"One moment, Master…" Chloe responded as she vocalised her response directly in the call before smiling back at me. "Coil requests an Abigail Williams from Fate Impact, Master."
Yes, that was indeed the character that Coil had spent the most time playing as. Practically the only one he played. As for an actual Abigail Williams gynoid?
"Tell him that he will have to first convince the governor and the local state representatives to legalise loli love-dolls first, and then- and only then- will I actually consider discussing that topic with him."
"He agreed to your terms and promptly disconnected, master." Chloe relayed Coil's reply.
Hexing the security cameras and microphones in his base, I watched Coil order the confused Undersiders and his mercenaries to gear up while the snaked-bastard looked into the identities and addresses of the state representatives. The madman was really going to terrorise the local politicians just so he can have his waifu.
"If nothing else…" I began- bemused at how much Coil was invested in this, "This man's dedication to a non-meat waifu is to be applauded. I'll even ignore the fact that the waifu in question is a 12-year-old girl. After all, age is just a number, and jail is just a room."
"Master, the largest supervillain organisation in America, 'The Elite', are once again offering a position in their organisation."
"Is it an executive position this time at least?" I asked. These idiots do not give up- they have been constantly throwing lowball offers at me for about a week now. It seemed like they were under the impression that I was the weaker one in the negotiations- just another Tinker for them to bully and pressure into joining their supervillain group.
"No, master, they are not. However, they are doubling their previous offer of-"
Emotion-Dampening Protocols (EDP) active at 12% maxload
"No, relay to them that their offer is downright insulting!" I coldly ground out as annoyance rose in my circuits.
"Sir, they're forwarding their ultimatum and threatening violence if don't accept their-"
"No, the Mechanicus as a company is already on its way to be a billion dollar industry." I emphasised- the cold rage still growing, "I do not need the pittance that The Elite is offering, so remind them that if they wish to resort to violence. The Mechanicus will respond in kind. They can secure their offer in their fist, and insert it up their solid-waste ejection ports at high velocity! Without reciting the Litany of Loading!"
"Yes, Master." Chloe obeyed with a nod, "Recommending sadomasochistic anal techniques to the Elite…"
"Master, the black-market Tinker group, Toybox, is on the line. They have noticed how your RNG in C4D and Fate Impact is Thinker-resistant and are offering a considerable sum to make use of such a service."
"Denied." I immediately responded, "And tell them that I will- under no circumstance- share the inner workings of my game servers to anyone."
"Yes, master." Chloe nodded as she conversed with Toybox for a moment before looking back to me with a smile. "Toybox is sorry to hear that, master. But they would like to politely remind you that their doors are always open to you."
"Likewise, please inform them that if they ever require mundane tech to be mass-produced, I'll give them priority slots." I replied magnanimously. It was good to be on speaking terms with other rogues. However, there was absolutely no scenario where I could see myself allowing someone else to utilise my warp-based technology. Well, apart from Dragon of course. But if she insists on using the orgasm toaster then I will have to also insist that she use it only when I can observe and supervise the process… for her own safety.
"Master? The Chief Director of the PRT, Rebecca Costa-Brown is on the line. She insists on speaking to you directly."
"Somehow I knew I had a feeling that she would call." I murmured, "Very well, bridge the call through your, Chloe-2. I'll talk to her myself."
"Understood, master."
"Director Costa-Brown." My modulated voice greeted through the comms. "I did not expect a direct call from you today…"
"Magos." Alexandria-in-Disguise's confident voice greeted back before promptly taking the reins of conversation, "The Triumvirate have been almost glowing in their after action report of the Behemoth Fight. But I'd like to personally invite you to the PRT debrief after the holidays. Your attendance will be a welcome addition."
Activating {Logis Acceleritas Mk. II}...
Heed: Logis Acceleritas at 90% maxload!
The world slowed down as my machine-mind was supercharged by my sanctified cogitator-throne, and the data-stack of 0.71 petabytes of processed information gathered by my info-phages from Terra's still underdeveloped Noosphere.
Collected footage of all of 'Director Costa-Brown' and Alexandria's compiled to form a predictable personality profile. Known PRT/Cauldron goals and modus operandi was expounded upon and cross-referenced with current events… All of that information was amassed so that my {Logis Acceleritas Mk. II} filled in the blanks more accurately and extensively than before- supercharged as it was by my sanctified choir of cogitators, and the processed information gathered by my info-phages from Terra's still underdeveloped Noosphere.
Direct request from Chief Director rather than Local PRT Director, obviously has ulterior motives apart from simple debriefing.
My personal appearance at the venue makes Mechanicus appear more PRT-aligned to other Rogues and Villains. This begins a self-perpetuating cycle that draws the Mechanicus closer in cooperation with the PRT. Especially if debrief is publicised.
Conclusion: My attendance of the PRT debriefing will give more benefits to PRT than it does for the Mechanicus.
Alexandria fully prepared to bribe me into coming.
Recommended course of action: Lightly feign suspicion.
"I already allowed the PRT to inspect my manufactorum, and now you want me to work for you?" I questioned in a doubtful tone, "Why should I?"
Postulating from constructed personality profile of Alexandria… She will compliment me, 'dispense with the pleasantries and be honest with me', compliment me some more, before appealing to me independent nature as a Rogue.
"Alright, I like people who know when to get down to business, so let's dispense with the pleasantries." Director Costa-Brown spoke- her voice gaining a sharp focus, "I'll be honest with you, Magos. You're the one who's gotten the closest to single-handedly killing an Endbringer since Eidolon did with the Simurgh in Madison, Wisconsin. But unlike then, the Endbringer's target city wasn't destroyed in the process- Cincinnati didn't even see a tick of radiation. All the PRT wants is for you to keep doing what you're doing. We'll even help you along. You don't have to work for us either, just with us. In addition, this debrief will let us know where the other stands, and as well as quiet my colleagues with… doubts about you. After that, we can give you tax breaks, partial access to our infrastructure and other preferential treatment without any fuss. Here, I'll send you the file. It's a leftover from the now defunct MIRIS Initiative that we had tried to do for capes in the past. But the PRT still implements it from time to time to select Rogues."
Word choice, micropause, and Alexandria lack note-worthy 'colleagues' apart from Cauldron hint that she is conducting shadow-examination for my possible recruiting into Cauldron.
Goals align: Save Humanity from Scion.
Cauldron desires control over Mechanicus' fledgling industrial capacity to selectively stabilise or tear down civilisations.
Alexandria is unsure if I can 'handle the truth and the burdens.'
I almost chortled in amusement. I was (partially) from Warhammer 40k, where it was a common sentiment that it was better 100 innocent people should perish than that one guilty person to escape justice. Or was it 1000 innocent people for one guilty person? Depending on which inquisitor you ask, I suppose.
Then, almost out of nowhere, my Logis Acceleritas gave me a very interesting prediction.
If joined, Cauldron can be subverted by the Mechanicus.
How Interesting…
"File received, master." Chloe announced as she shunted the file to the Hexamathic fireward shrines to be purified and blessed of any and all hexing attempts before being made available for me to view. And through the wonders of my direct mind-cogitator link, I was able to read through, and absorb the data in the document that Alexandria had sent byte by byte within less than a millisecond. The terms were very generous, and had the potential to almost double my profits. As far as offers go, this was actually very tempting. Still… I still couldn't stop thinking about that last bit of information that my Logis Acceleritas gave me.
If joined, Cauldron can be subverted by the Mechanicus.
An interesting choice to be sure.
Agree to attend… and go down the path to joining and subverting Cauldron…
Decline… and eventually pits the Mechanicus against Cauldron…