@Letter BeeJust as Hajime stepped foot in the dorms, his phone began ringing. On the screen was an unknown phone number.
Hajime called back, already realizing that he was in trouble. He would not play dumb, saying, "Let me guess; this is about what happened just a few hours ago?"
"Looks like you have some self awareness at least." Duke's voice said from the receiver. He sighed in exasperation.
"It hasn't even been a day and you're already involved in something big. By the way, would you mind moving somewhere quieter?"Hajime nodded and said, "I'll go to the latrines - bathrooms. I'll lock myself in the nearest stall just in case someone wants to stab me or is tempted to do so."
And with that, he went to the nearest men's bathrooms, locked himself in an empty stall, then said to Duke, "I'm in the stall furthest to the left. We can talk now."
Another quiet sigh sounded from the receiver. It carried a tone of acceptance, as if he was just meeting the standard. In the background of the call, Hajime could hear what sounded like running water.
"So here I was, tracking down that Ikari kid, when I see a mech suit drop out of the sky with your voice coming out of it. That was you, right? Care to explain what went down?" The response was, "Well, my... Patrons, the ones who provided me the mech, made contact with Ken's parents; they said that Ken, my liege, found a laboratory ran by corrupt elements in the Rhean Government... For the purpose of experimenting on 'Gifted' to eventually exterminate those who have Gifts."
He then relayed what the Nitta Clan had told him, which in turn they relayed from Ken's parents, and who had been told by Ken about Alrune, Dr. Plagarazes, and how Ken had killed him to try and stop the latter's plans... And how Ken might be facing charges of murder
at best if he were caught.
"...You've got a real problem with oversharing, you know that?" Duke said, after a few moments of silence.
"At least tell me you didn't show your face at the crime scene."Hajime responded with, "I'm not that stupid; I was in my mech, which yes, I
can keep hidden; don't ask how."
More silence. A few contemplative moments later, Duke spoke again.
"You know Hajime, by telling me all this information, it seems like you're trying to drag me into this. I'm not exactly against that, I guess. But is that what you want to do? Get strangers involved in your succession crisis?" The reply came after a few seconds, "Definitely not the succession crisis; that's up to my liege. However, this conspiracy to eliminate all 'Gifted', well... You're a Gifted too, right? Surely you see the danger."
"...Sure, but I don't see how that's my problem. What, exactly, is stopping you from forwarding the information to the relevant authorities? They can't all be that fucking stupid."The answer was instant this time, "Elements of the Rhean Civil Defense Force - Officers - are with them. We don't know how high the conspiracy reaches, or who is in it."
"Hajime, you're missing the point. Money and influence - if they have the force on their side, they have one or both. When you have money and influence, you have politics. Politics means different parties, all looking to tear each other to pieces at a moment's notice. All you have to do is find out who they are affiliated with, and give the info to the other guy. That guy will do all the work for you. They'll even thank you for it.
"If, and I mean if, it's possible to remove all gifted from the face of the earth, those old farts up the top are the first ones who'd want to stop it. Gifts are powerful, and power wants more power. If they know it's a threat, they'll deal with it how they always do - scrub so hard that no one will remember it. Why do you have to do anything about it?"A few seconds of non-response, before Hajime said, "Oh."
Duke sighed again.
"Look, I've got a good idea of what you're thinking. We're students, but that doesn't mean we can't do anything. We can get in places we're not supposed to because no one cares about us. The big boys can play their games and we can slip in right under their noses. You want to help out Ken because you or your buddies want him on the throne, and he won't stop until he gets to the bottom of this. Maybe you actually like the guy, maybe you don't. If he solves this, it'll make him look good. It makes his odds at the throne a lot better. A win win.
"But I'm not you. I don't particular like the guy. I don't care who's on Izumo's throne. And the way I see it, this'll get solved without us. I can help. I can make it go faster, for sure. But why should I? What do I get out of it? What are you putting on the table to trade with me?"In the background, a rock splashes into the water. Perhaps a frustrated throw from Duke.
"This is what a business relationship is, Hajime. No one works for free." Hajime took a few more seconds before he said, in a slightly less firm tone which sounded like he was holding something back, "I have backers; not all of them impoverished idealists. That mech that caused chaos? We built it; stole others too. But more importantly, we are able to build mechs. That has implications, correct? After all, even if you're not interested in fancy toys, you're interested in the cash which was going to be used to build more..."
The chips were down on the table. Now all that was left was to call or fold.
"I'm not that interested in cash. I am interested in those backers of yours, but I know not to stick my nose in other people's business, so let's talk about it later." Duke said.
"You've already met Mr. Ikari, but are you still interested in his information?"The response was instant, "Yes, yes I am. And I know full well my liege has shortcomings; what would you ask in exchange for telling me how deep they are?"
"That kind of information will take time. With you directly meeting him, you're better of trying to figure that out for yourself." He said.
After a brief pause Hajime's phone lit up with a text. On it was Ken's current address, his phone number, and some small tidbits of information. Some were fairly easy to find, such as the bounty he had just completed, while others could have only been found out with insider information. None of it was very important, though. Information on his school subject, what time he enrolled, among other things.
"Let's do it this way. If you want me to get more dirt on Ken, trade me information on his friends - a long haired guy and some girl. They beat up Nightman together and went somewhere else later. Details are spotty. As for the conspiracy, ask your backers first. I doubt they'd have too much to spare for this." No hesitation in this response too, "If I can get it, I can get it. I'll also try and meet with Ken myself; maybe he'll tell me about his friends too..."
He could almost imagine Duke nodding.
"It's a deal. If I find something worth talking about, you'll get a letter under the door. Don't call this number back."With that, there was a
woosh and the clear sound of water splashing. The sound crackled before going completely dead. He had thrown the phone into the river.
Hajime sighed as he checked his phone for malware and trojans; it was going to be a good, long, sojourn in Rhea...
