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TODAY'S FUN FIXER FACT!
"The Ring is the last blossom on a dead branch, the only realm where our people still draw breath. A great, coiled dragon of iron and jade, it is divided into nine districts. Some bask in eternal sunrise, where silk and safety flow like wine, while others sink into shadow, the air thick with violence and hunger. Where one is born within this beast, high or low, writes the first verse of their fate. But know this, beneath my dragon robes: I do not measure a soul by the district of its birth. I have watched the ten thousand sorrows of this world, yet my heart remains an open gate. No matter from which dark or golden corner of the Ring you crawl, I will always fight alongside you. That is my unbroken vow, written in the crux of my heart." —Heng Jing
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Back at the Argus Directorates Post, Saoirse knocked on the door of Mori and Yuhuan's room. No one answered. She knocked again and again, but no response came. She sighed in defeat.
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"It's okay, Saoirse... They're probably out training today...
...
Yeah!~ Mori and Qiang have been doing tons of hard work together, so Arny's sure Yuhuan started training too!~ (╹∀◠)"
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She paused, Arnold and Stuffy suspended in the air before her, their arts-and-crafts faces bright yet tinged with a bittersweet quality. Since joining the Post, her time with her friends had diminished, consumed by the relentless training Valentia and Suzette put her through. Stuffy spoke again.
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"...It's okay, Saoirse..."
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Hearing footsteps, she looked down the hall to see Antollio approaching, a smile on his face as always.
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"Good morning, Saoirse."
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"GOOD MORROW, DIRECTOR, SIR!"
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"I see you're ecstatic as usual! Say, would you like to help me with something?"
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Saoirse's face lit up when he spoke those magical words.
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Roby's face was covered in tears.
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"How the hell are we supposed to get out of here, now?!"
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"Stop crying, you'll die of thirst."
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Yuhuan hit Roby on the head.
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"We need to stay calm."
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"Says the guy who just hit me!!"
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"She said this barony was infinite and that there weren't any exits..."
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Yuhuan looked down at the infinite, sprawling mouths, which had all stopped convulsing the moment Gluttony left.
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"But the lips all stopped moving after she left, so I'm sure she's connected to the barony in some way."
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He looked back down at Roby, who was crying again.
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"Didn't I just tell you to stop crying?!"
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"I'm sorry, man! I just... I don't wanna die!!"
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"Nobody's going to die! Now listen carefully. I need you to punch the lips around you as hard as you can with your knuckles, okay? We're going to hurt them to see if she comes back."
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"YES, SIR!"
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Roby saluted Yuhuan, then began pummeling the lips beneath him, beating them until they were a bloody, purple mess. Yuhuan mirrored this brutality with his blade, carving dozens of slashes. By the time they paused to catch their breath, the surrounding lips were slick with blood, but they both knew it wasn't enough to get her to come back. Roby spoke, panting between words.
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"So... no matter how much destruction we cause... she's not comin' back anytime... soon..."
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"Let's just wait... I'm sure someone will notice we're missing..."
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"That's what she wants us to think...! She's probably already at the Post now wiping everyone out!"
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"She would have to get through all of our forces. I've seen what Valentia can do. She's incredibly strong... And Antollio is as well... Even if... they fell... we would still have Saoirse and Mori... Mori...
...
...Mori!"
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"Wha...?"
⠀
A surge of energy coursed through Yuhuan, and he turned quickly to Roby.
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"That's it... I remember!"
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Yuhuan thought back to the first time he met Mori, when he told him what kind of Fixer he wanted to be.
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"...I... think I want to join the Argus Directorates, 7th Division."
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"...!"
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"Do you know him?"
"Y-Yeah! He's the director of the Argus Directorates, and the reason why I entered this exam!"
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Roby was left perplexed as he watched the sudden spark light up in Yuhuan's eyes.
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"What's up with you?"
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"That woman said she wants what Antollio wants, right? Well, I think I know what he wants now!"
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"So? Is it gonna help us get out??"
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"Uh... No."
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"THEN SHUT UP!"
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"B-But it could be useful for the future if we escape!"
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"Who cares? We're not makin' it out, anyway..."
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Roby sat down on the plump lips on the ground, lying back and resting his head on another pair.
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"Wake me if something happens... I'm just gonna lie here and die..."
⠀
Yuhuan fixed his gaze on Roby, a deep frown creasing his brow as disappointment swelled within him. His eyes, once bright with determination, now mirrored uncertainty, casting a shadow over Yuhuan's expectations. He turned his gaze to the sky above, where the clouds danced in a captivating swirl of dark colors. A deep brown and dark green blend seamlessly. For a fleeting moment, He was entranced by its beauty, the vastness above momentarily distracting him from his frustrations with Roby. As he fixated on the horizon, a mesmerizing light glowed in the sky above. The luminous aura danced with vibrant hues, capturing his attention completely. Roby also found himself tilting his head upward, drawn in by the ethereal spectacle unfolding above him.
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"What is that...?"
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"Holy cow..."
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They stood mesmerized, captivated by the radiant glow that expanded above them. As they watched, they noticed a dark figure descending from the light. A scream could be heard from the distant figure. Roby hopped back up from the ground.
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"A person?!"
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As the figure fell, Yuhuan began to make out what the familiar figure was yelling...
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"HUZZAH!!"
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"Saoirse?!"
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Saoirse was dive-bombing directly into the barony, landing on a pair of lips nearby and bouncing up and down, laughing to herself.
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"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!~ Hearken to me, friend! ...and colleague..."
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"I thought we were friends??"
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"SHUT UP!! Now, the boss said we've gotta get a move on!"
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Yuhuan struggled his way toward Saoirse as he spoke.
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"Boss? Saoirse, do you mean the director? Antollio??"
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"Ugh! Get with the program, he's waiting!"
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Saoirse pointed up at the hole in the barony she'd entered from; a familiar face now floated above them. It was Antollio, descending to greet them, his eyes glowing gold and a golden cape of light flowing behind him. Roby jumped up with joy.
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"We're saved! We're not gonna die here! Oh my God, I'm so happy right now!!"
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Antollio landed on the mouth-covered ground as ripples of light shimmered at his feet.
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"I see you two got into quite the scuffle."
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He winks, still smiling. Roby yells at him.
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"This isn't the time for your cute director act! Just get us out of here!!"
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"Hm. I'll see if I can strike a deal with Gluttony. She sure can be uptight. It'll probably cost me ten buffets to please her..."
⠀
Neither Yuhuan nor Roby questioned his ramblings about the Gluttony ARCHtype. They just wanted to be freed from their imprisonment. Antollio snapped his fingers, and everyone was instantly transported back to the street where the squabble started. Gluttony and her special division were still there, as though she knew this would happen.
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"Hello, Antollio."
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She greeted him with a smile. He smiled back.
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"Greetings, Gluttony. I want to strike a deal with you regarding these hostages. Are you willing to hear me out?"
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Gluttony's eyes fluttered open, excited at the prospect that Antollio would even spare her the time to make a deal.
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"I-I... I never thought you'd ask...!"
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Gluttony, tears welling, nearly leaped toward him before Antollio stopped her, raising his hand in a finger gun and shooting a beam of light straight through her chest. The Special Division froze, caught off guard by Antollio's sudden action. He lowered his hand and turned back to the Directorates.
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"That should buy us some time. We'll be going now."
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He snapped his fingers again, and the Argus Directorates returned to their Post within Antollio's office. Yuhuan was almost too stunned to speak, considering they just teleported twice within the last ten seconds.
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"Director, are you sure that will kill her?"
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Antollio wiped sweat from his forehead.
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"Kill her? Goodness, no! I had no intentions of killing her. She's an ARCHtype, you see. An attack like that won't stop her that easily."
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Roby, who was on the ground curled up in a ball, rose to his feet, trembling.
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"She's an ARCHtype??"
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Yuhuan continued.
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"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought ARCHtypes could only manifest as accessories, clothing, armor, or weapons. Is this some anomaly?"
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"Anomaly? No. ARCHs have been able to manifest ARCHtypes of any form for as long as they've existed."
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Antollio takes his seat at his desk, clasping his fingers together.
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"...It's just incredibly rare that they'll make a human like her. Of course, though she is human, she's full of ARCH energy, so ending her life is incredibly difficult. I've been dealing with her for some time now. She signed some sort of contract with the Bashnya Coalition to become the captain of a special division they created for ARCH elimination, similar to you three, but they have much more funding and connections."
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Antollio opens his drawer, pulls out a photograph, and places it on his desk facing the three Fixers. They all crowd around it, inspecting it before Saoirse looks up at Antollio with a confused expression.
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"What the hell is this?!"
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"It's the location of your next mission. Or, well, your first mission, if you don't count the incident that happened just now."
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Yuhuan tightened his fingers around his blade's hilt.
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"Having trained for the past few weeks, we are ready. What is our task?"
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Antollio smiles.
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"Well, aren't you eager? I'll get to the specifics when everyone in your Unit has arrived."
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Roby crosses his arms, snarling.
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"Everyone in our Unit? What kinda shit is this? Just get on with it. Nothin' a Reichelt can't handle!"
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"Well, if you're so curious, have a look."
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Antollio pulls a clipboard from his desk drawer and carefully places it on the desk beside the photograph. Yuhuan immediately grabs the clipboard, reads it briefly, and sets it back down.
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"I see..."
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"What's that?? Let Saoirse see!!~ (˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )"
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"Here, take it."
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Roby stands behind Saoirse, carefully reading it along with her. After a short moment, they both look back up at Yuhuan with blank expressions.
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"Oi', rich kid, what's this shit say? I can't read for shit."
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"Yeah, Saoirse can't make it out~... (Ｔ▽Ｔ)"
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"WHY TAKE IT IF YOU CAN'T READ?!"
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Yuhuan grabs the clipboard back and reads it aloud to them.
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Argus Directorate ARCH Elimination Unit List - Updated!~
Note: ★ = Captain
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ARCH ELIMINATION UNIT A:
★ 1. Pallas Anthiros
2. Haddler Zimmermann
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ARCH ELIMINATION UNIT B:
★ 1. Valentia Savala
2. Suzette Gosselin
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ARCH ELIMINATION UNIT C:
★ 1. Qiang Ng
2. Kotone Furue
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ARCH ELIMINATION UNIT D:
★ 1. Mori Ryunosuke
2. Yuhuan Lau
3. Saoirse Farrelly
4. Roby Reichelt
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"HEY, YOU FORGOT THE 'R' IN MY NAME!!"
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Antollio looked up at Roby.
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"I'm sorry. After doing some extensive research into your backgrounds, I discovered that the 'R' in your name is utterly redundant. It doesn't mean anything at all. If you feel there's a problem with it being left out, I'd bring it up with your director. Oh, right. Well, is there a problem with it?"
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"HELL YEAH THERE IS!! PUT SOME RESPECT ON MY NAME!!"
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"Well, I apologize."
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Yuhuan and Saoirse's mouths both drop to the floor.
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"J-Just an apology??"
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"Pack it up..."
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Roby grumbles to himself before he begins again.
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"Whatever... So we just need Mori here, and then we can start the mission with our whole Unit? Hey, speakin' of that bastard, where the hell is he?"
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The three of them pause and think until a spark ignites in Saoirse's mind.
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"Oh, oh, oh!! I know where Mori is! Mori is at... uhm... uh... uh..."
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The spark quickly fades... Yuhuan picks up where she left off.
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"I believe Mori is training today with Qiang."
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Antollio's expression grows puzzled.
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"Qiang? I thought Mori would want to spend time with you three?"
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"I thought so too. I guess they both decided they wanted to spend a bit more time together."
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Yuhuan felt a tightness in his chest as he spoke. He couldn't comprehend the sensation that had washed over him. It felt like a dull ache in his heart. Antollio continued.
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"Well, in any case, I'm sure the mission can wait until they're done. For now, I'd like to invite you all to the dining hall for a short meeting."
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Saoirse collapsed to the floor.
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"A meeting...? Ugh..."
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Antollio laughed to himself.
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"Oh, it's nothing too important. Let's hurry!"
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They left Antollio's office and made their way down the corridor toward the dining hall. As they turned a corner, they saw Mori and Qiang both heading in the same direction. Roby called out to them.
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"HEY!"
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Mori turned quickly, fear flashing across his face. But as he recognized his friends, the fear receded. He ran toward them as Qiang walked to meet them more slowly. Antollio spoke.
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"Hello, Mori. We were just heading to the dining hall for a short meeting. Could you come with us?"
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"Sure! Qiang and I are tired from training anyway! Oh, will there be food? We're super hungry!"
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"Oh, there will be lots of food."
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Saoirse and Roby's eyes both lit up, their mouths watering.
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"FOOD?!"
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Yuhuan smacked them on their heads.
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"Get a grip. This is a meeting, not dinner."
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When they finally arrived at the dining hall, they noticed that the lights were off. Antollio guided them inside and shut the door. Saoirse covered her eyes with Stuffy and Arnold, frightened by what might be lurking in the darkness. Suddenly, the lights illuminated the room.
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"HAPPY FIRST MISSION!!"
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"—?!"
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Haddler, Pallas, Valentia, and Suzette all cried out to the recruits eagerly from behind the long, polished dining table, their eyes fixed on a magnificent, tall cake that dominated the centerpiece. The cake, pure white in color, was adorned with a vibrant array of decorations, creating a playful yet elegant appearance. Flickering brightly atop it were nearly a hundred candles, their flames dancing gently in the air, casting a warm, enchanting glow that filled the room with a sense of anticipation and joy. Their eyes all widened with excitement as Mori's eyes adjusted to the light.
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"...Wow! Is this for us?"
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Antollio smiled cheerfully.
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"Of course! We always celebrate everyone's first mission. Please, take a seat."
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As they settled into their chairs around the elegantly set dining table, the rich aroma of the six-layered cake wafted through the air, tantalizing their taste buds. Each expertly maneuvered their fork, cutting delicate slices to reveal the vibrant layers of frosting and cake within. However, as the slicing made its way down the table to Saoirse, Roby, and Mori, the scene took a humorous turn. Their slices were whimsical, chaotic heaps, seemingly plopped onto their plates with reckless abandon, icing dripping and creating a delightful mess that contrasted sharply with the others' pristine portions. Antollio raised his glass of a fizzy, unknown drink to the sky.
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"To the recruits!"
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Everyone followed.
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"To the recruits!"
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As the celebration continued, Haddler slowed his eating and conversation, soon turning to deep thought. Pallas, who noticed this change, turned to him.
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"Everything alright, Haddler?"
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"Yeah, yeah... I just... are we forgetting someone?"
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"Uh... No?"
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Kotone navigated the dimly lit backstreets of District 5, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her uniform was torn and stained, remnants of her desperate skirmishes against gang members and desperate addicts. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the grime of the streets, as she tightly gripped her katana, her last lifeline. Snot dripped from her nose, leaving a damp trail on her uniform, a reminder of her fragile state. Suddenly, she spun around, heart racing at the sound of shattering glass echoing behind her. Her eyes darted wildly, filled with fear and confusion, as they flitted from shadow to shadow, each flicker a potential threat, a reflection of her racing mind struggling to decipher where to direct her attention amidst the chaos.
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"WH-WHO'S THERE? S-S-S-S-S-STOP F-FOLLOWING ME!!!"
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With a fluid motion, she unsheathed her katana, the blade glinting ominously in the dim light. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she aimed the weapon toward the source of the unnerving sound, her grip tightening around the hilt. As the noise echoed in the air, she began to wave the sword back and forth with increasing fervor, each swipe more frantic than the last, her voice rising in a desperate cry that pierced through the tension surrounding her.
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"I'll... I'LL K-K...KILL YOU, DO YOU HEAR ME?!?!"
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From the shadows at the end of the alley, a tall, ominous figure loomed, fixated on her with an intense gaze. The flickering light illuminated the striking blue tattoos etched across his skin, pulsating gently like living creatures in the dark. Silver chains coiled around his bulky frame, glinting in the dim light. His dark sunglasses obscured his eyes, but the reflections of the city lights danced off the lenses, creating an eerie aura around him. As she stood frozen in place, the chilling realization washed over her... escape was no longer an option.
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"Geh-heh-heh-heh... Small fry like you aren't worth killing. I may just be a Thoracic, but I know when not to waste my energy..."
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"WH...WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME??"
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"Do you ever quit screaming? Chillax, all I want is a duel with your pal."
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"W-W-What pal...?"
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"Don't play dumb with me. The one with the Gun ARCH contract. All of us Spine bros wanna have a friendly little duel with em' is all! Geh-heh-heh-heh..."
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"Why would I agree to anything you say?? You're... y-y-you're..."
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Kotone's breath caught as the figure emerged from the shadows. He was taller than she'd imagined, forcing her to tilt her head to meet his gaze. Up close, the flickering streetlamp revealed dark brown skin marked by intricate blue tattoos that pulsed faintly, as if alive beneath the surface. Silver chains shifted with quiet weight across his broad frame. His structured, almost uniform-like outfit, a nice suit with blue accents, conveyed his identity as a member of the Spine. He lowered his head just slightly, the edge of his sunglasses dipping to reveal cold, focused green eyes that locked onto her.
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"Y-Y-You're a member of the Viscera! Th...The Spine!"
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"Chill out, chick. I'm pretty relaxed right now. Seriously, don't overthink this. Just head back home and let him know we're down for a duel."
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"Y-Y-You're just gonna... K-K-Kill me...!!"
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"Alright, I'll just turn around, and you can head back to your HQ and let him know to meet us at the Vitalität bank in the 3rd District two days from now."
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"You want me to j-just tell him to meet you for a d-d-d-duel at some Coalition?!?! Wh-What if they send F-Fixers with Death Contracts after you because of the disruption in their District?!"
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"Oh, come on, you think the Spine will just let the Vitalität walk all over them? I'm a big shot around these parts, ya know!"
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"I... I guess you're right..."
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Kotone sheathed her katana, still trembling.
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"I t-trust you... But if you do anything weird, I'll kill you!"
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"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Peace out!"
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The tall Spine Thoracic turned and began to walk back into the shadows from which he'd emerged. Kotone couldn't help but feel curious about him. Something about his speech and the air around him felt familiar.
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"...Wait!"
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"Huh?"
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He turned back, his body still facing forward, but his head half-turned toward her.
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"Wh-What's your name?? I'll have to tell him your n-name, w-won't I...?"
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"Geh-heh-heh-heh..."
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The Spine Thoracic pivoted fully toward her, his muscles rippling through his suit as he flexed in a dramatic pose. The streetlights behind him flickered to life, casting a warm golden glow that intensified with his movement, illuminating the contours of his physique and creating an almost heroic silhouette against the sunset.
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"Make sure you remember this name! It's one that people will know for ages! My family comes from a long line of big shots, just like me, so keep this name in mind!"
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Kotone's eyes were blessed as he continued flexing.
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"RIKOLAI "R." REICHELT!!"