"They are an active 'Urban Dawn' level of threat that has been putting pressure on District 67, 66, and 65. Many people want their head to be torn off. And the grand weaver from above didn't really like what they were doing this last couple of months."
"That so-called 'Threat Level' is weaved by money. It's not their value of threat to the people around them that's evaluated, it's the amount of money that people throw in the name of 'disposing' them out of pure spite."
"That doesn't disregard the danger they possess. Not to mention, it will only be a matter of time until that Syndicate will be promoted to an Urban Dusk. Until then, many associated Offices and people from the Associations will be trying their luck to reap the apple before it rot.
"Faust Hecates, do you not regret your actions of giving your back to the target of mine?"
"I give you ten meaningless points for that factual statement."
Hans laughed in amusement, showing me a big grin afterwards. "I trust your judgement, then, my friend." He faced his squad members with a proud face. "Let me have a private moment with this man. I give all of you fifty minutes of peaceful break in District 67!
"Go to the Hive, drink some beer in a pub, or fill yourself with delicious foods in a restaurant. The choices are all yours. When the time is up, I want to see every single one of you available on this site. If any person asks about your mission, your answer is 'secret mission', understand!?"
The crowd of Doppelsoldners replied with an enthusiastic shout and all kind mannerisms of smiles.
""Affirmative, sir! We're on a 'secret mission', sir!"
"Disperse!"
""Woooaa!!""
They immediately rushed to their 'target location' faster than the deftly march that they performed to break through the layered barriers that were set by the Streetlight Talon.
One of them hadn't left the area.
"Sir! What about the other Rotte that is in combat?"
"Hahaha, let them be."
"Yes, sir!"
That person then immediately scurried away with a rather satisfied face.
After the intense moment was done, I sat on the nearest lump of rubble. "That's cold of you, Hans. The other unit is probably screaming for help to the communication device that you silenced."
"The other units that were forcefully appointed with me were not the brightest kind in my 'Fahnlein'. In fact, they were actually an elaborate group of information invaders that were sent by who knows who.
"Even the majority of the bodies that you hid." Hans smirked as he darted his glance. "Very much the same reason why the Landsknechts sent more Rotten than needed. Hell, you can see that not all of them were fighters to begin with. They were forced by the higher ups to participate in this emergency suppression."
"Sounds like some paramount of classified stuff that you just threw there... Nobody would try to kill me in my sleep after knowing this, right?"
"Hahhahhah! As if they could kill you!"
"Oy, oy, you forgot that I'm still human, while you're there, standing like the skyscraper-equivalent of goliath, brimming with tech and thematic strength that can move a whole mountain!"
"Hahhahhahhahha!"
"I'm not even kidding!"
Hans then sat beside me, joining me as both of us beheld the depressing scenery that the Nihil had caused.
The hill from Nihil's remains, the falling ashes, the dimmed skyscrapers that have lost its light and festiveness, all to the fire of anguish that was spread for no clear reason.
"Been two years, ey?" Hans continued. "How have you been?"
"All frosty and dandy. I see that you have the look of someone with the wealth to buy a home ownership within a Hive. Still in District 31?"
"Nein, already moved from that dusty world of white."
"Where's the new location, then?"
"District 34, the Land of Lustrous Crystal." The geometric veins on his black glove shone in blue light, before manifesting a cigar and a lighter that was stored inside of it. "I don't really give a damn about the inside conflict associated with my job, as long as my wife and kids are well fed.
"And I believe that everyone within my Rotte is the same."
"Sounds like the usual you. How are Gisela and Amir?"
"Gisela happens to have a new hobby of doing arty stuff with the paintbrush, and Amir won't stop talking about when you can meet him again."
He smirked before inhaling on the smoke, then letting it all out as a cloud of hope.
Being an Association's members, especially the combatant agent would not allow you to stay in one District very long. This big man must've probably been hundred times busier than me.
"Can't wait to visit there, then. I do have some business in District 44 in the future, so I may pay a visit if you're free as well."
"Hah! I'll make sure to tell Gisela to cook a lot when that day comes." He then started to grin, possibly for a different reason. "Also, it seems like finally getting your hands on a MIND, ey? Want to spar a little bit?"
"No."
"Yes."
"Oh no."
"Oh yeah."
"Yeah, no."
"No, yeah."
"I won't fall for that trick."
"Bummer."
All of the intensity we had had fallen over, far below the boiling point. For once, I enjoyed this lukewarm feeling, uncaring about most things I cared about in a single sitting with someone I knew for a long time.
"We have forty five minutes left. Don't tell me that you're going to be here, sitting by my side until the majority of those dispatched fakers get obliterated by the Streetlight Talons?"
"Who knows, it just feels assuring for me to have someone from the past sitting by my side. Someone that isn't dead."
One of the logistic squad members from the Landsknecht waved a couple of sign gestures to Hans. The big man casually replied to the hand signal, probably telling them that they have the permission to begin the extraction of the unconscious Nihil.
"Hahaha, look at you, having someone below your rank that needs such basic permission to commence mundane things.
"While here I sat on my own pedestal, working off nothing for the past few years."