It's him! It's the developer!!! Nathan thought as he watched the developer with visible animosity. The developer's happy demeanor didn't help with his anger either.
"Who are you?" Charlotte questioned, breaking the silence between the two factions.
"Oh, I suppose you guys wouldn't know me." The developer responded as he rubbed his chin. "Well, I'm the one that called you guys here."
This revelation only served as shock value for everyone, especially his party members.
"What? You called us here?" Charlotte asked.
"Yup, if I didn't call you guys, you would have been killed by the explosion." The developer responded. "But I suppose it's coincidental, but you guys even saved Ada!"
"...Saved Ada? Why do you care about us saving Ada?" Leon interjected, his brows scrunched with suspicion.
"Ada is one of my characters. One of the people I chose to fulfill my cause, I suppose." The developer responded. "I wouldn't want her to die, after all."
"Characters?" With widened eyes, Leon asked.
"Your cause?" Nolan interjected as his expression exuded animosity. "So, were you the one that put Ada through the torment of working with those bastards!?"
"We're standing right here, bugger," Jack commented.
"C'mon, I only meant well for her. Besides, if it weren't for me, she would still be in prison even now."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Charlotte asked.
"I don't mean to be offensive, but...If you guys were truly loyal to Ada, you'd have used all your resources to break her out."
"Why you--"
"Calm down, Charlotte..." Ada interrupted as she raised her hand. Charlotte was still triggered but controlled herself after seeing Ada's gesture.
"My developer, why are you here now?" The NPC asked as he approached him. "I never expected you to reveal yourself this soon."
"Ah, yes, I got a bit sidetracked." The developer responded as he shook his head. "I'm here to congratulate you all!"
Congratulate us? Nathan internally questioned.
"You all completed the mission of destroying the nation's security!" The developer expounded.
"Wait? We have?" Jack asked. "I thought there would be a lot of non-super soldier buggers squirming around to murder."
"Normally, there would be, but seeing the disaster level you guys imposed, most of them have retreated, even leaving the country as we speak. They all placed their bets on their super soldier counterparts." The developer explained. "Plus, Zack's explosion did kill even more of them. Which is why I'm congratulating everyone on their hard work--"
"Hard work?" Nathan, having enough of the developer's bullshit, interjected. "I know you're crazy, but have you completely lost all sense of reasoning you had?"
Yeah, I was expecting a tantrum from Nathan. The developer thought as he smirked to himself.
"I'm not even going to ask why you'd even call Ada's gang here. Do you not realize that Ada freaking betrayed us!?" Nathan questioned, much to Ada and her gang's annoyance. "She sold us out and tried to kill us several times! Why the hell are you congratulating that bitch!? They're the freaking enemy!"
"You've well passed your place, criminal." Charlotte coldly said. "But you're right, we're enemies...so enough talking!" She declared as spikes started to protrude from the ground, which caused the party members to become alerted.
"Charlotte...I said stop." Ada repeated. Ada's expression seemed rather normal, despite all the insults thrown her way.
"I'm sorry, but these bastards have run their mouths far too much," Charlotte said. "We have to--"
"Charlotte, listen to me," Ada said. "Those criminals are strong...it would mean unnecessary losses if we fight them now..."
"...Okay, I'm sorry..." Charlotte apologized as the protruding spikes returned to their original form in the ground.
"Ahem, Nathan, Ada's gang killed quite a lot of super and regular soldiers as well." The developer continued. "They're an extension of Ada, who's my character, so of course they get recognition for their good deeds."
"Whose f*cking side are you on!" Nathan yelled.
"Listen, Nathan...I'm on the side of my game characters...all of them." The developer replied. Hearing this, visible arteries pulsated on Nathan's forehead. "Anyways, before we get to the good part...doctor, please heal everyone."
"Huh?" The doctor uttered.
"Everyone likely got a dose of radiation poisoning from that explosion." The developer explained. "Heal them."
He wants me to heal everyone...even the enemies?
Putting her palms together, the doctor proceeded to create her usual green healing sphere of light. As everyone watched, it began to levitate from her hands. Before their eyes, the sphere immediately expanded into a blanket of light, which covered everyone.
"It's done..." The doctor confirmed.
"Thanks!" The developer expressed. Nathan continued to view the developer with even more animosity than before. Lilith couldn't help but notice his anger, after all, he was the only one she truly cared for in this area right now.
Nathan...
"You didn't need to heal me," Jack told the doctor.
"Oh? I was wondering why you were the only one without injuries...seems like it wasn't a coincidence."
"Anyways, since you all completed this mission, I've decided to give my party members all a reward." The developer revealed.
"A reward?" Jack asked.
"Yup, anything you guys want...I'll give you." The developer specified, which immediately piqued everyone's interest. "You get one wish, though, so choose wisely."
Whispering among the crowd of gang members took place as they were bewildered by the developer's offer.
"A wish?" Frank questioned. "Who the hell is this guy?"
"Oh, that's easy, then," Jack said. "I want--"
"Wait a minute," Nathan suddenly said, interrupting Jack. He then turned his gaze to Ada. "If you guys are going to leave, then hurry up and do it!"
"Huh?" Ada uttered with clear annoyance.
"It's clear that this bastard developer won't allow us to kill you, so just go away then. If we're getting a reward, there's no way you'll stay here." Nathan advised. "You won't get any more information to use against us."
There was silence as Ada and her gang simply stared at him. Charlotte and the other heads of the gang were filled with anger, as indicated by their clenched fists and gritted teeth.
"Ha...Haha..." Ada uttered as she strangely began to laugh. "Haha...you're right, Nathan, you're so right. We should go. There's no way I'd tell my wish in front of you insects anyways!"
The heads were clearly opposed to her decision to leave, but they kept silent out of respect.
"But, understand this," Ada continued. "We may be leaving now...but you will come to regret everything you've done, every one of you criminals. Especially you, Nathan..." Ada declared as she glanced over to the nervous Lilith. Nathan simply listened to her with a cold and blank expression. "Let's go, everyone."
"You heard the boss, let's go!" Leon instructed the gang members. In tandem, they all departed the area with Ada.
Tsk...If only I had killed that bitch...
"I'll make sure to give you your reward, Ada!" The developer yelled for her to hear before turning back to the rest. "Well then, what do you guys want now..."