In front of the doors of his private quarters, Damien stood with a troubled smile. Before him was none other than his senior, whose beauty was unrivalled in SIGIL. It seemed that the higher-ups had finally given him a mission, though a tiresome one.
"A commission from CORE, huh?" He raised his eyebrows, pondering the identity of this peculiar organization. Fortunately, his senior was willing to explain the intricacies of this establishment.
Shifting her golden-tinted eyeglasses with her pale finger, Francine straightened her back, unknowingly perking her gracious hips and ample bosom. Her plump velvet lips opened, expounding CORE.
"CORE is a coalition of corporations and conglomerates. They are formally known as the Collective Order of Remnant Enterprises. Without them, post-impact society wouldn't have survived."
Her explanation was straightforward, stating their importance. Although Damien had a feeling that it was much more complicated than that. And he was right. Francine continued with freezing calm.
"Nonetheless, this group of corporations isn't a saint. They dabble in anything that could provide them with profit, legal or illegal. CORE has its own military and can be considered independent from the federation."
"You can consider them as merchants who don't care about anything other than money and power. They would flock to those who could give them strength and immortality." Her words were laced with venom.
Without a doubt, CORE seemed much worse than the Aberrants. Crazy rich people were something he'd rather not handle. However, it was an opportunity, as it was a mission regardless.
So, he remained deep in thought.
"Strength and immortality... Wait-" Contemplating her words, a realization struck him. His sable-tinted gaze widened, dumbfounded by the truth.
"Yes, many of them belonged to the clan of vampires." She whispered with a tint of nonchalance and glee. "Information about your identity as an Aberrant isn't concealed under the commands of Miss Alastair.
"From your recent actions, I believe you also don't want to hide your status."
As long as one has enough strength, they was no need to hide themselves. This was the mindset of the seventh Paragon. Those with potential or those with great power.
In the eyes of the strongest, there weren't any differences.
Some might consider it unfair, but prodigies weren't equal to ordinary people. Challenges, obstacles, and adversaries were an imprint on those with potential.
In any case, she subtly shook her head as she wasn't planning to teach her junior about the weird worldviews of their boss. She threw such thoughts to the back of her mind and carried on.
"CORE should be interested in your identity as an Aberrant. You are the first, after all. They are probably trying to find a way to control you or perhaps experiment on you." Francine decided to be frank.
Wealthy people hungry for power wouldn't stop with immortality. Even the Clan couldn't rein them in, so expecting them to not be greedy was a foolish endeavour. It was better to warn her junior about what could happen.
Damien nodded in understanding and thought about it. There was no doubt that the commission was a dangerous trap. He didn't know how CORE could be brave, but he didn't care.
As said before, it was also an opportunity. The Monster Gacha System required Terror and for his monsters to kill. Enemies were an exceptional resource for him, so if he was given a chance to fight...
He would do so without hesitation.
Determination glinted from his obsidian-like irises. It was something that Francine immediately perceived. The edges of her lips curled into a gentle smile, understanding the path that her junior had chosen to take.
"I want to take the commission," He uttered with resolve, earning the nod of his senior. Francine patted his shoulder and expressed her support. "You require more experience, so perhaps it's also an opportunity."
"Besides, there's not much I can do against a determined junior." She had always been supportive of those around her. Whether it'd be the strange habits of the seventh Paragon, or the peculiar ideas of some colleagues.
As long as it didn't hurt anyone or cause harm, she wouldn't deny them what they wanted or wished. It was simple, straightforward.
That didn't mean she would pretend to have nothing to do with their choices. After all, she supported them, so her assistance was unquestionable. The schemes of CORE shall fail. That was the promise she had made within her heart.
'But to think those corporate vampires dared to actually think of touching a member of Block 7. Have they forgotten the power of Miss Alastair? Or perhaps, they are confident against it.' Her gaze narrowed, coldness seeping in.
"This is the intelligence regarding the commission, and with it are intricate and proven information you could utilize." Francine handed a slick and smooth tablet, winking at Damien with a playful charm.
"I have already confirmed the data inside, so there should be no need for you to worry. Regardless, however, I advise you to be cautious during the commission. Expect it not to be as simple as it appears." She offered her counsel before taking her leave.
Damien watched as she walked off into the corridor, vanishing with the sway of her gracious hips. Although moments later, his attention returned to the commission he had received.
His obsidian-like eyes became blank as though he was staring at something and nothing at the same time. He wasn't pondering the assignment. Instead, he was intrigued by the newly materialized digital window in front of him.
That's right. For the first time, a primary mission finally emerged. Damien squinted his eyelids, focusing on the contents written on the bluish and translucent digital window.
---
First Commission (Primary Mission) |
-| You have been commissioned by the Collective Order of Remnant Enterprises to rescue their research personnel stranded deep within the exclusion zone of Manhattan. To succeed, you must rescue 12 twelve researchers. Rewards: 1,000 Terror Points. |
---
For a moment, his gaze widened after perceiving the reward of the primary mission. It was a lot, and it should have made him happy. But the system doesn't foolishly give excellent rewards without reason.
Even his exhaustive training didn't amount to many Terror Points, so he was wary about the seemingly marvelous reward. With a troubled expression, he questioned himself inwardly. 'CORE...'
'It seems that the commission is much more complicated than previously expected. But Francine already warned me about the possibilities. After all, I'm dealing with corporations almost independent from government control.'
While danger would be evident in this assignment, Damien didn't plan to back down. He was confident to hold himself against the perils of the New World. As long as he didn't fight against a powerhouse, he could always escape.
"I have six monsters under my command. Each of them is capable. I'm different from who I was a week beforehand." Clenching his fist, veins slightly surfaced from his skin.
Compared to the metahumans, he stood no chance. But his monsters would level the playing field. His adversaries would have no choice but to play his game. With this in mind, the edges of his lips rose.
"Eclipse, how about we start immediately?" As his fedora hugged the strands of his black hair, a small corner of reality fractured like a mirror. A black hand emerged from the shattered material world, embracing him.
In mere seconds, Damien vanished amidst the black mist.