ushernet Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Chapter 158Rain tapped against a far window of the Jagged Clover, drawing my attention away momentarily as a yawn stretched my jaw. My phone buzzed as a city-ordained warning about mass shootings in Bricktown came, shortly followed by a strict order to stay indoors. Good thing I was on the other side of the city.
For a moment, I wondered if I’d get called in to work the case by the Inquisitor. Then that curiosity passed as I realized he was probably too drunk off his ass to care much about such a simple thing. Better off leaving it to the Knights. It was their job, after all.
I swiped up on the notification, hiding it as the file I originally looked at came back into focus. I scrolled on my phone, my eyes blurring as I read yet another memo about budget cuts and mass firing of a different kind.
I’d already looked through the budget reports over the past decade. Kuzo dumped so much money into the failed Project Methuze that he single-handedly turned a well-established mid-sized corporation into a micro one only kept alive by suckling a large corporation’s savants. Truly the largest of idiots. I have no idea why my father made him the new CEO in his will.
Not only had he dumped all the money of CMS into the project, he also dumped the main sources of the corporation's income. Shortly after my parents died, about the time I left to live in the Ryu Container Yard, he cut contact with the Jade Fangs entirely. A five-decade supply contract gone just like that. It’s no wonder he moved the corp to Bricktown. Not that it would’ve mattered if the Matriarch actually wanted to do something about him.
So far, my
”A few. I’ll load up before we leave.” Silver bullets were a hard requirement to kill Dune Walkers from what I’ve been told. Never had the displeasure to face one of the shambling corpses myself, but supposedly they only truly died under the effects of silver. Something about the metal interfering with whatever magic voodoo witchcraft shit that makes them get up and walk.
"Okay... for ten percent of the profit, up to five thousand, the company will provide all the ammo and supplies you need. It's the standard price for the rest of the guys underneath the Crimson Company. Is that fine with you?"
It sure beats having to cart out food and water for myself. Even if I didn't technically need it thanks to the canteen, I'd rather not show off a priceless relic that could infinitely keep someone sustained. That was just asking for problems. "What all is included?"
He handed me a long list of supplies, including but not limited to ammo, various provisions, medical assistance, and various other services. I briefly glanced through it before my eyes glazed over. Worth ten percent though, especially considering it capped out at five thousand if we really hit a jackpot. "Sure, I'll go for it."
”Nova. One last question. Have you ever left the city?” He put a bit more weight on this one. Probably trying to figure out if I was just another street rat or someone with at least some experience.
“I’ve been out. Had a job a while ago that took me out to Sunderland.” Nice. Made it sound as if I was a bit more capable, though Sunderland was definitely the furthest I've gone.
“Good. Load up on any tools or weapons you want to bring. The Crimson Company will take care of provisions. We’ll set off from the company headquarters five days from now.” He tapped around on his datapad before showing the location and time of the meet-up. Quite early in the morning. Probably wanted to get a move on before the desert sun blitzed us too hard.
He asked a few other questions, such as blood type and some more medical-related concerns in case I was injured in the field, and then I was free to go. Could definitely see the more corporate side of things behind an official mercenary company from him. As soon as I got back out onto the streets, I immediately headed back to the Speakeasy and got to work preparing for my newest gig. I had a feeling this one could get complicated.