Crossed Calculations

In a hotel not far from Katnode Prison, Desert Eagle, who had been lying flat on the bed, suddenly jolted awake. "Holy shit!" The startled cry gave Xiao Jiang, who was piloting a drone, such a fright that he hastily switched the camera feed he was monitoring. "What are you yelling so loud for—" "I told you to keep eyes on him! What the hell were you looking at?" Leaping off the bed, Desert Eagle smacked him hard across the back of the head and snatched the tablet into his hands. The screen showed an overhead view of the prison with nothing out of the ordinary, yet the deer-in-the-headlights look on Xiao Jiang's face seemed to confess everything. Watching the fuming Desert Eagle, Xiao Jiang cleared his throat and asked nervously in a whisper, "...What on earth happened?" With a dark scowl, Desert Eagle said, "You lost the target! Talan just posted on the forum saying he's already toured the Enlightenment Society's safehouse!" Xiao Jiang's eyes went wide. "Holy crap?! That fast?" Exasperated by his partner's ineptitude, Desert Eagle smacked him upside the head again. "Stop holy-crapping and pack your shit. We're moving." Clutching the back of his head, Xiao Jiang asked blankly, "Wh-Where are we going?" Desert Eagle cursed, "The Marshal's Armory! The Enlightenment Society's outpost in Evernight Port! Thank god that simpleton posted the address on the forum, or we would've sat here waiting for nothing." Xiao Jiang let out a breath of relief at that, then perked up again. "What next? Do we charge straight in? Wipe them out in one swoop!" A two-man raid on an Enlightenment Society outpost was a tall order, but not completely unwinnable. With proper preparation beforehand, it was certainly worth a shot! Desert Eagle narrowed his eyes. "Are you a pig? We're supposed to follow the vine to uncover bigger clues, not cut off the lead we finally found! That Martin guy, and that stuff called 'Death Agent,' haven't even surfaced yet." Xiao Jiang asked in confusion, "Then... what do we do next?" Stuffing their gear into a travel bag, Desert Eagle said succinctly, "Set up shop somewhere else and keep staking them out." Now that they had the outpost's location, the rest of the job was straightforward. As long as they kept a close watch on that place, they would eventually catch Martin showing his face. Still, honestly speaking, Talan Raider's performance had exceeded his expectations somewhat. He had originally intended to use that guy as a brick tossed to test the waters, never imagining that throwing this brick would dredge up an entire nuclear submarine. It was hard not to suspect whether that guy was running cheats... ... Wasteland OL Official Forum, [Talan Raider / Commander Spring] Private PM Box. Talan Raider: "Boss, save me! QAQ" Commander Spring: "...Who are you again?" Talan Raider: "Bro, remember the feeding runs back in Sunset Province? I fed kills to your buddy Battlefield Guy!" Commander Spring: "Uh, that was ages ago... What happened to you? Disclaimer upfront: don't ask to borrow money, go earn it through quests yourself. (sweat)" Talan Raider: "I'm not asking for money! I just want some advice. Here's what happened: a few days ago, I triggered a hidden quest to investigate information regarding Enlightenment and Death Agent. As things stand, I've already infiltrated the Enlightenment Society and become an initiate..." Commander Spring: "Isn't that great? You're way more badass than that deadweight Battlefield Guy. We put so much effort into boosting his rear, and we still couldn't push him up." Infiltrating the Enlightenment Society in just a few days—this guy was a real talent. Commander Spring was secretly surprised. It seemed the rookies from back then had truly grown up. Talan Raider: "Sigh, you don't know the half of it. Maybe I got in too fast, because the old geezer who initiated me clearly doesn't trust me yet. He threw me an anti-drug quest, calling it a test... But I just got to Evernight Port! I don't know anyone or anything here. Where the hell am I supposed to investigate that stuff?" Commander Spring: "Ummm... Asking me won't help much either. I've never been that far out, and I don't do undercover work. But reasonably speaking, this game won't deliberately give you an impossible quest. Think back carefully through all the clues you encountered along the whole quest chain. See if there's anything you can make use of, like certain characters or NPCs." Sitting before his computer, Talan Raider paused, turning Brother Spring's words over in his mind. "Characters I can make use of..." Two names popped into his head instinctively. One was Arman, and the other was Nok, whom Arman had introduced to him. The former was a legitimate merchant who probably knew nothing about narcotics and wouldn't be able to help. The mercenary named Nok might have been able to help, but whether that guy was even alive was a big question mark... Wait. Another name suddenly sprang to Talan's mind—Morse, the guy who had chased him through several streets! Relying solely on his own power to investigate such a massive case in an unfamiliar place like Evernight Port was nothing short of a pipe dream. But borrowing the strength of a local gang... That might actually work! With his train of thought blown wide open, Talan excitedly clenched his fist beside the keyboard, thoughts whirling rapidly through his head. Seeing that Talan hadn't replied for a long time, Spring hesitantly typed a line on his keyboard: "Looks like you've got an idea?" Talan, energized, typed back excitedly: "Thanks!" Looking at the message on screen, Spring chuckled wryly and replied: "You're welcome... though I don't feel like I really helped at all." ... Donning his helmet, Talan re-entered the game. Lying flat on a single bed, he snapped his eyes open, rolled up into a seated position, got to his feet, walked to the entryway, and pushed open the door. This was the northern district of Evernight Port, at an inn not far from The Marshal's Armory. The assistant assigned to him by "Guide" Daniel was seated right outside his guest room door. This man's name was Kant, reportedly a veteran who had served in the 30th Legion, having fought gray mutants in the desert. After being discharged, he had joined the garrison, and around that time, he had joined the Enlightenment Society, becoming an honorable "initiate." Of course, that was merely his public résumé; his true identity was an operative of the garrison's intelligence branch. Daniel's orders to him, beyond cooperating with Talan on routine tasks, included gathering evidence of covert communications between Talan and the Alliance. The "snake oil" smuggling case had murky connections to forces backed by the Alliance. Daniel surmised that to win their trust, Alliance spies might sell out some interests of those proxy forces. And throughout this process, the "hornet" trapped in their "cocoon" would inevitably seek a way to contact the Alliance's intelligence department. Watching his target emerge from the room looking refreshed and spirited, Kant put out his cigarette butt and cast an inquiring glance. "Rested up?" Talan nodded and said breezily, "All good. Come out with me." Kant's eyebrows twitched slightly. He gave the man an up-and-down look, a flicker of surprise rising in his eyes. "...Looks like you already have a plan." "You bet!" "Care to share?" Talan didn't answer, merely offering him a confident look, his face alight with excitement. "Just follow me." Watching Talan stride briskly toward the stairs, Kant wore a slightly bewildered expression. He was certain this guy had never left his sight. Even while he rested behind closed doors, a radio surveillance team was monitoring everything nearby, ready to report any anomaly immediately. When had this guy contacted the Alliance? Or could it be... He had already realized his situation? For a moment, Kant couldn't be sure. Not wanting to give anything away, however, he held his composure and followed, deciding to see how things played out first. Meanwhile, on Floor 4.5 of The Marshal's Armory, Daniel, who was overseeing the entire operation, also frowned. Watching the two men depart on the surveillance monitor, he turned to an intelligence officer beside him and ordered in a low voice, "...Search the target's room. Be careful not to leave any traces." The officer nodded promptly. "Yes, sir!" ... Not long after Talan and his partner left their lodging, a team of hurried intelligence operatives swept into his room, conducting a sweep from top to bottom. Yet the results left them thoroughly dumbfounded: they found not a single suspicious clue. Daniel chained three cigarettes in a row without figuring out where things had gone wrong. He was certain the big fish on their hook must have made contact with the Alliance, yet he simply couldn't find any evidence to support his deduction. Even in an age capable of manipulating gravitons, transmitting information still required a physical medium. They couldn't possibly be communicating through psychic powers, could they?! While the Evernight Port garrison was utterly bewildered by the lack of any leads, Talan Raider had already led his escort into Blackwater Lane. The two turned a corner beside the Horseshoe Tavern and headed straight for Nok's home. At the same time, inside Nok's home, Morse, the boss of the Hyena Gang, was sitting cross-legged on a chair, browsing through the leads his underlings had tortured out of a certain junkie. His top enforcer, York the "Doctor," sat opposite him, looking as if he had something to say but didn't dare speak up. Unlike his optimistic boss, York always felt that getting entangled in the disputes between the Alliance and the Legion was a bad idea. Sensing what his subordinate wanted to say, Morse spoke in a conversational tone. "York, do you know what the biggest difference between us and the Iron Hand Gang is?" York paused, answering instinctively, "...Because they run the biggest nightclub and casino in Blackwater Lane?" Morse grinned, turned a page in his notebook, and shook his head gently. "You're wrong. It's because they have a backer." York frowned. "...A backer? You mean... that boss behind Tony?" Rumors had indeed circulated in Blackwater Lane that the Iron Hand Gang was supported by a prominent Wilante figure. Yet York had always assumed it was just hearsay, most likely a bluff Tony had cooked up himself. After all, no one had ever seen that grand figure, and he doubted any person of high status would care about the meager pickings in Blackwater Lane. His boss, however, clearly held a very different view. Looking at the skeptical York, Morse spoke in a measured, unhurried voice: "The boss behind Tony has military connections. That's why he can run the biggest nightclub and casino, squeezing coins from the pockets of Blackwater Lane's dregs while raking in cash from Wilante pockets... especially the latter. The latter is the real goldmine. But without Wilante permission, we don't even get the chance to touch it." "We have plenty of boys who can fight, but being able to fight means jack shit on its own. We're left scraping up whatever leftovers the big shots look down on in Blackwater Lane... You see the submachine guns in their hands? If every one of our boys had one, we wouldn't lose to them. But some things can't be bought with money alone, and even if you buy them, you can't use them out in the open like they do." "If we had a backer too, we wouldn't be any worse off than them." Ninety-nine percent of Evernight Port's wealth was concentrated in the hands of the Wilante. Blackwater Lane, which made up a third of the settlement's total area, didn't even hold one percent. Yet the appearance of the Enlightenment Society gave him a glimpse of an opportunity to rise. He had lived here for so many years and had never even heard this organization's name, yet they had already quietly infiltrated the Southern Legion! That backer was formidable enough! Of course, knowing things one shouldn't know was not without risk. He might be silenced, ending up dead in some deserted back alley. Yet if he succeeded—if he proved his ability and worth to that mysterious organization lurking in the shadows—he and his brothers would become legends in Blackwater Lane! A legend far more glorious than the Iron Hand Gang! Just as he was thinking this, a light knock came from the door. Sitting across from him, York reached toward the table and picked up a sawed-off shotgun, only to be stopped by Morse pressing an index finger to his lips. "The person I've been waiting for is here." Leaving those words behind, Morse rose from his chair with a smile, walked to the entrance, and opened the door. Sure enough, standing in the doorway was the very man he had chased through several streets a few days ago. "Mr. Talan, what a pleasure to see you again." Being able to walk out of the notorious Katnode Prison was proof enough of the Enlightenment Society's influence. As he spoke, Morse scrutinized the man standing behind Talan. There was an unpleasant aura about him, reminiscent of a certain type of person Morse dealt with frequently. Considering that the Enlightenment Society had people even inside Katnode Prison, he reasonably deduced that this fellow was probably a cop from the garrison. Looking at the NPC who had double-crossed him, Talan offered a cold, superficial smile. This guy was still here, as expected. Even though he had indeed come looking for Morse, he wasn't about to give him a friendly face. Negotiation tactics—he had learned them online. Before you pull out the carrot, you have to hit them with a stick twice. "I can tell you're very pleased. I half-expected a 7mm round as a greeting." Morse coughed. "A pure misunderstanding. I was just working for the garrison. When they put out a wanted notice, we had to handle it for them. I hope you understand... Besides, didn't you come out safe and sound?" Kant's brow furrowed. Cooperation between the garrison and local gang factions was an unwritten rule in Evernight Port; he didn't appreciate this punk blurting it out so casually to an outsider. Talan wasn't surprised by Morse's excuse. He merely glanced inside the room. Just as expected, the Hyena Gang was all here, including the bald guy with the cleft chest. "Where's Nok?" Hearing the unfamiliar name, Kant immediately perked his ears, but Morse only grinned. "That junkie borrowed money he shouldn't have borrowed. He's practically done for now... Are you sure you still want to see him?" Talan clicked his tongue, thinking to himself that it was indeed so. Seeing a potential big fish slip away, Kant's brow twitched. He lowered his voice. "You guys... aren't taking the garrison a little too lightly?" Having already guessed the cop's identity, Morse didn't panic in the least. He smiled and said, "Is it that I'm taking you lightly, or that you're taking us lightly? Do I really need to spell that out?" Before Kant could reply, Morse wiped the smile from his face and cut straight to the chase. "Let's lay our cards on the table. I know you're with the Enlightenment Society. You need hands to do the work, and my boys and I need work to do. Why don't we cooperate? I'm vastly more capable than that junkie." The air went dead silent. Kant's pupils dilated slightly, then narrowed to slits. He glared intently at Morse like an eagle fixing on its prey. Before long, however, the sharpness in his gaze gave way to confusion. Was this guy part of Operation Hornet too? No... If that were true, Daniel would have told him in advance. Wait! If this guy wasn't in on Operation Hornet, how did he know their identity?! If he belonged to the Enlightenment Society, he would certainly know Kant's identity was fake. And if he wasn't from the Enlightenment Society and wasn't part of Operation Hornet, there was no way he could know anything about the Enlightenment Society... unless he was an Enlightenment Society member. The two circular deductions contradicted each other, causing Kant's brain to crash instantly. Talan, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all. In his view, the Enlightenment Society's infiltration of the Southern Legion was already so deep it was practically an open secret. From the moment he stepped into the prison, he had fallen into the information cocoon constructed by the Southern Legion. Morse's reaction seemed entirely natural to him—at most, laying it all out on the table was a bit blunt. "You want to cooperate with us?" Sizing up the sly hyena, Talan raised his eyebrows with interest. Morse curled his lip and chuckled. "Who wouldn't? Once you join your ranks, even the most outrageous desires can be fulfilled." "Mm... That's true enough. Then I'd like to hear what your wish is." As he said this, Talan was secretly amazed, not expecting the Enlightenment Society to have such a reputation. Kant felt the same. Even as an operative of the garrison's intelligence branch, he had never known that a shadowy organization with the power to cover the sky with one hand existed in Evernight Port. If this rumor wasn't entirely fabricated, it was certainly a lead worth investigating. Seeing Talan extend an olive branch, Morse didn't beat around the bush, stating bluntly: "My wish? My wish is for my name to become a legend in Blackwater Lane... That should be easy enough for you, right? Just let me take over the other gangs' operations." Kant sneered, "Do you think such a thing is possible?" Morse smiled nonchalantly. "Why wouldn't it be? We don't need you to do anything, just turn a blind eye to certain things happening... Hasn't it always been like that anyway? Even if no one shovels manure, the manure won't vanish into thin air. Giving the dirty work that's inconvenient for you to me will actually benefit Evernight Port's stability." Seeing his assistant look ready to argue further, Talan hurriedly placed a hand on Kant's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze to warn him not to blabber. They hadn't come here to debate the future of Blackwater Lane; they were here to deal with the "snake oil" issue. "Alright, there's no point in arguing over this... I think Mr. Morse has a point. Even if we swat all the flies in Evernight Port, new ones will just fly in from elsewhere. Mr. Morse, I have only one demand for you: no kidnapping Wilante, and no selling addictive substances to Wilante. Can you manage that?" Hearing this stern admonition, Morse's face finally broke into a radiant grin. "No problem. I can keep my boys in line, and I can even help you maintain order and track down any lost Wilante. I can even promise you that in the future, Blackwater Lane will become a playground for Wilante, rather than a foul ditch that nobody except rats wants to go near... Unlike now, where left unmanaged, it smells worse than an open sewer." Kant couldn't suppress another sneer. Beside him, Talan cleared his throat in the nick of time, cutting off Morse's grand promises. "What you want to do is your business. I don't need you painting pies in the sky, and I'm not interested in the future of Blackwater Lane... Right now, I need you to prove your worth. Do you understand what I mean? You touched our informant. We may not care whether that junkie Nok lives or dies, but you'd better finish what he was supposed to do. Otherwise, we won't be pleased. None of us will." Hearing Talan's words, Morse wasn't surprised in the least. He had long suspected Nok was an Enlightenment Society informant, and the man had confessed as much under his harsh interrogation. Unfortunately, his timing with Nok had been unlucky, catching him before he could make contact with the Enlightenment Society, so Morse had failed to pry out what the organization had wanted with the junkie in the first place. Suppressing the excitement in his chest, he adopted a deferential posture like a true servant, bowing his head slightly and speaking respectfully: "...Understood. Consider it my compensation to you. If I handle this cleanly, I hope the little unpleasantness between us before can be wiped clean." "No problem." Agreeing readily, Talan shot a glance at his assistant and led him straight into the house. Passing by one of the rooms, he caught sight of someone lying dead in a pool of blood. The withered torso resembled a hollowed-out mummy. Even if the guy were still alive, he probably would only have had half a breath left in him. Clicking his tongue softly, Talan looked away from the unfortunate addict, turned to Morse who had halted his steps, and spoke succinctly: "Recently, an addictive drug called snake oil has appeared in Evernight Port. According to our intelligence... people from the Alliance are pulling the strings behind it." "They're using this vile hallucinogen to milk Wilante veterans out of their pensions, attempting to intensify our internal conflicts." Morse frowned slightly. "...What does that have to do with the Enlightenment Society?" "The Southern Legion is our ally. Naturally, we can't stand by and watch them be brought down by our enemies... especially through such vile and dirty methods." Talan lightly modified the lines Daniel had fed him and repurposed them for the gang boss. Pausing for a second, he continued: "What I need you to do is simple: find the source of the snake oil, along with evidence of Alliance involvement... That shouldn't be too difficult for the future underground emperor of Blackwater Lane, should it?" Morse had originally looked hesitant, but upon hearing the latter half of the sentence, a delighted smile immediately bloomed across his face. "Difficult? You underestimate my capabilities, sir... Snake oil, right? Let me think... Ah, got it. I happen to know a fellow who deals in that business, and on quite a sizable scale too." Talan was ecstatic inside, but kept his expression completely neutral, offering only an approving look. "Who?" Unlike the reserved Talan, Morse's smile grew wider and more brilliant as he brought up his archrival. "The renowned Tony, boss of the Iron Hand Gang. He's made quite a fortune off Wilante veterans' pensions with that 'snake oil'... As for whether he's connected to the Alliance, I couldn't say, but I've heard the boss behind him has considerable pull." "Of course, I dare say that boss of his is nothing compared to true VIPs like you, or else they wouldn't have stooped to the work of traitors and mingled with Alliance scum." "If you're interested in his operation, not only can I take you to him, I can even take you to see where he runs his business..."