The guards opened the gates for him. "Welcome to Sinless brother!"
Ed walked through the gates and looked around. There were hundreds of people walking around. Some had set up stalls. Others were begging for food. Many of them could be seen entering and exiting the nearby skyscrapers.
"Hey Nick!" One of the guards yelled. "Show the newbie around for us."
"You got it boss!" A young man with white spiky hair replied.
Ed's eyes widened in shock. "Dupe?!"
"Dupe?" A guard questioned.
"Haha!" Dupe wrapped an arm around him and grinned. "Ed! You shouldn't call me by my old nickname from middle school anymore. We've already grown up! Just call me Nick!" He dragged Ed away from the guards. "Seriously man?! Just saying my hunter name like that out in the open? Do you want to get us killed?"
"What's going on?" He frowned. "Why is one of your clones here?"
"Shh! Keep it down." He held a finger to his mouth and looked around to make sure no one was looking. "I'll explain in my room. Follow me." The duo headed towards one of the skyscrapers and reached the 19th floor. They entered a small apartment and sat down on a couch.
"Okay, we're alone. Now tell me. Why are you here?" Ed questioned.
"Haha! Sure. Remember when I told you my clone died in Reef city?"
"You lied? But I thought your limit was 10 clones."
"I obviously won't reveal how many clones I actually have. It's my lifeline! Anyways, as for why I'm here, it's for the same reason as why I'm at both Steam Work Academy and Blood-Lust."
"Which is?"
"For fun! I get to live and experience all three places at once! It's great!" Dupe smiled. "So, why are you here?"
Ed frowned. 'Do I tell him? He might just reveal my location to the other organizations. He can't be trusted… Of all my classmates, Dupe was the most incomprehensible. He doesn't think like normal people. How many people can shoot themselves in the head just to provide some information to their clones? He's probably halfway insane already…'
"Hey! I answered you. Aren't you going to answer me?!" He complained.
"No." He shook his head. "I can't trust you, Dupe. How do I know you won't just reveal everything to Blood-Lust or the academy?"
"That's True." He nodded. "And stop calling me Dupe. I told you it's Nick here. Get in the habit." He leaned back against the sofa with his hands behind his head. "Well... You don't have to tell me, but in that case, I'll just report everything you do to both groups."
"You do that, and I expose you as an esper to Sinless."
"Haha!" Nick laughed. "Are you trying to threaten me? I can just tell them you're an esper too! I can always just make more clones. Besides, you have no way of knowing if I report the information."
Ed sighed, "What is it you want from me, Nick? I'm willing to make a deal, so let's negotiate."
"What I want, hmm?" He had a big grin on his face. "I want things to be interesting! I don't know why you're here, so let's do this. As long as you keep things interesting around here then I won't expose any information about you to anybody. Deal?"
"Interesting?" He frowned. "What do you mean by that? It's too vague."
"Haha!" Nick laughed again. "You're overthinking it. Okay, tell me why you're here first. Then I'll come up with something specific that you can do to keep me entertained."
'Damn. I have no choice.' He ground his teeth. "I'm here to take over Sinless. I'll start with this small city to create my own faction. Then I'll devour the other groups. I'll provide weapons to them in exchange for the resources they collect for me. I'll become a major power that neither the government nor the sinner groups can threaten."
"Gahahaha!" Dupe rolled around in laughter. "An esper taking over Sinless! It's hilarious! I love it! Okay, let's go with that then. I'll be your right-hand man as you take over Sinless! If I ever get bored, then I'll reveal your identity and watch the chaos unfold! You better hurry up though. Your job is going to get a lot harder in a month."
"A month?" He questioned.
"Oh, right." Nick nodded. "I forgot I haven't explained anything yet. This is the temporary base for the Reef Sinless group. Sinless likes to move into cities devastated by nightmares. The people are vulnerable and easy to recruit during that time. They send in relief supplies, valuable resources, and weapons to the survivors that don't flee the city. It's usually close to a decade before all the damage caused by a nightmare finally gets fixed by the government. By then, the Sinless already have a firm root in the city with large support from the people. They become too influential for the government to go against. In fact, they often take over the local government."
"I see." Ed sighed, "It sounds like it will be harder to take over the entire organization than I originally planned. So, you're saying that the Sinless headquarters should arrive in a month?"
"Exactly. As of now they've only sent a few people to pass out fliers and a few steam rifles. Their HQ is in Europe, so it takes them longer to provide relief to cities in the western hemisphere. I blame poor supply chain management!" He complained. "I could run it better than them! Just because they're halfway across the world is no excuse to be so slow!"
"You're only saying that because you can be in multiple places at once." He smiled. "Wait! Are you in Europe with another clone?!"
"Haha! No way!" He shook his head and hands in denial. "My clone is still on the boat. Should be another couple weeks before he gets there!"
"I see…" Ed nodded. "Anyways, I suppose I should get started then. I assume you know the leader, right? How was he chosen? Does he have any enemy factions? Do the people here like him?"
"The leader is named Tom. He's former military. He pretty much took control by force as only him and his cronies control the steam rifles. Some people like him since he brings order and stability. Others feel he's doing a poor job due to the large number of deaths occurring as we scavenge for food outside. The grocery store is already almost empty, so we must travel farther and farther to find canned goods to bring back. You could say the situation is getting desperate."
"Hmm. I can use that." Ed smiled. "It shouldn't be too hard for me to secure a food source and start a rival faction. I'll control the food and gradually take control of the base. I can easily arm dozens of men with steam rifles I create. His faction won't stand a chance!"
"Boring!!!" Dupe complained. "That's not interesting at all! Who wants to watch you slowly take over in such an ordinary way?" He laid down on the couch and leaned his head on his hand. "Come up with something better or I'll just report you to the academy and Blood-Lust."
"You!" Ed yelled in anger. "You're being completely unreasonable! These types of plans take time to implement. Each step needs to be carefully planned for and executed with precision. How can I possibly speed up the process?"
"Easy!" Nick grinned. "Just cause some chaos! People look for a leader in times of need. If a powerful position is left open, then chaos quickly takes over. Humans want to be led. They want others to take responsibility. They'll even support an agenda they don't agree with if it means there is a clear leader and path to follow. So, you just need to cause some chaos and step into your desired position!"
"That…" Ed lowered his head in thought and rubbed his chin. "Makes sense… Are you saying I should just assassinate the current leaders and claim the position as everyone panics?"
"Too simple!" He shook his head. "You're really only good at engineering. Did you avoid people for the last 15 years? Don't treat others as idiots. Do you think they won't suspect you if you try to take over as soon as all the higher brass in the base are mysteriously killed? Anyways, I've given more than enough hints. You're on your own now. Make a good show for me. Oh, you can use the spare room in this apartment. The other apartments are already all filled."
"Eh? They are? Then why did you get to keep a spare room to yourself?" He questioned.
"It's simple!" A loud voice echoed from the spare bedroom as the door opened. A 2nd Dupe walked out smiling. "I told them I had a twin brother. I've also got some pull with some of the guards. I got here early and buttered them up with bribes whenever I scavenged for food."
"I see…" He nodded.
Ed headed for his room and laid down on a bed. 'Dupe is really screwing my plans up. I must have really bad luck to run into him here. Still, he makes a fair point. Can I ever take over this entire organization through ordinary means? It would take decades of careful planning with no mistakes. I don't have that kind of time… I'll get some sleep and start gathering information tomorrow.'
…
A large bald man was smiling while chatting with two guards. "That woman was unbelievable in bed! I never thought I could get someone that hot! And it only cost me a can of beans!"
Ed was watching while writing down notes. 'Hmm. All the guards are loyal to the leader. The bald man over there is Gunther. The 2nd in command. I was hoping he had ambitions for power, but from what I've seen he's perfectly content where he is.' He left and spied on other guards. Occasionally he would eavesdrop on conversations citizens had about the guards. His investigations lasted an entire three days.
'Nothing.' He shook his head. 'Not a single guard has ambitions for power. I wonder how Tom reigned them in so well.' He looked up from his notebook and saw Tom standing on a stage. He was a tall muscular man with dark blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a gray camo uniform and was speaking to the people.
"Listen up!" Tom yelled. "I know everyone is hungry. Sinless HQ will arrive in just over three weeks. We must hold strong and adhere to the rules I've created until then!"
"Boo! You suck!" A man in the audience yelled. A guard walked towards the man with angry eyes, but Tom waved his hand indicating for the guard to stop.
"Tom's done a lot for us!" A woman yelled. She pointed at the man who booed and complained. "He took charge when no one else would! He carefully planned the rations and provided us with safety and order! How can you heckle him like that?"
"My son died while scavenging because that bastard hogs the guns!" The man cried. "He was given nothing but a crappy spear! How was he supposed to survive out there like that?!"
"Hmph!" The woman snorted. "It's your own fault for not leaving when they evacuated. You have no one to blame but yourself!"
"You!" The man's eyes turned red with fury, "Everything I have is here! I've lived my whole life here! How can I just leave?!"
"That's enough!" Tom interrupted. "I understand your frustrations and I apologize, but I can't risk the guns being lost in these trying times. I know some of us regret not leaving when we had the chance, but do not give into despair! When Sinless HQ arrives we will take back and rebuild the city! When the time comes, all of us will be wealthy land owners and high-level members of the Sinless Reef city branch!"
"What about the government?!" someone questioned. "Won't they rebuild the city anyways?"
"Ha!" Tom laughed. "Don't be naïve. The government is a corrupt machine that can barely stand on its own legs. They were supposed to continue shipping in pallets of food and water after the evacuations! They were supposed to send soldiers to secure the city! Where are they?! I don't know if they chose not to help or if some corrupt politician just dumped the relief supplies somewhere for political gain, but they're obviously not helping anytime soon." He rose a fist in the air and smiled, "Only Sinless still cares for the ordinary people! Sinless! Sinless!" He began chanting and the crowd slowly began to join in with their fists in the air.
Ed watched the crowd be taken in by the man. 'He really is quite talented… He should have become a politician.' He glanced at the large bald man standing near the stage. 'It's almost time to begin. Gunther will be the key to my plan whether he wants to or not.'