[i]Freedom.[/i]

Reiko clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was frustrating just how much that word resonated with her; a single inconsequential word in the middle of Manaka’s efforts to convince them to join, but it had so much of an effect on her. It was her entire reason for doing what she did, why she started ‘hacking’ in the first place, and the ridiculously-shaped woman probably [i]knew[/i] that from her investigations. For her to use that word in particular had to have been deliberate, the language carefully chosen to appeal to her, to all of them, but just knowing she was being manipulated didn’t mean it had no effect on her.

Manaka didn’t try to deny that Jormungundr was evil or try to convince them their actions were for some greater good. She didn’t paint Thor in a good light either but from the sounds of it all the rival group wanted to do was recruit them as well, albeit in a more sinister sounding way. The hacker wasn’t trying to convince them this was a fight between good and evil, instead pitching it to them as a fight for their own freedom to continue doing what they were already doing without interference.

It was annoyingly effective. One by one the rest of the people in the room gave in and agreed to join the pervert’s crusade and against her better judgement Reiko felt her resistance failing as well.

[color=6ecff6]“I’m in the ‘group of not caring’ as you put it.”[/color] Reiko crossed her arms across her chest and stared Manaka down defiantly. [color=6ecff6]“I’m not a hacker, not a good one anyway, and Thor’s never bothered me before. If they come after me now… I’ll just quit.”[/color] Even as she said it, it sounded weak to her own ears; she couldn’t give this up without going insane from trying to keep up the façade on a daily basis. [color=6ecff6]“But for now… you said I could learn from you, so I’ll stick around for a bit. As soon as it looks like things are getting dangerous however, I’m gone.”[/color]

[@Pyromania99]