The Unexpected Send-Off Party
Serena Moretti's farewell party or dinner or whatever... Enoch gave up on his modest wish. He'd just throw himself into what he could do right now. At least he could help his comrades before he left. Better than getting in the way. And wasn't he better off than Serena anyway? A Luthien executive rummaging through trash heaps. She must be swamped with the Tollgate lightning incident, yet here she was digging through garbage. He figured he was way, way better off than her...
With that thought fueling his spite, Enoch swam through the trash piles. Time flew by. In the meantime, he found nothing magic-related, nor even a trace of the power suit they'd agreed to look for on the side.
"You sure it's really here?"
Enoch asked Soo when they bumped into each other during a break.
"If you could sense mana traces, couldn't you pinpoint a spot?"
"It's buried everywhere."
"What does that mean?"
"Like hiding a body and splattering blood all over the place."
"That's a brutal way to put it..."
But he got it perfectly.
"Still... we're almost done, so we'll find it soon enough."
Just like Enoch said, in another day or two, they'd have combed every trash heap here. Whatever Soo was looking for had to be in there somewhere.
But Enoch wouldn't be around to see it...
Even that stung now. If they found magic, he at least wanted to be there himself. That way, he'd feel some sense of accomplishment before he left.
"Uh... I could push back my dispatch by a day and help out. What do you think?"
"Serena's helping. Go easy, Enoch."
"...Right."
At this point, it bordered on hurtful. But he couldn't show it. He owed Soo too much. Hell, he was only here because of her. Helping his benefactor and comrade was just the right thing to do.
"...Got it."
"Yeah. Let me know if you're heading out."
Whether she sensed his feelings or not, Soo whispered with that melting smile.
"Gotta say goodbye."
"You do goodbyes?"
"Yeah, you're a teammate."
"Huh... Yeah. I'll say bye before I go."
"Fight on."
Soo waved lazily and vanished into the trash with a pop.
Right away, Angela caught his eye on the other side, wedged between trash heaps.
"Ahaha... Enoch? Could you help me out?"
But it wasn't your average stuck. Her chest was half-caught mid-escape, squished flat...
Enoch immediately pulled out a cigarette and lit up. Then whoosh—Soo's head popped out.
No idea how she always knew, but right now, it was a godsend.
"Want a light?"
"Not fire. Help Angela instead. It's... a bit much for me."
Soo turned her head. Then shuddered.
Anyone seeing that magnificent sight would react the same. Proof: Frey, who crawled up the trash heap going what-what, let out a scream.
"Whoa... Enoch, you like small ones over that insane rack? I seriously don't get it...?"
"Why're you suddenly roasting me...?"
As a big-boobs fan, Enoch felt deeply wronged.
"S-Soo...? Sis is embarrassed, so help quick...?"
"Yeah."
Soo bounded over and touched the rebar pinning Angela. With a KRZZZACK!—it tore apart in a shower of sparks.
And with a boing sound effect, Angela's chest sprang free.
"Whoa..."
Startled, Soo bolted back into the trash.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa... those tits... fucking epic."
"Tch."
Frey clapped at the glorious jiggle, while Serena—who'd come to check—glanced at her own chest, clicked her tongue, and left.
"...Frey, quit yapping and get back to work."
"Ah... yeah, right."
Frey snapped out of it, stood on tiptoes, and wiped soot from Enoch's face.
"Heading out in a few hours?"
"...Nine hours left."
"Hmm... not much time. If you go, tell me. Got it? I'll pack whatever I can for you."
Enoch grabbed Frey's wrist as she turned away, stopping her.
"Hyau?!"
"...Frey."
Enoch still didn't get Soo. No clue what went on in her head.
But Frey? He knew her inside out. Well, except her crush, but he knew every tell when she hid something or lied better than anyone.
"Y-Yeah...?"
"You're hiding something."
"N-No I'm not!"
"Think I don't know you?"
"You didn't even know I liked you, you bastard!"
"That's... fair, but I still know you better than anyone else."
"W-Well... there's stuff you don't know yet."
Enoch flicked her forehead as she squirmed.
"What're you hiding? Spill while I'm asking nice."
"W-What if you don't ask nice...?"
"Huh?"
Good question. What would he do? Never had to think about it before. Especially not with Frey.
"You gonna get rough? Give me a lesson or somethin'? That kinda thing? Hear me?"
"What the hell kinda—"
As Enoch recoiled, tap—a familiar cane sound from behind.
"Argh, you damn brats. This old man rushed here thinkin' you'd caused trouble, and here you are playin' lovey-dovey? What the hell?"
Enoch's eyes went wide. He knew that voice without looking.
Frey—whose wrist he still held—gaped.
"Old man...?"
"Aye, me."
"H-How'd you get here...?"
"Drove. You think I'd run?"
"N-No, I mean..."
Enoch's mind raced. Why was Salvador here? No explanation.
Then Soo's voice echoed in his head.
—Should I call? What she'd casually dropped the moment they entered Northrica.
The three had talked her out of calling. But she could've messaged. And Salvador said he'd heard they'd caused trouble.
"...Did Soo message you?"
"Spot on, but your face says you didn't know."
"No clue."
"Heh, you little shit."
Salvador chuckled in disbelief. He'd canceled everything and raced here from Northrica, only to find no jail time—just kids digging trash like it was a picnic.
The Tollgate lightning bolt had spread across Eden. Anyone tuned into the world like Salvador knew it was big news. Corps were scrambling.
Yet Soo messaged like he did it? Just a prank?
Even if he doted on her, this couldn't slide.
"Hey, Gramps."
"Soo."
Salvador called her seriously, but Soo trotted over casually as ever.
"Gift."
"What the old man wants..."
Some folks seem mad all the time but go eerily calm when truly pissed. Salvador was that type.
His voice sank deeper, heavier. Then he gasped.
"...What's this?"
"Power suit activation key."
"How'd you know to find it?"
"Searched."
"Why hand it to this old man?"
"You like old stuff, Gramps."
Salvador eyed her narrowly, then sighed low.
"Don't think this'll make me drop it. This ain't somethin' to brush off."
"Today's Enoch's dispatch day."
Salvador whipped around.
"That true?"
"...Eight hours left."
His edge softened a bit as he eyed Soo.
"You didn't."
Now Enoch caught on. Frey's awkwardness. Serena showing up. Now Salvador.
No way.
"Enoch'll come back alive, but we should all eat something nice before he goes. Serena's here too."
"...Callin' her means you're workin' together now. Fine. You dragged this old man here lyin' for Enoch's send-off?"
"Didn't lie. Just didn't say."
"Only 'cause it's me. Say that to others, I'll tan your hide."
"Heehee."
Soo beamed at Enoch.
"Let's go, Enoch. Sena and Seung-ah booked the restaurant."
"Those two too...?"
"Who're they?"
"Wolha Corp CEO and ECPD Investigations chief. Close sisters."
"Damn, that's a crowd. Gonna eat with all that chaos?"
"They're future coworkers. Better get along."
"Get along my ass... Tch, whatever. Old man's headin' out. Get cleaned up and come. Can't stand the stink anymore."
He said it gruffly, but Salvador didn't seem that mad. A faint smile tugged as he turned back the way he came.
"...Too many people?"
"That's it."
Did she mean no more guests, or had she laid all the groundwork for her plans?
Enoch still couldn't read Soo, but right now, he didn't care. The warmth blooming in his chest was enough.
"Th-Thanks."
"Told ya. Always be grateful."
Soo puffed out her chest proudly and walked off.
"Wash up and let's roll."
"Ack!"
Meanwhile, Lucy came bounding from afar, eyes huge.
"Sis!!"
She pointed somewhere and bolted to Soo.
"Bad guy's here!"
Everyone followed her finger. Serena stood there, cigarette dangling, grumbling.
"Looks bad guy-ish, but not a bad guy."
"No! He is! 'Cause last time Mom—"
Before Lucy could finish, Iva approached from the junkyard entrance, growling in a totally new tone.
"Serena Moretti."
"...Iva Etherdam?"
Serena dropped her cig, face clouding over.
"Ooh..."
One scowled, the other lit up like old friends swapping names? What could be more thrilling?
Soo plopped down, munching potato chips Lucy brought, crunch crunch.