The leader of the Anagoran Loyalists was mind-snared. The gunrunners were funding them, with someone assuring their protection. That is not a coincidence. Ex-Clandestine involvement? Probably. One of the two directors? Possibly, though high possibilities of only one of them.

Even if that director's a coward, he's not suicidal. Kazuki thought for a moment as Nimitz-Delia placed a glass of high quality liquor down on the side-table - Aspria Kio, with its fizzy bubbles and deep crimson colouring; from a mere glance he could tell it was aged at least two decades.

Kazuki looked up as the Máwti woman poured the drinks. Around them was Delia's luxury yacht. They were in the main observation deck, it had large windowed walls for viewing out into the endless abyss of space.

It was dotted with stars, nebulas, and a thousand bright blimps. The room was plated in pristine gold and painted in a nice coat of titanium silver.

As he sat back up in his seat, Delia spoke up. "Mister GemRy, care for a drink?" Her voice was smooth, calming even, but Kazuki didn't trust a single word.

He shook his head, standing up.

"Suit yourself, then." she downed her drink.

He was slightly taller than Delia, whom Kazuki quickly scanned for weapons. Unless they were Nanobotic-cores, he doubted she could hide anything between her wrap dress and fishnets or in her heels

"I have no weapons on me, or is it something else you're interested in?" asked Delia, forming a smirk on her face as she noticed Kazuki looking her up.

Kazuki was stunned for the moment, not exactly knowing what to say. And as always, he resorted to the things that he was taught by his mother, when in doubt: compliment. "Nice… dress."

"Oh, please, don't be afraid to speak your mind. From what I've heard, compliments are a pay grade above yours." Her blue wrap dress looked expensive, one imbued with wealth. In fact, they might even have the same tailors, the small details gave it away. She looked befitting of a member of the senate, manipulative and greedy. She glanced around the room, gesturing with her other hand. "Wonderful, is it not?"

"Not particularly. Arts are not my forté. Business was." Why bother with fine art when his mind is filled with them from memory. He even remembers the old works of some guy called Vinci. He popped a Halolazil pill as Delia simply watched him, better to take some before the shaking starts again.

She savoured the taste of the drink. "You should really drink some of this fine wine, take some time to enjoy things in life… Remember that protection contract on Kitharnia?" asked Delia.

He nodded. "Nothing special. Standard protection contract. Fighting the militia that other contractors trained was unusual; but they were amateurs," said Kazuki.

"Two weeks after you left, I had a business meeting with the leaders of that planet, on behalf of Clandestine. I always wondered about the mystique of you, the Leviathan of Eden, now Fourth of the Seven Mercs, and…" Delia paused, as if waiting for Kazuki's permission. He nodded. "Contract-Breaker… Well, I would have loved to have you on my detail, I even petitioned James a few times."

Delia walked around the observation post as two guards stood firm at the only entrance. She stopped some distance from the walled window.

Kazuki glanced outside, seeing half a dozen gunships fly by, patrolling the space around the vessel. They weren't his men, but Delia's personal detail, a lot of them are ex-Clandestine, so he knew some by name, but not all.

But Director James' name caught Kazuki's attention. James? Maybe James got her to support them before he died, after all there was always some whispers that Delia was linked to him beyond professional courtesy. But Kazuki didn't want to push it. "I doubt they would have let you. The Directors preferred me on Judicial Duty."

"Well, having a member of the Seven Mercenaries on stand-by is quite beneficial, especially acting as keepers of the peace," stated Delia, curling her lips.

He fell quiet. She was right, Clandestine preferred to keep him as close to the High Table Oversector as possible. But she was wrong about him. He's a bloody murderer, sent in to kill the criminals - nothing more. It just so happens that sometimes the criminals are rich, powerful people. But when that happens: his employers are less than happy. Whether it was because of his parents, his two-sided life or James' being protective, he stayed in the Oversector, in the heart of the Republic. But he didn't know why. The secret died with James, Kazuki thought.

"If keeping the peace involves slaughtering everything in our path, then yes." commented Kazuki, "Children be damned. If they pick up a weapon, they're in our crosshairs as well."

Delia paused for a moment, wondering if he was being sarcastic or not. She chose to ignore his statements as she smiled, wiping the awkwardness away. "Well, better to work with a seven mercenary than a seven criminal, I can tell you that!" Delia exclaimed, "Hartius is far more accommodating than either Kyria or Antiar."

"Well, the Mischief Board isn't exactly as tight as the BCA is. But it honestly depends on what you're looking for," said Kazuki, standing and walking up to one of the windows, looking out. "If discretion is of concern, mercenaries; if you're doing something illegal, criminals, sometimes mercs. Depends."

Even if he felt relatively safe here, he still wore his gold-trimmed armour, prepared for combat at any given moment. But even without his guns, he was still the deadliest person in the room.

Delia walked up to him, but Kazuki kept himself facing towards her. She was probably double or even triple his age, yet she looked young. "Now, I wish I could have spoken with your agent first… He was rather interesting to talk to."

Golden eyes thinned. "wish to speak business, do you not? I'm not as busy as I was a few days ago, and an intermediary is not required for this."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Delia shrugged, replacing her empty cup with a filled one as a serving drone hovered by. "I wish to discuss the war. And of course: business, how's a politician supposed to make a quick buck?"

"It's over," said Kazuki. Delia was a Clandestine financier, but Kazuki guessed she was still stuck up over lost investments. "But I will see that your investments are properly reimbursed."

"No need!" shouted Delia, "Sure, debts are debts but times are different, and I do not want to needlessly antagonise you. I merely wish to speak about this war, the war you started…"

"What… Do you mean?" asked Kazuki. The flames should fan out, and dissipate. Hopefully. "If you are referring to the gunrunners, they are no longer a threat. Their assets have been seized."

"By you, or the police?" asked Delia.

Kazuki slowly turned towards her, suspecting that she may be playing another game, the mental conditioning from his mother and Archius kicked in as paranoia grew. Most of the smugglers left alive chose to work with the AGENCY, including Osmond… Would giving her an answer here lead to any sort of conclusion on that front? Was she asking for a cut of the profits?

"I'm sorry, but the AGENCY is not accepting investment capital at this current time. And our newly gained assets are being maintained."

Yet, she placed her palms forward. "Just asking, I simply wish to weigh in on the decision makings of the AGENCY—"

Oh, so she was interested.

"—Now, let's say that you do have these weapons… In a hypothetical sense, of course. Off the books, I say either sell them or keep them. You can demand a premium for your Training Contracts if you add weapons into the mix. You know how it is, planetary guard understaffed, rag-tag… perfect. But on the books…"

"Commissioner Delmara will want them," said Kazuki, stating the obvious. Delia was trying to be friendly with him, it didn't work. If his parent's conditioning didn't make him sceptical, Archius' mental training did. But he appreciated the advice nonetheless.

"Exactly… And given how your war is not over, I do not recommend showing weakness."

Delia pulled out several probes from her dress, throwing them up into the air as they hovered around her, braiding her dark green hair for her and placing some makeup over her light bronze skin, much similar to Archius. She was a Máwti. She looked at her ICAPAD.

Something propped up, but Kazuki kept to his own business.

"A Second Shadow War?"

"Yes, you're surprised, are you not? But worry not, please! We have no reason to worry, this will all be over," said Delia, "But do ensure that fuel remains untouched."

But it wasn't as easy as said. Anything could add fuel to the fire, even completing simple contracts. He couldn't withdraw from the Judicial Contracts, though. They paid a premium for hired guns to kill hardened criminals. His mother instilled harsh business lessons into him, probably wishing that he becomes as successful as her. Well, here he is… How she'd be so disappointed in him, he thought.

Delia turned back to Kazuki, then looked out into the stars, the cosmos. "But you do have a plan for the tensions, right?" asked Delia.

Pausing for a moment, Kazuki thought to himself. Did he? Not really, he had been relying on Sato and Martinez on that front. He was a commander, yes; a killer, yes. But a strategist and planner? Less so. He wasn't his father. But people believe what they want.

"One is being created as we speak," Kazuki lied.

"Excellent," said Delia, the drones finishing up with her sparkly lime coloured hair. She looked away from him for a moment. "Excellent."

His eyes narrowed for a moment, but as he started to suspect something, she turned towards him, showing him what the probes did to her hair. It looked… subjectively better. Kazuki wasn't into fashion, nor beauty… But Delia seemed pleased at the end result.

And he simply nodded. She was probably referring to her hair… or the creation of new plans… Nothing of concern.

"What do you gain from assisting the AGENCY?" asked Kazuki.

Delia merely gave a small shrug. "Your men, your services. In exchange for my assistance, I would like you access your services… it's a dangerous galaxy, after all. And to sweeten our deal, I have an offering, for free." said Delia, "I have reports of the Board's activities, and yes: they were colluding with the gunrunners."

"You have agents in the Board?"

"Who doesn't!?" Delia chuckled for a moment as Kazuki tugged at his shirt collar.

"..." Kazuki paused, finding himself unable to respond. Such an open response was not in his calculations

Delia, on the other hand, took his silence to heart, smirking. So she wants access to his services, but that does not entirely answer his question - especially for someone in her position. "There are many other security providers you can assist. Why do you work for us?"

"With, not for." Delia paused for a moment as she recollected her probes. "Would you prefer the public reason or private reason?"

"Private."

Delia placed the cup down on one of the nearby drones, balancing it on its head. It made small beeps as it floated away, complaining about things. "Very well, then," said Delia, continuing, "Profits, Kazuki. I'm a businesswoman first and foremost, a politician second, please take no offence. Your services may be employed to secure shipping lanes through… troubled regions in the galaxy. Being a politician can be quite costly, let me tell you that."

The Senate was far from the shining beacon of democracy fools believed it was. It was an open secret about how corrupt it is. All it takes is a single spark to send the Republic into flames.

Luckily, he has no reason to do that. Not now. "What? Too expensive to keep your brooch clean?"

Delia chuckled. She shook her head. "To some extent, many don't have the capital to run, but those that do are my threats. Still, I am glad that we can speak to one another as equals."

"What would you say to Jessica if she was in my position? If she won," asked Kazuki, crossing his arms.

Even without any weapons, his presence and intimidation was felt even to himself as Delia paused for a moment, glancing away and back.

Delia mulled it over as she said, "Well, I would have told her the same." She then placed a hand on Kazuki's shoulder. Continuing, "But let's not talk about what could have been, I'm sure we both have a lot of details to hash out. Two individuals with perfect memory, but of course: contracts."

"I wish to employ your men… In exchange for my assistance. Mining subsidiary companies, their land needs protection… I am just so happened to be a shareholder of their company." She stuck her hand out towards him. "Not in the dangerous regions however, we can hash that out later."

Nodding, Kazuki acknowledged that. She wasn't a Clandestine boot-licker, but simply an entrepreneur, a financier. A greedy, corrupt individual yes: but in this cruel galaxy, such is a given.

He shook her hand, accepting her assistance. Delia smiled.

And as long as he brings profits… she'll remain loyal…

Loyal?

He wished it was that simple to remain such… But reality is much harsher than the black and white standards of the BCA or the board. And no matter what, he'll remain loyal to his contracts, all written in blood - some more than others.

Sighing, Kazuki nodded. "I see, then." He pushed himself away from Delia, before slowly turning his head - peering out into the abyss, the Eclipse a thousand light years away staring back at him.Arc

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