WHEREIN THE SINNERS ARE ACCEPTED AND RESPECTED BY FIXERS IN WAYS OF THE CITY (before battle)
Cesara's directions led us to an empty lot in the Backstreets.
... The hell is this now?
This ain't like the tight alleyways of the Backstreets I know. What's this huge empty lot doin' here?
Right? Weird, it's rare to see this much real estate go unused in the Backstreets.
There are a bunch of banners hanging by the buildings for some reason, too.
Miss Faust and I will converse with the person in charge. The rest of you, assess the situation in the meantime.
Don't start any troub...
... Don't start too much trouble until we return.
Thou mayest place thy faith in us!
... He's given up on the slim hope that we won't be getting into any trouble without him.
Well, let's see what we're working with here...
The empty lot was surrounded by all kinds of warning signs and perimeter tapes, deterring anyone from haphazardly wandering inside...
... And when we reached out to grab the tapes to duck under them...
Dude, hey! Dude!!!
... a voice rang out, stopping us in our tracks.
Yeah? ... I mean, what?
Alright, I'll be nice since it doesn't seem like you guys know what you just walked into. This place is off-limits, okay? Off-limits!
Fixers only, like me and the rest of the people gathered here, yeah? F-I-X-E-R-S. Civvies aren't allowed on the operation grounds! Jeez, these P Corp. folks sure are sloppy with their perimeter job.
Wait, why did you look at me when you said that? Why -
Ooh, thou art concerned for our safety? No worries, good man! No worries!
Fixers we may not be, but the daring heart of justice that burns within thee is just as bright in our own! Forsooth, we are prepared to brave death to see it!
Don Quixote confidently leaps over the warning tape and scampers into the empty lot.
H-hey...! Do you have any idea what you're walking into -
Hark! We arrive here on a contract, just as you! The contract for the eradication of La Manchaland!
…….
I could practically hear everyone in the empty lot turning around to look at us.
The looks on their eyes could hardly be described as friendly; in fact, their alarm at our arrival was palpable.
That's when one of the Fixers, wielding a massive weapon, strode in our direction.
You're here for the hunt? You twerps?
Uh... uhm... Oh, oh man! Silly me, I forgot to do maintenance for my weapons. I don't have time for this! I guess I'll, uh, go take care of that now! Bye!
The obnoxious guy, who was clearly way in over his head, hurried away when the giant of a Fixer stomped his way into the conversation...
... and the other Fixers shook their heads as though they knew what was about to happen.
You're clearly not Fixers from an Association, obviously not anyone from an Office of even passing renown...
How many more of these small-time freeloaders are we going to take on? Accept any more of them, and we'd end up having to split an Ahn of that reward money between us.
... We're already gettin' these bloody tossers rearin' for a fight, eh?
Emblems on their garbs patently say "Fanghunt Office", yet... to hunt fangs has to mean...
You even seen one of 'em in person before?
Prithee, seen what?
Bloodfiends.
Bloodfiends? Wait, we're dealing with Bloodfiends in this contract?
We were not informed of any Bloodfiend involvement in this contract.
Would you look at that. Know-nothing amateurs, all of 'em.
It makes my blood boil to watch idiots like you rushing to nab a contract just for the promise of some cash and fame. Not only do you get in the way of the hunt, but you also really spoil the fun out of this activity.
Say, what? What's so wrong with keeping your eye on the money?
Rodya, I don't think they're here just for the contract reward...
Hm, yes. This case seems to hold a special meaning to them. Fools driven by their creed are much more troublesome to deal with than simpletons motivated by money.
I refuse to take part in an operation alongside these idiots who don't even know what it's like to deal with Bloodfiends.
S.T.F.U.
As much as I would like to avoid entertaining you amateurs, I'll admit that curiosity has gotten the better of me. What did she just say to me?
Shut the fuck up, you arrogant son of - !
... It was "Shut that flaphole, ugly".
Oh...!
Looks like you let a bit of your personal feelings bleed into that interpretation~
But yours wasn't half bad. Heh.
A-anyways! This isn't our first Bloodfiend contract, you know? It may not be much, but we've dealt with them before! W-we don't deserve to get talked down to by you like that! Not one of us!
…….
... At least when it comes to fighting...
Great comeback, but I'm docking a few points for that hesitation there...
So this ain't your first rodeo, eh? Then show me what you've got. Let's see if you're all talk or if you're 'real hunters' ready for the real deal.
Wha - Haah... Mate, are we really doin' this? Here? Before we even set foot in there? I'm tellin' you, we've got permits and everything!
Don't be a baby. I'll hurt you just enough to send you home crying. Will a broken arm and a leg convince you?
You'll thank us on your train home. I'd say an arm and a leg are much more acceptable losses than getting your blood brutally drained by a Bloodfiend.