Kei, accompanied by Aidan, met up with Sato. The old man eyeing Sato with an expression as if he’d draw his sword on him.
“Funny how the world works.”
“It is, Sato.”
Sato looked around.
“Where’s your Assistant?”
“He’s been called by the Redmonds.”
Kei said with quite an annoyance. Sato made a tiny smile and led them inside the building and inward to the room where Sato kept all the intel. As Kei interacted eyed the intel, she received a data link. She gave Sato a nod and plugged her personal link to the data projector. The data she saw projects how much the plague will spread. Covering most of the Landbridge and the Southern Countries. Unsurprisingly, the Americas were unaffected yet, with only South America having only one country showing signs of the plague affecting a victim. Kei’s not surprised. Their affection for chrome had made them worship cybernetics as their preferred choice for enhancing themselves. The New Imperial Japan and the Fourth Reich had no data at all. Showing how little of a reach the Otherside Bureau has on them.
“Interesting, so it’s even more dangerous than we thought.”
Sato compared the data with his own, and the projections of it made Kei frown. She had done her research after Matt had left them with all the data he gave them. It was fascinating to Kei how many hidden histories there were and how there’s a side of the world she hadn’t known. Kei wasn’t delusional enough to think she was the first to investigate the anomalies, so it wasn’t a big deal at all. Now she understood why they could handle some anomalies they discovered easily. Perhaps they got used to it before she did. The Bureau had always been watchful and if you match their expectations, they always reply in kind.
Still, the thought of her efforts being merely a ‘test’ bothered her. Kei suspects they were planning to reveal the anomalies gradually, and they found their way of doing that by using her. Kei thought it was luck, but it seemed like she’s part of the grand plans of the Otherside Bureau. It didn’t feel nice being manipulated, but she still believed her efforts mattered. If the Bureau didn’t like, Kei doubts she’d be standing.
Sato observed her dully.
“It seemed like you have a lot on your mind.”
“Yeah, I feel somewhat shit, but I guess this should have been obvious from the start.”
Sato barked a laugh. “It’s how things are, Kei. Unlike others, they’d deny it, but you’d accept it and move on because you have enough wits to understand we are at the mercy of the Otherside Bureau.”
Kei sighed and crossed her arms. She wasn’t a child who’ll throw a tantrum because she didn’t get her way. What mattered to her was that she reached this far with little help. So what if she got played? It only meant to her she was good enough to impress the Bureau.
“Make me understand,” Aidan said. “We are looking for anomalies. But what we are searching for right now is a plague. This wasn’t part of the plan.”
Sato moved the projector and showed a footage.
“The plague is the anomaly. You could say that what we are searching for is the source of the plague. The Bureau wants it found and they’ll need every data they have to concoct a prediction.” Sato looked at Kei. “Did you share the intel with Aidan?”
“I did.”
“I know enough that the Demis are part of this somehow. That they escape the flaying and the Bureau had been trying to hide this?”
“Do you know much about the story?” Kei asked.
“Only that the Pale Magus killed them all. Butchered its way to through the continents and settled down on the Landbridge after killing the last Demi. He was a pain the ass who killed Liches and made every slayer who heard of him tremble.”
The Pale Magus was popular. An urban legend of a slayer who slew through beings and caused the death of the entire cult. His footages were popular because he was so active and didn’t bow down to the Bureau and fought the Bureau on occasions. Although Kei sometimes thinks his legend was nothing more than a doctored propaganda. So Kei’s pleasantly astonished that the Pale Magus was real.
“The Pale Magus had gone missing as of late,” Sato said. “It had been a half a decade since the last appearance. Some say he got killed, and others mention he had vanished completely.”
“And how will this help with anything?” Aidan asked. “I understand that the Pale Magus had been instrumental in the Demi’s death. But I don’t think even he could stop a magical plague stop. If we’re looking for a cure for this affliction, then you’ve all gone mad. We’re mercenaries. What do we know of curing a magical plague?”
“Indeed. Still, it’s better if your office knows. Like it or hate it. You’ve become part of this once you learned of the plague from the Redmonds.”
Kei groaned. She somewhat regretted being involved with this. But there’s no sense crying over spilled milk. Not to mention, she’d rather know what’s happening than be ignorant. Kei would rather face the problem than ignore it. Even if they can’t do anything about this, she still could put it on their resume how they tried to help solve this crisis. She found it funny how Sato looked like he’s trying to act serious when this man held profits like God more than anyone here. She wondered what deal did this man make with the Bureau for him to assist on this problem?
Sato sorted through the data. Kei listened with Aidan until they got what they need. As they were leaving, Sato stopped Kei.
“What do you think? Think you’ll be able to find the cause first?”
“I’d be the luckiest woman if I somehow find it.” Kei let out a small laugh. She crossed her arm, her eyes on the sterilized streets of Upper Changye. This place always creeped her out, no matter what.
Sato barked a laugh and went back inside. Aidan rubbed the soles of his boot on the road and then grunted.
“I remember you promising that this will be about street level only.”
“I know,” Kei said. “But that’s how things are. Going to quit?”
“No. My boys somewhat prefer this arrangement. It’s not bad either. Being a Freelancer, one without affiliation, is hard and as our numbers swell, it’s hard to make the boys think they’ll have a better life.”
Aidan looked around and then take in the sterilized air. “I don’t like the idea of influenced by the Bureau, but at this age, I’ve grown to tolerate them. They could be lying about all of this.”
“What makes you say that?” Kei asked seriously.
“It’s not the first time. The Bureau functions to this day because they know how to adapt. They could have started this plague to force the hand of the others, tell us to adapt.”
Kei tried to light a smoke when a bot stopped her. She pocketed her cigarette, and they made their way to the elevator leading down.
“That thought based on experience working with them?”
“Yeah. The Bureau’s tolerant. It endures because it conforms, tolerates, and allows some things. It’s through compromise, adaption, and pretending to be good that they can keep on. You work with the Bureau enough and you’ll understand they are necessary for a broken world like ours.”
The streets were sparse. The only ones left were heading to their destinations as if hurried. Shops they came across were full of signs. No Mages welcome, they say. Although the flaying plague targeted mages and priests, it’s natural for them to avoid them than risk infection. Just because it doesn’t harm them doesn’t mean that it might not evolve. Kei was actually worried about that. Most of the data they saw on Sato’s projection tells that back in the past, there were no signs of priest flaying themselves.
What if the plague mutates? What if it seeps into the body of a normal person, too? Every living being on this earth possessed magic. It’s said that charms, talismans work because they interact with the soul of the person. It bothered Kei. She felt somewhat anxious, but what can she do?
As they entered Asobe Street and enter the office. Kei found Akun on his desk, gloomily watching through the footage. It can’t be, she thought. Kei was afraid of thinking about it, but it looked like she was right again.
“We have a problem.”
Her Assistant showed a footage of a salaryman typing away, then stopping as if it to find something wrong only for the man to skim himself.
“And here I was thinking this might happen,” Kei kneaded her forehead.
She somewhat hated the fact she could guess it.
The first case of a person, not a mage or a priest, had happened.
karsev
Epilogue of Part 3
Thank you for reading so far!
Kei, accompanied by Aidan, met up with Sato. The old man eyeing Sato with an expression as if he’d draw his sword on him.
“Funny how the world works.”
“It is, Sato.”
Sato looked around.
“Where’s your Assistant?”
“He’s been called by the Redmonds.”
Kei said with quite an annoyance. Sato made a tiny smile and led them inside the building and inward to the room where Sato kept all the intel. As Kei interacted eyed the intel, she received a data link. She gave Sato a nod and plugged her personal link to the data projector. The data she saw projects how much the plague will spread. Covering most of the Landbridge and the Southern Countries. Unsurprisingly, the Americas were unaffected yet, with only South America having only one country showing signs of the plague affecting a victim. Kei’s not surprised. Their affection for chrome had made them worship cybernetics as their preferred choice for enhancing themselves. The New Imperial Japan and the Fourth Reich had no data at all. Showing how little of a reach the Otherside Bureau has on them.
“Interesting, so it’s even more dangerous than we thought.”
Sato compared the data with his own, and the projections of it made Kei frown. She had done her research after Matt had left them with all the data he gave them. It was fascinating to Kei how many hidden histories there were and how there’s a side of the world she hadn’t known. Kei wasn’t delusional enough to think she was the first to investigate the anomalies, so it wasn’t a big deal at all. Now she understood why they could handle some anomalies they discovered easily. Perhaps they got used to it before she did. The Bureau had always been watchful and if you match their expectations, they always reply in kind.
Still, the thought of her efforts being merely a ‘test’ bothered her. Kei suspects they were planning to reveal the anomalies gradually, and they found their way of doing that by using her. Kei thought it was luck, but it seemed like she’s part of the grand plans of the Otherside Bureau. It didn’t feel nice being manipulated, but she still believed her efforts mattered. If the Bureau didn’t like, Kei doubts she’d be standing.
Sato observed her dully.
“It seemed like you have a lot on your mind.”
“Yeah, I feel somewhat shit, but I guess this should have been obvious from the start.”
Sato barked a laugh. “It’s how things are, Kei. Unlike others, they’d deny it, but you’d accept it and move on because you have enough wits to understand we are at the mercy of the Otherside Bureau.”
Kei sighed and crossed her arms. She wasn’t a child who’ll throw a tantrum because she didn’t get her way. What mattered to her was that she reached this far with little help. So what if she got played? It only meant to her she was good enough to impress the Bureau.
“Make me understand,” Aidan said. “We are looking for anomalies. But what we are searching for right now is a plague. This wasn’t part of the plan.”
Sato moved the projector and showed a footage.
“The plague is the anomaly. You could say that what we are searching for is the source of the plague. The Bureau wants it found and they’ll need every data they have to concoct a prediction.” Sato looked at Kei. “Did you share the intel with Aidan?”
“I did.”
“I know enough that the Demis are part of this somehow. That they escape the flaying and the Bureau had been trying to hide this?”
“Do you know much about the story?” Kei asked.
“Only that the Pale Magus killed them all. Butchered its way to through the continents and settled down on the Landbridge after killing the last Demi. He was a pain the ass who killed Liches and made every slayer who heard of him tremble.”
The Pale Magus was popular. An urban legend of a slayer who slew through beings and caused the death of the entire cult. His footages were popular because he was so active and didn’t bow down to the Bureau and fought the Bureau on occasions. Although Kei sometimes thinks his legend was nothing more than a doctored propaganda. So Kei’s pleasantly astonished that the Pale Magus was real.
“The Pale Magus had gone missing as of late,” Sato said. “It had been a half a decade since the last appearance. Some say he got killed, and others mention he had vanished completely.”
“And how will this help with anything?” Aidan asked. “I understand that the Pale Magus had been instrumental in the Demi’s death. But I don’t think even he could stop a magical plague stop. If we’re looking for a cure for this affliction, then you’ve all gone mad. We’re mercenaries. What do we know of curing a magical plague?”
“Indeed. Still, it’s better if your office knows. Like it or hate it. You’ve become part of this once you learned of the plague from the Redmonds.”
Kei groaned. She somewhat regretted being involved with this. But there’s no sense crying over spilled milk. Not to mention, she’d rather know what’s happening than be ignorant. Kei would rather face the problem than ignore it. Even if they can’t do anything about this, she still could put it on their resume how they tried to help solve this crisis. She found it funny how Sato looked like he’s trying to act serious when this man held profits like God more than anyone here. She wondered what deal did this man make with the Bureau for him to assist on this problem?
Sato sorted through the data. Kei listened with Aidan until they got what they need. As they were leaving, Sato stopped Kei.
“What do you think? Think you’ll be able to find the cause first?”
“I’d be the luckiest woman if I somehow find it.” Kei let out a small laugh. She crossed her arm, her eyes on the sterilized streets of Upper Changye. This place always creeped her out, no matter what.
Sato barked a laugh and went back inside. Aidan rubbed the soles of his boot on the road and then grunted.
“I remember you promising that this will be about street level only.”
“I know,” Kei said. “But that’s how things are. Going to quit?”
“No. My boys somewhat prefer this arrangement. It’s not bad either. Being a Freelancer, one without affiliation, is hard and as our numbers swell, it’s hard to make the boys think they’ll have a better life.”
Aidan looked around and then take in the sterilized air. “I don’t like the idea of influenced by the Bureau, but at this age, I’ve grown to tolerate them. They could be lying about all of this.”
“What makes you say that?” Kei asked seriously.
“It’s not the first time. The Bureau functions to this day because they know how to adapt. They could have started this plague to force the hand of the others, tell us to adapt.”
Kei tried to light a smoke when a bot stopped her. She pocketed her cigarette, and they made their way to the elevator leading down.
“That thought based on experience working with them?”
“Yeah. The Bureau’s tolerant. It endures because it conforms, tolerates, and allows some things. It’s through compromise, adaption, and pretending to be good that they can keep on. You work with the Bureau enough and you’ll understand they are necessary for a broken world like ours.”
The streets were sparse. The only ones left were heading to their destinations as if hurried. Shops they came across were full of signs. No Mages welcome, they say. Although the flaying plague targeted mages and priests, it’s natural for them to avoid them than risk infection. Just because it doesn’t harm them doesn’t mean that it might not evolve. Kei was actually worried about that. Most of the data they saw on Sato’s projection tells that back in the past, there were no signs of priest flaying themselves.
What if the plague mutates? What if it seeps into the body of a normal person, too? Every living being on this earth possessed magic. It’s said that charms, talismans work because they interact with the soul of the person. It bothered Kei. She felt somewhat anxious, but what can she do?
As they entered Asobe Street and enter the office. Kei found Akun on his desk, gloomily watching through the footage. It can’t be, she thought. Kei was afraid of thinking about it, but it looked like she was right again.
“We have a problem.”
Her Assistant showed a footage of a salaryman typing away, then stopping as if it to find something wrong only for the man to skim himself.
“And here I was thinking this might happen,” Kei kneaded her forehead.
She somewhat hated the fact she could guess it.
The first case of a person, not a mage or a priest, had happened.
karsev
Epilogue of Part 3
Thank you for reading so far!
