Meanwhile in Wanderer new hq in the Obsidian Gate tower, their barrack now is more resemblance a club than a military complex. a bar and training facility mixed with jacuzzi and dance floor

  Sanada and Furqan is sit on the bar, while Chrome and new Lieutenant Bronk is compete who is the longest in pull up, and Shizuka is reading in center of lounge, until the information from the Scout is arrive on her monitor, just after his rat reach theirs

  The information from the scout's intel, delivered by the rat, suddenly appeared on the screen of Shizuka's monitor. As she read through it carefully, a look of concern crossed her face. The information was alarming, and she knew that action needed to be taken. She quickly summoned the others to the monitor, urgently gesturing for them to come and look.

  Sanada and Furqan, hearing the urgent call, quickly made their way towards the monitor where Shizuka was. Their expressions were serious as they gathered around, awaiting news. Chrome and Bronk paused their workout, curious about the commotion.

  As the team gathered around the monitor, Shizuka quickly briefed them on the intel gathered by the scout. "Listen, we've got a situation. The scout just sent an urgent message. It seems the a group of people in series 9 follow the new law, the neighbor city in south of sin city, District Name: Genesis, Bloc: The Crucible."

  Furqan's eyes narrowed as he took in the information. "The Crucible? That place is bad news. I've heard stories about the experiments they conduct there. We should proceed with caution."

  Sanada crossed his arms, a frown on his face. "Agreed. We don't know what kind of genetic monstrosities they've cooked up there. We need to be properly prepared before we enter the city."

  As Oboro arrived, the others turned to him with anticipation. Sanada was the first to speak up. "What do you have for us, Oboro?"

  "before he move to sin city. he got the cheap minion on that wrecked city" Bboro then cross his arms "that place is the wild east of the wasteland"

  Chrome grunted, crossing his arms. "Great, another place teeming with chaos and bandits. Just what we need."

  later they report their found to Wanderer on his office "hmhm.. District of Genesis huh?,, "Wanderer close his eyes and then cross his arms while spin back on his chair and then look at the window "i know soon or later its become a regional conflict.. the real battle is begun after we capture their land.."

  Oboro nodded, acknowledging Wanderer's words. "Indeed, the situation is escalating. Series 9 is clearly testing their limits. It's only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose."

  “good.. i mean. bad. hehe”

  Chrome rolled his eyes at Wanderer's attempt at humor. "Always so lighthearted, aren't you, boss? Can we please take this seriously for once?"

  “You know. im very serious person,, "wanderer then spin his chair and meet their faces "there is nothing we can do except wait.. if we go offensive.. we are will be trapped on urban warfare. and cat and mouse.. but if we wait them come.. their foot will into our traps"

  Sanada rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering the situation. "So you're saying we should bide our time and wait for them to make a move. Use their arrogance against them?"

  “...something like that.. we must.. appear to be weak to provoke them.. tell our scout and saboteurs to hold their action,, even it is necessary.. i will fake my dead”

  Chrome raised an eyebrow at Wanderer's words. "Fake your death? That's a bold move, boss. Are you sure that's what you want to do?"

  “the victor in this game .. is the one who most... umm... silent and covered in veil... ughhh... just.. that.. shadow stuff you know”

  Sanada chuckled, finding humor in Wanderer's stumbling explanation. "Silent and covered in veil, huh? Sounds like you're trying to be the mysterious silent type all of a sudden."

  “yes.. .. my apperance just merely symbols to keep those monster in check.. when i gone. their true nature.. will appear.. and that is time when we hit the naughty one.. but there is a backlash too.. its might spread into full war again.. “

  Oboro nodded, "I get it now. You want to provoke them, let them get cocky and show their true colors. Then, we strike back hard. But there's always a risk of things spiraling out of control, leading to a full-blown war."

  ” yes,, i read countless history man.. a merely puppet leader like me.. is had limited time in power.. so i just make it faster you know”

  Chrome chuckled, "You're always one step ahead, aren't you, boss? Always thinking about the bigger picture. But let's just hope that your puppet act doesn't backfire on us."

  “yes.. "wanderer then spin his chair" lets make this tower become a fortress..”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Sanada chuckled. "Finally a plan that sounds more like you, boss. Let's get to work and fortify this Tower into a damn fortress!"

  Thea and her company of mercenaries, their vehicles rumbling through the desolate wasteland, arrived at the scene of the disturbance. Amidst the smoldering wreckage of vehicles and the scattered corpses. This was no ordinary gang war. The bodies were a grotesque mix of mutated creatures and humans, their limbs twisted and contorted. Advanced cyberware gadgets were strewn across the battlefield,

  Thea's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the scene. "This isn't right," she muttered, when she dismount the vehicle. and observe the carnage.

  A wounded gang member, slumped in the driver's seat of a pickup truck, caught Thea's attention. His voice was barely a whisper, "Water..."

  One of the mercenaries, Nishi approached the wounded man, offering a canteen of water. Thea followed, her expression a mix of concern and skepticism.

  "He doesn't look too good," she observed, gesturing to the man's wounds. "See if you can help him, but be careful. We don't know if there's anyone else hidden nearby."

  "what we do maam? capture him? " Nishi speak after give him water

  Thea considers the mercenary's question for a moment, weighing their options. She looks at the wounded gang member, then at the wreckage of the vehicles, before finally answering.

  "We'll capture him. He might have information we can use, and he's in no condition to cause problems. But watch him closely. If he tries anything funny, don't hesitate to shoot."

  A mercenary, after scavenging one of the damaged vehicles, returned with a syringe filled with a green substance. "Look what I found," he said, holding it up for Thea to see.

  Thea took the syringe, examining it with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "What is this? It looks like some kind of drug or something..."

  "Perhaps he knows something," the mercenary replied, nodding towards the wounded gang member.

  Thea turned her attention back to the wounded man, who was now being tended to by the mercenaries. "You there," she called out, her voice firm. "What is this substance? What's in this syringe?"

  The wounded man coughed before replying, "Shard..."

  Thea raised an eyebrow, the name "shard" ringing a bell in her memory. She glanced at the mercenary, then back at the wounded gang member.

  "Shard... I've heard of that before. It's some sort of drug, isn't it? A dangerous one."

  later. Thea returned to Wanderer,

  "Hmhm... hmhm... drug war, huh? Classic... almost... cliché..." Wanderer observed the syringe on his hand

  In the background, several freelance scientists was hired to studying the green substance, their eyes squinting in focus as they examined the contents of the syringe. They murmured amongst themselves,

  Thea then turn the wounded gang member, "Where did you get it? And what have you been using it for?"

  The wounded gang member coughed again, his breath raspy. He looked up at Thea with a mix of pain and defiance.

  "Found it... in a cave... deep north..." he muttered between gasps of breath. "A strange creature... gave it to me..."

  "Tell everything... and we will fix your body," Wanderer spoke stoically.

  "I... I found this cave, north of here." He coughed, his chest heaving. "There... there was a creature... it wasn't human. It... it gave me the shard..."

  "I see... and who is attacking your convoy?"

  The gang member took a wheezing breath, his chest rattling as he spoke. "It was... it was a rival gang." He gasps. "They've been eyeing our territory for months. They ambushed us, attacked while we were transporting goods."

  "Alright... just give us the names later..." Wanderer then gave a nod to others to take him away to the medbay.

  Thea looked at Wanderer as the gang member was taken away, a look of respect in her eyes. She had to admit, he knew how to handle a situation. She spoke up, her tone slightly subdued.

  "That was... effective, old man."

  "Shard... why do I like... heard it... somewhere before..."

  Wanderer's brows furrowed in concentration, a look of deep thought on his face. He's trying to recall the memory of hearing the word 'shard' before. Thea, meanwhile, remained standing nearby, her arms crossed, watching Wanderer curiously.

  "You're right," she says slowly, her own mind working to remember. "There's something familiar about the word 'shard'..."

  "SWAT and various factions in the wasteland using a drugs... that is the norm... but this one... perhaps... like... mutant drug?"

  "A mutant drug..." she muses, the wheels turning in her mind. "That would make sense. And it would explain the attacks by those mutated creatures we saw earlier."

  Wanderer then chuckles "Hehe... do you wanna try it?"

  "Try it? Are you serious?" she asks, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "You want me to try this untested, potentially dangerous substance just like that?"

  "Hmhm... yes... you are my... disposable... minion."

  "Fine. I'll try it," she relents, her voice not quite hiding a hint of wariness. “But if I end up regretting this, I’m blaming you."

  Wanderer then raise his eyebrows and hold Thea hand when she grab one syringe"No... I just joking girl... I love my men and woman... including you..."

  Thea blinks, surprised, a slight flush of embarrassment on her face beneath her green veil "Oh... you were joking," she mutters, her voice still tinged with wariness but also a hint of relief. "You had me scared there for a second, old man."

  "Good... girl..."

  "Don't call me 'girl'," she huffs, her tone gruff yet holding a hint of good-natured annoyance. "I may be younger than you, but I'm not a child."

  "How old are you btw?"

  "Twenty-eight," she says firmly. "And before you start acting all superior just because you're older, keep in mind that this 'girl' could still whip your ass in a fight."

  "Hehe... yes... do you wanna other quest?"

  Thea's straightens up, "What kind of quest?"

  "Good. Go investigate the location the origin of this shard on the north forest,, to learn more what is the detail of item is."

  Thea nods in agreement, "North forest, origin of the shard.. got it. once Siberian Permafrost. now become a dense green jungle"

  "Good luck... meanwhile, I will focing the tower into a fortress.. it's will be a big battle... another legendary one."

  "Good luck to you too, old man. Stay safe," she replies, her voice steady but betraying a hint of worry for Wanderer's safety. "I'll be back as soon as I can with the intel on the shard."

  "Take your time." Wanderer smiled.

  Thea returns Wanderer's smile with a nod. With a final salute, she leave the room to prepare her new mission.

  As she leave. Wanderer then look at Nishi and spoke “Hey. drunkard.. long time not see..”

  Nishi raise his eyebrow then cross his arms “umm. yeah.?”

  Wanderer smirk “its look like you getting clean now. ironically in the most corrupt place.. people change to something.. better. unlike me.”

  Nishi face turn to soften “And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

  Wanderer blinked several times upon heard that line. something. he used to heard in past. but long forgotten. after long pause he then speak “..umm.. yeah. sure.. anyway. can you do me a favor?”