Descent into L Corp's Toxic Haze
Night Awl wasn't some major player investigating around L Corp. Thumb's Don must have had his doubts about Lao Ru. They were all purged in the end. Unfortunately, while the underboss Allan was sharp and quick on his feet, the organization's head seemed dumber than I expected. Unlike Middle, where you could call your superiors family and get chummy with them, Thumb was a skating-on-thin-ice kind of workplace—if you questioned the higher-ups or acted out of line, you paid the price. The vibe was downright chilly too... From Allan's current position, I must seem like a real pain in the ass.
The Bonyatelli family was a heavyweight even among back-alley outfits, bigger than Night Awl, and Thumb backed a much wider network of organizations and families. Palermo swordsmanship had a long, prestigious history too. Honestly, aside from Wandering Heights, there weren't many groups that could match our family's size.
Allan wore an expression like life was truly bitter. Suck it up and learn Palermo yourself if it bothers you that much. I didn't have any headaches, so I didn't bother with cigars either.
"Investigate the unidentified group lurking near L Corp, and if possible, take them out... Got it. So, miss, do you have troops with you?"
"Nah, I came alone."
"Pardon? You came here by yourself, without even personal guards?"
"You thought a lowly Soldato like me would bring an army? Well, once I get promoted to Capo quick, maybe then."
"Hah... seriously. If other Thumb members were here, your words wouldn't be taken lightly, miss."
"I'm only saying this because no one's higher up than me right now. Don't you know in Thumb, badmouthing your boss doesn't count unless it's to their face?"
"Ha... must be nice living life so carefree. My head's killing me already..."
Allan shook his head and stood up.
"I'll talk to a few of the guys and figure out when we head out."
As Allan rose, Valentina stood too.
"When do we leave?"
"What a obvious question. Right now, obviously."
"Pardon? Now? That's too hasty."
"Gotta hustle to rack up results and climb the ranks fast. If I were just a regular Soldato, chances like this don't come often. Gotta score big and shoot up to Underboss."
Valentina glanced at her two swords.
"Allan, I've got a proposal."
Allan sighed and looked at her.
"What is it...?"
"If I make Underboss, wanna leave Night Awl and work under me?"
Allan looked like he was about to snap back what the hell?, but seeing her serious face, he paused for a few seconds before speaking.
"Every affiliate under Thumb joined up for the promotions. You can live more luxuriously here than anywhere else, second only to the Wings. But... there's one thing in this world you absolutely can't betray."
He met her gaze as he answered.
"Our boss is always too eager for advancement and keeps screwing up. Without me, he'll make a huge mistake someday and crash hard. I'm the only one who can steady him when he stumbles and guide the flailing crew."
Figures a Capitano isn't just anyone.
"Though if the boss were here, he'd throw a fit insisting nothing like that would ever happen."
Valentina couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, sounds like a real unreliable boss."
"Keep that secret from him..."
...
Allan gathered the Night Awl members.
"Listen up. We're heading to wipe out those nameless bastards near L Corp if they're there."
L Corp—Lobotomy Corporation—was the company before it got established. In the game, not much info was out there. During the Wing War, Ayn, Benjamin, and all those behind the scenes who wanted the war tore down old L Corp. ...Gonna have to fight old L Corp with Gregor later, so I should look into it. I figured Valentina's psyche snapped from all the unspeakable horrors of the Smoke War and rolling through countless battlefields.
The Night Awl crew eyed their underboss, Capitano Allan. They listened to his speech like subjects before a Han dynasty lord. Okay, credit where due—he's pretty good at this.
"And the brilliant, revered miss Valentina from the Bonyatelli family has graciously agreed to fight alongside us."
Me?
As Valentina looked at the group, they erupted in cheers.
"Valentina, the Bonyatelli favorite, fighting with us!"
"We're truly blessed! Getting to entrust our backs to such a beauty on the battlefield!"
"Sis, you're so pretty!"
Valentina glanced at the Capitano beside her. Allan ignored it and shouted to the crew.
"I won't force anyone. Those hungry for promotion, follow me!"
The cheers peaked, but Valentina just shook her head.
...
Still, the real relief was that the Smoke War hadn't happened yet. Fuck, do we really need that Smoke War? Thinking about it again, it's total bullshit. Win or lose, the Smoke War was fucked either way. What the hell, no hero's welcome? This ain't a country—oh wait, it's a city. Yeah, that tracks.
Hmm, Valentina pondered. In the Smoke War, the fighters were Moses and Ezra from Diaz's Ujet Office, the R Corp fixer, Thumb where she belonged, and Salvador plus the legendary Grade 1 fixer Roland from Charles Office. All in, four factions ganged up on Lobotomy Corporation—that was the Smoke War.
For Valentina, it was pure honey. With powerhouse Ujet Office, legendary Charles Office, one of the Wings in R Corp, and Thumb as one of the back-alley's top five heavies—smashing old L Corp with those monster-tier thugs? Losing would make you the idiot.
Of course, the enemy wasn't pushover. The bug warriors kept shambling like zombies even with their heads half off... Creepy as fuck... Win or not, they ate corpses to regen. Not to be underestimated.
But Valentina felt a bit sour. No matter how shitty the Smoke War treatment was, no matter how fucked it all seemed—she had to join. That's where she'd rack up massive achievements and rocket up Thumb's ranks. Roland'll carry anyway. I'll just fight enough to get by. She didn't want lifelong trauma turning her into the original boozehound Valentina.
Ujet and Charles were packed with monsters, plus R Corp who lived for combat and Thumb cranking out pricey gear like bullets. No way she'd get fucked in that war.
As Valentina brooded, Allan sighed and spoke up.
"Miss, what on earth are you thinking so hard about?"
"Huh? Oh... just wondering what kind of guys are lurking near L Corp. If they're from another Finger's affiliate, it could spark a Finger-on-Finger fight. Can't just rush in—gotta be cautious."
"Really?"
"Of course! Hey, Capitano, you know this guy Ayn...?"
"Ayn? Not really. Sounds like a Wing employee, not a fixer."
Yeah... he's not famous yet.
Valentina muttered softly.
"Miss, we're here."
Valentina and Allan stepped out into L Corp's back alleys. It was back-alley alright, but the sky was choked with thick smog. Valentina wrinkled her nose.
"Was L Corp always this foggy...?"
Allan donned his gas mask and handed one to Valentina.
"L Corp supplies energy to nearby Wings. With all the factories running, the air's probably like this."
Valentina put on the mask. The fog seeping in smelled like rotting flesh, nauseating enough to gag, and it set her nerves on edge.
"Anyway... where's their hideout supposed to be?"
At Valentina's question, Allan shrugged.
"No idea. If we knew, Thumb wouldn't have sent us. Better ask the locals."
Allan and Valentina scanned the alleys. People looked half-dead, faces gaunt, some screaming like corpses. Allan grabbed one.
"Got a question. Know anything about a mysterious group prowling near L Corp?"
The man with cloudy eyes just pointed somewhere.
"Blood..."
"Pardon?"
"They said they need blood..."
The man collapsed.
The mansion he pointed to was huge, church-like. Big for around here.
"Guess we check there first. Miss, you're not freaked out?"
Valentina shrugged at Allan's question.
"Kinda expected this hellscape. I'm Thumb, back-alley born—not some Wing princess. Gotta steel yourself."
Well, I'm possessing a pampered lady with her memories, so I wouldn't know. But yeah, braced for it—still feels like stepping into hell. These folks aren't even human anymore. Pure nightmare fuel.
"Allan, if war hit this land, what would you do?"
Allan tilted his head at the random question.
"What...? Everyone'd die, probably. War in this puke-inducing smog hell? Might as well line up for death."
He shuddered.
"You're one weird lady, miss. Only you'd imagine stuff like that."
As they chatted, they reached the church. Valentina and Allan knocked.
"Excuse us. We're investigating around here. Mind cooperating a bit?"
The door creaked open slowly. A white-haired old man smiled kindly at them.
"Humble abode, but if guests wish to stay awhile, doors are open."
He glanced between Valentina and Allan.
"If it's alright... why not come in for some tea?"