"What about these mercenaries that suddenly attacked?" the gang leader demanded, "They must have come from outside."
"We are working hard on the investigation," 101 said, "If you feel your safety is threatened, you can request the security services of Nestor Corporation to intervene, and we will ensure your safety, just as we did today."
spoke with watertight precision, leaving the gang leader bewildered. Perhaps times had truly changed; in the past, such talk from security heads was only to take bribes, but now they were genuinely promoting something called "the law."
He turned and murmured with the other gang members for a while.
"Hmm... maybe we should open the billiard hall," the leader decided, "...people from Nestor Corporation nearby might come and spend... If we keep messing around like before, we might get killed."
"Are we finally going to reopen the business?"
"Wow... we have no choice..." the gang members muttered among themselves.
Seeking Shadow sat aside, looking up at 101, envious of how clearly she sorted out responsibilities, laws, and obligations.
carried the incredibly sharp Shilou Maru on her back, but without drawing the sword, she managed to bring people to heel with words alone, separating order from chaos.
Seeking Shadow’s social module was still under development, feeling very much inadequate, finding it not easy just to explain things clearly, let alone convincing others.
Once 101 and 102 had finished their tasks, they took the mercenaries away for questioning, leaving Seeking Shadow and the others behind. Before leaving, 102 stuffed Lu Jing with a big box of chocolates, yokan, and cream pastries.
"Thank you!" Lu Jing was very grateful.
"Ah, you guys are dealing with complicated stuff," 102 said, "Investigating those bad guys against the Witch, it must be tough. If we don’t root them out, then Qianqian and October can’t get married in peace."
"So they are really getting married?" Lu Jing felt surprised, as they seemed very close, but discussing marriage was another matter, "I have to prepare a big red envelope for them."
"Getting married isn’t something miraculous," 102, being clueless, said, "Why does everyone find it so odd? Two good friends decide to move into a room and sleep together, just like me and my sister, right?"
"Don’t talk nonsense," 101 pulled 102 away.
Lu Jing watched them leave with a smile, but her expression soon grew somber.
"...Every time I think about how the Anti-Witch Organization might succeed, how they could harm them, it... scares me," Lu Jing said uneasily.
"You would get hurt too," Seeking Shadow stated while arranging her attire, helping the gang clean up the bodies of the attackers, "they say they would burn witches alive, just like in the old days. We should go."
"Rinne?" Lu Jing looked towards Rinne, who was holding a can of cold beer, "Are you coming with us? We’ll take you to contact Cyber Specter."
"Cyber Specter, have you truly reached the pinnacle of technology?" Rinne asked, standing still.
"You can find the answer yourself," Seeking Shadow said.
"I need to take my equipment with me. Then..." Rinne nodded at them and went to say goodbye to the gang leader, thanking him for his longtime care. After they murmured for a moment, Rinne handed over a small object to him and then followed Seeking Shadow and Lu Jing.
"What did you give him?" Seeking Shadow asked.
"A cash card; he will have a transport company move my hacking equipment," Rinne said, her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze flicking between Lu Jing and Seeking Shadow’s faces, "So, are we setting off?"
After they left, the leader and his minions started packing up the equipment Rinne left in the basement.
"Let’s sell this equipment on the quiet," a gang member whispered to the leader, "since Rinne has already left the team."
"No... you fool," the leader shook his head, "This equipment is the property of big corporations. Once sold, it would be traced by those who pay attention. We should quietly store it and secretly send it to Rinne."
"Big corporations..."
"Remember, lads, if you don’t want trouble, from now on, if anyone asks, we say we’ve never seen her."