《Garden of Thorns *Lit RPG*》Chapter 79 : Information gathering.
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It has been exactly a month after Joshua sent his Familiars to work with Cold Cage. Spataro. The name echoed in Joshua's head as he continued to check into the various details and accounts of the figure. The general consensus was Spataro was an ominous figure. Even though the date of Mulligan's files may be dated but they were still an information goldmine. The details of his work, it involved trying to create Venerators from children to be weapons. Joshua clenched his fists, as he walked in the streets. Using the butterflies to find traces of information.
The butterflies would notify him and keep track of them. Joshua was taking a seat at a cafe, where he met Chairwoman Lee.
"You asked to meet me here." She stirred her tea, a silent gaze at Joshua.
"Spataro.I've got information that Spataro might be trying to create Venerators from children. He's going to use the kids as weapons."Her eyes lit up for a moment.
"Spataro has a number of S-ranks in their employment. Are you sure about this? They're all unregistered of course... They've poached a few A-Ranks and anyone the Association sends to infiltrate comes back in a body bag. If you want to take care of it, by all means but Spataro is just part of it. It's an organization and Spataro are the references to the members." She took a sip, where Joshua could see in the corner of his eye a person with a gun pointed at them both.
Now that was cute, his butterfly was floating above the figure's head. Listening in on the chatter of the person who had the gun and by the radio.
"He's talking to the chairwoman. It seems like he knows about Spataro. He's got information. How do we proceed?"
"Just tail him. We'll get him when he's alone." Joshua then locked eyes with Chairwoman Lee.
"They have groups all over the world and the many Venerator Associations know about them. You might have to cross state lines to do what you have to. They even have some people in the Venerator Association by their side. So don't be too surprised if you get into legal trouble. When they do, I cannot do anything to aid you. You understand that if you step into this, Venerator Associations will view you hostile. Even us." Joshua chuckled at hearing that.
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"I think my Familiars and Ancients can handle it." Chairwoman Lee chuckled.
'You're growth is amazing." Joshua smiled as Chairwoman Lee gave a pen drive to him.
"My best friend's child was taken by them last month and I cannot do anything as the Head of the Venerator's Association. I wish you luck." Joshua clenched his teeth at hearing that.
"I'll do what I can." Joshua grabbed the drive and left. Looks like he will have to kick his plan to full gear, leaving the cafe as he felt the presence follow him. There was a dozen of them, but little did they know the Orions that kept Joshua in their watchful eye were waiting for the moment to strike. Leading the stalkers into a building that was empty. The 6 of them walked in ready to draw their weapons against Joshua, 5 of them got snatched up from behind, leaving one of them alone.
The last one pulled a gun, aiming it at Joshua. Who vanished from sight, reappearing at the front grabbing the head of last man. His index and middle finger were pointed at the eyes.
"So. Spataro sent you?" The man kept quiet.
"It's fine to keep quiet..." Joshua said as one of the Orions appeared behind him, showing the photo of the man's family. Including a live recording of them being kept captive. Bound to a chair and gagged, as a knife was seen.
"You won't do it! I heard that you're a softie!" Joshua chuckled then nodding to the Orion.
Whereby Joshua grabbed the man's eyelids, not letting him avert from the death of his family members. Joshua turned to the 6 Orions. They were not wearing their Scholia armors. Rather a new configuration that was made by Bellwitch. To give them complete anonymity. Lacking most of its armor, they still wore their webbed suits that were skin tight, but this time with some changes. Their visors could be changed to show the full visor or to minimize it to appear like a pair of eyes. Armor over the armor, shins and hips remained the same. Only changes was the torso armor being less bulky and much simpler in design. Lightweight, it provided the same protection but Bellwitch's configurations to it?
It made them much more lethal because they had less weight over their bodies.
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"Good work." Joshua said as the Orion snapped the neck of the broken man before him. No hesitation, the head was twisted far too much for it to be done by an ordinary human. This time, Joshua was going to handle things properly. The butterflies were still moving about, giving Joshua the location of the Spataro's members that orchestrated the assassination attempt.
"Report in."
"This is Victor.Found their weapons warehouse. Seems like they've got quite a number of stuff inside. Some of it are are at Phantasm Sharpness. Nothing at Divine sharpness. A lot of firepower. Rockets, mortars... We just planted the bombs in here. It's set to blow when they have their meeting. Counsellor told us that he's been able to chat with a few of them. Seems like there's a lot more going on here than we thought here.."
"Got it." Joshua turned to see Fitz who was all bloodied with his gunblades, waving them around as he whistled a joyful tune.
"Is it done?"
"Yep. Found some kids inside the base. I already alerted the police. Merlia looked into the minds of the kids. The kids are sticking to each other like glue. I thought mine was awful... But those kids? I doubt they can even make it through. I used the Cold Cage to keep their sanity intact until a proper person can help them get better. Finding them all standing in a room, naked and they didn't seem to react to anything. It was only when I touched them they started attacking me. I manage to put them up in a cage to keep them locked up for a bit while I cleaned house." Fitz shook his head, holstering his blade and pressing his nose bridge.
"Did you find out anything?"
"Just that Spataro has a lot more connections. I didn't find the girl you described but they got a few more bases we could hit. It'll be too much for us to cover alone. But if you use your Familiars. It's the same as declaring that the Lord of Thorns is getting back on it. If you want to get evidence, we got enough for a big public scandal but... I don't think that's what you want do you?" Fitz's question hit Joshua's nerve, as Joshua gave a weak glance.A face that lacked empathy as Joshua showed Fitz a pendant.
"This pendant? It belonged to a person I know back in school. Her name's Li Xian. I was the one who found their bodies. An entire family dead with their bloods painting the walls 'Spataro'. She was a toddler last time I saw her. One day, her body turned up in front of my family's door. Face carved open. Only way we know it was her was because of the pendant."
"To kill a monster, one must also accept that they too must become a monster." Fitz spoke, understanding what Joshua was trying to say.
"There's a saying. Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." Joshua's empathy for these people faded. It was near non-existent at this point. Joshua and Fitz made their way to a rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in the city. Looking at the city of Aloris right before them, beauty in the darkness. The city lights were like the stars above, if the skies were not polluted.
"Sometimes. The only way to remind the world that monsters exist? Is to tell them yourself." Joshua said. Like a signal for the curtain to a show to start, as explosions occurred all over the city. Panic ensued among the masses.
"Pulling the curtains for this? For all the stops?"
"That's just part of it... Wait for what's next." Joshua said as he showed the phone to Fitz, which Fitz took it to scroll the details.
It was a website that detailed everything that was done by the ones involved, including names and family members. Everything that they know spammed on every single profile of everyone's social media.
"I knew you had me hack into things but to pull this off... I don't know if you're trying to make yourself into an ally of justice or something else."
"It's not even justice, Fitz. It's mainly for closure." Joshua answered as they both looked over the smoke that plagued the city, basking in silence as the smoke and social media chaos that will ensue.
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