Attending these parties was never Janna’s interest. Although she liked the dress, the nasty eyes, the lusting smiles, and the schemers among the crowd made her loathe it.

Lady Romanov was busying herself with the attention. Seeing that she wasn’t needed, Janna went out of the venue, leaned on the railing and stared at a distance. The repairs had already been done on this side of Japan.

She heard the door open. Hilda Valeria walked out of the venue. There was a clear distress on the warrior woman’s face. Although she seemed to like her dress as well, Janna remembered her when she was a bit young.

Hilda saw her. A smile appeared on the girl’s face. A smile that Hilda Valeria would never show to just anyone.

“Teacher,” Hilda approached.

“That’s a long role I’ve fulfilled. Look at you now, so strong and so fierce,” Janna can’t help but grinned. “I guess that’s why they wanted me to train you.”

Hilda approached Janna like an obedient student. Janna wondered if her training was somewhat too effective, seeing her rather meek in front of her. Still, she did not hate her student, though for the sake of professionalism, she didn’t meet up with her. Not that her student would have the time to visit her when she’s so busy.

“You made me into what I am, Teacher.”

“Nonsense, you are what you are. Besides, it was only a short time that I taught you. Nonetheless, I am proud of your achievements.”

Hilda nodded. She looked around the balcony.

“How is Sister?”

“Who knows what your Sis is up to?”

Hilda and Hild. They were sisters who grew up together. One could say that after Hild got her footing. Hild decided to leave her to Janna in hopes she could make her into a warrior. She would spend the time training Hild once in a while, before Hild left to test herself.

She was fortunate enough to be recruited by Romanov. Then again, she always had the potential to be the strongest. She had never seen such high readings on a single breaker. Then again, the results speak for themselves. Hilda Valeria was on the top of her game.

“Teacher?”

“Time sure flies fast. Then again, it’s a world where we don’t know what will happen next.”

Hilda nodded. She stood next to Janna. She eyed the dots of light in front of her.

“Do you think that these cuffs will become a bother?”

“Oh, they will. If what we have heard from them is true. Then they’ve been planning this secretly. You could say that this accident just caused them to be fanatical.”

Janna had never seen people who are so eager to pass down a law. Not to mention that most of the guests were associates of the Earthside Consortium and the United Earth Defense Force. Though from the looks of it, there were more Americans and Chinese associates than the European ones attending the venue.

Janna was familiar with how their minds work. She had spent the last few days interacting with these people. Most of the time they were asking Romanov about her company and how she would like to have more sponsors. It was actually entertaining and a learning experience for Janna, seeing Romanov take care of them skillfully. Those who knew her during her time in the UEDF headquarters approached him and had asked why she was acting adjutant.

As much as Janna didn’t want to be part of this farce. There was much to gain attending this. Not to mention that Romanov was holding a stake on these cuffs that were going to develop. She was putting a load of money and had acquired ten percent of what these devices may earn in the future.

Businessmen and women were talking to each other. To Janna, it felt like they had already decided on the path the world will follow. Personally, Janna didn’t care about the cuffs. But what about the Breakers who will be displeased by this?

“Have you tested it?”

Janna said between sips. She takes a look at her drink. This was her only glass in the evening.

“I did. It really does drain you out of your powers. But I still have my strength.”

Hilda’s strength never left her. Although she had lost the bioenergy that was making her stronger. The muscles and bones in her body remained as it was. It had already mutated to the point that even the cuffs wouldn’t take away her powers so easily.

“Any side effects?”

Hilda thought deeply. “I do feel drained. Like my head is constantly buzzing.”

There was no such effect on Janna. Then again, the cuffs were specifically made for Breakers and not for people like her and Gaston.

Janna secretly circulated the bioenergy in her body and ran it inside her body. When her bioenergy ran into the path where the cuffs disruption was flowing. Her bioenergy weakened, but was not completely dissipated. She tried flowing the ichor in her body and found that they were being ‘consumed’ by the disruption device attached to her wrist.

It was better than those devices they place all over an area. It directly drains them and also consumes the ichor gathered to power itself. It was a pretty self-sufficient device. Not to mention that there was also a function that allowed them to use their powers if they needed to do so. It gave them a time limit if faced with dangers. They would need permission to use their powers, but would depend on what ‘danger’ the user was facing.

Despite all that. It was still a cuff with the intention of containing the powers that a Breaker had. No human in the world liked being cuffed or chained. Unfortunately, with how the Sitra Ahra ruined everything for everyone.

The cuffs will become an accessory to breakers. It will be their safe trigger. The device that will keep them from being weapons that would turn against their masters.

***

The party did not last long. Janna left the party with the girls while considering what will happen next. Lady Romanov has gotten a lot from the recent parties. From mining contracts to security contracts.

Although she was masking her company as a breaker company. It was an open secret that she also participated in mining and security services.

She herself could offer any country a private army. With her branches spreading all over the globe. She could send her people to less-developed countries and monopolize their resources. Her Gaston was not that attentive, he was a professional who minded his business, so even if he had seen the documents that he was sorting. He would think nothing of them and continue on sending them to the UEDF.

Janna, in her short time as the Adjutant, had already gotten a lot from the inner workings of the Babaika Lions. The internal systems are heavily monitored. Their cash flow was genius and every investment that the Lady Romanov has been going too well.

The recent BEHEMOTH they caught also assured the company will stay in green for the next five years. One industry alone allows Lady Romanov to earn five billion dollars every week. And that isn’t counting the profits she made in other industries such as security contracts and mining.

It also helped that she was part of the elite class that has recently gotten so much power. Nepotism and inheritance made it easy for her to join the society of men and women who earn billions of dollars by the week. She was earning dollars and credits and with how multi-planetary the humans have become ever since they day made shelters on Mars and changed it to their liking.

Humanity after the end of the world wasn’t the same. Even Mars has started to create their own brand of politics. The difference was that the split-realm openings are only happening on Earth. There are no traces of openings in Mars, but there are creatures that roamed the Martian soils.

Most of the metal was already coming from Mars and the Asteroid Mining companies. The rest of the resources that they couldn’t find on earth are imported from Space. The price alone was devastating, but the nations who are able to afford them are also profiting by the sales of the weapons alone.

If Janna followed the money. She was sure that she could find connections that would link Lady Romanov to crime syndicates. And people who have connections to secret societies. But even if she did, she wasn’t going to do anything about it. Janna would fight monsters, but she was also the kind of bastard that would just watch.

Heroics aren’t helping anyone. Indeed, it was evil for people to do nothing, but she wasn’t self-righteous enough to do anything. She thought of herself as neutral like her Gaston. She would know, but she wouldn’t act like Gaston who pretends that they don’t exist.

She learned from her time in UEDF that necessary evil was required. She wasn’t so heartless, but she was also not that self-righteous enough to interfere with things that she’ll benefit from.

Thinking about it made her rather despondent. Nonetheless, she hardened her heart and went inside her room. She texted Gaston and waited for him to call. After waiting for an hour, she got a reply from Gaston.

“Bon dia, Janna.”

“It’s night here.”

“Oh, so is the deal done?”

“Not exactly. I have things that need to be done. The worst part of it is that I’m now involved with Hild.”

“I heard that she went there. Let me guess, she’s earning a lot of money threatening the right person?”

“That she is. She’s talented. She’s even going to cooperate with me now on a new target. I’ll be working as Diable for now.”

Janna’s eyes dilated. Her stare froze. She turned on the video call and saw Gaston's face. Seeing Janna’s face, Gaston smiled wearily.

“We need this sponsor.”

“But working as Diable?”

“It had to be done. Besides, it’s too tempting and with Hild around. The chance of success is higher than usual. I implore you to not worry much.”

“Yes, because that certainly calms me.”

“Nice dress.”

“Don’t change the topic. So, what’s the job going to be?”

“Is this a secured line?”

“It’s our personal line. I doubt anyone knows it. So, about the job?”

“You heard of these cuffs?”

He showed a cuff on his arm.

“You have one?”

“Sir Mortimer handed me one that could allow me to bypass disruptors. Tell me, don’t you think it's too tempting?”

She bit her lower lip, “It is. Whose the target this time?”

“Rubedo, that holy man.”

“Oh, I heard of that guy. Really? You’re targeting him? Is this killing?”

“No, they want me to show the world that he’s not a saint.”

“It’ll be hard to get to him.”

“It will. I’m starting from his underlings and making sure that they aren’t around to defend him when we bring him down. I already got some intel around this bastard, so if anything I’m doing the people believing him a favor.”

“Must be quite a generous offer.”

“Being in the pocket of Sir Mortimer isn’t bad. He’s a rich man. And refusing his request will earn his ire. I made agreements with him that a package will be sent to you as well. Please, understand why I’m doing this.”

“You’re working too hard, amor meu.”

“I’d say you’re doing the same.”

“I might be. Lately I have been too active. Guess those cultists are making me anxious about what may happen.”

“Just don’t tire yourself too much. Even if this doesn’t work out. We can still find safe haven. I’ll do my best here as well.”

“That’s all I ask of you.”

“Gaston?”

“Yes?”

“How’s she?”

“Oh, she’s the same as ever. Still, as scheming as ever. Come on, don’t give me that look.”

“She’ll work with you, but who knows what she might do.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her. How are things in your end?”

“It’s fine. The Lady has a lot of skeletons. This whole company has a lot of them.”

“I see. You’ve been looking into it?”

“Have been since you don’t bother to do it. I won’t make a move, not that I’d intend to unless it is against the agreements of the UEDF and Consortium.”

Both of them were stuck between stones. Nonetheless, both are able to slip past them as long as they don't interfere with what they are doing and accept some of their orders. Both knew that they weren’t exactly influential or had the spending money to interfere in whatever their employers do. It wasn’t on their pay grade and it was something that she’d rather not Politics and business were soul draining. However, they already had been used to such things ever since they started working for the UEDF and the Earthside Consortium.

To do what they can do to profit and benefit from their work without losing their souls in the process.