The pale-skinned girl leaned her elbows on the wooden fence of the terrace with a light, quiet sigh. Her snow-white hair fluttered from the gusts of warm fresh breeze.
Lifting her face, she let the rays of the sun go around her straw hat and touch the skin protected by creams.
Suddenly, her phone rang in the pocket of her shorts.
The girl opened her eyes and calmly put her hand in her pocket, took out a rather massive black satellite phone – I'm listening.
– Miss Heckmotyer... – a slightly timid male voice came from the speaker
– Did you find something? – the girl interrupted the man
— no. Nothing.
Coco frowned–Completely?
A sigh came from the speaker – Miss Heckmotyer, as you instructed, we checked the databases of eastern and western Europe. We even took the liberty and checked the USA, Canada and the UK. Nothing. This young man, from the photo, is not listed anywhere. Moreover, even just similar young people were not found.
– I see. – the girl exhaled through her nose
– Miss, the guy in question... the president... your father recommends giving up the idea of recruiting him and...
Coco's thumb calmly pressed the big button, ending the call.
– "Of course you will inform this bastard..." – the girl thought a little gloomily when she heard about her father – "Jack, Jack, Jack... You should be given the call sign "phantom" in time."
Coco knew Jack had "lost his memory," but she also suspected that if he had amnesia, it was probably incomplete. She had seen people with total memory loss, and the guy was not like them.
In addition to curiosity and caution, getting information about the past could help strengthen their bond, because the guy, she thought, would be grateful if she told him about him.
But to her surprise, the guy's past turned out to be a complete mystery, even after an in-depth search for information.
However, this did not frighten her at all and even intrigued her on the contrary. The girl, on the contrary, wanted to get him even more, especially after her father's words - "give up the idea." With her, it all worked exactly the opposite, and she was waiting for a new meeting with him.
– What, you didn't find anything on this Jack of yours? a woman with bright green eyes and a lazy smile asked slowly
Coco looked at the rather close-standing sofa. On it lay a bulky woman of thirty or forty years old in full combat gear.
Her figure competed with that of Valmet, which spoke of long and hard training. Her relatively short dark hair and muscular figure did not make her masculine. Perhaps good curves and big breasts were to blame for this, which also competed with Valmet's.
– Chiquita, you should change your clothes. Ten minutes have already passed since I returned.
"Oh, I'm so tired, Coco... So I want to fall down. – turning her head, the woman spoke in the manner of a child
– And yes, nothing was found on it, however, it only attracts me more. Coco grinned and walked over to the sofa, sat down on the woman's legs
Chiquita smiled a little wider – You're so excited about this boy...
Coco chuckled – If you stay with him for a while, you'll immediately understand why.
– We'll see.
...
– Here's your four bucks. – handing over the money, Jack said to a familiar taxi driver
– Help? – the taxi driver nodded at the bag with the stinger
– No, thanks. Jack smiled gratefully and got out of the car. Opening the back door, he took out a bag from the salon – That's all. Good luck.
– Likewise.
The car quietly drove away, and Jack turned to the hostel and took a stronger bag, went inside.
- "We need to buy a phone..." – he groaned mentally, realizing that with "mobile" it was possible to warn in advance and hope that you would be met
Now he needed to talk to the hostel staff somehow. Did they remember him? He knew the floor they lived on and their apartment, but under what name was Coco registered?
Jack, with a somewhat indecisive face, stood in the hall of the hostel, not far from the reception, and thought.
Fortunately for him, the elevator opened with a "tinkling" sound and Lam got out.
A man with a disinterested expression calmly took out a cigarette and looked up, saw a guy – Oh, you're back. – he smiled affably
Jack turned his head and with pleasant surprise, said – Lam.
–Well?" Did the stinger come in handy? – coming up, he asked with a grin
- Yes. Thanks a lot to Coco for letting me rent it.
Lam's grin froze, however, as did he–Seriously?
Jack, with a note of sadness, replied – It's a long time to tell everything, but it just so happened that a helicopter gunship arrived for my and my partners' soul. If it wasn't for that stinger... Well, we'd never see each other again.
They stood in absolute silence for a while. Lam's eyes stared blearily at Jack while the man himself pondered the situation.
– Amazing. It turns out that you were not mistaken and saved your comrades. – Lam said, nodding weakly – Amazing.
– To be honest, I'd rather be wrong. Jack smiled wryly
Lam nodded at the elevator–Then you would have wasted your money.
– It's better this way than experiencing the oppression of a combat helicopter.
– If you look at it that way, then yes. – Lam grinned, putting the cigarette back into the pack as they walked to the elevator – I've been in similar situations a couple of times, but there was no stinger for my cases.
–And... how did it go?" Jack asked with interest
– Not really. Of course, we managed to escape, but the losses once reached fifty percent. – the veteran said calmly, secretly sighing
– It must be a terrible sight. Jack frowned
- Yes... They could not even be buried properly, what to say about returning to their homeland. So the guys stayed, in the sands, on a foreign land... Ahem. – he coughed into his fist – Well, we're not talking about that. With your intuition, you shouldn't be afraid of this.
– I hope so. – the guy smiled thinly
The elevator went up to the right floor and opened with a tinkle.
Lam and Jack calmly went out and came across a dark-skinned man of neat appearance. This calm, well-groomed look and glasses contrasted sharply with the excellent musculature.
– Oh, Wil. They're already back. – Lam asked, approaching the man – How did we miss each other? he added with a laugh
- Yes. Everything went smoothly, as expected. – Wil answered and adjusted his glasses, with round lenses, looked at Jack – And you...
– Jack. – the guy introduced himself, nodding
– I guessed it. – Wil smiled amiably – The boss told us a little about you.
– So, this is Wil. – said Lam, putting his hand on the man's shoulder – He is responsible for everything that can explode. A real genius in his field. Never quarrel with him if you don't want to step on a mine one day.
– Don't talk nonsense. Wil waved him off and held out his hand for a handshake–As he already said, I am Wil. I'm in charge of explosives.
Jack shook hands, smiling modestly – And I am a simple "administrator" of a brothel. Let's get acquainted.
Wil grinned–Not bad, it's even a pity to tear you out of such a dusty job.
– I haven't joined you yet...
"That's true, but I know our miss and to be honest, I'm betting on her, ha–ha-ha. Wil laughed good – naturedly
– We'll see. Jack shrugged
Lam grinned–Okay, rest up.
With these words, the man led Jack on.
...
The door to the terrace opened, and Jack followed Lam in.
"Oh, did you hear that I came back and came looking for me?
Lam stopped, and Jack almost ran into him– Chiquita and you are here...
– Did you immediately wrinkle your face? – with the same lazy smile, she asked, – So you seem even older.
Jack looked out from behind the Lamb and saw Coco sitting on the legs of a woman in a uniform -"Chiquita... Oh~e, now not only Valmet can blow my head off, but also this lady..."
Chiquita
Strength - 29
Agility - 30
Survivability - 8
Perception - 25
Mind - 14
Volya - 22
Libido - 14
Quick reference: (show)
- "Women in this world, apparently, eat pure plutonium..." – sighing, he noticed
– Jack! Coco exclaimed in surprise and quickly got up from Chiquita 's feet
– Thank you very much, Coco. If you hadn't rented me that stinger, we wouldn't have seen each other again. Jack said gratefully, smiling gently. He put the bag with the stinger in place, took off his backpack and reached for the money.
Chiquita squinted, looking at the guy – "I see. This little bear is able to win women's hearts with such a simple and kind, but sweet smile."
Coco widened her eyes in surprise – did you need a Stinger?! Did your intuition not let you down?!
- Yes. – Jack nodded, pulling out a paper bag with money from his backpack – A helicopter gunship would have let me and my friends to the bottom of the ocean if not for this MANPADS. Thanks again, Coco. I only used one rocket. And here's some more money. There's still a little bit here, but the rocket should almost be covered.
– No need. – Coco raised her hands, which was still under the impression that the guy's intuition worked as it should
Jack frowned a little, wrinkling his forehead–This won't do. I'm in your debt.
With a smile, Lam slipped away under the guise, leaving Chiquita and Coco alone with the guy.
Coco raised her hands a little and spread them – Well, I'm not poor, believe me. Your money, a drop in the ocean...
– It's not about money, it's about gratitude. – Jack shook his head – This stinger saved my life and my friends. If you hadn't met me halfway, in fact, by doing a stupid thing for me, then I'd be lying at the bottom of the sea. I have nothing to offer except money.
Coco smiled good–naturedly, but a little greedily - But what about loyalty?
– I'm sorry, but no. – Jack smiled sweetly, making the girl's heart flutter – Take this money.
Coco's smile became a little playful and confident. She calmly took the bag with the money – Hmm, good. We'll consider it your contribution to your own equipment. With this money, I will buy you a uniform when you become my guard.
In response, Jack shook his head with his eyes closed with a slight smile. But suddenly he abruptly opened his eyes and saw that Chiquita had come up to them. Quickly and silently approached, it should be noted.
According to the characteristics, maybe Chiquita was weaker than the younger Valmet, but he seemed to feel that this woman was much more dangerous.
–That's the one I told you about. Coco said to the woman who came up
– Yes, I already understood. – Chiquita said calmly, circling around the guy like a shark circling over the victim – You have good taste.
Chiquita inhaled the guy's scent quite loudly, which made Jack's heart jump. To be honest, so far it seemed that this lady by nature is a kind of hodgepodge of Revi, Balalaika and Coco, but with a Valmet body. It sounds scary already, and when she inhaled so loudly behind him...
- "Gunther! Turn off the "Devil's Body" for a while!" – Jack shouted mentally – "Hey! Answer me!"
However, Mr. Mirror only smiled maliciously.
– "Monster!" – Jack finally spat at him mentally and swallowed, smiled tightly – This...
Coco waved her hand– Sorry, sorry. This is Chiquita, another of my guards.
– One of her very first guards. – Chiquita herself added, going up to Coco and looking with a predatory cunning and frankly playful squint at Jack – You're not bad, you have potential. When you become one of us, I will personally take care of yours... training.
– "Fuck, turn off the fucking modifier!" – Jack once again mentally shouted with conflicting emotions and feeling like an antelope in front of a hungry lioness – "This is already some kind of sur!"
- "Jack, Jack, Jack, I promised to make you a flycatcher..." – Gunther said with a grin
"So far, I feel like a victim, not a hunter!"
– "Well, here's an extra reason and motivation to become stronger."
- "I don't need such motivation!"
- "Hush, hush, then you will thank me."
- "I doubt it very much."
It's not that Jack doesn't like Chiquita... In fact, she was very much to his taste, it's just that there are already so many ladies who want to snatch him, and here's another one.
By the way, he was going to be a valiant paladin, doing good and doing justice, and here comes some way of the "King of the Harem".
Although with his powers and such women, it's more like a path to the grave. - "How is it that I collect girls on my tail faster than I do good deeds?.."
– "And what did you want with the "Evil System", then?"
- "Oh, don't you gurgle. You are the main culprit in what is happening." – Jack mentally sighed and smiled wryly – There are no plans to join you yet, but I will keep in mind. And Valmet is already training me.
Chiquita smiled lazily – Nothing, two coaches are better than one, right? – at the same time, the woman mentally noticed – "If Valmet is in business, then the boy is clearly unique."
– Maybe. – Jack licked his dry lips and shifted his gaze to Coco – Before I leave, I need to discuss something with you.
Coco's eyes flashed with curiosity–What is it?
– It's going to be about... okay, I won't cheat, I still won't succeed. – smiling, the guy shook his head – In general, my boss wants to arrange for the acquisition of information.
Coco raised an eyebrow, and Jack hurried to explain everything– It's about your clients. Sophie, that is, Balalaika is interested in your deals with the strong of this heavenly place. If you could tell me where the transaction and exchange are taking place, then...
– I see. – Coco squinted, smiling with a trademark smile – By revealing such information, I am risking my reputation a lot... So what do I get?
– Money?.. – as if asking himself, Jack said
– Money is good, but what if I wanted to take something more from Balalaika in exchange... unique?
Coco's blue eyes shone with cunning, greed and mystery.
– Barter? Hmm, for example?.. Jack lowered his head slightly, anticipating the answer
– You. Coco replied instantly
Chiquita, nearby, grinned broadly. She liked how her boss purposefully went to her goal, in the form of such a guy. The woman already guessed that Coco was breathing unevenly towards Jack, so this purposefulness was doubly pleasing.
– You will already discuss this with the boss.
– I'm interested in your opinion. Coco squinted
Jack was silent for a while, looking at the girl's expectant face.
With a sigh, he answered – Rather no than yes. Coco, it just so happens that I want to help people, and here in Ruanapur, this human help is needed more than anywhere else. I would like to join your team, to see the world, but then I will betray myself. Do you understand?
Coco's face became calm, and her look was approving. A thin smile said that the girl was quite happy with the answer – I understand. Hmm, your purpose and zeal are commendable, but you're wrong if you think you can't combine it and working for me. However, this is a topic for another conversation. A longer conversation, and you don't seem to have the time and, more importantly, the strength.
Jack grinned weakly, nodding wearily.
– I'll call Balalaika and we'll talk about everything. – Coco smiled charmingly – Go get some rest, but remember that tomorrow morning you have a workout.
– I didn't forget about that. – Jack smiled sweetly in response and turned around, stomped to the landing – See you tomorrow, Coco.
– See you later, Jack.
...
After leaving the hostel, Jack sighed – So, now we need to go to the Balalaika...