Cost of Rescue

Being anxious about your future isn't that bad considering the state of the world. I got out of the bed and for once after hearing that those two had probably fucked over one of the mid-bosses.

Karagi's Wrath's still going. But I need to make sure that we're doing things while they are making a killing out there. Sai appeared the moment I got into the base.

"Welcome Master, it seems that my information network has been crippled."

"Well, do you have control of Karagi?"

"It seems like the black hats have been able to manifest control of our proceedings. The drones are operable but they are unable to take on control. Analysis: Have you expected this?"

"I have."

Got into the inner chamber where Marion's strapped into her chair. Jisoo's sitting comfortably on the side.

"Ah, you're here. Karagi's Network has been cut off."

"The Specters?"

"Yup," she takes the helmet and unplugs herself from the chair. "I got many questions, but seeing how they are able to detect our patterns. I say that they really might be working on this Opsec that the government is doing here."

"Got enough footage?"

"Yup, and Jisoo's been very helpful. Why not give me to her?"

I shrugged. Jisoo leans backs and shakes her head.

"I'm not available."

"Hmm, you guys need to stop coming here. Do you guys take a break? Must be quite rough with all the marks you're given here, 'Boss'."

Jisoo covers her face for a moment.

"Aren't you lucky, J? You got a loyal man who hasn't done anything. He did go out with this woman, but it was work."

Marion grins. Jisoo cranes her head towards me. I can feel her eyes glaring at me. I should have said that first.

"I didn't do anything. And besides, that 'woman' got us some good intel."

"Well, they already partition us from their intel."

I looked at Sai. "Anything wrong?"

"My tracers have concluded that they are using upgraded versions of what they call the ion firewall to block off our siphoning of their account. I have tried five thousand penetration attacks and cracking their code would take five trillion and four years to crack."

"That hard huh."

"Yes. Unfortunately, not even my processors can extract data. I believe that if the Master hasn't rescued Ms. Kim then it would have gone undetected."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. But are crippled?"

"No. We have enough information to keep the factions here in Karagi to belong to us."

It was a bargain. Get Jisoo and lose the potential information that we'd get from those servers. The moment they realized something was off by that drone swarm, it was already impossible to get. Not that I'd regret getting Jisoo out of that place. It was worth it just by her getting out of there. She also can fight very well and can be trusted to get the job done.

"Got no qualms. Jisoo's a fine operator," Marion comments. "It's not enough to get the whole city, but we'll still rule in Karagi and every upstart is going to come to us. I ain't greedy."

I sat down. "What about Nix? Trixie? Are they in?"

"Don't worry. Nix's not a problem. Trixie's already ruling like a Queen over every group. However, I can't access the network at the moment."

"Why?"

Sai walks over. She's still using the same body. "I am currently erasing every trace and are now putting every building. Every property that we have recently acquired to Ms. Marion's name. The cut will be going to you as well, Master. But the maintenance of the buildings. The cost of the equipment and manpower will take a large cut."

Mario shrugs. "It's what you get for having a large group under you. We need people to be on the payroll. I got a list, thanks to Sai, and I'm planning to get them to look the other way."

I leaned forward. "Are they clean?"

Sai nodded. "I have thoroughly checked their background history. Their recent whereabouts and their contacts. They are not under any faction or are secretly conversing with others to be in our group."

Marion swings her leg. She looks me in the eyes.

"I have to ask. Why are you after Specters?"

"Short or long version?"

"Short version. I'd ask for the long version."

"Elite Squad hoping to rest everything on the stage by dropping the hammer on everyone."

I avoided other details. But I thoroughly explained to them what the guys we're borrowing the name are and told them why I'm against them.. Not only that they are a bunch of pricks that need culling. They are also the kind that wants to lord over the people. Now, do I do this for the sake of being the just and moral one? No, but I do hate the way they are trying to make a hostage of the world. I do know that they get killed by the two.

That they can be defeated. But they would cause enough damage to reset everything that we've worked hard for. I hated the idea of it. I hated the thought of that route coming true considering that this world is going in that direction.

"You got a lot of information out of them. Must be dangerous enough that you haven't put them down."

"Kill one of them and the others will know. It's not the time to finish them and moving in on them will cause them to be more hidden."

That drone swarm made them careful.

As much as I like to believe that they are easy to get to. They aren't and what I'm doing is just making them paranoid and aware that someone or something is looking at them.

The bastards who'll put these fuckers down are going to come to them sooner or later.

"Huh, I guess that's good enough to keep an eye on them."

Marion seems to accept that. Meanwhile, Jisoo, who was sitting quietly. Got another reason to kill them all.