______________
Narrator POV
Hana Association Medical Wing
Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
???: "Still to think you of all people would get injured…"
Victor: "It's only natural in our line of work Celina, the others would have also gotten injured but knowing them they would have gone all out and not let the kid find his own rhythm!"
Celina: "Victor, having given him medical are you going to pay for the damaged facilities?"
Victor: "Why I-"
Constaine: "Ah how wonderful that we just happened to appear nearby"
As both figures were bickering, Constaine appeared yet again as he stared at Victor with a bright smile as if he wasn't about to secure thousands of ahn out of Victor's pockets as one of the South Hana Association Branch Rank 1 fixers.
Victor: "Hah!? I paid my taxes already!"
Constaine: "Hmm, well if Director Mirinae happens to hear a sudden increase in her total tax report for this years budget then…"
Victor: "Oh for the love of-… fine take some more money out of my pocket and out with you two money grubbing demons!"
Schefreide: "Shall I cut him down with a single strike Mr. Constaine?"
Constaine: "No Schefreide, Victor's an old collegue of mine and we often joke so don't take his words to heart"
Schefreide: "Understood…"
Victor: "Tch, look at you acting all high n mighty-"
Constaine: "Well Victor, since you agreed to pay the damages from your own salary, I take it you have taken an interest in this fixer and his small companion…?"
Victor: "Yeah…but his body is limiting his growth…wether it's due to his age or his lack of tough opponets to challenge…"
Constaine: "Is that so? I think he will find himself in quite some danger the more he fights the smaller Syndicates that belong to some of the fingers…"
Victor: "Then guess he just needs to get into a real fight…isn't he participating in an joint raid between two associations?"
Schefreide: "You don't even know your own major contracts…? Tch, to think you are Mr. Constaines friend…"
Victor: "What's that supposed to mean!?"
Schefredide: "It means you aren't a respectable fixer who has no good work ethics"
After hearing all this loud voices I slowly started waking up and sat up and looked at the surprised looks of everyone around me and simply asked one thing.
Kaiser: "So…do I need to pay for the damages…?"
Constaine: "While it falls out of our jurisdiction and into the Hana Association's management…"
Constaine: "It appears that your exam giver has decided to pay for your damages rather than let the Hana have an extra expense in their taxes…sad really"
Victor: "Yeah yeah, hey brat you're name is Kaiser right?"
Kaiser: "…Yes…?"
Victor: "You have proven your own strength to be higher than the one you had originally applied for your fixer rank, so I give your Scorched Office an invitation to be an fixer office associate of the Hana Association"
Victor: "An Associate? Wait! Before we continue can I speak with my financial advisor Cresht first?"
Victor: "Yes, an assoc- what? Ah fine, that little bastard was strong too and if looks could kill he gave me a pretty murderous look!"
Constaine: "Cresht? Interesting…"
Not long after Victor accepted Kaisers request, an rather pissed off looking Cresht walked in hand on his rapiers ceremonial handle as he swiftly jumped onto the medical bed where Kaiser was then jumped again onto his shoulder.
Squeak!
Kaiser: "I'm fine Cresht, but do go over Mr. Victors proposal of being an Associate office for the Hana Association"
Victor: "As within my authority as part of the Hana Association we can form associate offices"
Victor: "Some benefits are that your fixer office will receive monthly payments and high-paying contracts that would not normally be available to your current official fixer rank"
Kaiser: "While I understand that part, how autonomous will my fixer office be if you can legally change or get rid of my decisions within my own office?"
Victor: "Well you bring up a good point, I am usually lazy so I don't give a crap that much of making changes to your office or even interfering"
Schefreide: "Hmph, I wonder how you met Mr. Constaine with that attitude…"
Constaine: "Sigh…never change Victor…"
Kaiser: "Hmm? Then theoretically speaking if I were to have patents would I need to give the Hana or just yourself a piece of my earnings?"
Victors: "Hah, no matter what patents they are unless they are a Singularity it won't matter to me since I have my own business as an Hana Association employee"
Schefreide: "Sure as hell don't act like it…"
Victor: "Wh- Just where did you find this rude spoken woman Constaine!?"
Schefreide moved her hand to her sword on her waist but a sharp look from Constaine seemed to stop her on her tracks as she reluctantly pulled back her hand.
Constaine: "Don't make me increase your tax Victor, you aren't allowed to speak ill of my subordinates in front of me…"
With a sudden tension between Victor who now had a grin as faint red energy started to cover his body and greenish blue energy covered Constaines form as the rooms temperature started increasing and rapidly decreasing.
???: "Sigh…why are you two at it again…?"
Constaine: "Sorry for the commotion our little debate caused you Director Mirinae"
Mirinae: "It's fine, and you must be the one who caused one of the examination rooms destruction"
The South Hana Assoc Director Mirinae spoke as she stared at the awkwardly smilling Kaiser who nodded and before she could continue she was interrupted by Victor.
Victor: "Ahem! Director I have decided to pay for the damages and invite the Scorched Office as an associate office of our Hana Association"
Director Mirirae had simply stared at Victor in surprise and nodded not questioning his actions as she walked toward Kaiser and Ochita that laid beside him.
Mirinae: "From the reports I have read, along with your previous records you are an anonaly yet have not violated no laws or taboos of the city"
Mirinae: "If you do accept Victors proposal, I hope you understand that the Hana prides itself as the strongest and you will be looked upon so by other fixers and Associations"
Kaiser had simply nodded as he looked onto his right shoulder for Cresht's advice who swiftly squeaked as he spoke and Kaiser sighed.
Kaiser: "While I do enjoy having a monthly salary and steady high-level contracts I have some members in my office whom I wish to let them grow strong and reach their true potential without outside interference"
Kaiser: "What type of growth will they have compared to others who receive everything on a silver platter as they fight through hell and back that will shape up their Ego"
Squeak!
As Kaiser spoke Victor had sighed until he heard the word Potential and Ego but it wasn't only him as Mirinae and Constaine looked at Kaiser in a faint surprise.
Kaiser: "I am sorry for not accepting your offer Mr. Victor… but if you need help from our own Scorched Office we won't hesitate to help or even pay back the costs for the damages"
Constaine: "Is that s-"
Victor: "Yeah don't worry about repaying me back but I wonder if you would let me experience those flames of yours once you have grown a hell lot stronger than the current you…"
Victor: "As you said it yourself kid, only through hardships can you realize your own potential but don't bend or break your own Ego during your journey to becoming a lot stronger"
Kaiser: "Hah, yeah I hope so too because I have a direction to follow now"
Victor handed Kaiser a bottle of water and as he was deep in thought he heard Victors last few words and started coughing.
Victor: "Well then…as of today, you two are officially an rank 6 fixer and I hope that you don't make me regret paying off 2,000,000 ahn…"
Squeak!
Cough!
Cough!
Kaiser: "H-HOW MUCH!?!?"
Victor: "Finally someone else understands the pain and suffering of paying taxes and losing money!"
Constaine: "…I am still here you know…"
Victor: "Whatever, you have rested long enough kid, time for you to get going and get your new license from Liscea downstairs"
Kaiser: "You mean the clerk at the front desk..?"
Victor: "Yeah, lovely young lady although she is strict lik-"
Smack!
Victor: "Ouch! Director wh-"
Mirinae: "Thats enough Victor…Mr. Kaiser I hope you manage to pay back the Tres Association loan…"
Kaiser: "I-…"
Squeak…
Kaiser: "We will be on our way, and thank you for helping me despite my injuries…"
Kaiser gathered his things and dressed himself properly and grabbed Ochita and its Sheath before leaving the medical wing and with the help of an Hana fixer down to the ground floor.
________________________
Back to the medical Wing
Mirinae: "Constaine, if you and your subordinate could give me and Victor some time to converse privately…"
Constaine: "Of course Director Mirirae, don't die swiftly Victor"
After saying his goodbye and closing the medical wings doors did Mirinae speak with Victor.
Mirinae: "So have you found out wether the weapon he wields is an old Relic or something else entirely…?"
Victor: "I would say it is an Relic that matches him perfectly and crafted with the intention to release compressed steam that powers his flames"
Mirinae: "Then tell me truthfully what threat level you have designated for him if he were to grow without the Five fingers interfering"
Victor: "If I am being honest, unlike the many people we both have met and fought… he appears to have a path to follow and with it I believe he will become a Color Fixer in the far future but…"
Mirinae: "But his mindset is what may change him to follow his path or break off from it…"
Victor: "He is still young, and I believe he has yet to fully experience the real cruelty of the city…but should he do I wonder if he will break or achieve his own awakening…"
Mirinae: "Sigh, that matters not but I will take your words seriously and keep a check on him to see as a potential figure like the Vermillion Cross…"
Victor: "That guy? Sheesh his fists strike heavy thats for sure…"
Soon enough their conversation came to a close and we turn back to Victor and Cresht whom are waiting for the mechanical trio.
____________
Kaiser POV
Thinking back on the words that the Hana Association fixers and Director spoke I sighed but smiled knowing that it is better to remain autonomous and keep to myself my secrets and build up slowly.
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Hmm? Yeah it was a surprise I got promoted past the intended rank we came here to do"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Oh for sure, you're reports and combat logs are written by the greatest in all the land!"
Squeak!
Kaiser: "Yeah yeah, but lets wait for the other three and grab some more contracts and get that loan payed…"
Squeak…
I chuckled as we waited for another half an hour until the trio finally arrived and were covered in blood and some surprising dents in the treated iron plating.
But the most surprising part was that there was a young teenager who was walking behind Consta with what appeared to be leg prosthetics but they were torn and broken on her figure.
Arnold: "We ran into some strong people who use their fists and encountered another fixer office who mistook us as our old Syndicate"
I shrugged my shoulders and asked them if they all have gotten their reports and contracts accomplished as I stared at the young kid with a scrutinizing look.
Mo: "Arnold wrote all of our reports and the fight against the Fixer Office…"
Kaiser: "Well hope you taught him well Cresht, go submit your contracts and with the small syndicate elimination you can swiftly get promoted to a rank 8 or 7 fixer"
Mo: "Understood…"
Arnold: "Then you have also been promoted to an rank 7 fixer Kaiser…?"
Kaiser: "Might have gone a bit overboard and managed to instead become an rank 6 fixer"
Mo: "Congratulations Boss!"
Consta: "Strong like always Boss!"
Kaiser: "Well how about the girl behind you three?"
Arnold: "Right, we found Jun about to be decapitated during our syndicate elimination contract and decided to save her and if possible fixed by your skills…"
Kaiser: "Well I can only really use my alloy to fix her prosthetic if she is part of the Scorched Office and she would be your responsibility to take care off while we are off on contracts"
Consta: "With me by her side, no one will touch her so don't you worry about that boss!"
Kaiser: "Well? Will you be joining my Scorched Office? I don't abuse or extort my subordinates so don't worry about that but I hope you don't mind trusting us with any problems"
???: "I-…As long as you aren't a bad person I don't mind joining you…based on Mo's words about you I hope you don't throw me away like the others did…"
I furrowed my brows at her comment and sighed before I nodded and told her congratulations for joining my Scorched Office and her first gift would be repairs and upgrades to her broken prosthetics.
Jun: "That…"
Kaiser: "I will only fix your leg prosthetics not touching anywhere else that would make you uncomfortable"
Jun: "T-thank you…"
I simply nodded and asked her to follow us back to my apartment with the trio to keep her company while I would work on her prosthetics.
Jun: "O-okay…"
1.5 Hours Later
Squeak!
Arriving home I sighed and let everyone in as Cresht squeaked at me to give him a wheel of cheese for the trouble I caused as I chuckled and pulled out a wheel of cheese from my hardened leather bag.
Squeak!
I opend the door leading into my workshop and asked Jun to lay down onto the makeshift operating table the other three were operated on from last time.
Jun: "Okay…"
Grabbing the toolkit, I got to work with Cresht stepping down to make a specialized casing of Juns legs to create new prosthetics than just fixing her current prosthetics.
Kaiser: "Is it fine for Cresht to take off tour prosthetic leg to create a casing for it Jun?"
Jun: "I-…yes it's fine if it means I can be useful…"
I grimaced at her words and sighed and told Cresht to carefully take off her left prosthetic leg and start making a casing made from treated Iron.
Grabbing a handful of redstone, iron ingots, and copper ingots did I get into crafting springs and servo motors with an addition of an elastic material for movement of her joints.
Cresht got onto the smelter and started smelting down Treated Iron into the prosthetic casing of her left leg for the next two hours as he worked on her right prosthetic leg at the same time.
2 Hours Later
Having crafted what was the necessary parts for both prosthetic legs, I waited for Cresht to finish his part as I got straight to work having to use an chisel and hammer to carve the pieces into one another.
With the help of Cresht he got to wire the golden spool and connect them to the servo motors and each part of the springs and extra gears to lift and move her legs as her mechanical feet were more complicated to attach to her legs due to two seperate parts working opposite of one another.
2 Hours Later
After what felt like a good day's work, we had finally reattached her new heavier yet more flexible prosthetic legs to her upper torso that had a bit of mechanical components to connect both upper and lower body and had her test it to see if she could move her legs.
Jun: "I can feel them…but they feel abit heavier…"
Kaiser: "Well it is made from a strong alloy so it will take a bit to get used to"
Jun: "Thank you…for giving me an extra chance than throwing me away…"
Kaiser: "While in my office, I will never throw away any of your lives because it is my responsibility and duty to keep you all alive in this City that is full of crime and violence"
Jun: "I- I will make sure to not make you disappointed…"
Kaiser: "Don't worry about it, you will only ever make me disappointed if you give up before even giving it a try and decide that you have reached the limit of your potential"
Smiling, I spoke gently to this young kid who from the looks of it has been through it but to even say not to be discarded…
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
At the same time there was a knock on the front door and all three of us exited from my workshop and saw the trio guns aimed and finger on the trigger.
Feeling proud, I looked through the peephole and saw a man in a black tuxedo and pants and an recognizable red coat.
Kaiser: "Lower your weapons, its one of the Liu Association fixers"
I opened the door and came face to face with a man who had an cold face as he spoke about an meeting with all gathered fixers.
???: "Good afternoon, the scheduled meeting for tomorrows raid starts right now at the Seven South Association Branch"
Hearing his words, we all got our things ready and followed him as he led us towards our meeting location.
2 Hours later
???: "Ah, it appears that the last fixer office has arrived for our meeting"
When we entered we were given strange looks which were mostly pointed at Jun who was a young kid and many had dissatisfied expressions on their faces.
I didn't say anything but I couldn't help but smile to prove that our new member can fight given her air.
She has three helpful members to help her so I doubt that she will be getting hurt if Consta's words rang true. Either way we followed behind the Seven fixer as he led us to a large meeting room in which room was filled with people.
The meeting got started on a large round table once I sat down on an empty chair with the name of The Scorched Office and a yellow folder titled Art Exhibition.
I placed my Ochita beside me as Cresht sat upon my shoulder drawing many curious gazes yet Cresht remained focused. Behind me was Arnold and Mo weapons over their shoulder.
A woman with short black hair with a vibrant gold bang at the front, a tired look on her face, and the official Seven Association Director's green uniform walked to the front alongside a red haired man with glasses who wore a red coat with fur trimmings.
I focused knowing these two are the South Section Directors for their own respective Associations and I was curious to see just how Creshts professional written reports compare to the Seven Association.
My own flames against the Liu Associations own fire techniques but I will have a chance to witness their flames for myself.
???: "Nice to make your acquaintance all of you, I am the South Seven Assoc. Branch Section 2 Director Ophelia"
???: "My name is Lowell, South Liu Assoc. Section 2 Director…"
Ophelia: "If you would all look through the gathered documents of information about the Ring's Art Exhibit and guests…"
I opened the folder and watched alongside Cresht different pictures with written logs about the guests, the Ring's Art Exhibition building plans, and Docents information.
Ophelia: "We would appear to have an additional Docent joining due to an special guest they are hosting tomorrow night…"
As the two had introduced themselves I took a look at the other associate fixer offices and minor Fixer offices who will be joining us.
Soon enough Director Ophelia started talking about which entrances we would be each breaching from and which fixer offices would be in charge of them.
One of the seated Fixer Office leaders was an old man with a long opaque trench coat, black blazer paired with a white dress shirt and white tie, blue slacks and formal shoes.
His Fixer Office insignia was that of the dawn of the sun which was quite fitting for his Dawn Office name.
He had black gloves and a large zweihander leaning against him on his right shoulder and behind him was a woman with teal hair in gray long trenchcoat with a gray blazer and skirt over a white shirt.
The most noticeable features that she had were the large cello case and her unique arm prosthetics that made my eyes shine with interest but I looked away as she sensed my stare.
Beside them were an old man wearing a long black coat, vest with straps, white jabot, and tricorne hat covering his left eyepatch, on his right was a long black lance taller than his entire body.
Behind him were what looked to be blonde haired twins with similar black long coat trimmed with white gray along the edges and cuffs, a white collared shirt paired with a black vest, black trousers and dark boots.
The differences laid in what were their hair style with one having silver gray short hair at neck length. The other had her silver gray hair at shoulder length as both stood emotionless.
Looking around more I saw two women who stood off to the side with one with black and white stripes of hair and the other full blonde hair.
The wavy blonde haired woman wore a dark blue jacket with orange accents and high standing collar that covered her mouth.
Her most noticeable details were her piercing crimson red eyes, few patches of distinct fixer office's and tall stature was something you couldn't ignore.
The black and white stripped hair woman wore an green Seven association jacket draped over her shoulders, a white-blouse with ruffled long sleeves and red tie at her neck, and a long black slacks with vertical white stripes.
The most noticeable thing about her was her calm yet weary demeanor that she wore as she smoked a long pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke.
Lowell: "The Dawn Office and The Wedge Office will be aiding the Liu Association fixers as they breach the main entrance"
Ophelia: "The Seven Association will be breaching and blocking the back entrances from outside…"
Ophelia: "The rest of the fixer offices will be aiding the Seven Association and perform arrests or strike the Ring's students…"
I nodded and did feel curious about the possibility of aquiring the equipment of the Ring and trying it out but at the same time who knows if they need me to bleed myself like the Crimson Scythe…
After a couple more minutes of setting the groups of fixer offices to their designated entrances to breach and block those from leaving.
1 Hour Later
Ophelia: "Thank you all for your time in joining us and we will convene here again around 7:30PM precisely before we set off…"
I simply nodded and everyone soon started leaving except for the Dawn Office and Wedge Office as they were amicable to one another and I overheard their names being Salvatore of the Dawn Office and Oscar of the Wedge Office.
Step
Squeak!
Step
???: "Excuse me, do you mind if I have a moment of your time?"
Taking their names in mind, I grabbed Ochita and left with my group as Cresht squeaked and I turned around to look at the familiar woman who was smoking from her pipe.
Kaiser: "Sure, Arnold take the others back and finish all of your remaining contracts… we will meet up at our place"
Arnold: "Understood…"
Once they left did I follow the woman to a private room as Cresht was vigilant towards the blonde haired woman with red eyes following from behind hands on her jacket.
5 minutes later
Click!
Once we entered the room the woman exhaled her pipe and looked at me before she pointed towards Ochita.
???: "That thing…it's not a relic is it…?"
Kaiser: "You mean Ochita? Well it was a gift from an old friend"
Squeak!
???: "I see, then if you wouldn't mind me asking if you were the one responsible for the accident in the Hana Association?"
Kaiser: "Well I might have been responsible but everything is fine"
???: "Hmm, then do you understand that the Relic you have been gifted affect your own sanity…?"
Kaiser: "Well what is it to you miss…?"
???: "Moses, and my companion over there is Ezra…"
Moses: "If an Relic is to be used you will be hunted by many to aquire a piece of an relic that is said to be extremely rare and secondly is to sate my own curiosity…"
Kaiser: "Well miss Moses, I guess you will find out for yourself if I manage to find myself fighting the Rings Students with Ochita…"
Moses: "Very well then, I hope the Relic you have manages to push you to your limits or will you fall from overheating your own body"
Click
I simply smiled and watched them leave first before Cresht and myself got out of the room as I decided to try and make a designated attire for my Scorched Office.
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To be Continued