Later
"...so, how come you guys didn't tell us who the second person from the Defense Force is?"
Caelus and Phil ended up staying since apparently, Trigger requested their audience for a further discussion. Caelus and Phil didn't reject the request; part of it was due to curiosity, wondering what she wanted from them.
Others, well, they're afraid Trigger might've put a bullet in their heads for telling the Phaethon siblings about them.
"To be fair, I kinda forgot to tell you her codename," Caelus admits. "But again, it seems you guys knew her by her...real name? So, telling you guys her codename will not help, as you guys won't recognize her."
"...fair, Charon never told us what codename she goes by these days," Belle mutters. "Then again, we did say that she didn't have to tell us."
"Honestly, I didn't expect our next encounter to be like this, and I was hoping I could tell my codename myself," Trigger says with slight amusement.
"Sorry, you really spooked us," Caelus admits while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"I mean, sneaking on us is one thing, but you catch us off guard so easily, even by trying to get into the store." Phil points out.
"Honestly, I didn't expect you guys to be here, but it does make things easier since I have something I would like to discuss with you two as well." Trigger explains, catching everyone's attention.
"Us? But, we're civilians," Both Caelus and Phil say in unison. Phil, without any hesitation, stares at Caelus with a flat expression, followed by Wise and Belle. If Trigger's eyes weren't covered, they would see her raising her eyebrow.
"...I ain't even gonna correct that statement," Trigger says dryly. "Earlier, after we left you and your business, I got a call from the higher-ups regarding you two."
"...did you accidentally commit a war crime or something?" Phil immediately accused Caelus.
"Did you forget she also mentioned you?" Caelus retorts in a deadpan manner.
"....please don't put my ass in prison," Phil whimpers.
"That...is not why I want to talk about with you two," Trigger sweatdrops. "...my higher-ups requesting me to try to recruit you two to the Defense Force, specifically the Obol Squad."
"...I'm sorry, I didn't hear it right." Caelus blinks, scratching his ears to make sure he hears correctly.
"....huh?" Phil looks like he blue-screened.
"...I am pretty sure I made it very loud and clear," Trigger says, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"...yeah, I'm gonna decline that," Caelus says with zero hesitation.
"...may I ask why?" Trigger was slightly surprised at the lack of hesitation from Caelus's tone, but at the same time, she understood how being in the military isn't fun for someone who had gone through a lot like him.
But, she can't help but ask. On one hand, she is curious if he had another reason. On the other hand, it's needed when she reports to her superior.
"Too much hassle and paperwork," Caelus says bluntly, and to say everyone was taken aback by his answer is a complete understatement.
"...okay, I did not see that coming," Trigger says honestly.
"What? I may live outside New Eridu, but I know a tidbit of city life. My dad's friend used to work in the city and complained about how much paperwork there is, how much their superiors are troubling them with shit tons of work, and how mentally exhausting they were every time. I prefer a simple job, thank you very much," Caelus says.
"And yet, you choose to register yourself as an HIA candidate," Trigger points out.
"If it's keeping me from being a criminal just to save a soul stuck in a Hollow, then that hassle is worth it," Caelus says honestly. "Oh, I forgot, from what I know, the Obol Squad is full of... underage girls. If I join, it'll paint me a bad picture."
"Seed and Orphie are legal adults," Trigger mutters while rubbing her forehead.
"Their appearances didn't match their ages." Caelus was being honest. He had seen Seed and Orphie, from the game and from this world's news. They ain't beating the child soldiers allegation with those kinds of appearances and attitudes.
"I... would like to decline as well," Phil says. "I want to be a member of HAND, specifically Sector 6. Being in the military isn't my strong suit, not with the type of missions they had...."
"And pray tell, how do you know?" Trigger can't help but ask.
"...you guys weren't trying to hide it in the Inter-Knot," Phil mutters.
"...fair," Trigger sighs exasperatedly. "Well, I suppose I should have expected this. So, let us focus on other things."
"Wait, that's not all?" Caelus asks in surprise.
"Nope," Trigger says. "The higher-ups made sure to have another plan if you guys refused."
"Please tell me you guys won't kidnap us," Caelus mutters, which makes Phil turn pale.
"No, no. It's more of requesting help," Trigger says. "It's about the commission Soldier 11 is about to take. Infiltrating a rebel base isn't a safe job, not even for someone as skilled as Soldier 11. I was hoping I could get help from a hero like you."
"...no offense, but why would the government want me in the first place?" Caelus asks in suspicion.
"It's not the government, it's my request." Trigger says, surprising everyone. "I asked the government to approve my request to seek help from someone who had beaten the Dead End Butcher and a horde of Ethereals."
"That was a team effort," Caelus denies the achievement while secretly wondering how they knew.
"Our intel is accurate. You may have asked several Hollow Raiders to assist you, but you're the one dealing the most damage and manage to get everyone unscathed with those weird powers of yours." Trigger says.
"...did you spy on me?" Caelus asks her incredulously.
"So, I was hoping I could request your help for this commission," Trigger says.
"...look, I had just got myself out of a dangerous Hollow where the Dead End Butcher almost killed me at the first round, and I was lucky to obtain that weird power," Caelus says while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Let's not forget, I am deep in hot water after illegally getting my ass into the Hollow and only receiving a slap on the wrist from the Public Security. I would rather not get myself into the Hollow, not until I was recruited by the HIA. Besides, I doubt Soldier 11 needs my help at all. Isn't she a skilled soldier? And you're also a skilled sniper."
"Yes, but there will be only two of us, and an extra helping hand would be great." Trigger says. "If you're worried about legal trouble, don't worry. The defense force will permit you, and of course, you will be paid handsomely."
"...I enter the Hollow not for greed. Your earthly money doesn't hold an appeal to me," Caelus says with a wise tone, earning a deadpan look from Wise, Belle, and Phil.
"20 million Dennies," Trigger says bluntly, and in an instant, they heard the creepiest laugh they ever heard in their lives as Caelus grins widely. They swear his pupils turn into Dennies sign.
"Really?" Caelus says with a high-pitched, creepy tone.
"Not for greed, he said," Phil says dryly. "Money doesn't hold an appeal to him, he said."
"Let's be real, his lie is so transparent that it made windows jealous," Belle deadpans.
"..." All Wise could do was to facepalm. It was just a simple commission for him, and now, Wise had zero idea what was going on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Later
"Remind me why I am here?" Phil asks as Caelus carries the bunny Thiren on his shoulder.
"Because I need a navigation, and the Phaethons are focusing on guiding Soldier 11," Caelus says. "Remember what Trigger told us? We guard her but make sure we're not spotted either by her or the rebels."
"What kind of bodyguard mission is this?" Phil mutters in disbelief.
"I'm sure Trigger had explained it earlier. This mission is not known by Soldier 11, especially given how Trigger didn't get the chance to explain it to her earlier." Caelus says while rubbing his temple. "Let's not forget, our presence will blow her cover, specifically me. The rebels will instantly recognize me due to my unwanted fame. Oh, and let's not forget my shield ability is long-range, so yeah."
"...this mission is dumb," Phil mutters.
"Well, given the one who made the commission is an overprotective yet deadly mother hen, I say things tend to get complicated," Caelus says.
"I can hear you two loud and clear," Trigger's deadpan voice can be heard through their comm, silencing the duo for a few moments.
"...so, why did you accept this commission again?" Phil asks.
"The money can't be ignored," Caelus says shamelessly, earning a deadpan look.
"You love to contradict yourself, didn't you?" Phil asks. "Why do you even need that much money anyway?"
"Being broke ain't fun," Caelus exclaims. "The fear of living on a street, eating trash, and desperately begging for money. No offense, but have you seen people saying they wish to have no money?"
"There's fear being broke, and there's being plain greedy," Phil accuses Caelus.
"Well, why did you accept the commission as well?" Caelus asks with a raised eyebrow.
"...let's just complete this commission," Phil groans.
"The amount of money is tempting, ain't it?" Caelus says teasingly, causing Phil to fluster as well, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. "Hypocrite."
"Oh, shut it..." Phil says as he pulls out a tablet, a device he implanted Carrot for Hollow navigation. But, unlike the previous one, the one on Phil's paws seems less advanced, given that he had to make one again after it was broken due to the previous failed Hollow raid.
Phil had assured everyone it works as well as a normal Carrot, and Wise had confirmed it himself after everyone gave the poor wabbit a skeptical look.
"That way," Phil points at Caelus's left. The trash panda simply follows the direction. It takes a while before they are able to find a perfect place to watch over Soldier 11.
"Okay, now we watch," Caelus mutters before his hands glow red. Using his Path power, he quietly blesses Soldier 11 with Preservation. Soldier 11 pauses and glances in their direction, but thankfully, the duo immediately hides behind a ruin.
"Is something wrong?" Wise asks, talking to Soldier 11 through the comm. The reason he didn't use Eous is due to Soldier 11 being oblivious to Wise's identity. Using Eous should've made an even more convincing disguise, but Soldier 11 didn't expect it from the Crimson Empire.
(A/N: For anyone wondering, the name was intentional, given one of the running gags in Soldier 11's Agent Story is her inability to remember Phaethon's fake name)
As for why they chose to communicate from a long distance, Soldier 11 insists they didn't enter since they don't have the required Ether Aptitude to explore the Hollow for a long time.
(A/N2: Belle and Wise have low Ether Aptitude for almost the entire Season 1. It wasn't until their H.D.D. gained an upgrade that their implants granted them superpowers.)
"...Nothing," Soldier 11 replies.
"...okay," Wise says. "Alright, Soldier 11. Let us not waste more time; follow my direction to deploy the transmitter."
"Very well," Soldier 11 nods before looking at the transmitter and walking away. Meanwhile, Caelus and Phil silently watch before sneakily following her.
'I had a feeling this is gonna be a long day...' Phil and Caelus thought in unison.
To be Continued