Chapter 481 - Maroo’s Clubhouse (Patreon)

“That went well.” Mira hugged my waist. The cool metal of her power armor pressed into the relatively thin fabric of my shirt, making a shiver go through me.

”It went alright. I should’ve asked for more money.” That would’ve been the prime time to ask for an investment. I just didn’t think about it until it was too late. 

Mira chuckled, and the sound came out robotic thanks to her helmet. “You’re so greedy, Shiro.”

”Better to have money then to not.” Besides, it wasn’t like I was just hoarding a bunch of money. I gave a bunch to Luna and stuff… maybe I should start up some kind of program for the downtrodden? Just giving them rayn wouldn’t fix shit, though. I was intimately aware of how people on the streets thought and worked. I could think about it when we got back.

I brushed my silver bangs to the side, and leaned forward over the console of the Roughrider. “You up for the next meeting too?”

”I’d jump off otherwise,” Mira said bluntly. “The Viento Cartel, though… I didn’t think you wanted to get mixed up gangs.”

”I’m already mixed up in the Jade Fang. What’s one more?” ‘Sides, the Viento Cartel practically owned the night markets of Lathvin. It was an open secret how deeply they were ingrained into literally everything there. Having their protection would go a long way.

”This guy, Feras—“

”Torren,” I corrected her. “Torren’s the one we’re going for. Feras is just a Magus fixer in Oldtown.”

”Torren.” She punched me lightly in the shoulder. “So Torren is an Adept? For someone who claims to hate magic, you’re sure around a lot of it.”

”Not always by choice.” Though that was changing. If I could harness it myself, then there was no reason to keep running away from it. Well, other than the fact I had chrome and it was a terrible idea to mix the two. I had a work around for that, though.

If I was stronger with magic in my fox form anyway, then there was no point being human when it came to magic. I had chrome, a weaker connection, and all sorts of issues. If I wanted to use magic, it was as simple as summoning out my fox hoodie to get going. 

I’d need a focus, of course… Unfortunately, I’d have to go to their main shrines to get the claws from Fox and Bear made into proper foci. They could’ve just done it themselves, but I had a feeling they wanted me to visit their main shrines anyway. That would take a while. Fox’s main shrine was in Yukoto, and Bear’s was in Oraoyt, the home city of the Blue Crusade. 

It wasn’t like I needed a super strong focus anyway. I’d swing by Fox’s shrine on my way out of the city and swipe a simple one. The super strong foci only mattered when I was either powerful enough to warrant one, or wanted to consistently summon higher tier sprites. 

We quickly flew over the city. I flicked my poncho’s hood up over my head as it started to rain harder, and soon we were flying through a torrential downpour. The Roughrider was good in a lot of situations. Traveling comfortably through the rain was not one of those situations.

We left the towering structures of the Corporate Quarter behind and slipped into East End. Specifically, the sub-district of Diosé. The towering structures gave way to hill-like constructions of buildings stacked chaotically on top of each other like a maze of structures.

Neon flashed through hundreds of shady alleys and streets built in between the artificial hills of cement and steel. Only the intracity highways passed over the hills of Diosé, standing free of the chaos of the city.

The last time I came to this side of East End, I spent nearly thirty minutes just trying to figure out where I was going and driving through chaotic masses of tunnels. This time around, we flew over everything and approached a flashing building with spotlights sweeping through the sky like there was a rave going on. The bright lights flicked and flared over the sub-district, briefly illuminating the deep shadows of the place before snapping to illuminate somewhere else. 

“Maroo’s, right?” Mira asked. I could already hear the loud music pouring out of the popping club. 

“You heard of it?” That shouldn’t have been all that surprising. Maroo’s—well, it wasn’t quite as famous as the Rime Peak Lounge, but it certainly had its fair share of infamy. 

“Always wanted to visit, but it’s like a maze getting here. One full of muggers.” Mira sighed. “Lots of places like that.”

”Well, now we’re visiting, aren’t we? Cheer up.” I nudged my shoulder back into her. I took control of the Roughrider, and pulled around to a flyer bay that jutted out of the chaotic structure that Maroo’s was built on. Maroo’s was one of the clubs, so it wasn’t all that surprising that there were dozens of corpo flyers parked around the area. It wasn’t quite as popular as the Jade Fang’s Ichiban street. 

We dropped into an open spot, and I sent Torren a text. A few minutes later, the big man himself appeared. He looked good—well, as good as a severely overweight guy could look. He was even bigger than the last time I saw him.

”Yo, Zuku!” He waved at me, though did a double take when he saw me in a fancy suit with a power-armored guard. “I’d ask how you’ve been, but someone’s clearly been moving up in the world.”

”Sup,” I was leaning against my bike while Mira stood off the side doing her best impression of a silent statue. “It’s Shiro now.”

”Shiro? Isn’t that a dude’s na—“ The big guy cut himself off with a cough. “I like it. Matches that white strip in your hair.”

It’s silver though… “Nice save.”

“Damn, Bonita.” Torren promptly pretended nothing happened and ran a hand along the body of my Roughrider. “This one of those Tsukuyomi’s?”

“You know them?” My shoulders straightened slightly. It was so weird hearing my last name come from someone I’d never told it to.

“Mighty preem ride. Would’ve bought one myself if Sentinel wasn’t charging an arm, leg, and torso.” The big man shook his head. “Who’d you steal it from?”

”Who do you think made it?” I shot back. Just ‘cause a girl spent most her time klepping everything that wasn’t bolted down didn’t mean all my stuff was stolen. “This right here is the Mk.1, built with my blood, sweat, and tears.”

”Shiro… Tsukuyomi?” Something finally clicked in his head. He let out a low whistle, and pulled back from my ride. “Didn’t know I was chummy with someone famous. Been living life on the edge too much recently to keep up with the news, you feel me?”

“Want one?” I patted the side of the bike. They were easy enough to make. He could have a dozen of them fully modded if he wanted. 

”Nah. ‘Preciate it though.” The big man shrugged his shoulders halfheartedly. “I get air sick easily.”

Mira’s shoulders twitched. I had a feeling if she didn’t have that helmet on, we’d be hearing her laughter spill across the flyer bay. I shot her a glare. “Still… if any of your boys want one, let me know. The least I do.”

”For what? Thought we were all paid up?” He asked.

”Build-A-Doll… Feras told me you wiped them out.” That corporation… it was the one that I didn’t even attempt to do something about back then. I was terrified, to be honest. I’d just gotten the interface and was stepping into a whole new world. I should’ve at least done something instead of looking the other way. Hindsight was 20-20 though. 

”Ah, them.” He waved his hand and led the way back toward the elevator leading up to Maroo’s. “They grabbed one of my chum’s chicka. Pendejo’s had it coming.”  

“Still… ran into them once in the past. It’s not a problem to make some more. They’re dirt cheap for me to make.” I literally just had to throw the raw materials into one of my Industrial Foundries and it could mostly spit one out. Sure, I’d have to rig up the gravitic and stuff after that, but it barely took any time. 

“I’ll ask around… Seraph, right? Saw you on stream a while ago.” Torren shifted the subject to my power-armored body guard as we got in the elevator. “Didn’t realize you were in the puppy guarding business."

“You calling me a puppy?” I crossed my arms.

”Ah, no. Just… you know.” He rubbed at the back of his head roughly and clicked a button to go up. “Trying to make small talk.”

”Shiro made my armor.” Mira’s robotic voice echoed out into the elevator. She tapped her fist to the metal, causing a ripple of purple to flow along it. 

“I figured you were a techie after you fixed my katana back then, but seeing it is another thing.” Torren looked me over as if seeing me in a new light. “Pretty impressive.”

”You still use that thing?” When I built it a while ago, I was basically running on hand tools and scrap metal. That felt like so long ago.

Torren sighed and shook his head. “Snapped it fighting a Tidemaw about six months ago.”

”A Tidemaw?” That was one of those giant sand manta rays that looked like they were cathedral sized. Absolutely massive. Usually artillery and heavy ordinance was the answer, not rushing it with a sword. Right, Torren’s a madman. 

”Yeah. Was gonna recover the parts, but I lost them in the desert.” Torren looked kinda depressed about it. “Served me well up until that point though.”

Torren led us through Maroo’s. The music was so oppressively loud that I probably wouldn’t have been able to hear him over it anyway. Heavy beats rolled through my chest with enough force that I could feel my heart struggling to keep up its normal rhythm. Clubs just weren’t it for me.

Thankfully, Torren led us to a private booth. The moment the door snapped closed, all outside sounds cut off. He waved a hand and sat down. “So, what’d you want to talk to me about?”

”Can’t I just come say hi to an old friend?” I asked and took a seat in the booth opposite him.

“You never did before.” His eyes narrowed on me. “‘Sides, you’re dressed in a suit with a bodyguard that has an up and coming reputation.”

”Do I?” Mira looked totally pleased by that.

”I’ve heard of you, at least. You fucked over a bunch of our boys doing a job for the Fang a while back.”

Mira didn’t even bother with an apology. ”Hire me next time, and it’ll go the other way around.”

“I like her.” Torren nodded his head a few times. “Maybe we will. But first, what’s this about Zu—Shiro?”

”I’m headed to Lathvin. A couple days from now, actually.” I nodded my head to the side. “And the Viento Cartel is tight there. Figured I’d try and use a connection.”

”Sure, Bonita. You want a plane down there—“

”Already got that planned out. We’re flying business." I always wanted to fly on a public plane before. There was something kinda exciting about it? Oh, and trains! Trains were out of the question though ‘cause it’d take way too long.

”Rrrright.” He shot a doubtful look at Mira’s armor. “Security’s lax, but not that lax.”

”I wouldn’t have trouble smuggling even a nuclear bomb, Torren.” Mira and I had dumped everything I didn’t want in my bunker into that warehouse I bought a while back. It was all cleaned out and ready to go. 

“Really?” Torren grinned. “Maybe we could work something out? So what do you want?” 

“A local guide? Some information… that kind of thing. Oh, and maybe we work things out peacefully in case there’s a conflict of interest.” I couldn’t totally rule out that the Viento Cartel was responsible for Kaynis’s kidnapping. If they weren’t, maybe they’d know someone who was involved. 

“I’ll tell you what. One of the bosses was having trouble smuggling stuff down there.” I could see where he was going with this. “You help me look good, I go down with you, and I’ll ensure nothing goes wrong. Help you a bit for old times sake. I was thinking about heading down there soon anyway.” 

“Sure.” Torren being with us wouldn’t be absolutely terrible… Saint ultimately decided to stay on the UCS side of things, so I wouldn’t say no to a fourth. Especially a fourth that was combat focused in case things went south. Not to mention he was a magic user, which would definitely be nice to have down in Mystech’s HQ. I was thinking about trying to hire out Ronin, but this worked much better.

“Nova. How much can you smuggle?” Torren rubbed his hands together and leaned forward. As long as it wasn’t actually a nuclear bomb… I didn’t want that thing in my bunker unless absolutely necessary.

“That depends. How much do you need smuggled?” I grinned at the guy. We slowly put together a plan that would make everyone happy. Well, everyone except for whoever had Kaynis. They were going to be very, very unhappy once Luna got a hold of them.