Chapter 47 : Agreement

Axion and Kaizo walk out of the Vivre bar.

"Surprised?" Axion asked.

"Huh?"

"You didn't expect me to sell anger and hatred to my client, didn't you?" said Axion.

"If Ramenman knows, he'd be furious," said Kaizo. He stopped walking.

Axion stopped and looked at him.

"What are you?" Kaizo bluntly asked.

Axion silent for a moment. "I would say I'm a Bounty Hunter but that's not the answer you're looking for isn't it?"

"Bounty hunter or hitwoman? You don't exactly catch bad guys to get paid by authorities. You hunt people for profit," said Kaizo.

"Considering that Maskmana paid me too, I'm not sure how to answer that," said Axion.

"How so?"

"You dare say that your beloved Admiral hires a hitwoman to do his bidding?" Axion coldly asked.

Kaizo flinched. He clenches his fist.

"How come The Admiral let you do as you please and called it bounty hunting?" Kaizo asked.

Axion silent. "Does it bother you?"

Kaizo looked at her in confusion. Axion doesn't bother to repeat her question.

"It does," Kaizo coldly answered. "It bothers me that I have a teammate who keeps secret behind her captain."

"Secret? What more of a secret do you want to know? As far as I'm concerned, you've been with me hunting Carponio and Strada. You know my job. What more do you want?" Axion asked.

Suddenly, Axion's watch beeped. She pressed a button and a holographic screen pops out.

"What is it?" Kaizo asked.

"Captain Albi invited me to hang out tomorrow," said Axion.

Kaizo flinched. He looked at the holographic screen.

"Did you tell him we're on a mission?"

"Yeah," Axion answered.

Kaizo looked at her with judgy eyes.

"I did give him the warning to call us by our stage name so we don't need to worry about having him calling our real name. It's Captain Albi we're talking about. If anything, he'll gladly help us," said Axion.

"Is this the part where you intend to use him?"

"Yes. He said he's here looking for Rubrum ancient parchment. He is most likely to be involved in the black market around Planet Circus. Maybe I can use him and see if I'll find anything on the black market," Axion answered.

"Our mission is about finding kidnapped victims. Why would it have anything to do with the black market?" Kaizo asked.

Axion silent for a moment. "Organ trafficking," she bluntly answered.

Kaizo stares at her.

"What if those kidnapped victims were killed so that the kidnapper can sell their organs?"

Kaizo flinched.

"Disturbing, I know. And I won't ask you to join me looking around the black market. In fact, it's better that you don't. I can exploit Captain Albi better without you. Plus, I know our mission is to find the missing victim. But I don't think Admiral Maskmana put organ trafficking and black market on our mission list," said Axion as she walked away.

"I'm coming with you," said Kaizo.

Axion stopped. "I should've known. You're always a daring one," she mumbled.

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As soon as he reaches Cirque du Stellar, Kaizo makes a report to Maskmana.

"I understand your concern," said Admiral Maskmana.

"With all due respect. If you understand my concern, then you might as well explain. As a Captain, I can't have a member that keeps doing missions behind my back," said Kaizo.

Admiral Maskmana silent for a moment. "Axion and I have some sort of agreement," he begins.

"She is very skilled. But she has a bad temper. Especially in battle. She has a habit of doing violence as a resort to calm her stress," said Admiral Maskmana.

Kaizo looked at him in confusion. As far as he knows, Axion is the best at keeping her composure and staying calm in every situation. Even when the girls bullied her very badly, she stays dignified.

"My agreement with her is that I will give her a list of criminals that she can hunt and I'll make whatever she did legal," said Admiral Maskmana.

"How come?"

"She'll take down criminals on our list and we'll keep her slate clean no matter how many people she hunts," Admiral Maskmana calmly explains.

"She "kills" people. And you're making it legal?" Kaizo asked.

"Which is why I always give her a list of criminals with a death sentence. She'll hunt fugitives whose crime is so bad that we actually put a death sentence on them."

Kaizo lowered his head, trying to process Admiral Maskmana's explanation.

"Few Admirals including me agreed on this. We give her a license to kill for working with us," said Admiral Maskmana grimly.

"Why did you choose her then? Why not someone else?" Kaizo asked.

"Classified. We can't give you that information. I'm sure you understand. As a spy, she can't have her background information lying around anywhere," said Admiral Maskmana. "Even the things that I've told you are supposed to be kept secret from cadets."

"I understand..."

"If that's everything that you need to report, then I suggest you get some rest. By the way, I received a personal report from Ramenman. Your circus show is amazing."

"Thank you, Admiral!" said Kaizo as he gives a salute.