Chapter 60: A Date with Zefu?

-0302, October 15th, Zefu's Division-

Zefu's eyes flickered rapidly beneath his closed eyelids as he slept.

'Megashi…not a bad place to meet, I guess?'

He saw the outline of a person in front of him in a train cart. Their aura was dark and seemed powerful, yet it was familiar. The aura of the person then reached Zefu.

*Heavy breaths*

Zefu woke up in a cold sweat.

'It's been a while since I've seen this far ahead… and even longer since someone's made me sweat?'

He sat on the edge of his bed, looking out the window where the moon rested gently.

'Something's coming, something's happening, and possibly it's just the person I've been investigating.'

Zefu looked at the time as he let out a soft sigh.

'His presence felt familiar…similar to the presence that came off that sword I gave Amon. Could it be that The Reaper is back to play?'

-1002, October 17th, Zefu's Division-

'That memory of Archer...'

Amon stressed over the memory of Archer getting stabbed by Ena during their battle. He stared intently at the half-written report in front of him.

'It was an utter failure by the rookie officer, Amon, is what I should write.'

He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair.

'I still don't get how I could see past that Demon's ability while the others couldn't…'

*Knocks*

"Hello?"

Amon looked over at the door as it slowly opened, revealing Sally with a soft smile.

"Haven't seen you in a few days."

Sally entered the dimly lit room.

"Yeah, I uh have been working on the report paper."

Amon looked back at the half-written sheet of paper in front of him.

"You guys do this every time?"

"Yeah, usually it's a breeze, though, I guess for a first mission with everything that happened, it could be pretty difficult."

Sally walked next to his desk, peeking over as she started to read his report.

'Ah…'

She thought to herself for a moment.

"Tell me, Amon, have you ever seen someone die before you?"

Amon fell silent as he had been stuck on his report at the point where he was recalling Archer being stabbed.

"Not first hand…you?"

"In battle? Never, of course, there've been close calls for us all, but we've managed this far without any casualties thanks to Zefu. Regardless, death is a part of the job. If you're willing to take the life of another creature, you should expect counterarguments to occur as well. Guess that's what makes the difference between on-field officers and the people that sit behind the desks. They just aren't prepared to do what we do. Maybe you should consider an office job?"

"An office job?"

"Yeah...look, don't get me wrong, without you there that day we would have been totally fucked, but seeing you like this, it might be in your best interest to-"

"Get out..."

"Huh?"

"Just..."

*sigh*

"...leave please."

Amon relaxed as he grabbed the pen and twiddled with it.

"He's feeling better by the way, figured you'd want to know…'

Sally slowly made her way to the door as a dramatic slam echoed behind her.

'Best interest...'

Amon looked sternly at the report. A red door entered his thoughts.

'I know what's best for me'

***

Amon walked through the hallway with a file in his left hand.

"Finished your report finally, huh?"

Amon heard Ani walking up from behind him. He could smell the cigarette on her.

"Yeah…Actually, I was coming to find you."

Amon looked at her grungy outfit and messy bun.

"Yeah, I know."

Ani grabbed the file out of his hand and walked past him.

"Zefu would like to see you in his office."

"What for?"

"You think I know the answer to that?"

She was at the corner of the hall as Amon and her locked eyes.

"He might take you on one of his so-called dates."

'Huh?'

***

Amon stood patiently outside Zefu's office.

'Should I knock?'

"Come in, Amon."

Amon heard Zefu's words through the sleek metal door.

*Creak*

He looked into the office as he saw Shojia asleep on Zefu's desk. Zefu stood tall behind the desk, slightly resting his hand on Shojia's head.

"Hello, Amon."

Shojia raises her head as Zefu welcomes Amon.

"Hello Zefu…"

"Leave us for a moment, Shojia."

Shojia disappeared in an instant.

"Would you mind accompanying me on a business trip?"

Zefu asked politely as he closed a small black suitcase. He wore a long white coat over a black long-sleeved shirt, and his black pants were fastened with a white buckle.

"Huh?"

'Is this that date thing she was talking about?'

"Don't be so nervous, Amon, I simply would like you to come see another Division that had some interest in you, is all. I'm going to do my job, but maybe you could find other options. Ani mentioned something about it."

'So much for being trustworthy.'

"I'm leaving right now, so I hope you're ready."

Amon looked at Zefu's calm eyes.

'I guess I don't have much of a choice.'

***

A car door closed as Zefu and Amon sat across from each other in the back of a D.E.O. limo. Zefu looked at Amon with a serious expression as the car began to move.

"Tell me, Amon, do you know of the term known as "Deity" ?"

Amon felt an odd cold sweat on his forehead.

"Uh, yeah, a deity is typically a reference to powerful demons who are known to be leaders in a sense. If a demon is referred to as a deity, it is typically in the officer's best interest to treat the demon as a threat level of grade 1 or higher."

"Very well, but do you know the extent of what a deity-level demon actually is on the field?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for example, all of the D.E.O know of the existence and the exact location of a said Deity level demon…"

"Are you setting out on a mission for them or something? Is that what this is about?"

Zefu smiles at Amon's question.

"We've known of their location for over 15 years."

Zefu's words puzzled Amon.

"Are they like in containment or something?"

"Free as a bird?"

"What's the catch here?"

Zefu looked out the window for a moment before he began to answer Amon's question.

"This Deity level Demon is known as "The Banker", currently listed as threat level of 0, but in terms of his overall reach over other demons, he's been a handful for us to deal with. He's what most refer to as the richest being in the world, even some of our own are paid off to leave him and his business alone."

"Couldn't you handle him?"

Zefu's smile brightened.

"Why, you think highly of me, don't you?"

"It's not like that, I just figured an officer of your caliber would be expected to deal with something like that."

"Why, I might be able to help against someone like The Banker, but it would just be too much of a hassle for the D.E.O. to handle. There are still too many unknown variables when it comes to a Demon like him. For example, we have no idea of how far his influence actually is within the Demon world, let alone within our own forces. We could be dealing with 3-4 high-grade demons or possibly 100, even though I would struggle to kill so many, and even the few officers above me in strength wouldn't see it as worth it."

"What's the point in telling me about The Banker then?"

Zefu leaned over as he placed his hand on Amon's chin.

"The Banker is one of many Deity figures in the Demon world, and why we know very few of them, the ones we do know of are essential to the D.E.O's entire operation. We know of three within our very district, Amon. Toyo's deities are some of the dirtiest criminals we've ever dealt with, but they mostly hide within the shadows. Honestly, we only know of one's name, that being Yarkora, but she seems to be off-grid for the most part; she's been smart to hide from us. The other two are more of a mystery, but both have been said to be even more powerful individually than The Banker himself."

"Are those the demons your division would be most likely targeting?"

"I guess if you wanted a simple answer, yes, but I'm not done explaining what I'm getting to-"

'Then why all the exposition?'

"One of those mysteries I just mentioned was taken care of."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Amon watched as Zefu's eyes wandered about.

"Yes, I suppose so, but you see it wasn't us who dealt with him…"

Zefu lay back in his seat once again.

"There have been rumors of a group forming of dangerous individuals, from demons to mercenaries. From the intel we have gathered, they are planning something, something that could very well change how we live our day-to-day lives. There have been reports of powerful demons, cartels, and even D.E.O. officers being killed with ease by recurring figures. I believe it's all tied together."

"Isn't it common for demons to form groups or even clans? What makes this one so different exactly?"

Amon thought of the Sound demon clan, remembering Ena being the supposed daughter of its leader.

"Usually, those groups or clans are few in numbers, and we could consider them threats to humanity, but normally they are just protective, not aggressive. I believe you, and you have seen an extent of the potential threat we could be facing when we first met."

"The incident on Almond Street, where we found that katana."

Zefu smiled slightly as Amon visualized the crater that was created by whatever monster was there that night. Something then struck Amon that he found odd.

"Zefu, could you answer something for me?"

"Hm?"

"All of this information seems to me to indicate that you may be too confident about the situation. I mean, a group capable of killing off supposed deities while we can't even touch them. Yet you say this all as fact, but why mention one in particular at all? Why mention the Banker specifically?"

Zefu's face seemed rather unpleasant as he looked back out to the window.

"You are quite the observant one, Amon, but I'm afraid I can't answer that question to you, and I say that as your Division Leader."

"Understood…may I ask another question?"

"Go on ahead."

Amon leaned forward slightly.

"You said we are going to visit another division that showed interest in me. Why would you risk losing another member of your division if the stakes seem to be rising in your sectors?"

"I simply only have your best interest at heart, Amon is all, besides you are the one trying to run from this fight after all, I am simply allowing you to explore your options."

Amon sat properly in his seat again.

'There's something else…I can feel it. I have so many questions…'

"Amon?"

"Yes?"

"I read your report before we left."

'How?'

"I found it to be very detailed and exact, which was expected-"

"Thank you-"

"-I wasn't finished"

Zefu looked into Amon's eyes.

"You listed yourself as a failure if I recount correctly, all because your comrade was injured?"

Amon tightened his jaw before speaking.

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me, Amon, which is more important, your comrades' lives or your own?"

"My comrades' lives!"

Amon said assertively, Zefu looked at him with dead eyes.

"So you are nothing but baggage on the field?"

"Huh, no, I-"

"When you vowed your life to the academy, you swore to protect the public from the threats of our world. So tell me why would I want an officer who sees himself as a sacrificial lamb more than he sees himself as the one who can kill his prey?"

"In the academy-"

"In the real world, your death could serve as the opening for a threat to kill hundreds to thousands. Your parents died fighting as if they were going to win, even if they lost in the end…are you willing to lose without trying to win, Amon?"

"...no."

"Then why fight like it?"

Amon fell silent as Zefu looked at him with disappointment. A window behind Zefu's head slowly went down as the driver started to yell out, with the vehicle stopping.

"We're here!"

Zefu opened the door as Amon followed after him, as he looked to where they were.

'Toyo's Megashi's train station.'

Zefu walked up to the man behind the window.

"Two service seats in cart 78, please."

Zefu raised his badge as the man stamped two tickets and handed them over.

"I expect great things from you, Amon, no matter what you choose to do."

-1124, October 17th, Toyo-Sector 3, Megashi Train Station-