Last chapter, the crew recovered from their encounter with Hopian and Taylis- with Quilline being released from her invisible prison, and Metallic being brought down from the roof he was launched up to.

From there- after Metallic woke up, the crew recaped what happened to Quilline and Metallic- and from there the crew split up into groups of two. Metallic and Elio headed out to access the tickets to Fixed Reality from Marlox's computer which is still at the deceased man's house. Seric and Karia stayed behind, with Karia doing a bit of training to pass the time. Meanwhile- Quilline and Amandeath went out to go to a cybernetic-surgeon that Quilline knew of for Amandeath...

30 minutes later, on the streets in the outskirts of the Hopian Continent...

Amandeath's P.O.V.

"Weeell- I mean I never really saw my dad go all out, my mom thought I was "too young" or whatever to see that when I was younger. So I really only know as much as you do there." I explain to Quilline who was asking about my family just now, while we're walking through the semi-lit dim streets in our disguises. I miss my blonde hair... but ah right- Quilline replies,

"Aww- bummer. But considering Endeath's never tried to claim my 500 million Herin bounty, I'm assuming he's weaker than I am. Yet another point to Quilline!" She says with a laugh as she pumps her hand into the air, weird seeing her in a hoodie and shorts still... but it works as a disguise so so be it.

...On that note, luckily she had some cool wipes in her pouch that she used to wipe Elio's blood clean off of her clothes. Yeah his corpse was pouring it's gunk all over her before she threw it away in some alley for the H.A. to find, after she got tired of carrying it. Kinda feel bad for Elio having his body get this disrespected, but he seemed chill with it- plus if what Quilline did to it really makes the army think she killed him? We're golden- they'll underestimate us, and Metallica too.

But after a few seconds I keep up my family-talk with the giant girl herself, "Will say- my family mainly only fought battles they knew they had a good chance of either winning or running from. My dad may have just found you to be too much of a risk, even if there would be a fair chance that he could take you out." I counter back- ah, hopefully she doesn't get pissed at me.

"Hmmm? That so? Maybe I'll have to go after him one time then to prove it- you wouldn't mind that, would you? After all you ditched your so called powerful family." Quilline says with a frown as she looks down at me with a tilted head.

"Ah- she probably thinks I still care about him a bit." I realize as I hold back a smile- she's trying to intimidate me, hah.

"Go for it." I bluntly reply which makes Quilline pause- then laugh as we walk around a corner at an intersection- but oh shiiiiit, two soldiers are right fucking in front of us on the glowing sidewalk.

"You're not allowed to be out here you two. Um... right- we'd like to see some identification please." One of the soldiers say as he walks towards us, but the other one looks more suspicious and is eyeing up Quilline.

"Qui-" I try to say but get teleported back behind the building we just passed- guess she'll take care of this.

"SHIT- it's Quilline!" One of the soldiers shouts, and at the same time I can see a bunch of lasers fire into Quilline's chest as she's digging into the pouch that's attached to her hip- fuck she isn't even fazed, the lasers can't even pierce through her it looks like... well besides her hoodie.

"Run!!" I hear the same guy shout- too late though as Quilline pulls a pistol out from her pouch, points it up and to her side- then teleports one of the guys right by the tip of the barrel and fires at his forehead.

"Clean move." I think to myself as the soldier falls to the ground, and Quilline teleports the other survivor right by her too. He's still trying to run but she keeps on teleporting him back in place- haah, kinda funny actually. 

"No no NO please- I'll do anything, I'll give you classified info- anything! Just please oh gods don't kill me!" He pleads as he finally stops running, and goes onto his knees- ohhh this could be handy actually.

"Not in the mood for fun right now, and you're kinda boring. The funnest soldiers to break are the ones who at least have a smidge of bravery." Quilline says with a scoff as she "spins" the guy around while he's on his knees by teleporting him over and over- nasty, he's vomiting everywhere mid-spin.

Finally she stops teleporting him though and puts a bullet in his head as well.

"Haaaah- was almost hoping you'd show of some of your torture techniques. ...Also couldn't we have used him there? For info?" I ask as Quilline spins her pistol in her hand to show off, then drops it back into her pouch. Sure seems handy having access to a whole ass shed of weapons through that tiny pouch... but anyways she replies,

"Like I said- not in the mood right now and it's not like I'm ALWAYS having fun... plus I like enjoying myself on my own terms that I plan out in advance. And for the getting info part- pssh! He was a soldier- the lowest of the low in the H.A., they don't get told all that much. Trust me I've interrogated quite a few of those runts in the past." Quilline says which I shrug at- guess she knows more about them than I do.

"Also let's keep moving, shall we? Wouldn't be surprised if the army can be notified when a soldier's pulse stops or something of the sort- could have audio recorders attached to them too. Or I've always guessed that's why backup always came so quick when I was sloppier as a teen." Quilline says as she tilts her head to the left and motions for me to follow her.

"Yeah- good point." I reply- kiiinda worried about Metallic and Elio now though. All they can do is scare people off, not exactly fight back. Seems like the Hopian Army really is increasing it's presence even in the outskirts... fuuuck.

No point in worrying now though- too be fair I guess Elio did patch Metallic up a bit before so, maybe Metallic is closer to his strength from before he fought Restroid now. Plus they'll be walking closer to the center of the Hopian Continent so there'll be less suspicion if they're walking around in their "disguise" and all which is good.

20 minutes later...

...

"Welp- yeah this is about as sketchy as I thought it'd be." I say to Quilline as we're standing outside a small building that doesn't even have a roof anymore- the top floors got blown off by something it looks like. Wonder what did it... maybe a bomb. 

"Oh this isn't quite it. Watch this and be amazed... but hold on where is that damn paper- I know what it feels like..." Quilline mumbles to herself as she digs her whole ass arm into her pouch and starts digging through it. Or more like digging through the pile of crazy stuff the pouch has a portal leading to... oh. I'm dumb- just realized that's probably using the same tech as my Infi-Gum and Infi-Ammo.

Quilline rips her arm out and holds up the stained piece of paper in front of her face, "Got it! Let's see, this is a cybernetics clinic on Gyro Avenue, so... right, ahem- Alasadesmo~" Quilline calls out loudly- uhhh... is that just part of her slang or...?

OH well fuck, my eyes open a bit wide as after a second- the building completely changes it's appearance to a sleek looking shiny blue cube in a flash of lightning- reminds me of the houses in Magthera.

Also a big bald guy in shades and a tank-top appeared in front of the place as well, who's holding a large metal door open to the building for us.

"Well then- yeah I'm kinda amazed..." I admit with a smile as I follow Quilline into the building, and the second we both get into the surpringly well kept but dark lobby of the building- the security guard or whoever that guy is quietly shuts and locks the door.

"Names and purpose of your visit?" The guy asks in a surprisingly undeep voice as I glance around and notice that the "lobby" is blander than I thought- there's only a few metal chairs across the room which are attached to the floors and walls, as well as one heavy door across the room from us.

"My black haired friend is Stacy, and I'm the one and only Quilline- well in disguise. I can give you a quick teleport as proof if you'd like, but I'm a client here regardless." She says- which makes the man jolt, but he regains his composure pretty damn quick.

"Purpose of your visit?" He asks with a cough as Quilline wraps her arm around my neck... yeaaaah that's getting a bit annoying now but whatever.

"This girly here is gonna go full cyborg- or in less fun terms, the full cybernetic package pretty please." Quilline says as the man nods and walks towards the door across the room from us- and opens it quickly after entering something in on the wall... eh?

OH my sight's bad- after squinting I can notice a keypad next to the door.

"Hey, you think they'll be able to give my eyesight a boost or? Cause man I miss my glasses." I ask as Quilline starts to walk towards the set of chairs- and I follow behind her as she replies,

"Hun if you wanted they could make your eyes shoot lasers. Of course they can touch up your eyesight." Quilline says with a laugh as she awkwardly sits on the chair that's way too small for her- meanwhile I plop down kinda comfortably on mine.

"Sweeeeet... but really, who the hell are these guys? No way could some lone scientist have something this professional going on." I whisper- just in case that's meant to be private info.

"Why the whispers? This lobby is soundproof. Regardless- you're right, this is far from a lone criminal's shop, this cute place here is part of a franchise. Or in terms your street-oriented mind may better understand- this shop is part of a criminal organization. The biggest and most influential one of the Hopian Continent at that- they handle a bunch of stuff from producing and distributing all those drugs you enjoy, illegal arms, cybernetics- you name it. The organization started off much smaller than this, but slowly it started eating up all of the intelligent criminals until almost all of them were either erased- or working for the organization." Quilline explains- sick.

"Never thought I'd get to the deepest part of the continent like this. Must've taken a load of work to get yourself this involved in the industry- can't even imagine." I say with a bit of admiration as I glance up at Quilline who's staring up at the roof.

"Yep." Is all she replies as she looks down at me with cold eyes, not even with a smile surprisingly.

"Definitely feel like she had a fucked up past, even that Mrs. Magic girl hinted at it."  I note to myself, no way would I be dumb enough to bring it up to someone as crazy as her though.

...

A second later, the door at the end of the lobby opens up again- and the same big bald guy walks through it and closes it right after. 

"Guess it's time." I think to myself as I open my mouth to talk- but the guy walks right by me towards the door that leads outside... oh. That sucks. Guess he's going back on guard duty- or to let people in I guess? Maybe both. Probably both.

...I shrug and close my eyes, may as well get some shut-eye.

30 minutes later...

***

I wake up and lift my head as I can hear a door opening- seems like it's the one leading to the outside again. Two big bulky red robots stomp inside that have arms the size of pillars- sheesh. And oh, an average heighted super pale skinned woman with blue hair and a lip piercing, plus big earrings, walks in behind them.

"Hi!" Quilline shouts as she jumps off of her chair and digs her hand into her Infi-Pouch.

"Take anything out out of there and you'll regret it- I'm not here to fight you. Not unless you act stupid." The woman says nonchalantly with a stern face and crossed arms- which makes Quilline freeze.

"Well- that's good I suppose. Not like you could kill me anyways though. But yeah- what brings you here then my good frien-emy Prisila? Normally you give someone a call before you visit them no? Sounds like common courtesy to me at least." Quilline says with a raised eyebrow and a small smile

"Oh- that bald guy must've called this "Prisila" up then. That's probably why we were waiting for so long." I try to make sense of what's going on here.

"Well- not funny that you mention phone calls Quilline. Do you know how many times I've tried to call you over the past few days? 52 times. FIFTY TWO." The woman replies in a stern tone, talking loud enough to shout but keeping calm at the same time. Hopefully this doesn't get messy.

"Oh! Ah sorry sorry, my phone broke! You see I got blown up by-"

"The magic girl I know, I've told you before I have Hopian Army informants. And I ALSO know that you have multiple functional backup phones in that shed of yours that pouch leads to." Prisila says with a cold glare which makes Quilline frown.

"Ok- you caught me, so maybe I was ignoring your calls just a little bit. But it was only because I knew you'd be mad, and look- I was right." Quilline says with a huff.

"A little bit? ...You know what, I don't have the time to argue. I've got a fire under me Quilline- and you started it. A considerable amount of my workers died during King Metallica's rampage, as well as some friends and loved ones of my surviving workers. They're rightfully angry at me for still associating with someone who's working for that terrorist. Also- if the Hopian Army were to find out that I'm helping to arm King Metallica's group by proxy, through helping you? I'd be their number one target after you all... and considering they'll soon have a literal mind-reader at their disposal? They may find out soon." The woman explains as she glares up at Quilline.

"Well fuck- she must be the boss of all of these places then... better hope this chick doesn't realize who I am then, if she's pissed at our group." I note to myself.

"Well- that's unfortunate. What's your point though?" Quilline says without even trying to sound like she cares.

"My point is we're done. Starting now you are completely banned from using any part of my organization's resources. You've always been insane, but you've taken it too far this time. Get out, and goodbye." The woman says as she steps to the side, and her two giant robots step to the side as well to leave a path open to the front door.

"Excuse me? Don't forget that I made you work with me by force before, remember? I mowed through your forces and put the barrel of my gun right into your mouth. I can do it again just as easily~" Quilline says with a smile as she cracks her neck.

"If you ever did kill me- I have a contingency in place that would ensure that your life would be permanently ruined. The stopping of my pulse would alert a certain associate of mine to use his Blessing to put a beacon on you until the day you die, that will reach into the sky. You would be hunted down 24/7, and never sleep again." Prisila replies coldly- daaaaamn.

"I haven't slept in years, no biggie." Quilline says back with a laugh.

"My point still stands. Realistically Prósopsi would probably kill you in less than a day if that beacon were put on you."

"Emperor Metallica would kindly deal with him for me in that case- hell if the army came to us that would make our lives a lot easier. So tell me Prisila, do you really want to ban me from your cool kids club? I don't have much to lose anymore if you do, so think hard." Quilline says with a shit eating grin on her face... this is probably gonna get ugly.

"Damn, don't really have anywhere to hide... would it be safer to stay near Quilline or to step away?" I think to myself as I get ready to move aaaany second now.

"My stance is the same. Do what you will." Prisila replies- ah fuck this, I have to at least TRY to intervene here.