"So Tarkov, have you thought about it… my previous request?" Girisia asked, his mouth spread wide with a condescending smile.
"Korus, you shouldn't act like I am backed into a corner. I am still your best bet to obtain your desired item." Tarkov retorted, knowing full well what Girisia was planning.
"Oh, so you mean to say, you are ready to fulfill my request?"
"Do I have any choice left?... And I need to leave early, I don't want to be part of that conference tomorrow." Tarkov knew himself the best, he had learned that his target Yoshikov will be present in tomorrow's meeting and he doesn't know if he could control his emotions.
And from Girisia's foresight, he knew he had probably failed and got exposed in the future. So at the moment, he didn't want to take any chances.
"So explain to me… what is the thing you want and where you want it.?"
Unbeknownst to both of them, their conversation was completely picked up by Wilkis. Who had already put Girisia and Tarkov into his chaotic element list?
*****
After Tarkov left on his journey to hunt for the previous item that Girisia so desired. He left his second in command Slade to oversee any needs of Girisia. His importance has been raised to a VIP and this was the least Tarkov could do.
And while Girisia started his daily experience collection with the help of players.
Yoshikov rubbed his forehead in contemplation while drinking tea. In front of his table, the intelligence that Girisia has provided. The thing in the report was scary to read and his perception toward the players changed a little.
"This can be a headache if not managed properly…" Yoshikov still wanted time to make up his mind on how to deal with these anomans and send his suggestions to Citadel. But Wilkis was a step ahead of him and had already sent them the report before Yoshikov even had the chance to see it.
"Sir, a new directive from UHQ just arrived." A man with gruff hair announced as he handed Yoshikov an old bamboo slip.
"You can leave now." Sending the man away, Yoshikov rubbed his head a lot more in frustration.
His worst prediction came true. Now he just wishes that Utena doesn't ask anything that may catch the ire of Wilkis.
Yoshikov pressed on the bottom of the bamboo slip to cause unknown glyphs to shine on the surface of the bamboo, then he felt a prickling sensation on his thumb and a connection forming between himself and the bamboo slip.
"For the glory of humanity." His words of earnest faith harmed the bamboo slip that just burned and turned to dust. But he had received the order and it was the kind of order that he feared the most.
'Capture Korus Fedorov… huh?'
Yoshikov used to be the kind of person who would fearlessly give his life for his belief but now as an old and experienced man, he knew he didn't have the courage of his youth left in his bones. But orders are orders and he still needs to try his best to fulfill them.
Even if it meant going against a monster like Wilkis.
"Let's approach him first and see if I can accomplish this peacefully."
*****
Tarkov knew that there won't be much time for him in the future. So after taking a 10-day leave, Tarkov passed the responsibility of Korus into the hands of his second in command, Slade. Tarkov left on his jeep, filling it to the brim with over drones and a spare mech armor for emergency use.
He knew how dangerous this expedition was and he had to pool all the weapons and resources that he had collected by lying in his battle reports.
The true use of these weapons was to hunt down Yoshikov but now it was being used to fulfill Girisia's request.
Now all Tarkov hopes are that Girisia can follow through on his promise.
"It will take two days to reach that place." He thought while looking at the map. The Hermat Jungle was only six hundred kilometers away from Riber city and can be considered to be pretty close.
But due to rugged paths, mutants and mechanical drones are still active in the wasteland. The two days' guess was too optimistic.
There was not much to do after this, Tarkov in his jeep didn't blatantly drive his jeep directly to the forest. He kept around eight surveillance drones in eight different directions to map out his surroundings at all times.
Whenever any of his drones stumbled on anything dangerous or any path that made it harder to move forward. Tarkov changed his directions and went round the way even if it was a waste of time.
He can't fight these monsters and waste his resources so early on. The danger in Hermat was uncountable and even if he had the help of his blood. He was still not sure it would work after twenty years have gone by.
So due to these setbacks and even though Tarkov had taken them into account previously. He still took three days to reach Hermat forest.
The forest that once hid his village.
*****
"Mister Korus, was what you told everyone in the conference, true?" Slate asked, confused and scared like many others who were leaving the conference.
They have just learned some dangerous facts about the anomans. The kind of facts that were too crazy to even consider.
"Sadly, it's the truth… I don't know if anoman's perception of our world is the real truth or if they are just confused and ignorant about it."
"No matter what it is, both of them are too bleak to even consider." Slade sighed. His whole perception of the world has just changed. The thoughts of beings creating their world for sport are too cruel.
"It is bleak but we make do with what we have." A metallic voice came from a figure who inched his way toward the duo of Girisia and Slade.
The man's back was hunched and his lower jaw completely metallic and from his half-metallic body, one can know that this person was a veteran of multiple wars and had lost most of his body. If Girisia had never heard his introduction at the conference, he wouldn't have known that the person Tarkov wants to kill so much is this weak old man who can't even stand up straight.
Girisia knew to never judge an old war veteran on his looks alone.
'This is the same person who Tarkov failed to kill even with youth and ancestral power on his side. This must mean, the present appearance of this old cunt is only an act.'
Tarkov at the moment is only at the peak of grade two, meaning around level 19 and Yoshikov's highest achievement in his whole life has only been mid-range of grade three. There is no chance for Tarkov in winning a fight against Yoshikov.
But this is only true when talking about Yoshikov's peak as at this moment, he was old and brittle.
'But still not brittle enough.'
"Commander Yoshikov! Is it?" Girisia asked, his mouth widened with a sincere smile. Though on the inside, he only had one question. 'Why me?'
"Ah, I see Mister Fedorov has a good memory of being able to recall my name from the crowd of many.." With a bright smile, Yoshikov praised. His intent to get closer to Girisia is clearer than Girisia's bald head.
"Of course, for me it's easy. I have forgotten most of my past leaving too much space unoccupied, perks of brain trauma I guess." Girisia jested, he too wanting to get closer to this man called Yoshikov.
Girisia still had a promise to keep and he knew his plan will go better if he could get close to this person.
"You are a strong man to be able to laugh at your pain. I know many who would drown in despair if they were in your place." Yoshkov continued his small talk. He intends to get closer to Girisia first and learn of his core beliefs.
If Girisia passes his test, Yoshikov planned on bringing him to Citadel by coaxing him and making him the core tenants of Utena. Though being a Karabit, his ranking may be lower than some pure members but his strategic importance still makes him special. This will give him reprieve from Wilkis
In case, Girisia fails his test. He planned to forcefully bring him to Citadel even if it meant going against Wilkis.
"I still respect the man who saved a life, though I have forgotten the kind of impact he had on me, his face and all of my memories of him, I still have his name. And I will carry this name to my grave and let everyone notice his existence."
Unknown to Girisia, his little speech about the man that rescued him touched the heart of Yoshikov and made him pass Yoshikov's test.
"Yes, if not for our Human militia, Mister Fedorov would not be here today nor could we find the truth about anomans."
Yoshikov has noticed the reverence Girisia held for his foster father and he knew this reference can be used as a key to attract Girisia. Now all he needed was to dig up some history on this Fedorov and use it to entice Girisia.
'I should move on… otherwise, that bastard will get suspicious.' From the bastard he meant Wilkis.
So he hurried away after greeting Girisia for the last time. And Slate who stood on the side, watched everything silently, his eyes not showing the worried face of before but now darkness danced in his eyes as he looked at Yoshikov, then at Girisia.