3 Hours Later
After finishing up replacing all of their broken and cheap prosthetic parts I finally finished placing the treated iron plating to their bodies and I must say I overdid myself.
At the same time I felt proud of myself managing to work on so many complex pieces with the help of Cresht and the tools from the toolkit.
Arnold: "To think I could speak in my own voice again…"
Consta: "Woah! Does this mean we can eat some food again!?"
I chuckled and told Consta that at the moment no but in the future definitely I can try and figure something out.
Kaiser: "Well you three want to head back to the Hana Association to pick up the office first official job together?"
Mo: "Yes, where there is money to be made we must hurry!"
Consta: "Can't wait to test out my new body!"
Arnold: "I simply ask that you pick a contract that fits our fighting power"
Kaiser: "Hmm? Do you still think of yourself as a group who only fights rank 9 fixers? You were limited by cheap prosthetics, most of them wired wrongly or broken, I think you all should think of yourself a bit higher"
Kaiser: "Plus, don't you want to see what your true limits are without being held back by your previous prosthetics?"
Arnold: "I-"
Mo: "He's right Arnold, we all feel stronger and can feel our motor functions respond faster than before"
Consta: "Don't you want to let go of your cautiousness just this once Arnold?"
Hearing Consta's surprising words made Arnold stop and think before he finally answered and hearing his response made me smile.
Arnold: "Thats-…just this once Consta…"
Consta: "Hah! Finally you can attack on the offensive!"
Thinking about Mo's old rusty lever action and Arnold's single chainsaw arm, and Consta large chain sword, I decided to give them a gift.
Kaiser: "As you all have joined my office, time to receive your first bonus"
I opened the hardened leather pouch on my waist and pulled out an treated iron revolver with a 6x round chamber named "Trenchur" and gave it to Arnold who was surprised but gladly took it as he raised it to his large sole white glowing eye inspecting it.
I then pulled out an treated iron rifle, named "Iron Javelin" and gave it to Mo who took it and aimed it towards the window and lowered it just as swiftly before thanking me.
Mo: "Thank you boss…"
Kaiser: "No problem!"
I lastly pulled out an one-handed shotgun named "Brawler" to Consta who was waiting with what I thought was a shining glitter in his glowing white eye reticle but maybe I was thinking wrong.
I then threw 3x leather pouches at them with each one containing an ammo box with their guns respective ammunition.
Kaiser: "I hope you three like your joining gift from me and hope you come to be reliable people I can have my back against in tough situations"
The three of them turned to look at one another then back to me as Arnold spoke cautiously at me.
Arnold: "While we three are thankful for everything you have done for us, aren't you putting too much trust in us not to kill you here and run off with your stuff for ourselves"
Kaiser: "First off, you three don't strike me as the type to do so even if you killed other fixers or workshops since it was out of necessity"
Kaiser: "Secondly, would you really want to rob and kill the guy who knows how to fix and repair your new prosthetic body?"
Kaiser: "And lastly, Cresht would have destroyed your cores before you would have raised your weapons"
Squeak…
Cresht simply put his hand on his rapiers golden handle and looked at the three of them with a sharp gaze not that of a simple rat.
Mo: "I see, either way we don't want to kill the one who granted us another lease at life and to have more efficiency in our work"
Consta: "We can now get more ahn and resources!"
Arnold: "No Consta, we aren't the same as before since our issues have been taken care off"
Kaiser: "Well you three can cause trouble but just don't let it be from one of the 10 Associations otherwise I will let Cresht train you all"
Mo: "Understood Boss"
Arnold: "Got it"
Consta: "We can fight again!"
I smiled and told them to test their new motor functions and quickdraw speed for a couple hours then we can leave to grab a job from the Hana Association or other Associations who post their own contracts or even joint operations.
2 Hours Later
After locking my rented apartment, we set off towards the Hana Association drawing looks from either civilians or fixers nearby and it reminded me that I needed to buy a vehicle to get around quicker.
3 Hours later
As we finally arrived at the still bustling Hana Association we walked through the wide open doors disregarding the looks from other fixers as I needed these three to be registered to my office and disband theirs.
Kaiser: "While you three check in with the Clerk of being part of my Fixer Office I will look for a contract for us to take as an Office"
Mo: "Understood"
I left them be and walked to the missions board and looked for any large elimination missions or contracts to fullfill.
One mission did intrigue me as it was a joint operation between minor fixer office's and a branch office of the Seven Association on an Art Gallery of The Ring in 3 days.
Kaiser: "The ring huh? They're one of the five fingers…but if it's an Art Gallery there will definitely be a Docent in charge…"
I sighed before I grinned and signed up the Scorched Office to be part in the raid and chose an extra small syndicate elimination mission before walking back to where I left them.
5 minutes later
What I found upon reaching the same spot was a crowd gathering around and in the middle there were the trio and a group of random fixers accusing them about something.
I walked through the crowd and stepped between the two opposing groups and stood infront of the trio.
Kaiser: "Hey now, why don't you tell me whats the problem?"
???: "Who are you? Don't meddle in this conversation you don't belong in!"
Kaiser: "As their Boss, it's my job to know what issues you have against my fellow employees"
???: "Hah? So another joined their ranks huh?"
???: "You do know these bastards robbed other fixer offices right? They are Syndicate members!"
I simply smiled before I spoke without any hesitation and took a look at their groups equipment.
Kaiser: "You deserved to get robbed because if all you can do is garner the attention of others to do your work for you what are you but weak"
???: "Why you-
Kaiser: "Shut it, I would rather grow stronger either collectively as a group or on my own to seek vengeance because it is a responsibility as a leader to be strong in the face of adversity"
Kaiser: "Do something worthwhile that helps your group grow collectively and once you have gained that strength, challenge them because these three aren't weak"
???: "You think we're weak huh? Then just you wait for us to beat all of you!!! Even if those three got better armor they would be beaten up!"
Kaiser: "You can try but know that I have no say in their own decisions wether they kill you or not"
The leading figure who wore a brown jacket did a "tch" and left with his group as I stared them until they left through the Hana Association Branch Doors.
I sighed and told the rest of the trio to follow as we have an elimination contract to fullfill and make some ahn from.
Mo: "Very well"
Consta: "Haha more ahn to make!"
Arnold: "Understood"
30 minutes later
Mo: "Thank you for your support Boss…"
Kaiser: "Mmm? Don't worry about it, you are all part of my office now so It's natural for me to protect and train you three"
Arnold: "Still, we are grateful that you decided to take us in"
Kaiser: "Well just pay me back by working for me but do understand I won't touch your bottom line"
I spoke and thought more on what else would there be if we are ever to become a high ranking fixer office but a thought of bringing to life the army you once had full of Diamond Steel Armor and Treated Iron weapons crossed your mind before dissipating knowing the Head had forbidden it.
But then again, as long as you don't use tons worth of it you can theoretically do it and make it so only your office uses it exclusively…
2 Hours later
I hummed and as we finally reached the backstreets of D Corp where our Small Syndicate was hiding I looked around and saw numerous people look over in surprise and greed but it mattered not if they were to die with a single bullet.
As we approached the main syndicate den, we were stopped by thugs with armed machetes, knives, pipes, and brass knuckle dusters.
Kaiser: "This is your first official assignment, eliminate the entirety of the Syndicate with no survivors and give me a detailed report of what you find"
Bang!
???: "Hah! Get a load of th-"
Mo: "Understood…"
As the leading thug wanted to laugh he found a bullet lodged between his brows as Mo had raised her rifle and pulled the trigger and he dropped dead.
Whoosh
Whirl!
???: "Fuck! Kill these bastards!"
Whoosh
Rev!!!
Tear!
Crack!
Tear!
Crack!
As the thugs charged forwards, I witnessed Consta rush forward and right before the three thugs could block or attack he swung his large chain sword and revved it as I watched their bodies be sawed in half.
Kaiser: "Well I'll be damned, that was mighty damn magnificent except for the amount of blood spilled…"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Well let's leave them to handling these guys and focus on those trying to make a run for it…"
Whoosh
I said as I heard a loud bang from the other side of the building and Cresht simply squeaked and jumped off my shoulder unsheathing his rapier.
I sighed and turned my head around to the rushing footsteps of a crowd of Syndicate thugs and rested my hand on the handle of the sheathed katana made from Scorched Steel.
While it was a wonder to have crafted this katana during my first few days in this new world, it appeared to have gained some special skills like a certain fighting mod.
As I slowly unsheathed my blade from its sheath, heated steam rose upwards and I gripped my katana in a tight grip before swinging in a horizontal slash.
Whoosh
Crackle!
Crackle!
A wave of flames rushed forth coating the thugs bodies in burning flames yet that didn't deter me as I walked forwards and slashed at the burning figures who screamed in agony and pain.
Whoosh
Slash!
Tear!
Whoosh
Slash!
Tear!
Every slash of my blade sliced through their flesh and bone but in the end numerous heads rolled around the street and those who were bystanders ran away in fear.
I sighed and evaded an attack coming from behind me and saw it was a rather large rugged man with burns around his body yet he had glowing purple tattoos around his arms.
Kaiser: "Now what are you…? Whatever the case, let me remember your attacks…"
I slashed at the air beside me and stopped as the blood flew out to the road pavement and my katana started heating up again as white smoke rose up.
Whoosh
Cut!
Sizzle!
???: "Argh! You little shit!"
The man raised his arms in an offensive stance and rushed me with a wide swing in which I evaded to the right and swung my blade at his right thigh, aiming for his hamstrings to demobilize him.
I successfully cut his hamstring and evaded his counter punch before I focused my attention on his purple glowing tattoos and as he charged at me again I raised my katana and exhaled a stream of heated air.
I heard the footsteps of other thugs closing by and exhaled another trail of white condensed steam from my body feeling a burning warmth within with every.
Kaiser: "Scorched Ignition Trifold Slash…"
Whoosh
Slash!
Thud!
Whoosh
Slash!
Thud!
???: "ARGH-"
Whoosh
Slash!
Thud!
I blinked and appeared behind the bulky thug and slashed downward twice as both his arms were dismembered and with a final horizontal slash, I decapitated his head from his shoulders.
Whoosh
Sizzle!
I exhaled a trail of hot steam and focused on the rushing thugs and swiftly began sprinting towards them as my katana's bloodied blade glowed orange with heat trailing at the sharp edge.
Whoosh
Slash!
Gurgle!
???: "Gah-"
Thud!
I swung horizontally blocked the overhead swings and kicked one in his groin and backed up before stabbing my katana through his throat as he gargled in his own blood.
???: "Damn fixer fucker! Fucking gang up on him and overwhelm him with numbers!!!"
Raising my blade to the right, I blocked a strike from another muscled thug with the same purple glowing tattoos as the last guy.
I blocked another punch with his brass knuckles and couldn't help but smile as I sheathed my katana and grabbing from my hardened leather pouch, a stick with a glass dome and a flickering light inside as I threw it towards the group of eight thugs.
Right before it hit the chest of a thug, I looked away and a blinding white light surrounded the area and I heard the loud pain and shock of being blinded for the first time.
Exhale
But taking their stunned bodies wriggling on the ground grabbing their eyes in pain I exhaled another trail of heated air out my lungs and lowered my posture in a drawing position, hand on the hilt itself.
Kaiser: "Severing Scorched Embers…"
Whoosh
Slash!
Cut!
Tear!
Cut!
Tear!
As the group of 6-8 thugs got up slowly, I drew my blade from its sheath and a storm of flames burst out of the sheathe as they followed the trajectory of my horizontal slash towards the group of stunned thugs.
While many were positioned differently, it didn't matter as the wide sweeping slash, full of scorched flames enveloped the group entirely as it burned them alive.
Exhale
After seeing their charred corpses remain, I exhaled another trail of concentrated heated air out my mouth as I felt my entire body be full of gentle warmth that spread throughout my body.
I paid the feeling no attention as I thought it was what the strange ability of my katana did as feedback for the kills similarly to experience.
With the rest of their reinforcements dead, those three should fare alright with their weapons and durable prosthetic bodies.
Kaiser: "Then again they used the tattoos similar to the middle…"
I quickly moved away from this spot and decided to deal with any more reinforcements that may arrive despite this being a small syndicatein D Corp.
_________
Arnold POV
Whoosh
Whirl!
Tear!
Crack!
Tear!
Once we had entered the building we were rushed by thugs with their weapons raised but Consta rushed forward and with a single wide swing of his large chainsaw sword, 4x thugs fell in one fell swoop.
Whoosh
Bang!
Whoosh
Bang!
While they focused on Consta, Mo fired the rifle given by our new boss and it tore through the brain of two thugs who were behind one another.
Revv!
Whirl!
Clang!
Whoosh
Clang!
Seeing some break away from Consta, I quickly intercepted them and revved my chainsaw arm before slashing at the thugs who clashed with their own steel pipes or machetes.
Instead of being pushed back like usual, I advanced with every step despite clashing against three thugs simultaneously.
Whoosh
Clang!
Whoosh
Clang!
Even those thugs who moved to strike me from my blind spot had their weapons bounce back from hitting tough metal plating.
Whoosh
Clang!
I could now feel the difference between the old me who had cheap broken prosthetics and the current me who has become stronger thanks to Kaiser's help.
Whoosh
Whirl!
Tear!
Crack!
Tear!
Thud!
???: "S-shit these fuckers are tou-"
I focused and forcibly pushed back the group of three and slashed my arm saw through their bodies as blood splattered everywhere but that didn't deter me from raising the revolver he gave me and I pulled the trigger twice.
Whoosh
Bang!
Thud!
Whoosh
Bang!
Thud!
I fired twice and ensured every bullet went through their skulls, it's the least I can do to repay him and I wonder what type of new life we will experience than the Brotherhood of Iron we once were.
__________
Mo POV
After cleaning up the surviving thugs, I walked towards the maimed thugs whom I left alive to interrogate as ordered by our new boss since they were ordering the rest of the thugs.
I dragged one from their collar to Arnold and told him to extract information while Consta and myself would hunt down stragglers and any documents or papers they have for this building.
10 Minutes later
Whoosh
Bang!
Thud!
Whoosh
Bang!
Thud!
I aimed and pulled the trigger at a thug who tried running away and another who tried lunging at Consta who was distracted by the leftover food.
I sighed in annoyance at Consta and his obsession over food but he is reliable enough to take care of business when needed.
Having taken a look through the first and second floor all that was left was the Third floor.
Whoosh
Crack!
Tear!
Whirl!
Clang!
As we both stepped to the third floors stairs, Consta raised his chain sword and blocked the punch of a tall muscular man with glowing purple tattoos that broke a huge hole through the wall.
Step!
Step!
Step!
Swiftly three more muscular men with similar purple glowing tattoos walked out the wide cracked open hole in the wall.
Mo: "Damnit…they were part of the Middle…"
I didn't want to make an enemy of one of the five fingers and inconvenience the boss but his orders were to annihilate and take back any important information of this syndicates crimes.
If they are collateral, then it doesn't matter if they are part of the Middle…the Boss's words are a way for us to pay him back.
Whoosh
Bang!
Thud!
I raised my rifle and swiftly pulled the trigger aiming at one of their heads and watched as one dropped dead before the other two could speak.
Whoosh
Clang!
I slung the rifle around my back and quickly raised my chainsaw sword blocking the heavy punch of the middle little brother who tried attacking me in my solar plexus.
I clashed and pushed the first one off before swinging against the other Little Brother who rushed with his right arm reeled back.
Whoosh
Clang!
The impact of his strike was stronger than the first punch of the other Little brother but I felt fine and only took a step back compared to the other me who would have their prosthetic body caved into.
Whoosh
Whirl!
Clang!
I pushed back this time with determination to beat the old me who scraped by and couldn't fight anything weaker than myself.
Consta was holding off the leading Little Brother who kept clashing against Consta's Chainsaw sword and the golden chains wrapped around the Middle Little Brother's fists.
As I started pushing back against the Little Brother's glowing tattooed fist I scanned the area around me and the second Little Brother who raised his fist to strike me down again but I raised my prosthetic leg and kicked hard.
Whoosh
Crash!
Whoosh
Crash!
As the Little Brother whom I clashed with crashed onto a desk and broke it from his heavy weight, I raised my chainsaw sword in defense trying to block the other Little Brother but was launched down onto the stairs with his tattooed fist hitting me in the solar plexus.
As I fell down to the second floor, I saw the Little Brother jump over the railing trying to crush me with his foot and I rolled to the side dodging his foot that crushed the tile beneath his foot.
At the same time, I heard the rushing of wind and as I turned to raise my chainsaw sword to attack, the small dressed rat who is always on the Boss's shoulder jump high and stab his rapier into the Little Brothers eye as he yelled in pain and agony holding his bleeding eye.
Whoosh
Stab!
Whoosh
Stab!
Whoosh
Stab!
Whoosh
Stab!
Whoosh
Stab!
Crackle!
The rapier lit in flames before I witnessed the small rat named Cresht stab its rapier, five times in the Little Brothers other eye before slashing his rapier as scorching embers engulfed the Little Brothers face.
???: "ARGHHH!!!"
Whoosh
With a final slash of its rapier across the Little Brothers throat, Cresht slashed the empty air cleaning the blood off the blade of the rapier.
Click!
Cresht put his rapier back on its sheath and did a sigh as the leaking blood soaked his clothing yet that didn't deter me from feeling a sense of fear at the small rodent and it's viciousness of attacking vitals.
Squeak?
Mo: "Thank you for your help Cresht but Consta is currently fighting against 2 Middle Little Brothers!"
Squeak!
Cresht ran up my cloak and settled on my shoulder as I quickly ran up the stair to the third floor and saw Consta holding his own and as the first Little Brother was reeling back his fist to hit him in his solar plexus, Consta pulled out the small pistol Kaiser gave him.
Whoosh
Clang!
Bang!
Boom!
As if an explosion shot through the building, I looked at the Little Brother who was sent flying backwards with numerous bleeding bullet holes in his chest that caved in as cyan flames could be seen coming out from the spread bullet holes.
Whoosh
Whirl!
Clang!
Whoosh
Clang!
Whoosh
Clang!
Taking the chance of the devastating recoil from firing point blank, Consta raised his long chainsaw sword and started pushing back forcibly clashing as both started swinging their weapons sparks flying about with every metallic clang of chains and metal.
Squeak!
Whoosh
Clang!
Whoosh
Clang!
Whoosh
Bam!
Just when I raised my rifle with the finger on the trigger, Cresht stopped me and let out a low squeak and I carefully lowered it as we watched Consta fight and slowly he started pushing back until he managed to punch the Little Brother's jaw.
As the leading Little Brother finally fell knocked unconscious by Constas heavy fist we approached and I was surprised to see Consta staring at his metal prosthetic hand for a long while without instantly talking about food.
Mo: "You alright Consta..?"
Consta: "Did…we really manage to…take members of the Middle down…?"
I then thought about his words and it made me smile yet wonder who our Boss and Cresht truly were for giving us strength and weapons to overcome those who would beat up our old selves like scrap.
Mo: "Yes Consta, we no longer are the weak group we used to be…but we still have a long way to go, and it's thanks to Cresht and Kaiser"
Consta: "You're right…thank you for helping us all out mister Cresht…"
Squeak…
Hearing the praise coming from Constas genuine cold voice made Cresht act coquettishly as if saying "stop it~" while twiddling with his tiny rat claws.
Seeing such a scene made Mo chuckle as she told Consta to grab the man and bring him downstairs to the base floor.
_________
Narrator POV
15 minutes later
Step!
Step!
Footsteps were heard from the front and as Mo turned to face the shadowed silhouette, she saw all familiar figure's clothes full of dried blood and his hand on the katana's hilt.
Kaiser: "So it appears this isn't a simple small Syndicate Elimination Contract after all…"
Kaiser: "But what have you all learned from this contract and give me a summary"
Arnold: "They were extorting the local public for protection fees, attemped murder, arson of local shops, and all four Little Brothers have a bounty on their heads as members of the Middle's Syndicate"
Kaiser: "Thank you Arnold, Cresht help out Arnold as he will be working under you on how to write reports and specialize on being your translator other than me"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "No, if we are going to grow our office or operate closely with just us five we need someone else to translate your orders as my right hand rat"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Yeah yeah, I will treat you all to some great HamHamPangPang like always you greedy little bastard"
And so after making sure they got any information about the syndicates orders or operations they had written down in account books or journals the Scorched Office soon left the building as they travelled back to their nearest Hana Association Branch.
.
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.
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To be Continued