Prologue of Part 3
The Anomalists
NEW DIRECTION
The air of the city sticks to you like a substance coating the surface of your skin. The sun’s blocked by a giant platform standing on eight giant pillars made of concrete and technology one might as well be alien to those who have no idea what it is.
Streets are crowded. Citizens are wearing their hybrid jackets that warms and cools the body. The light chatter of the teenager's holding out for a better future. To the mumbling of a tired salaryman. Changye offers protection but also a cage of safety. A cage where humanity can slave their days away, live off their honest labor and hope they grow old with the fruits of their labor.
Faces and names are fast disappearing in the minds of those who are busy with their lives. The dead can rest while the living struggles to smell the air and fill their stomachs.
Promotions have become a burden. Getting a promotion means I have to do more work, and although it pleases me to have more work than ever. I came to realize the search for anomalies is a tiresome task.
Kei’s not too eager either way. We’ve been living on the information we got on a godly spear that shattered a God. You might think we’d make it big, but money’s easily drained by expenses. She is planning something, but it'll take a while for everything to succeed.
Oh believe me when I say money’s easily gone. Financial stability isn’t really what you call a thing in this city. Like a trap you can’t escape from.
So you have me roaming the city, mingling with its people. One of our associates told me of rumors, but honestly it’s nothing more than urban myths. My opinion of these myths are irrelevant and usually I find myself SEETHING at the two of the 12 Demis sometimes.
These myths are born from somewhere else. Which leads me to believe that somewhere or out there knows about something. I was hoping to find them when when a certain someone called me.
Sato became a constant headache once Kei told me to handle all the talk with him. Sato seems to be fine with it. I’m not. He is quite a hard man to deal with.
Found Sato sitting inside an American diner-style restaurant. Wearing the same leisure suit of his. I always wonder if this man ever change his suit. Not that I have any right to say that when I barely change out of my usual gear.
“Assistant! You are early, as usual. I see you don’t follow your own timetable.”
I sat down. I told him it’s not best to keep an associate waiting.
“You are not ambitious. You live for a wage and that I respect.”
The quick-easy smile and the disarming gestures. Eating a meal while talking to a subordinate. It’s somewhat his method, but I never really was the kind to appreciate it.
“I’m here for business, Sir.”
“Yeah. You do. It is why I took a liking to you. You are a hard worker with quite a history of previous engagements with certain elements. A diverse work experience, a good ol jack of all trades.”
He clearly wants something from me. I had a bad day so I just told him what he wants from me so I can do it.
“I will be blunt. Eta was a liability. Before you came to Kei’s office. She has done a lot to stagnate the progress of the office. She might have played the fool, but she’s quite a master of deceit.”
He takes a data stick out. I plugged the thing on my transmitter and then played it. The first info isn’t nice. The second one is even more damning.
“Looks like our friend Eta sold herself to the digital devil.”
I had been curious where she got the funds for her new implants. Turns out she’s having other allegiances. Could be that she got scammed out of consciousness.
“Nope. Got proof she agreed to it. Thing is she’s pretty much butt-buddies with this ‘Elvira’ woman. Hell, I’m starting to think this ‘Elvira’ ain’t dead at all.”
“Sounds like so much hassle for Kei. I admit she’s brilliant and impressive for having an office with her age, but it seems far-fetched, thinking they’d do this.”
“Five years isn’t worth for shit. You can do work for other Corpo and still act like you can try. Sure, they might be friends, but sometimes you wanna prioritize yourself. Tell me. I’m sure you have times where you truly think that this is worth kicking your employers on the balls.”
“You know my records, Mr. Sato.”
He smiles. Takes a bite of his burger.
“I do. That is why I’m saying this. Damn thing is that we all act out sometimes. We have moments of weakness and even Kei had dealings with Von-Abel.”
I keep hearing about the Von-Abel thing. But so far I haven’t gotten enough to dig that info out of Kei. And Sato’s face tells me he isn’t exactly the kind of guy who’d share this type of information for free. It’ll be shameful for a guy who works in information sales to hand out info for free.
“So Eta was a snitch.”
“I’d call her a Leech. Make no mistake. I think they were friends, but there’s no rule in friendship: you can’t get a few bucks. You become buddies with someone, you’d expect that kind of trust, but in the end, the whole of our life, my friend, is the betterment of ourselves.”
Which makes me wonder if Kei knows?
“Of course she does! I’m sure that girl has an idea of what's up. She’s pragmatic and knows how to use it. But she also knows when to dip her nose and when to push buttons.”
“So all of this is to inform me of this, Sir?”
“Course’ not. I appreciate the hard work, but right now I want to dry the well. You know how it is. Demands we can increase the price and too much can be harmful to the business. I want you to find the right balance.”
Took me a while to get what he wanted. Still, Sato was a busy man and after saying his piece. He just left like it’s nothing.
You know? Despite some of my grievances with people like Sato. He’s not the worst of it all. Changye has people who are far worse than this.
Thinking about my previous workplaces sometimes sickens me. How I manage to survive all of that is something I wonder about sometimes.
I left the diner and found myself in the Neon Quarters. Found the place again and got myself a new blade. It’s the same blade, but this time he has a treat for me.
“Do you like it? The patterns now emit lightning on it. If you swing hard enough or use it with finesse. It'll have the same effect.”
I grabbed the hilt and for a second I thought I was holding Castor. But that can’t be right. Castor is more a blade made with pure scientific mastery while this one has the elements of the supernatural.
“Alchemized blade. How did you do?”
“I was a student, but now I am a master of it. Sir, I do not grant my blade to anyone and honestly from what my ears heard. You’ve done something worth earning that.”
For a moment I thought of using the blade. I smiled and asked him what was the name of it.
“I call it Raikiri.”
“Oh? Got a story of why you name it like that?”
The old man smiles.
“Tachibana Dōsetsu once cut down lightning. It was a myth, but considering the world we lived in. Perhaps all tales of the past are simply real. We simply didn’t believe them because we lost our connections.”
“I see. Well, it better be good, Sir. I did pay you most of my earnings for this blade.”
“You shattered my last sword so I thought I’d rather test the limits to it. But I have a bit of grasp of who you are now, friend. I think you’re the kind of guy that doesn’t boast much about your strength.”
“I don’t really do that. I think I don’t at least. Besides, what is there to boast about being the guy who can punch hard? I don’t carry weapons around for the sake of it. It’s for defense and the need. I do admit I find them cool. But beyond that. What we used them for is uncleaned. You can pretty up a blade, but it always has two purposes. To look good and to be used to cut and stab people.”
That was my feelings about any weapons. I think the old man agrees with me, but I think he also believes something else. What are weapons good for other than using it to hurt? I think he has an answer somewhere. But he seems to be the kind who’d rather have you find the answer for yourself.
“Anyway, thanks for the Raikiri. I might use it extensively and get a new one.”
“I hope it lasts. Still, I’m quite envious you’d care so much about that blade and pistol of yours that you’d rather not used it.”
I guess once you get attached to an object. It’s hard to let them go. It brings comfort and there are times where I need to hold on to things I believed in.
Think of it as the sword that grants me power. A sword and a gun that gives me strength to carry on. It’s complicated why I even hold on to this. Oh, they don’t have any magic in them, but I keep them for the sake of comfort.
I got back to Asobe and got inside the office. Kei’s browsing her computer. I stood on her side and handed over the data stick Sato gave me.
Kei plugs it without a word and then sighs at the info she’s reading.
“Well, I’m not surprised. Sato gave you this?”
“So you do know?”
“Akun. I survived in this city long enough to mistrust friends. Yeah, she’s doing transactions on the back, but it also gave value to our office. She gets money and new implants while we get free advertising, making it so they think we have importance and I get an employee who can guard me better.”
“So you were fine with it?”
“Yeah, I was. But with her dead or digitally cloned. It doesn’t matter. Guess she really did sell herself in the end and went digital.”
“You think Elvira’s alive?”
“Who knows? I did think it was strange for Elvira to croak like that. But I’d rather not think about it.”
“I was sure that you had a grudge.”
“It’s all business in the end. What she did, I can understand. Besides, I had a feeling she died too suspiciously. But what she does isn't our business, Akun. So, why tell me all of this?”
Sato didn’t even say anything about not revealing them either. And despite my previous grievances with working under people. I like how Kei operates. And it’s better to be under this kind of office than working elsewhere where freedom is limited.
“Didn’t tell me not to reveal it. And you seem to know already so I can’t bother to hide it.”
“Appreciate it. Still, Sato really knows how to make a business. I learned from that guy you know?”
“So we do as he says?”
“For now. But we’ll start reporting now and expand later so we don't have to listen to him and agree to his demands easily.”
“Explain.”
She stood up and gave me her best business smile.
“We were simply selling them at first. But if the anomaly reports. We can make a simple fanfare about it. Earn more by people who are interested in it. Not only do we get some cash from the clicks, we can make it so they’ll have the idea of clicking the ‘See more’ button.”
“Sounds like you’re running a news blog.”
“WE are running one. Honestly, investigating anomalies is hard and the data's better sold in parts. But there are no rules that say we can't let them get a taste of what we’re selling.”
“Sato approves of this?”
“He is a lover of money. Of course he does. And I'll make sure sooner or later. We don't have to answer to him.”
Kei says confidently. She has a plan which is good enough for me. And honestly it isn't bad being called an anomalist. And a title is is something you show in front of people. They are very convenient in this city. And right now Kei and I are the only people who can be called as Professional Anomalists.
Prologue of Part 3
The Anomalists
NEW DIRECTION
The air of the city sticks to you like a substance coating the surface of your skin. The sun’s blocked by a giant platform standing on eight giant pillars made of concrete and technology one might as well be alien to those who have no idea what it is.
Streets are crowded. Citizens are wearing their hybrid jackets that warms and cools the body. The light chatter of the teenager's holding out for a better future. To the mumbling of a tired salaryman. Changye offers protection but also a cage of safety. A cage where humanity can slave their days away, live off their honest labor and hope they grow old with the fruits of their labor.
Faces and names are fast disappearing in the minds of those who are busy with their lives. The dead can rest while the living struggles to smell the air and fill their stomachs.
Promotions have become a burden. Getting a promotion means I have to do more work, and although it pleases me to have more work than ever. I came to realize the search for anomalies is a tiresome task.
Kei’s not too eager either way. We’ve been living on the information we got on a godly spear that shattered a God. You might think we’d make it big, but money’s easily drained by expenses. She is planning something, but it'll take a while for everything to succeed.
Oh believe me when I say money’s easily gone. Financial stability isn’t really what you call a thing in this city. Like a trap you can’t escape from.
So you have me roaming the city, mingling with its people. One of our associates told me of rumors, but honestly it’s nothing more than urban myths. My opinion of these myths are irrelevant and usually I find myself SEETHING at the two of the 12 Demis sometimes.
These myths are born from somewhere else. Which leads me to believe that somewhere or out there knows about something. I was hoping to find them when when a certain someone called me.
Sato became a constant headache once Kei told me to handle all the talk with him. Sato seems to be fine with it. I’m not. He is quite a hard man to deal with.
Found Sato sitting inside an American diner-style restaurant. Wearing the same leisure suit of his. I always wonder if this man ever change his suit. Not that I have any right to say that when I barely change out of my usual gear.
“Assistant! You are early, as usual. I see you don’t follow your own timetable.”
I sat down. I told him it’s not best to keep an associate waiting.
“You are not ambitious. You live for a wage and that I respect.”
The quick-easy smile and the disarming gestures. Eating a meal while talking to a subordinate. It’s somewhat his method, but I never really was the kind to appreciate it.
“I’m here for business, Sir.”
“Yeah. You do. It is why I took a liking to you. You are a hard worker with quite a history of previous engagements with certain elements. A diverse work experience, a good ol jack of all trades.”
He clearly wants something from me. I had a bad day so I just told him what he wants from me so I can do it.
“I will be blunt. Eta was a liability. Before you came to Kei’s office. She has done a lot to stagnate the progress of the office. She might have played the fool, but she’s quite a master of deceit.”
He takes a data stick out. I plugged the thing on my transmitter and then played it. The first info isn’t nice. The second one is even more damning.
“Looks like our friend Eta sold herself to the digital devil.”
I had been curious where she got the funds for her new implants. Turns out she’s having other allegiances. Could be that she got scammed out of consciousness.
“Nope. Got proof she agreed to it. Thing is she’s pretty much butt-buddies with this ‘Elvira’ woman. Hell, I’m starting to think this ‘Elvira’ ain’t dead at all.”
“Sounds like so much hassle for Kei. I admit she’s brilliant and impressive for having an office with her age, but it seems far-fetched, thinking they’d do this.”
“Five years isn’t worth for shit. You can do work for other Corpo and still act like you can try. Sure, they might be friends, but sometimes you wanna prioritize yourself. Tell me. I’m sure you have times where you truly think that this is worth kicking your employers on the balls.”
“You know my records, Mr. Sato.”
He smiles. Takes a bite of his burger.
“I do. That is why I’m saying this. Damn thing is that we all act out sometimes. We have moments of weakness and even Kei had dealings with Von-Abel.”
I keep hearing about the Von-Abel thing. But so far I haven’t gotten enough to dig that info out of Kei. And Sato’s face tells me he isn’t exactly the kind of guy who’d share this type of information for free. It’ll be shameful for a guy who works in information sales to hand out info for free.
“So Eta was a snitch.”
“I’d call her a Leech. Make no mistake. I think they were friends, but there’s no rule in friendship: you can’t get a few bucks. You become buddies with someone, you’d expect that kind of trust, but in the end, the whole of our life, my friend, is the betterment of ourselves.”
Which makes me wonder if Kei knows?
“Of course she does! I’m sure that girl has an idea of what's up. She’s pragmatic and knows how to use it. But she also knows when to dip her nose and when to push buttons.”
“So all of this is to inform me of this, Sir?”
“Course’ not. I appreciate the hard work, but right now I want to dry the well. You know how it is. Demands we can increase the price and too much can be harmful to the business. I want you to find the right balance.”
Took me a while to get what he wanted. Still, Sato was a busy man and after saying his piece. He just left like it’s nothing.
You know? Despite some of my grievances with people like Sato. He’s not the worst of it all. Changye has people who are far worse than this.
Thinking about my previous workplaces sometimes sickens me. How I manage to survive all of that is something I wonder about sometimes.
I left the diner and found myself in the Neon Quarters. Found the place again and got myself a new blade. It’s the same blade, but this time he has a treat for me.
“Do you like it? The patterns now emit lightning on it. If you swing hard enough or use it with finesse. It'll have the same effect.”
I grabbed the hilt and for a second I thought I was holding Castor. But that can’t be right. Castor is more a blade made with pure scientific mastery while this one has the elements of the supernatural.
“Alchemized blade. How did you do?”
“I was a student, but now I am a master of it. Sir, I do not grant my blade to anyone and honestly from what my ears heard. You’ve done something worth earning that.”
For a moment I thought of using the blade. I smiled and asked him what was the name of it.
“I call it Raikiri.”
“Oh? Got a story of why you name it like that?”
The old man smiles.
“Tachibana Dōsetsu once cut down lightning. It was a myth, but considering the world we lived in. Perhaps all tales of the past are simply real. We simply didn’t believe them because we lost our connections.”
“I see. Well, it better be good, Sir. I did pay you most of my earnings for this blade.”
“You shattered my last sword so I thought I’d rather test the limits to it. But I have a bit of grasp of who you are now, friend. I think you’re the kind of guy that doesn’t boast much about your strength.”
“I don’t really do that. I think I don’t at least. Besides, what is there to boast about being the guy who can punch hard? I don’t carry weapons around for the sake of it. It’s for defense and the need. I do admit I find them cool. But beyond that. What we used them for is uncleaned. You can pretty up a blade, but it always has two purposes. To look good and to be used to cut and stab people.”
That was my feelings about any weapons. I think the old man agrees with me, but I think he also believes something else. What are weapons good for other than using it to hurt? I think he has an answer somewhere. But he seems to be the kind who’d rather have you find the answer for yourself.
“Anyway, thanks for the Raikiri. I might use it extensively and get a new one.”
“I hope it lasts. Still, I’m quite envious you’d care so much about that blade and pistol of yours that you’d rather not used it.”
I guess once you get attached to an object. It’s hard to let them go. It brings comfort and there are times where I need to hold on to things I believed in.
Think of it as the sword that grants me power. A sword and a gun that gives me strength to carry on. It’s complicated why I even hold on to this. Oh, they don’t have any magic in them, but I keep them for the sake of comfort.
I got back to Asobe and got inside the office. Kei’s browsing her computer. I stood on her side and handed over the data stick Sato gave me.
Kei plugs it without a word and then sighs at the info she’s reading.
“Well, I’m not surprised. Sato gave you this?”
“So you do know?”
“Akun. I survived in this city long enough to mistrust friends. Yeah, she’s doing transactions on the back, but it also gave value to our office. She gets money and new implants while we get free advertising, making it so they think we have importance and I get an employee who can guard me better.”
“So you were fine with it?”
“Yeah, I was. But with her dead or digitally cloned. It doesn’t matter. Guess she really did sell herself in the end and went digital.”
“You think Elvira’s alive?”
“Who knows? I did think it was strange for Elvira to croak like that. But I’d rather not think about it.”
“I was sure that you had a grudge.”
“It’s all business in the end. What she did, I can understand. Besides, I had a feeling she died too suspiciously. But what she does isn't our business, Akun. So, why tell me all of this?”
Sato didn’t even say anything about not revealing them either. And despite my previous grievances with working under people. I like how Kei operates. And it’s better to be under this kind of office than working elsewhere where freedom is limited.
“Didn’t tell me not to reveal it. And you seem to know already so I can’t bother to hide it.”
“Appreciate it. Still, Sato really knows how to make a business. I learned from that guy you know?”
“So we do as he says?”
“For now. But we’ll start reporting now and expand later so we don't have to listen to him and agree to his demands easily.”
“Explain.”
She stood up and gave me her best business smile.
“We were simply selling them at first. But if the anomaly reports. We can make a simple fanfare about it. Earn more by people who are interested in it. Not only do we get some cash from the clicks, we can make it so they’ll have the idea of clicking the ‘See more’ button.”
“Sounds like you’re running a news blog.”
“WE are running one. Honestly, investigating anomalies is hard and the data's better sold in parts. But there are no rules that say we can't let them get a taste of what we’re selling.”
“Sato approves of this?”
“He is a lover of money. Of course he does. And I'll make sure sooner or later. We don't have to answer to him.”
Kei says confidently. She has a plan which is good enough for me. And honestly it isn't bad being called an anomalist. And a title is is something you show in front of people. They are very convenient in this city. And right now Kei and I are the only people who can be called as Professional Anomalists.
