>>6161875>>6161877>>6161932>>6162038>>6162459>>6162827This is what was chosen for you. This is the path laid before you.
Not just by this man here. But by your mother and father. This is what they do. Only fair to continue the family business.
And, besides, this should be good for a promotion, right?
Unless, this mission is not for the books. Killing one of the main members of a secretive group that helped Mother Nature's Providence because he's become a traitor doesn't seem like something you can talk about if you tell people why you got promoted... b-but it has to be good for something, right? They can cook the records or something.
Bothered by the weight of the task, you sit down on one of the tree's roots, and ask "Will this get me promoted?"
If trees had eyes, you'd have felt them look upon you with those eyes rife with pain and regret. "<span class="mu-g"><span class="mu-i">This... we are covering for the Deathwatch squad that failed. Reporting their failure to Rome would be very 'troublesome' for everyone who had even been made aware of their presence in Helsinki, especially given their target.</span></span>" Leshy sighs, and continues, his speech slowed with constant internal deliberation as he tries to assuage your disappointment. "<span class="mu-g"><span class="mu-i">Officially, you will have done nothing, but... everyone involved will owe you. The man from Chicago. Miss Jousten. Me, as well. And in every way I can, I will support you, and make it up to you. It is with regret that I say this cannot directly give you the promotion you seek, but I assure you, I will make this worth it.</span></span>"
Fuck.
You still have to do it, but... "I understand. I'll join."
A weight has been lifted from his shoulders. "<span class="mu-g"><span class="mu-i">Thank you. They will tell you about how he will fight in the briefing. But there is one thing...</span></span>" The tree creaks under the weight of the rain. It would seem the burden was not lifted, merely passed along. There's a part of you that wonders if you should be looking at the tree's imperceptible cameras as Leshy speaks to you, but it just seems pointless. Instead, you watch Kai sit underneath a small pavillion with a random researcher, chatting away. He's not going to have to put down some old man with... whatever the hell kind of weapons this Zephyr guy has. All the bullshit you're getting caught up in, it's making you rise through ranks faster, but sometimes you wish you just had a simpler time.
You feel someone small lean up against you, watching the rain fall on the gardens below side by side with you.
You will suffer this. You will do it for her.
