____________
Narrator POV
Whoosh
Clang!
Bam!
Whoosh
Bam!
Within the backstreets of D Corp, a petite yet swift figure fought against thugs with her metallic grey prosthetic legs as the small vents in her legs opened up to deliver swift jet powered kicks to thugs who were blasted away into the brick wall or convrete ground.
???: "Wow! Look at them go! I wonder how far our prosthetic bodies can take us and how much we can overpower!"
???: "It matters not only that Jun survives and can get used to her new prosthetics before the raid Consta…"
Consta: "Don't you think so too Mo?"
Mo: "Arnold is correct Consta, while it has become our responsibility to make sure she gets used to her new prosthetics…this city didn't tolerate us as we barely scraped by"
Consta: "Well…still I wonder if we can use flames like the boss…"
At his words both Arnold and Mo simply nodded as they looked at their bodies and Juns specialized leg prosthetics that delivers high-speed kicks with small vents to increase propulsion.
Mo: "Our ammunition is to be used sparingly and our current skills with just the combat knives is insufficient…"
Arnold: "Do you believe Cresht can help us to grow stronger with our current weapons…?"
Consta: "Then let's surprise the Big boss if we manage to get trained by the boss friend!"
Seeming to agree they rushed forth to kill the remaining thugs who caused an disturbance within the nest and escaped to the backstreets.
Arnold used his armored prosthetic arm to block strikes and slashing their stomachs open with their enhanced prosthetic body.
Mo swiftly stabbed the two thugs who were about to strike at Juns back and as they fell Jun span around legs kicking their ribs and at the same time wondered if it was Prosthetics or Jun herself that had this strength yet was thrown away by her former syndicate.
Yet it no longer mattered for they are all part of the Scorched Office and are allies whom they can rely on one another.
Dodging another downward blows Mo countered with a heavy punch to the skull as it burst open like a colorful watermelon.
Once their job was finished, Arnold collected necessary information and wrote his reports as taught by Cresht and altogether left the area to their next stop to investigate missing people.
Now back to Kaiser and his small companion who was in the middle of writing reports on an Typewriter.
__________________
Kaiser POV
Click
Click
Click
Kaiser: "Hey…"
Click
Click
Kaiser: "Keep it down will ya! Trying to make some food!"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Yeah whatever…"
I was cooking something that of lasagna and thankfully enough I remembered to pack stacks of various foods in the leather pouch but they were running out after so many months of being here.
Whirl!
Still, it's nice to have the ability to make actual food items like the farmers delight mod than just basic cooked steak.
Sighing, I stared at the black knife highlighted in white and smiled before I picked it up and twirled it around my fingers as I felt my mood rise and the knife's glowing colors changed from black to an mix of orange, pink and yellow.
I hummed a random tune as I really thought about the future of the Scorched Office once the debt and interest was paid off.
While the most common route is to continue being fixers doing random contracts, raids, investigations, assasinations, bounty hunters etc…
Sigh…
I want to do more than just that…perhaps an Workshop doing some blacksmithing and forging…no we will get taxed to hell and back if I use some of my material to make weaker versions of the guns…
Sigh…
Squeak?
Kaiser: "Yeah…just thinking about the future of the Scorched Office once we pay of the debt and if we keep being an office or grow bigger…"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Thats what I thought too but the taxes for guns are sky high…even if we sell weaker versions of just the material…"
Then again, didn't we come from a world where you can make the impossible possible?
Just creating the machines possible for mass industrialization would require lots of resources…
Squeak?
Kaiser: "My pouch only has enough to last me a couple months at most…unless we find somewhere to dig and mine"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Hmm…didn't you say they were an incredibly tough group to beat and they privatized the mining rights?"
Squeak…
Kaiser: "Well I would imagine any digging zones to be costly and if they want to have a cut of any ores or minerals we find…"
Squeak…
Sigh…
Kaiser: "Well we can also raise animals or crops for some simple foods…"
Squeak
Kaiser: "Animals will be the problem because of district taboos or if they want some of the animals produce for themselves…"
Kaiser: "But then again…do we really need to let them know about it Cresht…?"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Wait, I just remembered about that guy who wants you to pay taxes and will probably see some missing expenses for the animals…"
Sigh…
Kaiser: "At this point might as well just join an Syndicate…."
Squeak?
Kaiser: "Well we do have a pretty capable trio and kid who actually seems to know how to fight at the very least"
Squeak?
Kaiser: "Well other than the kid, the other three have some good fighting experience and know the backstreets as they were previously a syndicate…"
Squeak…
Kaiser: "Eh, I do hope you still remmeber that I was quite the avid collector and sucker for some good lore…"
Squeak…
Kaiser: "Don't even get me started? What do you mean by that? I mean the only one I want no part in is the Ring Syndicate..ugh heard they were some pretty gruesome things…"
Kaiser: "But I wonder if I chose a different path from being an Fixer what would I have become…"
Squeak?
Kaiser: "Of course, you are my old friend whom I take advise from…still though, would I turn towards a corporation as an employee, or would I join one of the fingers…"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Well it isn't my fault! I like collecting strange things that are dropped or owned by the guys I take it from!"
Squeak…
Kaiser: "Of course you act like an old disappointed dad! Don't act like you didn't raid treasure vaults alongside me with a wide grin!"
Gasp!
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Whatever, but my curiosity can't help but want me to try and gain the syndicates weapons and outfits"
Squeak…
Whoosh
Shing!
I chuckled at Cresht's words before I picked up Ochita whom I had been sharpening its blade and sheathed it.
Kaiser: "So you ready for one last contract before the main raid happens?"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Then why don't you use your trusty rapier again especially if the ones are tough opponents?"
Squeak?
Moving my hand into my leather pouch I silently pulled out an brightly lit rapier that had twinkling stars shining brightly upon its scabbard.
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Yeah well I don't know anyone else that can handle a Rapier to perfection"
Squeak…
Kaiser: "I just hope you can still remember how to swing it around"
I passed it to Cresht and watched as it's very size changed to fit Cresht's small form as he held the Rapier.
Squeak!
Smiling, I looked out the buildings window and stared at the rather beautiful scenery of such victorian age buildings, trees, and the common people of the Wing traveling in and out the streets to work.
Then there was the numerous fixers in groups helping around or walking about. I grabbed my black suit and fixed my black tie as I decided to take a job by myself.
Kaiser: "I will be back soon, and I want you to start working on the air tanks and powered battery to charge them"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Yeah tough work, just use one of the charging batteries to get it to automatically pump the air canisters"
Squeak!
I smiled before I dressed myself up and grabbed Ochita with me as l walked out of my apartment but I saw an all familiar face again that made my previous joyful mood sink.
Kaiser: "Mr. Constaine…the deadline still hasn't passed!"
Constaine: "Well, I am not here today for that but I hope you answer my inquiry I have for you Mr. Kaiser…"
Kaiser: "Ahem! What might that inquiry be..?"
Constaine: "After your scene at the South Hana Association Branch building, there were a lot of people questioning whether your very weapon is an relic or one you forged yourself…"
Upon hearing his words I stayed silent before I thought what to say but knowing that this strange place adheres to rules set by the Head and Wings.
Kaiser: "Firstly, is this your personal Inquiry Mr. Constaine or is it by others?"
Constaine: "Hmm, it is merely my curiosity as the very weapon you use is incredibly well attunned to yourself…"
Kaiser: "All I can say is that I have yet to reach my potential and I have room to grow stronger with or without my Ochita…"
Kaiser: "I hope this answer satisfies you Mr. Constaine"
Constaine: 'Just like than fool said…'
Constaine: "Then let me not keep you from completing deal Mr. Kaiser"
I simply nodded and watched as the man whom I have come to know as a dangerous tax collector left and once he turned the corner I sighed a breath of relief before I locked the door.
My hands grip on Ochita got tighter as I thought about the consequences of my actions for using Ochitas strongest skill to attack the Instructor.
Sighing once more, I walked down the steps and walked past the fellow pedestrians who were mostly made of fixers and few asking others for odd jobs they could make do to earn extra money from the side.
Still, this contract needs me to go into E Corp and investigate another dissapearance case but they said something about some fixers also went missing upon investigating.
Kaiser: "Sigh, hopefully it isn't all that bad but if even the ones investigating went missing…"
That could only mean it was either cases connected to the wing or its a syndicate kidnapping pedestrians.
Still, all would be reveled once I make it there and see the full picture for myself. But I do wonder what type of food E Corp ha-
Bam
_________________
Narrator POV
Bam
As Kaiser walked absentmindedly he failed to notice an all familiar face back when he registered the Scorched Office and a scuffle broke out.
???: "Ah! Mr. Kaiser, you need to be more careful with your surroundings!"
Kaiser: "I am sorry about that Jeanne, I was deep in thought"
Jeanne: "All is well, but is it fine if I can ask about Sir Cresht?"
Kaiser: "Cresht? Well, he is back home training himself…"
Jeanne: "Ah…what travesty it is that I could not watch Sir Cresht's training…sigh…"
Kaiser chuckled before he told her that next time he would ask Cresht if it was alright for Jeanne to watch his training.
Jeanne: "Ah that would be a great help Mr. Kaiser! But I still have a contract to fullfill so I will be on my way!"
Kaiser: "See you next time Ms. Jeanne"
Jeanne: "Likewise!"
Once Jeanne left, Kaiser continued on his way as he took a walk down the street and took a look at the vehicles passing by and sighed once more.
Today truly was a day to remember that taxes truly limit oneself and to never make any expensive purchases or pay contracts for your own weapons and ammunition.
Now that Kaiser thought about it, why did he feel like he massively underpaid for his patents and ammunition when it is known taxes and legal fees for guns and ammunition is taxed to the ceiling.
Kaiser: "God…don't tell me he will wait for me to make or ask for legal patents for my other guns…"
As Kaiser thought about it he turned his head to the right as he felt something before he walked off and entered an alleyway.
Step
Step
Step
Not long after, shadowy figures closed in and entered the same alleyway they saw Kaiser enter in only to see there was no one there.
???: "Shit, where did he go?"
???: "Tch, I told the boss you lousy bastards weren't made for the job!"
???: "Oh shut yer trap!"
While the two figures were fighting, they didn't notice when a cylindrical object was thrown from the shadows behind a dumpster.
Whoosh
Clank!
???: "What is-"
???: "Arg- M-my throa-t…!"
Coming out from behind of the Dumpster, Kaiser wearing a black gas mask with red lens slowly walked out as he fixed his black tie.
Kaiser: "Well who would be looking for me..?"
While the people following Kaiser were unconscious, Kaiser searched their bodies for any clues and after searching the third unconscious body Kaiser found a small notebook.
Looking through the book, Kaiser furrowed his brows the more he read into the books pages until he turned to look up at the dark sky.
Kaiser: "I knew going after some syndicates would make problems for us but…no it isn't bad at all"
______________
Kaiser POV
if we are being put in a hit list by other syndicates, that means we can retaliate and mark them down…how great for them to come for us and get us paid!
I grinned at the thought and made sure to remember the names of the syndicates pn the list before I placed it inside my leather pouch.
2 Hours Later
Having finally reached the place I looked around but…it really is the same as anywhere else except for the fact that it was more desolate and kinda foggy but it shouldn't be that bad.
Walking around I asked some of the street vendors if they had heard of anything in the area but all I got where 'no's ' and 'haven't heard anything' which made me believe there was something going on here.
The more I looked around the more I thought wether it was a syndicate taking people and fixers who come investigating.
Just when I was about to leave however, I saw a man who looked similar to one I had previously interacted with but got away.
Whoosh
Step
Step
I approached the man but as if he could sense me, had suddenly taken off and I followed right after.
Whoosh
Step
Step
I chased after him for a good while and knew he was bringing me somewhere but it was enough for me to be cautious.
Whoosh
Step!
Step!
Sensing something was wrong, I pulled the pin from a flashbang grenade and threw it in front of me before I pulled my trusty revolver as I looked away.
Whoosh
Click!
Bang!
???: "Argh!!!
???: "It burns!!!"
???: "T-too Bright!!!"
Whoosh
Bang!
Whoosh
Bang!
Whoosh
Bang!
Aiming at the figures that tried lunging at me, I slid beneath them and turned around as I pulled the trigger thrice at their heads and watched them explode.
Whoosh
Clang!
Seeing a sharp glint in the darkness I raised Ochita's metallic sheath and blocked the sharp object that bounced off the sheath.
While I focused around I saw the dead corpses I had shot earlier writhing and the pool of blood slowly moving towards the disfigured head.
Kaiser: "Regeneration? So you all must be similar to that Vampire looking guy…"
I looked around but seeing the one who threw a knife at me flee and not return, I sighed and looked at the writhing corpses and felt a sense of my old self again.
Bop!
Bop!
Bop!
Taking out a multitude of glass bottles, I quickly uncorked the tops and quietly collected their blood or remainder of what I could get off their bodies.
Kaiser: "Brandflasche…"
Pulling out another item from my leather pouch, I took out a molotov with burning blue fire within and stepped back before I threw the Molotov at the corpses.
Whoosh
Splash!
Crack!
Whoosh
Within that moment of contact, the blue fire held within rapidly catched flame and consumed both their body and soul as ghostly white faces flew out leaving naught but burnt ashes.
Kaiser: "Huh, so even this changed…"
Still, since these guys showed up again albeit in different districts…they must have some sort of special way that connects both districts.
Yet they remain discreet and rather than them seemingly going out to lure out people to feed on, these guys kidnap people and even target fixers…
And they have a different strategy on how they can feed on blood but the backstreets of every district are always grim with thugs and backstabbing.
But then again, that doesn't necessarily mean they travel through backstreets, maybe they went through the sewers…
Kaiser: "Sigh…"
God I don't want to enter the backstreets nor the sewers unless it's a contract but still, I don't even have enough time to look for those bloodfiends as Cresht calls them.
With that in mind, I had to atleast let Cresht know of the current situation and make a draft as the contract was more of a Search and Investigate.
_______________
And so upon Kaiser finally leaving the area did the shadowy figure who had thrown the dagger from the shadows reappear again as he stared at the ashen remains of his fellow bloodfiends.
???: "Hiss…the Misstress wont be happy…"
With that being their final words, they left quietly in the cover of the long dark alleyways connected to the backstreets.
____________
Kaiser POV
2 Hours later
Whoosh
Creak
Kaiser: "God I really need to buy a car…"
Getting off the bus at the bus stop near my district I looked around as the sun started to set over the vast city buildings and large forests.
I saw some of the locals rushing pass me to their houses and some fixers heading home knowing the time was nearing or few walking to restaurants for their reservations.
While on my way back home, I spotted the same man I had met while on D corp and his name was Zulu If I remember correctly.
At the same time, I wondered if I could recruit him and have a strong member that can stay at the frontline like Consta with Mo and Arnold at the rear.
Zulu: "Hmm…to think I would see you again here…"
Kaiser: "I can say the same to you Mr. Zulu, and I wonder if you would be interested in joining the Scorched Office as one of its members…?"
Kaiser: "And I don't mind you being an ex-syndicate member"
Zulu: "A fixer office…? No I believe that is impossible for me…and if the Middle sees me with you, they will put your office on the Book of Vengeance…"
So thats how that works too…? Man so even if you ragebait someone from the middle you get written in their infamous Book of Vengeance and get hunted indefinitely…
Kaiser: "That's a shame, I wanted someone like you to join my Office but having to fight The Middle and be hunted indefinitely would be a hassle…"
Zulu: "Indeed, so thats why I can-"
Kaiser: "But I frankly don't give a damn about that!"
Kaiser: "If it means my small fixer office can toughen itself up by being ambushed, hunted then I don't mind it at all"
Zulu: "…Hah, of course there would be persistent bastards like you…"
Zulu: "…Then follow me back to the alleyway ….if you are willing to accept me, I will test your strength…"
Whoosh
Bam!
Hearing his words I couldn't help but chuckle as I followed him back and right before I was about to ask him when we would start his entire body's augmented tattos lit up bright purple as he threw a heavy south paw left.
Whoosh
Clang!
I immediately evaded his attack before unsheathing Ochita as it lit up in a trail of blazing flames as I countered with a horizontal slash.
Yet those augmented tattos blocked my slash as if they were metal than flesh. Once more did the thought of getting the same tattos to get my body stronger than using curios.
Whoosh
Clang!
Whoosh
Clang!
Raising Ochita's sheath I blocked one of his heavy jabs but it knocked me back to the brick wall.
Exhale
Whoosh
Clang!
Whoosh
Bam!
I exhaled a breath of heated air and slashed at vertically at Zulu as he raised his broad arms to block but I then swiftly reeled back my right leg before I kicked him in his stomach.
Whoosh
Bam!
And despite it only making him be nudged back, I felt how tough his body was as if it was made of steel and I grinned as I decided to use overhead swings and swift jabs due to the alleyway being small for my Odachi.
Whoosh
Clang!
Clang!
I dodged another reeled back fist to my solar plexus and countered with a swift vertical slash then a thrust but he blocked them all.
Damn, guess I will meet opponents that have tough and durable bodies…but that doesn't mean I don't have the same!
_______________
Narrator POV
As Zulu punched forth Kaiser blocked with the glowing sheath of Ochita as he took out a handheld flashbang from his leather pouch and covered his eyes before smashing it down at the ground.
Whoosh
Crack
Bang!
As Zulu stared at the ground where Kaiser threw the strange device he was blinded and felt dazed for the following five seconds.
Whoosh
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
In those five seconds Kaiser swung Ochita around his shoulder as the leather strap held it on his back, except now Kaiser wore two red boxing gloves with both having a glowing blue luster as he delivered five swift punches.
Zulu: "What the hell…?"
Whoosh
Bam!
Whoosh
Bam!
Except that the very impacts from the boxing gloves were heavy and pushed Zulu back a couple of steps as he had his arms raised.
Zulu: "What type of Workshop still makes old fashioned boxing gloves…?"
Whoosh
Bam!
Whoosh
Bam!
Whoosh
Bam!
I didn't let up as I kept evading and throwing jabs whenever he threw out a heavy fist and every single punch kept pushing him back as the brick walls around us were destroyed.
Yet I had found out that I still held the same technique that I used for Ochita as I released hot air with every exhale and I felt a burning sensation around my body.
Kaiser: 'It this a passive ability from Ochita or my own…?'
Whoosh
Bam!
Crack!
While I thought about it, my sudden lapse was enough for Zulu to grab one of my arms in a tight grip before he pulled my arm away and with his right reeled back fist punched me in my Solar Plexus.
Whoosh
Bam!
The very impact had sent me flying off into the alleyways brick walls as the wall cracked and I felt my chest ribs crack.
Kaiser: "Argh! Fucker!"
I slowly pushed myself out before I switched my boxing gloves to worn wrappings as I wrapped them around my hands but Zulu charged straight forward left arm reeled back.
Zulu: "Tch, you think I won't wa-"
Whoosh
Bang!
As Zulu charged at me I swiftly pulled out another flash grenade from my leather pouch and pulled the pin as I threw it in the ground and covered my eyes as a massive white light filled the narrow alleyway.
Zulu: "Argh! What the hell!"
I finished wrapping my hands as I exhaled compressed heated air from my body as I leaned down and started punching Zulu's face and dodged some of his swings.
Whoosh
Exhale
Crackle!
Exhaling one final time I backed off as Zulu tried grabbing my arm but a blaze of flames burned his hand stopping him in time.
Zulu: "Scorched office huh…? Hope you don't mind showing me more…"
Whoosh
Crackle
Bam!
Bam!
Crack!
Zulu's augmented tattoos glowed purple as he reeled back his fist and I reeled back my fist as the wrappings had flames lingering over them as we both punched eachother.
The moment both our fists made contact I felt my entire arm go numb before I grit my teeth and exhaled compressed hot air before putting more force in my left foot.
Whoosh
Bam!
Crack
Whoosh
Bam!
Suddenly stopping my strength on my arm I felt his fist hit my cheek as I tasted blood but rather than letting him punch me further I had reeled back my right fist that was now fully engulfed in flames as I uppercuted him and watched him stumble back.
Whoosh
Crack!
Bam!
With a numb arm I forcefully punched with my left arm at his face and the flames on the wrappings spread to my numb left arm and upon making impact with his face he was sent flying off into the dumster.
Cough
Coughing up blood I grimaced as I stared at the figure stuck onto the dumpster as he had dented it.
I walked up to him slowly before I looked at Zulu who looked back at me slowly as I started speaking.
Kaiser: "So, whats your choice Zulu…?"
Zulu: "Yeah…just hope you don't mind some of the Middle chasing after you…"
Kaiser: "Hah! Don't worry about that, we will deal with it in time"
Zulu: "…Mmm, give me a couple of days…"
I simply nodded and taking a card from my pocket I gave it to him and left once he took it as I needed to get my arm checked along with my ribs…
Zulu: "…Hah, do you have an attire or is this fine for now…?"
Kaiser: "Well I would say a grey suit that doesn't fit your character so just dress like you usually do everyday"
Zulu: "…Yeah thanks… Kaiser was it…?"
Kaiser: "Indeed, just hope you end up staying with us and become a trusted member"
After I spoke I walked out the alleyway holding my stomach where I felt my cracked ribs and yet I walked home without hesitation.
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To be Continued