Putato truly recognized the value of a veteran; after all, Elena had saved him from many detours when entering the K Nest.
Putato quickly scribbled his signature.
[Congratulations on your appointment to Dawn Office]
[Acquired Work Talent: Brand of Fire]
[Description: Wrath, harming others and oneself alike]
[Effect 1: You can use your wrath to ignite invisible brands on the surface of your body]
[Effect 2: When your brands manifest, physical contact can carve derivative brands onto the surface of objects or creatures that cause actual burning]
[Effect 3: You can clear your wrath to ignite all derivative brands; the intensity of the combustion is determined by the level of your anger]
Having just handed over the contract, Putato was stunned. This was basically turning him into a rage warrior, but who among normal people could just get angry on command? Wouldn't that make him a psychopath?
Salvador nodded in satisfaction, only then slowly setting down his teacup.
"By the way, Vanda, before coming here, I had a word with the Hana Association. They've placed you under high-priority observation."
"What do you mean? Is it their business if I rank up quickly?"
"Because you hop jobs too frequently. Some people suspect you're a commission mercenary, helping Offices boost their credit scores."
"You might not have noticed while you were busy rushing commissions, but even the other branches and headquarters have heard of a Fixer reaching Grade 5 in a single week. Vanda, you're far more famous than you think."
Salvador set down his teacup, immediately stood up, and led Putato away.
...
Kinza Business Center.
Two skyscrapers stood like gatekeepers on either side of the street entrance, drawing stares and photos from passersby.
Putato looked up with a strange expression at the Torii gate they had just passed. Looking down, he saw a row of streetlights adorned with swaying koinobori streamers. The vivid, bright neon lights made it impossible for his eyes to find a focus point.
"Hey, what took you so long? We need to reach an agreement with the client today."
Yuna called out from a distance, holding a cup of coffee.
Salvador immediately signaled he heard her, then turned to Putato with a smile.
"Vanda, don't get the wrong idea. Yuna has been negotiating this commission for half a month. I didn't just drag you in as a last-minute recruit because a high-level job popped up."
"Doesn't matter. Accept the commission, then finish it. That's a Fixer's business."
"You sound very reliable."
The two immediately wove through the crowded street toward a ham sandwich shop. Standing beside Yuna was a shy, bespectacled young man.
"Philip, this is the rising star Fixer Yuna mentioned. Get acquainted."
"Hello, Vanda... I'm Philip."
Putato clearly noticed that as he drew closer, Philip instinctively lowered his head to avoid eye contact, looking like a kitten whose territory had been invaded.
Seeing Salvador and Yuna exchange helpless glances, Putato realized they had invited him specifically to give Philip some motivating change. However, this guy's aura was so weak he didn't even seem like a Grade 5 Fixer; he was probably on par with Finn.
"Well, Philip, maybe I should call you 'senior.' I hit Grade 5 much later than you did."
Yuna burst into laughter, finished her coffee, and tossed it into the bin.
Philip was about to speak when Putato slung an arm around his shoulder with practiced ease. He wanted to refuse but was too shy to speak up, so he looked to the still-smickering Yuna for help.
"Haha, do you think this 'master and apprentice' dynamic works?"
Salvador just smiled and said nothing.
"That's enough playing around. Yuna, take us to meet the client. Brief Vanda on the commission details while we're at it."
The four of them took the massive mall elevator all the way up.
Putato took the opportunity to bother Philip a bit; after all, gaining his favor was much easier than gaining Salvador's, as the latter was a veteran who had participated in the Smoke War.
"Senior Philip, I heard from Yuna that your tea-brewing skills are excellent."
"Mhm. Vanda, if you'd like to try some, I can brew some for you back at the Office."
On this topic, Philip regained his confidence, while Yuna covered her face and sighed.
"I really don't get it. Did Master hire a tea brewer? Philip, you're a Fixer."
"I understand, Senior Yuna."
"And Putato calling you 'Senior Philip'—don't you want to object at all? A Fixer needs to be tougher, or the client won't be on your side during contract negotiations."
"I'll try to pay more attention in the future."
...
6th floor of the mall.
A staff member had been waiting by the elevator, leading the group to scan their cards and enter the management office. They were met by a tall, slender woman dressed entirely in red.
Red heels, red nails, and a face that naturally commanded authority, making her seem unapproachable.
"Ah, the Dawn Office. Please sit. I am Songmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Sakura Alliance."
Songmi scanned the group, her gaze quickly settling on Salvador.
"Mr. Salvador, the Sakura Alliance's regular commercial activities are suffering severe infringement. I'll keep this brief."
"For this commission, I want you to eliminate all Kurokumo Clan strongholds within the Sakura Alliance, wipe out their patrol squads, and retrieve all the protection fees they have illegally collected."
"They have a fitness center within the joint venture, and lately they've been trying to extend their reach into our territory. I hope your Office's professional capabilities are worth the money I'm spending."
Songmi's gaze then flickered between Philip and Putato.
"Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Salvador, but the Kurokumo Clan isn't some Syndicate made of rats. You'd be better off bringing experienced colleagues rather than rookies."
"If your team causes the commission to fail, I will reduce the payment according to the contract."
Philip immediately lowered his head under Songmi's pressure. Putato, wearing his Eye Wrap, pretended to be blind to the situation, confidently crossing his legs and speaking up nonchalantly.
"Ms. Songmi, are you planning to test our Office on behalf of the Liu Association? If you don't understand the pedigree of a direct-affiliate Office, perhaps you should find an experienced colleague of your own to receive us."
Hearing these words—calm yet sharp—Philip looked up anxiously, only to find both his master and Yuna smiling.
Songmi gave Putato a surprised look and didn't offer a further rebuttal. Instead, she handed over a file regarding a Kendo fitness center.
"Shops within our Sakura Alliance provide Sakura Cards for new customers. These can accurately track spending records and movement paths, offer point rewards, and allow us to provide personalized product recommendations for each visitor."
"We even send holiday greetings to our customers."
"These four Sakura Cards have normal spending records attached, so they won't arouse suspicion at the fitness center. Take them and you may leave."
Taking the Sakura Cards, the four of them took their leave.
...
"Ha, there's even a bit of money on these cards. Songmi really knows how to handle things."
Yuna joyfully scanned her Sakura Card with her communicator, clearly intending to do some shopping.
BANG!
"Hey, what kind of card? You still owe us money, and you have the nerve to ask us for more!"
Through the clear glass, Putato's group could see the drama unfolding inside a conveyor belt sushi shop.
Several men in plain black suits were rudely blocking all the sushi on the belt and pulling it to their own table. They sat there laughing, taking a single bite of each piece before tossing it onto the floor.
Behind the counter, the owner and the waiters glared with grim faces at the troublemakers who had scared off all the customers.
"Those are Kurokumo tattoos. Master, should we stop them now?"
The moment Philip spoke, he felt a light breeze as Putato swiftly strode forward. He hesitated, wanting to follow, but still looked to Salvador for guidance.
"Go with Vanda. The Kurokumo Clan has already driven many merchants to ruin. The commission details state that on-site execution is permitted."
...
"Meeting violence with violence, and keeping our word! That is the way of our Kurokumo Clan. Since we said we'd protect you, you must pay the protection fee!"
Behind the counter, the chefs all warily grabbed their kitchen knives. The owner, suppressing his impulse, set his chef's hat down on the cutting board.
"This is Sakura Alliance territory. If you want to extort someone, go find them. I'm just a tenant here."
The crew-cut man with Kurokumo tattoos on both arms raised an eyebrow and tossed a piece of brain matter onto the ground, threatening him fiercely.
"Refusing our goodwill, are you? The Kurokumo Clan is fighting against the evil Sakura Alliance specifically to protect the weak like you. And you won't even show a shred of support? You despicable little person!"
The crew-cut man turned to grab his katana leaning against the chair. Looking up, he saw a freak, wrapped tightly in bandages and an Eye Wrap, striding toward him.
The bizarre attire had a certain stoic style to it, but the man immediately realized someone was intervening and barked a shout.
"Who the hell are you?!"
THUMP!
Putato suddenly raised a leg and kicked. The crew-cut man doubled over like a shrimp and fell to the ground, coughing blood. He struggled to stand up but couldn't catch his breath, eventually collapsing face-first into a sushi plate cover.
"Boss!"
WHOOSH!
The remaining two Kurokumo members saw Putato strike immediately, showing no regard for them or the Kurokumo name. They drew their blades and slashed without hesitation. The intersecting blade-light from both sides prompted a worried shout from Philip, who had just entered.
"Vanda, watch out!"
CLANG!
The massive spiral spear carved a heavy whistling sound through the air. The relatively fragile, light katanas were instantly knocked out of their hands and sent flying. The Kurokumo members clutched their aching wrists in disbelief, having severely underestimated the weight of their opponent's weapon.
"What are you standing there for? Go, Philip!"
Putato shouldered the spear and didn't swing again. After all, smashing their heads in someone else's shop would be a nightmare to clean up—he spoke from experience on that matter.
Philip rushed forward, drawing his short sword to quickly incapacitate the two disarmed men.
"Decisive and measured. Vanda, you truly are as reliable as they say."
Salvador offered his praise immediately, while Yuna took the opportunity to snatch some sushi from the table while the owner was busy thanking Putato and Philip.
After a bit of fussing in the shop, Putato finally wiped the bloodstains off his jacket.
"Interrogation's clear. They're doing rounds to collect as much as they can. If you don't pay, they trash the shop and cut off fingers, then report back to their leader at the end of the street. If we go now, we should run into them."
The group immediately handed the scene over to Songmi and began weaving through the dense crowd.
"Senior Philip, thanks for the assist back there. Cleaning blood off this weapon is a total pain."
"It's nothing. You'd have been fine even without me."
"It's not the same! With Senior Philip watching my back, I definitely have to give it my all. Do you respect me a bit more now?"
"True. I didn't expect you to be this strong, Vanda. Maybe you should stop calling me 'senior'."
"If it makes you uncomfortable, you can just pay me. Consider it paying me to call you 'senior'—just 10,000 Ahn would do, seeing as you're my senior and all."
Facing Putato's outstretched hand, Philip hesitated for a moment before pulling out his wallet and counting out 10,000 Ahn. Seeing this, Yuna, carrying a violin case, bumped her shoulder against Putato.
"Hey, you just joined and you're already scamming money? That 10,000 Ahn is enough to buy us some stir-fried rice cakes. Don't go tucking it into your pocket where it'll never see the light of day again."
Philip quickly chimed in.
"If Senior Yuna is hungry, I'll treat everyone later."
"What are you doing, Philip? I'm trying to help you get your money back! Why are you acting like some naive rich kid? Don't let Vanda scam away your whole commission."
Whether it was Khaji's influence or not, Putato realized he was gradually gaining a slight ability to sense others' emotions. Right now, he could pick up on Philip's feelings for Yuna.
"Fools! How could you let those thieves appear on Kurokumo Clan territory? We've already collected the protection fees!"
"Two of you, go round them up. Slice off their fingers as compensation and bring them to the shops. You need to think more about being worthy of the protection fees people pay. You've been in the clan this long and I, the boss, still have to waste my breath on you!"
"Yes!"
The woman draped in a black coat crossed her arms and scolded her two subordinates. The rest of the Kurokumo Clan members bowed respectfully, while passersby carefully kept their distance.
These Kurokumo Clan members dressed with a wild, unrestrained flair. The female boss's coat was open, revealing a recognizable Kurokumo tattoo across her snowy-white chest. However, her harsh, domineering voice ensured that no one else dared to steal a glance.
She suddenly turned her head toward Putato's group.
"Hey! Are you blind? Every offender gets a slap!"
This time, Philip didn't ask Salvador; he looked at Putato. Unsurprisingly, Putato had already strode forward. Beneath his unraveling bandages, the white exoskeleton armor surged, and in the blink of an eye, he was fully armored.
Salvador's voice came from behind, prompting Philip to follow as well.
"I'll keep watch for you. Settle these people."
Facing the sudden emergence of a few troublemakers, the female boss merely gave a cold sweep of her gaze toward the watching merchants. She gripped her Ōdachi, dragging it along the ground.
"Truly a bunch of ignorant peasants who can't distinguish good from evil. Sever their right arms! That is the mercy the Kurokumo Clan graciously grants you."
Nine members immediately drew their blades and moved to strike Putato simultaneously.
I am the Work Emperor. I came to The City to be its Emperor! Only I deal out slaps—and yet someone dares to insult the Emperor?!
This person has already found her path to death!
As Putato frantically psyched himself up, he caught sight of the female boss's arrogant, punchable face and the clan's blatant rampage of robbery and extortion. In an instant, his fury reached a boiling point.
"Vanda, get back!"
Philip rushed forward from behind, dismayed to find that Putato, leading the charge, had run too fast and was now surrounded by four Kurokumo Clan members. In a heartbeat, four flashes of blade-light struck at Putato from different directions.
"Hmph. Fools. Our Kurokumo Clan blades are custom-made Workshop weapons; once they cut, the bleeding never stops!"
"Bleed this idiot dry until he's a husk!"
Brand of Fire!
Branded patterns spread like a spiderweb across Putato's exoskeleton skin, as if a suit of armor was unnaturally covered in shocking, vivid burns.
Hematic Pump!
Putato felt a surge of hot blood and wrath rise together. He leaned to the side, dodging the two slashes from the right. His left hand, gripping the Violent Knuckles, flicked out and knocked the left thrust aside, yet the vertical slash from the front still landed on his shoulder.
THUD!
The unusual sensation and the sound of the strike made the Kurokumo member in front of Putato widen his eyes. In an instant, his stunned face was gripped by Putato, and a sudden, agonizing pain exploded through his consciousness.
SIZZLE, SIZZLE, SIZZLE!
"Aaaahhh!!!"
The skin-crawling sound of burning flesh echoed alongside a heart-wrenching scream.
When Putato let go, the man was still clutching his bright-red, branded face in unbearable agony, rolling on the ground in a desperate attempt to extinguish the high heat. Even after scratching his face to shreds, he found it was all in vain.
"Goddamn useless trash!"
"Everyone, move!"
Dragging her exceptionally long Ōdachi, the female boss, her face a mask of frost, covered a distance of over ten meters in just a few strides. Her hands gripped the hilt as she swung a perfect, massive semi-circle through the air with gritted teeth.
Putato instantly drew the Blood Sword from his Dimensional Gloves and hurled it, the powerful force whipping up a violent gust.
Seeing the blade flying toward her, the boss could only glare at Putato. She shifted her technique mid-swing, forcefully batting Putato's sword aside, leaving a large gash in the ground. Satisfied, she began to gather her strength for another strike.
Without your sword, how will you fight me now?!
"What?!"
The boss looked on in disbelief as Putato lunged toward her empty-handed. She hurriedly swung her blade to force him back, but the tip of her sword was caught between Putato's hands, and she found herself unable to press it down.
"Daring to block a blade with your bare hands? Moron!"
Before she could put all her weight into severing this idiot's arms, she was horrified to see Putato close the distance instantly; the defensive power of his armor was far beyond her imagination.
SMACK!
Before she could react again, Putato had swiftly snatched her right wrist, and that movement alone signaled that the battle was decided.
A glowing red brand was instantly etched onto her right hand, looking like a decorative fluorescent tattoo.
SIZZLE, SIZZLE, SIZZLE!
"Uhhh!!!"