The Hamster Scientist
While keeping an eye on Sonia as she entered the office, Kashi—the rat and the scientist—opened her mouth to speak.
"We've already wrapped up the talk about that Haspoon McTail security chief."
The pharmaceutical company had decided to stay silent on this matter. Kashi held the upper hand in justification, power, and information. The company already had other firms by the throat through investments and real estate. With it monopolizing the essence business on top of that, no one dared to oppose them. There was no reason to anyway, since Kashi had offered better land in the first place. So, it was safe to say the pharma company's project was effectively blocked.
"With this, we can consider their virus dispersal project in Western Europe halted."
Amon and Sonia let out sighs of relief upon hearing this, as if it were their own affair. Seeing that, Kashi smiled warmly to herself. 'She pretends otherwise, but she's such a softie.' With that thought, she continued.
"That said, there are still potential issues."
"Potential issues?"
Kashi nodded at Sonia's prompt. "Yeah. Potential issues."
They could count the worst-case future as averted. But nothing in the future was ever one hundred percent certain. They might verbally accept Kashi's proposal while proceeding with the virus spread unchanged.
"There's always the chance they'll build the factory as per our deal and then act like nothing happened, spreading the virus later."
Of course, that would break faith with Kashi, but so what? It was common in corporate dealings. There were futures like that, but Kashi chose not to mention it. The point was, uncertainties remained, and a fundamental solution was needed.
"We need someone to monitor them long-term in that region, at least. Now, onto the main topic..."
Kashi's gaze fixed on Amon. Caught off guard by the unexpected attention, he blinked.
"Me?"
"No, you need to stay here. I just meant a short trip."
"Why?"
"We're setting up a Recetio branch there. To make sure they keep their promises. Plus, it'll expand our essence business."
She planned to open a service center. One that restored essence-infused gear to peak condition while preserving maximum functionality. Only possible for a company where legendary essences popped up regularly.
Amon nodded, convinced by her reasoning. "Yeah, handing it off to someone else feels risky."
It might be overconfidence, but this was a sensitive operation. Whoever took it needed to know about the deal between Kashi and the pharma company, grasp her intentions fully, and stay incorruptibly clean. In Amon's eyes, no one else fit the bill.
"So, pull someone from another branch, or scout locally?"
"Locally should work."
"Just appoint some random passerby as president?"
Kashi nodded. Amon could only press a hand to his forehead.
"HR's gonna riot again."
"What can I do? The people I pick always outperform their recommendations."
"Director, you're too cool~"
"Ahem."
After a brief comedic interlude, consensus was reached between the two. Amon would head to Western Europe.
At the news, Sonia shot her hand up. "Me too!"
"What about your internship?"
"I'll take a break!"
"Graduation credits?"
"Uh... field experience should count, right? Worst case, I just won't graduate."
"..."
There was nothing to say. Only someone with no attachment to diplomas could utter that. While others went to seminary for specs, she'd gone purely to learn divine magic. The diploma was just a souvenir—nothing more, nothing less.
In the end, Amon threw up his hands. "Do whatever."
"Don't worry, I'll graduate for sure. I never even finished elementary or middle school—gotta have a college degree so our kid won't be ashamed of me."
"...Our kid?"
"Could be a girl."
Kashi eyed Amon suspiciously. He crossed his fingers into an X.
"Misunderstanding."
"Eh, it's natural for couples."
"Not like that... Sigh, denying it just makes it weirder."
It was that awkward spot where denying felt necessary yet wrong, defying easy words.
The three wrapped up their discussion. Amon and Sonia would head to Western Europe to find someone worthy of the presidency. A needle-in-a-haystack mission if there ever was one.
Amon asked Kashi, "Any hints?"
She shook her head. A loaded gesture—maybe no relevant futures visible, or not telling to avoid locking the worldline, or a warning against over-relying on precog. Room for many interpretations.
Amon trusted her judgment and dropped it.
With talks concluded, Amon and Sonia left the office to prepare for Western Europe.
"See you in a few months."
"Bring souvenirs."
"Got it."
Kashi saw them off. The office door closed, leaving her alone. Staring at it, she pictured Sonia and murmured.
"Must be nice..."
The nest yearned for a mate once more.
*
Amon and Sonia arrived in Paris, Western Europe. As always, premium class seats. Sonia basked in the comfort of her newlywed package, now routine.
They didn't dive straight into the mission upon landing. You needed some guess to start searching, but they had zero leads. Trusting fate, they wandered like tourists.
Paris air was filthy. Smog rivaling London's hallmark. Lung surgery with filters wasn't optional here—it was mandatory. Amon and Sonia settled for masks, drifting aimlessly through the city.
While wandering, Amon racked his brain for clues. Like dusting off a rusty machine and oiling it, he delved into memories of his past life.
First candidate: 'Sub quest?'
The game had a similar scenario. Spot the pharma company's deliberate virus plot and stop it—a sub quest. Optional after acceptance, but it nagged with periodic casualty reports to stoke guilt.
Ignore it to the end and...
— "You turned a blind eye to the deaths of 328,451 Western Europeans. Congratulations, Adolf the Second."
Westerners protested the Nazi comparison for deaths he didn't cause. Devs patched it, but irrelevant. Key was how he'd cleared that sub quest back then.
'Lemme think...'
Amon sifted memories. Conclusion: 'Rejected.'
The protagonist only knew ripping and killing. The request boiled down to vengeance on a few involved—not stopping the spread. Ending bumped to "You tried," but no root fix.
Useless reference.
Amon brainstormed more. Ally NPCs? 'No one useful.' Dead, vanished, or pointless.
Fortuitous encounters or items? Nothing to halt a deliberate outbreak.
'Evil NPC help?' Fleeting thought, instantly scrapped. Too risky, and Amon doubted he'd spare them.
Candidates flashed by. Then, amid the crowd, a passerby's shoulder bumped his. Lost in past-life recall, he'd zoned out.
Instinctively checking his wallet, recalling his coat's extradimensional pocket, he sheepishly turned to apologize to the man.
"Sorry..."
Amon met the man's eyes. A face flashed in his mind.
'Comedy relief?'
A well-intentioned scientist surfaced. London-born, eager to help, gifted for it. But comedy gold for reasons—best word: randomness. Inconsistent results, unintended side effects. That chaotic flair drew roguelike fans to Punk City, seeking him out. Amon had leaned on him plenty in his past life.
And this middle-aged man matched that face.
Doubting mere resemblance, his actions confirmed it.
"Ah, sorry. I was in a rush... Trrring! Hold on. The doctor's got something to say."
The man mimed a phone ring, pulled a hamster from his pocket. Cupping it reverently, he addressed Amon in a grave tone.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Henri Muare. Got time? I'd like to chat about you and your wife..."
"No, Doctor, she might not be his wife!"
"Ah, apologies. Not your wife, then?"
Sonia gaped at the man alternating voices solo. Amon was certain.
'It's him.'
The genius scientist sharing a mind with a rat. Henri Muare & Dant in the flesh.