As Thalia settled back into her seat, a monitor descended in front of them, displaying the word "Restricted" in large red and black letters.
"Since some of you are new, I want to go over a few things before we get started," said Monica Bluerose, the current captain of the Black Wolves and the Shadow Corps. "For those who don't know me, we are the eyes and ears of this institute, gathering all intelligence for both the retrieval and expeditionary units."
Monica glanced at Thalia and her friends, smiling sweetly. "The new recruits are just as talented as my report indicated. All three of you are radiating an unusually strong aura for such young and inexperienced cubs," she remarked, her intense gaze making Thalia a bit nervous.
"Oh boy! You three must be something special if our dear analyst believes you have potential," Alexander chimed in, sitting up in his seat. "Once upon a time, she was the most talented battle analyst and an even more gifted spy. She even worked closely with the Legends for a brief period."
"Used to be?" Monica snorted in response. "I left active duty, and now they talk about me as if I'm some kind of fossil."
Theo and Tyler laughed. They found it amusing to see someone who seemed so uptight and serious get flustered. In contrast, Thalia was focused on Dante, whose body language suggested he was uncomfortable.
That struck Thalia as odd. Dante had never seemed scared or worried about anything, at least not in her memory. He often sported a confident, cocky smile and an arrogant demeanor, which she found appealing. But right now, there was no smile in sight, and his usual air of confidence had vanished the moment that woman entered the room. In fact, he had even failed to dodge something he should have easily evaded.
What puzzled Thalia even more was that they both refused to make eye contact, even after Monica had thrown a tablet at his head. Her thoughts were interrupted when Monica tapped a button on the tablet.
"Okay, let's get down to business." The screen shifted to display a detailed dossier.
"I spoke with Valerie, and she suggested that I keep the training wheels on for this first mission. Although it won't be a typical mission, it'll provide enough of a challenge to help the cubs get their feet wet," Monica said with a smile.
Thalia focused her attention on the detailed dossier in front of her.
It read:
___________
Heritage: The two brothers grew up on the outskirts of District City 9. Their abusive father abandoned them, and their mother worked as a
pleasure doll in the red light District. She later died when they turned 16 after being beaten to death by a customer when she asked for proper payment. The two brothers Jackson and Luther, better known as Jax and Lux, grew up on the ruthless streets of D9.
Jax and Lux decided stealing was better than starving on the street. They quickly made a name for themselves due to the brutal beatings they would give anyone they stole from. They were quickly recruited by the black butterflies—a group of low-level gangsters who wear black biker jackets with butterfly insignias on the back. The black butterflies made their name by taking on jobs from anyone who could pay, whether that was murder, theft, protection, or blackmail.
The gang has a considerable portion of D9 under their control. The brothers worked as enforcers for the gang for some years.
Honjo Masamune (Presumably legendary rank):
A legendary sword created by Japan's greatest swordsmith, Goro Nyudo Masamune. A katana that gifts its contractor the ability to perceive any threat and counterattack in a fraction of a second. Essentially making its user unstoppable. It also causes its user to challenge any blade with which it comes into close contact to test its superiority over every other blade.
Tobogiri (Presumably Legendary Rank):
The legendary spear was created by the famed swordsmith Muramasa. It is said to be so sharp that a dragonfly landing on the edge would be instantly cut in half, which is the origin of the name. The Tobogiri, like the Masamune, alerts the contractor anytime they enter each other's vicinity. One thrust of the spear splits the air, sending an immense gust of pressurized air forward, destroying anything in its path.
This file is confidential (Security Level 4 and above)
____________
Dante broke the silence by kicking his boots on the table and leaning back in his chair. "This seems a bit too easy for my team. You know I don't hunt anything under mythic rank. People will talk if we start taking easier missions," he said, looking down at his feet.
Thalia's hands were already sweating at the thought of dealing with two unknown contractors. Her throat felt dry, and her mind was racing. They have a strange idea of training wheels, considering none of them had any real combat experience.
"Come on, D. Cut the kids some slack. They'll need to ease into our pace. Honestly, I'm not even sure how they will do on this mission," Valerie said briefly, glancing up from her book.
Dante sighed. "Fine, we'll ease them in. But how did a group of low-level gangsters manage to gain control of such a significant portion of that district?" he asked, his eyes drifting to the screen in front of them.
"My black wolves have informed me that they have set up a very intricate territory that divides the businesses in an advantageous manner for all the gangs involved. Their leader, Madam Butterfly, established this regime ten years before these two degenerates took control. She was a master politician and strategist, and she single-handedly united all the gangs under one umbrella," Monica explained.
"Okay, let's assume that this Madam Butterfly, or whatever her name is, was indeed an excellent leader. How did she manage to suppress the violent gangs that refused to listen to reason or diplomacy?" Dante asked. While he was clearly addressing Monica, his gaze remained fixed on Valerie.
Thalia wondered if, despite the woman being respected and well-spoken, this perspective still reflected what the Ninth District was known for. In her studies, Thalia learned about all twelve Districts in the safety zone, with the Seventh and the Ninth District being the worst. Even the Golden Tips refused to police that area.
In the Ninth District, convicts who have served their time at the wall or have been pardoned live alongside their families. Anyone who breaks the Crimson Commandments faces a sentence of either time at the wall in District 7 or the punishment of spending the rest of their life in District 9.
The city is essentially one large ghetto. All the residents, regardless of the severity of their crimes, are considered perpetrators, along with their families. This district is nicknamed the "Second Chance District" because it is home to many individuals living on their second chance at life.
District 4 heavily polices the area to prevent criminal relapse, but in reality, this serves more as an excuse to keep those who disagree with the current rules in check.
Although the district has a more appropriate nickname: the Black-Market District. Only in this district can an ordinary person, without a golden ticket, buy items like pastries made with real sugar and fancy fabrics in all colors. Thalia had even heard rumors that they engage in selling individuals under servitude contracts.
"So, realistically, you want us to believe that Madam Butterfly was ruthless enough to conquer the Black-Market District? Then somehow, these two new contractors overpowered or outsmarted a woman intelligent enough to make all the gangs in the entire district her subordinates? I don't know; something doesn't add up," Tyler interjected, adjusting his glasses.
"Oh, one of your team members is quite insightful. I also have my doubts about the accuracy of this information. Even if the two brothers could overpower her, I don't believe her strength was her most valuable asset. There is something deeper at play here, which is why I specifically came to present and pitch this information. I would hate to send in a weaker team, as they would not be able to handle any unknown variables that may arise during this mission. So, in short, I am personally asking for your team. There is no team I trust more to handle this situation," Monica said, pushing her blonde hair away from her face.
Dante tilted his head up to meet her gaze for the first time that day. "The kid is right; something doesn't add up. However, I couldn't care less about what's happening in that hellhole of a District. I want to know why you personally came to propose this mission—why you chose to come to me of all people. That's strange enough to make me think there's something bigger at play here. At least, that's my gut feeling. And my gut is never wrong. So, spill it. What's really going on?"
Monica stared at Dante, a white-hot rage radiating from her that everyone in the room could feel. This time, however, Dante wasn't acting shy or bashful anymore; he looked more angry than afraid. Thalia could sense the intense emotions crackling between the two, filling the air with tension.
"Come on, Captain, let it go! For all our sakes, I think this mission will be fun. It's been ages since we've last visited the black market. Just think of the fancy liquor we could get," Alexander said, placing a hand on Dante's shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
Finally, the tension in the air broke, and both Dante and Monica quickly averted their eyes from each other. Thalia wondered about the history between them. What did he mean by "of all people"? Were they no longer on good terms? She knew they had gotten a divorce, but what were the circumstances? A flurry of questions raced through Thalia's mind.
"Fine, whatever. We'll take this bloody mission. Now, can you please let go of my shoulder, Alex? I'm starting to lose feeling in my arm. And speaking of liquor, I could really use a drink." Dante knocked Vice-Captain Alexander's hand away.
"I swear, sometimes it feels like you all don't understand the chain of command," Dante mumbled as he stood up and headed toward the door, which automatically slid open.
"Hey, you three," Dante said in a serious tone, causing them to jump a little. "I expect you to be packed and ready to go in the morning. Pack light and bring only your relics and essentials. Make sure to store your ration bars and protein drinks in your lockers." The three of them nodded in unison at his back, acknowledging his order.
"Also, little dove, the next time you arrive late, I will personally come up with a punishment for you," Dante shouted.
Thalia gulped, feeling both fear and a twinge of excitement. She had felt neglected by him for the past three weeks, as he barely paid her any attention. However, it was a huge relief to know that he cared about her presence. Thalia had always wanted to catch his eye, and now, even for a reprimand, it made her happy to be on his radar.
Nevertheless, she refused to show any of those feelings. So, in her calmest tone, she replied, "I hear you, I hear you. What's the point of being on time if the person we're meeting arrives late?" She glanced over at Monica, feeling an inexplicable dislike for her, despite the fact that they had just technically met that day.
Dante chuckled. "Still a firecracker, I see." Moments later, he left the room, shaking his head. The vice-captain got up and followed him, murmuring something about losing his wallet, while calling Dante a "tricky bastard."