In the shifting lines of the broad horizon, the morning sun steadily ascended to the blue skies. Its radiance gleamed through the skylines of a vast city, abandoned and forgotten by all. Within the depths of the desolated central states of the Federation was New Janus.
The first city of the New World, the forsaken pillar of the apocalyptic era.
Standing over the outskirts of the anarchic city were four silhouettes shaded by the morning dawn. They observed the impoverished cityscape with scrutinizing gazes and frowned upon the appalling sight of chaos, except for one.
A gorgeous white-haired lady stood against the gust of wind, her black trench coat swaying with the breeze alongside strands of her silver hair. Her supple, rosy lips curved into an arrogant grin as though what stood before her was perfect for whatever plans she had in mind.
"New Janus, what a giant hellhole," Damien remarked, staring at the slums that seemed to stretch to the horizon. He had heard of this city in the central states. It was the first city established after Heaven's Fall, marking the advent of the New World.
Unfortunately, due to the chaos that had plagued it after the cataclysm, the authorities abandoned it. Refugees from the southwest and northeast flocked to this vast city of beginnings, further worsening its poor conditions.
"Even the plantation cities of the vampires aren't this bad." Beside him was a crimson-haired girl whose velvet irises glimmered with a tinge of pity. Hecate had seen the worst of the Clan, and this city could rival those blood ranches.
Damien gripped his briefcase tightly and glanced at their boss with his sable-tinted eyes. Block 7 was relocated to the central states within the deployment order arranged by SIGIL's higher-ups. But according to rumors, it was the seventh Paragon who requested this city.
The black-suited young man wanted to understand what the gorgeous white-haired lady planned to do with this dump of a city. After all, abandoning the privileges of SIGIL branches was something that Block 7 couldn't afford.
There were only four of them within its list of members. Their operations would be limited and weak compared to large divisions such as Block 6.
Francine slightly raised her golden-tinted eyeglasses and expounded. "New Janus is filled with gangs and crime families. They have connections to prominent warlords within the central states."
"Drug lords also operate within its confines, growing larger and stronger. Some information even suggests a significant relationship with the largest trafficking ring. There should be nobles within this city transporting humans to the south."
Her words echoed through the eerie silence, prompting the eyebrows of Damien and Hecate to rise. To think that this city would even be involved with the Clan. Their circumstance had become even more complicated than before.
From how various evils gather around the vast cityscape, it became a city of sin in their eyes. Filled to the brim with crimes and suffering. The hearts of those within were far from pure and innocent. Unstable, wicked.
Far from the best place for growth.
"Although the place is a gutter, SIGIL and the Federation have given us complete authority over New Janus. We would be able to do anything without the regulations of FNA binding our hands. Uncompromised Freedom."
"The three of you understand where I am heading." Alastair glanced at her subordinates, two of whom gazed upon her with astounded expressions. Francine merely gave an exasperated sigh.
"You want to build something in your image." The secretary muttered under her breath, though the gorgeous white-haired lady promptly corrected her. "Our image. Block 7 will transform this place."
"This will be the starting point of the new generation. Obstacles do not matter. Even if they were gangs, drug lords, syndicates, or vampire nobles. All of them will be trampled beneath our heels." Alastair continued, her gaze narrowing with a cold glint.
"As expected of my master, your vision goes beyond ours." Admiration gleamed from the velvet irises of Hecate as she felt excitement burning within her heart. The strongest of humanity wouldn't remain idle. That much was certain.
On the other hand, Damien rubbed the back of his neck and gazed at the poverty-stricken crowd roaming the decrepit cityscape. "For every thing we destroy, something must be created to replace it. Who would handle governance, Miss Alastair?"
His question attracted their attention, asking a vital piece of their plans for the future. Who would govern the hellhole that was New Janus? None of them was interested, so their boss should have had a solution regarding the administration.
"We haven't even conquered the city, yet. Who governs it should be the problem for the future us." Alastair waved her hand and smirked, unbothered by the troubled expressions of her subordinates. The words that escaped her supple lips were the truth.
Solving a problem that was far in the future would only waste their time. What mattered was the establishment of Block 7 in New Janus and its inevitable growth. Troubles, besides their division, were merely an extra task. Nothing more, nothing less.
"That makes sense. Is our seventh division building already built?" Damien nodded in understanding as he wasn't that interested in the fate of this city. Though he didn't forget to inquire about the current state of their new Block 7 Headquarters.
"Well..." Alastair hesitated for a second, but gave a gentle smile towards her two young subordinates. It brought nothing but chills within the spines of Damien and Hecate. "We will be using the old and abandoned branch building of the past."
"It should be near the center of the city. Quite a good starting point."
Francine opened her tablet and searched for information regarding the city's abandoned branch building. It was then that intelligence about the structure covered the screen of her device. Her thin, arched eyebrows furrowed as a result.
"Our current headquarters are being occupied by three different gangs, each of which has a force of over two hundred men. Should I take care of them, Miss Alastair?" She asked the nonchalant white-haired lady beside her.
Alastair shook her head and rejected the suggestion of her secretary. She turned her pearl-like eyes towards her juniors and grinned at them. Damien and Hecate instinctively backed away, ignorant of the thoughts that flooded the mind of this arrogant lady.
"The two of your partners fought together a couple of days ago." She remarked and continued. "But your teamwork needs work. One of you was charging while the other was passively defending."
"Although you defeated all of them, such barebones cooperation wouldn't be enough to be part of Block 7. You two are still lacking, regardless of your strength." Alastair pointed at the two of them and glanced in the direction of the decrepit branch building.
"I will grant an opportunity. Crush the gangs occupying our place, and use your recent training to work together." She commanded them with a serious expression. Regardless of her easy-going nature, she was the seventh Paragon of SIGIL.
The strongest of humanity.
She wasn't a hippy who was a happy-going pacifist. If she wanted something to be crushed into fine powder, it would become dust. No matter the obstacles, adversaries, or troubles. Alastair wasn't a compromising individual.
"Understood, Miss Alastair. Hecate and I will be handling the occupants of our building. Expect satisfactory results." Damien straightened his back and kept his eyes planted on the pearl-like irises of the gorgeous, white-haired lady.
"Without a doubt, you're my precious Aberrant, Damien. You and I understand what we want the most. I will be waiting for your victory." Alastair smirked at the words of her peculiar subordinate. He was straightforward, yet patient and understanding.
Besides, Francine. He might be the best candidate to become a team leader within Block 7. But such a position would be in the far future. Their members would have to be over a dozen by then. With her standards, it would take a while.
"I will work hard, Master." Hecate, the crimson-haired vampire girl, nodded to herself. She was ready to throw hands at the thugs occupying their new base. Witnessing her behavior, Alastair chuckled while Damien sighed to himself. The admiration of the young vampire ran deep.
---
Within the central district of New Janus was the abandoned branch building of SIGIL. It was a massive concrete structure in the shape of a looming tower, two hundred meters tall. Occupying it were the three strongest gangs of the district.
Its forces weren't to be underestimated, as the officers of these gangs were metahumans capable of death and destruction. Unfortunately, compared to the Jaegers of SIGIL, they were no different from normal humans.
Near the summit of the towering concrete building was an office belonging to one of the gang leaders inhabiting the abandoned structure. He was a buff man with tattoos imprinted across his body. A couple of prostitutes surrounded him, smiling as they seduced him with their beauty.
Life was pleasant for the gang boss. After all, the ones that could defeat them could be counted by hand. Sadly for the three gangs, the foundation of their looming tower rumbled as the whole abandoned building shook.
Alarms bellowed as the gang leader stood up from his chair and roared at one of his nearby men. "What the hell is going on!?" All of them scattered, prepared to meet whatever attacked them. The same reaction occurred to his neighboring leaders, who scrambled their men for battle.
At the bottom of the branch building was a lone crimson-haired girl. Beside her were two of Damien's summoned monsters, Hound and Fafnir. Utilizing more would be overkill; just the two were enough to crush the threat of the three gangs.