#168 Sanctuary Armor
'Waking up in the morning, wondering what happened last night~ What kind of incident is waiting for me today?!' Humming the theme song from that blood-soaked manga under my breath, I headed to Sanctuary Corp.
Just like the protagonist in that manga, I hoped something big would go down at Sanctuary Corp—really hoped it.
And why not? Over the past month, there'd been no clashes with heavyweights like White Knight or Jet Stream, no fun terrorist attacks like the one at Hero Bank. With the Skull Head Gang stabilizing, I didn't even have much to micromanage. Sure, a few ballsy punks were skimming off the top on the side, but as long as they didn't cross the line I'd drawn, I didn't give a shit what they got up to.
With nothing exciting happening, my daily routine naturally started and ended with sex. And for the past month, the ones handling my libido had been the Succubus and her sisters, or Emily and Cheetergirl. I'd call in escorts now and then, too.
My first girl and slave, Yuna, was swamped with hero work. Jina and Elise were buried in company duties, so naturally, they had to pick up the slack for my needs.
'Come to think of it, the Succubus has been holding up pretty damn well.'
The Succubus still hadn't sworn her oath of submission to me. On the bed, she'd turn into the hottest embodiment of lust, taking my cock with more passion than anyone—but when it came to that crucial vow, she always held back.
'She's been swallowing my cum for a month and still no oath? That's a hit to my pride.'
Fine. Decision made. Right after tonight's party, I'd go claim the Succubus in my real body. Of course, I'd keep Elise and Jina company with clones.
'Perfect.' No wonder dual monitors are so popular. Multitasking like a boss.
"So, what the hell did you do to throw such a massive party? Don't tell me Dad's showing off again."
"What do you mean 'showing off'? And when has Dad ever shown off to me? Maybe to Mom, but not me."
"Fair point."
Jina wouldn't spill no matter how much I pried about what was going on. She flat-out refused to tell anyone not directly involved. And the same went for Elise, who'd joined as her secretary midway through the project. She just smiled coyly, not even dropping a hint.
Come on, girls, that's cold! I'm not 'involved'? We're super close—intimate, even! Grr... I'm pissed!
'Bad girl vibes at MAX!!!!!!!'
I'll settle this score in bed!
'No, wait.' I changed my mind.
'I'll bank up some extra teasing, then get revenge with a threesome on the trip!'
Until then, saving that bratty attitude... SAVE!!!!!!!!
*****
The party hall at the Sanctuary Hotel was already packed. From the veteran execs who'd led the company's glory days to the young hotshots driving it now, plus their families—all there for the bash.
"Alright, Elise—or should I say Elza—see you in there."
"Yes, sis."
We split at the entrance. For the record, inside Sanctuary Corp, Elise wasn't Elizabeth Gwen; she was Elza Gwune. Elise headed into the party hall first, while Jina and I went off to meet Mom and Dad.
At these kinds of parties, the stars always make their grand entrance last—that's the rule.
"No drugs here, right?"
"Drugs? Out of nowhere?"
"Just popped into my head 'cause it's a party. Reminded me of Duran's birthday bash."
Duran's thirtieth would go down as the worst birthday party ever. High-society brats doped up on drugs, turning it into an orgy.
"Oh, that? Ugh, now I'm in a bad mood. You comparing me to that trash?"
"When did I compare? You're no trash—you're a flower. My one beautiful rose..."
I gave her cheek a gentle stroke with soulful eyes. Jina started trembling.
Then she suddenly slammed her fist into my solar plexus with all her might.
"So cheesy! Gross—never say that shit again."
"Roses come with thorns..."
And that's how we found Mom and Dad, deep in their lovey-dovey routine. Dad in a sharp suit, Mom in a short red dress that bared half her chest. Her figure was model-ready—she could debut tomorrow and crush it. A fifty-year-old body like that? My dick—er, chest—swells with pride.
We caught up on chit-chat, then timed our entrance to the party hall perfectly.
"Hold up, Dad."
"Yeah?"
"The party hall's called 'Fanny Hall' after Mom, right?"
"What makes you think it's not?"
"..."
Mom's Stephanie Yu; the hall's Fanny Hall. Yeah, they took "Fanny" from her name. Total fanboy move!
'Gotta name my building after Jina someday.' She'd love it. Probably tear up and drop to her knees for a blowjob from the emotion. Heh heh... good idea.
As we arrived, the emcee grabbed the mic.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Chairman Bal Ji-woon is entering!"
Clap clap clap clap!
No one prompted them, but the whole hall erupted in applause. Eyes locked on us ascending the stage burned with raw ambition.
'Hot damn.'
They all wanted to stand there—to etch their name in Dark City's history like Dad. Pure desire.
Dad, Mom, and Jina smiled and bowed graciously. I followed suit, playing it cool.
As the thunderous applause died down, we took our seats, and the emcee stepped up to kick off the real party.
"Tonight's event..."
Lights dimmed; a massive screen lit up with a video. No bed-tangled lovers or moans—just everyday folks going about their lives.
'What the hell did they invent to make such a fuss?'
Just say, "We made this! It's killer! Praise us!" Why the video?
Screeech—thud!
"Kyaaak!"
'Huh?'
The documentary vibe shifted to tragedy. A woman pushing a stroller across a crosswalk got smashed by a speeding truck that blew the light—dead. A plane plummeted from the sky, killing pilot, crew, and passengers. Drownings, villain muggings, falls from skyscrapers—death everywhere on screen.
"...What are they getting at?"
Then, rewind. The dead rewound to just before their doom.
Screeech!
The truck barreled toward the stroller and woman again.
"Hyaat!"
"...Huh?"
That's when it started. The woman, who'd gone splat before, yanked something from her pocket and slapped it on her belly. A hexagonal gadget wriggled, rippling like waves over her body. Edges formed; a hero suit materialized.
She thrust her hand at the truck—bam! It halted against her palm. She skidded back but no fatal injuries. Not a scratch.
Same in the other clips. Plane passengers slapped on hex gadgets; ripples, suits, then they leaped out mid-crash and survived. The drowning guy breathed underwater, fought a villain evenly. The fall guy got up unscathed.
Video ended; screen centered on text:
[Your safety is now guaranteed by Sanctuary Armor.]
"Sanctuary... Armor? Huh?"
Lights back on. Jina was suddenly onstage, beaming confidently as she pulled something from her clutch—the hex gadget from the vid.
"This is 'Sanctuary Armor.'"
She slapped it on her thigh. Tiny bits swarmed out, enveloping her. They hardened into a full suit.
"The superpower loaded in my current suit is body enhancement. Output ranges from minimum D-rank to maximum B-rank hero level. Duration varies by output; at D-rank, up to 24 hours."
Clang!
She stomped a steel pipe someone held out—no break, but it bent precariously, ready to snap with a nudge.
"Currently, loadable superpowers are body enhancement, underwater breathing, and shock absorption. Full commercialization needs more time, but with this, we can boldly declare to the world."
Jina grinned with overflowing confidence.
"In the past and present, Sanctuary Corp has grown with Dark City—laughed together, struggled together, grieved together. But the future? Sanctuary Corp will safeguard it. No more tears for anyone!"
"Sanctuary Armor is our future!"
Waaaaaah!
Clap clap clap clap!
The crowd surged to their feet, roaring and applauding. Reporters in the corner flashed cameras like mad.
"That..."
I muttered watching Jina.
"Isn't it nanoparticles?"
Just like our eternal hero and one of my role models, Iron Man bro's tech. Suits looked different, but those swarming bits from the hex were identical to movie nanites.
"Made that in a month?"
Hold up! Sleight of hand? You think I'm a sucker?! All my chips on this not being a bluff! Fold and you're dead! What? Haha... you punk, messing with the almighty Agui Armor! Boom-bap-clap~ Time to check the cards? Yap! Bluff? It's a bluff~! Nooooo! Spare me, Agui Armor-sama! Didn't they teach you cheaters lose hands? Chop it off! Wham!
"Goni went from Goni to go/ni..."
Shit. Got lost in thought and slipped into a delusion. Goni, caught cheating by Agui Armor, lost a hand and blew his savings on a Mojito in Maldives.
"Anyway, not the point."
The point: nanoparticles aren't a one-month tech. Even genius Iron Man bro took years. Impossible.
'But it exists. So...'
Two possibilities. One: Sanctuary Corp's potential exceeds my wildest dreams.
Two...
'They already had nano tech.'
First case? Just applaud. Second? Raises questions. Why reveal such advanced tech now?
Why?