A message was sent to the Red Judge.
'I would like to continue our discussion. I will meet in front of your Workshop Proper at 12:00 am.'
It was signed by Oskar.
There was nothing else, only that single name. No proclamations that he controlled a thousand Blocks of territory in the Outskirts. Nothing saying he had thousands, if not tens of thousands of men under his control.
Gehrman smiled, his grin slightly exaggerated.
This was the final cornerstone of his New Workshop. This man named Oskar was not something he had specifically looked out for. But Gehrman knew from the beginning that he would need someone of cold logic among the influential figures of the Outskirts. Not only that, one who was willing to put pride aside and join Gehrman as an associate.
Under normal circumstances there was no way a mundane human could be on equal footing with an Ascended. And indeed this was just for show.
The fact that Oskar had decided to discuss in Gehrman's territory was a clear sign that he was aware that they ought not be treated as individuals on the same level.
Though Gehrman had only been here for two months, his New Workshop had become the most advanced area in all of the Outskirts. The only reason it wasn't teaming with new people was that people were more terrified of an Ascended than they were desperate.
The people of the Outskirts did not have pride, but they did have stubbornness. They would bend the knee without hesitation in order to survive, but they would never truly submit. If given the opportunity they would abandon any "boss" they served if someone more fitting came along.
And despite people's wariness, it was clear that The Red Judge was the best possible boss any of them could ask for. Though he came across as ruthless and sadistic, he was fair. Offering great boons for great work.
Whether it was recognition of this fact or his own personal greed that brought Oskar to this decision, it mattered little to Gehrman. All that mattered was that he was standing in front of him now.
Under the pale lighting of the olden style lamps that Gehrman had built in the style of Yharnam, a lanky man with a slight hunch stood.
Oskar was staring off into the distance. To his credit, he managed to look quite intimidating.
Though he simply wore a classic white buttoned down shirt and clean, dapper pants, he looked rather menacing.
Brown hair was slicked back in a wavy mess and his grey eyes seemed to burn under the Yharnam lights.
He had his sleeves rolled up, revealing twisted burn scars that warped his flesh on his left forearm and hand.
An impassive look covered his face, and what was even more impressive was that the heartbeat Gehrman could sense was as steady as his face suggested.
"Hello, I trust you have been well," Gehrman waltzed out of the darkness with an unnatural grace.
Oskar looked up, scanning him before grunting.
"No Memory this time?"
"What Memory?"
"I could hardly look you in the eyes last time, I reckon it was that red vest. I've never seen any Memory look like that, but it's impossible to not notice something that oppressive."
Gehrman tilted his head, allowing an amused look to spread across his features.
"Actually, you are the first one to point it out. Even Caster hasn't said anything despite me wearing it around. Although, as an Awakened, it does affect him less," Gehrman's eyes shifted slightly, becoming accusing. "But you caught on fast. A bit too fast for someone from the Outskirts."
A grim expression darkened Oskar's face.
"If you really want this little project of yours to succeed, you are going to need all the help you can get. Though I am just mundane, I guarantee that my help is worth more than that Awakened you got glaring from that rooftop," his scathing gaze shifted upward.
Indeed, across from the Workshop was the Agriculture Center where food was grown. On top of the monolith of a building, Caster was glaring down at the both of them.
"Lucky for you, I am willing to offer you my help. Not just sending a couple people, but offering the full support of the District. Over a hundred thousand people, all working for you." His higher pitched voice somehow took on an intimidating air despite his pitch.
"But you don't get to pry into my past…and I won't pry into yours."
Gehrman stared him down for a few moments, waiting for him to flinch or show any sort of fear in front of the Terror that could end him in an instant.
He did not cower.
Gehrman exhaled, letting the grim mask of the Red Judge slip a bit.
"That is for the best, I feel I have spent more hours explaining my circumstance than I have actually hunting since I've been here."
Oskar's features relaxed, but only slightly.
"There is just one thing to confirm then," Oskar muttered. "What is your end goal? I want to hear you say it."
Gehrman smiled, allowing the creepy face and tone of the Red Judge to fall into place.
"To Hunt. To eradicate all Nightmare Creatures from not only this place, but the Dream Realm as well. To achieve this humans must become more capable than they are now. They need to expand their thinking."
Oskar scoffed.
"That's a child's dream. Even if all mundane people suddenly turned into Saints, it wouldn't be possible to genocide all Nightmare Creatures."
"Perhaps," Gehrman tilted his head. "But I am inclined to try. I won't live in this world forever," Gehrman turned then, facing the wide wooden doors of the Workshop Proper. Leaning forward, he pushed them open allowing a low creak to echo through the night. Without turning around, he continued. "I am on a timer. Every second matters. So you are right when you say that your help is more valuable than Caster's. I have no doubt that boy will one day become something akin to a god, a force of calamity against Nightmare Creatures. But I won't be around to see that through. I'll need others like me to take the reins."
Oskar's brows furrowed at his words, then they shot up as he took a look inside the building.
The Workshop Proper was separated into 5 floors and a basement. Each floor was styled similar to the strongholds of the Holy Church. At first glance, it was similar to the Research Hall that Maria had managed. A large open space and long, tall stairs that connected multiple rooms. But those rooms were much different than the Research Hall. Most of them were sprawling and massive, like little buildings in and of themselves.
Gehrman started to walk, allowing Oskar to follow him. They were not quite standing shoulder to shoulder.
As they approached the stairs, Gehrman surprised the District Boss by heading downwards.
"Bullets and guns don't work well against Nightmare Creatures," Gehrman said. "Complicated machinery is fried by their otherworldly presence. Not to mention there is some Arcane protection that keeps them from being harmed by mundane humans and their weapons. Even those fancy mech-suits the Government has been pumping out only gives someone a chance against Dormant creatures, or maybe weaker Awakened ones. And those things cost a fortune to make. What we are doing here is much different."
…
As Oskar adapted to the darkness, sparsely lit by a few orange lamps, he smelled something so abhorrent that it nearly made him fall over.
A heavier metal door sat in front of them this time, but The Red Judge pushed it open with ease.
Then the stench became even worse.
Even so, the sight of what lay before him was worse.
Beneath this seemingly classy place was what could only be described as a corpse menagerie.
Dozens of Nightmare Creatures, large and terrifying ones, were spread out. What was most disturbing was the fact they were organized. Labels like "insectoid," "beast," "biped," "scaled," "aquatic," and "what the hell?".
In the last pile, what seemed to be a pile of crystals sat dully. But the creature had not been processed, the Nightmare Creature seemed to really just be a pile of rocks.
There was some kind of sadistic humor in that label. Like a child having trouble with a given classification and creating a pile of things that they didn't care for.
It was…exceedingly unnerving.
The slaughter of these creatures, the way they had clearly been picked apart and butchered was so casual that it filled Oskar with dread.
The Red Judge stared straight ahead, his eyes were full of something he couldn't quite place. It seemed to be excitement, contentness, and something else.
Ah, I do know that look.
Oskar knew what feeling was coursing through this Ascended. It was the satisfaction of having put down vermin.
He recalled a scene then, a man weeping at his feet. Saying something along the lines of "she was asking for it."
He recalled stomping his head in.
That inhuman creature was dead, but lingering under all of that was a profound hatred that had yet to quiet.
Seeing a reflection of himself in this mad Master did not fill him with joy, but unexpectedly, it didn't fill him with much revulsion either.
He simply noted it as something noteworthy.
"Where did you get these?" Oskar finally broke the silence.
"Gates. I cut a deal with the Government. The strongest creature that trespasses onto the waking world is mine to keep. Soul Shards and all.
Oskar blinked.
The strongest creature of a Gate…but there were dozens of monsters here. Had he killed that many Nightmare Creatures in the last couple months alone?
And those creatures who came from Gates, they were usually of a high Rank. If even one of these was a Corrupted creature, then the Transcendent Soul Shards would be more than valuable enough to pay off this whole project.
The Red Judge grunted, causing Oskar to stir out of his daze.
"C'mon there is more to see," he said.
They started climbing up the stairs, and Oskar peeked into a couple of rooms.
They were all massive and very distinct. It was odd to see traditional mats and training equipment in a room next to classrooms.
"Killing Nightmare Creatures as a mundane is not nearly as difficult as most people make it out to be. Or rather, it doesn't have to be. People are just too stuck on using modern machinery. They think it's either advanced technology or swords and spears. That there is no in-between."
Oskar once again found himself furrowing his brow.
"So…you're saying things like ancient firearms. The gunpowder that those rely on is hard to come by these days. And the normal stuff won't work with a gun and bullet made of Nightmare Creatures. It lacks the power needed to cause damage."
"Then we make gunpowder stronger. It doesn't have to all be made of enchanted material, a composite works."
They entered a well lit room then. This was an engineering room with focus clearly aimed at firearms. It was sparsely used. Since the Red Judge lacked any engineers, he must have been the only person who worked here.
Oskar watched as he grabbed an odd looking pistol off the wall. It was indeed archaic looking, but it had a menacing aura. He recognized it as made up of one of the insectoid Nightmare Creature's shells.
He then snagged a hollow horn that was right next to the pistol.
Then, he walked into a side room that Oskar hadn't noticed at first.
It was clearly a place to test the firearms. A shooting range of sorts.
But instead of paper targets. The tough hide of a Nightmare Creature acted as a target. Oskar knew what would happen if a bullet were shot at it. Nothing less than a rail gun would cause any damage.
Still, with that old weapon, The Red Judge poured in pitch black powder into the gun. "There is a special place in the Dream Realm. A volcano where a deity and his preferred human once lived. A palace now sits there, a remnant of a god's creation…It goes without saying that the volcano became special as well. Surrounded by such forces, the already ancient and powerful thing became something entirely different. It was altered so much that even its volcanic ash holds magical properties."
The Red Judge side-eyed Oskar, a smile playing on his lips.
"That ash can be used to create gunpowder. And it is special enough that when combined with the other mundane materials, it still holds onto that power."
Then, faster than his eyes could follow, the Ascended cocked the hammer and fired the shot. A loud ringing sounded nearly deafening Oskar.
He blinked.
Then, the District Boss slowly turned to the target.
Right in its center, a hole was punched clear through the hide of the impenetrable Nightmare Creature.
If that shot had landed while the creature was still alive…it would have fatally wounded it.
Oskar's eyes widened, his pupils shaking.
"No fucking way."
His voice was a whisper.
This guy…this creature, had just created a weapon that allowed a mundane human to kill a Nightmare Creature.