Showoff Part 6

To fit with Eternus campaign of utter efficiency at all costs, each and everyone else got put on for a particular purpose. Naturally, his attendance was obvious, though as he is now, it seems to be far better for him to serve as the watchful guard dog over our "Yasakani no Magatama." Compared to the real thing, it certainly wasn't as sacred or regaled, but to us, it was just as valuable.

After our run-in with Dr. Nefario, Eternus' paranoia and Port's scientific intrigue formed a very deadly combination. We had to turn the entire Burrow upside down for weeks, adamant about finding any type of hidden camera or surveillance.

Unfortunately, we got way more than we bargained for, specifically Ricochet's "precious antique" collection of porn mags, Fury's diary of inspirational posters, and my rejected joke book that unfortunately got read out to everyone. Still, for all that painful effort, it did manage to pay off, for we managed to unfurl an entire sand castle's worth of nanites from places we promised to omit forever, all equipped with surveillance tech years in advance.

After that, Port managed to dissect and reverse engineer the technology for our purposes. Initially, the device could send information on whatever object it landed on to a set remote.

However, under Port's modification, we found we could do the opposite instead of sending interfering information from said schematics to any machine we applied a nanite on and sent the signal to. This means all we need to do is sprinkle some of the stuff in the right place, and we can become invisible to any surveillance technology we can encounter.

Originally our anonymity was the thing that gave us the edge against the larger underworld, but as time went on, it quickly went away. However, with the addition of my tempered silver tongue and Port's new creation, we might have gained back that.

This means all Port and I needed to do was explain the science of our escapade while I spice things up with my unique charm, giving us all the leverage we'll need to reap what we've sown. So with weeks of work on the line and no time to waste, we made a bunch of short but sweet goodbyes.

"Good luck, you guys; make sure you have plenty of fun," Nerve said as she attended to her client.

"Stay close, stay safe," Eternus said solemnly while carrying the canister.

With that all there was, I took the initiative of making the hard sell. And to do that, I had to put faith in the crooked system, using one of the underworld's most useful mechanics. However, before we could even do that, we had to do some sleuthing of our own. As I said before, looks are everything, and in a place like this, I was queen.

In the past, The Cons would remark that my way with words was a talent. In another life, I probably would've believed that, but now I think it isn't so much some magical charisma like Eternus. Instead, I'd argue it was a matter of perspective. I've experienced organized crime all my life, so while others saw the danger, I saw exchanges as casual as a game of poker. After all, the principle was fundamentally the same; it's a battle to see who can fool or reveal more about their opponent, largely without ever saying anything at all. Here it was no different.

At first, I was intimidated by the aura of the place, thinking we were nothing more than a measly school Shirasu amidst hungry koi. But now that I'm here, now that I had their first impression in full view, I realized that hunger betrayed desperation. This feeling grew more apparent by the second as dozens of conversations scurried about like rats under floorboards.

However, just like most rats, their scampering was only going to get them so far. Desperation is a powerful trait, yes, but in abundance, it was the feature of the subservient: the cronies, the lackeys, and henchmen. Something that just can't fly under the almighty rule of the Goon system.

Once again, Hell's Hand reach made itself known as their devilish directive may help pay the price we need to see this through. You can argue it was an everyday version of the Expo, another devilishly crafted invention of their making. Either way, the mechanic remained the same, a non-disclosure agreement recognized in Krimo's dark web and recorded for only the parties involved to see.

Said agreement can be long term or short term, have a singular or multiple parties involved and other matters entirely. Nonetheless, once the transaction's got recorded as a success, then you instantly wind up rising through the ranks and get notified of other potential contractors.

Thus through this, regardless of rank, various supervillains, criminals, and organizations maintain a sacred deal that they are free to complete in whatever fashion they wish without having to reveal every card in their hand, which makes the mechanic all the more essential in the face of Omna's overwhelming onslaught on crime recently.

Meaning that the people weren't looking for the hungry koi begging to get shackled in a small pond. No, any true businessman, anyone like me would look for the small, surgical school of surviving shirasu, more than ready to devour without a person none the wiser.

So in this sporadic storm, I stuck to my lane and watched, ready to swim when needed. This means that all there was left to do was fill the gaps of silence with the most precious pastimes: small talk, specifically of the quietest among us.

"I've noticed that you've been quite the model prisoner; lowkey, I'm surprised you of all people didn't stay with Eternus considering it's your tech and all," I said to a silent Port matter of factly.

For a brief second, I swear I could see the woman physically wrestle between dismissal and genuine apathy, wading out all the options until eventually giving into the latter.

"That's the thing that bugs me Gum, it isn't my tech," she said spitefully.

The quote alone threw me for a loop, so much so that I had thought the woman got replaced before we entered the Expo.

"I never thought you of all people would be saying that," I said with utter surprise.

"Believe me, it feels strange coming out of my mouth too, but I can't help but think about it. Most of the time, when I make something, it's usually from the ground up. It didn't matter if it was some trinket from my pocket space or a scrap from the Rapids; I take what no one wants and make it work for me, simple as that. I know how every gadget I've built works from the inside and out. Reprogramming those nanites, by comparison, was easy."

"Isn't that a good thing?" I said inquisitively.

"Of course it is, but that's what bothers me the most. I didn't work on this for days on end. I didn't see it get made for the ground up. I'm just pawning off some psycho who does what I do, sees what I see, except a thousand times better. It's just so-" she said with rising intensity!

Before she could continue further with her rant, Port started to double back, almost regretting she revealed so much. However, before she could retreat fully, I decided to prod on.

"I get what you mean, Port; you want to be in control without having to use some person's name to get it. I am trying to do that, believe it or not. You and I both know, though, we still aren't strong enough to do this on our own yet. Maybe one day, if we keep working, that'll change but for now, let's stick to our paces till it does come," I said with genuine heart.

From there, Port continued her uncharacteristic moments, giving out a malformed smirk as she quipped back.

"Sticking to our paces? Never thought I'd hear you say that" she said as she started to become more at ease.

"Well, as much as we can," I said as I gave a devilish smile while our opening was made clear.

From there, the two of us regained our bearings as we dove into the large ravenous pond's worth of criminals.