There was a modern living room with a man standing in front of a screen. The rest of the room was partitioned by security walls that not a breaker could break. No, it was a complex that no one could easily enter.

On the screen displayed profiles of the crew under Lionel Hasburg, the one carrying the item that they desired.

“Hmm, everyone is accounted for. But it looks like Gaston is with them.”

“Are you familiar with this man?”

The man called Mortimer nodded.

“I had dealings with Gaston Hardy. You could say that I’ve a pleasure of working with Mr. Hardy.”

“Is he going to be a problem?”

“No, he shouldn’t be. Mr. Hardy will cooperate with the deal. It would have been more problematic if it was Janna Forster who was in this deal since she actually cares more than Mr. Hardy.”

“You speak highly of him.”

“I like the competent ones. And even with our Disruptor tech. I doubt that will matter to a man who spent days in a sparticle-deprived space and survived.”

“Oh, someone from the Golden Gate Incident. No wonder you are somewhat respectful.”

Mortimer didn’t have the look of an arm’s dealer. He was a kindly middle-aged man that had subtle sharpness on his features. Unassuming that one would not notice him if he walked on the sidewalk.

The person that was using a digital avatar scanned someone.

“Redacted profile. We only know that he and that woman named Janna Forster. The rest of his records are redacted. I see. He will not interfere?”

“He is a Professional. And I believe that he is here for the sponsor that the UEDF will hand him once this deal is over. If anything, I’m assured that he is facilitating this.”

“His other records do have high remarks. Very well, I shall not worry about others. The problem is Lionel Hasburg. This man understands the value of the item he is carrying.”

Mortimer nodded. Lionel Hasburg is a chaotic individual. He was a foolish man with his childish innocence still intact on him. He was a man who’d laugh in the middle of a battlefield with dull eyes.

If the heiress of Romanov was a monster of her own right. Then the one bearing the Hasburg name is the wild card. He has talent, but unfortunately a man with wild ideas. Ideas that are more harmful than useful. It pains Mortimer thinking of what Lionel may do despite having done business with the man indirectly.

“We must rein Lionel. If he cannot agree then we can only supply the rest to do our bidding. But I believe that despite who he is, he is not an unreasonable man. Men are not usually so unreasonable as long as we give them benefits.”

The digital avatar nodded. “I shall leave this problem to you, Mortimer. I will have dealings later and will be unavailable.”

“Very well. I shall thread on the path that the Madam dictates.”

“For all that is good, Mortimer,” said the person with the digital avatar.

“For all that is good left.”

Mortimer said sincerely.

***

South Africa was one of the places in the world that has been spared. Some even said that it must be one of the holiest places since other than South Africa. The Vatican, Mecca, Switzerland, Jerusalem, Istanbul that did not suffer.

The Pacific Ring of Fire’s damage to the world made it awfully clear that a new wave of changes. The paradigm shift changed the world. The first few years were brutal in some parts of the world while the rest improved upon the broken world. The Americans were barely hit by the storm, but suffered when the Yellowstone almost buried one state. The Russians were able to go almost unscathed while China had somewhat guessed what would happen and secluded themselves during the end of the world.

The Post-World Era is what they call it. Then the SPARTICLE changed everything alongside the discovery of ichorium. Everyone viewed ichorium as the ‘salvation’ that God has given them.

Lionel’s team traveled on air. He got a seat alongside the main team while the rest were flying alongside the team. The destination was the Cape Winelands where Lionel had purchased a compound that sounded more like a fort.

After the plane landed on the unified capital. They were taken in a fast-mover, a hybrid of the plane and a helicopter that could glide. It was the early prototype of the aerial vehicles and the ichorium-based engines.

The trip took less than two hours. Along the way Gaston saw that there were many hidden anti-air vehicles. Not to mention that after entering the perimeter of the Cape Winelands. Gaston once again felt the draining of the SPARTICLES on them once more. The team sitting next to him audibly groaned at the loss. These people were addicted to the bioenergy running in their veins.

Gaston spotted Maclear's Beacon in the distance. The rest of the crew readied as the fast-movers headed to Grotto Bay. There was a large complex on the land that was once a nature reserve.

He thought that he knew Lionel enough. But it looks like he was off the mark and from the looks of the flags flying alongside the South African Flag. It looked like there was still a presence of the Babaika Lions on Grotto Bay.

“Guess her reach really is everywhere,” Gaston thought. “The question really is where the hell is she getting all these funds?”

Lady Romanov is a genius. But gathering funds that could allow her to spread her forces all over the world made one question where the hell is she getting all the money from. She revealed in media outlets and magazines that she is a prolific investor.

Gaston thought it was bullshit. But considering how many deep-sea fleets she had invested and developed during the years. Not to mention that HELICARRIER CECIL’s existence made it clear that whatever it was. She was earning billions a week.

The Cartel he spent time with in Colombia had him shocked about the two billion a week they were earning. The business of ichorium mining was profitable and because it is profitable it is also the most dangerous business. Gaston had spent days managing paperwork, and making sure that there was another third-party who was always present.

He had little knowledge about laws. He was not a lawyer himself, but he was there for the sake of recording deals that are made. The UEDF had always been careful about the transaction of ichorium. Ichorium is a material and an ingredient.

Material that they use for ichorium-based technology. Tech that uses solidified ichor and the sustenance of the Breakers who uses liquefied ichorium to quickly restore their bioenergy levels.

Breakers take ichor to restore their power. Think of the ‘ichor’ as the ammunition. The water that fills their body. Giving their body fuel that allows them to manipulate their bioenergy to create certain effects and at the same time strengthen their bodies for combat.

Ichor is more profitable as a consumable substance than material. The Babaika Lions produce ichor and at the same time sell ichor after producing them into the consumable variant.

There are many types of ichor, but most of the time the rarest ichorium is used as a material. The lesser quality ichorium becomes the sweet ichor that the breakers consume.

It was mostly sunny as they landed on the bay. Gaston groaned at the sun. He tapped his shoes on the pavement and landed his eyes on the men guarding the complex. Bruna stood next to him.

“Looks like they are getting accustomed. How long was this built?”

“A year ago. We have to hurry up the construction since Sir Lionel decided that this place was good for business. Have you been here?”

“Not here exactly. I did spend a week in the united capital once. So I didn’t have the pleasure to look around. Is the area underground?”

“Some of it are. But most of the time the people here just hang around on Ganzekraal.”

“A lot of breakers for a place with little monsters.”

“Namibia’s full of them. The defense line in Pella is sustained and most of them prefer using the sea route rather than traverse 250 miles of land.”

“Can’t spare a cruiser?”

“They made a no fly zone for split-realm cruisers since most of them get downed because of the disruption field.”

“If only Japan had that field.”

“They thought they didn’t need it because of the defense grid. It was okay, but the disruption field causes more trouble than it needs to be. The deprivation syndrome sometimes makes them unstable. No one wants to stay for too long in places with fields like this.”

“So which ones are troublesome?”

“Mostly the local factions who don’t want foreigners on the land. The concords made it easy to rent the land, but the rent’s horrendous. I wouldn’t want to live here unless I have to.”

Gaston stood away from the landing pad. The rest of the crew headed in. There was a drill being conducted not far from them. From the looks of it they were also teaching recruits how to handle weapons. The breakers who were practicing their output were struggling to lift to a thousand pounder. The rest were getting familiar with their MF-weapons of choosing.

“Rather generous to have them armed.”

“The more they spend, the less they pay in taxes.”

“Even here, huh.”

The two left the training area and went to the lodging. Most of Lionel’s personal team had their own area. Gaston parted with Bruna and went to the room that he was assigned to rest. It was a small room with a single bed and a desk for him to use. There was a closet-sized bathroom.

Gaston was about to take a rest when he noted that there was someone calling. He accepted the call and on his retina was Janna dressed in a grayish blue dress. She wore makeup and had her hair styled.

“Partying?”

“I need to attend this meeting from her investors. Most of them are weapon manufacturers.”

“Oh, you're testing one?”

“No, I’m here to make sure she doesn’t have dealings. This woman has a lot of contacts, no wonder they sent you to observe her. How are things?”

“Fine, mostly. Met some old associates. Lemmy and Bruna make this somewhat easier to cope with.”

“Linda around?”

“She is. She needs to decompress.”

“My condolences to her. Anyway, it looks like you’re doing fine.”

“I am. It’s not like I’m here to fight.”

“Don’t lie. I saw the news. It’s your group that fought in that city, right?”

“Reginald told you?”

“Gaston, have you forgotten that I have more access to you? Besides, I think you should know that Hild might have refused Reginald’s offer.”

“She did, huh.”

“Yup. Bitch is after a paycheck so expect trouble.”

“Okay,” he clicked his tongue.

Putting the call display off his retina. Gaston tried contacting Hild. It took about two minutes until the call connected.

“You after Mortimer, now?”

“What’s with the voice?”

Gaston could hear that distorted sound in the background. He guessed that she was traveling on a split-realm cruiser.

“Leave Mortimer alone for now.”

“He has a lot on his head, Gas. Don’t know if I can't help myself.”

“You will. At least not until the deal is done. And I advise you to steer clear off this.”

“I can be reasonable, hmm, your voice tells a lot. You don’t leak out murder usually. Fine, I’ll keep my scope hovering, and my finger above the trigger.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“Might visit.”

Gaston cut off the call and held his forehead. He felt a headache coming at the thought of other potential hitmen trying to aim at Mortimer’s head. It was already a problem that there are folks that want to steal from Lionel and now a group wants the other one dead.