The expected result did not surprise Gaston. By the time the exchange was about to happen, he was in his office, sorting through documents. A message came from Lionel who said to his personal crew that the men who attacked them were no more.

It was expected. Money runs the world and sometimes conflicts aren’t resolved by an individual or certain groups. It was not like the movies in which one singular individual could take care of the mess. It was a mess of formal paperwork that involved why it was done and what should be done. A system of emails and messages passed on alongside workers who wires the necessary payment. PMC’s never really did go out of business despite the state of the world.

The world was a complex web where a single individual might be able to solve one problem, but could not solve all the problems unless it was worked by multiple individuals focused on completing said task.

Lionel was not worried. The rest of the group didn’t care about those individuals who were targeting them. It didn’t mean that the security for Lionel became lax. If anything they didn’t want to risk it. Professionals remain professionals despite the news.

Gaston Hardy followed through with the procedure. He made his input and had it sorted out by Linda who looked at the paperwork while muttering about how she should have a bot sort through them. Most of the paperwork was intangible and a formality.

They were not stupid enough to give the real document to him. And even if there are documents that Gaston checked and sorted that might relate to their activities. They were only the tip of the iceberg.

By the time that problem in Riyadh was done. Most of the crew had already prepared themselves to make sure that the route was optimal and clear. Advanced parties were sent to recon the flight path of the cruiser they were going to use. Most of the Babaika Lion Associates that are on their bay were sent out. The rest were left to defend the Grotto Bay.

Gaston flew in one of the fast-movers alongside Hild. The rest of the crew flew Lionel to the base where Sir Rickert Mortimer was living.

His compound was heavily guarded. The disruptor that they were using cut deeper than Gaston expected. It was like there was a constant ray of sunlight draining their energies. A wave that keeps the bioenergy in their bodies affected.

The compound’s center was guarded with weapon systems and the latest tech that they could buy. There was no parade. There were no absurd formalities. It was straight up meet and greet.

One of the employees greeted Lionel. They asked their ‘main group’ to follow them deep in the innards of the compound. The interior of the Compound of Mortimer is modern. There were guards posted and from the flow of employees walking down corridors. Gaston knew that the Compound had dug deep.

One of the new trends post the end of the world was to build their buildings underground. Building up was not desirable unless they were going for a megastructure design. China had built monoliths and tower cities to hold millions of their citizens. There are parts of their provinces that are mostly covered in breeding grounds and spaces for ‘mining’ ichorium.

The meeting was going to be held at one of the secured locations. Secured that there were no possible entry points other than designated walking spaces.

The structure and interior of the compound reminded Gaston of the Earthside Consortium design. The titanium walls and the out of this world design made the place even alien. There was no smell. The sound was tempered by this noise that were playing that he did not recognize.

The walk to the meeting place was quiet. Even the guards surrounding Lionel grew sterner as they went to their destination. It was only after ten minutes landing at this compound that they found themselves in the meeting room.

A man waited there alongside his personal guards. Lionel and Linda walked forward while Gaston, Hild, Lemmy, and Bruna remained on the door. Most of them were staring down the guards. Gaston was sure that Lemmy already had a plan to kill everyone in the room alongside Bruna. Hild was probably fighting her inner demons.

Gaston remained silent. He gave one nod to Sir Mortimer and stood up in a standing parade rest. The two did formalities with each other, doing small chatter while Linda remained quiet by Lionel’s side. Mortimer walked quietly towards Gaston and offered a hand. He signaled with his gaze and told Gaston to quietly follow alongside Lionel and Mortimer in an enclosed space. Gaston could identify the wall deployed around them.

Sir Mortimer stood on the other side of the table and placed both palms on the table. His open stance and that piercing gaze of confidence was something Gaston could remember. The kindly old man who you’d never expect to be walking around. Gaston could still remember the dealing in New York when he was working for Mortimer temporarily. It was a simple inquisition of his assets and if he was loyal to the UEDF and the EC. A powerful arm’s dealer that deals in technology, who holds a lot of connections to powerful investor circles.

He was the same old man that spoke as he wished. Acted as he wished and made money as he wished. The UEDF was a loose organization and yet this man was one of their top priorities. He was not a politician, but he commanded respect in all circles that involved the dealings of arms. It didn’t hurt to be friendly to a man like him. A man who had lived through tough times and prospered for it.

The quiet would stir someone’s head. Gaston remained quiet as Sir Lionel kept his smile. After the assessment, the kindly old man loosened his demeanor, he sat up straight with hands behind his back.

“Lionel, you know how to make friends.”

“I do, old man.”

“Ah, I really am Old, you know? It is good that you are the one handling this, Hardy.”

“Sir.”

“I have enjoyed your presence. It is not everyday that I would find the UEDF’s agents around. Chameleon has been working with us. That reminds me, is Ms. Forster not working in UEDF?”

“She’s handling business with Lady Romanov.”

“Ah, the Lioness.”

Lionel laughed quietly.

“You two are well-acquainted?”

“Mr. Hardy here has been working with the UEDF. I have seen his performance, so I have no worries about matters of confidence in his presence. Besides, he has seen how these technologies work, no?”

“I have seen their transport devices. Whether I can identify the item as part of theirs remains unseen.”

Lionel signaled Linda to place the artifact on the table. Lionel entered the passcode to the case and revealed the contents of it.

Sir Mortimer neared the device. It was shaped like a pot with the texture of aluminum and yet containing this was the key to disassembling the Sitra Ahra Tech.

“Fascinating isn’t it? Such a small container and yet many would not hesitate to buy it for billions of credits.”

Sir Mortimer took the item and handled it with care. He took out another item from one of the containers and plugged it in the port of this device. There was no reaction. Lionel took something out and plugged it in the device. It was an ichor-based battery.

There was a stir in the room. Gaston’s instincts screamed at him as the device glowed. Sir Mortimer caught Gaston’s reaction, then smiled.

“It seems like it is real?”

“It is real,” Gaston said. “I have felt this energy in the field in Japan. Looks like it is one of their transport devices. If the other is what I think it is. Then this will be something.”

“You can record now, Mr. Hardy.”

Gaston recorded the device and directly connected it to the secure link. After eighty five seconds of recording. Gaston uploaded it to the UEDF headquarters and waited for their confirmation.

“It’s sent. The transaction will be signed as per agreed,” Gaston signaled Linda to present the terms and agreement. “The following contract will be established within the two parties. The content of the contract will be in the eyes of the parties involved. All parties are required to sign the confidential documents and proceed in declaring their shared ownership of the items involved and its development.”

Gaston was here to witness their contract signing. The rest of the clause and agreements were already something the two had probably discussed before even meeting to trade the items. Most of the discussion about the agreement was done by Linda. Lionel and Mortimer discussed the terms and exchanged the items that they were holding. That was the end of the trade. It was simple and fast. Lionel wouldn’t come here if it wasn’t so.

However, their chat wasn’t over. Gaston stood silently as Mortimer introduced a person. A holographic projection showed a woman in her twenties standing six-foot tall and blonde with benitoite-colored eyes.

“I introduce you to Dame Elizabeth Felicia Lovelace.”

“It is an honor to meet all of you. I trust that the transaction has been done?”

“Oh my, what do I owe the pleasure, Countess?”

Gaston raised a brow. It was rare for Lionel to be so respectful. Not to mention that he was addressing her as Countess? The only place that Gaston knew that kept their titles was in Greater England.

The ‘Countess’ traveled her eyes on Gaston Hardy.

“So this is the Diable that you have been praising, Sir Mortimer. One of the few survivors of the Golden Gate Incident.”

“Madam,” Gaston performed a bow.

“Tell me, what do you think of my disruptor, Mr. Hardy?”

“Pardon?”

She smiled.

“Ah, it is quite efficient. Still, it reminds me of the lower levels of the split-realm.”

“Lower levels?”

“Yes,” Gaston clenched its hand.

“I see. It seems like I still need to work on my research. Do you think it is possible?”

“I don’t dare to ask.”

The Countess smiled. She turned her attention back to Mortimer and Lionel.

“As you have noticed. The Disruptor Effect that is in effect in this compound only affects Breakers. It reduces their ichorium levels to that of a human. Although like my other Disruptors, it doesn’t come as intrusive and can be adjusted.”

She projected a schema of what the device can do. The more Gaston read, the more concerned he was by the efficiency of the Disruptor. The Disruptors that he knew only isolated breakers to a degree, but this one could even infiltrate ichor-based machinery better than the disruptors. Not to mention that the cuffs were going to be modular to the bracers that breakers used.

It will act as their access and identification code. Like a switch button that will turn their powers on and off. It robbed any breaker who used their powers from using them. A perfected design.

However, Gaston was unable to understand the connection. Why was she showing them her project? Gaston didn’t inquire beyond his interest. His instincts told him that he was better off not knowing. Nonetheless, this meeting made Gaston wonder what their plans would be for the device and the disruptor. The ability to make use of the Sitra Ahra tech, and the ability to turn off the powers of the breakers in command.

Better men would have said something. But Gaston wasn’t here to play the concerned citizen, he was here for business and knowing these people, he’d rather not step on their toes. Self-righteousness, and idealism could only go so far. There was a reason that these people were even allowing him to be near them as they discussed this.

They know that Gaston wouldn’t tell. Gaston had spent seven years building the trust of his clients and associates. Everything that he heard will stay here.

Trust and confidentiality was essential to his occupation.