End to a Beginning (2)

"What do you mean you can't send more?!"

Camerone slammed her desk frustratedly.

After sending the reinforcement squad toward Lila, Camerone had been fiddling her thumb as she stared at the radar of the reinforcement squads.

That sinister aura the system picked up from Lila's side was no joke. However, with the limited exposure and time the system had with it, its nature couldn't be deduced.

The next thing she knew, that same foreign energy popped up in the radars, all of which shut off one by one mere seconds after the appearance. At the same time, she simultaneously lost all contact with the squads.

It was a bizarre case, but more importantly, Camerone had an extremely ominous feeling. Unlike Lila who would cut off contact from mere annoyances, the squads would stay on the line until the very conclusion of the mission.

The possibilities were certainly endless with things like advanced jamming, but her gut feeling told her something nasty had happened to all of them. Something like...a total wipe-out.

"Listen, Miss Administrator." A stern, rough voice replied. "The academy paid us good, even better than most, I admit it. However, our partnership doesn't extend beyond that.

Our whole 'precious' 3rd unit just got wiped out, and you're telling us to send more toward their impending death? My apologies, but if you think we're just expendables to a means, we'd be glad to leave the ride. We may risk our lives for money, but our deaths are ours to choose. I shall stand by my decision, unless..."

"...Fine. Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to working with you again."

"...A wise decision. The Villisto Company shares your sentiment."

The call cut off, leaving a more bitter and frustrated Camerone all alone in the room.

"F*ck! They're the future of our world, for god's sake! At least show some compassion, damn it!"

Her anger was somewhat justified. Her two friends had lost contact, the reinforcement squads were gone, the last batch was kidnapped and none of the academy's partners specialized in dispatches were willing to lend a hand.

Villisto was a special case, as offering a huge amount of money was able to push them to deploy their 3rd squad, but no more than that.

Unfortunately, their prices have been skyrocketing nonstop recently, and while their quality did improve, it didn't compare to the rising rates. Because of this, it cost Camerone a fortune just to make a successful deal - one that lasted mere hours, no less.

"Not expendables, my ass. Clearly, you all just wanted more money."

Her hands were completely tied. Normally, she wouldn't have to rely on outside forces for internal occasions such as this, but the standby was already sent to an emergency request from an expedition team in the west. It was only a day before the opening ceremony, and yet things couldn't be any worse.

"Tch. Should I head out myself?"

"Still fussing over that last batch?"

An annoying somebody has entered the vicinity, she thought.

"Vincent."

It's a dignified man shrouded in an arrogant noble-like aura. His attire spoke richness, coming from brands no normal people could afford.

He was the operation's coordinator/vice manager, while also in charge of overseeing the operation's budget to an extent.

"At this point, you should just abandon them, you know?"

"I was hoping the spoiled prince could speak something bright, but alas, my expectation was off the charts."

"Woah, cold! You're stubborn as a rock, just like usual. I'm talking about investment, I.N.V.E.S.T.M.E.N.T. It's just not worth it at all."

"Investment? Ha, quit the ridiculous input. If you put it like that, aren't you basically throwing away a potential gold mine filled with unknown riches?"

"But the system never lied, did it? It's a given fact that those who started low always accomplished so little while those with wings ended up soaring high above. Those in that batch...I'm pretty sure are mostly unremarkable, no?"

"Tsk."

Camerone grinds her teeth, unable to retort Vincent. She knew what he said was true to some extent.

The resources spent on this rescue alone, if things led on, would result in an extreme financial loss. They were already plunging into their own budget - the Security Department's budget as what was left of the original funds was spent on the deal with Villisto.

The bitter truth was that letting go of the batch and paying compensation for the moment would be a better option. With the current pace, it would require a complete reorganization to yield any actual results at all, considering how the rescue operation itself was haphazardly put together on the spot.

"But why go so far? Blowing 10 million Gils so recklessly, no wonder they thought you were out of your mind and begged me to stop you."

"What about you?"

"It is certainly possible if we consider your justice impulses."

Vincent replied expectantly. Having worked under her for quite some time, the man knew how his leader operated. However, knowing about it and throwing it out there were two completely different things.

"As if you're much better." Camerone snarked, glancing at Vincent's extravagant outfit.

"But I AM much better. At least I know when to stop, do you?"

Factually speaking, Camerone was infamously known to overspend for her personal endeavors, especially during missions. The only reason why she kept her position as the head of Astrea's Security Department is that these "personal endeavors" mostly ended up boosting her success rate to the sky. And also because the oddball of a principal kinda favored her strong sense of duty.

"Ehem, we're going off-topic." Vincent cleared his throat. "Again. Just what really pushed you to go so far? Don't tell me it's your impulses, because that's only part of the reason, no?"

Vincent is a show-off, and it's precisely because of that that he's sharp to his surroundings. More than that, his outspoken nature allowed him to make many connections, which allowed him to be more aware.

"Just your usual hunch?"

"Just my usual hunch. Useful right?"

"...I can't deny that."

The reason. Right, there was a reason. An actual valid reason.

"...it's our principal...."

"Right....that PRINCIPAL? That SON OF A RECLUSE?"

The answer shocked Vincent.

"Yes, and lower your voice. This is supposed to be a secret and you're broadcasting it like everyday news."

"My bad. Did I tread on something I shouldn't have?"

A whimsical thought hit Camerone.

"Who knows? Maybe I should have you stripped bare and burned on a stake after this."

"Anything but that."

Letting out a little chuckle, Camerone's shoulder felt lighter. However, it was no time to relax yet.

"The principal said I had to rescue them at all costs."

"Was it a vision?"

"Seemed so. Quite adamant too."

As they talked, Vincent noticed Camerone taking out a briefcase from underneath her seat. Made from ancient leather lathered in Ether, it's a long-time companion of hers in cases that took place outside of the Academy.

Rumors said a special kind of rune was deeply engraved into the leather itself to preserve and protect it from certain harm, but no one managed to confirm that.

"You're still going?"

"There's no other choice, is there?"

"That's true..."

Camerone was the last combat-capable operation personnel remaining within the academy, so it was obvious she was the only one to deploy. Vincent could fight too, but he was never one for such tasks.

"No need for packing?"

"Thanks to the canceled plan to the west, yes."

Vincent knew he couldn't force her to stop the operation. Coming to convince her otherwise was only a pretext for figuring out the reason.

"You knew from the beginning, didn't you?"

He merely nodded, smiling to her dismay.

"The Warp Portal is done. I will bear half the cost, out of my kindness."

"How cheeky. You should have just paid in full, having so much to waste for your own whim."

"And letting you hitch a free ride? Nah, I'm not paid enough for that."

"Well, I guess I should have it cut then," Camerone remarked as she passed by Vincent. "In any case, I'll leave everything to you as usual, Vincent."

"As you wish, Commander."

And just like that, she was gone.

"The sharpest tool in the shed...I wonder if it rusts."

Vincent contemplated as he approached Camerone's seat. There were dozens of bright screens showcasing different data in front of him, but one caught his attention out of all.

"This foreign energy...How interesting."

Supposedly, it was the reason why many were cautious about the area.

***

Elsewhere, a struggle was soon reaching its conclusion.

The scorching fire, once set ablaze the land of green, was now flickering weakly. There was a touch of chill, threatening to consume everything whole in a malevolent pursuit of ice age.

A man, glued to the train as he leaned onto it, trembled while maintaining a creepy grin. In his eyes, a reflection could be seen: A savage beast with swaying burnt hazelnut hair