The car drove into a large gate into a construction site. Koleda looked outside, finding Anton surrounded by bears waiting for her. Koleda Howard the student of St. Freya Elementary School is no more. There's no more time for her to be a child, she's Koleda Belobog now the President of Belobog Industries.
"President!" Anton waved his hand. "How's school?"
"It's a mission Anton," she folded her arms. "I found an Etheric Material Storage near the school, see if you can find the original contractor," she turned back to Belle. "Anyway Belle, thanks for the lift I'll see you back in store this evening."
Belle grinned. "Thanks for all your help Koleda," she waved her hand as the van drove away from the construction site. "See you this weekend!"
Koleda watched Belle go, waving her hand. After a moment, she turned back to Anton. "Alright, back to work," she walked towards the Belobog Industry Office with him following from behind. "Anything requires my attention?" she asked him.
"The meeting with Three Gates Industry is today," Anton replied. "Ben is waiting for you Ms. President,"
The gentle cool air waft through Koleda's body as she stepped through the glass door. She took a deep breath the scent of pine and ether fuel lingering in the air. Some people in suits and bears walked around her, giving her a nod or a bow.
The hallway was quiet, soundproofed from the bustling construction outside of the room. Bangboos walked around, carrying all sorts of cleaning equipment. Keeping the soft carpet clean and the metal furniture spotless.
"President," Ben's gigantic figure walked out of the double door nearby. "Sorry for calling you on such short notice, it's about the Three Gates Industry, they insisted to formalize the changes you've made with the bid,"
Koleda sighed a little, usually Grace would be the one to deal with these folks. Now, it's up to her having to deal with them. Not to mention that they're extremely persistent with their 'partnership' offer. She's not stupid, they just want access to their AI Technology.
"Alright then," Koleda stepped into the meeting room, finding all flavors of sleazy business man and woman sitting around. Some are wearing expensive designer suit and dress, others in a more work-ready uniform, few wear lab coat and researcher's garb.
Grace never let her handle this sort of negotiation, at least not on her own. Koleda's experience has been all about managing and working with her own people. Those who already sees her as a leader and someone they can trust. She never had to prove herself to the bears and her close friends in Belobog.
Now however, the familiar skeptic gaze ran down on her. Already, uninterested glance, a hidden smirk, an eye roll. Koleda felt like running, but she knew this day would come. She has to face this head on and speak for them all.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," Koleda sat down on her raised seat. Ben walked up beside her, handing her the papers. "I thank you on behalf of Belobog Industry for putting aside your time and schedule to attend this meeting."
The girl took a deep breath. "Our meeting today concerns the shared contract between Belobog Industry and Three Gates Industry regarding the rebuilding of the Old Metro," she began. "Another matter we wish to attend in this meeting is regarding the unfortunate accident that led to the loss of our Head Mechanic, Grace Howard,"
Polite murmurs of prayers, lowered gaze, and dismissive nod were the only thing they gave her.
"Regarding the matter of the bid to the construction of the Old Metro, Belobog Industry have receded their bid. Three Gates Industries will have full control over the construction and Belobog Industry will give their support as a third party tech supplier."
There was a moment of silence as Koleda read through the rest of the notes. It was a hard decision, but according to Belle and Ben, it's best to lay low for a bit. The Belobog Logic Core, the soul of all their heavy machinery, are still the topmost priority. Trying to compete for the bid, will only lead to competitors trying to learn or even emulate their logic core, or hell, even steal them.
"In light of this development, the representative from Three Gates Industry will make her speech," Koleda turned to the woman sitting on the left side. "Betty Brenda of the Three Gates Industry, the time and place is yours,"
The said woman stood up, giving Koleda a polite bow, before continuing.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Betty Brenda, the head mechanic of the Three Gates Industries..."
The rest of the meeting went by in a blur for Koleda. The Three Gates Industries were more than happy to take over the meeting. Showing off their products and expertise, cozying up to the decision makers. Frankly, Koleda could care less, the contract is already signed, this meeting is just a formality.
At the end of the day, it's all just work as usual...
Frankly, she prefers working for the Video Store. The people there were a thousand times more genuine.
[LINE BREAK]
"Ugh... I want to drink so bad..." the masked brute spoke, leaning on a silo whilst gazing at the moonlit sky above him. "Since when is booze worse than etheric fucking crystals anyway?" he stood up and stretched his arms. "Imma head out real quick,"
"Dude," an arm gripped his shoulder and forced him to sit back down. "Patience, jeez!" beside him, a scrawny masked man sat down. "We'll clock out before sunrise and stop by 12th Street. I know a place,"
The brawny guy gazed at his partner blankly. "The Tilted Hollow?"
"The Tilted Hollow,"
"Only a rat would drink there Pawn," he said.
"You were literally there yesterday Rook," Pawn replied. "Scoring some chicks, what was her name, Ellen?"
Rook shuddered and shook his head. "Don't remind me, that crazy bitch kicked my ass and punched me in the face for just trying to cop a feel! I mean, she was literally the one who invited me to that new Karaoke, fuck!" he put a hand over his mask. "Remind me to stay the fuck away from Thiren Chick,"
"I can remind you anytime you want, but the moment you see a chick with animal features, it's..." Pawn paused when a shape walks in from a distance. A silhouette of three people, walking under the pale moonlight. "Game over for you..."
A soft whistle came from Rook's mask. "Pawn, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" he
"Thiren chick, black hair, dark skin, red eyes, cute face, cat ears, two tails, oh she's smirking. Yep, that's it, you're cooked, I'll see if I can salvage this," Pawn stood up and cleared his throat. "Good evening ladies, how can I help you?" he asked. "School's closed, please go back tomorrow."
The cat thiren stepped closer and Pawn can finally see her clearly. The moment he recognizes her though, his heart skipped a beat and he felt like bolting away back home. The uniform, the triangular mark on her forehead, and the other two surrounding her.
It's the Cunning Hares...
"Nyaa~ We're not here for school, ehehe~" the cat thiren girl giggled a little. "Boss told me she got business here with the principal, but she's busy so... I'll have to go in her place," she looked around, gazing at Pawn and Rook with shifty eyes. "Can you go tell her that we're here nyaa?"
Pawn gulped a little. "Miss Cocolia? I'm afraid... I mean... Have you made an appointment?"
"I was under the impression that boss already told her we're coming," the cat girl put both hands on her hips. "Hmm... are you sure she's not around?"
"Yes, I'm sure, she..."
A flash of light came from nearby, a rumbling sound of a car pulling over. Everyone simply stood in silence as a figure came walking into few, a tall woman with beautiful blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She nodded at the Cunning Hares and gestured at Pawn and Rook to open the door.
"Apologies for being late, Miss Nekomiya," Cocolia spoke calmly. "Pawn, Rook, open the door,"
"Yes ma'am!" the two quickly opened the silo door, revealing a large room filled with crates.
Pawn stayed in the sidelines, watching as the Cunning Hares step into the silo. He knew that his boss, the principal, made a deal with them. It's just the first time he get to see the Cunning Hares directly. It's honestly pretty thrilling, to see the legend themselves and lived to tell the tale.
"Interesting..." the cat thiren walked around the storage room, checking some boxes, sniffing at some every now and then. "Boss said you have the monthly report ready? Don't worry nyaa~ I'm not good with numbers, so just give me everything you got,"
Cocolia nodded and handed Nekomiya a folder. "Here," she said. "Etheric Material Mining and Bangboo Hunting,"
Nekomiya handed the folder to the white haired girl standing silently behind her. Pawn recognized her as Anby Demara, another legend among Hollow Raiders. Very little is known about her, the only thing anyone know is that... Her alone is enough reason for gangs to put the Cunning Hares on the 'Don't Fuck With' list.
"Is there anything else, Miss Cocolia?" Nekomiya asked.
Cocolia paused for a moment. "When you say 'Boss', were you referring to Nicole Demara or someone else?" she asked carefully.
"Nyaaa~ Being careful now are we?" Nekomiya took a step closer to Cocolia. "Good call~ It's a very... sensitive information you see?" she smirked and leaned her face closer to her ear. "Nicole's just a friend, she's not really my boss, and when I said Boss, I was referring to..."
Pawn couldn't hear the rest of it. Though something tells him that he better not, lest he wants to be killed on the spot. He then watched as Nekomiya took a step back and the principal's gaze widen in surprise.
It was... quite unsettling. Cocolia has been his employer for years now and for the longest time, he always thought that nothing could bother that psycho bitch. I mean, Cocolia literally plucked them off street and said 'I need you to steal bangboos and mine etherial material for me' and funding their operations ever since.
Not only that, but she also gave them a device that can literally lure Bangboo. Apparently the sound is a Bangboo's equivalent of an Ice Cream Truck music. They flock that thing and it was so easy to grab a dozen in one go. With all the abandoned Bangboo lying on the alleyways of Lumina Square.
So now, to see Cocolia, the 'Ice Queen' as Rook dubbed her, looking scared. Pawn knew that whatever Nekomiya whispered to her was something he'd lose sleep on if he knew.
"I see... Send my best regards to your... boss..." Cocolia spoke slowly and carefully. "Good day, Cunning Hares,"
"Nyaaa~ Pleasure working with you~" Nekomiya turned around. "Come on Anby, Billy, time for our next Worker Compensation~"
The trio's footsteps fades into the distance and Cocolia finally exhaled a deep breath. She then turned to Rook and Pawn who simply watched her in silence. "Our benefactor is offering triple the usual price for Anti-Corruption Serum," the woman spoke with finality. "Get to work,"
Pawn watched as the woman left the silo, leaving him alone once again with Rook.
"Whoa..." Rook gasped.
"Yeah, I know... I can't believe we just met the Cunning Hares."
"She's hot!"
There was a crack as Pawn smacked Rook's mask with an empty bottle. "I swear to god, that's how you die, you hear me? Your dick will make you do something that'll get you end up five feet under, you hear me!?"
Rook raised his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, hey, chill... I'm just sayin'!"
Pawn rolled his eyes and stepped out of the silo. "Let's just go back and get some shut eye, we have a busy day tomorrow,"