"Damage control and clean up right?" I groaned.
'I should probably keep my own record of my time here, documenting as much as I can,'
'I haven't really had time to process that I don't belong here, I don't know who I should even tell this information,'i looked at the empty notebook.
'Between the chaos I was pulled into and the strangeness of everything....'
"I haven't had anything to eat," I said aloud.
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"Here, it's not much but I can't imagine that prison food is great," I handed Hecate a chocolate cupcake from my lunch
"You really helped me out a lot, I don't really like cupcakes, so I thought I would give mine to you,* I explained.
Hecate stared in surprise.
Nightmare used its bony tail to gently slide the cupcake across the floor. Hecate looked at it in silent intrigue.
Then I walked across to face Hella's cell.
"Oh and here, your pipe. I promised i would give it back," I handed the pipe to Hella.
"..... Did it help you?" Hella asked.
"Yes absolutely,"
Hella beamed " I picked the best weapon!"
"Just you wait! You'll regret giving this back to me!"
I rolled my eyes. "Sure whatever,"
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"After the Bureau riots, many Sinners fled into the Syndicate Control Zone in the west, which sparked off major riots. There has been a surge in incidents and a rising death toll." Nightingale informed using a speaker i didn't recognize. It looked like a old flip cellphone but didn't have many buttons on it and was more square.
I gritted my teeth. "Dammit..."
'The Public Security Bureau has confirmed the whereabouts of the mastermind behind the Bureau riot—Suspect R—in the Syndicate..." Nightingale continued, the background fighting white noise to her voice.
"...And is willing to provide you with intelligence, but first they need MBCC to solve the crisis in Syndicate right now."
"This is an extremely dangerous classified mission, which requires you to lead a team of Sinners to infiltrate the destination, contact the local security precinct, and arrest the target Sinners to bring the situation under control." Her voice added I could hear the sound of papers being flipped.
"I was born yesterday, remind me, Why isn't the Public Security Bureau stepping in?" I asked, rubbing at my eyebrow.
"That is the gangsters' territory—Syndicate." Nightingale's voice came through the speaker.
"Lovely..." I groaned.
"Get down!" Hecate exclaimed shoving me to the floor.
The local security precinct that has promised to support you is just ahead. Its grand gates have already been blasted down. Nearly a hundred gangs are fighting right under its nose.
As far as the eye can see, all the streets have descended into chaos and madness. In the air is the mixture of sounds of gunfire, maniacal laughter, and wailing, while the smell of blood and smoke permeates the streets.
"... I hate Mondays"
"Monday was yesterday Chief," Nightingale told me.
"I said what I said," I told her.
"That's right. Screw the fucking Public Security Bureau. We don't need to give a damn when we fight." Hella raised her pipe threateningly.
She picks up a longer pipe and sends a grenade flying high with a swing, which explodes into blazing fireworks and draws the attention of the rioters.
"Phew—Ha—Fresh air in my hometown! What I'm most familiar with."
"Grenade? Fresh air? Remind me to never visit your hometown. It sounds like an outright battlefield,"
"Lackeys—Welcome to Syndicate!"
"Ohhhh the Syndicate is your hometown...." I wanted to kick myself.
"Syndicate is the poorest and most chaotic area of the DisCity, a gang haven and lawless place that has continuously spread violence and chaos to the entire city throughout these twenty years, and the control measures have never been effective." Nightingale offered as information.
"Eventually, the city council was forced to sign the West District Order Management regulations, which basically allowed the gangs' autonomy outside the law to alleviate the many social concerns caused by Syndicate." She raised her gun at a rioter who thought he had an open shot.
Bluntly put, the gangs are the real rulers of Syndicate. They make the rules and the authorities have no say in it."
"Great so they'll be useless," my disappointment probably showed on my face
One gang member let out a series of curses and I wasn't close enough to cover Hella's ears but it didn't matter.
"Ahem, let me translate: Where did this beautiful lady come from? Is she really our enemy? Do we have to kill her? What a shame!"
This nonsense translation sparks off even more rage and anger. They charge at me again with their weapons.
"Uh-oh. They're getting excited. Chief, brace yourself. Your first show is about to begin."
"You don't say," I muttered.
The Sinner girl tilts her head and gives me a bright grin.
"I'll try to keep you alive for a bit longer."
"We won! It's been a long time since I had such a great fight!" Hella cheered.
"Hey, how come you didn't get hurt at all? What a shame. How did I protect you so well?"
"I attribute it to you being an amazing fighter,"
I ignored that she looked no older than fifteen and could hold her own in this situation. I think she fought harder to compensate for all the terrified screaming she did against that woman - Suspect R.
"Hmm... A fake smile. You still keep your guard up around me."
After all, she strangled me when we first met. Of course, I would keep my guard up.
Just common sense. And her question about protecting me so well doesn't help.
"Look at you being so nervous. Tsk. You look so insecure for the Chief. How pathetic." In a typical teenage fashion she imitated shaking as though she were scared, a way to mock me for being wary.
"Oh yes very nervous, as much as I want you to
But even so I'm happy you're helping,"
"I'm starting to like you now, hehe." She grinned maliciously.
That's not what she meant with that derisive look on her face. I ignore her and turn to the gangsters who got battered on the ground.
"B----! Fuck the Sinners!!! B----!!! Monsters—Go to hell! Go—Mmmmm—Mmmm—" one courageous or stupid gang member yelled.
"Stop that shit," I bluntly stated.
"We need to be CIVILIZED and POLITE with our words to maintain the image of our Syndicate." Hella scolded as she shoves her steel pipe into the gangster's mouth and shuts his foul mouth.