Chapter 111: Casino Royale

Chapter 111: Casino Royale

Novemeber 30th, 2089

Kiras POV

Working at Mr. Chinos casino has been uneventful yet enjoyable. Theres always a rowdy idiot or two who underestimate me and try to resist, allowing me to beat the living daylights out of them before tossing them into the street. The regulars have learned to stay clear of me by now. Mr. Chino claims that hes had less security incidents than ever since he hired me. I cant take all of the credit for that though. Irenes started working here as well when I needed someone to take some of the shifts for me. She was already rather Yakuza-like, so she adapted easily to this environment.

And if the patrons are wary of me, they are all absolutely terrified of Irene. I think the one and only guy that tried feeling her up during her first shift on the job is still in the intensive care unit at Tokyo General. Apart from casino security, Mr. Chino also sends us to collect on debts. Weve been extremely effective. The debtors never see us coming, and the disconnect between our appearance and strength is shocking enough that they always cough up the money the first time we ask.

My shift for tonight is just about over, so I wandered over to Mr. Chinos office. Do you need me to do anything before I leave? I asked him. Nah, everyones been kicked out and Ive finished counting the nights take. You can leave. He said, but then something on the security monitor outside caught his eye. Scratch that, Ill be paying you overtime. It looks like we have some company. He immediately reached over to grab his Thinker III smart pistol. I peeked over his shoulder at the monitor and saw three people standing outside. Two of them were ordinary looking thugs, but the leader seemed to be a silvery-blue haired woman in her late 20s.

Mr. Chino walked out the casino, with me right behind him, to talk with the visitors. The street was completely deserted and quiet, which was strange. My hearing always picks up at least traffic the next street over, and theres always traffic in Tokyo. Are you Ratface? the woman asked neutrally. Used to be. Who the fuck wants to know? Mr. Chino challenged aggressively. Pandemonium is offering protection from all the unsavory characters in this neighborhood. All it takes is a small fee. I did my best to avoid tensing at the mention of the name. I quickly tried to contact Terra via the telepathy artifact, but something was interfering. All I heard was static.

Mr. Chino snickered rudely at the ladys words. Those unsavory characters are some of my best customers. I also already have my own security. The woman seemed to be getting rather irritated with Mr. Chino, her hands were clenched tightly, yet her voice was still neutral. To decline our offer would be unwise. I aint declining, I just want you to know that I am well aware of your racketeering bullshit. Jeez, I thought Pandemonium was a crack operation. Mr. Chino prodded her further with his response.

A cold wind passed between us, as we stared each other down. I could sense the unrestrained rage bubbling within her, yet her face was completely impassive. It was if it was frozen like that. Annoying bitch. Ill kill you. Susan spoke in her monotone voice. Her wounds from Farclaws were dripping bluish blood, which froze upon contact with the ground. I contracted Longfangs back to their original length, while I controlled Farclaws to surround me in a defensive position. The surroundings went from cold to even colder as I hoped that Mr. Chino manages to contact the police.

Ratfaces POV

I thought retirement from crime meant that I wouldnt have to deal with this shit anymore! My holophone is not fucking working and the wired line I have in my office is currently being blocked off by the two racketeers. I frantically dodged as another slot machine was destroyed and yet another hole appeared in the wall behind it. Stop blowing holes in my place! I screeched as I tried firing back at the two Pandemonium stooges. My aim is not the greatest, but thankfully I have my smart pistol. I managed to mark the two with my scanner, allowing my pistol to adjust my shots as I pull the trigger to ensure that my aim is on target. I stuck my pistol out of cover and blindly fired, knowing that the pistol would compensate for my shit aim as long as I pointed in the right direction.

One of the thugs roared in pain, indicating that I got him. Ha! It was worth overpaying that asshole of a quartermaster to sneak me this gun! Koyrie! Use the new gear! If we take any longer Susan is going to make popsicles out of us! New gear? What does he mean by that? The whirling sound of a repeating laser rifle answered my question. FUCK!!! I screamed as I hit the deck right when a searing salvo of laser fire melted through the card table I was hiding behind. I am so fucked, worse than the hooker I saw last week. My smart pistol, military grade weapon that it is, has no chance against goddamn lost technology! Only the most powerful militaries in the world have managed to start recreating that tech! What goddamn Council of Nine member do they have in their pocket?

The wall behind me collapsed, giving me a new route to my office. I sprinted into the newly accessible back room, and opened up the trap door hidden within there. The tunnel beneath it leads into my office, or rather, the tunnel beneath my office leads here. It was originally an escape route for me in case police (or somebody worse) came charging into my office.

Where is he? I dont know! Fuck it!!! Nemiyet, go possess him! Fine!!! Shit, that sounds freaky. I grabbed the hardline in my office, it seems to still be working. Good, old tech has always been more reliable. Emergency Response, please state your emergency. PANDEMONIUM ATTACK!!!!! I bellowed into the phone, likely deafening the operator in the process. We have your location, security forces are in bound. 30 seconds passed before the Pandemonium members figured out where I was. The office door was kicked in and one human walked in. He was lugging the repeating laser rifle from earlier, but on his shoulder was a little red monstrosity with goat horns, bat wings, and a forked tail. Fuck me, is that what I think it is?

Hes all yours, Nemiyet. The man evilly said. But before anything could happen, the mans head turned into a pink mist, and the imp turned into a green mist. Standing behind him was that terrifying boyfriend of Kiras, clad in his trench coat and bandana with Kira close behind. My eyes were quickly drawn back to the corpse, which was twitching as another hideous little imp materialized out of it. It didnt even have time to screech before a searing blue flame turned it into ash. Holy fuck, what is going on?!? Relax, Ratface. You wont remember a thing. Dont overdo it, Terra!