Post by Maxine on Jul 24, 2021 23:31:08 GMT -8
Yakisoba Noir | 1 Star Mission (2000 Words Requirement) - Oolong City's a rough place, but it's a place where the money flows like the sake does- freely, quickly, and with heady breaths and murmured whispers. A good place to be a private investigator, a detective, or just a sort of keen spectator. A place of darkness, shadows, and damn good grilled food. Today's case? An award winning scientist has been acting strange, and their employers at the Grand Duke's Own University, GDOU, have sought out someone to find out why. Solve the case, report in, and grab some of that delicious Yakisoba that joints around the school dish out.
Rewards: Wheat of Might
Rewards: Wheat of Might
The rain gently fell on the window – the view from her office was spectacular in a storm like this. Though the Shinobu headquarters’ vistas could not compare to the Duke’s Plateau or Tea Heights… Maxine rather preferred it this way. Such places were paved in falsehoods. For all the Shinobu’s infamy, at least they were not leading such lies. And, say what you want about those beautiful gardens, but Maxine herself preferred the city lights.
But tonight, they were not so inviting. And it wasn’t just the storm brewing that bothered her, either.
”Yes… I can only apologise. It didn’t go as planned. I ended up having to use a lot more force than I desired. It won’t reflect well on the Shinobu… it was a failure, certainly.”
Though she offered such words on her phone, she dearly wanted to prostrate herself before the Chairman in person. It wasn’t often she got orders so directly from above – and she had promptly failed in following them to the letter. Discretion… had become harder and harder to come by, lately.
<I am not bothered by your means. You gathered the results required. Certainly, it would be preferred if you could be more subtle, but I understand that it can only get harder for you.>
The android’s face fell into dismay, before she steeled herself. She had been waiting for this judgement for a long time. ”…You are not wrong. From the day I opened my eyes – I could only get older. The time when I can no longer keep up is arriving –“
<Incorrect. Foolish girl, if I felt that way, I would have demoted you immediately. You certainly can only get older, but if that means you’re filing taxes rather than taking bullets, then that is all the same to me. Anyone can handle a bullet or two; but only a few people can wrap their head around the Duchies’ tax loopholes.
No, what I mean is that – quite simply, your reputation precedes you, Maxine.>
”I only bear the name of the Shinobu. Anything else, is just dressing.” An immediate answer; exactly by the book down to every word. ”The young scientist must been so rattled by my approach. He was new to the Duchies, correct? Maybe I let my clan colours speak too much for me – my cover might need updating – I’ll organise a further identity as soon as –”
<Accept it, Maxine. You are no longer a hand of the Shinobu! You are a face. You cannot hide in the Princess’ shadow. Once, your name was only thrown about by retired clan heavies trying to pin down what they missed of the old days; or the young punks who could not stand having a machine in your shoes. Now, though – things have changed. When people think Shinobu, they think of you.
And it’s not just here. Across the regions, too, they know the machine who claims to have no heart. The one who faces martial artists not with matching techniques or historied styles, nor with advanced technology or powers they alone were born with – but with the same guns anyone else could buy. A ‘worthless consumer model’, whose name butlers whisper in awe. The girl who wears a suit, not a gi, and walks behind others rather than in front of them. The gloved hand of the Shinobu… do you understand?>
”Y-Yes, I must focus more on how I present myself! I have been distracting from my Chairman, and my clan! I’ve made you bear immense humiliation…!”
<Cease your blathering! Listen, and think! You may have a face now, whether you like it or not. But don’t fool yourself into thinking it isn’t by design.>
The rain grew heavier, as the weight on the android’s back grew lighter.
<Your target recognised you. And, he was terrified, wasn’t he? It may not have gone as well as I would have liked, but it is a strong message that greater things have been going to plan…>
”…So this was within your parameters for success? I do not know if I can readily agree… most of his work was already burnt by the time I arrived. And, I must have been too blatant if he had that much time to work with. If he was simply scared of the Duchies or the GDOU’s scrutiny, then that would be enough; but he seemed unsurprised by my appearance.”
<Precisely. You’ve become a face of the Shinobu – and, a face of the Duchies. Now does it make more sense to you?>
”…A compliant and professional operator as your playing piece. An emblem of the Shinobu you can order and shape as you see fit. And, one who acts as an exemplar… while others can drift into the shadows.”
A slow chuckle came across the phone’s speaker. Yes, Maxine could see that smirk in her mind’s eye; the look of a satisfied snake.
<I know you do not like to play in the light… but do not fret, I am sure that the Grand Dukes’ mutts will be happy to take the stage. But then, when they fail them, they shall look to the envoy of the Duchies’ future and past – away from the reckless children, and instead to the polite and professional. They shall see such shame… and turn to the Shinobu.
And until then, we can gradually shape our icon to fit our purposes. Where others get attention for chasing old swords and petty rivalries, we’ll place our fingers in matters of business and wealth. What’s that saying of yours – ‘no more heroes’? That’s the matter at hand. The Duchies need diplomats and spies, not samurai. For such roles, a self-centred celebrity is of no use at all… a machine, instead, is exactly what you need.>
…The rain was the only sound that could offer a reply. Maxine was sure she should say something – but she did not have the words at hand. It was all to be expected, but… a chill fell over her. To serve the Shinobu to the bitter end was her only wish, and only task. Yet – the Chairman was such a different force to Duchess Rhyme. Was changing the world really within the scope of her dying dreams?
<…I am glad you understand. In closing, I would simply recommend you keep doing what you are doing. I have yet to be disappointed… at least, not severely. Ufufu. Continue keeping a low profile, and following our customs to the letter. Bear the fading memory of the Duchies that once were, as you always have. Just… think about updating your wardrobe more often. And, perhaps I could look into a better sponsorship for your firearms? I know you are quite attached to your guns, but I am sure I can find you a finer revolver than that old thing…>
”I-I appreciate it, but I shall pass for now. Thank you for the advice, Chairman. I will carry it just as I carry my life.”
<Old platitudes won’t impress me. I only care for results. But… you have been satisfactory on that front, so I’ll let your habits slide. As you know, our objective continues to be the matter of the World Martial Arts Tournament… win or lose, I need eyes there. Those Dragoons of yours, too… they trust you. They have been quite content to use our connections and brand to drill deeper into this world… be sure to use them just as selfishly.>
Maxine gradually took a seat at her desk – finally, she felt a little more comfortable as the conversation settled down. And, finally, she was beginning to feel a little more comfortable at this seat, too. The shrine of her Duchess, in many ways… once, she, too, was just meant to be part of the scene; but now she took her master’s place. A poor substitute, indeed, but her duties were real whether she was a fake or not.
…She glanced to the photo frame, still face-down on the desk.
She considered it.
But, not today.
Not yet.
She did not deserve that just yet.
<Are you still there, Maxine?>
”Of course, Chairman.”
<Good. I am not finished speaking to you. Please switch to our fully secured channel.>
And so it was all business again. Maxine hung up her mobile, and waited just a second – her eyes locked onto the wired phone upon her desk. Once, it had been just a traditional tool, a way to add reverence to calls from the family’s head… but, with the trickle of technology from their co-conspirators in the Azure Dragoons, it had become one of the most secure lines in the Duchies.
Finally, it rang, and she picked it up immediately – albeit while tapping into the complex line of digits. Even every tiny hint of security counted with work such as the Shinobu’s. Furthermore, she simply plugged herself into the phone’s antique-seeming console… much more secure than speaking out loud.
<Regarding the original matter at hand. Though the documents were burnt when you arrived in person, did you get the full report from the mole? I had high hopes for that man’s work… manipulating things to get him into our grasp was no small feat.>
<Yes, I picked up the report, and had it decrypted a few days later, via the holiday home in the Central Lands. It took some time to recompile his documents, but the results are convincing. It’d need far more physical information than what he had, but combined with my data I think it is possible.>
<That’s excellent news. I was concerned it’d wash out like the last attempt. So, how far do you think it could go? I never thought replicating a Dragon Ball Shard is remotely possible, but a vain hope of replicating its products – if that is within reach, then it opens up all kinds of possibilities.>
<With the right amount of input, and no limits on materials, I think it is truly possible. But, it’s not without faults. It requires a unique core material, a very unstable supernatural alloy – not as rare as a Shard, certainly, and far more malleable; but still incredibly valuable. For the time-being, we can’t possibly consider developing more than one replica at any time. And, even then, large-scale construction is out of the question… though, on the whole, I’d really rather not cause friction between the Shinobu and Misa – err, Kazami-sama in the first place.>
<I see. It is a start, in any case. With the WMAT stage at our fingertips, it is good timing for such a trump card to come into our hand. Until then, though, I would like the documentation in my hands as soon as possible. Then, I’ll be expecting you to handle the field testing. You do enjoy having new toys to play with, don’t you?
But most importantly – continue the cover-up operation. I do not want a single whiff of this getting to the university. Plug the leaks, and divorce yourself from any further investigation into this plan until I give you new orders. The last thing I want it my finest pawn to be used as a scapegoat.>
<Of course, Chairman. I will handle it with utmost care and decorum, as you order.>
<Then that is all. Until next we meet, Maxine. To the future of the clan.>
<In the name of the Shinobu…>
Maxine finally placed the receiver back in its place, and disconnected herself; reshuffling her parallel processes back to their optimal setup. But, while more work beckoned, she lingered in this moment.
It was an unsettling feeling. Was this really the way forward? She should have no doubts in her clan, but again… was this her dream? To see the Duchies last forever, and to enshrine the Shinobu’s future in her absence – certainly, they were the rational way of seeing such a thing.
But, Maxine – she was just a machine.
The future had no place for her, surely.
To place such weight on a consumer model could not be wise.
She’d follow her orders until the end, certainly, but…
Those premonitions of disaster that followed everyone until their last moments.
She could not escape those words.
Tomorrow it could be you.
[2061/2000]