"Mono/Dialogue"

  'Inner thoughts'

  Narration

  [Message/communication apparatus]

  Date: September 1091

  Location: Northern Kazimierz

  POV: Narrator

  Across the bountiful farmnd and industrial zone of Central Kazimierz, with its many bustling settlements and retively weaker catastrophe-level that could be handled with ease, lies the Northern region famed for its near-constant state of wlessness or disturbances. The 72’s war still left its mark on the nd, scarring and disfiguring this side of Terra with many towering Originium Mountains and impoverished vilges.

  Rebuilding has been focused on the Central zones because they are financially stable and easier to defend. This stability afforded them many opportunities with a few vilges slowly transforming into nomadic caravans. Pastoral greeneries are aplenty, and aside from the hardier people, become a preferable alternative.

  This stability is cracking under pressure from inside and outside. Bounty hunters acted no different than wanted mercenaries, desperate refuges from all over the nd would often cross through the prairies wrought with dangers and illegal svers, and so many problems that one would be surprised how this nation still stands.

  Kazimierz’s unique and restrictive military plus general security does not give them sufficient leeway of reprieve for extra manpower to combat such a problem. It has become an unspoken rule of sorts that what happened on the road would often be swept under the rug to provide a fa?ade of security, and deniability to keep their image as a Nation properly maintained, irrespective of factions.

  So normally the local garrison could mostly make do with the situation, but now is not such a time.

  Margaret Nearl’s departure had left an unexpected void in their ranks because she was highly popur amongst her peers. Her resignation shouldn’t have done such mayhem, it was only a single Campaign Knight after all. Unfortunately, she underestimated her worth to those who genuinely believed in her and those with more nefarious designs in mind.

  Pledges and oaths of loyalties are not lip service with her at the helm. There were genuine protests on her sudden departure, with loud cims that she was used as a set piece. Her ardent admirers staunchly believed that Kazimierz Knight Primus system was at fault for stringing her along their tune. Calls for scaling back upon inane rules were made but were overruled by Adeptus who cimed to understand the situation better.

  Whatever the real truth, no one could deny that an incident of a much greater proportion will occur if the handling is done carelessly. Such as whispers of civil wars and deteriorating public order near the border have been a constant occurrence. Knights are returning to their respective houses with only those deemed necessary or inconsequential left to guard the border. This pse in defense and safety had netted them a huge problem that was growing underneath their nose.

  The Grey Serpent, no matter how dubious her aim, had proof of yet another detrimental incident surfacing in Kazimierz. With their attention shifted to themselves, it left the nationwide open for what could be considered a cndestine act of sabotage. Originium Veins were uncovered near many settlements or caves, shifting priority on the flow of goods which resulted in more banditry, and of course the rumor of how other nations were moving beneath notice.

  This finally forced the feuding factions preparing for the Civil War thought unavoidable to relinquish some kind of measures to rectify this embarrassing situation. There would be nothing to feud over if the country fell into anarchy or foreign invasion, thus they begrudgingly assented to a truce.

  Adeptus Sprawiedliwi had mobilized a lot of their Knights to patrol the countryside along with hiring extra squires to bolster them. This uptick in activity had allowed K.G.C.C. to supervise the deployment of experts and Catastrophe Messenger to keep the mess contained. Already, the st month alone had succeeded in containing dozens of inert but highly votile veins and culling of undesirable.

  While the number of outws is steadily receding, the number of veins is not so clear. There were reports of previously secured positions being under scrutiny a few more times due to newer veins sprouting up. Thus they resorted to the usual method, sanctioning and mobilizing the gathered Catastrophe Contractors to fill in the gap in manpower.

  Contingency Contract teams were given different routes and sectors to search for to maximize efficiency especially with how vast is the Northern Kazimierz. Not only does it see regur uptake of bandits and mercenaries, but there have been unrecorded incidents of patrols between Kazimierz and Ursus coming to blows resulting in casualties.

  That st point made Adeptus even busier than they already are, thus reallocating manpower further north. Provocations and foreign incursions up north aside, the primary focus to keep the peace would be done by the smaller teams spread out as efficiently as possible. One such team is currently moving through a valley after clearing through a swamp.

  Rains pours over them, but none seems too bothered with it. What bothered them was the howling winds forced, and the drizzle seemed to be getting worse with each passing second. A man could be heard talking over the comms, his ragged breath and vapor of air made a nice contrast to what should have been a quiet search.

  [This is team 5 Actual, we got nothing around Kasg Valley. The Drone controller on our team had swept the area with their gadgets and got nothing. Command please advise how to proceed. Over.] Communications instruments are abuzz with information and updates given by roaming and search teams.

  [Affirm team 5, you can RTB to base or continue. If you do, make sure to mark down your previous route that was taken. Break. If it’s possible, prioritize sending your drone for immediate data transfer first, how copy?]

  [This is 5 Actual, we copy. Over and out.] One of the Cautus mercenaries looked over his team of 8 people. It was surreal how easily Nyx could mix and match teams to provide results. They have their reservations, but seeing how well they mesh during the search does provide understanding between them… understanding aside, a conflict of interest occurred anyway.

  “How is it going?” A female Cautus asked their team leader. Unlike him, she is affiliated with Cordelia, and her hand never once leaves her sword. He pretended to not see it and spoke with a voice to challenge the bothersome rain.

  “Tough luck! Feels like we are running in circles here, and this fucking rain is making life hard. The command gives us the choice to move out or backtrack to base.” He heard an annoyed grunt from the Bcksteel Drone Operator, one of a few times he wished his ears wouldn’t work as intended.

  His Bcksteel teammate is a young but tall Cerato. His rge size feels surreal after realizing that he is their brain in here, and not him or that Sarkaz smiling like everything is sunshine and rainbow.

  “Come now Glen, this ain’t so bad.” He shushed him tiredly, and that did little to quell his colleague's dissatisfaction.

  “We have been moving around for 4 hours, we are so close I can feel it! Why, even yesterday Aaron’s team got 3 of those uncovered near a goddamn farm.” His ragged breathing doesn’t seem to diminish the intensity of his bloodshot eyes.

  “You are a fucking scientist in all but name, and you believe your gut feeling?!”

  “Hey! Just so you know this gut feeling has been saving me countless amount of times and saved them when doing these bsted kinds of missions. This very same gut feeling had been researched by a Professor who stated how we will subconsciously feel a tug when we are close!”

  “Yeah, right… next thing we found more of Infected Mass Grave.”

  The two bicker on whether to proceed or return to base. The Cerato argued endlessly that his drones could speed up the process and find out why we have this nagging feeling. His CO doesn’t seem too thrilled with the idea, his crossed arms and scowling face show.

  The rest are either collecting samples, referencing maps, or just fucking around. Two of them would be the Cordelia Cautus and an expert Sarkaz Mercenary and Bounty Hunter. They just looked over the pair in exasperation and mild amusement.

  “So what do you think, Tond?”

  “What is? Them? I don’t know, I was just paid for the bill and more. Cordelia paid me a handsome buck despite my reputation, and not having to deal with those greedier corpos? All the better.”

  “Then why didn’t you join Cordelia? We have a few Sarkaz employees and more colborators, surely that would mean something. Sure there are difficult folks, but we keep things clean mostly.”

  “Hmm? You were saying something?”

  “… Hah, forget it, and back to my previous question.”

  “Which one?”

  “This whole shebang? Aren’t your folks more inclined to cave someone's skulls in?” The tanned man chuckled hearing her words. He knows his people's reputation and deems there is little reason to fight for that. What amused him was the genuine interest in her voice.

  “Not wrong, and I bet there are better people out there cracking skulls and raking in the cash.”

  “Nyx.”

  “One, she is not Sarkaz, and two, that’s an unfair comparison you’re using there.”

  “Seeing her confirmed tally, might as well.”

  “Jeez, thanks for the motion of confidence… besides… it’s just that even Sarkaz has its limitations, not everyone is built into a warrior from the get-go. My work revolves around giving a hand here and there for exploration or hunting someone, and get paid to maybe just spend a nice little warmth with a beautiful maiden.” His shrugs and trademark carefree smile felt captivating to her.

  ‘God, why are hot people so troublesome…? How is this fair?’ Her eyes wandered into a trance full of dangerous thoughts, thankfully she forced herself out of the gutter. Coughing into her hand, she tried to py off her staring. Tond’s eyes flickered seeing her expression and decided to move over it.

  “Although.” He uttered while fishing out for his canteen. The metallic sheen could still be seen through the deluge of water and dirt. There are names written on them, but Cordelia Cautus knows enough social cues.

  “Although?” The Cautus’ ears bounded left and right at his words. He takes another look at those two, brawling over the Drones control with a wry smile, and turning his attention back on her.

  “It is true that even the worst of my people is a decent swordsman. Heard that some better-off folks were paid a nice sum of money in Columbia to guard Pioneering vilges. Shame, the Civil War happened again back in Kazdel, making more than a few give up that stable life to chase after a beautiful future.” He spoke the st part slowly, seeming to be internalizing the very words he had spoken.

  “I envy them…” Tond sighed wistfully, his gaze dimmed and brought forth an illusion of his own deepest desire.

  “I thought you would be more inclined with combat. I mean, those swords wouldn’t be for a show right?” The man shrugged nonchantly, a sword was just a tool in his mind.

  “Which is why unlike them, I just bail when I can. I love Her Majesty, I do… it is just what’s the point? 200 years of disunity had brought us some peace. Of course, that’s just a hypocritical opinion because I have more means to go by.”

  “You’re… very introspective. Kinda makes me disillusioned that you Sarkaz would brag more about kill tally than speak like those stuck-up shit high in their tower. Puzzling but also refreshing.”

  “What can I say? When you can find a better job, you jump at it, right? No one would say no to a good and cozy job. I would even settle for a cushy desk job.” He uttered with a bit of amused tremble in his voice.

  “Maybe? I have a few people in the unit who were hot-blooded braggarts. They keep crowing on and on to prove themselves. Then she came in and shattered their pride. Only a few could back their bark with a bite, and fewer could keep their head high after that.”

  “Sounds normal, people are stupid and I love them for it. I mean, my horns are gone and that was frowned upon by normal Terran. Accusing me of scamming them or some shit, but honestly fuck 'em.”

  “Yeah… Guess she is right after all. No matter if you are Ancients, those idiotic Elders, and Sarkaz… We are just winding around, trying to survive and not getting fucked over.”

  “By the way, who is this she?”

  “The Grey Serpent.” Tond almost choked on his canteen, fortunately, his reflex converted his cough into a mild groan. She stares at him dubiously but minds him no further and stares back at the two not giving up on their respective ideas.

  “She had taught and id the foundation for the Cordelian PMC, the newer guys aren’t too tight with her, unfortunately. They joined at a rather bad time and pce, and feels like some of them are just pin weird.” He frowned inwardly at her words.

  ‘Just how deep is she? I thought that Adenaver dude was the one who created them. What on Terra is that Corporation? Unless…’ He sensed like stumbling upon something he shouldn’t. So like any sane person, he chooses to ignore it for ter or forget it for the better.

  “Bad times, good times, it doesn’t matter. That’s just how the world goes, although it would have been nice if some warnings were warranted.” The pair’s ruckus grew more heated, and that prompted the Sarkaz to do something about it. He was about to do so when his boots sank on uneven ground.

  Raising his brows, he pulled out a knife and started digging on the ground. The sound of his knife stabbing on the dirt was heard by the two. Seeing the end of their scuffle also caused the rest to think they were done. That hope was dashed seeing they were just looking at their Sarkaz guide.

  “The fuck are you doing Sarkaz? We weren’t paid to py around.”

  “Maybe you should mind your temper first before barking, and did you find something?”

  “I guess I did.” He kept on digging until a rather sizable defide was created. Before he was questioned, Tond gave his assessment.

  “See this? If it is just this, you can disregard it as me pying with the dirt. But…” He scoops out the earth in a rather straight line easily, but when he tries to do the same on its side, his knife just stabs them without gouging the earth. This bewildered the team because earth density should be equal else there would be a cave-in or there would be something underneath.

  “Wait, don’t tell me…” The team began digging through the ground, and lo and behold.

  “The hell? This is a trail, isn’t it? Car tracks this deep in the woods…” One of them pointed out along the 3 or 4 meters of straight line. Not satisfied with just one, they spread out to start scooping around it. After finding the same defide filled with softer dirt. The two lines formed small but maneuverable tracks that insinuated a vehicle had passed through the area.

  “Yeah these are tracks, otherwise the nd won’t be so smooth so uniformly.”

  “How did we miss them then? I swear that we had been walking through it before.”

  “Maybe the devil is just that heavy so he sunk into it.”

  “Glen, send one up and take a top-down view. We might be able to see where it would lead.”

  “On it, and please don’t step on it…”

  “Oh sorry… man… guess I need to give up on early R&R.”

  “It’s a banged-up job, whoever did it was in a hurry and we might have crashed the party.”

  “So this was a sloppy job in hiding their tracks? I mean that’s got to mean something. Hey Sarkaz, where are we at right now?”

  “Hang a second…” He cross-referenced on the map they had been given. These sorts of maps are regurly updated with each finding of Originium veins or Catastrophe occurring beforehand. Tracing through their position, Tond's brows furrowed.

  “We are in between the western and eastern veins. This is the designated safe zone and pockets, but there is nothing noteworthy around these parts. But I do have one inkling on who might have been here.”

  “Who? Stop talking in riddles, devil.” One of the team members said with a scathing tone.

  “Chill out man, I’m just saying jeez…” Despite saying that, his smile doesn’t waver and even intensifies like hearing something funny. Clearing his throat, he spoke louder than the rain drumming on their bodies.

  -

  -

  -

  -

  “Treasure Hunters?” The Grey Serpent couldn’t help but find herself looking around in confusion. Certainly, there is logic in the team leader’s words. Kazimierz is known to maintain archaic traditions amidst its technological advancement. Nyx who had been dragged away from grappling with paperwork and, surprise – surprise, expining herself to a furious National Council cocked her head beside the communication officer.

  “Could you track them?” She uttered while her face was glued to the test report coming from different sectors. She is not in any way the commander, her position is to compile information, authorize its legality as the Paramilitary Chief, and process them for third parties interested in undertaking approved Contingency Contracts avaible.

  [We are on it, the Hornless Sarkaz is positive that it shouldn’t be mere grave robbery or usual treasure hunting. Still, we are going to have a problem with this coming to light.] The Grey Serpent sighed before giving her one cent on the matter.

  “If we did find a grave of a dead aristocrat, it will need to be compiled as a ndmark of interest. We could try to keep things quiet, but the Contingency Contract at present is under heavy scrutiny. If we are lucky, the grave’s family is long gone and thus gives us the clear, if not they will throw a hissy fit and I need to arrange a time for expnation and compromise.”

  [So what do we do? Aside from dealing with criminals, do we leave these graves as they were and RTB?]

  “Prioritize safety and finding a lead first and then update it on the network, but do not touch anything if you do find anything resembling a historical object or of extraordinary value. If you dared to, your contract would be terminated and I will personally authorize bounties to hunt all of you down. Do I make myself clear?”

  [… Roger. Team 5 complies with the newest tasking, over and out.] There was a pause before the communication was cut, and Nyx instantly turned her attention to the many situations that needed her attention. Looking around in her office, she is greeted with another pile of paperwork that requires her authorization and checks.

  Normally, she could assign and commission helpers from the parent organization to give her more leeway, but she couldn’t. Why? The National Council is watching every flow inside the country very closely, and she needs Nelka to smooth out the obstacle. She just hoped that her gamble paid off.

  The reasons she wasn’t dragged back to Kawalerielki was because her investigations bore fruits and the pressing matter at hand between factions plus Margaret Nearl. She has no illusion that she would be staring at a jail cell for a good while if things went as pnned, but that’s a problem for her future self.

  She meant well, but her intention could be badly misinterpreted as vioting national security. She could not ask for extra personnel either because she was pushing how much manpower was answering her call. They are simply paranoid, and that is the source of her mady. Turns out that trying to keep the fme from spreading had insinuated and exacerbated the misunderstanding.

  The Grey Serpent stares towards the ceiling, a multitude of thoughts processed with one goal in mind. She wondered, how much longer could she keep the situation under control.

  ‘No matter what I did, the National Council will force me to take onto the field and personally make sense of this messy web. I can’t refuse them, no way in hell unless I want to see this nd plunged into war. I have no qualms about being made a scapegoat, but even there is a limit on what I can and can’t do. The odds are heavily stacked against me… I fucked up big time.’ Nyx let her head hang limply while crossing her legs. Her rexed posture did little to suppress her negativity.

  ‘It will be fine, I can pull through as always. It won’t be the first time someone made a hit piece on me either.’ Maybe, that’s her arrogance speaking, there was never any sembnce of such. She is deluding herself into an illusion, and her delusion unravels into irrevocable reality unquestionably.

  ‘… Hah… I hope the only clown turned out to be me… god I will regret this so damn much.’

  Her fingers reach out to a discreet communication link hidden within her upper and discretely tap on it. Potential spies would only see Nyx tapping on the side like deep in thought, but she isn’t. The hidden and grafted device in the form of a rectangur box beneath her flesh connects her to a private channel. She had memorized the pattern on each letter, and soon an encrypted message was made.

  [ ------ -- ---- - , -- --- ---- , ---- --- - -- ----- , ------- --- ------- , ---- ------- ------ ]

  Her fingers hovered over the button that would put everything past the point of no return. Her face is frozen stiff but her lips tremble. Just one more action, and at that point she must put her faith in the Nearl, on Kiril, to do the right thing. She quirked a thin but bitter smile on her lips, the situation was beyond her control.

  A singur, selfish, fantasy gone adrift amidst torrential turmoil assailing her mind. All that inner agony paved the way for nothing. Her gaze briefly flickered on a small basket, filled to the brim with trinkets and homemade snacks courtesy of her daughter and orphans under Wdirosa’s care. It feels strange now that she looks at it, how far she had gone from a simple mercenary fretting over identification to an influential woman that could reshape a small piece of the future.

  She has so many things she must do, and there are things she needs to sacrifice.

  Nyx had noticed the increased numbers of spies and information brokers inside the HQ, but she couldn’t and didn’t have any real power to eject them unless they were making a fuss. Further complicated by how many people they are interacting with. Too many eyewitnesses meant she couldn’t erase them either.

  Conrad informed her that infiltration of Cordelia’s office in Kawalerielki had intensified. The Sarkaz King doesn’t count, they are watching her right at this moment. She doesn’t understand what is so interesting about her, but if it means they are not snooping at Cordelia then she is all too gd to take it.

  The most arming development would be reported by her Agents guarding the project. They reported that unknown activity had sprung up around them, and when she

  Knocking sounds brought her mind back to the present. Nyx's fingers tapped onto a terminal, and the door was opened to show a detestable woman smiling smugly. The Grey Serpent held her tired and grudge-filled sigh seeing her saunter into her office like she owned it.

  “My, I never thought to see you so miserable~.” A voice that feels pitying and mostly mocking.

  “What do you want, Ho’olheyak?”

  “Is it wrong for me to socialize with an effective superior? Or do you detest me because of your faux-lily activity? Oh wait, could it be that I did work too well~?”

  “All of them. I couldn’t strangle you because you’re useful. I couldn’t dismiss you because you’re not a Catastrophe Messenger and worked under Maynder’s behest. Then stly, because I admire your sheer disrespect on a chain of command if it means the work gets done.”

  “Thank you~…” her teasing grin faded, and her expression turned serious. Nyx in turn has her back straightened.

  “Team 5 had recently compiled their findings, suffice to say we are expecting a much bigger problem further down the line.” The strange and enigmatic Liberi spyed the documents on her desk. Nyx scanned through them and saw many tools for excavation and there are photos of evidence regarding recently abandoned efforts, papers detailing orders that were burnt or shredded, and so much more.

  Her brows furrowed at photos of several rooms and a stone sarcophagus found empty. There were traces of forceful looting and or ransacking with little regard for preservation. Walls were scratched with a side note from the team theorizing that judging from the pattern and residue, these were gold-pted decorations being peeled off with a pickaxe. Then her eyes moved to the next part with golden and silver coins being left, which gave credence that the perpetrators left in a hurry.

  Excavator tracks and mined cave remind her of the cave she found back then. How Originium vein was situated just enough to contaminate its area, and this had more or less confirmed her suspicion. Someone is trying to use the critical situation to either make it big with grave robbing or cause controversy. With her in charge of Contingency Contracts in the region, she could be their aim.

  A multitude of scenarios runs through her mind, and each makes her bitter at how pusible they are. It would be much better if it were grave robbery, but she doubted fate would be oh so kind to her. Considering her many misfortunes regarding important commissions. She has half a mind to prepare a QRF team for herself, and she might do exactly that.

  One thing that bugs her mind though…

  “Already? That’s fast.” Ho’olheyak blinked rapidly hearing her words, and Nyx facepalmed internally after realizing she had fucked up in her response. For the white-haired Liberi though, working alongside Nyx made her understand that the Grey Serpent has an unspoken habit of expecting less from her subordinates on the field, but this?

  “Already? It took them four hours to comb the entire passageways. Even I must admit they are working very hard for what they were contracted to. Look at these, they had bothered to include mini notes or suspicion on why or who did this.”

  “Oh…” Ho’olheyak furrowed her brows but decided it was not her problem if Nyx was scking off. If anything, she grinned and left. Confusing the hell out of Nyx and leaving her without further expnation.

  “I really shouldn’t have accepted Tin Man’s offer…” She banished further regrets and continued with admission and commission of contracts based on the newest report. The risk entailed has increased, and time is running out.

  [END OF CHAPTER]

  Author’s Note:

  Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who is considering uploading an original story. I don’t know though…

  Here we see all the pieces starting to fall in pce and was it grave robbery? Will it unravel into a catastrophe? Who knows… I do.

  That’s all from me, I’m screwed in the head these days.

  Update number 1 of the month.

  Ciao