I'm starting to wonder if I'm too paranoid.
Elevators have cameras.
Therefore, I should take the stairs.
It's a simple concept; I think even a dumb kid who wanted to run out and play hero the moment they got powers may even consider such a thing.
Yet, here I am passing floor 11, and I am regretting my decision.
It took a bit longer for me to finally get to the rooftop entrance. I looked up at the camera and snorted, knowing it was 'fake,' or rather, it wasn't 'working properly.' And there was a little keypad to open the door.
6195
The door popped open easily as I was greeted by the cool night air, especially this high up.
The building was owned by my uncle—not by blood. The lawyer who handles everything for my family may as well be my uncle. He and my father were always close friends.
Dad always said how he appreciated the friendship because it was sincere. He never had to watch his back or be careful about what he said or did.
The building itself wasn't the tallest in the city. That little achievement went to the Medhall—the front that launders and funds the Nazi gang in the city. And even Medhall wasn't that large if you compared it to the skyscrapers in bigger cities.
But Brockton Bay was just a coastal shipping city; one shouldn't expect to see such massive buildings here.
Still, it served my purpose, and since my uncle owned it, I had easy access. It was 'officially' the location for his law firm to operate in the state. Granted, he barely spends time here since the vast majority of his work happens in New York, but having a location here helps quite a bit, or so I'm told.
Beyond the one or two floors occupied by Uncle's law firm, the remainder of the floors are just like every other random office building. Rented out to other companies, firms, or what have you.
I think there was some legal stuff about people hanging out on the rooftops of high-rises like this, which is why Uncle had the camera 'broken' intentionally. He liked to come up here to smoke, and he liked to have plausible deniability.
I took out my monocle, adjusting it to my eye as I looked around.
It was vastly superior to most binoculars I could purchase from a random retail store. Hell, I could 'zoom' in to an obscene degree. I found a man walking down the street on the other side of the city, and I could zoom in on his phone and vaguely see that he was texting someone.
There were, of course, other settings on this Mystic Code that my grandfather liked so much. One of the settings allowed it to switch to a sort of 'magic vision.' I didn't know the technical name for it, but it could pick up more condensed areas of magical energy.
My house was the biggest hotspot in the city; even from here, I could see the big 'blob' that appeared within the glass spectacle.
[Where are you now, Lancer?] I sent it through our link.
[I am headed north, Master. As you requested, I am doing a simple sweep of anything within my senses. However, as I stated before, a city like this makes it difficult to pick out individual nuances.]
[Even if you try to sense 'death' and 'decay'?] I asked.
[I apologize if this may come off as rude, Master. But this City is wrought with such things. I have passed over twenty dead and decomposing bodies left above ground thus far.]
Fucking Brockton Bay.
It honestly has one of the highest non-rape crime rates in the country.
Well, if they were hot, she would have said something.
It was simply luck before that we were close enough for her to sense it. Or maybe it was because of the fresh blood?
I adjusted my direction and look. [I can see you from my positon.] Well, I could see the big blob that was the magical energy that seeped off her. And this was her being discreet. Keeping your head in that direction, you're moving towards the docks. I can see something about six blocks ahead, then two blocks to the right.
[As you command.]
Unfortunately, in a congested city like this, miniscule 'Magical Energy' signatures didn't mean much. If there was someone with just above average OD despite not having circuits, they may 'contaminate' a spot if they stayed there for years.
And ghouls didn't have a lot of magical energy, ironically. That's why they needed to feed on blood, to keep themselves operating.
As for a Dead Apostle…I had no idea what that would even look like.
My Monocle wasn't omnipotent; he could be in the sewers for all I knew, and I wouldn't know. Or he could be expertly hiding himself just as well in the open.
[Master.]
[Did you find something, Lancer?]
[I have found no Ghouls or Dead Apostles. However, I have come across a group of men in masks that are lighting cloth on fire, which leads to a bottle of what appears to be alcohol while saying they're going to burn down a home of some others due to a difference in skin color. However, their wording was much more offensive.]
[Break their legs.] I didn't even hesitate to give her the go-ahead.
Fucking Nazis.
I'm fairly sure that even most Magi would turn their nose up at people who willingly dress up and act like Nazis.
[I have broken their legs and I am returning to my duties. I made sure that I was unseen.]
[Good job, Lancer.]
[Thank you, Master.]
Maybe if it were some random kids just sporting Nazi tattoos, I would have some compassion. It's no secret that the Empire 88 is more than willing to press gang people into its ranks. Or sometimes, you just have to join to survive.
But a bunch of idiots getting ready to molotov a random person's house deserves no pity.
I wouldn't be losing any sleep.
[Master, I'm at the location. I do find much blood has been spilled here, but I find no dead bodies or ghouls. Artoria informed me a few moments later.
[Anything else out of place?]
[Hmm, this location does feel particularly unpleasant. However, I find nothing else worthy of note.]
Maybe it was used before and abandoned?
[About two and a half miles north, then half a mile west, there's another hotspot to investigate.] I told her as I adjusted my monocle again.
[I am on my way.]
I started scanning more of the city while she continued onwards, and I saw something. I zoomed in on it because it was heading right towards me.
I, who was quite a few stories up off the ground, standing on a roof that overlooked most of Brockton Bay
"Oh goddammit." I cursed under my breath because I saw that it was a person.
[Just a warning, I'm about to have company.]
Are you in danger? I shall return immediately.]
[No need, there's no danger. It's a 'Hero.'] I felt myself roll my eyes as I said.
A blonde-haired girl wearing a short skirt and a fake tiara flew towards the rooftop I was on; she had clearly noticed me.
Glory Girl.
One of the teenage members of 'New Wave.' A Hero group who intentionally don't wear masks, spouting something about accountability.
[I have my Command Seals in a worse case scenario. Continue to investigate, please. I can handle this.] I told her again.
[Very well. However, if there is any indication of danger, do not hesitate.
Out of every place in the city, every person, she found me.
"Hey, I don't recognize you. Hero or villain?" Gloria Girl floated there, asking me.
"...Did you seriously just ask me that question?" I responded rather incredulously.
"What?" She blinked in confusion.
"If I were a villain, why would I say so?"
"Oh, you must be new!" She perked up, ignoring my sarcasm as she happily plopped down onto the roof like she owned it. "You're not supposed to go around pretending to be on the other side."
"...what?" It was my turn to be confused.
"Right, I haven't done this in a while! Anyways, if you're new to being a Cape, there's this thing called the Unwritten Rules. They kind of get picked up online sometimes, but those aren't always accurate."
Oh my god, it's real.
I mean, I knew it. I knew about Worm, but having her genuinely say it with sincerity was just…breathtaking in its stupidity.
"Alright, first, respect secret identities. I'm sure you know about New Wave, right? Even we don't go after the secret identities of other capes. In turn, they don't bother us if we're not suited up and working."
"..."
"Also, no going after family members, friends, that sort of thing. Keep Cape business to the streets and while masked. Also, if someone calls a truce, play nice. No powers or fighting or whatever. And no killing either. There's sort of an agreement that if everyone starts killing, things are going to escalate a lot and get really bad."
"Haven't the gang leaders in this city killed tons of people?" I pointed out dryly.
I intended to keep ignoring her rambling for the most part, but I couldn't help myself.
She scratched her head. "Well, it's mainly a cape thing. Don't kill other capes, because capes can do a lot more damage."
"So unpowered people just don't matter?"
So much for 'Heroics.'
"What? Of course they do! It's our job to protect them!" Glory Girl said proudly. "Look, it's not perfect; we're just doing the best we can."
Perfect?
I'd settle for something halfway intelligent.
"There's even one for villains. No randomly attacking people and causing chaos. No Master powers—you know power classifications, right? Everyone parrots them online, so they're pretty well known."
"I know." I said plainly.
She just nodded. "So no mind-controlling people. No rape or sexual assaults. That's a big one too. Alexandria popped up in front of the last villain who went around doing shit like that."
Well, that's at least pleasant to know.
However,
"What about Heartbreaker?" The 'Villain' living in Canada who has a mind-controlled harem of women in the dozens that no one seemingly cares to do anything about.
I'm fairly sure he grabbed a famous singer last year, and no one did shit.
Glory Girl scrunched her nose. "It's complicated…." She didn't seem to have an answer for that.
Sure it is.
"And don't use guns." She held up a finger, as if to change the subject. "Or if you need to for, like, power reasons—like Miss Militia, you need to be careful. Everyone says that if Capes start using guns, things will escalate."
'Don't use weapons that can hurt us; it's not fair.'
How asinine.
"I think the biggest one is Endbringer attacks. If the Siren goes off, no matter what's happening, Heroes and Villains, all Capes stop and a Truce is called. And it lasts for like a week or so after the Endbringer fight ends. Doesn't matter where it's taking place."
Right.
That I could at least get behind.
"And there are smaller ones. Like, don't disguise yourself as another Cape. Don't randomly change your costume just to confuse people. Don't pretend to be a hero or villain when you're the other."
Honestly, I think I lost a few brain cells in this conversation already.
Now I know why she fully believed that someone would identify themselves as a hero or villain to her.
She actually believed that nonsense.
"Noted." My brain rebooted, and I finally gave her a reply after she stared at me, waiting for a response.
"So, Hero or Villain?" She put her hands on her hips, almost playfully.
I felt my eye twitch.
"Neither." I couldn't even bring myself to lie, not because I had some moral quandary about lying to her face, but because my pride wouldn't allow me to even pretend to play their stupid little game of cops and robbers.
She frowned but perked up a moment later. "Are you really new? Your costume is pretty good. It's so…retro. But not like Cape Retro. Like older retro, you know, before phones and stuff. I think my dad called it something. What was it…N…Neo…Noir? That's it!" She looked proud of herself.
…I would hardly call that an apt comparison.
Just because I'm wearing a suit and a coat with a mask…?
Was I this fucking dumb when I was her age?
Well, I am technically her age, but before.
She slowly floated around me. "Most new Capes start with jeans and a hoodie, you know. You look like you've been prepping for a while. Is this your first night out, or just the first time you've met another cape?"
I felt my eye twitch.
"Oh, right. I'm supposed to say something like, 'Did you know that most unaffiliated Capes end up dead or in gangs?" She said in a sort of faux authoritative voice, like she was parroting someone else. "But it's true, you should be careful. The Wards aren't bad either, if you're that age. If not, the PRT's benefits aren't bad. What powers do you have? I saw that little glass thing on your eye glow. Are you a Tinker? Tinkers are even worse. If a gang sees a tinker, they grab them quick. I think even Kaiser would grab someone not White if it meant he could get his hands on a Tinker."
I wonder if Lancer could kill me from how far away she is, to spare me this.
"You don't talk much, do you? Are you going for that whole dark and broody look for your persona?" She floated around until she was directly in front of me. "The PRT doesn't like that; you'll look like a villain or something. And it's better if you do something with bright colors or a bit more heroic."
[Master, I reached the next destination. I believe I have found remnants of Ghouls. The bodies here are no longer human; however, they are also deceased. I believe the Ghouls here have starved to death; I do not pick up any traces of blood to feed them.
I ignored the floating girl next to me and quickly jerked my head back to where Lancer was.
[You have the Rune paper I gave you; use it to burn everything and clear up any traces if there's nothing worth investigating.]
While she's not a Magus, actualizing a Rune I drew onto some parchment was child's play for her. She could have probably done it herself; runes aren't difficult to use, and she is a goddess. But I thought it would be the polite thing to do considering our partnership.
"Hey, are you listening?" Glory Glory blocked my vision. "I'm trying to tell you some important stuff." She huffed indignantly. "What's your name anyways? I can't keep saying 'you' to get your attention."
I felt my temper slowly starting to rise.
The way she was just…expecting me to give her my undivided attention after she essentially ambushed me up here.
You would think with my curt responses, she would take a hint.
[I have set fire to the building and made sure that the flames will not spread, master. Where do you request I head to next?]
I ignored Glory Girl and stepped to the side to see where she was again.
[Alright, start heading southeast, I'll—]
"Hey!" Glory Girl flew in front of me again. "Don't you know it's rude to ignore someone when they're talking to you?" She harumphed, hands on her hips.
"If you're offended, then stop talking to me." I finally snapped. "Jesus, can't you take a goddamn hint?
I know, in her own way, in her mind, she was trying to be 'helpful,' which is why I put up with it until this point.
"Oh wow." She blanked. "Someone's an asshole."
"And someone has an inflated sense of self-importance." I shot back. "So kindly, take your plastic tiara, and go play superhero somewhere else."
I don't think she expected me to clap back, because she seemed speechless. Or maybe I hit the nail on the head, and she wasn't prepared for that?
[Head southeast; there's a large building that's a few stories taller than the ones around it. When you get there, head west for two blocks, and you should find an abandoned building with a brick chimney. That's the last one in that area.] I quickly sent it to Lancer.
[Affirmative.]
"Here we go, I'm going to call this one New Asshole in the Bay."
I heard her and turned around to see her with her phone out, and…was she seriously recording me? She was holding it up like she was going to record a short video for whatever dumb social media they use in this world.
Wasn't that, like, super inappropriate for capes? Like, getting up in another Cape's face and recording them felt like a huge social faux pas.
Granted, I wasn't a cape, but still. She thought I was, and she seemed to care quite a bit about the whole culture.
Then again, she regularly cripples thugs and has her sister quickly come heal them so she doesn't get in trouble.
And I did take precautions that recordings won't be too bad, but I also didn't want to stress test that sort of thing so bluntly. And if the Dead Apostle randomly sees a video of a 'new cape' or something like that the same night that various hideouts of his go up in flames? Well, connecting the dots wouldn't take a rocket scientist.
Regardless, fuck her.
I took out a smoke bomb and threw it at the ground. I was surprised by how quickly the rooftop was now covered.
I heard her coughing, and I had more or less memorized where everything was up here. Not to mention it was easy to find her with her being so loud.
Her screech of surprise was a dead giveaway.
And with a bit of reinforcement, I could see her silhouette.
"Hey!?" She blurted out as I snatched her phone out of her hand.
She didn't see it as I chucked it off the side of the building and then walked towards the exit.
Did I need to do that?
No.
Just walking away would have sufficed before she got a chance to fully record me.
I quickly punched in the door code and slammed the door shut behind me. I heard a bang on it from the other side; presumedly she hit it out of frustration, but I couldn't hear anything more as I swiftly descended the stairs.
Now, if she were intelligent, she would be watching the exits.
Fun fact: this building has a maintenance tunnel that leads to the nearby parking garage.
[Line Break]
There actually were some places on the Boardwalk that weren't named inappropriately despite the Bay not being beach- or swim-friendly.
I hung my legs off the side of the walkway with the water gently crashing against the rocks below.
My eyes were irritated from using Reinforcement on them.
I wish I had brought some Advil with me.
The surroundings vibrated slightly. Lancer walked through the bounded field I had set up on this spot.
This part of the Boardwalk doesn't really have people coming around this late, but why take any chances?
"I have completed the last of the assigned destinations." She stated.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of those folded tourist maps of the Bay. I found it sticking out of a trashcan nearby. It mostly detailed the touristy spots on the boardwalk, but it worked in a pinch as I noted down the spots she had hit so far.
"Describe the last one." I asked her. "You said it had Ghouls this time?"
It was the eighth location she investigated. It was a bit more difficult and annoying to find spots without being high up, but I didn't want to run into Demolition Barbie again.
My patience had reached its limits already.
"It appeared to contain more ghouls than all the others combined, Master. And there were considerable amounts of blood held within as sustenance."
"Some kind of experiment? But what would the Dead Apostle be experimenting with? You checked the Ghouls; nothing strange about them?"
"If you mean to ask if they are these 'Parahumans,' then they are not. They were all normal humans before their deaths and transformations." She shook her head.
I clicked my tongue. "How annoying."
"It appears we will not receive answers tonight." She walked over and sort of mimicked my actions, taking a seat a bit closer to me, her legs hanging over the edge.
I think she was just copying me intentionally, like I was some window into being 'human' that she used as guidance.
"You're right, that's enough for tonight." We're still just trying to reach out in the dark. The city is massive; it's going to be difficult to find the Dead Apostle while it's hiding. "It's a strangely pleasant night, though." I looked up; the moon was half full, and the weather wasn't bad either. Not too cold nor too warm.
"Yes, it is quite pleasant." Artoria had a faint smile as she looked out at sea, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as it got caught in the wind.
While I wasn't frothing at the mouth and running myself ragged, I most certainly was still angry. This was my city, and some Dead Apostle came waltzing in, completely ignoring my presence.
Not only that, I suppose, either.
My little meeting with Glory Girl gave me a certain realization.
This city is a mess.
My city is a mess.
I'm going to need to clean it up properly after I'm done with this Dead Apostle business.
Nazis, fake dragons, and druggies running around in Mad Max-level vehicles. It genuinely sounded utterly ridiculous to even think about.
"Thank you, Lancer, for accepting my summons and even helping me with all of this." Did I thank her already? Either way, I made sure to do so. I could act like the sky wasn't constantly falling with her at my side.
Lancer let out a faint hum, like she didn't register my words for several moments. "Master, May I ask a question?'
"I'll answer whatever I can." The same promise I gave to her before: if she needs help with anything, I said I would do my best to help.
"It is common for those acquainted with each other to use their name, yes?" She looked at me. "It has been a very long time since someone has used my name. It felt pleasant to be called such when we were together. If the situation is permissible, could you please continue to use it?"
"If that's what you want, Artoria."
I hadn't even thought about that when I used her name when we were walking around before. I suppose it was a very human notion that she was trying to grasp at.
She smiled a bit more.
I took out my phone. "I'm going to call my uncle and ask him for a bit of help before we head back." I set it down next to me and put it on speaker.
Perhaps she was curious; she looked down at it as it rang.
"Frederick, is that you calling me so late at night?" He answered quickly.
"Hello, Uncle Richard." I responded politely. "I have a guest with me, and you're on speaker. But you're welcome to speak openly."
"Noted." He hummed. "I suppose a proper introduction then if you said 'guest'? Richard Bellamy, Esquire. I handle the accounts and legal matters of young Frederick's family." He sounded proud.
And he could read between the lines.
"A man of noble status? I am Artoria Ectorius." She used the name I 'gave' her.
He chuckled from the other side. "Well, as a lawyer, I don't get called noble very often. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Madam."
Though they hadn't technically met yet. But Uncle knows how to navigate these kinds of situations to make himself look good.
If I recall correctly, 'Esquire' had a different meaning a long time ago. Like a lower nobility title or something? My knowledge on it was vague.
"Now, Frederick, what can I do for you? Something rather important if you called me up so late, hmm?"
"Sorry for the late call, Uncle. I have a few things I need your help with. First, do you have methods to create identities without causing any eyebrows?"
"I do know a few people." He confirmed.
I just nodded, knowing he has fingers in a lot of…not-so-legal activities. "Artoria will need an identity. I'll send you the relevant information when it's convenient for you."
"It's a small matter." He said casually. "How thorough would you like it?"
"Enough that it will pass scrutiny." I wasn't sure how else to phrase it. "And I have a few other matters to discuss."
"Matters." His tone changed. "The unsavory sort of matters, I presume by your tone."
"Unfortunately." Thankfully, Uncle was 'in the know.' "I have a leech in my city that I'm currently hunting. Artoria is helping me quite a bit, so there isn't a concern of safety. However, I need assistance to find it. Can you start shifting through all the land and properties for sale in Brockton Bay?"
Uncle was silent for a moment, probably processing everything. "That's going to take awhile, Frederick. I'll of course get started on it, but even with setting all my interns and staff on it, it'll probably take a few days for just a surface-level evaluation."
"Anything is better than nothing." I knew it was a big ask. "While you're at it, look into buying up all the properties and land for sale in the Bay."
"Oh?" I could hear him perk up. "It sounds like you're planning something."
"I think it's time the city started getting cleaned up."
"I can most certainly do that. I presume you want to keep it hush for now. I can manage it without anyone taking notice through various methods."
If one company or person started mass buying properties and land that have sat empty for years, it would cause a bit of a commotion. Prices would be hiked; others might smell an opportunity and buy their own in hopes of flipping it for a profit.
"Anything else?" He asked, and I could hear him writing it down from his end.
"Do you know Medhall?"
"The pharmaceutical company in Brockton Bay—I'm aware of it. I do keep an eye on things happening in your area even if I'm primarily established in New York."
"Max Anders, the CEO, is the Nazi idiot running around calling himself Kaiser." I bluntly revealed.
I recalled from before, that the Leader of the Nazi Gang, Kaiser, used the Company to launder money and give legitimacy to many of his gang members. Of course this wasn't public knowledge, otherwise it would never be allowed.
"Well, that's certainly an interesting piece of information. It would be my pleasure to bring down the company if you're so inclined. You know, I grew up on stories of my grandfather telling me about his time in the war."
Uncle Richard's grandfather spent time on the front lines. He has a certain opinion about Nazis.
"See if they're publicly traded for now; if they are, start quietly buying any stock you can. If not, find out who their suppliers are and start from that end. At the very least, we can probably bully them from distribution channels."
"Sounds fun." He said cheerfully.
Well, it was on my dime, so he was being honest about it.
Then again, I would happily burn away millions of dollars just to annoy a bunch of stupid Nazis.
"And the PRT, look into their suppliers too. Who does their equipment? Probably some government contractors. See if their companies are publicly traded and try to get some kind of share."
"Planning on butting heads with the 'superheroes'?" He chuckled.
"Better to be prepared. Just in case."
"I'll get on it in the morning." He told me. "Is there anything else?"
"That's all for now, uncle. Thank you."
"Of course." He sounded warm. "Don't forget to call just to check in. You're almost an adult legally, so those emancipation restrictions will disappear. Keep playing the good schoolboy until that happens."
A friendly reminder.
He knew my real temperament, and he was the one who set up the emancipation in the first place.
"I'll keep my head down, Uncle."
"Good lad. Well, the Missus is going to have my head if I don't join her in bed soon. Stay safe, Frederick."
"Goodbye, Uncle."
The call ended, and I let out a short breath.
Well, it was a start.
[Line Break]
I adjusted my monocle as I looked at the other side of the city, scanning its skyline in particular.
I could see the faint silhouette of someone flying around it before disappearing again. This had started becoming an almost routine thing that I had noticed at this point.
And I knew for a fact that it was Glory Girl.
She had been scouting the same building we met at several days ago at least once a night.
Oddly, these past several days, I had checked online, and I found no mention of myself. I thought for sure she would rant about some 'asshole' new cape she met, but it seems not. Maybe one of her parents or her sister talked sense into her about how it would ruin the image for her family.
Not that what she did was illegal by any means, but it was kind of a dick move to take such close-ups of a presumably new cape and 'show them off' like that.
Though, I wouldn't have been surprised if she did so anyways.
I do recall she had a bad temper and hair trigger. Combined with being a stupid teenager with more power than sense, she probably doesn't think her actions through.
Hell, she gets her sister to heal people she cripples or nearly kills before arresting them so she doesn't get in trouble.
It's not another in a long list of things wrong with this city. Even most of the 'heroes' are just really shitty people.
Do they 'help'?
I can't deny that they make arrests and sometimes nab other Capes—even if the Villains generally escape by the next week.
But it's just depressing that even the supposed heroes are kind of assholes.
I think it's partly due to the whole Cape culture and celebrity worship. Take Glory Girl; she's constantly in the spotlight, basically being told she could do no wrong. She's the front page of a young heroine with the powers to match that energy.
Not only that, but her literal name is Glory Girl.
She flies around in a short skirt and is dressed like a princess. She has merchandise that only falls when compared to the Protectorate's Capes.
If you told me she didn't want the attention and praise, I would be astounded.
Just one of the many diseases that's now part of everyday life in my city.
[Master, I have cleansed this location; I shall move on to the next.] Lancer sent me through our link.
[Thank you, Lancer.] I made sure to reply. [I'm sorry for making you do all the grunt work.]
It is no matter. I dislike these things, and I feel satisfaction about clearing them away. She replied in her same sort of monotone and expressionless tone.
If there was one thing I knew about Lancer, it was that she wouldn't be coy or lie in regular conversation. If she said it's no problem, she genuinely and truly meant it. There was no having to guess what she meant or if she felt another way and was just saying something that I wanted to hear.
If she was against something, she would say so. If she didn't like something, she would say so.
It was honestly refreshing.
It's taken me a bit to get used to her bluntness, but I honestly kind of appreciate it.
And just as well, she told me firmly that she did not wish to accompany her so as to preserve my safety, as it was not a pressing matter.
Logically, it made sense.
I think I should buy her a present. Would it be crass if I did that? I'm not sure how she would feel on the matter, as she may just perceive this as her 'duty' and maybe even feel insulted.
Unless it was something she really wanted.
I do believe I recall that Artoria was fond of motorcycles.
A thought for later.
I opened my notebook and jotted down a note as a reminder for later. It sat there along with other notes I've been making, both about matters regarding this situation and just other things I've been jotting down to keep notes on.
I added a quick comment so I wouldn't forget, then I looked at the notes I've made of the Dead Apostle so far.
There had been seventeen locations that we've hit; most of them we're positive were hideouts, and some we're just speculating about. It was hard to confirm when all physical evidence was gone and it was just Lancer's vague feeling that the location was displeasing.
Still, I counted it just for the sake of finding it.
Mapping the spots and showing them on a map of the city. I was hoping for some sort of pattern, but it looked completely random, as if someone wandered around, found an abandoned building, and set up shop.
Thankfully, Uncle's help had come at a good time. He had his interns and staff working double time to send me locations of large swathes of abandoned buildings, land, or dilapidated structures.
Compared to the first night, we had hit more with each day until we finally came to the point where we couldn't find any more.
We were still completely unclear about what the Dead Apostle was doing. It was obvious he was experimenting, but the who, whom, how, and why were still unanswered.
It made no sense to me, as I was missing information, no doubt.
After nearly a week of long nights and barely any sleep, we still didn't have much to show for it.
I was annoyed. In the shows, didn't they just magically run into the person they're trying to track down? How was I supposed to find one single entity in a city of this size? Especially when they were intentionally hiding themselves.
So, the plan was to keep kicking over his nests until he showed himself.
It wasn't a very intelligent plan, but it was the only one we could make do with for the moment.
Hell, we couldn't even find any traces of Magecraft being used.
Not a single bounded field.
The thing is, we've turned over so many of his spots now; shouldn't he have started being more cautious? Bounded fields, spells, or anything to hide them better or sound an alarm? Unless these were all abandoned already, which kind of seems unlikely.
Frustrating.
I was thinking about calling Bazett for help, but I quickly squashed that idea. I would then need to explain Lancer's presence, and I didn't want someone hovering over me—even someone my family trusted—until I could settle down comfortably.
And it was my responsibility.
Granted, I was using Lancer to do most of the legwork…but then again, she is acting as my servant.
I didn't expect that a 'character' I vaguely drew up would have such a strong pride with things like this. I genuinely feel insulted and angry that there's a Dead Apostle running around causing trouble in my city, even if it's probably just killing trash off the streets.
I walked to the side of the roof I was perched on.
This time, I didn't make the mistake of setting up on one of the tallest buildings in the city all alone.
Taking a glance down below, I could hear the music coming from the nightclubwith a long line out the door.
There were shouts, laughing, and everything you'd expect from a group of people clubbing.
I turned my eyes away because the neon lights were kind of blinding when I was using the monocle.
It didn't take long for Lancer to return, or maybe it did. I kind of got sidetracked listening to everything going on below.
It wasn't even the weekend yet, and people lived like this.
Frankly, I just couldn't understand the lifestyle; it seems too chaotic for my tastes.
"Master." Lancer stepped onto the roof, greeting me. "I have returned and completed the mission."
"Thank you, Lancer." I smiled politely. "That was the last one for tonight, and possibly this week. Uncle hasn't given us anything new the past couple days."
He really did pull through, though.
I need to send him a gift; I know he likes to drink. We have some aged liquors down in the basement I could send; I think he would appreciate it.
Lancer joined me at the edge of the roof and peered over it, watching the people below.
I took off my monocle and joined her.
"Is this music of this era? It sounds…strange." She commented.
I pursed my lips. "One type of music. Not one I particularly enjoy either. There's so much more variety these days that I'm confident you could find something you enjoy if you started looking."
She looked thoughtful.
And after a brief moment, she glowed, and her armor disappeared, leaving her in her normal clothes. Not her leathers she wears underneath, but a set of clothes she had purchased on her own the previous day.
Thankfully, she didn't need my help with that anymore; it was awkward enough the first time.
Though, she kept a rather similar type of apparel.
I made sure my Mystic Code was working, the one that hid my presence, and I took off my mask before climbing up to the edge of the roof and sitting down, dangling my legs over the front.
Silently, Lancer seemed to join me.
"The dancing of this era is strange to me as well. What significance does it serve for one of the partners to push their rear against another's groin and stimulate it to shake?"
Could she see what was happening inside the club?
Kill me.
She was apparently watching someone twerking or something similar.
"It's sexual." I said bluntly.
"Hm."
Ironically, she's probably enjoying watching. Not because of, well…the sexual implications or anything like that. But that she was able to see a group of humans acting chaotic, inebriated, or otherwise cutting loose.
She wasn't foolish enough to think that this is how everyone here behaves all the time.
But just as well, it was probably an interesting experience for her to see humans acting human without any inhibitions.
"You look like you want to say something else." I noticed her pensive expression.
"I do, but I was unsure of how to word it without being rude."
"Just ask; I won't be offended." I'm fairly sure I won't feel any shame in answering at this point either.
"It was not you I would be rude towards, Master. But since you offered, I would like to know, are those women down there prostitutes? Is this a type of brothel?"
Okay, I nearly choked.
I could genuinely see how she might think that, and it almost made me laugh.
"It's not a brothel. Though…I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few people there are trying to solicit something. I don't know if this would equate to anything you're familiar with. Maybe like a combination of a tavern and a party?"
"Ah, a gathering for young people to engage in mischief." She said expressionlessly.
"Well…that's not wrong."
Rather, she hit the nail on the head.
"There were similar things back in my time. Though, I admit, this looks far more boisterous and chaotic than what I could equate it to. In my era, the ones engaging in such affairs usually did so out of the public eye." I could see her relax slightly as she watched curiously. "Does a gathering like this not lead to poor choices and unfortunate consequences?"
"You're right, lots of poor decisions tend to happen at places like these." I added. "But they're adults; they're responsible for themselves. As long as it's legal, no one cares what you get up to."
Well, I say that, but some people seem to care too much about what adults get up to in private.
I sound like a boomer.
"Another difference." She noted. "People were far too happy to gossip about any rumor or such if given an opportunity. And to preserve one's reputation was paramount."
I don't even know how to respond to that without getting into the details of society norms shifting or the increase in population that led to more distanced neighbors.
If little Susan wants to twerk her butt at the club the moment she turns an adult, people would roll their eyes but otherwise not care. There are far too many issues everyone faces every day that they can't be bothered to care about that sort of thing.
As long as they're not hurting anyone… There really is a greater sense of apathy in comparison to what she's used to, I think.
"I feel as though I have been misled, Master."
"Pardon?"
"When I was shopping for clothing, the saleswoman who assisted me was quite firm on her stance that a 'bra' was a required article of clothing when I expressed some desire to forgo it. Admittedly, it is much less uncomfortable compared to the wraps or corsets I am more familiar with." She stated, completely seriously. "However, I see many women down below that are not wearing bras."
…right, so how would I go about explaining this?
"They are…intentionally dressing in a way to attract men…seductively." Or women, but I didn't feel the need to mention that.
"Ah." It looked like she understood then. "So forgoing a bra is an act of expressing sexual desire to potential partners."
"...in this context, that's correct."
However, she furrowed her brow again. "Thank you for explaining. However, another aspect confuses me. The saleswoman suggests the same type of undergarment that many of those women are wearing, but I see they have it pulled up outside of their trousers. Am I wearing mine incorrectly?"
I blinked, confused about what she was talking about, but then it seemed to make sense.
She was talking about the women who had their thongs pulled up to their hips.
"...no." I said carefully. "You're wearing yours properly."
"I see, thank you." She still didn't show a shred of emotion as she said all of that. "I admit, I find it comfortable as is, and I did not anticipate adjusting it to match them to be something I would like."
She has to be doing this on purpose, right?
She then tilted her head curiously, looking at the Club again. "Why is the musician singing about large behinds?"
It was a poor decision on my part to camp down near a club, it seems. I think I would rather be dealing with Glory Girl again.
"I understand now. This is a gathering of young people to engage in illicit affairs before marriage." She looked like she had a realization.
Once again, she was technically not wrong.
"Do you want to go find something to eat before we head back home?" It was late, but I'm sure we could find something.
Besides, I was hungry myself.
Her expression immediately changed.
"Yes, I would quite enjoy that." She smiled.
[Line Break]
I let out a yawn as I climbed up onto the morning bus.
How much sleep had I gotten this week?
Not enough, that's for sure. I think I've been running around until the earlier hours of the morning every night, to the point where I don't think I've gotten more than two hours of consecutive sleep any night this week.
"Hey, morning, Freddie!" Greg greeted me happily.
I felt my eye twitch at being called Freddie.
"Morning, Greg." I grumbled under my breath, taking the same seat as I do every morning.
He was my cousin.
Be nice.
He meant well.
I felt my phone buzz; taking it out, I saw I got texts from my uncle.
I perked up because he gave me new information. Granted, he didn't just come out and say, 'Hey, here are the abandoned buildings I looked into' or whatever. Instead, he just sent pictures and addresses with a red X next to them.
Likewise, he sent me some other pictures with a green checkmark next to them.
Green meaning he purchased them through my finances.
I briefly looked at my new properties.
There was one beachfront house that had been condemned. It was cheap, probably because the beach wasn't so much a beach these days. Hell, from the picture, I could see all the trash that littered the sand.
Was that a giant fucking anchor washed up on shore?
I wanted to sigh, but I was happy nonetheless.
Apparently Uncle had the idea to start buying up all the laundromats that were in the red too. I eyed at least five that he had sent me. A bowling alley that closed because a cape fight had knocked down half the thing. Even some property in the heart of ABB territory with a couple restaurants and houses.
Otherwise, it was mostly just random lots or houses that had no discernable features beyond the obvious.
'Keep the businesses open that are operable, even at a loss.' I quickly texted him.
My phone buzzed with a thumbs up from him.
My goal was to get enough of a strangleholdon businesses across the city that I can threaten to shut the city down without it mostly being hyperbole. That will give me enough negotiating power later for when I need to start pushing some things through the mayor's office after dealing with the Cape problem in the city.
In comparison, taking the loss in finances from the businesses that aren't making money is a pittance and not worth even acknowledging.
I looked at the other message, the abandoned building he sent me.
Singular.
It was much harder to find this sort of thing compared to properties for sale through the proper markets and such.
Well, something is better than nothing.
It was on the far ass end of the downtown coast, on the opposite side of the city.
God, it's going to take like two or three hours to get there by foot later tonight.
Oh well, that's future me's problem.
For now, I was just mentally deciding on which classes I could get away with sleeping through.
"Hey Freddie, did you hear about the Cape fight last night? I heard that Glory Girl and Hookwolf went at it and destroyed an entire building!" Greg leaned over the back of his seat, all but flailing his arms excitedly. "I saw all the pictures online; there were even dead bodies. It was crazy!"
"No. I hadn't heard that, Greg." I found myself frowning.
Rabid dogs should be put down.
Unfortunately, I wasn't comfortable making waves yet. I still had quite a few things I wanted to put in place before I started…cleaning.
I opened my notebook and made a special note that Hookwolf should be killed at the earliest opportunity.
My phone buzzed again; I looked at it to see a new picture.
It was of a dog.
That was it, someone walking their dog, but it was specific to the dog.
It was Lancer.
Ever since I got her a phone and helped her learn how it worked, she seems to like taking pictures of cats and dogs.
The whole 'conversation' is basically full of pictures she's taken.
There are very few actual 'words' to go with it.
I basically told her that people take pictures of things they like and send them to friends.
Oh, and food.
She sometimes takes pictures of various foods too.
It's kind of cute though, so I wasn't bothered by it.
And I'm fairly sure she was having fun doing it.
The bus ride had been about the same, just as boring as it was every day. I managed to slowly start to doze off, but Greg's incessant rambling stopped me from actually falling asleep.
"And there's this new V-Tuber called Magi Mari—"
And suddenly, I was awake.
"Come again?" I said as my mind came to a screeching halt.
"Huh? Magi Mari, you haven't heard!?" He asked as if it's something everyone should know. "She's awesome! She's the newest V-Tuber to pop up, and all her streams get insane views. She has this whole thing where she pretends to be a wizard."
[Master, why did I suddenly get a foreboding feeling?]
[....Merlin may be around.]
She didn't respond immediately, but I think I felt her usually blunted emotions from here.
[I will sharpen my blade in anticipation.]
Well, that wasn't fucking scary.
But I don't have the mental capacity to worry about that for now. It's going firmly on the shelf next to the reminder that Primate Murder is running around somewhere.
I stretched my arms as the bus came to a stop at the school.
I followed Greg again as we went inside.
Though, I did my usual eyeing of everything. The spot where the wannabe skinheads hung out, and then to the wannabe Yakuza not far away.
They weren't acting up, getting all huffy and strutting around, so I didn't expect any major fights to get started today at least. It was usually easy to tell when something was going to go down, like two packs of dogs barking at each other.
Of course, the wannabe druggies could just randomly start shit; that happens from time to time in my memories. But both sides kind of hate them, so it usually doesn't get too bad.
I just need to get through today, and then I can sleep in and catch up on some sleep. A mini gang war would be the last thing I wanted to deal with.
Christ, why couldn't I be going to Arcadia? I heard they sell coffee!
It's not fair.
"Watch it, loser."
I turned my head to see Sophia knock Greg over, his backpack spilling out as he was trying to put stuff in his locker.
The girls around her laughed at his expense, and a few others said it happened.
[That girl is going to learn a harsh lesson one day.] Lancer sent it to me.
I can't say I particularly like Greg, but he's family.
I was not pleased he was being bullied in front of me.
He muttered something in embarrassment under his breath as he put his head down and started picking up his stuff.
I glanced at the girls who were whispering and giggling to themselves a rack of lockers down from us. I then saw them glance at Taylor, who was walking by.
Honestly, I hadn't thought about her much. Even when she got on the bus, I sort of just ignored her presence.
Madison Clement, Sophia Hess, and Emma Barnes.
They were the 'popular girls' at school. And they really enjoyed bullying Taylor and some others that were easy targets.
Like Greg.
From my memories, they sometimes threw strays at me too by association.
I had some admirable amount of self-restraint to not out myself.
Emma Barnes, Taylor's old best friend, or something like that. It was a whole mess I genuinely didn't care about.
But she looked like she was trying to sneak up on Taylor and dump one of those little breakfast milk containers on her.
I looked down at one of Greg's hardcover books still on the ground and put my foot on it. With a bit of force, I slid it across the hallway; it hit Emma in the back of the foot, making her fall over. The milk in her hand spilled all over her shirt as she let out a surprised yelp.
Hmm.
That was unwise of me, because it didn't go unnoticed.
Oh well.
I hit the locker behind me as Sophia's hand grabbed my collar and pushed me into it. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
"Sorry, I slipped." I smiled politely. "Someone bumped into Greg and spilled his stuff everywhere, it seems."
Greg was looking at me like I had three heads right now.
"Give me a reason I shouldn't bash your face in, loser." She all but snarled, threatening me in the middle of school.
Winslow really is a huge pile of garbage, isn't it?
"Well, it would suck. I assume I'll get called to the office after and then get punished for 'fighting.' Then my case worker will probably be called, and that'll become a whole mess too…." I trailed off.
She paused when I said the words 'case worker.'
Ah yes, Sophia, you're not the only one with a case worker, though mine isn't because I'm on probation.
But by all means, let's blow things up by making it a 'fight.' I'm sure that won't be inconvenient for you if my case worker, who may or may not be your case worker too, suddenly gets a call and finds out what happened. Because of my status of emancipation, what happens to me gets reported differently.
She pulled my collar forward and pushed me back into the locker again.
It didn't really hurt, but it felt like she was trying to make a point.
"Watch yourself from now on, or you're dead meat, you got that!?" She pushed me away before stomping off like she was some kind of predator stalking the halls.
I let out a sigh, and people stopped staring once they realized they weren't going to get a show.
I really am in a mood right now, aren't I?
I'm usually much more composed. I just really need to vent my frustrations.
Hmm, she didn't even ask me what I meant by 'case worker.' Was the fact that I emancipated common knowledge? I don't think it was; maybe it was just a bit of a trigger word that stops the rabid dog from biting everyone around it.
"Dude…!?" Greg breathed out.
I'm pretty sure it was the first breath he took since Sophia wanted to try and play 80s sitcom bully.
It's funny that Sophia is supposed to be a 'hero.'
I fixed my collar.
Oddly, I wasn't really mad. If anything, I felt it was kind of pitiful. Just a stupid kid who doesn't know how big the world really is.
It's kind of enviable in a way, to take high school social statuses so seriously that you have to behave like that.
I wish I had that kind of innocence.
I pat Greg's shoulder. "Come on, Greg, hurry up; class is starting soon."
[Line Break]
I couldn't help but yawn again.
Mrs. Fillmore's class wasn't what I would call stimulating.
Though, I think Artoria was enjoying the lecture.
I didn't hate history, but a lot of teachers teach it in the driest, most uninteresting way possible. Yeah, a lot of it was just memorizing dates and stuff, but I remember previously that I had teachers that made it exciting.
Regardless, it gave me time to do other things.
I had my notebook out.
I just added a note to send to Uncle to have him look into the hospitals around Brockton, not just Medhall. I'm almost a hundred percent sure that they're for profit, so he might be able to buy them from the owners.
I can't say I'm knowledgeable on the profitability of hospitals as a whole, but I couldn't imagine Brockton Bay's hospitals to be generating much money considering how half the city is borderline poverty.
Hell, I think all the major insurance companies pulled out of the Bay some years ago, so you have all these shitty insurance companies nobody's heard of that may just disappear at the drop of a hat.
That's another good one.
I need to talk to Uncle about the logistics and possibility of maybe subsidizing health care, probably through my own insurance company. Obviously, not actually in my name, of course.
If I sweep up all the smaller insurance companies in the city, I could bring it to its knees if needed, like my original plan.
It would be another good card to have up my sleeve just in case. And I could also use it to twist public perception in my favor if somehow my identity as owner of so many companies and properties comes out.
There's no doubt that if it became known that I own such a significant portion of the city, there would be investigations and attempts by the local government to stymie my ownership.
I can't say that all my acquisitions and control are strictly legal.
But toss out the knowledge that, hey, that amazing health care you're getting is because of altruism by the supposed 'owner' of the city, then maybe they'll be willing to look the other way.
People are like that; as long as they aren't directly affected or even benefit, they'd be willing to overlook some things.
People constantly cry about freedoms and rights and all that. But give them a dictator that fixes their problems, and they'd probably keep their mouths shut.
They're lucky. I don't have the psychopathic greed that a lot of people with my kind of wealth possess.
Frankly, I'm rather apathetic about my wealth in general. I mean, if speaking honestly, I would agree that I'm a somewhat greedy individual.
Who wouldn't want to make more money? Good investments have been increasing my wealth substantially over the past few years since I took over the family.
But at the same time, I don't see myself pulling the shit that big companies do, like paying them so little that they need food stamps and government handouts to just survive.
I'm also not a paragon of good either.
If people leave me alone, I'm fine just to keep my city running smoothly and properly.
I won't even stick my hands into the federal government or other parts of the country.
I just hope they're wise enough to leave me alone if it comes to that.
Hmm.
I made an extra note to increase my Magecraft practice too. I've been understandably busy with the Dead Apostle, but I need to put more time in to bring my skill up to scratch.
Training more with Lancer is a must.
Another important thing: I need more 'staff' than just Lancer. I need strong people I can trust around me.
Part of it is my own cowardice, but part of it is also that if I send Lancer out like what we do at night, I'm technically putting myself in 'danger.'
I ended up letting out another sigh.
I used to dream of what I would do if I were filthy rich. Mostly, I sit in my house and play games all day and not have to worry about any responsibilities.
Now?
It's almost all responsibilities.
I'll take a vacation this summer.
Hey Lancer, how would you feel about traveling this summer? Somewhere sunny and south, maybe with a lot of ocean.]
[I would be happy to accompany you wherever you wish to travel, Master.]
It totally wasn't because I wanted to see if I could convince Lancer into a swimsuit.
…they have nudist beaches in a few places….
Alright, that's a dangerous thought to have; push it away for now.
"Holy shit!"
I looked up to see who just blurted that out.
Someone was on their phone; nothing strange there. But a few other people also blurted out something similar, and it was enough to disrupt class.
I furrowed my brow as the teacher tried to get control of the classroom, but others were taking out their phones too.
"Shit, man, check the news." The person next to me whispered to his friend as I overheard.
I also took out my phone and quickly checked to see what had everyone in a tizzy.
I didn't have the sound on, but I could read subtitles as I clicked the video.
'Biotinker Experiment set loose—'
'Dozens dead—'
'Attacking everyone in sight—'
I finally found a picture, and I nearly crushed my phone in my grasp.
Ghouls, it was ghouls.
Maybe over a hundred of them in just that picture as they poured out of a building.
[Lancer!]
[I see it from behind you, Master.]
Go, kill all the ghouls you can find, and destroy any blood samples. If you can keep yourself hidden, do so; if not, this takes priority.]
Shit!
This is bad.
That fucking Dead Apostle did this in broad fucking daylight.
The only saving grace is that ghouls are significantly weakened under sunlight, so with guns and other stuff, they should be able to handle them. But even still, ghouls can create more ghouls in a cascading effect.
They need to be dealt with quickly.
[Master…I would be leaving your side.]
This takes priority, Lancer. I have command seals if something bad happens.
Very well. I shall as soon as possible.]
Fucking dammit.
If this blows up enough, the Mages Association is going to be up my ass too.
"Students and staff" The school's intercom system buzzed as the principal's voice came over the speaker: "This is an emergency announcement. Please calmly but quickly report to the cafeteria. I repeat, all members of staff and students are to immediately come to the cafeteria."
I clicked my tongue because it sounded like the school was going to go on lockdown.
The school's auditorium had burned down the year before I came to the school, so they always used the cafeteria to hold schoolwide meetings or gatherings. Something about not having the funds to rebuild the auditorium.
I got up and followed everyone as they all shuffled towards the cafeteria. Luckily we passed by my locker, so I took the opportunity to shove all my emergency supplies into my backpack before continuing onwards.
There might be some type of role called inside, so after, I'll look for an opportunity to sneak away and join up with Lancer.
The cafeteria was barely big enough to hold the student body. Winslow oddly didn't have that big of a population compared to the other schools despite it being the shittiest school in the city.
I found Greg in the back corner and joined him, sitting down as there were some empty seats.
He gave me a wave but looked uncharacteristically worried.
I guess he saw the news, and even he was seeing how bad it was outside.
Normally, it would be a lot louder, but it felt oddly somber.
Regardless, I needed to look for an opportunity to sneak out.
My eyes darted around, making note of any possible exits until I saw the principal walking onto the small stage at the side of the cafeteria.
She looked…out of it. Her movements looked stiffer than normal.
Someone joined her too, and I was confused by their appearance; they looked like a homeless person just off the streets.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed several staff members locking the doors. However, their actions looked…equally odd, almost robotic.
I couldn't make out their face because they were wearing a worn-out hoodie.
But I stiffened once he got up on stage next to the principal.
He pulled his hood down, and then I saw his eyes.
Red.
He smiled, showing a row of sharp teeth.
And now the principal's robotic actions made sense.
Fuck.
I believe I found the Dead Apostle.
[Line Break]