Dark Fate, Chapter 217

Chapter 217 – Legitimate Business

(Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia)

It was cold today. Not a surprise, this far out into Siberia. It was cold every day, with an average temperature of -8.0C. Coldest major city in the world.

Tselner Vitomir Nikitovich used to hate the cold, when he was younger. A ‘youthful indiscretion’ got him ‘mistaken’ as a member of the Vory, and a police officer had broken his leg during their ‘discussion’ while he was in the interrogation room. Ever since, his leg had hurt when it was cold. And it was always cold in Yakutsk.

Thankfully, the Initialization had done wonders for him. Changing into a Werebear Human had not only given him an incredible tolerance for the cold, especially in his furry form, but it had completely healed his leg, as well. The fact that he could heal from pretty much any wound that wasn’t instantly fatal, so long as the weapon wasn’t made from silver was simply a nice bonus, compared to not having a constant pain in his leg.

Vitomir’s musings were interrupted when Yuliy, his assistant, opened the door. “Boss, you have visitors, a man and woman. They say that Tanya Nikitova sends her regards.”

Vitomir’s eyes went wide. His sister, Tanya, had gotten it in her head to go to space, of all things. Well, no, she’d always wanted to go to space, but there were only so many spots in Russia’s space program, and out of the dozens who had gone up, only five were women. Leaving the Motherland to join that new country in the asteroid belt had given her the chance to live her dream, so he couldn’t even be upset with her.

However, the timing of his little sister sending someone to visit him was concerning. Vitomir was no fool. The self-made Demon King of Ceres, now Emperor of the Ceresan Republic, had said openly that a Russian man had purchased the materials used to send a Greater Kraken at Panama. Everyone knew by now that Emperor Greene did not mess around when it came to retaliation against those who attacked him. If someone from Ceres was coming to him now? He would have to move carefully, to ensure he did not get caught in the open when things began to explode.

“Show them in, Yuliy. And make sure that we are not disturbed.”

The man nodded, and left the office. As the door closed, Vitomir reached into the drawer of his desk, and reached for a bottle. He considered the Smirnoff, or the Stolichnaya, but decided on the Beluga Noble, instead. This was either going to be something to celebrate, or his last drink. Either way, it was worth breaking out the good stuff. Three glasses joined the bottle on his desk, right as Yuliy led his guests in.

Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich

Human Male

Level 10 Fighter / Hunter

Ivanov Ivana Ivanova

Human Female

Level 10 Flame Sorceress / Scholar

Vitomir had to chuckle at what his [Appraise] skill showed him. Those had to be the two most obviously fake names possible. It would be like an American couple introducing themselves as John and Jane Doe. It was the act of someone who was only nominally trying to hide their identity. It was like trying to hide in the woods while wearing bright orange and carrying around a stereo going full blast.

He nodded to the two guests, and motioned for them to sit in the chairs opposite his desk. Once Yuliy closed the door behind him, he said, in English, “Well, envoys from Ceres. My little sister must have told you some interesting stories, if you’re coming to me now. Drink?”

“Yes, please,” the man said. “And you might be surprised to know that Tanya Nikitova has been doing quite well. She actually proved herself quite capable in flight trials, becoming the leader of her squadron. She flies one of the Hunters, as Rapier Leader, callsign Shashka.”

“Yes,” Vitomir nodded as he broke the seal on the bottle, and began pouring some of the clear liquid in each of their glasses. “She mentioned that she had been made a squadron leader, and was based out of Ceres. Sadly, the distance makes calling her, or even using video chat, problematic, but we have exchanged emails. Which is why I was surprised to hear she sent someone to me, at a time like this. She did tell you what I do, yes?”

“Yes,” the man nodded. “And we did some confirmation of our own, of course. On paper, you are the head of the Rassvet Group, a mining and natural resource concern that owns several local operations, in addition to controlling thirty percent of the trade moving through Yakutsk’s port. In reality, you are also one of the leaders of the Vory v Zakone in the Sakha region. And it is that reality which has caused us to come to you.”

“Then, perhaps we can do away with the masks? Given the timing, I can only assume that you have tracked down someone responsible for the Kraken attack in Panama. I can assure you that neither I, nor anyone in my organization has any interest in being on the wrong side of Ceres’s wrath in this matter.”

“Indeed,” the man nodded. “If there was any doubt about that, this conversation would have already gone in a much different direction.” As he spoke, his form shifted, and grew. It was a different kind of shift from when Vitomir took on his ursine form, but there were similarities. The man’s clothes must have been enchanted to grow with him, or they would have ripped as he turned into a literal demon. One that was familiar, yet different.

Vitomir glanced over at the woman, and was not terribly surprised to see that she, too, had changed, now appearing as a succubus. A succubus that he recognized from the videos that were all over the place online. She was the one that caused the massive annihilation attack that destroyed the Giant Kraken.

Turning his gaze back to the man, he smiled. “Well, you are different from when you appeared in front of the UN, your Majesty.”

The Demon Emperor of Ceres smiled. “Recent events have launched me into Tier 3. That comes with certain changes, and upgrades. Suffice to say, I am powerful enough, now, that I could probably have taken the Giant Kraken on without aid from my lovely pets.”

“All the more reason that I would not wish to be your enemy, then. You would have better luck fighting against a typhoon on the high seas. There is no profit in something like that. So, you have tracked down the one responsible for the attack?”

“More precisely, we tracked the cutout who purchased the items from the System Shop. Specifically, Frantsev Vasil Vyacheslavovich, a member of the FSB. Even if he was operating under a false name, and had changed identities twice since we announced his participation in the attack. We had his true name, after all, so the Diviners could still do their work, even if he pretended to be someone else.”

“You actually pegged him as FSB? How’d you do that? Not that I’m doubting, mind you, but it would be nice to know.”

The Emperor chuckled. “That actually wasn’t the Diviners’ work. It actually isn’t a secret, just something most people don’t know. The System Shop collects a lot of information on anyone who uses it. Information that can be searched. Within limits, of course.”

“Oh? What kind of limits?”

“For instance, you won’t get a person’s current location or home address. That’s protected information. However, if you have a person’s real name, and are willing to part with the appropriate amount of coin, you can purchase the knowledge of their workplace and rank, if they have them. For all their workplaces, mind you.”

“So, a check of current and former employers? Except that there is no lying or ‘adjusting’ their work titles. Interesting. I can see how that would be very useful, for keeping track of people. And if you don’t have their real name?”

“The search comes back empty. Though you still are out the coins.”

Vitomir waved his hand. “No, in that case, knowing that they gave a false name is as good as getting the truth. Tells me that their next interview needs to happen out at the nearest pig farm, yes?”

“Indeed. The price is steep enough that I wouldn’t recommend paying it for everyone in your organization, but for trusted advisors and key individuals? Especially ones you don’t have under System Contract? It is a good way to eliminate any unfortunate possibilities.”

Vitomir nodded slowly. “So, if you already have a location from your Diviners, and all this other information from the System Shop, what brings you to me?”

The Emperor smiled. “Simple, really. I want to hire you and your people. All your people. Frantsev purchased the [Mystic Monster Maker] in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, but he is based here, in Yakutsk. I’ve purchased the information of everyone who works with Frantsev, and I know where he is, along with the building they work out of. I want them all, caught in [Capture Balls], and delivered to Ceres, and then I want a special device planted in their building, to ensure the message is learned loud and clear. Oh, you’ll want to ensure any of your people are outside the building before it goes off, but it will keep any forensic evidence from being left behind.”

Vitomir’s eyes narrowed. “That is no small thing you ask. I assume, then, that the building these FSB are based in will be completely destroyed? So many members of the FSB and their ‘associates’ going missing will cause a great deal of trouble. Losing the building, and any files that might be there, will make them even angrier. The pay would have to be commensurate with the risk we are taking on.”

“Naturally. In addition to supplying twice the number of [Capture Balls] needed to secure the target individuals, I will also supply ten thousand rounds of a new ammunition my people have developed, called the Shocker Round. Think of it like taser bullets. You don’t need to penetrate armor or hit critical areas to have a devastating effect. And they are available in 7.62x39mm, like the AK-47 uses. Naturally, anything left over after the job is yours to do with as you will. And future shipments can be bought at fair market price.”

Vitomir’s breath caught in his throat. That… was a lot of ammunition. The [Capture Balls] were trifles, easily purchased from the System Shop. Though, the information that purchase in the System Shop could be tracked did cause some concern on that point. Still, the ammunition? If it worked even half as well as the demon was suggesting, then it would completely change the game for his organization.

But the demon wasn’t finished. “Of course, that is just a bit of supplies. The true payment would be a legitimate business opportunity for you and yours. A way to get a leg up on all the other shippers and syndicates in the world. After all, there’s all kinds of markets in the Systems Commonwealth that you haven’t been able to touch, right?”

“You have my undivided attention, I assure you.”

“The true payment would be a Stozeil-Class light freighter, worth just over a million gold pieces in System currency. It is an older design, but, like the AK-47, it has a reputation for reliability and ease of use meaning that it was first put in service when the Romans were just spreading out of Italy, and is a common sight anywhere you go. They are also easy to maintain, since replacement parts are easily made in a machine shop, or obtained from different retailers. And there is a long history of the owners ‘customizing’ them in various ways.”

The Emperor smiled, and said, “Of course, to get around any pesky Russian regulations and the ban on Russian ships passing through Ceresan territory, you’d need to register it under a Ceresan subsidiary, but that would allow you to bring ‘care packages’ and a taste of home to all those diplomats who remained in the Commonwealth, as well as bring back goods that would likely sell quite highly on Earth. All of it completely legal and above-board.”

Vitomir smiled. The ship alone was a hefty payday, but the prospect of being able to expand to markets across the stars, as well as operate in Ceresan territory? That was a long-term win. “Your Majesty, you have a deal.”