After knocking three times on the large, polished oak door, she pushed it open and entered the room. It was a cavernous space, both wide and tall, and the footsteps of her high-heeled boots echoed with a resounding staccato as she crossed the room towards his desk. He sat in a tall chair, facing away from her, looking out over the City at dawn. He spoke without turning around.

  “How is it looking, Karmen?”

  “... Sir. We’ve successfully eliminated the Batou Group. Most of their soldiers have been consolidated into our ranks. We’re currently taking control of their territory, though there are some stragglers who are putting up a fight. I believe Mr. Tanbrae is clearing them up as we speak.”

  “Very well. Dismissed.”

  “... Yes, sir.”

  He had changed so drastically since they first met. He was only two years older than her, but it was as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. His hair had even begun to grey, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had seen him smile. Yet, there was nothing she could do. He had been set on this path for a long time, and no one had been able to dissuade him. Not even Felhart. She turned on the spot and walked back to the door, stopping only for an instant to look back at him before exiting the room.

  He hadn’t moved. That tall chair, which obstructed him from sight completely, still faced towards the tall windows that looked out over his domain. She allowed herself to let out the smallest of sighs, and left.

  The door swung shut with an unpleasantly loud noise, jarring him back to reality. He absentmindedly watched the sunrise casting the skyscrapers in warm, orange light. The light reflected off millions of glass panes and shone towards him. It almost felt like he would be swallowed up by it.

  “Grandfather… if this is what I’ve been working towards, then perhaps it was worth it all along. No, I know. I should never have doubted that. But even so, can’t you give me a sign? Anything at all…?” He spoke out loud, addressing nobody. “... I see. Then, are you punishing me? Have I not suffered enough for your liking?”

  There was no response, and there never would be. But he took the silence as an answer nonetheless.

  It was the 26th of October, a Saturday. The previous week had passed by in a blur. Riina had asked her mother if Exon could live with them for the time being, and so she was put up in the spare bedroom - she protested, but Shiiko insisted, defeating her with a solid argument of “No one comes to stay anyway, so it’d only be gathering dust otherwise!”.

  Riina had replaced her phone, lost in the fight against Retter Einia, with a flipphone. It was a centuries-old design with no real features beyond the ability to make phone calls, but the resulting low price and retro aesthetic made it popular among young people. She had bought a matching one for Exon — hers was white, while Exon’s was black — so they could communicate with each other and with the Outsiders.

  On this lazy Saturday morning, Riina and Exon both received a text from Orlan — the Outsiders had moved into their new hideout and wanted them to come down to celebrate. And so, the two of them set off to the address.

  They arrived at a door set into a large support pillar of a bridge that rose high overhead, an overpass for vehicles and pedestrians travelling to and from the central business district.

  “... Is this really the place?”

  “You worry too much, Riina. Although, this does seem like an occasion where having a phone with GPS software would be helpful…”

  Hesitantly, Riina knocked on the door. A short time passed before it opened, and the two of them came face to face with a grinning Orlan.

  “You made it! Sorry if it was hard to find your way here. Follow me!”

  They stepped inside and followed Orlan along a corridor. Music could be heard faintly, growing louder as they approached its source. Eventually they came to a large room in which sofas and tables had been laid out. The other Outsiders awaited them there, surrounded by trays of snacks and drinks.

  “Riina! Exon! You’re here!”

  “It’s great to see you.”

  “Hey, you two!”

  “Glad you could make it, hehe~”

  Greetings followed, accompanied by warm smiles and laughter. The two newcomers mingled with their newfound friends, chatting and making small talk.

  “Hmm, Luun, if I’m not mistaken, seems like you’re already drunk…” Riina mused.

  “Ahaha, what are you talking abou~t! I have a high tolerance, you know!”

  “A high tolerance means nothing if you’ve already drunk twice your body weight…” Orlan teased her.

  “Huh? What would you know about my body weight?!”

  “... Anyway, Orlan, what’s the story here? Why the inside of a bridge pillar, of all places?”

  “Well…” He gestured grandly, preparing to describe the grandiose saga of acquiring such an unusual hideout. “The insurance payout on the old apartment was a lot. I think they were trying to cover up the fact that the damage was caused by, as far as they’re concerned, a terrorist. Not to mention, one who’s gone missing ever since. So I looked around for somewhere I could afford, and it turns out the government is selling off certain properties owned by the City. Guess they must be short on funding? So anyway, I was able to buy this place outright. It might not look it from just this one room, but this is a pretty huge structure.”

  “There was electricity already installed, but no appliances. No oven, fridge, washing machine, anything like that. So it’s hard to say it has everything you could need to live right now, but until it does, we’ve at least got rooms for everyone.” Krau explained.

  “Including… well, you two. If you want. No pressure, of course! But at this point, you guys are already honourary members. I guess I wanted to make it official, you know?” Suddenly shy, Orlan trailed off.

  “Hmmmm? Well, I don’t know~ I’ll have to ask my partner in crime, you know?”

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “Look whosh… who’s drunk now!” Luun pointed accusingly, her face ever more red. “Wait… does that mean you guys…?”

  “Heheh.” Riina crossed her arms and nodded proudly. “That’s right, we kissed.”

  “... That’s not what I meant, but good for you!”

  This, and other such lighthearted conversations continued for a time, until Orlan received a message on his phone. After reading it, his face hardened slightly.

  “We’ve been offered a new job through AkuShi. The client is anonymous, but they said they’ll reveal their identity when they join us on the mission. We’re to collaborate with them and their forces and attack the headquarters of a security company called Black Barghest. … It’ll pay well, but what do you guys think?”

  “I haven’t heard of Black Barghest, but I see no harm. Sounds like we’ll have backup from whoever this mysterious client is, so it shouldn’t be too difficult, right?” Luun replied.

  “Hmm… I’d like to know more about what we’re getting into before we go for it.” Haritte countered, ever-vigilant of danger.

  “What I can tell you is that we’ll basically act as an anti-Devil Brand force. The enemy has exactly three Branded, including their leader, with the rest of their forces being normal humans. The plan is for our client’s foot soldiers to deal with the enemy’s foot soldiers while we go for the Branded who are in charge.”

  “I see. I’m okay with it, but what about the others?”

  “I know my abilities in combat are nothing special… well, maybe more like below average, but I’d like to come along. I want to keep getting stronger.” Riina spoke up. Haritte opened his mouth to speak and object, but Riina’s expression stopped him.

  There was a fire in her eyes that had not been present before. Riina had strengthened her will even further. Her bold smile declared that she thought, no, knew they could succeed.

  Exon was slightly unsure of herself. However, a glance at Riina was all she needed to be emboldened.

  “... If Riina is going, I am too.”

  “I want to go too! I get lonely when it’s just me and Dad while you all are away…” Elka looked crestfallen at the prospect of being left behind for yet another mission. Riina got down on one knee and looked into her eyes.

  “Your dad and all of us only want you to be safe. It’s not because we want to leave you behind, but that we’d all be really upset if something happened to you. I promise we won’t have too much fun without you, okay?”

  “Okay…”

  Krau silently mouthed a “thank you” at Riina, who smiled gently in response.

  “Then it’s settled. Me, Luun, Haritte, and our two newest recruits. This’ll be our first proper assignment with our new and improved team! The rendezvous is at nine AM tomorrow and about an hour away from here, so get a good night’s sleep. Riina and Exon, is it okay if you sleep here tonight? That way we can give you any equipment you might need, plus we’ll need to hold a pre-mission briefing.”

  “Sure. I’ll just let my mom know.”

  It was the next morning. Riina rolled out of bed half-awake, trying to psych herself up for the mission ahead of her. Meanwhile, Exon had already showered and gotten dressed by the time Riina finally managed to stand up.

  “Hwahh… how…”

  “Being a Homunculus has its perks. Come on, as adorable as you are when you’re sleepy, there isn’t much time.”

  A compliment was all Riina needed to leap into action.

  Shortly after, everyone was assembled in the room from yesterday, the de facto living room and command centre of the Outsiders Society.

  “Now, here’s what we know about the enemy. Black Barghest Security Ltd., a security company that provides protection at high-brow events from conferences to weddings. However, they are also a criminal organisation by the same name. In this case, it seems like their reputation in one field actually bolsters their reputation in the other. Their employers on the legal side are willing to hire them because of their long history of getting results, and the police turn a blind eye to their criminal activities because of the security they offer major public figures in the City.

  “They’re essentially like the mafia or yakuza. An organised gang that expands its territory by fighting turf wars with other gangs. Most recently, they took over the region of the City known in the criminal underworld to be controlled by the Batou Group. As I described, they have three Branded on their side, and it seems like they’re using the advantage that confers to rapidly expand their grip on the City. Their forces are divided into three units called Hordes, each led by a Horde Commander, with the Supreme Commander of the whole organisation having ultimate control of all three. Unfortunately, we don’t have any specific details about their Devil Brands, but the Supreme Commander and the Commanders of the Second and Third Hordes are the ones who are Branded. Supposedly the First Horde Commander is on a whole other level, so strong that he doesn’t even need to be a Branded to keep up with the others.

  “Anyway, that’s all we have. Any questions, or should we make our way to the rendezvous point?”

  No one spoke up, and so the meeting was adjourned. After making final checks, the Outsiders prepared to set out on their assignment, anxious yet excited by what would await them.

  “Ready?” Riina asked the brown-haired girl who had steeled herself for whatever ordeals may come.

  “Ready.” Exon replied to the black-haired girl with white-hot fire in her eyes.

  They interlaced their fingers, squeezing each other’s hands tight, and took the first step of their next journey.

  “Sooo, uh… where are they?”

  The Outsiders were walking along a busy street in the middle of Ward 2. Skyscrapers rose up all around them, and their destination was no exception. It had a vaguely conical structure, with wide foundations that rose for dozens of metres and eventually tapered to a point at the top of the building. It was all steel and tinted glass that seemed almost opaque, and a symbol of a monstrous dog, the barghest of folklore, was positioned over the entrance. However, the forces they were supposed to be collaborating with were nowhere to be seen.

  “Heh heh. They have such technologies in the world of organised crime nowadays, I hear.”

  “You don’t mean… invisibility?!”

  “That’s right. The client messaged me, again anonymously, to say that their forces are cloaked in various locations on this street and will move in when ordered. Despite what you might think from looking around you, it’s actually less busy here during the day than at night, so this is the only option. Only the client themself will be visible, apparently. … Ah, speaking of which, could that be…?” Orlan squinted at a somewhat conspicuous figure who stood directly opposite the Black Barghest building.

  He had bright red hair, neck-length and shaggy. The clothes he wore looked like they could be the military uniform of some nation: a navy blue shirt with silver buttons all buttoned up and crisp, starched trousers in the same colour, tucked neatly into black combat boots. As the Outsiders approached, he turned and gave a curt nod.

  “Apologies for the secrecy. I mean no offence by it, but I do not trust that website to keep information of that nature private. My name is Felhart Dogaria, and I am the leader of the organisation known as Dream Piercer. I’m honoured by your choosing to take up my request.”

  “The pleasure’s ours! I’m Orlan, and these are Luun, Haritte, Riina and Exon. So, what’s the plan?”

  “On my mark, we will enter the first floor reception area. Once inside, the doors will be barricaded. My men will sweep through the facility and eliminate any resistance. Your group and I, comprising the Devil Brand Counter Team, will search for and eliminate the Horde Commanders and, ultimately, the Supreme Commander. I most likely will not be able to unleash my Devil Brand due to the risk of collateral damage, but I am proficient at hand-to-hand combat and can assist you in fighting the Horde Commanders. However, I ask that you allow me to fight the Supreme Commander by myself. I… have to settle things.”

  “Sounds good to me! I think we’re all ready, so we’ll just wait for your signal.”

  As a chill Autumn breeze swept through the street, a few moments passed. Felhart stood defiantly before his target, looking for all the world like a man with the conviction to cut down the building itself. The Outsiders – no, the Devil Brand Counter Team – moved into position beside him. Finally, he raised a finger to his ear and spoke into an earpiece.

  “The time is 0905 hours. Black Barghest Raid Operation, START!”