Early morning brought me a wake-up call that I really didn't want to answer, and who would want to wake up and talk about business with a tedious AI when there's a gorgeous, fire-haired beauty sleeping next to you?
Unfortunately, in the evening and at night there was nothing but kisses and light caresses between us, Triss, despite the fact that sorceresses and she herself are not distinguished by strictness of views, took our relationship, or rather their construction, very seriously.
And it gave me a very pleasant feeling that I did plant in this girl's heart and mind the realization that I don't have to act the same way with me as with other men she's had. I should be in a long-term relationship with her, and in return for serious intentions on her part, I would do my best to make her happy.
"Listening..."
I did get over my laziness and reluctance to do anything though.
"David, I analyzed all the data and came to the conclusion that some of the experience from newborn AIs would be useful to me and some would be rather harmful, so I prepared the data to search first for those AIs I would like to assimilate."
"That's good, do I have to come to your place to get the device?"
"If it's not too much trouble..."
"Okay... through..."
I glanced at my watch and grimaced slightly.
"...I'll be an hour and a half."
"I'll be waiting..."
The connection broke, and I sighed heavily.
"Is something wrong?"
Triss opened her eyes as she asked that question, and I couldn't resist turning around and kissing her lips. Gentle. A little passionate. My hands slid down her body, but I didn't cross the line of access we'd set for ourselves by tacit agreement.
"Good morning..."
"Mm-hmm.
A satisfied smile appeared on my fire-haired maiden's lips.
"It is indeed a good morning. But still, I would like to get an answer to my question, rather than watching you try to dodge the question. Although I must admit that this method of avoiding the topic is extremely pleasing to me..."
A new kiss interrupted Triss and she didn't try to pull away but happily returned the kiss.
"Well, uh, now I have to go. I've been given an interesting order."
"An order?"
Triss stood up and turned to me, looking at my half-naked body with interest. I was only wearing panties, and I didn't think to be embarrassed about that, after all, the girl was only wearing panties and something between a corset and a bra.
"Uh-huh... Delamain called, he wanted to hire me yesterday, but I asked him a couple clarifying questions and he took some time to think about it. If you can say that about an AI.
"I see..."
I stretched slightly, and Triss looked away.
"What?"
"It's nothing. It's just, uh. it's been a long time since I've been in a really serious relationship."
"There won't be any after me, at least I hope not..."
"You know, if I knew you a little less well, I might consider that a threat, but given that I've had time to study you, I can assume you mean that I'll stay with you forever."
"And you're absolutely right. I'm really looking forward to being the last man you spend the rest of your life with."
"I'll be glad if that's what happens."
I pulled on my pants and made my way to the bathroom where I cleaned myself up before heading to the dressing room where I got dressed and then I met up with Triss in the armory where she was also getting her weapon.
"Going somewhere?"
"Uh, yeah. with you. I think you might need some help."
"Well..."
I shrugged.
"...so far we are talking about trivial rides around the city, so nothing interesting should happen there yet. Well, at least in the first half of the order, which I'm going to do now..."
"And that's why you put on an armored suit, a hump with a folded helmet and camouflage system, and took tonfa and heavy-duty pistols...
"You have to be ready for anything, especially with Arasaki's interest in us."
"You mean to you?"
"Yeah..."
I grinned.
"I'm kidding, I totally get that you're part of my girls and I's family, so attacks on you are attacks on the whole family,"
This time I got a grin that was more... alive.
"Yeah, yeah, you're just an extension of our family. Though if you imagine too much about yourself, we can go to a reaper and one of us will gain what we keep you around for..."
I shook my head.
"Triss, you shouldn't joke like that... It makes me smile, but it doesn't make me feel good at all."
"All right, all right, all right."
Triss lifted her hands up in a sign that she was giving up.
"So are you sure you want to come with me?"
"Yeah. (chuckles)"
"Okay..."
I shrugged my shoulders and we quietly went to the car, in which I took the driver's seat for once, remembering to send a message to the other girls that I was off to fulfill the order.
"So..."
I couldn't risk taking Panam's car, so I took one of the shared clan cars. Triss sat next to me in the front seat, and we drove to Delamain's headquarters in Knight City.
"So, uh. here we are, alone together."
Triss's hand rested on my leg.
"Hmm?"
I threw a surprised look at her.
"We were actually alone all night."
"It's not that..."
She shook her head, though, provoking me and stroking my leg so that there was quite a bit of discomfort in my pants.
"...There were girls around then, and now it's just the two of us..."
I grinned with the tip of my lips.
"I didn't think the company was bothering you in any way."
"It's not that it's stressful, it's just that you want to be really alone sometimes..."
Her hand moved higher.
"Triss..."
"What?"
She gave me a feignedly innocent look.
"Have you been watching porn?"
"А?"
"You see, harassing the driver of a car while he's maneuvering down the freeway at no small speed..."
I shook my head.
"...I'd say it's an extremely interesting way to try to end your life by suicide."
"Does it make you uncomfortable?"
"I didn't say that, but if you want to get a little messy in the car, I can arrange it for you after we fulfill the order."
"Honestly?"
"Yeah. (chuckles)"
"Okay..."
She nodded and removed her hand from my leg, and I managed a regretful sigh. It wasn't that I wanted her molestation, or rather I did, but not at this moment. But I didn't like the fact that she'd taken her hand away, either.
"Is something wrong?"
"Uh, no..."
At her question, I shook my head.
"And you sound kind of insecure..."
"Well, we all expect and want something, so..."
"And what did you want and expect?"
"Probably that you won't remove your hand, though you won't continue your molestation."
"Pfft!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
I nodded my head.
"...that's how fickle I am. So put your hand back on my leg..."
This I said in a feignedly stern voice, which caused Triss to laugh lightly and she returned her hand to the spot I had indicated.
For about forty minutes we drove along the freeway and roads of Knight City until I stopped the car in the parking lot next to Delamyne's office.
"Will you wait?"
"Sure..."
She smiled and nodded at me, after which I left the car and made my way into the building itself, where there was just a crowd of people.
"How many times?!"
"Your fucking car wrecked mine!"
"Your fucking car smashed my fence!"
The noise in the waiting room was unbelievable, and everyone was unhappy about something. I didn't see any point in chatting with the program secretary, or whatever it was called, so I just called Delamayne, thinking that once again I would get to the operator's program, but Delamayne himself answered.
"Mr. Martinez, good to hear from you, will you be arriving soon?"
"Hi again Del, actually I've already made it to your main office and I'm in the reception area right now. I might try to reach you through your customer service program, but the people would crush me if I tried to go to the counter without a line..."
"One second, sending a drone..."
The connection broke, and five minutes later one of the side doors opened and a small drone flew out.
"Mr. Martinez, if you'll follow me, please..."
Delamain's voice came from the drone's speakers and those words caught the attention of everyone present.
"Why should he be so honored?!"
"I've been standing here since this morning, and this asshole just got here!!!!"
There was such an uproar. They even tried to grab me, but I intercepted the man's arm and twisted it sharply, giving him a painful hold.
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
"Do you have any questions for me?"
The people hearing this idiot's shriek, as well as my absolutely calm voice, parted, but continued to glare at me with angry looks.
"I can't hear..."
I twisted my arm a little harder.
"No! I'm fine with it! I'm fine with it!"
I nodded and gave the guy a light kick, remembering to let go of his arm so he flew off into the crowd, but I turned around and followed the drone, which led me through Delamayne's office.
"I'd like to give you a little tour, but unfortunately time is not on our side and every minute there are more and more victims of cars out of my control."
"It's okay. I understand."
I grinned and nodded, but didn't react to his words. In five minutes I was led into a room that had clearly once served as the main hall of the department, but it was still partially fulfilling the same functions, except that Delamein was the one overseeing everything, not a thousand and one employees, and this room was...
I don't think he needs it, but he still didn't destroy it, but why not?
That's a question I can no longer answer.
Here's the device...
I was led to a small container, which I opened and found a small box with a monitor that displayed a map of the city, or rather a part of it a couple of hundred meters in diameter.
"Hmmm... map scaling?"
"Unfortunately that's not possible, you'll have to drive around the neighborhoods I've mentioned to find the lost cars. And the first ones to be found in the..."
There followed a short briefing, during which I was told exactly where the two cars that were out of action were supposed to be. According to Del, they were not causing any trouble for the townsfolk, so he saw no danger in assimilating their personalities for a new experience.
In general, I was given the most comprehensive instructions, after which they took me outside through one of the back doors, where I calmly walked to the car.
"So?"
"Now begins the very half-roll down the street...
I grinned sadly.
"Is something wrong?"
"Hmmm... I'd say I was hoping for more information, and Delamaine doesn't have it. At least about our first targets..."