Spider Webs

"Oh, the blooming, bloody spider went up the spider web,

"The blooming, bloody rain came down and washed the spider out,

"The blooming, bloody sun came out and dried up all the rain,

"And the blooming, bloody spider came up the web again."

It was 20:10 by the time we finished the hunt.

Nusa killed 31 people within the files.

Neijya killed 34 people within the files.

In the end, we killed around 89 members of Yugen Extra, and possibly had suppressed over 378 people that weren't in the list.

We had a two hours break afterwards. I brought both of these new young hunters to the Cassandra Tavern to get wasted before we continued on the preparation for the 'gallery'.

While we want to call it a day and rest after a day full of adrenaline, we haven't finished the whole point of the hunt.

Regardless, the morale was high, and both Nusa and Neijya seemed to not really mind working extra after all of that focused rampage.

"Leader, isn't the lyric supposed to be 'Itsy, bitsy' instead of 'Blooming, bloody'?"

Neijya carefully weaved the web onto the bars of the ceilings.

"That version is already washed up, mine is the original."

"Mr. Faust, you seem to know a lot of things. Did you teach yourself all of these theories and psychological warfare methods?"

Nusa spun the rope before pulling it, presenting the fallen corpse that was hanged.

"Sometimes, experience comes in handy. Most of the time, imagination is the true asset of war where everything is fair till the dusk and dawn."

One hour later.

The preparation was done.

Nusa then tried to connect to the HQ of the Streetlight Talon using a communication device that he brought. After the connection was made, I took the device and spoke to the female voice on the other side.

"This is Faust Hecates, the leader of Headlamp Zero. I wish to speak to the Cheshire Cat immediately."

"Affirmative, I shall connect you to the Cheshire Cat right away."

Two beepings later, a voice of someone familiar took over the channel. While faint, there seemed to be a lot of voices in the background accompanied by numerous sounds of clashing steels.

"This is the Cheshire Cat, anything you want to report, Leprechaun?"

Per usual, Toronto didn't give any shit and acted like he was supposed to be.

"The deed is done, I want you to come to the storage building. Make sure to bring some people with you for some extra testimony."

"I see, I'll be right there in forty minutes at estimation."

"I can see that you're fighting something, what are you doing there?"

"Hmm? Nothing unusual, I'm just bringing a couple of Headlamps to exterminate some scums in our territory."

"I see, you're pulling the annoying weeds in the backyard, ey? Is that some crackling of fire I heard there? Don't tell me that you're having a barbeque party in the middle of the job."

"As much as I want that to be true, we're mostly testing another prototype made from a newly acquired patent. Though, I guessed that your squad is hungry after the manhunt, yes? If so, I'll bring some food from the Cassandra Tavern."

"Huh, make sure that you tell some people to bring some plastic bags." Despite the Cheshire Cat won't see my gesture, I pointed at the pink-haired Lunarian. "For a hint, Neijya, a former engineering personnel, has thrown up three times in our line of work."

A single line of "Hey! Don't tell that" was shouted beside my left ear.

"I see." There was a sound of high-pitched ruptured air from the swing of a sword, accompanied by a scream afterwards. "I appreciate the tips but I think that my people can endure it. Likewise, Miss Neijya needs to keep herself together."

The aforementioned 'Miss Neijya' was also frustratingly complaining in the form of drumming my back with two fisted hands. It felt more like a massage though.

I threw a couple more banter with both of my young teammates about something rather philosophical in some aspect. In which, I was quite dumbfounded knowing that it somehow led into that path.

The three of us then exited the storage. Out of boredom, we squatted outside like some kids left behind unknowingly by their parents, or the hobos that were gathering with weeds—as we were sorting out looted weapons outside.

"Aside from all of that, what both of you have learned after getting mentally and physically tortured to kill and capture the enemies of your organization while memorizing the birthday of one hundred people?"

"It might be weird," said Nusa with an embarrassed smile. "But I think I learned, or rather, have my knowledge amplified regarding the concept of humanity at the most basic instinct of our kin."

"Ooh, that's quite sophisticated. What's up?"

"It's something that we are all supposed to know but lacking the courage to acknowledge it." The young man looked at the starry night sky of neon light. "The courage to see that 'attention' and 'effort' are limited resources, and it feels really emphasized after knowing that this has been the most productive day of my life."

Neijya stopped examining the fancy weapons that she was tinkering with, in an attempt to upgrade her chainsaw and went to approach us before squatting to start listening to our conversation.

"Huh, that is something, coming from the mouth of an intelligence officer who racks their brain and handles a thousand pieces of information everyday," I said with a playfully sarcastic tone.

"Ahahaha. While it might be that way, Mr. Faust, it can't be compared to the intensity of carefully picking out the right target with the right appearance, the right date of birth, that also needs to be within the criteria of the cues."

"And also fighting and trying to not kill any people that's not within the files." Neijya made an oddly cute troubled face. "It's so scary, so nerve wrecking, so dangerous. I almost want to cry at any given moment when I point my weapon at the wrong person.

"Yet, I don't even have any time to do that, my focus is pointed at the same angle all the time, and it might also be the first time I experience all of that."

"How old are you both again?"