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"I'm listening, Rogue…"
"Someone wants to talk to you… I guarantee the security of the meeting."
She spoke calmly, as always, and this time there were no signs that it might be some kind of trap. That's good, but...
I'd been on pins and needles for two days. And rushing off somewhere for a conversation, especially with a person unknown to me, was something I really didn't want to do.
"And who wants to talk to me?"
"You know her... it's Hanako Arasaka."
I frowned.
"Rogue, don't joke like that... or do you really think you can guarantee security when we're talking about the security division of a corp like Arasaka? And meeting the sister of the man I just zeroed?"
"David…"
While we were talking, I reached the girls.
"Connect to the Afterlife's network. Rogue wants to sign me up for a meeting with Hanako, and I want to be sure there's no new trap."
"Will do…"
Lucy and Judy nodded, confirming Kiwi's words, and immediately dove headfirst into their work. Meanwhile, Rogue continued trying to convince me that everything would be fine and the meeting posed no threat to me.
"…Ugh, stop playing hard to get! David, I'm asking you, for the sake of our collaboration and... friendship…"
That last word didn't come easily to her. However, I didn't think a similar admission would come easily to me either, so I didn't focus on the hesitation.
"…Just meet this girl. I guarantee your security. I'll personally hire a couple of Major League solos, like Mystic, who's collaborating with Regina right now, plus a couple of other chooms…"
I sighed. Answering without absolute certainty that it wasn't a trap...
"All clear. She's alone in her booth."
I nodded thankfully at Lucy, who reported on the status of things in the Afterlife.
"Fine…"
"Ugh, finally! The meeting's tomorrow, at noon. Don't be late now…"
"Yeah, yeah…"
I nodded at Rogue's words.
"…I won't be late."
"What's with the tone?"
Rogue's image frowned slightly.
"I just don't have many people I'd count as friends, and you're shoving your head right into Arasaka's mouth... Be careful over there…"
"Mmm…"
Rogue's voice sounded a little subdued; after all, I had just effectively called her a friend, and even though she called me a friend, I was more than sure she hadn't expected such an admission from me.
"…I will."
The connection ended, and I sat down next to my netrunners.
"Anything else you need?"
"Yeah…"
I answered, nodding my head.
"…Check if Rogue met with Hanako or talked to her in some other way. The meeting's tomorrow at noon; I need to know what to prepare for, if she did show up, that is…"
"Got you... We'll check everything now."
I nodded gratefully at the girls, then stood up and went to check our gear. This time, I planned to take not only Becca under invisibility but also one of the other girls. Which meant we'd need more equipment...
However, we constantly monitor and maintain our gear, so checking it was just me doing my Constant Vigilance!
"Pff…"
"Something wrong?"
I looked around, though I recognized Triss by her voice as she separated from the group of girls and walked after me.
"Nah, nothing…"
I shrugged.
"Just made a joke to myself, laughed to myself…"
"Maybe I could laugh too?"
I shook my head.
"Doubt it... it's what you call an inside joke, and to find it funny, I'd have to start by explaining all the details. It's…"
I shot Triss a thoughtful look.
"…When you were learning magic, I bet there were funny moments and jokes that would only be understood by students of the same school, or maybe even just your close friends?"
"I see…"
She nodded a couple of times, and judging by her voice, she truly understood and didn't even think to take offense.
"Decided to join me?"
"Yes…"
As soon as we reached the workshop, the door closed behind us, and Triss grabbed my shoulders, sharply turning me towards her.
"We need to have a serious talk…"
"Let's do it."
I gestured for her to take a comfortable computer chair, and I sat down in an identical one, then looked intently at Triss. The next couple of minutes passed in silence, during which I realized that I would have to initiate the conversation on the unknown topic.
"So? What did you want to talk about? About the fact that we're drawn to each other?"
A slight smile appeared on the fiery-haired beauty's lips, and she nodded her head.
"Partly about that. But not just that... You know, I'm glad you understand what I want to talk about, even if you haven't fully defined the topic. It's much more pleasant to be around a smart man than a stupid one."
"Thanks for the compliment. I can say that I also find it pleasant to be next to a smart and beautiful woman, in your person."
"Yes... You know, I'd like to know what plans you're making for the future? I tried asking your girls about it, but they weren't very aware, other than saying that Ciri somehow features in your plans, specifically her origin and the Nilfgaardian Empire…"
I shrugged.
"In one of the plans, yes... In the other, we can easily do without her."
"Won't you share them with me?"
"Of course…"
I shrugged once more.
"…First, we destroy the Wild Hunt, simultaneously scouting the area around the Witcher keep. Then we recruit you or Yen, after which we 'capture' the keep, restore it—which will be much easier with portals, and even more reliable with materials from this world…"
I paused to take a sip of cold tea from the bottle next to my workspace. Naturally, I couldn't not offer it to Triss, and she nodded gratefully, taking a few sips of the cool drink as well. Hah, if we were in a Japanese anime, a girl would be fainting from such an offer, as it's an indirect kiss!
"And then what?"
Triss hurried me along, and I, emerging from my thoughts, took a couple of seconds to recall what I was even talking about.
"Then? Then replacing the chrome with biological implants—or synthetic ones, as in my case—and we have a Mercenary Order ready to operate in several worlds at once. Completely independent of any government, because no one from your world would be able to reach us... unless we got too cocky, of course…"
"Well... yeah, that's true... If you weren't too cocky, it would be hard to form a coalition against you, and your world's technology could provide you with protection from everything but magic... and even magic... one mage is not the same as another, and not everyone could stand against you. And gathering a coalition of mages…"
Triss shook her head.
"…That sounds even more fantastical than many things people have called unbelievable in my presence."
I smirked and nodded a couple of times.
"Well, the second option is the first one, with the amendment that I try to seat Ciri on the throne, and my Order becomes the Order of Nilfgaard. We help Ciri unite all the lands of your world under her rule, and then…"
"She won't agree."
"I know…"
I sighed and looked out the window.
"…But a Simple Order of Nilfgaard enjoying the Empress's full support still sounds very good…"
"Yes…"
Triss nodded thoughtfully, clearly lost in her own thoughts.
"And you know what else sounds good?"
"Mmm?"
"Triss Merigold, the first and only head of the Magic Division of the Order!"
Triss's eyes glazed over with the potential, and I smirked.
Thank the high-tech gods that I remember my past life and, based on the game The Witcher 3, I can tell what to press to make Triss want to stay with us...
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