Not Alice In Wonderland

It wasn't rare for an organized Syndicate to produce their own equipment and technology, rather than requesting a Workshop to supply everything from the jazzy suit and tie to a uniquely produced weapon that could only be acquired by joining the organization.

Beside the receptionist was a large entrance to a large room full of engineers where all kinds of manufacturing and crafting activity could be spectated.

It was also one of the reasons why I offered to temporarily join the Streetlight Talon as a member instead of a third party mercenary.

So far, it seemed like Toronto had his head aligned with what I predicted of the unsaid benefits.

"Notify the White Rabbit," said Toronto to the female receptionist.

"Hmm, so we are in a wonderland, huh?" I caressed my chin, raising an eyebrow. "So who's the Cheshire Cat?"

Gilga shrugged playfully. "That would be the never-grinning Toronto."

"Then what are you three?" I asked.

"I'm just a normal leader of Headlamp 31."

"I'm the assistant of the Headlamp 31's leader!"

"I'm just an intelligence officer."

"Huh, I thought Chief Gilga is somewhat of a Bloody Red Queen.."

"I'm not that barbarish, uncle."

After a short wait, a man with prominent brown facial hair on his face approached us with a can of beer in his hand, wearing the same jacket as what everyone was wearing in this building.

"Ayyy! It is the Cheshire Cat! What's the hold up?"

"Give us a room, Tenniel, and I'll tell you." The Cheshire Cat, Toronto, gave a hand sign, with not a single hint of grin on his face.

"Aight, hop right in!"

Passing the hallway beside the main workshop area, we arrived at a wide room of white as the door behind us shut, leaving no trace of a door to the outside. And possibly no way of information going in and out.

After everything was set, Tenniel the White Rabbit then let out a question.

"Ja, so anything you want to tell me with the girls and boys there?"

Toronto started to light up a cigarette as he began the conversation. "Have you been updated by the newest news?"

"You mean the new threat to the Association that wounded the Golden Beard? Ja, I already updated this head of mine to the latest news and gossip material."

"We got the Phantasmal Leprechaun in this very room."

The beer burst out of Tenniel's throat, leaving him coughing with a pain in his stomach as he tried to straighten his posture. He took a deep breath, before speaking, "Say that again?". His eyes were fixated at Toronto as he attempted to take a sip of his beer.

"The aforementioned Phantasmal Leprechaun is going to temporarily join the Streetlight Talon."

Another stream of bursting alcohol was spurted onto the white floor. Tenniel coughed more terribly than the last as it took him twenty second before he could mutter any words.

"You're not kidding?" He then changed his target and locked onto me.

I gently waved my hand, making him more unsure on what to process.

"Regardless, I want the prototype to be out." Toronto pointed at me with his thumb. "I want to equip our new quote-on-quote, temporary member with proper attire as he commences his job."

"Ay, give me a second." He blurped. "So he will also be our last experimental tester for the stuff, ja?"

"Yup."

Tenniel twirled his index for five loops before shaking it up and down and changed his hand into a fist and swerved it on the other side of direction.

It felt like he was trying to input on a code with that gesture. Streetlight Talon had grown a lot with their tech.

In the middle of the room, a metal box popped out from the floor as the gap closed immediately in quick motion.

Gilga looked quite grumpy. "Wait, if you want this man to be the tester, then what is the purpose of me and Lila being here?"

"You didn't understand it yet? The 'prototype' in the prototype is only in name. In reality, the product has mostly been finished and ready to be distributed next monday.

"Your Headlamp will be commencing a risky job after this, I want to equip you two and your squad before the whole group heads out."

Tenniel looked confused with the metal box as he tried to see the object in many angles, before having a sudden recollection of memory visibly shown on the change of his expression. He then tapped at the corner top of the square.

Two beepings could be heard, along with the red light that flashed on and off beneath Tenniel's gloved fingers.

The two sides of the box then expanded, showcasing the latest experimental products that they have developed, while also launching Tenniel's legs to the side as he grunted and fell to the floor.

"Who the hell designed this box…" Tenniel muttered. "Anywho, you kids can try to examine the products."

Lila was the first one to peek inside. Her face was definitely that of someone who had seen Santa somehow appearing in front of their balcony with many big gifts.

With a wide smile, she picked it and displayed it to all of us. "It's the new uniform!"

It appeared to be a long piece of a multilayered coat with black exterior with the golden patterns of branching boughs. Faunt veins sprouted on the patterns. If one looked close enough, they could see the color pulsated in rhythm.

"There was the tie, second layer that holds multiple enhancement formation, and the first layer of the coat that was designed with temperature control and comfort in mind." Tenniel pointed it out as Lila tried to piece them together on her body. "The third layer served as a great protection from the neck to the thighs as it used the second layer's energy formation to reduce impact from the outside. How is it, ja?"

As Lila became the first person to wear the prototype, her whole impression changed dramatically with the design of the new uniform.