A/N:I can't believe I'm writing this. Can someone please tell me what app or website the writers of this app use to put wallpapers? Because honestly I'm almost going crazy with rage because I'm trying to put a wallpaper on my Bleach story, but all my attempts are failing! I'm really out of options here! Someone help me!!!
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Continuing where we left off.....
Ritsuka's Perspective
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Me,Seele, Stelle, and March 7 have arrived at the Great Mine where some members of Jalena's team are causing trouble for the underground miners.
Our mission is to solve this problem before things can escalate into something problematic.
Entering the mining area we are seeing several miners gathered in several groups.
- All the miners here huddled together...is anyone here having a feeling of déjà vu? - March 7 said looking at the amount of groups of miners.
💭I had that feeling when we first arrived on this planet.
- Well the situation here is very similar to when you first arrived here. It's just that instead of being a few thugs and broken robots, now we are dealing with much more formidable opponents. - Seele said this mentioning the similarities with this situation.
At that moment I notice Numby's presence near us and I see that he is looking at us.
💭Huh? What is Numby doing here? Did Jalena send him here?
- Hey, Numby. Why are you here and not with Topaz? Don't tell me you missed me? - I say this jokingly with the situation.
Seeing Numby for the first time took Seele by surprise and she looks at Numby, apparently scared.
- What?! Isn't that thing a Fragmentum monster? She's keeping one as a pet?! - Seele said looking at Numby in disbelief.
- Well let's just say that Topaz is a very special woman who managed to tame Numby. Technically the IPC didn't allow Topaz to keep him, but she managed to prove Numby's usefulness in her work efficiency so Numby has now become a crucial member of her work. - I say this by dropping a little information that I know about Jalena to my friends.
- Can Numby talk? - Stelle said, being very curious, and I just looked at her and gave her a small, playful smile.
- I don't know. Why don't you try Stelle? - I say this encouraging her to do something stupid.
Before March 7 can interfere, Stelle approaches Numby and crouches in front of him.
Numby:🎶🎶?
Stelle:🎶🎶🎶!
Numby:🎶🎶🎶🎶!!!
(A/N:I don't know what Numby sounds like, so I'm throwing anything at the wall in hopes it sticks.)
Fou: Fo..... (Special translation: She really has a screw loose in her head. This girl would get along great with the lunatics at the asylum-I mean the eccentric heroic spirits of Chaldea.)
I hold back my laughter watching Stelle trying to communicate with Numby and March 7 has a dry expression watching this interaction.
-Sounds like you two are getting along. What is Numby talking about? - March 7 asks this question in a sarcastic tone.
-Life is ultimately meaningless. - Stelle makes this answer and I can no longer hold back my laughter and March 7 lets out a sigh upon hearing the answer.
- Wow, that's sooo deep... Come on, stop messing around! - March 7 said.
- Don't give up, Stelle. With determination, one day you'll be able to understand Numby! - I say this adding fuel to the fire.
- Don't encourage her! - Seele said, elbowing my left arm. Obviously it didn't hurt, but I ended up letting out an "ouch" by reflex.
After this interaction of ours, Numby starts to distance himself from us, realizing this we decide to follow him.
Following Numby ended up leading us to a small group of IPC guards who are causing trouble with a shop owner.
We quickly teach them a lesson, but precisely the girls who dealt with it, I decided to just watch this brief conflict.
Right after we received the gratitude from the store owner, Numby distanced himself from us again and it was at that moment that I understood what Numby was doing.
💭He wants us to follow him. So that means Numby wanted us to deal with those guards from before. Numby only follows Jalena's orders, so it seems like Jalena knows what's going on here and is using Numby as a guide to help us solve this little problem.
With this going through my head, Numby takes us to the area where there is a stronger group of IPC guards who have obviously taken over this part of the mining company.
- Look. That big guy down there. Is he the one in charge? - March 7 said this looking at the big robot that is in the middle of the group.
- Ah. He's definitely the leader of this group. If I remember correctly, he's a kind of instructor robot for the new guards. - I'm saying this to inform the girls.
- Hmpf! That doesn't matter. The important thing is that we're going to show them who's really in charge! Let's go! - Seele said, being very eager to cause trouble.
As the girls head towards the reinforced group of guards I no longer feel Numby's presence near us.
💭He must have gone back to Jalena to report to her.... So my theory was correct.
We arrived at the guards' location and Seele immediately started the conversation.
- Hey, you! Are you the one in charge here? - Seele said looking at the leader with a serious expression.
- AA local? The IPC is currently conducting asset evaluation work here. Local residents are advised to follow those responsible for evacuating the- Before the leader could continue Seele interrupts.
- Don't lie to us! You took control of the mining company by force! You drove the locals out of their homes! I'm warning you. Get out of here or suffer the consequences! Don't you dare show your face here again! - Seele said firmly, but that didn't intimidate the leader.
- And who might you be? You have quite the attitude... This is our jurisdiction now. We are all powerful here. - Said the team leader showing his arrogance.
- Really? Then answer me this. Are you above Topaz? - I say this, slowly approaching the leader with my arms crossed.
- Hmm? Do you know Topaz? - Said the team leader looking at me.
- My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru. Topaz's friend and Aventurine's partner in crime. I assume you've heard of me? - I say this by mentioning Aventurine on purpose to cause a reaction.
💭I don't like using my involvement with the IPC in these circumstances, but it is a necessary sacrifice.
The moment I mentioned Aventurine's name a chain reaction happened among the team leader and his subordinates.
- What?! You know Aventurine too? Wait! I recognize you! You're that mysterious man who burned that mansion of the great noble family of Borsody to the ground! - Said the team leader in a fearful tone and I have an expression of apprehension when I'm reminded of that specific incident.
💭One of my not so best moments...
- You burned down a noble mansion?! Why did you do that?! - March 7 said, being very surprised by the revelation.
-I'll explain that later. Okay? - I say this looking briefly at March 7 and I speak again to the team leader.
- You and I both know the ways the IPC works in deals that don't go according to plan. But unlike you, I'm not afraid of the IPC, so what's it gonna be? Now we can do this the easy way or can we do it the hard way? The decision is yours. - I say this with a serious expression as my right eye turns gold and my shadow is slowly covering my body.
Before a possible massacre could happen, one of the leader's subordinates received an urgent message.
- Sir, we just received word from the director... - Said the subordinate, looking nervous.
- From Director Topaz? What did she say? - The leader asks nervously.
- Teams are not allowed to disturb the lives of local residents during the asset evaluation period. Furthermore, teams are strictly prohibited from initiating any kind of conflict against the individual named Ritsuka Fujimaru. Teams that violate these guidelines will not have their year-end bonuses reduced by 80%... - The subordinate informed the leader, alarming all the IPC members.
💭Oh? Looks like Jalena really doesn't want me to send her team to a painful night in the hospital. A wise decision of hers.
This immediately caused the leader to change his stance and he ordered an immediate evacuation of all the guards on his team to leave the underworld.
With this, the problem of the IPC disturbing the lives of the underworld people was resolved.
- Phew... So everything is okay now? - March 7 said watching the IPC members leave.
- I would say so. If there's one thing the new IPC workers hate more than anything, it's losing their salary and ranking. So you can be sure that they won't do anything else against the citizens of the underworld until Topaz gives the second order. - I say this to inform the girls.
- So who is this woman by the name of "Topaz"? She seems to have no problem ordering around these clowns, or taming a creature from Fragmentum, for that matter... And you seem to have quite an interesting story to share, Ritsuka. - Seele said, looking at me with a suspicious expression.
- Ritsuka and Topaz seem to have a history together. In addition to having an involvement with the IPC. - March 7 said looking at me with the same expression as Seele.
-It's ironic that Ritsuka has a history with them, yet he seems to be against them at the same time. - Stella said with a curious expression.
💭I can't complain that I walked into that explosive landmine on purpose. *sigh*. Why do I have to be a magnet for trouble?
- Okay. My relationship with the IPC is pretty simple to sum up. I know they're important to the galaxy and I know the good they've done for humanity, but I also know the huge mess they keep making and that they hide this "dirt" under the rug. I consider Topaz to be a close friend of mine and my relationship with Aventurine to be an annoying pest. - I say this casually.
-An annoying pest? So you don't like this Aventurine guy? - Stelle asks this question curiously.
- On the contrary. I like him. However, Aventurine has an annoying habit of taking me to situations where we are both in a boring mess or in trouble. In short, we are both good magnets for attracting trouble. - I say this mentioning my relationship with Kakavasha.
💭He's like an annoying brother who wants my attention and keeps doing mischief to get a reaction from me.
- And what about this story about you burning down a noble mansion?! Do you have any idea how crazy this story is?! - Said March 7.
- This happened due to several circumstances that give more context to why I did it. Unfortunately, we are not in a good time to hear stories from me. Even more so with the problem Bronya is facing now. - I say this to make the girls focus on the main problem.
- Oh yeah... We still have to resolve Belobog's debt... - March 7 said, remembering the main problem.
- What? Belobog has a debt? What kind of debt? - Seele said wanting to know what was going on.
- I think you better ask Bronya to give you an explanation about this. - Stelle said to Seele.
The moment I said that we received a message from Bronya on our cell phones.
Bronya's message is asking for our return to Fort Qlipoth to help her with something she's asking our advice on.
With Bronya needing our help we had to leave Seele who said she won't accompany us as she has to deal with the things that are happening in the underworld.
But Seele made sure to remind me that we both have unfinished business to resolve when this is all over. In other words, more work for me to deal with.
Anyway. On the way back to Fort Qlipoth I get a message from BB saying that she got all the information about Jalena's plans plus some more useful information.
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Qlipoth Fort
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Arriving at Bronya's office, she starts talking to us about the situation that is happening in Belobog with Jalena's agents.
Due to the directive she recently sent, the situation has become controlled and peaceful in a way, but this is not stopping the climate of tension with the people of Jarilo-VI.
This is giving more work to Bronya who is not having a moment to rest or have a break. In addition to these annoying problems Bronya showed us a letter that Jalena wrote to Bronya along with the contract for the huge debt that Belobog owes.
With Jalena's digital letter, Stelle, March 7 and I read the contents of the letter at Bronya's request.
In short, what Jalena wrote in the letter is a brief story of her past and how the IPC saved the planet that was losing hope of salvation, obviously in typical IPC style, all the inhabitants of the planet had to become workers of the corporation.
Jalena also said in the letter that if Bronya accepts her offer the IPC will take control of the planet and will send a team to help restore the planet.
From the beautiful words that Jalena used, it seems that the offer is wonderful, but I know that in reality this offer is not that good.
- Hmmm.... What do you think about this, Ritsuka? After all, you know Mrs. Topaz better than we do. - March 7 said looking at me.
- Hmmm.... What do you think about this, Ritsuka? After all, you know Mrs. Topaz better than we do. - March 7 said looking at me.
- Hello, Senpai! You missed your beautiful and beloved Kohai number 1! - BB said with a huge happy smile and I let out a light laugh.
💭Mash would have a tantrum if she were here to hear this.
- Yes. BB I missed you. - I say that and look at Bronya who is surprised to see BB.
- Bronya. This here is one of my Heroic Spirits, her name is BB. - I say this by introducing BB to Bronya.
- Heroic Spirits? - Bronya said, confused.
- Yes. Remember those two that appeared during the battle against your mother? Then that is a Heroic Spirit. - I say this to Bronya who has an expression that she understood what I said.
- Anyway. Show me what you found, BB. - I say this and BB nods and immediately I receive information coming from my wrist device.
💭Ok. Let's see what we have here....
I admit that I didn't expect this to be Jalena's plan that she wants to do here in Jarilo-VI, but now I know the cards that Jalena has on the table, I can come up with a plan.
- Okay guys. I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear, Bronya? - I say this to Bronya who looks at me confused.
- What did BB send you Ritsuka? - March 7 asks curiously.
- Senpai ordered me to collect information about Topaz's plans about what she wants to do here on this planet. Since I'm a super powerful and beautiful AI, no secret of hers can hide from me! - BB said, full of herself.
- That's very impressive. - Stella said, being surprised.
- Then I'll want to hear the good news. - Bronya said to me.
- Okay. Well the good news is that I have a plan that can pay off your debt, maintain Jarilo-VI's freedom and help with the reconstruction of the city with resources. - I say this with a smile catching everyone's attention.
- That sounds great! So what's the bad news? - Bronya said with a tone of fear.
- The bad news is that this plan is a bold bet! - I say this with a silly smile and the girls look at me in confusion.
- What do you mean by a "bold bet"? - Bronya said looking at me.
- Well.... Let's just say the part that is actually a gamble and whether the IPC won't hurt Topaz in the process. - I say this to the girls who look at me being even more confused.
- Okay now I really don't understand anything. - Said March 7 and I continue to explain.
- Look. Topaz really wants to help Jarilo-VI, but this way doesn't have a guarantee of success, and being controlled by the IPC isn't exactly 100% good. It has its benefits, yes, but it's not something that in my opinion is worth sacrificing. Even more so since you're doing a good job in the recovery now. - I say this with a serious expression and I continue.
- This bet of mine has a high chance of working out until the part where IPC won't have control over Jarilo-VI, but since Topaz is my long-time friend, I don't want her efforts to be harmed. Therefore, I added something extra to this plan so that both you, Bronya, and Topaz would come out on top. However, I'm not absolutely sure that this additional part will work out or if Topaz will accept my proposal. - I say this with my arms crossed with a thoughtful expression.
- From what I've seen of Topaz's plans, if she fails in this plan of hers, Topaz will end up losing her numerical position and that is something very serious for someone of high position like her. - Said BB giving more information.
- So if Topaz can't get Bronya to accept the offer, will she drop in the rankings? How much does this ranking matter? - March 7 said.
- It's as important as her life March. An IPC worker gives his life to climb the ladder of positions because the higher up the ladder you are the more benefits and more life opportunities you gain. This applies to everyone at IPC, Topaz is no different. - I say this to March 7.
- But Senpai. If you plan on preventing Topaz from losing her position, what do you intend to use to convince the IPC not to punish her? - BB asks me this question and I let out a smile.
- Let's say I learned some very important information from a certain gambler like me. I learned that Topaz is keeping a valuable "treasure" that she received from her boss called "Diamond". And I have a treasure of the same value as his. So my plan is simple. I will give this treasure of mine as compensation for Topaz's failure to reach a deal with Bronya. - I say that.
- What kind of treasure do you have that will serve as compensation? - Stelle said confused and I simply open a portal above my hand and the treasure I was talking about appears
-What?! Are you crazy, Senpai! - BB sees the treasure in question and is shocked.
- Wait, that's not... - March 7 sees the object in my hands and it seems like she recognizes the object.
- Since Topaz's treasure is worth her entire life, as well as several planets, I decided to use something that is worth much more than that. Saint Quartz blessed by the Aeon of Preservation itself. - I say this while holding the colorful crystal that is emanating immense energy.
💭Aventurine said that all 10 Stoneshearts swore an oath to protect their Cornerstones with their own lives. The Cornerstones possess a part of the power of Diamond which is an Emenator of Preservation. My Saint Quartz has a connection to my world, beyond the Throne of Heroes itself, which is something much more than the power of Diamond.
- Senpai! Do you know how dangerous this is? Giving a Saint Quartz to the IPC is basically giving our existence away to them! - BB said, showing her concern.
- I'm aware of the risks. But trust me, BB, I know what I'm doing. I may lose in battles, but I'll never lose the war. - I say this with a serious expression.
I am sure that this bet is in my favor....
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Next Chapter: A Deal with the Goddess of Thighs!
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