1st POV: Nox:
''I am proud to announce that I have developed new Materia. The Store Materia,'' a female voice proudly stated. Scarlet.
''Hmm?''
''President Shinra, the Head of our Weapons R&D has already given me some prototypes for our soldiers to test on the field. I am happy to announce that the Materia performed more than just as expected. I can happily report that our soldiers performed 80% better on the field, because they had a bigger inventory. They could carry more ammunition, more potions, more tools and even some off our smaller robots, ready to be deployed at any moment,'' a male voice explained and then gave a deep belly laugh. Heidegger. Only he could give such an obnoxious exaggerated laugh.
''And tell me, Scarlet, what is the capacity of this new Store Materia? Can we replace cargo containers? It would significantly cut down costs.''
''If the President wishes I can set about improving the Store Materia. But I would need a bigger budget for that, because we already tried it. I knew you would see the splendor of my invention and it's potential.
But, alas, no such luck as of now. But our soldiers can still use it. And if it pleases you, we can start selling this new Materia to the public. It should still make us a pretty Gil. Kyahahahahahaha,'' Scarlet explained and laughed.
Bitch. Shut up. You totally just want a bigger budget and could have made a better Store Materia already, if you wanted.
''...No. There is no need. Using it only to transport small military gear for now will serve us well and maybe one day we can worry about bigger transport capabilities.
We also won't be selling it to the public. I trust you understand why not, Scarlet? Heidegger, as the Head of Public Security, you can answer that question, surely,'' the voice poised it as a question, but it left no room for arguments or doubts. It was a command.
''Yes, Sir. Not only could our soldiers perform 80% better, but they also proved less inconspicuous if they wanted. We would either need to develop new security measures or suffer the fact that any sewer rat that owns one such a Materia could be carrying... undesirables that would harm the interest of our company.
But if the President wants it then the Head of Public Safety is ready to rise up to the challenge and deliver you results. Gyahahahahahaha.''
A blind man could see, what type of personality each Head had. The only reason why they didn't try anything was because of the Turks. Hard to plan overthrowing the King, when you could have your throat slit in the night at any moment, without due process.
Which I totally approved of, by the way.
Game is game. And this was a monarchy, disguised as capitalism. (I was being hyperbolic. It was still a corporation and operated as such, even if it ruled the world.)
Pity I was here to tear it all down, sooner or later.
''No. This Store Materia will only be permitted to be used by our highest ranked Shinra Members. I will not have the sewer rats think themselves clever, by giving them a fighting chance. The sooner they realize the futility of their struggle, the quicker they can be put to use or work,'' Shinra replied with finality.
The rest was relatively pointless chatter. I didn't really learn anything that interested me.
...
...
This Store Materia... did not occur naturally...
It was manufactured.
I groaned in pain and rested my elbows on my knees.
But it was sooooooo fucking useful as the idiot heads already (quickly and justifiably) determined.
Ugh, fuck it. I'll go steal on- two.
If nothing else, I will become less paranoid about the Turks breaking into my condo when I'm not there. I can just hide all my incriminating stuff in this 'inventory', it is not like I have a lot of incriminating stuff anyway.
Which they already did a few times. I was forced to end my 'rounds' a few times.
Well, I pushed myself off my bed, no time like the present.
---
''Catch,'' I instructed Aerith and threw one of the two Store Materia towards her. She caught it, but got thrown off balance and she flayed her hands a little till she stabilized. She was probably being a little theatrical there.
''Oh? What's this? I thought you wanted me to find my own Materia and grow with it,'' Aerith asked him curiously.
''Don't act like you don't feel what it does,'' I leaned against the wall and told her.
''Of course I know what it does. I meant where you got this Store Materia from, silly? It's manufactured,'' Aerith elaborated and held the yellow Materia up in the air to inspect it against the light from the sun lamp.
''Oh, I found it laying around,'' I shrugged.
Aerith leaned her face in and looked at me sternly for a while in concern.
''You were careful?,'' Aerith asked him concerned.
''Yes,'' I replied. She continued to look at me for a while longer, probably to see if I was lying. She was good at picking up minor facial expressions, I had to give her that. It took some considerable effort to lie to her, when I deemed it necessary.
''Hmmmm... Ok!,'' she cheerfully declared after a while and leaned back.
''You know, you're actually supposed to give a girl other kinds of presents. A Materia... What kind of girl do you think I am that I would be happy with a Materia,'' she turned her head away and puffed her cheeks.
''You're only thinking about your staff. There is a small stasis effect when things initially get stored in the Materia. It means that you can carry more flower pots then your cart does. Though you will have to be discreet, since they are not supposed to be available to the public,'' I explained. So would I, in fact. If the Turks saw me with that Materia they would ask questions.
Unless...
!!!
'Whistleblowers'! Surely I can find someone to blame and warn the public about this development. Then there will be no need to hide or to employ subtlety or subterfuge. The people will make demands, for the sake of making their lives more convenient. That almost always moves the masses.
Sometimes, my genius is almost frightening.
Aerith widened her eyes when the realization sank in. She leaned in my face.
''Why didn't I think of that?,'' she suddenly hugged me,''Thank you!''
''Right. Don't mention it,'' I began patting her shoulder to indicate her to let go.
''Nope,'' she shook her head in my chest,'' What did I say about 'thank you's', even if they are only for small gestures?''
''To shut up and accept them. You're welcome for the Materia,'' I patted her shoulder again.
Finally she let go and grinned up at me.
''In that case, I retract my statement. This is just what a girl wants,'' she gave him a thumbs up.
''You maybe. In any case, I'm glad you like it,'' I calmed down and adjusted my gloves as a form of further distraction.
Aerith suddenly giggled.
''What?,'' I asked her.
''This is the first gift you gave me,'' Aerith told me.
''You don't like it?,'' I asked her. Was she seriously being picky?
''Nope. I love it. I just think, that the type of gift can reveal a lot about the other person,'' Aerith explained.
''That so? And what does the gift say about me?,'' I asked her.
She began humming, her eye pointing upwards, her finger tapping her lips. Then she pushed her finger over her lips and shushed me.
''That's a secret,'' Aerith winked and began walking away,''Well then? Shall we go into the sewers?''
I sighed and began walking after her.
Women. Will I ever properly understand them?
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I inspected myself in the mirror above the washing sink in my bathroom.
It was a black suit I wore with some golden motifs here and there. I also wore a cloak that was black on the outside and red on the inside. The helmet was black too with an oval shaped visor that blocked sight from one side.
The disguise I prepared a while ago.
My sword and the Black Materia were stored in the Store Materia. It may be manufactured, but it was damn useful. Kind of wish I had that initially when I started my journey after I left Gongaga.
In any case, at least I wont have to be so paranoid anymore. The most incriminating evidence I can now simply store in the Materia. No more watching out for the Turks breaking into my home. I hate having to end my 'round' whenever the trigger my traps. Damn useful to have Mako Strands that can be so fine they dance across someones nervous system. It means I can get them through gaps most other things couldn't and then do things that wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Like lay traps that the Turks simply can't prop up again and thus I always know when they break in.
Be that as it may.
''1,2,3. 1,2,3. Lalalala,'' I inspected my dagger at my hip while adjusting my voice. Can't use my real voice, can't use my real weapon for what I have planned next.
I cleared my throat harshly and tried a few more times until I was finally satisfied.
Defeating the Big Bad was all fine and good. I will do that.
But I don't want Gaia to get destroyed now that I have friends. I care about the future.
Sure it's not about revenge, but it is still a valid reason. If nothing else I get to stomp down on Shinra.
It will take a while till I have a proper Fusion Reactor design, but until then I can take the steps to ensure I have the capital and the manpower.
I have several ideas on how to do that.
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3rd POV:
''Hurry up boys. By the time we are done, we will have so much money you won't know what to do with it,'' the leader of The Sharks in the Sector 8 Slums threw his head back and laughed boisterously.
It was good to be him, hahahahaha. Granted he will have anyone's head if they pretended he was scared shitless when the Turks paid him a visit to make him a business proposition.
He totally wasn't.
And he will have anyone's head who pretended otherwise.
Best deal he made in his life. The Turks helped him eliminate the pesky competition in Sector 8 and all he had to do is take over Sector 4 human trafficking ring. He had an inkling why they requested that, but he was a smart man and didn't ask questions.
That is how he made it so far in life after all.
He watched as the victim struggled to load the man in the container. His muffled screaming and trashing not making enough noise to attract anyone. Not that there was anyone to attract anyway.
They were alone on this 'abandoned' industrial complex. Used to be a warehouse a long time ago...for containers. Obviously.
They had the machinery to transport the container through a underground tunnel they dug to another warehouse. This one was not abandoned. And then the container can be picked up from the other warehouse without anyone none the wiser that they are shipping humans.
One of his goons punched the victim to get him to behave.
''Hey, don't damage the product. Our clients won't be happy. What? You can't handle a tied up weakling?,'' the leader mocked them a little.
''Uh, no, Sir. I mean! Yes, Sir. We can handle him and we're sorry about damaging the product,'' the one who punched the victim apologized hastily.
The leader just shook his head and laughed heartily. Ah, whatever. The bruise will be gone by the time they deliver him, surely.
He brought out a cigarette and patted his clothes for a lighter.
*Snap*
Someone snapped his fingers and presented him with a finger from which a small flame flickered from it's fingertip.
The leader held his cigarette in and muttered a thanks.
He took a drag, continuing to observe his men at work.
He frowned after a while.
Come to think of it, he doesn't remember having anyone in his gang that can use Materia yet.
He snapped his head sideways and came face to face with a masked man, dressed stylishly.
''Not the sharpest tools in the box, are you all?,'' the masked man smoothly. His voice much deeper then usual his accent a little nasal, as if he were posh. As if part of some nobility.
(Nox didn't see many entertainment medias, but those he did stuck with him. It wasn't like anyone existed who could call him out on it and he didn't want to spend too much time on a disguise.)
The leader scrambled to grab his gun and fiddled too much with it.
Not that it made any difference, lightning cursed through the masked mans arm and dagger as he swung his arm in an arc. Blood splattered on the wall nearby and the leaders head flew off.
The commotion attracted the attention of the other thugs. Finally. How blind and deaf could one be, even if there was a victim raising a ruckus and he dropped in from the ceiling like a shadow.
The victim was unceremoniously thrown to the ground.
He began panting as he heard bullets fly around and screams echo out. The air started smelling of ozone, his hair started standing up as if the air was charged. And soon he felt something wet and warm soak his clothes as the screams got less and quieter.
The victim felt himself getting lifted up. And for a moment he though whoever killed his kidnappers came here to help him.
''Oh my, you have a hostage,'' he heard someone speak.
The victim felt cold metal rest against his temple and his heart sunk into his gut.
''T-THAT'S RIGHT! And you will back the fuck off, if you don't want me to blow his fucking brains off!!!,'' the victim wanted to wince at the volume in his ear, but was too paralyzed by fear to do anything.
''Alright. Do it,'' the man dared him.
''What?,'' the kidnapper echoed the victims words out loud.
''You have a hostage. Your friends lie dead and I imagine you will be much the same shortly, sooner or later. The truth is that you were dead the moment you walked into this life. And sometimes all a man can choose is how he dies. So what will it be? A quick death like your friends or shall I dissolve you feet first in hydrogen peroxide?''
''Wha- HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU ASK ME TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THESE OPTIONS!!!??? THESE ARE NO CHOICES AT ALL!!!???,'' the kidnapper screamed frantically, jerking the hostage around.
''Some pray to the unseen for a few breaths more, some welcome death with arms outstretched, while others come to face death incarnate, blade in hand.
Humanity needs to stop with the notion that the choice between living and dying is no choice at all.
It is ALWAYS a choice. So, in your final moments, what manner of man will you prove yourself to be?
You can kill the hostage and prove yourself someone petty with your final breath. Or you can prove yourself a coward, afraid of the magnitude of pain I will inflict on you,'' the black clothed man stretched out his hands dramatically towards the kidnapper, to present him with the two choices.
''But the hostage will still be dead,'' the kidnapper pointed out. Desperately. Pleading. Begging to bargain.
''That is true. But what makes you think I came for him or the others here in the first place? I came for The Sharks, like I came for The Street Urchins in Sector 4,'' the man spread his arm out and put the other on his chest, before giving him a theatrical bow.
''W-w-what?,'' the kidnapper sounded now very afraid, at the open admission. He stepped back dragging the victim with him.
...
...
While the black dressed figure was still bowed, the kidnappers face shifted from abject fear to hatred and resolve.
He began pulling the trigger... only for his arm to fly off as a Mako sword quickly sprang to life and sliced off the arm. It was fine since the man was blindfolded, there were no cameras around and the only one who saw them soon lost his life afterwards after he pushed the hostage away from him in shock.
''H-he tried to drag me down with him, no?,'' the hostage muttered.
*Squelch**Squelch**Squelch**Squelch*
In a few steps the man strode over to the victim and removed the binds and blindfold.
''Some men can not be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.
My apologies, I had the measure of the man all wrong. The course of action I took was the wrong one,'' the disguised man and gave him a polite nod with his hand on his chest.
The victim looked at him and then at the sight around him. Blood, limbs and maybe even some other kinds of liquids were scattered around.
''The others!,'' the victim turned around to look at the container.
''Of course. Let us tend to the matter at hand posthaste,'' the man agreed.
''Wait, what do I call you? I'm John,'' the man introduced himself.
''Zero,'' Nox introduced himself. Maybe a little bit on the nose, but who was here to call him out on it?
''Right. Let's go then,'' John said and the two made their way over to the container.
...
''Are you really the one that is responsible for the Night of the Red Rivers? Will you enact another one here in Sector 8?,'' John asked him once they released all the victims. Thought they haven't left yet, at Zero's request.
''Very much so,'' Zero easily confessed.
''But...why reveal yourself now? I doubt anything would have stopped you from doing the same deed twice without getting caught,'' one person asked, who over heard them. Some doubts in his voice that he was who he claims he was.
''It is simple. I have learned that no matter what, someone will have an interest in perpetuating criminality in the Sector 4 and 8 Slums. And so I have decided, I will take over,'' Zero told them.
''But wasn't Shinra the ones who committed the Night of the Red Rivers? Heidegger said so. What stops us from going to Shinra and telling them that you claim ownership off their efforts?,'' another asked him.
He seemed to be the only Shinra sympathizer here, judging by the nasty looks he received.
''And who do you think purchased you tonight? It was the same such corporation you seem to revere so much.
As for Shinra bothering to clean up the Slums of criminality? I beg to differ. One merely needs to look at Wall Market in Sector 6. Instead of cleaning the rot they decided to wall the area in. I'm sure, that like here with you, they make use of the criminal empire Don Corneo built for whatever ends they see fit.
And if you still are naive enough to believe in Shinra. Well (*Zero shrugged*) there is simply no helping you. You are an adult, I'm not here to hold your hand or engage in your delusions or sell you easy solutions.
You know the world is more complicated then that. Or at least, I certainly hope so. For your sake.
And even if you do decide to go after all of that. It is you who will face risks and your fellow victims. Shinra is quite zealous in ensuring only their narrative is pushed as I had the displeasure of learning. Why do you think I wear this mask? I merely need to unmask myself and can thus return to normal civilian life.
You, on the other hand, know the truth and I really don't need to explain what that means for you,'' Zero explained patiently.
'You devious fucker,' John realized instantly,'Presenting yourself as reasonable but hard man that has some concern and empathy for strangers, meanwhile you are trapping, coercing and threatening us to whatever demand you have yet to make, by dooming us through knowing the truth.'
John looked at the others. They did not seem to have realized that and only looked worried.
''So, what CAN we do?,'' another asked Zero.
''Kneel to me. All of you and I will ensure your safety,'' Zero spread his arms out.
''And how many do you want to kneel?,'' John asked him.
''All of Sector 4 and 8. Only this way will the criminals not return. I will create jobs and keep you all fed. I will invest in the community. But only if you are my loyal subjects,'' Zero told them. He had the money for that because of killing monsters. And once a certain time passed the investment will pay for itself and show return. Though he cared more about the former. THAT part was important for his plans.
''You're just another mob head, hiding under the veneer of manners and fine clothes,'' John accused.
''On the contrary. I see this as a transaction. A social contract, if you will. After all, nothing is free in the world. It is not money specifically I'm after, but something else. In return, you will be safe and have the ability to earn the money to feed yourself and whatever else you may need.
So. Kneel,'' Zero demanded from them more seriously this time.
...
...
Reluctantly. Slowly but surely. One by one knelt in the dried blood.
''Very good,'' Zero purred, pleased,'' Then spread the word of everything that happened here tonight and what you learnt. And soon enough the rest will see that I can deliver on my claims.''
''And what is it you claim to deliver?,'' John asked him.
''Why, nothing more and nothing else, then another Night of the Red Rivers... thought between you and I it is two nights this time. But it doesn't have such a nice ring to it,'' Zero conspiratorially fake whispered,'' Tomorrow you will spread the word and come night I will finish off the rest of The Sharks.''
'This fucker!,' John realized his duplicity.
''Then the rest of the Sector will follow you and I may begin my work,'' Zero finished.
''Will you engage in act of criminality like the ones before you? Kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, etc?,'' someone asked him, who hasn't spoke till now.
''No. The means by which you acquire money will be completely legal and I always found that there is little money to be made with these acts. I like to think bigger,'' Zero assured them.
The others looked at each other a little uncertain.
It... would be nice to have an assurance like him in their corner.
''And what if you fail your promise or do not manage to make the community better without engaging in criminality?,'' John asked him.
''Then I will leave,'' Zero replied.
The people were a bit skeptical, but... it may be worth taking the risk. While Sector 4's crime rate has dropped down dramatically after the Night of the Red Rivers, crime was still present and was slowly picking up again. Until people had legal accessible means to ensure their survival, they would always resort to crimes to achieve that.
''Fine. We'll spread your word,'' someone said and John closed his eyes,''But what for? Like yeah, your revitalizing the community and reducing crimes, but what for? What is your endgame.''
Zero threw his arms out and looked skywards.
''Survival.''
Then after a while he let his arms drop and began walking out, leaving the rest confused and a little awkward.
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''Tseng, yo. A second Night of the Red Rivers has hit the Slums,'' Reno and the others came in to tell him a few days later.
Tseng stopped in the middle of his writing. For a brief moment his heart dropped into his guts.
Fuck, his gamble didn't pay off.
''What of The Sharks?,'' Tseng asked them.
''What do you think, yo?,'' Reno jumped on the couch and relaxed by laying down on it,'' All dead and gone and guess what, a red stain on the ground somewhere.''
''What Reno means to say, is that we were duped. Whoever is responsible for the act let us believe that The Sharks were the real perpetrators,'' Rude explained and pushed his sun glassed up.
No, it was Tseng that went alone and forged evidence so that everyone would think it was a gang war and an attempt to spread their influence. Alone, so that, if things blow up in his face, he would be the only one facing backlash.
But...Rude gave him an idea on how he could spin things and slowly Tseng calmed down.
That is right. A Turk must always have a plan.
''But I don't get it, why let the evidence lead us to The Sharks only to then turn around and kill them too? Now we know that it is not a gang war but someone else. They will never rest easy knowing we are on their trails,'' Cissnei asked them.
''Because ...,'' Tseng frowned, pretending to think,'' it never was about disappearing like a shadow after the deed was done. We spent months and resources to help The Sharks establish a hold over Sector 8 and take control over all the other competing petty gangs.
And now that they all were under one leader and used the same communications channels...''
Tseng let the matter hang.
And Cissnei widened her eyes.
''We were used and made to dance to someone's tune. We did someone elses dirty work,'' Cissnei said out loud.
''So, not only do we have someone dangerous who can move in the shadows like they are... well a shadow, but someone who is intelligent and can manipulate the board to the point of this? Ugh, talk about troublesome. I can tell it won't be easy to solve this,'' Reno complained.
''Or someones. We still don't know it it is only one person or multiple,'' Rude pointed out.
Tseng nodded stone faced. Way to get himself out of the pinch he has put himself in.
His phone rang.
The President wanted a meeting of the Heads.
---
''You're late,'' President Shinra growled.
Judging by the expression of the others, he was well and truly furious.
''I'm sorry, Sir. We immediately began investigating the Second Night of the Red Rivers and who is responsible for that. We believe evidence was forged so that we have an interest in establishing all the gangs under one leader and communication channel so that whoever is truly responsible can have an easier time finding them all,'' Tseng quickly explained so Shinra wouldn't have his head.
''I don't care about that, Heidegger will just give another speech later,'' Shinra said with no patience.
''Of course, Sir. I alrea-,'' Heidegger began.
''Silence,'' Shinra lowly commanded with a furious look. Heidegger looked down at the table.
''Tseng, sit,'' Shinra grabbed a remote and pressed a few buttons.
A screen appeared, getting lowered down from the ceiling and an ...Advertisement... began to play?
''Are you tired of carrying cumbersome bags on your body? Are you a construction worker and always wished you had a way to carry your tools without going back and forth to grab more and increasing the risk to slip and harm yourself?
Do you want to enjoy a hike, but never liked the way you had to carry bags.
Are you a tired parent, who is frustrated with not only carrying your baby, but also having to carry their necessities as well?
Then don't despair.
Introducing the Store Materia. Though it can only carry small objects for now, it functions exactly as the name suggests.
Baby bottles? Nails? Hammers? Sleeping bags? Anything you want, you can store readily and easily in the Store Materia at your convenience. Only up to 50kg. And best part? You won't feel the weight at all and it can even be used by people who aren't able to use Materia.
It even comes with a small stasis effect for you to store your food in if you want.
We at Shinra are always ready to make your lives more convenient and prosperous.
So come buy a Store Materia and we promise you, your lives will get easier.''
At the end the woman gave them a bright smile and a wink while holding up a yellow Materia and demonstrating, with the respective objects, by storing and unloading the various objects. She spoke with a professional clear tone and, all around, if Tseng didn't know Shinra didn't want the Store Materi public he would have assumed this way an ad made by Shinra. So good was the production quality.
''And just a few hours ago I got word that someone broke into our servers and crashed our stock market. Though our technicians are hard at work, we already lost millions,'' Shinra leaned forward and locked his fingers, elbows on the table, while looking at Tseng,''I do not care who is responsible for the Night of the Red Rivers. That is very low priority compared to this.
We are clearly dealing with one or more whistleblowers in our company. Unless our security proved to be inadequate, in that case someone will get fired.
Tseng, I. Want. Them. FOUND!''
''And what about my subjects?,'' Hojo asked him. That was the whole point of allowing the gangs in Sector 4 and 8 to exist.
''Effective immediately we will cease all human experimentation,'' Shinra told them.
''What?! But how am I-,'' Hojo snapped his mouth shut with one look from Shinra.
'So even the mad genius can read the room sometimes,' Tseng mused.
''Be glad that this is all I'm doing. Despite all your insistence and all the trouble we went trough to get you human subjects, you have failed to deliver on your claim to be able to make a second Sephiroth. So one has to wonder what worth you even are to me,'' Shinra growled.
''They never fulfilled my criteria. I gave the Turks exact criteria and measurements and they brought me approximants. How am I to operate with faulty equipment?,'' Hojo explained.
And to be fair, he never bothered with making another Sephiroth. He wanted to make Sephiroth. If what he found out was true, then through Reunion this could be possible. But he didn't know what Reunion was, only that all the subjects muttered that word and wandered around aimlessly after that.
If nothing else, they may still yet prove useful... somehow. So that is why he stomached the small loss of S Positive Jenova Cells. Tough those who showed more promise were injected with more...but they proved just as disappointing too.
In other words, he wasn't using the humans like he said he would.
'Nevermind, he couldn't ready shit,' Tseng corrected himself.
Shinra stared at him for a long while, till he decided to move on.
''We will also effective immediately stop any further development, advancements and improvement of the Store Materia. We are now forced to sell them to the public least we give them ideas that someone broke into our servers and we are weak. And I will not suffer any sign of weakness. And I certainly won't allow those rats to carry around heavy equipment and machinery that can harm our interest. Especially AVALANCHE.
Heidegger I expect you to come up with security measures for people who may carry around dangerous weapons. Dismissed,'' Shinra turned around with his chair after giving them all their orders.
Scarlet looked at the table with a frown, displeased she wouldn't be able to improve the Store Materia, but she kept her mouth shut.
''Of course, Sir. It will be done,'' Heidegger assured Shinra, uncharacteristically non-boisterous.
So in the end, while they were all walking out, only Reeve and Palmer didn't get any flack for the current situation.
Tseng, on the other hand, couldn't stop shaking off the notion that the one (or several) responsible for the stock market crash and the ad was the same one (or several) responsible for the Nights of the Red Rivers.
He had no evidence, but Veld did tell him, that sometimes in the face of lacking evidence one should follow their gut instinct.
Sometimes he lamented that there were no cameras down in the Slums, it meant the Turks job was just that little harder.
Which begged the question, what was this distraction and chaos within Shinra meant to accomplish?
(A.N.: 5488 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers and stay safe out there.)