[SIDE A] DAY 1 – METROPOLITAN
Dear Readers:
First of all, I have to thank you for your patience. Although, there will be certain adjustments throughout my previous storyline. But, my writing philosophy has not changed at all. “Life is a game of Reversi. There is no definite good (right) or bad (wrong) among things (humans). It is the choice which you had made that would change the outcome (future).”
Inescapable Consequences (神羅万象) the series is one of my original web novel. This arc consists of the following volumes:
[Vol. 0] Condensation (凝集)
[Vol. 1 - Side A] Dark Cloud (暗い雲) and [Vol. 1 - Side B] Thunder Strike (雷鳴)
[Vol. 2 - Side A] Lightning Blast (稲妻) and [Vol. 2 - Side B] Hail Falls (雹落ちる)
[Vol. 3] Downpour (土砂降りの雨)
Once again, thank you very much and happy reading.
Regards,
Dssan Schneider (Anthony Man)
The City-state of Metropolitan, also known as the Shadow City, was an autonomous territory on the south of the central continent. It had a total landmass of over twelve hundred square kilometers and a population over seven million people. Currently, it has already been intensely urbanized due to its massive population within an inhabited territory. As a result of lack of space, there were at least over a thousand skyscrapers within the Shadow City.
As one of the leading international financial centers within the country, the Shadow City has always been one of the most complex capitalist service communities, and its economy was characterized by low taxation and free trade with a well-established judiciary system. However, it was still suffering from severe income inequality as one of the examples of laissez–faire capitalism.
Over the years, the Shadow City's multi-media genre has gained a certain level of popularity within the region. Therefore, Shadow City has been recognized as one of the major entertainment hubs within the country. Several thousands of celebrities were working under the Central Broadcast Entertainment Studio (CBES). This company owned most of the multi–media channels within the city such as television, radio, newspaper, etc. This top-notch studio even produced ninety-five percent of entertainment programs within the country. This well-known studio was located in the central district and its headquarters was one of the highest skyscrapers within the city.
There was a famous coffee shop located at the lobby level of CBES's headquarters. Most of the time, this coffee shop was crowded with customers and paparazzi who were waiting for their favorite celebrities to show up for work. However, for today the whole atmosphere was kind of thick. Since, there was only one customer who was sitting at the coffee counter. This male customer was wearing a purple suit with a black top hat on his head. The coffee shop's barista was serving him a cup of black coffee, while this male customer was surfing the Internet on his smartphone.
The male customer glanced.
“Funny eh? Nowadays, everything seems right. But actually, they are all wrong.”
The barista replied immediately.
“Sure sir.”
The male customer lowered his voice and continued.
“Believe me. Things never go in the right direction since most people just open their mouths and say whatever they want, but in reality, nothing would happen. Most people are just full of rubbish. You know what I mean?”
The barista answered sincerely.
“Yes sir.”
The male customer rolled his eyes.
“Never mind. You're never into politics or so?”
The barista looked at the male customer and said,
“Oh sir. Although, we are in the democracy era. Unfortunately, most people would like to benefit themselves and secure their status within the social ranking. They don't want to take any responsibility. So, they would rather push things down to lower classes of the food chain and let those unfortunate people take the blame. I believe we are now back to the dog-eat-dog era.”
“Wow... you have a good observation though. The strongest survive... Natural selection.”
The barista glanced at the lobby’s entrance and said.
“Thank you, sir. By the way, it seems someone is coming over here.”
“Sigh... Sometimes, human beings are so stubborn...”
The barista smiled.
“Maybe sir. But in another word, it is called consistent...”
The male customer glanced at the lobby’s entrance.
“Tch, ignorance is bliss.”
That barista was staring at the glass sliding doors of the coffee shop. He saw a woman dressed in a one–piece red dress with high heels had entered the lobby. She was slowly walking towards this coffee shop. She stopped when she saw that man who was sitting at the coffee counter.
The woman glanced around her surroundings.
“Hello? Is this seat taken?”
The male customer rolled his eyes.
“Oh no! Not again... Never mind, it is empty. You want a black coffee? Anyway, it's my treat though.”
She gave a half-smile.
“No, thanks. I'm not for coffee.”
“Oh, I see. By the way, don't waste my time please...”
“Don't worry. I won't take much of your time. Shall we start now?”
He glanced down at her.
“Sure, what is your business here?”
“Maybe you should rephrase that into – what are your demands?”
He pondered for a moment.
“Umm... I guess you won't last long under this circumstance though.”
“We'll see.”
He turned his head to his left, and then had a good look at this woman.
“Well, is it the new dress code?”
“Actually not, suppose I'm on my leave for today.”
He looked at her and said,
“Oh, I see. My sincere apology, working overtime isn't a good thing. However, the boss is always like that, right? You know what I mean.”
“As one of the public servants, I wouldn't mind at all.”
His attention was back to his smartphone, and once again he was flipping through some websites.
“Interesting... By the way, are you interested in reading books? Do you read online light-novel too?”
“I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds like it's not my favorite kind of novel. I would rather read a famous fiction novel such as Lord of the Rings, instead of a light-novel from nobody.”
His eyes widened.
“Seriously, you know what a light-novel is, right?”
She glowered at him.
“Could you just cut the rubbish! I came here for the negotiation.”
His attention was back to his smartphone and replied.
“Argh, sorry. However, you should consider those people on your left-hand side from your seat before you raise your voice over mine.”
She turned to her left and noticed a pile of dead bodies were laying on the floor.
“Umm... So?”
He looked her in the eyes.
“You sounded a little bit scared.”
“Although, you had killed several of my men. However, that doesn't mean I will get scared by your brutal action.”
“Now I see. So, what do you think about the ending?”
She was puzzled for a moment.
“What ending?”
The corners of his mouth quivered.
“You know, the good guy versus bad guys... in the ending, the good guys always win... I think it is kind of unrealistic... What the heck is the villain thinking... The villain literally tells everyone what he is going to do...”
She glowered at him.
“Eh... Okay, you just name your demands.”
“Lady, just hold one a second, let me finish my statement first. By the way, you are the police's negotiator. You should have more patience than I, right?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Eh... Before we continue, could you release those hostages first?”
He ignored her request and continued.
“Where was I? Oh yeah, the inequality between good guys and bad guys. For example, the bad guys always got a lot of dumb subordinates, meanwhile the good guys always got a whole team of specialists which got certain levels of distinction.”
She sized him up.
“Who would stupid enough to break the laws? If you are an intelligent person, definitely you won't try to take a life just because you feel like doing so.”
“Eh?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What you have done is inescapable. For sure you will suffer your own consequences afterwards.”
He looked heavenward.
“Oh... As I remember years ago, there was a man who told me something like this... there is no good or bad, but only hypocrites and little men...”
Her forehead furrowed.
“Umm... Okay then... Shall we go back to the hostage issue?”
“Why are you asking me?”
She glowered at him.
“Argh... It is because you are hold-up the people in this Central Broadcasting Building as your hostages. I represented the city's police department, and came here to negotiate with you. Please state your terms and demands.”
He was puzzled for a moment.
“I'm wondering who said this is a hold-up? But never mind, I'm telling you had mixed up the whole situation.”
She faked a smile.
“Then.... maybe you want to surrender, and let us arrest you. Such that nobody will get harmed and we could have ended this peacefully.”
His mouth curved into a smile.
“First, we aren’t leaving this building... Second, we had slaughtered everyone in this building... And third, we are taking over this city...”
She glanced around her surroundings.
“Seriously.... you... are... buffing... right?”
He beamed.
“Oh now, you are scared.”
Suddenly, out of nowhere. A white light had passed through that woman's body. Instantly, her reaction was a scream in agony.
“Argh...”
The woman had felt a pain in her chest. She looked down and found out her blood was pouring out from her chest like a water fountain. A moment later, she fell on top of that pile of dead bodies which were beside her.
The male customer looked at the barista and said,
“Oh man, what have you done? Mr. Swords.”
The barista lowered his head and replied.
“Mr. World, I'm sorry... I just want her so badly. I cannot hold on to myself anymore.”
Mr. World glanced down at his cup of coffee.
“Actually, I'm not talking about her... Mr. Swords... Look here, her blood is in my black coffee.”
Mr. Swords took a bow.
“My apology. I will make you another one now.”
“Umm... I had some business to take care of first. I will be back very soon.”
“Sure, Mr. World. The black coffee will be ready for you.”
“Oh, very nice of you. Mr. Swords.”
Mr. World stood up, then he was slowly walking towards the lobby's entrance. When he passed through those double sliding glass doors. Suddenly, two sniper bullets were flying directly towards his face. Hence, he just snapped with his fingers. Those projectiles had been redirected onto the ground and went into the pavement just in front of Mr. World's feet.
Those two marksmen were amazed by what had happened in front of their eyes. One of the snipers had made a self-remark.
“What the heck is going on? Suppose it is a clean headshot!”
Mr. World glanced around his surroundings and spoke loudly to the crowd.
“Silent! The Metropolitan's Police Department... What are you guys thinking? Snipers could solve this? Haha... You guys are so selfish and naive... So, listen carefully, and here is our message: Today, we – Killer Incorporation shall take over the Shadow City. This city shall be under our master ruling. Any further resistance is futile. The citizens of Metropolitan, accept your fate and bow before us... By the way, our spokeswoman will broadcast our official announcement at noon. So, stay tuned and remember to watch the News... Oh yeah, please remember me as Mr. World. Haha... Anyway, everyone has a nice day... Goodbye!”
Mr. World turned his back and then went back into the building. Once he had returned to the coffee shop, a freshly blended black coffee was waiting for him. He took a sip.
“Mr. Swords, nice black coffee.”
“Thanks, Mr. World... and I have a request...”
“Please go on.”
“Could I use those dead bodies and especially that woman?”
Mr. World glanced around the surroundings.
“Oh sure, why not... Recycling is a good deed... How many do we had now?”
“Around a thousand from this building.”
“Umm... We need more than that in order to secure the building's premise.”
Mr. Swords glanced over the lobby’s entrance.
“Agree. How about those people out there?”
Mr. World smiled.
“Mr. Swords... Although, those human beings aren't that strong. But by using them as our minions, that could strengthen our defense force in numbers. It would be a good idea.”
“Thank you for your compliment, Mr. World.”
“Hehe... Let's go!”
After the massacre, both of them had returned to the coffee shop.
“Damn, no dry cleaning around the block.”
“Mr. World, I think we'll be fine for a while. Now we have an army of the undead in here.”
Mr. World examined himself.
“Oh yeah, Mr. Swords... Although, we solved our manpower problem. However, their blood had ruined my purple suit.”
“Umm... Eh... I'm wondering how others are doing right now?”
“Oh well, we'll see them soon. At least, Ms. Fire should be ready for this afternoon. For sure, she would be the most beautiful TV host in the Afternoon News... By the way, did you know what she likes? Flowers? Chocolate? Me? Hehe...”
Meanwhile, Mr. Swords was mumbling on his own.
“Eh... Umm... She likes soap operas more. Umm... Actually, most of the ladies within Killer Incorporation like or even in love our master. But I think you still have a chance though, if you keep up the good work....”
A moment later, Mr. World was back from his fantasy.
“Mr. Swords, what did you say before?”
“Oh nothing, Mr. World.”
“Anyway, I have a personal question to ask you...”
“Huh?”
“Why do you always look so pale? Do all of your kind look alike?”
“Umm... You mean... the typical tall, skinny, pale and drawn stereotypical descriptions of a necromancer?”
Mr. World laughed.
“Bingo!”
Mr. Swords pondered for a moment.
“About that part... I think I just didn't have my breakfast in the morning... After lunch, I will be fine.”
“Haha... I see. Mr. Swords, please remember... We'll be very busy...”
“Mr. World. I understand. But I'm also looking forward to having some fun too. Hehe...”
Since then, the CBES’s building had once again become deadly quiet. Mr. World was enjoying his newly blended black coffee, while Mr. Swords was switching the TV’s channels.
Mr. Swords narrowed his eyes.
“Sigh, they are re-airing this dumb soap opera again?!”
