THUD.
Putato smiled as he placed the preservation box onto the glass tea tray. Then, he slowly fished a coin out of his wallet.
"Can we negotiate first? Keeping a head in a box is truly torture. Even if you just take me out for a stroll occasionally, it'd be something."
"If I really go insane, I won't be able to help Master later."
Looking through the observation window at the pleading Obana, Putato couldn't help but consider how to deal with her in the future. After all, he'd be entering L Corporation soon, and he likely wouldn't have time for matters outside the Corporation until the Seed of Light launch was complete.
"Then I'll just convert you into a personality chip and put you in stasis."
"Don't! My compatibility is too low; I'll die!"
"This won't work, that won't work, it feels like it'd be simpler if you just died."
Even if he had to keep her around to find that mysterious survivor later, he couldn't afford to be lenient with this groveling genius. God only knew when she'd stab him in the back.
"You can record this. When I was demoted, I secretly used Shamisen to temporarily create a Cone, so my memory regarding K Corporation's Singularity technology wasn't erased. That stuff is very rare, after all."
Damn!
At this moment, Putato wondered if this girl could transmit information even with just a head. Her will was practically indomitable, but why the hell was she using it for this?!
He picked up his communicator and recorded Obana's verbal account of K Corporation's secrets regarding the Regeneration Ampules. This would ensure he didn't have to worry about her schemes for a while.
No matter what benefits Obana offered, a Wing of the World would never allow its Singularity technology to be leaked. Even a slight brush with it meant touching the Corporation's Taboo.
"Alright, back to business. What's the connection between Green Journey and L Corporation?"
Dumping the head out of the preservation box, Obana immediately let out a pained shriek, her cries of "Master" filling the room. Putato pinned her down and injected her with a Regeneration Ampule.
"Master! You've given me a new lease on life. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth! Besides, I've been missing for so long, K Corp has probably fired me by now. I have nowhere else to go."
Kicking the brat away, Putato looked down at her with zero sympathy.
Obana, shaking her dark blue curly hair, spoke up tentatively.
"The Chief said that back when he set up the observatory in the Outskirts, he hosted L Corporation's founders. They even reached a cooperation agreement. Otherwise, how could we have run our machinery non-stop day and night to take over the market through mass production?"
"What kind of agreement?"
"Uh, back at Green Journey, I was mainly in charge of market investment and logistics."
"Are you just making up some agreement to scam me?!"
Seeing Putato pull out a terrifying saw-blade larger than her own body, Obana's legs turned to jelly. She knew this lunatic acted on his words, and playing cute or innocent wouldn't work.
"No, no! When we raided K Corp headquarters, we secretly received equipment aid from L Corp. And they promised to remain neutral during the patent wars."
"I don't know how the Chief managed it, but that agreement is absolutely real!"
"Then why were you still stuck at K Corp selling fried chicken? Why didn't you just move to L Corp?"
"Ahem, that agreement was between the Chief and them. It doesn't apply to me. Besides, I previously got caught smuggling Enkephalins with some others. I had to pay a massive fine to get the Taboo Hunters to back off."
Looking at Obana's guilty, bowed head, Putato tossed the coin to confirm the intelligence was correct.
"Master, how can you judge truth just by tossing a coin? If it's that reliable, you could open a Notary Office. Specializing in high-end Fixer business would be a goldmine for sure."
"I, Obana, will forever be your loyal hound! Master!"
WHOOSH!
"Master?"
Elena, pushing open the window, looked in bewilderment at Obana, who was crying like a rain-drenched pear blossom on the floor. She then frowned at a startled Putato, her pale face showing a rare flash of displeasure.
She crouched on the windowsill with one leg, her other long leg planted firmly on the floor. Leaning against the window frame, she stroked her chin, scrutinizing the now-lucid Putato.
"Elena, when did you get here?!"
"Why? Does my arrival not suit you? Am I interrupting your entertainment?"
"What kind of talk is that, Madam Boss? I was merely begging the Boss to forgive my workplace errors. I really need this job, after all."
Elena's eyes lit up instantly. She hopped down from the windowsill and began curiously sizing up the righteous-sounding Obana.
"Obana, shut up!"
"Can you tell we have a good relationship just from a glance?"
"Even if the Boss forbids it, my conscience won't let me deny that the two of you are a match made in heaven."
THUD.
At this brat who took a mile the moment she was given an inch, Putato irritably sent a flying kick; Obana clutched her stomach and rolled across the floor before getting up.
Putato was half-minded to chuck this girl off the second floor, but a slender body embraced him from behind. His right neck was instantly enveloped in warmth and moisture as a dexterous tongue licked greedily, reminding Putato of alcohol disinfection before an injection.
"Wait, Elena, I have a commission tomorrow!"
"But I can't help it, and I don't want to hold back. Is that a problem?"
Obana, enduring the pain as she stood up, hurried to the door, not forgetting to whisper to Putato that she'd be in room 301, likely afraid Putato would think she was fleeing and cut her down.
Just as Putato was about to speak, his cheeks and lips were greedily sucked in. He found himself staring into those crimson eyes, overflowing with shifting desire.
"I've been very considerate of your feelings, only feeding on those murderous Syndicate members. I even got chased three blocks by Void Fist guys last time. Shouldn't you look after my feelings a little too?"
Hearing this, Putato sighed inwardly. He lay back helplessly on the sofa, glancing at the blood-stained furniture and thinking he should replace it tomorrow.
"It can't just be like this. You have to resist a little. And, call me Master."
...
The night passed quickly.
Pushing himself up from the sofa's backrest, a listless Putato grabbed a pneumatic syringe from the table and gave himself a shot. Only then did he look at the closed window.
He now felt as if he had become a blood-taxpayer for Elena. Putato had no idea how long this bizarre relationship could last.
Glancing at the briefcase of ashes, Putato tossed it into the large hole that had originally held Obana's head and quickly buried it.
To be honest, Putato didn't know why he insisted on taking Suie's remains, but he felt that he occasionally suffered from mental lapses, doing things that defied logic.
Standing by the window, Putato realized that the unremarkable dumpster from before was gone. It was only now that he felt a sense of reality regarding Suie's former existence.
"Boss, you're awake?"
Putato looked down and saw Obana standing outside. What schemes was this brat cooking up now?
"I figured since I'm idle anyway, I might as well work for you. My capabilities are beyond doubt."
"Correct."
Obana, who had been ready to keep persuading him, immediately beamed with joy and looked up at Putato with confidence.
"I need to establish a company specialized in producing Urban Girl merchandise and handling offline events. You are the best candidate for the job."
"Then should our first step be seeking investment? I'm very experienced in that!"
"No. You go investigate the Rats and the surrounding residents. First, recruit the ordinary people who haven't killed or eaten others."
"Huh?!"
Before Obana could object to this massive spending spree before any profit was made, Putato cut her off.
"Call it LAUGH Company. You're good at that too, aren't you?"
"Boss, I must remind you, this strategy is extremely creative and challenging. Even the Wings of the World wouldn't do this."
"Doesn't that prove I'm even more impressive than a Wing of the World?"
...
Early morning, bright sunlight.
After transferring the startup funds to a confused Obana, Putato stepped out of the building, his eyes still half-closed from sleep. Although his scratches had been healed, Elena had torn all his bandages yesterday. He'd have to buy a new roll to maintain his "Vanda" persona.
Putato was about to buy a sandwich for breakfast before heading to the Southern Liu Association station building when he saw a noisy crowd. It looked like someone was about to jump.
"Don't jump! You'll fall to your death too fast! Hold an umbrella; I've always wanted to test if one can act as a parachute."
"Don't be in a rush! Wait for me to start a livestream and link up with Urban Girl. This time, I'll definitely stand out!"
"Even jumping has to be timed. I'm in a hurry to get to work; I don't have time for this nonsense. If you did this at night, people might actually listen to your grievances. You're too young."
From this perspective, it seemed people here had slightly more empathy than those in N Nest.
Bypassing two racing boys who wanted to pick up skull fragments to soak in water, Putato looked up while eating his sandwich. He was surprised to see that the person wearing a red hood was clearly Simmons, whom he'd met before.
By the time he finished breakfast, Putato had already heard why the girl was feeling hopeless. Apparently, Void Fist had violently seized the commercial street yesterday, an area that served as the water treatment center for this Backstreets district, filled with small factories and crude housing.
According to Void Fist's judgment, all buildings in that area were non-compliant, so they set the whole place on fire. Simmons' home was burned to ash.
By the time she tried to return, the fire hadn't even been extinguished before it was swarming with scavenging Rats and arrogant Void Fist members capturing people to use as slaves.
"Everyone, my life has been one long hardship. Before this, I received a Prescript demanding I eat over 200 pieces of candy. You have no idea the pain of eating that much!"
"Luckily, I found a doctor to give me an external stomach bag just to swallow it all. This thing is tough, durable, and practically new. Anyone want it? I'm selling it right here!"
The crowd let out a chorus of boos the moment they heard the advertisement, turning away in disappointment.
Watching Simmons desperately trying to call people back, Putato realized Void Fist had already expanded this far. In a bit more time, their territory might even border the Stray Dogs'.
"Vanda?!"
"Are you interested in an external stomach bag? Who knows when the Index might target you? It's best to be prepared."
"Pass. Tell me about Void Fist instead."
Handing Simmons a few small bills, Putato felt it was necessary to gather some intel.
"Well, I know they all wear uniform black open-collar cardigans, with various iron medals embedded in their exposed chests, and their clothes have a clear white fist logo."
"Right! When I tried to go back and save my house, those guys even pulled out a small booklet and forced me to memorize it all. I ran away then, and they didn't even chase me."
"Those guys are mentally unstable. They'll suddenly talk about 'carrying out their duty' and then blow your head off with a punch. Anyway, stay away from them if you value your life."
Putato still didn't quite understand how they had held out against the Thumb until now, but he didn't care either. These two Syndicates were bound to have a showdown soon anyway; it was just a matter of dogs biting dogs.
...
Liu Association station building.
Gazing at the Association logo, where a "6" was outlined within the center of a flame, Putato stepped into the building with anticipation. In the reception hall at the corner, he saw the Dawn Office members already sitting together.
"Vanda, you handled the Grinch job perfectly. The client even volunteered to cover all the damages you caused in N Nest."
"Honestly, settling an Urban Plague level commission in half a day, especially after two previous Offices failed, is incredible. Your talent as a Fixer is something I've never seen in my life."
"Just luck. It helped that Philip organized all the intelligence beforehand; otherwise, I would've wasted a lot of time wandering around."
"No! My contribution to this commission was negligible. If it weren't for the fact that the enemy was so strong and I was afraid of being a burden, I would have fought side-by-side with Senior Vanda no matter what!"
Philip stood up, his voice filled with emotion as he tried to explain Vanda's strength. For the first time, his report to his master wasn't born out of self-deprecation or weakness.
Yuna set her milk tea down and looked curiously at Philip as he described the scene at the budget prison. This kid hadn't been this excited since he joined the Office. And why are you getting so hyped up just praising someone else?
Salvador, however, listened with gratification to Philip's non-stop chatter, feeling that his apprentice had truly undergone a change.
"It is for this exact reason that the Liu Association needs reliable Offices like yours."
A steady, commanding female voice rang out from the stairwell. A woman and two men stepped down, all wearing black suits with gleaming patterns on their left waists.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Vanda. I am Xiao, Director of Liu Association Section 1. These two are Chun and Miris."
Xiao wore her hair in a bun, but her smooth, thick black hair still draped across her chest and back. Her expression remained unchanged whether she was speaking or meeting a guest. The red Liu Association coat with gold trim draped over her shoulders gave her an air of effortless authority.
Every staff member who saw Xiao respectfully greeted her, and even the veteran Fixer Salvador stood up to pay his respects.
Putato, of course, wouldn't stay seated. He immediately stood up to acknowledge Xiao.
"Director Xiao, I've heard much about you."
"Hmph. When it comes to fame, perhaps you're even more well-known than I am, Vanda. You're already a Grade 3 Fixer, correct?"
"Correct."
The calm exchange drew the attention of the Liu Association staff, who specialized in large-scale combat.
Even if a Grade 3 rank didn't seem like much compared to a Section 1 Director, this was a superstar who had jumped from Grade 9 to Grade 3 in a single month!
Everyone present was a high-grade Fixer; they knew exactly how strict the Hana Association's evaluations were for Grade 5 and above. Yet Putato had achieved this status.
Something that defied logic so thoroughly wasn't easy for everyone to accept. Despite the Hana Association's vetting and Dawn Office's guarantee, some Fixers still believed Vanda's promotion was irregular.
"Silence!"
The noisy scene quieted instantly at Xiao's command. The onlookers could only suppress their curiosity and scrutiny as they left, but Putato could clearly feel their eyes drifting back to him as if he were some rare animal.
"Apologies, Fixer Vanda, but you see your own reputation now. This is why I agreed to Salvador's request to include Dawn Office in the upcoming commission."
"The Liu Association will carry out a direct elimination of the Void Fist in this Backstreets district. You will act as support for the Association's operations. I will send the commission details to all of you later. This is an Urban Plague level Liu Association commission."
"Hm? Wait a second."
Putato spoke up, interrupting Xiao, which drew a dissatisfied look from Miris standing behind her. In the Liu Association, no one treated a Section 1 Director with such disrespect.
"If Void Fist can go toe-to-toe with the Thumb, is it really just an Urban Plague?"
"Vanda, that's just the commission rank. The Hana Association is already considering re-evaluating Void Fist; it's currently an Urban Nightmare level Syndicate. The reason it hasn't been designated a Star of the City yet is because it's locked in a death match with the Thumb."
Salvador, seeing the atmosphere turn cold, hurried to mediate. He found it a bit strange that the usually reliable Putato was being somewhat brash this time.
However, Director Xiao didn't get angry. Instead, she looked thoughtfully at the black eye wrap around Vanda's head and nodded.
"I understand. What you're saying is that you want to participate in the front-line combat, right?"
"Director Xiao's insight is impressive!"
Miris couldn't hold back anymore. He felt Vanda was too young and arrogant, underestimating both Void Fist and the Liu Association by casually asking to join the core commission.
"Forgive my bluntness, Fixer Vanda, but Liu Association commissions aren't detective games or alleyway brawls. Adding a newcomer haphazardly will only distract our Director, which is detrimental to the battle."
"Miris, watch your tone!"