angels breakthrough


    primordial plaza breakthrough


    anomaly bureau


    distortion and breach institute


    first wave


    ordo


    Oiwjhadowya8dyhowand wajdi


    Chunhua held the backspace key until the entire query was deleted. How long have they been at it—? Ah, hours, because it was three-thirty in the morning. Wonderful, how genuinely wonderful. All that effort and neither of them could gather a hint of useful information. This must be the reason why Chunhua preferred the front-lines; it was quite simple to wave your spear around and stick the nearest foe.


    The men were uncharacteristically quiet since the breakthrough at Angels Guild. They’d responded in the group-chat, a meager “Everything’s alright!” which was not only false but also concerningly deceptive. They were involved with the incident in some capacity, Alexander especially, and now internationals were investigating Angels.


    As Chunhua scrolled through endless articles and websites, an unsettling conclusion revealed itself: Alexander did play a part in Primordial Plaza, these “breakthroughs” were unnatural, and he was now deeply involved in the conspiracies of the Big Four. Victor, due to his relationship with that idiot, was now implicated and he had to be radio-silent.


    “Chunhua!” an adorable voice squeaked behind her. Kotone swiveled around the couch and stood in front of the TV, looking and sounding like she''d directly injected caffeine into her veins. "I have an idea!"


    Chunhua set her laptop aside, letting the hot battery burn a hole into the couch instead of her lap. “I’ll hear you out.”


    Kotone pointed out the window. “We’re infiltrating the Wings and demanding answers from Seraph.”


    “Absolutely not. I value my life.”


    “Okay, no more ideas.” Kotone slouched and flopped on the opposite end of the couch. She let out a long, annoyed sigh. “I don''t know else to do. We’re not gonna get any answers from Vic or Alex, or from Thea and Uncle Shen—” (“Uncle Romanos.”) “—Uncle Romanos. We don''t know where they''re even staying at!"


    Because Alexander never disclosed the hotel he was staying in, and the Taslim household was most likely in lockdown. What a messy, dramatic situation. Yet, knowing its depth…


    “Perhaps it’s for the best that we stay out of this—”


    “What?” Kotone shot straight up.


    Chunhua elaborated, “I’m saying that it might be for our benefit—”


    “I’m not talking ‘bout our benefit, what about theirs? Breakthroughs are popping up around us, internationals are investigating—!” (“Kotone—”) “—and we’re supposed to sit back—?!”


    “Kotone!” Chunhua raised her voice enough that her dear friend was subdued. She sighed, letting her tone drop back down to a whisper. “If we intervene, we’ll make an already-sensitive situation worse.”


    “But—!


    “No arguments. Situations like these occurred fairly often in my sect. For your own sake and your friends, the best choice was to remain on the fringes. Observing, yet never stepping in unless absolutely necessary.” Of course, politics in the Jianghu had considerable differences from politics in the urban world: laws, regulations, and so on. However, the two worlds were estranged siblings more than acquaintances.


    Despite her rationality, it fell on the deaf ears of sentimentalism. Kotone bit her pink lip. "I bet your friends would''ve wanted help."


    I know they did, because when it was my turn, I wished for the same thing. No one lent their hand. They looked away, and I was resigned to my fate. “For now, let’s—”


    [New message from Blackviper]


    What…?


    Kotone stared at the blue-screen, but due to the Slayer System''s privacy measures, she couldn''t read its contents. “What’s the notification for?”


    “It’s…” Chunhua stood from the couch. “Give me a moment.”


    She walked into the kitchen and opened the [PM].


    [Blackviper]


    good early morning


    forest master right?


    maolin, exiled, all that cosmo?


    [Forest Master]


    What do you want, assassin? I’m in no mood for petty insults at this hour.


    [Blackviper]


    not gonna be in the mood for this message then


    jin tianyou wants you and the esper


    Chunhua gasped, hovering a hand over her mouth. Jin Tianyou? Her? Could it be about Maolin—? No, why would a man like him be concerned with a comparatively minor sect? Plus, if it really had been about her, why Kotone? Logically, then, it couldn’t be about Kotone either.


    If it wasn’t either of them, then…


    Then Chunhua didn’t know why he was calling a meeting, and that was the most terrifying answer.


    [Forest Master]


    Why? Why myself? Why Kotone?


    [Blackviper]


    does it look like i ask questions


    no that’s a rhetorical question i don’t


    you’ll have to find out the hard way


    [Forest Master]


    That’s assuming I answer his call.


    [Blackviper]


    you’re a smart pretty lady fm


    you know this isn’t a request


    i’m picking you up at seven


    we’re going to his family manor


    be on your best behavior, tell that to your gf too


    ***


    <Alexander, I haven’t seen you in days and this is how we see you again?!> Chunhua was a few inches away from grabbing my collar and shaking me. After Jin Tianyou had abandoned us in the main courtyard, this was how she greeted me after I went radio-silent. Deserved, honestly.


    “Hey, hey, hey!” Kotone stepped between us. “Let’s not break into a fight, okay? And please, can you guys argue in English? I''m a different Asian than you guys!”


    Chunhua angrily scoffed and turned around, looking at everything but me. “Kotone, we finally met Alex only to be used as pawns by Guild Master Jin! He brought us here as leverage!”


    “I…” Kotone blinked a few times, then gulped. “Is that what really happened? I-I kinda thought we’d be helping Alex with cleaning the Manor or something—”


    “Christ, Kotone.”


    “Kotone!”


    “Sorry, I’m trying to crack a joke, I’m sorry!” Kotone nervously laughed, saw that neither of us were in a mood for stand-up comedy, then laughed quieter. “Is it that bad? I’m genuinely asking.”


    I clicked my tongue. “I mean, you guys are now implicated in you-know-what. Worst case scenario, we’re facing international charges.”


    Chunhua bit down hard on her lip, an ugly expression taking over her usually elegant face. “It’s not—! I—! Ugh, dammit! <Fuck!>”


    She smacked her own head out of frustration.


    Kotone and I froze.


    Chunhua glared at me as if I had caused her crusade myself, "Damn you, Alex. Damn you, damn Jin Tianyou, and damn his cowardly father too—!”


    A tar-filled, disgusting cough interrupted her tirade, and our nostrils flared at the scent of cheap cigarettes. Behind us, Blackviper was punching her chest a few times to get the bad chemicals out of her system. “S-Sorry, I swallowed my cig. Ahem, yeah, sorry."


    "What is it, assassin?" said Chunhua, hotly rolling her eyes and showing disrespect. "Are you offended I spoke the truth about your superior?"


    “Oh, I agree. Just don’t say that to Father Jin, pretty cultivator—” (“Li Chunhua.”) “—Selene Blake.” Blackviper flashed a toothy grin, which did nothing to cool the tension.


    Kotone gulped and hovered around said "pretty cultivator" like a puppy trying to cheer up its owner. Usually, it''d work like a charm. Not this morning. The ugly-faced cultivator refused to look at me or any of us. I didn''t know what her true problem was. On normal days, we''d have a long and heartfelt conversation over coffee or tea, but clearly, normalcy became a luxury. Monitoring her behavior would add yet another block on my wobbling tower; I had to trust that her mood would improve naturally. If not... Well, let''s hope for the best.Stolen story; please report.


    Kotone uneasily looked around at her new family for the rest of the day. "So erm, what now?"


    Blackviper crushed her cig into the size of a penny then flicked it aside. “Guild Master Jin''s orders are pretty clear: investigate the attacks and see if you can suss out a culprit ‘fore he returns around midnight. Conqueror’s takin’ lead. I’m here to fulfill requests and keep you away from certain areas.”


    “Guess that’s the job…”


    “Fine, so be it.”


    Amazing. Yesterday, my own Guild Master dropped me from a height of hundred meters, and today, I had to wear a detective cap. With the brain damage I’d accumulated thus far, call me the world’s shittiest detective with a team of crazy women: a pissed cultivator, an airheaded esper, and a snarky assassin. Sounded like a premise to a comedy movie or a bad anime. No, this was a psycho’s very twisted idea of a test. Either we find the culprit, or we’d be bugged and interrogated (tortured).


    My new team was staring at me—for one of them, glowering—expectedly. Let’s get started, then. Two crime scenes, two victims, and a lonely manor outside the city. What we need to do first is…


    “Know a place where we can establish a base of operations?” I asked Blackviper.


    “Yup. Follow me.”


    We followed Blackviper through one of the northern gates and entered a hall. Don’t ask me which one, I hadn''t memorized the manor''s layout yet. The interior was decorated to impress: statues of historical and mythological figures, various traditional art-pieces from the Jianghu, and there was a giant tower of compressed tea-balls. This wasn''t where we set up shop, though—and thank God, because I didn''t trust my friends around this much expensive decor—Blackviper offered a large conference room instead. We had whiteboards on either side of the room and an embedded projector-screen at the far wall.


    “Yeah, this will work.” I plucked a few markers and tested them. Good as new. “We’ll reconvene here whenever necessary—what the hell are you guys doing?”


    Kotone stared at the tea-tower. “Why do the Jins need this much tea…?”


    Blackviper went back and tapped her shoulder. “Put your fingers—”


    A loud smack echoed throughout the hall. That was the sound of my hopes and dreams crashing, or more accurately, the sound of Chunhua slapping Blackviper''s hand away. “Don’t touch her, assassin.”


    Blackviper took the provocation as kindly as getting spat on. She sharply snorted, and lightning cracked between the two women. While they fought a battle of eyes, the bystander tried to mediate but she was invisible to them.


    “Tell the little miss to keep her hands to herself, then listen to your own advice,” BV said.


    Chunhua tilted her head slightly like a lion sizing up a gazelle. “Stay that bloody hand, then. I don’t want that filthy thing touching my Kotone.”


    Blackviper leaned her head inward. “Don’t bark when you know you can’t bite, Maolin.”


    “I’ll—”


    Making the most dangerous decision of the morning, I physically stepped between them. This might result in my death, but I was (somehow) their commander and thus was obligated to keep order. “That''s enough, ladies. Don’t make today any longer than it has to be. We’ll fulfill Jin Tianyou’s request, ideally early, so…” I looked at my two idiot-friends. “You can go home.” Then Blackviper. “And you can take the rest of the day off.”


    Blackviper smirked and strolled into the conference room with a wink. “Take some diplomacy lessons from the playboy. He knows what I want.”


    Chunhua bit her lip and muttered, <Bitch.>


    BV threw up the bird. “I have enhanced hearing and an auto-translator.”


    “Bitch!” Chunhua said loud enough that the whole city could hear.


    Me and Kotone shared the same pained and exhausted expression. This was going to be a nightmare.


    ***


    “Let me understand this correctly: Jin Tianyou hired you as an amateur detective through the most roundabout method; and worse yet, more of your college friends and an outworlder-assassin are involved. And if the case isn’t resolved by midnight tonight, we’re doomed.”


    I nodded, but Morgan couldn’t see that. It wasn''t a video-call. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”


    “Well, that sounds exciting. It’s certainly better than listening to Sophos prattle on about her intelligence.” Morgan chuckled to himself. It sounded arrogant, but at the same time, it was from the voice of a preteen. Imagine a kindergartener laughing like an academic.


    “Whatever, what should be my next step? Everyone knows this investigation is connected to the recent breakthroughs, and Blackviper’s keeping a close eye on me.”


    Morgan cleared his throat and said, “The mission remains the same, Conqueror. Keep quiet and confirm if the culprit of these barbaric murders—” (“Attempted murders.”) “—is an Alternate. We can’t intervene, otherwise we’d force Jin Tianyou’s hand, and we can’t remotely babysit you either. Not with our recent development.”


    “Recent development?” I asked. “Something else happened?”


    “Potentially,” he said, “Archknell left a very ominous message to Rector about fifteen minutes ago, so we’re unraveling that thread. That means we’re spread thin: Martials, Glory, Angels. If you include Sophos, that’s Wisdom too.”


    “Shit…” That meant outside help was unlikely. My situation, although perilous, was stable. What was going on at Glory, though?


    Despite my concern, Morgan laughed his strange laugh. "If anything, it’s fortunate that Jin Tianyou brought your friends along. You have help.”


    My teeth grinded together. Outside the conference room were the rest of my “team.” More pessimistically, my two stupid friends shared the same space as the right hand woman of the very maniac who orchestrated this.


    “My friends are in danger, Morgan. Jin Tianyou dragged them into our mess. It’s bad enough that Vic’s involved, but with that fucker pressing a gun against our heads, I can’t tell what’ll happen next.”


    Morgan paused for a couple breaths. “We’ll protect them. Rector will, I mean. You can’t undo an explosion, after all. Right now, the priority is the investigation while maintaining silence about the Alternates. Blackviper’s more reasonable than her reputation paints her to be. Think of the assassin as dependable, but not trustworthy.”


    Fuck, part of me hoped I could find an out. I didn’t want to do this. Not for Jin Tianyou, not with my friends, not in this state. I was getting headaches from thinking about the details, plus my body wasn’t cooperating either. The soreness was still present. Coupled with the looming threat of international agents—and the fear of the Heavenly Xia Court glancing in my direction—the mild stress was more of a poison than motivation.


    I didn’t know if my body could hold for the next fifteen or sixteen hours under these conditions, but it had to be me. Jin Tianyou would accept no one else. He had to know what I was capable of.


    “…Alexander?” Morgan’s voice broke my mind out of a fog. “I’m sure this is feasible. You handled System Articles before, so this is well within your wheelhouse.”


    My head suddenly pounded. “Yeah.”


    Morgan paused again. “I’m not good at rousing speeches. That’s a job for our Guild Masters, but despite our short relationship—if you can call it that—you’re here for a reason. You survived this far. You’ve been through worse and in worse health. You’re fully capable and so far competent, which is a compliment I don’t give out freely.”


    If only he knew about the real reason why I stayed clear of Martials Guild, then he would be singing a different tune. He was right, though. This was far from the worst experience I had. One day. Just tough it out for one day…


    I cleared my throat, ignoring the pains. “I’ll do my best, Morgan. All I can say.”


    “I’ll try to keep you updated with Glory, but focus on the mission and your friends. We’ll speak again soon.” Morgan ended the call.


    Okay, no more wasting time. I had to get the ball rolling. Let’s hope the girls got along while I was out.


    I turned off the isolation bubble and opened the door— “Oh, motherfucker.”


    What should be three girls waiting for me was replaced by a curled and crumpled rug, a fallen tea-ball, and a small trail of tea-leaves leading toward the open entrance. That entrance happened to be broken, as one door was hanging off its broken hinges.


    Someone was shouting outside and sounded like a fight was going on.


    Fuck me. Could mean one of two things.


    [Memento Recollection - Nightingale Rifle]


    Within moments, I was out the door. To my relief, the culprit wasn''t attacking. To my dismay, then, Chunhua had. She’d just been pushed back by Blackviper, dragging her thorny spear across the gravel and dirt. Kotone was behind her, sweating a storm and no matter her pleas, our dumbass battle-addict wouldn’t listen. She was seeing red.


    Meanwhile, BV maintained a cool stance, lazily swinging a sleek, single-edged black blade around. She glanced in my direction and smirked. “There you are, Conq—“


    Chunhua charged ahead.


    But she couldn’t take one step before gravel spewed in her face. I’d shot there, sending a spell and hopefully a message too. “Stand the fuck down, Chunhua.”


    Chunhua gnashed her teeth and whacked her spear on the ground. <How dare you tell me to calm down, Alex?! This vermin insulted my master!>


    <I didn’t tell you to talk—>


    She marched toward me, now, and waved her spear with the full intent of using it. <Say that again, cockhead—!>


    I batted the spear away, and before she could react, five fingers were curled into her collar. Her steam blew in my face, and mine was blowing in hers.


    I said, growling, <I don’t give a shit who said what—>


    <She—!>


    I violently shook her, enough that her head bobbled. <Be angry with me all you want, fine! Sure! But you’re crossing the fucking line and you’re better than that. So if you don’t cool down and unfuck your head from your ass, I’ll do it for you. Now, I want you to nod your head without saying a word, got it? You understand?>


    My threat shoved a cork in the bottle. Her lips were sealed one way or another, however she felt. I didn’t want to say or do this, but kind words were ineffective against cultivators. You had to put your foot down and be willing to bloody your knuckles; fortunately, Chunhua and me already went through this song and dance multiple times before.


    She knew the outcome if she tested me.


    She nodded, rage still smoldering in her gaze, but it wasn''t my problem anymore.


    I let her go. “Wander around the main courtyard. I’ll get you when we’re ready. Go.”


    On the last word, Chunhua dispelled her spear, glared at Blackviper for one last time, and walked.


    “I…” Kotone was obviously very frazzled. “I’ll just uhm…”


    Without finishing her sentence, Kotone chased after her best friend. Good. I couldn''t be the kind voice today. Not when I was worked up, not in my position. Later, though, later.


    “Fuck me…” I dispelled [Nightingale] and faced the assassin who still had her sword drawn. God, how did Chunhua let herself get worked up? Anyone could see the provocation coming. Blackviper was notorious for not giving a shit about what other people thought, including her own GMs. Plus, she might’ve purposefully instigated a fight to gauge my reaction.


    I could expect her saying, “Didn’t know you had that in you, Conq!” but hollow praise didn’t reach my ears. In fact, she didn’t say anything. Blackviper was strangely staring at me, her eyes somewhat wide. Not the look I was expecting. Satisfaction, relief, awe maybe, those things. Not…whatever she was thinking.


    I investigated myself. Didn''t look weirder than normal. “What’s going on, BV? I know I made interesting friends—“


    She gripped her sword tighter. “System Articles.”


    I raised an eyebrow. “...What about it?”


    Blackviper narrowed her cybernetic eyes. “Incapping four C-Rankers was impressive, but they were bottom-of-the-barrel thugs. An STM squad can murk a warehouse of C-Rankers by themselves. Your average mil can mow down an S-Ranker with enough bullets—assuming a lot of things, obviously—hell, at the right time and place, a kid can blow a sword’s brains out. That’s the great equalizer: technology. Just like that Godkiller you were holding earlier.”


    Motherfucker, out of one frying pan and into another. As calm as I could, I said, “Your point is?”


    Blackviper lowered her head, and inside her long gaze was the cold and unforgiving Grim Reaper. Death was written across her pupils, toward me, and it chilled my pain and fear replaced it. “At the start, I thought Jin Tianyou was being dramatic like a schoolgirl discovering love for the first time. I’ll admit, I was wrong.”


    I pressed my lips together. “You were wrong?”


    “Mhm,” she hollowly hummed. “You can off everyone here without breaking a sweat. Dunno how you got your hands on Counterforce weapon systems, but I won’t ask. Heh, sounds oxymoronic: Chinese, Counterforce. Almost makes me laugh if I didn’t wanna piss myself.”


    Shit, now Jin Tianyou was going to be aware of this information. I slowly asked, “You telling your boss?”


    “Dunno, gonna shut me up like what you did with your friend? Maybe worse?” BV managed a small, cheeky smile. There was tension in her face. I think she was as wary of me as I was wary of her. Never thought I could get that reaction from a hardened assassin.


    I shrugged and turned toward the main courtyard. “I thought about letting you take a closer look, but that might be off the table.”


    Blackviper laughed and some of that tension relaxed. “A man after my own heart. Fine, Conq, I’ll back off. For now, at least. Go and figure out what we’re doing next. You’re the boss, I’m just the helper.”