Gaston had asked them where a good shop was. Yumina had recommended a shop called Hamadayama. It was a ten-minute drive and they were just in time when there were fewer customers. Yumina led the two inside then she chatted with the Cook. Gaston and Boris were quite giants so they had occupied the booth on the side of the shop. There was a smell of mahogany, spices, and that thick scent of the ramen broth being prepared by the Cook.

Though it was somewhat late, some students were eating in the shop. Salarymen and women were raising their cups, chatting with their co-workers.

Gaston remained in his booth while keeping an eye on his notification. His download of the data from Janna was still ongoing. The process of filtering every data about the cult was taking place. Couldn’t just tell anyone about it, not even in any connection. The Cult of the End, that was the enemy they had to be wary about. He didn’t know what they were doing here out this far. All he could tell was that he didn’t like the idea.

“Is there anything wrong, Adjutant?” Boris asked. He placed his mobile on the table.

“Nothing wrong, Bro. Do you always accompany Yumina?”

“The Boss wants me to care for the Rookie. She is new to the industry, but she’s already a half-grown cub with the ability to fend for herself.”

“You think good of her.”

“We all do. I think that she has the potential to be a good hero. You know what they say. That age of heroes has long been dead. That the last true heroes were those who crossed the beaches of Normandy, those who stormed the Stalingrad and defeated one of the greatest evil the world had seen. When you can witness an age where the names of men and women have the chances of becoming that of legend. Does it not make you think that this might be the age of heroes?”

Gaston nodded. “Perhaps, students and even the new generation think that this era is the new heroic age.”

“Then Adjutant doesn’t think it is?”

Gaston blinked. “No, I think it’s still the same. Maybe there are people out there who think that it is the age of heroes again. I think that there are good men out there who think that they are that kind. Did you see those ads? On the net?”

“I do.”

“People who advertise themselves as heroes, vlogging themselves while facing breakers. There are even those who risk their lives to film their hunts. Hell, if you type in the keywords. There are hundreds of videos on the net on how to take care of the monsters and how to act in the likelihood of SPAWNINGS. There are even tutorials on how you should control your bioenergies and whatnot,” Gaston pointed a finger at one of the posters on the plastered wall. “Hell, they even have idols with rather extravagant powers doing such shows, no?”

Boris looked at the poster and nodded. “And many think that my people are pessimists, no?”

“It’s not pessimism, bro. It is the reality that we are in this era where everything can be capitalized. I believe that Miss Hilda has sponsors as well. She appears in many brands in eastern Europe as well”

“Indeed, sponsor money will help fund the company. We keep them entertained, safe, and make them believe that they are heroes.”

Gaston didn’t miss the excited look on Boris’s face. He had to know what made Boris think of the heroic ages. Then again, semi-divine individuals that have superhuman strength, and agility wandering around the world made it seemed like the world had entered such an age.

“What made you mention them?”

“Out of a whim,” Boris took the glass of water Yumina carried from the counter. She went back to where the Cook was, watching how the ramen was made. “The more the world suffers, the more the hearts of men grow. You see it almost every day now, young men rising to protect their loved ones against the monsters of the Otherside. Soldiers bring wariness to the hearts of the people. Some people think soldiers are nothing more than men of conflict. But what do they think when a Breaker, dressed in a specialized suit, armed with an MF-gear, comes up and splits a monster in two? It gives them the idea of heroes.”

Gaston tapped his fingers on the table. “I do agree. Then again, they only think that because the Consortium makes the media think that the Breakers are like that. If they find out what the true faces of the Breaker Companies are, they’ll have their hearts broken.”

Bori’s face changed before he made a wry grin. “I guess I might start to grow old. Publicity is the greatest ally of the Breaker Companies, what a shame, no?”

“We must have the media paid and always on our side. It’s how the Consortium, the Breakers, and the Independent Associates of the UEDF can strut around without being imprisoned. I do like the thought of having heroes around, they call some of the Breakers with good reputations such as that, but unless they start doing it out of their good heart, and not because they need views for their vlogs or get sponsors from a weapon company. Then I might think again about this.”

“Hah,” Boris slapped the table lightly. “And here I thought that you would have such thoughts, Adjutant. Then again, seven years of working with the Breakers must have formed this opinion, no?”

“Maybe, still, I had enough of the popularity contest of these people. I don’t doubt that some would want to serve people, but some are tempted by their power, only to be gunned down by Breakers and Law Enforcers. They think that they are invincible, then they face the monsters that need utmost care when it comes to how to deal with them. They break and think again. It’s problematic that there are individuals that could lift a car, and are slightly bulletproof.”

Boris stared at Gaston. He craned his neck and saw Yumina carry the three sets of ramen with her to the booth’s table. Gaston watched how Yumina ate the ramen first before indulging in it himself. He cracked an egg, placed it in the bowl, and ate silently. Yumina ate diligently, not caring that she was with her seniors.

“This is good,” Gaston commented. Yumina nodded her head. She dipped her chopsticks and licked her lips.

“I’ve been wanting to eat here. Since Gaston-san insisted that we do, I might as well take you here.”

“If you had duties for the day, I might not have insisted at all.”

“Well, thank you, Adjutant.”

“You are welcome,” Gaston said. He continued to eat his ramen, then filled his stomach with the chicken bone broth. After eating inside the shop, the trio got out and stayed on the corner of the shop before heading back to the base in a car.

Watching the blocks passed by. Gaston saw that there were no citizens on the streets. He was about to squeeze his eyes when there was an exclamation on his AR-module. Boris and Yumina also looked at their wrist bracers, turning the alarm notification off.

“Looks like it's time for work,” Gaston said. “It's a shame that I left my gear in Neo-Tokyo.”

The car started to move faster. Yumina’s face turned serious and their expressions became composed. Arriving on the base, they immediately went to the briefing room and sorted out who was going to be deployed this time.

Gaston accessed the Consortium’s line and contacted Ayumi. Immediately, the line connected, Gaston positioned himself on the wall, letting the babaika lions pass by him.

“What’s the alert?”

“Named-classes.”

“What? How?”

“They were sighted in Tenryū Ward's Shizuoka road. They’ve already reached Mount Akiha. If our sightings are correct, then there might be a SPAWNING somewhere in the ward.”

“Evacuation orders?”

“Still ongoing. Most of the JSDF have been deployed to secure the areas of Shimada and Yaizu. The rest of the problem is going to be handled by the Babaika Lions.”

“Are you providing Overwatch?”

“No, I have to direct the areas. It seems that some of our independent associates are going to be taking care of the routes. I have to make sure that they do not hinder the operations. They are in another line, Adjutant. Can you handle the areas?”

“As long as it's about the Babaika Lions. I can be the immediate direct line if you want something done.”

“Sorry, I would have made someone handle this situation, but I need to have you provide a situation report and make sure that they are active in suppressing any hunters.”

“Copy that.”

“And Adjutant, be careful,” Ayumi said. “Constable Yu is around the area. I know this may sound paranoia on my part, but there are chances that this is their doing.”

Gaston stopped moving. He looked left and right. “Are you sure about this? Even if this was paranoia. I think you are going to stir things up.”

“I know. That’s why I am warning you, Adjutant.”

If it was them then there was a chance that this was their doing. Gaston didn’t want to think that they were doing this. Not to mention that these are NAMED-classes that they are facing. He hated the idea of being close to these doom-wanting bastards. And walking in a place that they might have caused made him wary.

“What about the Red Valkyrie? Is she going to be deployed?”

“No. Unless something beyond Type-5 is deployed. She won’t come out to deal with it. They have a Type-5 in their assault ship, and she’s keeping it obedient. They still need a day or two to completely make it unable to move. So you’ll have to be there as a field overwatch.”

“I have to join them then.”

“I’m afraid so.”

Gaston set his jaws. He placed a hand on his sidearm and then sighed. “Fine, I’ll provide direct overwatch, but nothing more than necessary.”

“Attach yourself to this squad,” Ayumi sent the profiles of the people that I’d be working with. “Yumina and Boris and Shion Jin? They had two newcomers?”

“They have. Boris is their Team Leader for now. Without Captain Jakob around, they’ll be deployed in their squads. They are to keep you secured, and also purge the HUNTER-class that are heading to the area. I’ll be sending your drop-off point.”

“Are they informed about this?”

“They are. Please keep in mind that with the size of the area. You might have to stay in Harunotengu Camping Ground. The Consortium had already acquired the permission to land our drop-off ships and cruisers in the vicinity.”

“You’re making me think that this is going to be a damn siege, Ayumi.”

“There are HUNTER-classes that are lingering in the area. And if they are from ‘them’ then it might become a long fight, Adjutant Gaston.”

Gaston sighed. “Roger that. I’ll attach myself to the Rook’s squad, Sparrow.”

Gaston made his way to the hangar and found the three geared up. Boris held a hand up. Next to Yumina was Gaston, assumed to be the other squad member of the team. Shion greeted with a small bow, Boris thumped his hand on Gaston’s shoulder and handed him a vest and a SCAR variant. “I think you should carry your gear everywhere, Adjutant. It seems that there are too many monsters appearing lately.”

“Got it,” Gaston took the SCAR variant, and the vest and webbing filled with ammunition. He wore the vest, checked the weapon, and nodded at the squad. “I’ll be the direct overwatch and the line connecting the Consortium and the Company. Y’all probably got the info on where you’ll be deploying, so I won’t annoy your ears. Boris, you’re the team leader, I’ll be watching, and I won’t interfere with how you do your duties. This is a purging mission, so you know what to do.”

Then there was the devilish grin on Boris’s face. “Roger that, Adjutant. Rooks, keep your aims steady and make sure that the Adjutant here isn’t harmed. He’s here to make sure that you act like damn professionals. Understand!?”

“Hai!”

“Good,” Boris nodded. “Rook Squad, moving out!”

Boris led the way, and Gaston followed behind them. As much Gaston wished that this was nothing more than an independent SPAWNING anomaly. There was a part of him that had started to become wary. This contract might have been more troublesome than I thought, Gaston thought. His foot on the ramp of the cruiser, and hands gripping the rifle on his hands tightly.