Specters 2

She stared at the screen.

"The recent incident indicates that the police have stepped up their approach in protecting our city. Record-high violence, groundbreaking tech that threatens the lives of the common citizen. Will this continue?"

She blinked. Footsteps could be heard. Vincent Gaius looked around while visibly exhausted.

"Where's Big Sis?"

"She's guarding our Little Madam. How's work?"

"Pretty good, considering that she sent me out to take down four armored humanoid units. The Bethany has been rather eager that it makes me worry about them fucking us over."

Naomi looked over.

"You are quite a worrywart, Gaius."

"Excuse me for lamenting that we might get kicked in the ass. Look, I am confident that we can somewhat manage after that agreement with the Bethany Clan. But trust them a hundred percent? No can do."

"I know. But right now she's a child. The Madam is a child. She's smart, has a lot of knowledge regarding business, and clearly a prodigy of her own right. But she's a child who went through a lot of trouble."

Vincent slid on the count. He stared.

"Can't get used to how she treats us."

"You mean, sis? I mean her heart is frozen, but she still does us good. She doesn't send us to missions where we can die. And she handles most of the extreme threat that she might as well be a living shield for the Madam."

"Still amazed how she cut that Armored Humanoid in half. I want a ghost tech like hers."

"Good luck finding one."

Vincent shrugged. He leaned forward. His eyes on the television.

"Saw the wallpaper."

"We don't talk about the wallpaper."

"Don't see why she'd be… the type."

"Cut it out. I don't know much other than her partner was quite charming enough that even the little madam couldn't easily forget it."

"Geez, he must be quite the charmer."

"You looked it up?"

"Nope."

"They used to spar according to the madam. Said that they were somewhat evenly matched, hell, even Sis told me that when they first met. He easily took her on."

Vincent raised a brow.

"Must be strong… he augmented?"

"Nope. Pure human. Had him tested. Probably why he died after getting shot twice by a sniper rifle. I don't think of surviving when being double-tapped."

"And this happened in front of her?"

"Yup. Dodged the first bullet, but didn't manage to dodge the rest. Anyway, we shouldn't talk about that. She goes into a colder mood if she does hear of it again."

Naomi thought back of the previous mood changes. Been months since she's been working with her and although the chance of her sis getting another man is close to zero now without her rather obsessive temperament in protecting the Madam. Naomi sincerely hoped that she'd manage to get that frustrating pain out of her.

Though as a professional, she remains top of her game. If anything from what she could gather from her previous jobs. That her Sis had quite a reputation for violence and that it only got worse after the incident in Agua.

"She's here."

Vincent's augments in terms of senses were quite superior. Naomi sat properly while Vincent sat straight on the couch. Sis Kim strode inside the base while keeping a hand on her hiltless sword.

She waved a hand. Naomi threw the remote and she switched it to a video call channel.

"Looks like you are here."

A man in his sixties that was mostly made of cybernetic implants appeared.

"Urite, what's your call now?"

"There are changes here in Karagi. Since you wanted me to handle the assets as a favor. I say that you are mostly fine."

He sent a video clip.

It was a sighting of a group of three. From the files she had been able to read. That was Nix, an Enforcer working for the Desperados. Next to Nix were people she didn't recognize.

"This true?"

Sis Kim frowned. Vincent glared.

"Ran a scan on them. That there is Nix. She has a synthetic body now, but my eye can tell who that woman is. That woman is Marion no doubt. You know her. But what you need to know right now is this one."

He zoomed in on a man holding a modernized revolver.

"Recognize that gear and look everywhere."

"That Morgan?"

Morgan was one of the deadliest mercs in Pacifica. He wasn't just active in Pacifica and had done a lot of jobs that made him a Nightmare to those who are set against him. He chose his job and had so many completed missions that made him one of the prized mercs.

However, Morgan disappeared and went dark. No one knew where he went and some speculated that he died after his mission to stop a reactor. Of course, it was all speculation.

"Might be fake," Sis Kim answered.

Urite shook his head.

"If there is one thing that I know about that bastard. He never ever let any bastard know where his gear is. So unless that person has biometrics or some kind of method to take his gear. That ghost tech he is wearing is a legitimate item."

Sis Kim went quiet. She blinked.

"So it's a takeover?"

"It is. From the data they courteously sent for us to steer away. Don't know what the deal is. Why two feared mercs are trying to place a stake in Karagi, but I guess it has to do with the recent changes here in Pacifica. What goes around in Pacifica affects Karagi, the saying goes."

"Are they a threat?"

"Unlikely, but from the looks of it they are working under the guise of being an information broker. You do a job for them and they offer intel."

"Intel reliable?"

"Yup to the point that everyone is hoping to get a job for them. Whole reason that I'm calling in the first place is because of this.

He played a file.

It showed an emblem of Morgan's mask with the word Specter and two words on the ribbon below.

"Orlov Files."

Sis Kim's eyes twitched. She continued watching and then her face went grimmer as the three of them watched the whole clip.

"They are threatening us while offering benefits."

Urite summarized the whole clip.

"So do we take it? I sent the data to the madam. We'll have to give 5% of the stocks if we do."

"Your opinion?"

"I say take it. They ain't hostile. Marion, Nix, and especially Morgan are bad for business. And they keep their word. Not to mention that this will get us control of the servers."

"When did he have time to place a backdoor on the servers?"

"Don't know. So I take it that you accept"

"Accept it. Tell them to hand over the servers and have it fixed."

She turned towards Naomi and Vincent.

"You two. We're moving the schedule ahead. Gear up."

"Seriously?"

"If you want to stay, be my guest. Urite, accept it, then we'll move to securing the position."

"Understand."

Sis Kim breathed out.

"Okay, let's remove them from their seats."

The cold fury in Kim Jisoo's made Naomi shiver. Sighting to herself, she followed Kim Jisoo to the armory, readying herself for another bloodbath.