CHAPTER 60: | CHAPTER 060 | DEVELOPMENTS

A couple of weeks have passed since the seventh Division of SIGIL has crowned itself as the greater authorities of the infamous forsaken city, New Janus. Since then, the cityscape has grown with the guidance of the overhauled government alongside the support of the two pillars.

For the first time, peace has carried on with grace, unhindered by anyone or anything. The streets had been cleansed of litter and blood, buildings were repaired and loomed ever more, while the economy boomed with the introduction of the Vitrum Investment Company.

The population of New Janus has grown by about a thousand in these couple of weeks. Most were refugees seeking a hopeful new life, and some were vagrants who intended to take advantage of the recovering city for themselves.

Unfortunately for the hyenas who wanted a piece of meat known as the New Janus. Specters lurked in every corner of the city, terrorizing the evil and purging the damned. In two weeks alone, every gang was forced out of the vast city.

A few even collapsed under the weight of these Specters, their leaders losing their lives in seemingly random incidents. It was through this gradual maintenance that New Janus turned from a hellscape and into the new hope for those of the central states.

In any case, Block 7 was the biggest winner of the changes that had bombarded New Janus since its arrival. The seventh Division has grown, gaining two members since its inception within the cityscape. These two formerly belonged to the Dobermann Family.

One was its competing heir, the other was a little guard with talent. Echidna joined Block 7 and became a direct subordinate of the seventh Paragon after further contemplations of Damien’s invitation. Hawk followed, engraving her codename as the official for a new beginning.

The two became partners after their recruitment into the organization. Most of the time, they were busy training with Francine and learning to become partners. After all, sooner or later, their boss would be sending them outside the city for an assignment.

It was inevitable.

Their introduction caused a stir within New Janus. After all, the new heir of Dobermann becoming a part of Block 7 signified deep ties and loyalty to the seventh Division. It was a statement that the Dobermanns have become actual subordinates to Block 7.

The family wasn’t a mere captured ally, but a subsidiary of the rising organization. The fallout of such a thing wasn’t troublesome, but it wasn’t exactly peaceful. Since Echidna officially became the heir under the commands of the Godfather of Dobermann, the family has been tense.

It was on the verge of a civil war as the loyalist faction considered itself the deserving owners of the family. They weren’t loyal to the Godfather; instead, they were devoted to themselves. Their ranks, connections, power, and wealth.

The conflict between factions of the Dobermann estate wasn’t long-lasting. It only lasted for a couple of hours before Echidna crushed it under her heel and executed the traitors who had betrayed the family.

It was so swift that civilians didn’t even notice the civil war within the Dobermann Family. Authorities barely reacted as the confrontation was contained entirely within the estate. Block 7 didn’t even intervene, consolidating the influence of the newest members.

During the entire time, the Rottweiler Family was busy expanding their business, purchasing stocks from every rising company within New Janus. Instead of the hard power like the Dobermann, they were much more interested in soft power through wealth.

The Specters of New Janus kept these families in check. These ghosts also ensured that no outside forces could root themselves within the expanding cityscape.

These spectral monsters belonged to but one.

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Inside the looming building of Block 7, Damien donned his clothes within the confines of his private quarters. After straightening the quilts of his suit, he put on his fedora, shifting it forward to shade a fraction of his handsome face. His sable-tinted eyes stared at his reflection, sharp.

A thought emerged from his muted mind. ’A couple more required for the evolution bar of Elcipse to be filled. Then, I will have my first three-star Extraterrestrial Monster. Something to look forward to.’

Turning his attention towards the empty corner of his private quarters, Damien called out from the nothingness and summoned one of his trusted monsters. "Yuki, today’s report."

In mere moments, the ceiling lights of the room flickered as a ghost lady materialized into existence. Her proportions were pronounced, her face unveiled compared to before, where it was covered by her bangs. Her name was Yuki, the first evolved Paranormal Monster of Oberon.

From the orders granted to her by her liege, Yuki’s evolution bar surged and promptly reached its limit. At the cost of a thousand Terror Points, most of which originated from her vengeance against the adversaries of her liege, Yuki evolved into a two-star Onryo.

Her spectral abilities had grown along with her control over the other side of reality. She didn’t even need to curse the targets deemed by her vengeance. Using her pure oppressive aura as a spectral entity, she was capable of causing cardiac arrest to those nearby her.

In any case, Yuki was the leader of the Specters, a group of Paranormal Monsters that Damien utilized for intelligence and assassination. It was through the Specters that Block 7 managed to gain control over the entirety of New Janus within a couple of weeks.

Alastair didn’t even need to lift a single finger as the pieces made their way to her and uttered their allegiance to Block 7.

"Lord Oberon, fifteen bandits have entered New Janus and have been taken care of. Two of them were metahumans and were captured by the authorities under your directive. Rumors about the Specters have been carefully spread throughout the city in your command."

"Reconnaissance outside the city has provided us with the perspective of the outside forces encircling us. Some were mercenary groups, a few were independent refugee camps, and most belonged to CORE. It appears that corporations intended to use trouble to enter the city."

"They might be targeting flourishing local businesses and acquiring them through monetary means or force. Should we eliminate them, Lord Oberon?" Yuki tilted her head, inquiring about the intentions of her liege.

"No need. Continue defending the city’s borders alongside its interior. Miss Alastair should be aware of the growing adversaries outside of New Janus." Damien shook his head since there was no need to eliminate those encircling hyenas.

There was no benefit for Block 7, so they needed to wait until the long-awaited benefit emerges. Until then, New Janus needed to be patient and wait for the right time to strike.

"Anyhow, thank you for your work, Yuki. Also, tell the Specters that I’m grateful for their work." Damien adjusted his tie and smiled at the ghost lady. "Miss Alastair has called for me to her office. I will be leaving the city for a short while, and I’m entrusting you to protect it while I’m gone."

"Take care, Yuki." The black-suited young man opened the front door of his private quarters while the ghost lady bowed. "It is an honor to be your follower, Lord Oberon. New Janus will be protected by the Specters under your name."

Yuki vanished from existence while Damien closed the door after stepping out of his room. Walking through the hallway, he noticed a presence following from behind. "Hecate, I’m assuming that you were also called by the boss, Partner?"

Behind the black-suited young man, a crimson-haired girl stood, whose appearance became sharper by the day. It was only a couple of weeks, yet Francine’s training seemed to have molded the vampire more than the Aberrant.

Pacing herself beside him, Hecate smiled and glanced at Damien’s sable-tinted gaze. "Must be an important assignment. After all, the last time she called us together for an operation was after we arrived in New Janus. There was that time when we were called to take out the gangs."

"But you were enough for the assignment while I trained with Francine to become stronger." The crimson-haired girl gazed onward and continued. "Just as you predicted. We should be leaving the city, heading somewhere unknown."

"I also heard that CORE is working to have its tendrils shackle the city. It doesn’t sound like the greatest time to be sent out, don’t you think?" Hecate tilted her head while looking at Damien.

Hearing her words, Damien couldn’t help but smile and chuckle while looking at the crimson-haired vampire. The two of them stopped moving as he remarked. "Whether we are in or out of New Janus, it doesn’t matter to the boss. It’s the same as moving your fingers or hand."

"Have you seen what she’s capable of, Hecate?" He asked his partner, who thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. "I lost consciousness before seeing what she did to the army that pursued me into the southern frontier of the Federation."

"She’s certainly capable, much more than we anticipate her to be."

Damien uttered as the two of them arrived at the front doors of her office. Opening these two wooden doors, they saw a beautiful silver-haired lady sitting in the middle of the office with her arms resting above her desk.

"The two of you worked hard, especially you, Damien." Alastair grinned at her Aberrant. She knew about his so-called Specters, who protected every corner of New Janus. It was because of them that foreign incursion hadn’t affected the greater population.

"I would love to keep you here, but I believe that the two of you have grown enough to leave the nest. I will be sending you to the northern fringes of the New World. Your assignment will be an important one."

"I want you to investigate a cult that worships an Aberrant."