Chapter 969 (2/2)

Perhaps Erickson Steel wouldn’t exist for very much longer.

Even more intoxicating than nicotine, Evan inhaled that confused and hesitant scent that filled the air. With Erickson Steel’s monthly order from the government, and as this is only the 18th of the month, what the government is demanding is a little over one-third of their total order immediately. An order that generally takes Erickson Steel ten days to produce.

Even if you have enough stock on hand to satisfy the Colonel… Evan’s gaze when to the representatives of other business ventures and the Orders that were present. You will be forced to disappoint someone. I don’t think business will be quite so booming tomorrow. Will it, Erickson Steel?

The older woman blinked.

Then she thought about it and nodded firmly. “Oh, that’s perfect. We can do that.”

“I-” The Colonel began, but now it was his turn to blink. “What?”

The woman’s smile brightened further and she nodded emphatically. “Actually, we currently have a surplus of stock. The founder of the company did a forging demonstration yesterday, so all of our best workers have been producing metal frantically to try and imitate his technique. We honestly have more metal than we know what to do with! Your arrival couldn’t be better timed. Colonel, if you’ll just follow me…”

Then the woman froze. “Ah, there is one thing.”

Finally, the predatory air returned to the Colonel’s eyes. As Senator Heathridge had motivated him to find any possible excuse to change suppliers, even if just for a short while, the Colonel seized this chance. “Oh?”

The woman shook her head helplessly. “Because of the guidance of Erickson Steel’s founder, some of these new metals are even more high-performing than our regular products. As such, the Colonel may require more powerful tools in order to create drones with them… but we have had to deal with those same problems recently as well, so you are in good hands.”

The older woman led away a befuddled Colonel. Evan jerked his chin sharply at Thirteen, who nodded and discretely proceeded into the Erickson Steel compound. Evan retreated some distance away and then called Senator Heathridge.

After hearing Evan’s explanation of what had occurred, Senator Heathridge was pensive. “To think they had prepared this so far in advance… no, the story about the founder is probably just PR. They must have been secretly working on a new product line for months now… well, no matter. Did Thirteen enter successfully?”

“Yes, all according to plan.” Evan twitched slightly. He was craving a cigarette but was too wary of the drones above to smoke another one.

“Then we just wait,” Senator said gently. “Soon they will be begging for our help.”

*****

Thirteen sat on a rooftop, grinning down at the peaceful Erickson Steel campus below.

Thirteen’s given name was Theodore, but he had always hated that name. So much so that he had begun acting out at a young age, resentful of his parent’s overbearing and controlling nature. It had all been rather harmless transgressions until he had run a red light while drunk and killed a couple while turning their smart car into a crumpled tin can.

When the System arrived, Thirteen had been halfway through a ten-year sentence. And when chaos descended, he finally found himself free to share that horrible venom that had bubbling in his chest for five years.

Now, Thirteen was employed by the rich to make trouble for each other. Generally, no one ever requested any deaths, but neither did they say anything when bodies inevitably cropped up. Thirteen’s smile expanded. And now, this whole company is mine to play with-

Sniff.

Thirteen spun around, finding him face to face with a lithe young woman with brilliant mahogany hair and sharp eyes. She was one of the prettiest women that Thirteen had ever seen, and she was currently sniffing him. And Thirteen was immediately floored that she had been able to arrive behind him without him noticing.

But that body… Thirteen didn’t even bother to pay attention to her expression, just gazing at her chest and hips greedily. Seeing that she was a woman, all of his earlier tension evaporated. He licked his lips. After I’m done with her…

“I was rather excited when I smelled blood,” The woman whined. “But to think it’s just a pesky mosquito-like you. Better that I don’t let you wander around though…”

Thirteen didn’t even see the spear strike that slit his throat.