Intermezzo Crescendo

The black third layer was quite a stiff long coat that was longer than her thighs, making her look like someone small who wore loose clothing, but that was negated by the second piece of the multilayered coat with its orange-colored center front seam popping with multiple energy veins of blue.

The first red layer was almost not visible, as it was mostly meant to separate the second layer that was filled with energy formation that could heat a whole instant cup like a microwave from touching the skin.

Now that she didn't wear the jacket with mane and hoodie, I could see that she was wearing a white blouse with fancy ruffled lace that stretched to the front center seam like a V.

"With the iconic winter clothing aesthetic from the mane hoodie gone, you look less menacing than a squirrel, Lila."

"I object to that statement, Mr. Faust! This is more comfortable than the jacket!"

With how the flow was going, I ended up wearing the prototype outside of my shirt and replaced my black tie with the brown tie sported with golden tendrils that have a slightly red hue at every end of the line.

Tenniel helped me with the outfit even though I don't need any help in putting it on. The man also offered me a healing kit but after checking on my broken left arm closely, he concluded that he needed better healing consumables.

Which the Streetlight Talon kinda lacked.

"What do you folks usually do to a heavily wounded personnel?"

"We usually sent them to the Office that specialized in those." Tenniel frowned. "Didn't trust much of the shady clinics that exist within this District. Want me to recommend some?"

"I'm good, having one hand is more than enough."

"Ja! That must be the hand that crushed one of the Golden Beard's hearts."

For my personal opinion, this uniform looked ten times fancier than their currently used black jacket. Then again, removing the mane would give the people that lived in their turf some eye checking if it went officially distributed to every member.

Though for once, it had been a while since I wore clothing that was worth a lot of money. Quite an experience I must say.

After the tall green-head put on her new uniform, she blushed a little bit as she tried her best to cover it up with a confident smile.

"While it made Lila more tame and dignified, why did it make Gilga look more intimidating?"

"I don't know." Toronto caressed her chin. "Probably because she is a pure brute."

"Shut up, midgets don't have the privilege to comment on my looks."

"Uhm, why am I wearing this too?" said Nusa, who happened to be included in this session of the early batch of the newest uniform distribution.

"Buckle up." Toronto drew a smoke from his cigarette. "Cause you will be going with the Phantasmal Leprechaun."

So that's what you're aiming for, huh? "I get some goons too? Sweet."

"Uhm, pardon me, Sir Toronto?"

Toronto ignored the act of reconfirming that Nusa performed and approached the happy-go-lucky Tenniel instead.

"Tenniel, appoint one of your inexperienced personnel to the Phantasmal Leprechaun."

"We're giving the younglings some extra classes, ja?" Tenniel's smile widened, he then moved her fingers again to send some command at his possibly high-tech automated sensor. "Sure! I'll call my newest member within my department."

"I'm afraid that I won't be doing any daycare."

"Don't be afraid, the people we sent might not be the brightest, but they have a clear potential to be deployed on the frontline of a war."

"Sir Toronto… I think you're overestimating me."

Suddenly, the hidden entrance to this room was opened, revealing a female in her eighteen with braided pink hair and clear white eyes who threw her hand forward as a greeting.

"Olla! Is Sir Tenniel in here?"

It was really surprising to see another owner of rare lineage within this Syndicate aside from Gilga. It might be me but I started to feel suspicious about how far the owner of this Syndicate plans to observe the outside world when it comes to recruiting people.

"Ja! That's fast of you, Neijya." Tenniel blurped. "Go wear the prototype that you helped in development, I'll tell you after that."

"Hai?"

Neijya seemed to have confirmed her superior command but as she did so, she don a permanent face that screams 'confusion' while she shyly eyed each and everyone who were available within the white room.

"From now on, you will be shifted to a new Headlamp." Tenniel shrugged, possibly filled with amusement as he confused the poor girl even more. "Now go get your equipment and standby near the workshop's reception area to greet your new Headlamp's leader."

"Hai??"

Neijya did what was told and immediately exited the room with even more confusion.

"Working under the White Rabbit must be hard, huh." Gilga snickered.

"Ja, they need to be capable in judgment and mental assortment." He then went to face Toronto. "Do you have more cigarettes?"

"Nay."

"Preposterous!"

"I can see the reason for those requirements," said Lila. Her face was still cheery after acquiring a new uniform.

"Well then, while everyone is here, I'll cut into the chase." I opened my wounded eye. "To all of you, what are the lives of 39 people that have been taken?"

The atmosphere became heavy, as everyone remembered the faces that they usually saw in their daily lives, only for them to be buried soon after.

But their faces weren't those of despair. It was those of respect and weight. Everyday, they must've lost the people that they once ate at the same dining table. Those who work at the same department.

Those who have the same aspiration. There might be a day where it was worse than the death tolls of today, and there would probably be tomorrow that was worse than today.

Everyone has their own tales.