Later
"..." The duo can be seen sitting in the Waterfall Soup, waiting for their meal while anxiously glancing around. Ever since that woman managed to sneak on them, they have become very vigilant towards their surroundings and make sure they don't lower their guard.
Since she admits she's a part of the Obol Squad, Phil concludes that she's the assassin of the squad, which Caelus thinks he ain't wrong given she's a sniper.
"Two bowls of Bone Broth Noodles for you two!" The duo snaps out of their thought as General Chop places two bowls of noodles in front of them using his mechanical bamboo arms.
"Thanks, General Chop," Caelus says with an anxious smile before he starts eating his food. Phil isn't faring any better as he simply nods silently and eats his noodles.
"...may I ask what's gotten into you two?" General Chop asks in concern. "I remember both of you seemed happy getting along with the Cunning Hares and the boy who manages the video store."
"...I may have almost got ourselves in deep trouble," Phil mutters. "We just saw someone from an Obol Squad walk past the street, and I had to run my mouth, then someone who claims they're also from an Obol Squad, which has never been mentioned in any media, sneaked past us...I think I just have my life flash before my eyes..."
"Oh, you're talking about Agent Trigger," General Chop comments off-handedly.
"...you knew about her?" Caelus asks curiously. Phil had mentioned earlier how Trigger had never been mentioned in the media or even in the Inter-Knot, meaning her identity is a secret to the public. Given how Chop knows her, it seems some people know her existence.
Even so, why does she appear out of nowhere and even reveal her being part of the team? It can't be only because Phil had unintentionally badmouthed her squad. Also, what does she mean by unable to see him?
"She's a regular here," Chop says off-handedly, which almost made the duo face fault. The answer is a bit underwhelming and unexpected. "What? Did you guys expect me to know through some secret information network in the underworld or something?"
"Given how people in this street seem to be involved with proxies and Hollow Raiders in some ways, yes..." Phil mutters.
"Kid, everyone involved with that stuff in some ways, even the Public Security, or even the H.A.N.D., but not everyone is involved in some ways. Sure, I may have posted a few commissions in Inter-Knot a few times for Proxies or even Hollow Raiders, but that's it. Most of the info I got was through my customers' casual talks." Chop explains.
"Is it okay to tell all of us that? Or even the identity of that agent?" Caelus asks in concern, earning a snort from General Chop.
"Kids, you both look like someone threatened you with a gun to your head. Besides, I only told you their name and how they're a regular. It's nothing much," Chop comments off-handedly.
"I don't know, boss. Telling someone my name is enough to spark curiosity." They yelp again as they turn to see Trigger sitting next to Caelus, her hand leaning on her cheek while facing Caelus with a sly smirk.
"Hey, Trigger," Chop greets her without any reaction. "The usual?"
"Of course," Trigger says as she adjusts her position, still facing Caelus, who is nervous at her appearance. "So, I made you two anxious, huh?"
"To be fair, you sneak on us without any warning, twice..." Caelus responds nervously.
"Well, that means my skill hasn't dulled yet." Trigger comments as she once again leans closer to Caelus.
"...miss, may I ask what you are doing?" Caelus asks nervously.
"Oh, sorry," Trigger says, sounding more amused than apologetic. "Just slightly curious."
"Is this about how you could only hear him but not see him?" Phil asks curiously. "What's up with that?"
"If I tell you that, then you both shall be wiped off from New Eridu." Trigger says with a serious tone, causing both of them to shiver in fear.
"Agent Trigger, perhaps you should refrain from joking about something like that. You could simply say it's an information you can't disclose." Both turn to see the familiar white-haired girl walking towards them. Caelus and Phil instantly recognize her as Soldier 11.
"Haha, I know," Trigger chuckles a bit. "I simply can't help but tease these two."
"...maybe you should tone it down," Soldier 11 says in a dry tone as she sits next to Trigger. "They both look like they're scared to death."
"I suppose," Trigger says, her lips twitching upward as Chop places her ramen bowl.
"One hellishly spicy noodle, General Chop," Soldier 11 says as Chop sighs.
"How you remain fine and dandy with that amount of consumption is beyond me..." Chop mutters quietly, earning a snort from Trigger and a confused glance from Phil.
"So...is there a reason why a military squad is visiting the Sixth Street?" Caelus asks curiously. "Or is it confidential information?"
"Confidential." Soldier 11 says plainly; her tone leaves no room for argument.
"Actually, it's not," Trigger says teasingly. "She's-."
"Shut it," Soldier 11 says in a demanding tone, a hint of anger in her voice. Trigger merely chuckles at her teammate's reaction.
"So, private huh..." Caelus concludes. He then remembers how in-game interactions with Soldier 11 seem to take place next to stray cats on Sixth Street. Is it possible that she's here for them and embarrassed to admit it?
"But, still, us Defense Force has never always been in official business whenever we visit. We all have lives outside the military," Trigger explains as Phil merely nods.
"Is there a difference between Defense Force and H.A.N.D.?" Phil can't help but ask. He may know a lot, but sometimes hearing from someone with experience helps.
"For H.A.N.D., they not only had on-field assignments, but also office work, mostly paperwork from government officials. For the Defense Force, our superiors did most of the things," Soldier 11 explains.
"It's also a perfect way for corrupt higher-ups to hide their evidence," Trigger says nonchalantly before Soldier 11 hits her with her elbow.
"Please refrain from mentioning such things to civilians," Soldier 11 says, causing Phil and Caelus to glance at each other.
"Another thing, H.A.N.D. involves public meetings with civilians like celebrities, while the Defense Force never had such luxuries." Trigger says, acting like she didn't just about the corruption inside the military. "Why do you ask? Interested in joining?"
"....no offense to you two, but I stick with H.A.N.D.," Phil mutters nervously as Trigger nods.
"Well, I wish you luck in joining the organization," Trigger says sincerely, earning a surprise look from Phil.
"...." Caelus didn't say anything as he continued to eat his noodle. It's not that he was being rude, but he didn't know what topic he would like to talk about with the military defense force. He isn't interested in joining the squad, and the lack of male squad members didn't help either.
It may be a wet dream for most men, but it'll just be awkward for Caelus.
"Here you go, your hellishly spicy noodle," Chop says as he places down the bowl. Phil instinctively covers his nose; the steam coming from the noodle causes his eyes to tear up. Trigger tries not to react, but even she slightly flinches from the smell.
Meanwhile, Caelus stares at the bowl of manmade lava in disbelief. How could something like that exist? He may have a good spice tolerance, but even he thinks that thing could burn off his entire tongue, leaving no trace at all.
"Thank you for the meal," Soldier 11 mutters before she grabs a pair of chopsticks and eats the noodles. The three of them stared at her, expecting her to react at all, but to their disbelief, she didn't react at all, and she even took her second and third bite.
"....why are you surprised? Aren't you in the same squad as her?" Caelus calls Trigger out.
"I never got the chance to eat noodles with her due to my mission as the squad's sniper." Trigger says. "I know she likes spicy food, but I never knew how spicy it was until now."
"...do you think you could handle it?" Caelus asks as they glance at Soldier 11, who continues to eat.
"...with some difficulties. My senses are more sensitive than normal humans," Trigger says reluctantly.
"...seeing her eating like that made me curious about its taste..." Caelus mutters. "...but, it's suicide..."
"Indeed," Trigger says with a nod.
"Please don't," Phil begs.
"....General Chop, can I have a bowl of hellishly spicy noodles?" Caelus decided to toss all of his survival instincts out of the window, shocking Trigger and Phil.
"....you sure, kid?" Chop asks hesitantly. A lot of people had eaten it, and they got themselves into the hospital for it, and it's a complete waste of food.
"Yes, just a bowl," Caelus says as Chop merely nods and makes a bowl.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Phil asks in disbelief. "I can feel snots escaping my nose just for smelling that thing!? Are you trying to kill yourself and drag me with it!?!"
"Sorry, but curiosity took over," Caelus says with a small smile. "...if anything happens to me, make sure to burn my corpse to ashes and scatter it around the sea."
"YOU BLOODY FOOL!!!!" Phil exclaims in disbelief as he grabs Caelus's collar and shakes him violently, causing Trigger to giggle at the scene. Those two somehow are more dramatic than the interaction between her captain and her kid.
"Here you go," Chop says as he places the steamy bowl of spicy noodles in front of Caelus. Caelus gulps at the bowl before taking a bite himself, while Phil and Trigger stare at him as they did towards Soldier 11. Meanwhile, the soldier glanced at him curiously.
"...it's not that spicy?" Caelus says in surprise. He was expecting a super hot taste that burns his tongue off, but it's not as bad as he thought.
"HUH!?!?!" Phil yells in sheer disbelief, still covering his nose, and tears continue to escape his eyes.
"Not that spicy!?! I made it with a huge amount of capsaicin in it, and you didn't even react!" Chop exclaims in disbelief. Caelus's words may sound like a brag or a false bravado, but the lack of red on his face and the lack of tears in his eyes prove otherwise.
"....now I'm also curious," Trigger mutters as she faces Chop.
"Not you too!!!!" Phil exclaims, and much to his disbelief, Trigger decided to order one as well. He is surrounded by freaks; he was sure of it.
He is very sure they all will experience an explosive diarrhea the next morning! No sane man could handle that level of spice!
"Here, try it." Without any warning, Caelus shoves a spoonful of spicy soup right into his mouth. Like in cartoons, his face turns red at a fast rate, steam comes out of his head like a kettle on a stove, and fire is expelled from his mouth.
This has caused Trigger to have second thoughts, but Chop had finished making her portion. Not wanting to be rude, she ate the noodle.
"...this is good," Trigger mutters in surprise. "There's a...particular taste in it, a concentrated form of shrimp oil?"
"H-how did you even figure that out!?!" Chop asks in disbelief.
"...I have a sensitive tongue," Trigger answered evasively.
"If that's your answer, your tongue should be burning right now," Chop says in a deadpan manner.
"AAAAHHH!!!" Everyone stops what they're doing and glances at Phil running around with his burning tongue, and Caelus walks out of the convenience store with a bottle of milk before chasing after Phil.
"...I can see what you mean by interesting," Soldier 11 says plainly.
"That's not..." Trigger sighs as she facepalm, slightly amused by everything that just happened.
To be Continued