Mercenary Office
"The third force... I'll call it Unknown. It's a group operating in the shadows right now. If we're only seeing them pull strings without showing their faces, we'd say they mostly work the Net."
"Aegis System?"
"If we think about it honestly and straightforwardly, Aegis is suspicious, sure. But it's too obvious. Plus, Aegis is obligated to report all their activity logs to the government. Oh, and I hear the Big Three corps get those logs too."
Aegis System, made up entirely of Netwatchers, is the company watched by everyone in Eden. It's only natural, since they operate in the invisible realms of the Net and the Abyss. That's why the government and the Big Three receive their activity logs in real-time, and if anything suspicious pops up, they move to enforcement. Talos leads those enforcements. ECPD handles it without the corps even needing to step in. That's why Aegis can't defy the corps or the government.
"Anyway, we shouldn't touch a group we suspect is made of Netwatchers lightly."
Lena brushed her red hair behind her ear and continued. "Anywhere but Elder Salvador's office, packed with analog gear, you should avoid talking about it as much as possible."
"Yeah."
Soo nodded. Even if Lena was actually a Luthien exec, what she was saying wasn't wrong. The corps' eyes and ears are everywhere. That's exactly why rumors like that spread—because they really are everywhere. When the helper Miko introduced died, Soo had avoided those keywords too. Aegis Netwatchers, working under the Big Three, catch even that stuff. So, talking carelessly about Unknown, suspected to operate in the Net and Abyss like them, is a no-go.
"We'll exchange progress reports by hand, and hold urgent meetings in Grandpa's office?"
"That'd be ideal, but..."
Lena trailed off, glancing at Salvador. To do what Soo suggested, they'd need his permission, after all.
"Does the elder look like someone with that much free time to you?"
"...Yeah, probably not."
"Even if he wanted to lend the office, it's no good when he's not there."
Obvious. They'd met twice in a short time, so he might seem leisurely, but Salvador was the old man called the lord of Westtown. He had tons to do, and dozens of people to meet every day. Just sitting here chatting for this long was like throwing away millions of credits. But he didn't seem to mind. Money could be earned, partners replaced—but this agenda? Irreplaceable. Plus, watching Lena scramble to survive was kinda fun.
"Not instead, but there's a simple way. Rent a new office and deck it out like the elder's."
"For me, that'd be... Ah."
Lena's gaze shifted to Soo. Her own office would need all sorts of gear. Partly for Luthien work, but most connectors who weren't unique like Salvador needed lots of equipment. A mercenary office, though? And if the merc's rep wasn't huge, they could style it however without suspicion—just lean into the concept.
"Hmm..."
Not a bad idea, but Soo tilted her head. "Then how do we do our work?"
"That's easy."
Salvador hadn't even finished, but Angela swallowed a gasp. In this conversation flow, there was one way to help. Keep it rundown, no fancy gear, but still draw a line out the door.
"Send a wreath in the elder's name."
"Oh."
"As expected of the elder. Then I'll send one too. It's featherweight compared to yours, but it'll help."
"Oh..."
"...If it's a hassle, I won't."
Honestly, Lena's wasn't necessary. One wreath stamped with Salvador Ortega's eight letters? That'd suffice.
"Kidding. Thanks."
But if she sent it, no reason to refuse. Lena Marietti's wreath was no loss—might even come in heavy someday.
"With the location set, let me outline the prep work ahead. Speak up if anything sounds off."
"That's how it went."
"So I'm heading north..."
Enoch would go to the northern frontlines, snag intel, while Soo and Angela opened a mercenary office in Westtown to operate.
"So what's that shard for?"
"A shard mapping the path into the Abyss."
"Isn't that the most crucial shard on a battlefield?"
"Yeah... probably."
Eden's wars used firearms, sure, but Net battles were no joke. Hack the nano-computer in your head, and people dropped dead. In this world, you could argue Net combat mattered more than melee. Enoch had to steal the shard that was alpha and omega of those fights.
"You want me to snag that."
"I trust Enoch."
"...Fine, say I get it. Then what? Even top Netwatchers say scouting the Abyss is risky."
Enoch's eyes flicked to Angela. She was a stellar Netwatcher—better than any he'd heard of. But diving the Abyss? Different beast. Even once-in-a-century talent lived or died by luck there.
"Elder Salvador could, or Ms. Lena Marietti. But that'd burn through Netwatchers till success."
Angela gave a wry smile. "Doesn't sit right with me."
Meaning she'd do it herself. Enoch popped a candy, craving a smoke—but not easy in a car with two non-smokers.
"Angela."
"Yes?"
"A Netwatcher like you—why help us? Got a reason?"
"Hmm, less 'help' and more 'together.' Reason... well."
Tapping her pursed lips, Angela gazed quietly at the city nightscape whipping past the window.
"Other reasons too, but the big one? I fell for how you and Soo save the powerless. Saving people without reward? Cool as hell."
Enoch and Soo picked jobs carefully. Even urgent ones, they chose duty over cash.
"And, heh... Kinda scheming too. Once you like me too much to hate... maybe you'd bail me out of trouble."
"I'd help now."
"No, Soo. What if my sister's bad news?"
"I'd fall for it if it's you, Angela."
Angela's eyes widened. Soo up front, her in back—no eye contact, but Angela could picture Soo's face. Rare emotion from the stoic girl. This might be it.
"Soo's really cool."
"Cool dragon."
Swish swish—Soo's tail tickled Angela's nose. Angela giggled, hugging it tight.
"Thanks."
"Yeah."
In their fluffy vibe, Enoch sulked. Ten days from treatment to discharge—they'd gotten too close. Am I exiled? Useless dark-skinned guy just eats food and gets ditched... The strong prey on the weak, now petty too.
"You'll help Enoch too, right."
Did she catch his mood? Or just saying it? Her blank face gave nothing away—Soo was always expressionless.
"Appreciate the words."
Faint moonlight filtered through Eden's garish neon.
"Not empty. For real."
Soo whispered, backlit by the moon—like that first night they met.
"...Yeah."
Enoch smiled too, reason unknown. Just... this moment felt good.
"Hey, Enoch."
"What."
"You'll help if I mess up, right?"
"Obviously."
"Then."
Soo wriggled back, grinning wide. "I spilled my drink. Wipe it."
"You little shit."
The office for Soo, Enoch, and Angela? Salvador snagged it himself. Seemed everyone he met died—wanted to wrap deals before clients got wiped.
"Whoa, this for that price?"
"Two-year lease, but yeah."
"Oh."
Explained the prime spot. Merc offices did best midway from bustle—alleys over streets. Shady jobs meant crowds were trouble. That's why merc districts formed, streets got names. Like Circuit Line. Debts and deals tangled everywhere.
Anyway, Salvador's pick: Westtown Circuit Line, ninth-floor unit in a building. Prime visibility even among packed merc signs.
"Exile... no, good we prepped the office before your business trip..."
"Too late tonight—peek inside, start tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
With Enoch's car, it'd be easier—plus the junk he'd scrap soon could haul gear comfy. Soo skipped up stairs happily. Third floor. Elevator there, but stairs faster. Enoch followed, eyeing CCTV spots and hall layout. Past first, second—to 303.
"If you don't wanna see your buddy croak, drop weapons and hit the deck."
"Oh..."
"...Trouble never ends."
"Ahaha... yeah."
They found Miki, Topher's sister, held hostage by thugs. No wonder she vanished those ten days—kidnapped.