Chapter Text
And so it begins.
In but a brief moment, all 4 Kurokumo members charge forward, each taking a side to flank Roland.
“Heesh, flankers? How annoying…” Roland commented, taking out his axe and mace combo. “Lemme me to educate you on my weapons while I’m at it.”
Roland decided not to waste a second longer, and instead of waiting to defend or dodge, he rushes forward at Sayo, who ceases her charge and prepares to counter.
Roland smirked, although she couldn’t see it. “This one is called Zelkova. Zelkova Workshop.” He brought down the axe and mace combo, the axe landing on her Kokuunto, which she used to parry the strike, and the mace hitting her side, pushing her away. Sayo grunted.
Rin, Gin and Yang all charged simultaneously to catch Roland off-guard, who responded with his greatsword striking the ground, causing Rin and Gin to stagger back and Yang to get sent flying back as he was too close. Roland snickered. “This one is called Wheels. Wheel’s Industry.”
He turned around to see Sayo stab forwards, who Roland parried with a combat knife, and a gauntlet to the side of her head. She ducks her head, moving towards Roland’s side, and going in for a horizontal slash.
Roland pulled out his second gauntlet, and held his combat knife in his first one, which he used to parry Sayo’s attack and punch her square in the face. Sayo moved her head to the side and prepared an overhead slash with her blade.
Roland made his knife disappear and threw a punch at her gut, which staggered her back, stopping her revved up slash, and then a 2-jab combo to the face, which sent her back even more. “These gauntlets and the knife are called Ranga.” Roland commented, looking at Sayo being downed.
He looked around, and saw everyone, except Rin…?
“BAHAHAHA! THIS VICTORY SHALL BE MINE!” Rin shouted as she was flying over Roland and falling towards him in a stabbing maneuver with her blade.
Roland scoffed. “Too loud…” He brought out the quick blade, dodging the stab from Rin, while grabbing her leg, throwing her away, while rushing forward and unsheathing the blade for a quick sucession of strikes.
Rin couldn’t recover fast enough and took 3 out of 4 slashes, resulting in her laying down and taking a breather. “I give up… That hurts a lot…”
Roland sighed. “This one is called Mook. Mook Workshop.”
Rin threw a thumbs up, and went back to groaning on the floor, slowly picking herself up.
Roland walked towards Yang and Gin, who did a double-flank, Yang rushing his left side, and Gin his right.
Roland hummed, taking out Durandal, unsheathing it to parry Yang while utilizing the scabbard to block Gin and throw him off. Yang tries to strike again in an overhead split, while Gin does a horizontal slash. Roland takes hold of Yang’s blade via Ranga’s Gauntlets and throws Yang at Gin, hitting a collateral. Then, Roland equips a lance and lunges forward at them.
Gin barely dodges; however, Yang takes the attack to the arm. “This one is called Allas. Allas Workshop.” Roland commented briefly.
Luckily, they had very good healers on standby and good resources to heal them as well, so it’d be fine.
Roland looked at Gin. “You still gonna keep going then?”
Gin nodded.
Roland copied him. He then pulled out 2 pistols and emptied them at Gin. “These bad boys and the shotgun are called Atelier Logic.”
Gin dodged several shots but got hit by one in his stomach.
Roland then followed up with his sledgehammer, sending him flying away. “This one’s called Old Boys. Old Boys Workshop.”
Gin barely managed to get on his feet.
Roland rushed forwards with 2 new blades in his hands, and slashed at Gin, who couldn’t defend both, only parrying 1 then stumbling onto the ground after being slashed by the second.
Roland looked at him, as the healers approached and began healing everyone. “That one was called Crystal Atelier.” Gin nodded, as if acknowledging that name.
The battle has ended.
…
Roland was rather insistent about the damage he had done to the Kurokumo’s leader and higher ranking subordinates, so he constantly made sure they were okay. “You’re alright, right? Like… You’re okay, right?”
Sayo sighed, a smile formed on her face as she let down her hair. “Yes, Roland. I’m fine. Just like the rest of us. Believe it or not, we can still take hits very well.”
Roland nodded rapidly. “Yeah, I know but like, not to toot my own horn here, I hit pretty hard so I’m just making sure you’re okay, you know?”
Sayo sighed *again*. “Yes Roland, I’m fine. And so are the others.”
Roland nodded one last time, seeming satisfied with this. He turned around to see Yang, Gin and Rin all following, and throwing each individual thumbs up. Roland just sighed in fondness. “Well, I won’t push it if you guys say you’re okay. But still, you all held up nicely. I had to hit a lot harder since I was getting ambushed this time around.”
Yang visibly deflated behind him. That meant he was going easy on him. Rin was trying to comfort him while Gin smirked, amused.
Sayo simply snickered. “Isn’t that a way to say you underestimate us? The part where you said you had to try harder.”
Roland nodded. “Yeah, ‘course. The Kurokumo ARE a subsidiary of the Thumb after a-“ Then it clicked in his brain.
Sayo hummed at him, thoughtfully.
Roland turned to face her. “What if the Thumb comes? Like, here? With ME here too?”
Sayo hummed again. “Yes, well, they will be coming soon. But they respect those of high rankings within society, regardless of it being a threat or a Fixer. Since you are Grade 1, they will most likely respect you and not off you on the spot.”
Roland sighed a breath of relief. He really didn’t want to deal with the Thumb, especially if that means he gets on the bad side of the Kurokumo. Since if he fights the Thumb, he has to fight the Kurokumo due to their loyalty as a subsidiary-class Syndicate. Even then, they are still stupidly powerful without the Thumb backing them. They aren’t a joke, that was for sure.
…
Roland was in his room, reading a few of the books given to him by some Kurokumo members. Ren specifically mentioned this one called “War and Peace” was quite interesting to read, as it delves into the topic of philosophy more thoroughly than other books.
He had way too much free time on his hands now, since he doesn’t have to move around anymore, he can just chill back, relax, drink some coffee or tea and read in peace.
He was enjoying this fine evening. Life was going great.
…
How did he get in this situation.
A sottocapo is staring directly into his soul, backed up by 3 capos glaring at him, specifically at his soul too.
How did he get here again…? Oh right.
Someone knocked on his door. He wondered who it was, so he closed his book and approached the door, opening it to see Ren.
“Hey Ren, something up?”
Ren nodded. “The Thumb is here.”
What.
Roland blinked. “Repeat that.”
Ren sighed. “The Thumb is here.”
WHY?!
Roland thought for a moment and nodded, re-entering his room to clean up himself and some things slightly, getting his bearings and walking out again.
Ren nodded at this development and guided him towards the lounge, where Sayo could be seen interacting with 4 people in suits, with Thumb jackets over their shoulders.
Roland blinked in amazement. Wow. A sottocapo and 3 capos are here!
That worsened his chances, probably.
The sottocapo noticed his presence and looked at him.
Roland flinched and took this as a sign to proceed towards them, leaving Ren behind in the dust.
And so, he stood there. Staring back too, but in a kinder manner, hopefully.
The sottocapo, who seemed to be rather old, nodded. “Greetings, Fixer. We are the Thumb. I am the Sottocapo, Kalo. The 3 behind me are the Capos Katriel, Boris and Denis.” The capos behind him nodded in a sense of respect.
Roland nodded, carefully. “Uhm, hello there. I am Roland, former Grade 1 Fixer.”
The sottocapo, known as Kalo now, hummed. “Former?”
Roland nodded again. “Retired due to special circumstances. Trying to live life, I suppose.”
Kalo nodded. “I see. You have retired for a search of a better life?”
“Yes, I did. However, that didn’t bear much fruit, frankly…” Roland looked put out.
Kalo hummed. “You are of District 9.”
Roland looked amazed for a second but nodded anyway. “Yes… How did you know?”
“We know many who suffered the tragedy of the Pianist, and we acknowledge that trouble.”
Roland hummed. “Well, yeah, I guess. It’s true, I’m a Former Grade 1 who came here from District 9 after its incident and am utilizing this place as a temporary residence.”
“I see. Then, we shall let you.” Wait, what?
“Uhhh… Are you sure? Just like that? I mean, Fixers tend to kill Syndicate members, right? So naturally you see them as an enemy, right?” Roland commented.
Kalo smiled. It seemed to be an unnatural thing as the Kurokumo behind him looked in awe, although he couldn’t tell, just a light sound of gasping. “Truly, yes, but you are retired. Not a working mercenary anymore.”
Roland nodded. He guessed that made sense.
Kalo hummed. “But in exchange for this temporary residence, I ask of you to contribute to battles in the advantage of the Kurokumo and the Thumb.”
Roland nodded again. “Yeah, I can do that. Might I ask a question though?”
“You may.”
“Why do you treat me so well, other than the fact I’m retired?” Roland asked with intrigue.
Kalo hummed. “We treat those of high grade with the respect they deserve, as they worked hard their entire lives for it. The City is not a place where a chance, such as rising up several Grades or rising up the hierarchy of a Syndicate, would occur.”
Roland nodded. Kalo spoke the truth, you could only really get anywhere in the hierarchy with either betrayal, which came to stab you later even harder than you stabbed it first, or you work hard as hell.
Kalo nodded. “We have finished the routine check. Do keep working diligently.”
Sayo nodded. “We will do our best, as we always have.”
Roland kept his stare at Kalo. Apparently, the check was already done, but they wanted to briefly meet Roland before leaving.
Kalo hummed. “I imagine we will meet again, Roland. Do know you assisting us will have very nice consequences. However, doing the opposite will yield the worst of the worst possible situations.”
Roland nodded, putting up a kind smile. “Yeah, I know. Thanks for giving me a chance.”
Kalo nodded, and he, with the Capos, left the building.
Roland sighed a breath of relief. That was way too much for him.
What a day…
But something gave Roland a feeling it wasn’t over. Not yet.
Roland looked around, no one saying anything else. Roland sighed.
“How stressful to have them come around, huh?” He looked towards Sayo.
Sayo hummed and nodded. “Truly a trouble.” Then she… smirked? “But quite nice timing. Yang and Gin are to collect money from our neighbors. Won’t you accompany them?”
Roland looked at her, deadpan, and then sighed. “Fine fine, I guess I can do that. But shouldn’t the captain do it?”
Sayo kept that smirk. “Indeed, I do have to. And that is why I will. We are simply splitting up. After all, you can beat any other wild Syndicates or Fixers, no?”
Roland sighed again. “Yeah, I can.”
Syndicates *or* Fixers, huh… Interesting.
Something or someone could come around and be an annoyance to the Kurokumo, right? Well, gotta pay back the debt Roland owes them somehow.