MA: 97. Scarlet Logic Dawn Collection Team

Justica’s Crossing ran further than the Languid Fault. More than twenty times, or even more from what Red understood.

Yet despite alllll that space, Scarlet Logic happened to be precisely where they were.

Suspicious.

Red believed that either it was one big coincidence, or the universe was out to get her for aspiring to make a name for herself.

Fine. Let the universe come after me. I’ll come for it back and put a bullet through its head! If the universe was actually a person. Agate! Is the universe a person, or is it just our world?

Agate didn’t respond. Nothing new.

That being said, Red and her friends were currently undergoing a stealth operation. Bypassing Scarlet Logic’s forces was imperative for Red. The longer Scarlet Logic thought they were still in the Central Forests, the better – according to Snow.

But Red wasn’t that naïve to understand how this worked. As long as they didn’t have a trail, then how could Scarlet Logic find them?

Still. Weird that they’re exactly where we were heading.

She couldn’t shake off the thought that they must’ve had some sort of tracking magic, or probably technology. If replication was possible, then long-range tracking didn’t seem that farfetched.

They crawled through a meter-high tunnel. Soil and stone were shoved aside by Rockie’s powerful metallic legs. Snow crawled second, with Red third and Three Paw remaining in her shadow.

“I’m surprised you can fit.” Red commented, noting Snow’s rear size. “Not as big as the rest of the girls from the village though.”

“Try not to say that outside of our group. Chances are a bladed boot will come flying at your face.” Snow warned, not really bothered by this comment since she had gotten a little used to Red’s antics.

Well, not so much antics as they were genuine bouts of being silly.

“Question. What happens if we’re still underground when the train passes?”

“We get flattened.”

“Couldn’t we have waited?”

“We’d have to wait a while for the rails to dissipate their quants of gravity. Think of the rails as an invisible bear trap. Throw a leg over and the quants of gravity will snap right around your leg like a shackle. For you that is. For me, our gracious Village Elder, hell, even… Mhm. Even Theron would lose their leg in an instant. No blood or anything. Completely cauterized.”

“Like a superheated cutting force?” Red was intrigued.

Perhaps she should try to steal a chunk for herself. But then again, if it only worked after the train crossed, then what good was it?

“It’s more blunt in that respect.” Snow corrected. “And don’t crawl so quickly. Have some shame. Also, just to let you know, if you ever find yourself under someone while climbing a ladder, you do not stare at their bottom.”

“I should probably invest in pants then.” Red knew what Snow meant.

Shame! The one thing that Red probably didn’t have but was getting there. Not that she cared if anyone looked at her butt. In fact, if it made people look, then was it really that bad?

“Don’t fart.” Red groaned.

“Excuse me!?” Snow nearly kicked her like a frightened horse.

“It’s a genuine concern though.”

“H-Healers don’t produce flatus!”

“I’m talking about farts over here.”

“It’s the same thing.” Snow calmed down. “It’s like saying cranium.”

“You mean skull?”

“See what I mean?”

The fact that a concept could be described with multiple words caused Red to scratch her head. What was the point of it? Confusion? If it was, then it was certainly working against Red.

“Why does our language have two ways to describe one thing?” She pouted childishly.

“Different applications.”

“Ahhh. So like potato and potatoe.”

“I’ve never heard anyone call potato a potatoe. Just tomato and tomatoe.” Snow couldn’t help but to giggle.

“That’s a new one!”

*

Murmurs could be heard ahead.

It should have been from above, or rather, they should not have been able to hear Scarlet Logic and the Trakk Syndicate members.

Specifically, the sound was resonating from Snow’s body.

This was thanks to Snow’s [Resonant Echo] Passive Skill which allowed her body to act as a medium for sound. This range was only within a 30-meter radius, with the benefit that she could pick up on sounds through walls.

It was an odd Skill for a Healer. If anything, Red would have expected this kind of Skill on a covert operative, like say an assassin or a hired sword that specialized in information gathering.

Trakk Syndicate Member

“How much longer must we wait until we can return?”

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“Patience is a virtue. Is what I would say but believe me, we aren’t exactly keen to sit and wait.”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“And our payment is sorted? Villages are only good for selling material and letting off steam. The lot barely carry coins.”

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“You will find your coffers full. It does bring into question why your Syndicate lack the tools for the Midas Conversion Procedure.”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“We’d rather sell ‘em off than to coin ‘em.”

“Psst.” Red tugged on Snow’s robes. “What’s the Midas thingy?”

“From what I understand, it’s the process of creating coins.”

“Coins aren’t made of metal?”

Snow opened her Dimensional Storage and dropped a gold coin. When she passed, Red picked it up and studied it. She didn’t find anything odd.

It was incredibly lustrous and carried a sheen comparable to a jewel. This was despite it having been soiled by the dirt. Even brushing her dirt-ridden fingers across it did not tarnish the coin.

Detailed imprints alluded to the origins of the coin. It didn’t have the head of an emperor, a queen, a hero or a castle to depict where it came from. Rather, the image depicted were faintly of what vaguely appeared to be a person. The flowers at a certain angle even looked like entrails.

That was when she noticed something odd.

“It’s light.”

Indeed. The coin was abnormally light for its size.

She expected it to weigh fifty grams, but it was ten times less than that.

Snow’s breath hitched when they heard movement above.

Then, she answered in a low, almost regretful voice:

“It’s really light for what should be made out of gold. You noticed right away. It uses some gold. I’m sure of it.”

Red split the coin in half.

It flaked rather than warp as metal would. To her surprise, the insides of the coin had a red honeycomb shape. It was less dense than what she found in the marrow of bird bones.

“Do they use bones to make it?”

“That’s my theory. Probably with the dead. I know for a fact that animal bones are used. Since it’s a way to carry inherent value.” Snow explained it further.

I see. People can trade animals in a compact form. I guess it wouldn’t work with people. And here I thought I was carrying a person. It’s just their bones.”

Red smiled and pocketed the coin for now.

They were right underneath the Scarlet Logic personnel.

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“The train approaches. It does not appear that they are coming through this route. It may be wise to start sweeping the area. It was predicted that they would arrive within the hour.”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“You believe in prophecies?”

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“Less of a prophecy and more of a suggestion. But I have a better idea. That person over there… is your son, no?”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“My own flesh and blood. Brough ‘em up good to become the fifth in hand to our boss.”

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“Are you familiar with what a haruspex is?”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“Nah. Never heard of the term.”

A long silence filled the air. The Gravity Train was upon them. The world did not shake as it approached. Nor did it make any noise. The only reason Red knew it was close was because of the organized movement above.

Wild footsteps. Calls to clear the way. Galloping horses.

And then–

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“Allow me to show you.”

–The sound of a dull thud.

Trakk Syndicate Member

“My boy…?”

Scarlet Logic ??? Team Personnel

“Go on. Grab his innards and splay them across the boulder. How the blood trickles, how his intestines dangle from each nub, and how long his heart pumps shall give you your own divination. Oh. I apologize. I meant a prediction.”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“You Dawn team bastards!”

Scarlet Logic Dawn Collection Team Personnel

“Like father like son. They both carry a small liver. Toss their bodies onto the train. As for the rest of these low lives… You have one week.”

Squelching, and the sound of a hand rummaging through innards echoed from Snow’s body.

“Dawn Team. They’re turning up the dial.” She growled.

Scarlet Logic had variations when it came to their teams. The first variation was their type, such as the Collection or Scout Team. This determined their role in the greater whole and how they would approach a mission, as well as their restrictions.

For example, a Collection Team typically were not allowed to kill innocent people as they needed to prioritize collecting slaves and the unwanted – and often unseen – ghosts of society.

Then, there was the second designation. The ‘Team’. This varied from Fodder, Dawn, Noon, Dusk and finally – Midnight. Dawn was the lowest of the low and were the first responders after a Fodder incursion. Then, depending on the threat, a higher designated Team would take over, often cannibalizing the previous team in the name of efficiency.

“Do they think we’re easy targets?” Red wondered. “Why don’t we just fight them?”

“And let them know we’re about to cross? Think Red. The longer they think we’re back there, the greater our chances of escaping them.

The train moved overhead. Red could feel her mind reel. It felt as though a hammer was constantly smashing against her skull, to the point where Snow covertly used [Heal Aliments] to ease her pain.

It did little to help, but she appreciated the warmth.

Once they had made it a considerable distance, Snow tapped on Rockie’s rear legs, and it stopped. They could tell they were on the treelines across, as they had hit a network of roots.

Trakk Syndicate Member

“We have yet to hear back from our boys ahead. They’ve brought back a pack of goods these past few weeks. For them to not arrive might mean they’re gone for. Could be a good sign. They should be here by now.”

Scarlet Logic Dawn Collection Team Personnel

“Let me remind you, as this is of Scarlet Logic’s highest priority, do not be late. We both wouldn’t want to incur Scarlet Logic’s wrath. Best for the both of us that they are found before the deadline.”

Trakk Syndicate Member

“O-Of course!”

Boots then suddenly began sprinting towards the direction of the train.

Scarlet Logic Dawn Collection Team Personnel

“Revive. Our presence is longer required here.”

And just like that–

Trakk Syndicate Member

“The train got ‘em. How in the fuck… do people deal with devils that can’t die?”

They used the train as a shortcut to teleport back to their home base. Only that it cost them their lives.

Several thunderous booms sounded out. It was the sound of artillery. Rockie opened a small hole to peer through. They were around twenty meters behind a group of Syndicate members.

And there, they watched a behemoth of a train come barreling through the world in silence. It was over tens of meters high, and riddled with so many weapons that Red could not help but blush.

The only sound it made was from colossal cannons that fired into the air. Payloads larger than an entire tree exploded in midair, showering sections of the barren wasteland ahead in flaming shrapnel.

“Psst. What are they firing at?” Red poked Snow.

“Looks like a test. You’re gonna come to find out that some weapons are banned across our continent. Weapons like that.”

“But Ateliers are so powerful that they don’t have to follow the rules?”

“Not exactly. Chances are that another Atelier would punish them for using prohibited weapons. Shrapnel’s one of them.”

When the train finally passed, they were greeted with the sight of countless metal fragments littering the earth. The gravitation anomalies slowly caused them to clump up into large clusters, then, they became one of the many boulders across the field.

“Why shrapnel?”

“Shrapnel, weapons that burn the body with an invisible flame and makes water glow – anything that impedes a Healer’s ability to heal people is considered a prohibited weapon. You can’t just heal a person with shrapnel all over them.”

“… Sounds like something big is happening.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.” Snow grit her teeth.

Their eyes then moved onto the Syndicate members.

Now that Scarlet Logic had taken themselves out of the picture…

“Looks like we got just the right people to ask.” Red cracked her knuckles, then her neck. “O-Oh shit. S-Snow. Little help here.”

But unfortunately for her, it got stuck.