finbeasts are trembling within their confines, some tried to bash open the barn, terrified of the upcoming death. Their animal instincts have been crying for survival and pleading for a way out. A chaotic mix of noises from thumping, bashing, and steps does not deter the plunderer from trying to tame these poor creatures.
Yet fate proves to be fickle and petty. Crackles of thunder and crying of the earth rumbled above. This is their st warning, and refusing to leave after that would result in a painful death. Roaring gales of noises and differences in atmosphere heralded the arrival of camity.
That brought them back from their self-absorption. Pale faces, trembling bodies, and the cold touch of mortality remind them of human fragility and weakness. For all their desperation and desire to feed and survive, the Grim Reaper is still the most potent drug of all.
“Everyone starts packing, come on!”
“Fuck we found some underground storage but could-”
“Then we have no time, scram back to the hideout!”
“… Dammit!”
“Wait, someone is missing!”
Apparently, the Catastrophe unpredictability reared its ugly head. The drizzles turn into an ever-expanding storm, and from the storm came the sizzling heat of boulders falling from the sky. 14 or so who had made their way out were not spared from the birth of camity. Once it impacted the ground, a rge aftershock shook the nd and tore the earth asunder.
Pnts were burnt to ash, and the roots and stems were bathed by the scorching wind. Buildings and manmade structures were bashed into the ground and rooted out of their very foundation to be shipped unto nothingness. Water and liquids evaporate like a drop of water touching a flood of magma. Carcasses were cremated, encased by ashes, and blown to where fate shall take them.
The crash of molten heat and votile substances created an illogical phenomenon where the nd was burnt into ash. Such a level of heat ensured the soil to be burnt into gss yet the gss was soon subsumed into bckened soil. This tainted soil is the very blessing and curse upon this blighted world.
Originium.
Its tendrils spread across and are blown by the wind to tch and grow. It gathered, absorbed, and assimited the deadened nd into a whole new existence. The beating heart of Terran’s technology and cruelty. To power and propel this nd unto the next age under its bloodied thread of bck crystal.
Those who survive don’t have the luxury of mourning, they take the risk and this is their payback. The leader stared longingly at her lost comrade, but she pressed onward. Leaving them to be broken down by the accursed crystal into a prospect of harvest soon enough. She was just about to continue walking back to their dwelling, but she felt tremors underneath her feet.
A series of rge explosions engulfed the valley, and magma spurted out towards the vilge. She was knocked off her feet, along with many others with 2 or 3 suffering misfortune of injury. Expression was aghast, this was the first time they had seen differing catastrophes struck back-to-back.
“W-What in the world?”
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“This is Volen Team Lead, the artificial veins worked. We could continue with the pn, out.” Another group has been watching the situation from afar. Gadgets and advanced devices could be seen around their temporary station. Several crates worth of weaponry and supplies were tucked neatly on their transport.
[Copy that Volen Team Lead, with this advancement we are stepping ever closer towards equilibrium, we just need to ensure that things go swimmingly from here on out.] A voice could be heard coming through his terminal. The tone, rhyme, and even the inflections are ft. Robotic but with human qualities, cold but also compassionate.
This group made up of uniformed personnel and scientists is watching over the valley. They had scrubbed any form of identifiable sigils and watched the firework of death with either indifference or intellectual glee. Reports and data were gathered, compared, and soon sorted for cataloging. Knowledge is power, and power is expensive.
After sorting out a few details, the commanding officer of this group asked their handler about the refugees and CMs.
“Sure thing boss… then what do we do with the Catastrophe Messe-”
[Leave them alone… The Grey Serpent has her eyes on them.] The mention of that epithet brought shivers down his spine. His bravado to just keep things quiet was flushed down the drain when that name was uttered.
While there are still those who think of her as a simpleminded and greedy beast, the Grey Serpent’s might is very much real. She is not someone to be messed with, and there would be little reason to provoke her. The Pythia is the furthest thing from a hero, but a vengeful angel is what she would always be when given enough reason to raise her banner of hostility.
“U-understood, should we pack early?” He was a soldier once, then a mercenary, and was given a first-hand showcase when Nyx ripped apart Scaled Tuskbeast barehanded. No way in hell he would try to cross a woman like that, nuh uh.
[Good idea, I’ll be waiting in Max DC. After you’re done, head to Dossoles and contact our asset.] The terminal was turned off soon after, and there are only statics. The Team Lead sighed before smashing his communicator into pieces.
“Alright, folks, start packing up. Get the package sorted out and soon we will be vacationing in Dossoles all year round.”
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POV: Nyx
“This is unusual…” What the hell am I looking at? Taking in the sights once more using binocurs, I watch as Originium flood fills up the valley. From the looks of it, we could not try to pursue any closer for any potential leads. Not only would be highly idiotic, I'm no way in a hurry to test how far my body resilience goes. Safe to say being infected is a gamble without a clear cut deal on what is in the roulette.
I was minding my business building shelter when a goddamn tremor hit the refugee camp. To make matters worse, I soon find myself hearing explosions in the distance. Expediting my work to at least get the temporary roof done, I soon dashed away from the camp. Soon report came from the watch team about how after the brief meteor strike, another catastrophe hit.
That in itself was not very unusual. Catastrophe is just a general term for disaster but it brought along rock cancer. What puzzles me would be how… sparse was the second catastrophe in comparison. Another interesting thing is how it would usually cause another Catastrophe to occur. Rapidly changing temperatures often result in acid rain, of the Originium kind.
You couldn’t imagine my relief that such a thing didn’t happen. That’s where more problem starts, and I don’t wanna be too negative about it, but it feels eerily familiar to what I heard back in Milites Valley.
‘I need to make a trip to Dossoles… I hope the Mayor is as good as people say.’ I heard that she was a capable and no doubt a great administrator, but I don’t know why Cande Sanchez just gave me the heebie-jeebies, and I only met her in passing. Something just feels off every time I talk with her, but I have my creed and work ethic to uphold. Besides I doubt even the CO would get a quick clearance to meet her.
“This feels too… organic.”
“But we couldn’t rule out the fact that Catastrophe evolved with time.”
“And we would still need to warn and update this onto the mobile cities catalog.”
“You tell me, Ma’am. This is the first time I see so little water polluted with Originium particles, at least from where I could see it.” The water itself is filled with bck splotches, but it is much less than expected.
“How is it looking there? The level, I mean.” A theory that I genuinely believed would be an overload in quantity and temperature fluctuation that caused ignition. Which should have resulted in me seeing a dark ke of highly infectious water, but this? It is probably 90% less than what I expected. Shelving my thoughts for ter, I nudged the drone operator to fetch me a sample.
“Stand by, sending in our Drone.” A small weather research drone that was repurposed from military surplus was unched in my colleague’s backpack. The size is roughly that of a basketball but it could move swiftly and responsively. Its needle was inserted beneath the contaminated water to measure the hazard and degree of contaminant.
It doesn’t take even a minute for it to return with a light batch of samples. The female Anaty scientist and Ursus Originium expert immediately get to work while I look over the vilge. It brought a harrowing image of Wdirosa being struck by something like this; a long-sting kind of hell. Nelka told me that Catastrophe struck Wdirosa a few years back and it was a tornado that caused enough damage for minor relocation.
A good chunk of the vilge must be relocated with the affected area being practically hauled away into a passing mobile city for fuel. Jan knew how to make disaster into something useful while giving me a handwritten report. It detailed how it happened, why, and how many were affected. Luckily the orphanage is safe but unfortunately, the kids were traumatized.
“Ma’am, we got the result you wanted and it ain’t looking good.” The scientist called out to me, saying that the result was out.
“Keep up with the documentation and spare a drone or two for nd search. Something is happening here.”
“On it, and thanks again.” Waving him off, I walked towards our scientist after giving the binocurs to others, we would still have to do search and rescue after all.
“This is highly unusual, at this rate… complete contamination could be prevented but what on earth caused it? Shouldn’t the idea be that an Originium would spread quickly?” My questions were left unanswered. The aforementioned scientist trembled a little when I leaned over her. Still, she did try to answer as best as she could.
“M-maybe it was because of different ground sedimentation levels?”
“Well, that’s possible since we are in the valley but I doubt it is all natural.”
“I concur, underground waters are prone to contamination by Originium, especially after a catastrophe.”
“Hold, aren’t you guys contradicting one another?” Well… uh… shit, I’m not good at this. I looked to my side and noticed that my speaking partner was equally wide-eyed…
‘What the fuck girl?’
“I’m a former mercenary, formal education was not on the menu. I don’t know much about theoretical ideas or those sophisticated knowledge. Even my street smarts are wrong from time to time when it doesn’t concern making human pretzels.”
“Wait, my thinking was wrong? But my Professor said that human thinking should be liberated, or that was wrong too?”
“…”
Location: Dossoles, Bolivar.
“Less than 10% are fully contaminated? Hmm… and the immediate problem is?” Was she for real? There is not a peep of concern in this Perro woman’s tone. Like, the brunette’s carefree was so infectious I felt like an idiot for being concerned.
We talk about the specifics and where it happened. How best to prevent groundwater contamination, and how to quarantine a zone when necessary. She listened attentively but I feel like she is only doing that out of respect for my profession.
‘Is this really the Mayor of Dossoles’ infamous doesn’t give a shit demeanor? I mean… taking how the city stupidly x regution… that made sense… a lot of sense.’
99 out of 100 times, any sane person would be concerned hearing this kind of news… I apparently found the one in that probability. This shit is surreal, she made me sound like the saner one between us.
“We had run tests and measurements again and again, but the result stayed the same. The waters were new, the contaminant had no time to fully assimite, showing either the water was from elsewhere or a sabotage. Personally, I expect some foul py and Terran idiocy reared its ugly head again.”
She takes more interest in my face than there would be in the report. Other than her sheer disregard for those serious reports, my mental synapse has been bring a sort of twisted shade of attraction.
“Well, I would like to hear an expert opinion on the matter first, but your warnings were appreciated all the same.” She leaned in closer with a charming smile on her face, but I subconsciously leaned back.
‘This woman is bad news… but I can’t deny I prefer dealing with bold people who put themselves on the line than those who tried to kiss the sole of my feet.’
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Ever wonder about working for Dossoles?” Oh great, this shit again. I held myself back from balking at her offer rudely, for now. She is still the de facto power and ruler of Dossoles, a city that is constantly yanked all over by the Singas, Coalition, and True Bolivarian, staying polite is necessary until she pushes the threshold.
Let’s start with something simple.
“Honestly, I would lie to say that I never entertain the idea of serving. Many had given favorable proposal and… enticement… so I would accept.” She snorted hearing my admission, her emotion had been fring so brightly to get me. I did my best to not react to that. It was very hard.
“Yet even after all these years, you’re still technically self-employed. My sources had compiled reports of how you acted more independently than ordinary Catastrophe Messenger.” She takes a sip of her multiple blends of coffee. I tasted it and found it to be… nice on the taste bud but bitter to the mind.
“Would you care to hear my offer?”
“Might as well, give me your best shot.”
“Thank you.” She flicked her finger and security came to her side with a whole batch of documents. This is nostalgic, I remembered the first time I dealt with K.G.C.C. directly they offered me the contract in a simir way… or perhaps it is a simple glimpse of what she knows about me. Hmm…
‘She won’t measure up to Deby in prowess, but I like her guts.’
I read through it while listening to her words. Her voice is nice to the ear, and her confidence is borderline madness from what crumbs I could read in between her lines. Stories of how she runs her rules and ws are rampant, with many ciming that she has more screws loose for real.
“As the contract stated, you would be afforded enough power and responsibility. Your primary duty would be to… how should I say this…? Ah yes, an important person for Dossole prosperity.”
“I’m fttered by your kind praises.”
POV: Cande Sanchez
“I’m fttered by your kind praises.” Or so she said. Here tone is borderline disdainful but greatly amused. The woman in front of me could theoretically end my life here and now, sell the city to one of the three, and profit greatly. She could wipe all the securities that stubbornly face death in the eye. I told them not to bother, but they won’t budge. I love my fools.
Back to the topic, she would gain another stain of negative PR, but that never stopped her. If anything, the nations all over Terra shall close in with their lifeline to chain her. I have gathered enough favors to make my own army, but they’re scattered and deeply frightened by her.
I have my suspicion that Cordelia’s success is deeply tied to her. She trained their paramilitary wing after all, but I have yet to find any gap in that company’s primary HQ. For a supposedly archeological and automotive company, they fielded an awfully wide array of military hardware with the test leak showing a squad of Cordelian PMC disembarking from an IFV.
Using the correct channel, I witnessed her training them differently. Instead of the usual training to make soldiers excel in combat, Nyx focused on making them work as a team with a select few turned into warriors. She trained them how to fight in urban environments, camoufge, air and nd coordination, and even war games.
‘Curious…’
Nyx allow herself to be seen most of the time, with her spies glued just a few steps behind her. She had shown that shaking them off was a trivial task, but she didn’t. So she feeds people with incorrect truth; seeing is not always believing.
She shows what people want, a votile monster but easily leashed around by the Catastrophe Messenger. She feigns obedience to order and allows herself to be sndered and demeaned, thus she is seen just as an extremely sharp bde. A tool with no will of her own, confounded with her apparent submission to whatever mission presented to her.
Oh how wrong they are. They are so assured of their superiority that the Grey Serpent could ugh at their face and they won't realize a thing. It made me wonder, why didn't Wei Yenwu tried his hardest? Oh silly me, I know why...
‘I want her, but the moment I truly try to close in on her… I will die.’ A grin crept by the corner of my lips. Even when we talked calmly over coffee, my heart pounded with excitement about what I could earn from a simple agreement. I could try to push her a bit, see where the line lies, and act around it. She put down the document and stared me right in the eyes.
“Anything you found wanting?”
“I do; my expected sary. I have no point of reference but I find it to be… high… awfully high… 15.000.000 Columbian Dolrs? That’s an army budget. Then do you expect me to believe this city would be able to support that much for a single person?”
“Was there no one in this world to not want an army?”
“… Moving on. There is just one of me, and I could never be everywhere at the same time.”
“A good coffee was made not by how many beans you crushed at your earliest convenience, but by how you categorize, choose, utilize, and proportionate them correctly. There would be little difference between using a hand or machine, by the end of it, it all depends on the… heh… Barista’s expertise.”
“Customers could be very selective and biased on what was served, you know?”
“But what if the residents, tourists, and opportunists love the concept of it anyway? Hell, they would have been profiting from it nonstop no matter how undesirable it is. Even you who found that specific bnd to be distasteful would agree, right?”
“Goddammit, you got me there.” She shakes her head zily, an exaggerated gesture but I appreciate it all the same. Sometimes a good showing and demonstration are truly mesmerizing, but let’s be frank, shall we?
“There is only one city and I believe that you’re to be as capable as I thought you would, am I wrong?”
“…No, you’re correct. A decadent city in this country rife with conflicts made it too important, a neutral ground with people vying for your hand… I would be a linchpin in this dynamic.”
The Pythia crossed her legs and leaned back, but her posture was elegant, domineering, and challenging me on what I would do. Naturally, I answered her as I would, plus a sweet little smile.
“Now that’s the Grey Serpent I’m growing fond of, forthcoming and resolute. If only that pesky gossip to be untrue, I would have had wagered myself for your hand instead.”
“How sweet, and I would lie to say you’re not exactly my type. Shame… I have someone better in mind… plus you give me the creeps.”
“Oh my, you wound me, Lady Baroness.”
“Not as much as you did to me. Hmph, making me entertained by such a thought. What a sinful woman, you are.”
“I’m honored to think that I’m to your liking.”
“Yes, yes, but are you sure about this; a linchpin? I would become a sledgehammer.”
“Even if you end up knocking down the foundation and walls, the idea of Dossoles would persist.”
“You want me to spell it out for you?” I don’t answer with anything but a smile. She sighed before speaking candidly about what I had in mind.
“Singas nobles sharing a drink with True Bolivarian, a high ranking Coalition bureaucrats having a lovely night with a Singas knight, and True Bolivarian enjoying movie night under a Coalition attaché’s hospitality. Neither a constant cold war nor fake bread and circus, I would force them to be more… accommodating, more than it already is.” She finished her coffee in a single gulp, now keen to show her bemused expression to me.
“With me around, you would have fall back pn, and means of intimidation. Judging by how much you let racketeers, criminals, and smugglers doing their thing to bring prosperity to the city, I doubt you minded me destroying a few skyscrapers to keep them in line.” Her grin turned predatory, and I couldn’t lie that my heart rate spiked seeing her inching a few seconds away from tearing me apart.
“The nerve of you to lump me along with them…” Her eyes turned crimson and my men who still have the guts to stand up wavered retroactively. Personally? Her angered face made me feel all sorts of things. One undeniable fact, I like this version of her.
‘Goodness, I could never have enough of the thrill of frank discussion. I love pying with words, to settle a conflict or push past another pesky barrier, there would never be a greater high. Her bluntness would have caused those high-mighty fools to think of her as an idiot, as she would like so. To me? Hmm~.’
Standing up from my seat, I walked towards the window to see the decadent, prosperous, thrilling, and wondrous city sprawling beneath me. Her eyes left mine to py with her nails and her pinkish tint returned with softly like the storm had passed. I do notice a telltale coy smile she tried not to show, but that’s enough to know that my approach was… patable.
“So, what do you think?”
“I’m afraid that is not possible… but…” She stood behind me and spun my body around. Her hand clenched my jaw and a sickly sweet smile was pstered on her lips. My securities sprang into motion with their crossbows pointed at her. Futile, but I commend the effort.
‘I wonder, how painful is it to have your head ripped off your shoulders? How refreshing that this is the best rexation I could ask for after dealing with my usual crowd.’
“Keep being who you are, and I might just bite…” She took one of my hands and kissed it gently.
“You’re a big girl, you won’t mind a little dose of venom, right?”
“Of course, Dossoles won’t be where it is without taking risks.” My triumphant grin could no longer be helped, I won. Naturally, our onlookers were confused but promptly lowered their weapons.
“I suppose it’s the point where we exchange contact numbers?”
“No need, just bother your local CM office, the boys there could use some extra cash.” She turned on her heels and walked towards the door. My men made way for the Grey Serpent. She doesn’t register them, only me. When she was just about to leave the room, her hands rested on each side of the double door, then she turned half her face my way.
“I’m looking forward to working with you in the future, and please don’t be shy.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, hasta luego (see you ter).”
“Igualmente, adios (Likewise, goodbye).”
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who is doing his best.
A chapter where we see a simple glimpse of how CM works. Then here comes the unrepentantly unhinged Mayor of Dossoles, Cande Sanchez. The chapter also illuminated her thoughts about Nyx to give a general idea on how she operates the city and her agendas.
Like seriously, someone tried to usurp her position? Let’s stream it and make it as entertainment! What’s that? A bomb about to go off? Bah, let the kids handle it with their detective games. Oh wow, someone tried to steal priceless artworks? How about we document everything and get those news on the roll?
Here we see her daring the Serpent to bite her. Venom? Meh, probably fetch a good favor with interested parties so the show must go on!
Update look at the announcement.
Ciao
