Zwei West Section 3: Sinclair's Story

I heard the Zwei's western branch is quite skilled at rescue operations, thanks to their experience rescuing people from X Corp. excavation sites.

The voice is at once expectant and dependent.

The child is walking through the streets alongside the Client as he details the contract.

I understand that this is your first time up here in the north, but it's a rescue operation all the same. I have faith in you.

... I'll try my best. As far as my abilities will allow.

Some may find this reply casual, but the child's expression remains conflicted.

His eyes are nervously scanning the various flyers posted all over the street.

... I see that there are a lot of flyers around here.

Yeah, thanks to all those Syndicates that have started popping up these days. I heard that you came up here for that precise reason, Sir Knight?

... For a contract, yeah.

But I'm also seeing flyers looking for missing people among bounties for eradicating Syndicates.

Many of those upstart Syndicates are small-scale operations trying to cash in on the chaos by kidnapping people for ransom.

... And one of them managed to grab my son.

Please, save my son. I promise to reward you handsomely should you succeed.

Just as the child was about to nod affirmatively, one of the Fixers who was listening to the Client suddenly blurted out a complaint.

Are you sure we can trust him, president? This one's clearly inexperienced.

We came all the way up here from the south only to work with this... rookie?

And look at that ridiculous outfit he's wearing. We'll be more than enough to rescue your son.

W-well, this is just how we dress in the west...

It is unclear whether that comment was borne out of spite or ignorance.

The child found the Fixer's antagonistic attitude confusing, but he did not walk away from the contract.

I'll visit my Association and... submit the documents needed for the contract.

Hah.

Instead, he put his foot down and left to seal the deal.

Sounds of metal clashing against metal and the air-shredding sound of projectiles echo in the warehouse.

The child had built a formation with the other Fixers to hold back the Syndicate that kidnapped the missing people.

T-there's our target!

The child managed to locate the rescue target, but the situation was not in his favor.

The Syndicate was fighting tooth and nail against the Fixers; running off on his own to rescue the target would leave the other Fixers in jeopardy.

That is why the child cannot bring himself to break formation.

As the battle continues in its stalemate...

N-no!

How unlucky...

Arrows that had been intended for the Fixers were flying straight toward the child's rescue target.

The child no longer had any reason to hesitate.

W-wait! You can't leave the vanguard -

... I'm sorry.

But today, I promised my client that I would protect this child.

And given the circumstances... I don't think I can protect you, too.

The child bit his lips with determination and broke formation, leaping between his rescue target and the onslaught of attacks.

Other Fixers tried to fill the child's place, but...

... the child was the one taking most of the fire in the vanguard; his absence left a large hole in the formation.

C-crap! Hold the line!

The entire vanguard crumbles without that one guy...?!

Without the child, it wasn't long before the line completely fell apart.

Hnngh...

One by one, the Syndicate slaughtered the Fixers...

H-help me!

Even as other civilians who were kidnapped called out for help,

the child did not budge an inch from his position.

O-over there, people are -

I can't protect everyone.

I don't have the strength or the wisdom to do it.

Some called the Zwei greedy, selfish shields who only protect those who pay them to.

Still, the child had already accepted that dishonorable title.

But I made a promise... So I will bring you home safely.

No matter what.

Because that dishonorable title... at least implied that these shields would defend their clients with their lives.

The child hauled his protection target from the ground and hurriedly escaped the warehouse, leaving the desperate screams of terror behind.

Because he had to protect those that he could. Those that he promised to protect.