Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Coming End

The City of Saint Lucius is full of criminal syndicates. As for the reason why, it is simple. Saint Lucius back in the day, was a place where the smuggled contraband and illegal goods were being stored and transported during the time when the National Socialists of Germany were trying to take on the world.

Saint Lucius back then was naturally covered by forests and mountains.

The port was hidden by the mangroves and tupelo forests that had sunken to the bottom of the ocean after they decided to remove it to expand the port.

Because of expanding the port, the city being well-hidden, criminal elements got an idea to migrate to the city. In 1950, criminal syndicates made their mark on the city of Saint Lucius. Made it prosperous and corrupt.

For years the criminal syndicates thrived in the city, ruling like kings. Then in 1968, they were threatened by an unknown organization and were almost wiped out. There wasn’t much activity from the criminal syndicates until 1991, when the cold war ended.

The old players came back and uncovered their foundation from the ruins.

Robert taps his fingers on his desk.

He has forgotten something about being part of an organization. And that he still needs to do the paperwork. It's not all action and mysteries. He was called to the headquarters by Miss Juliana  to take care of paperwork and now Lt. Richardson is introducing a new Enforcer that will be seated next to him in his office space.

“Oswald, this is Lauren Scaletta. She is the new Enforcer that has been reassigned here.”

Robert extends his hand out. She shakes it.

“Ms. Scaletta here is a detective. She has transferred here in Saint Lucius after getting to know our side of the world. She’s a talented woman who has the qualifications to become an officer of the law in many countries. And she will be working in this City as of today.”

The way Lt. Richardson speaks of her clearly shows his favorable opinion of her. She looks at the office space and the desk sitting not far from her new one.  Her eyes on the stacks of paperwork that has piled up.

“And Oswald, I’d like to remind you that because of our affiliation with various organizations. You have the ability to flash your badge and be part of a local force. It seems that you have forgotten that according to some of our Officers.”

The badge that he has been issued is one of the tools if their trade. A tool that Robert has been forgetting to use after having another pair of memories inside his head. It’s a tricky badge that transforms in order to match the appropriate credentials that the one looking at it wants to see. One look at the badge and it would turn into whatever credential they need to see.

Ghost Badges that gives the equivalent rank to the one possessing it.

The Lieutenant left. Leaving only two of them in the office space. Miss Scaletta looks at her desk before mustering her courage. She studies Robert’s face and speaks in a controlled voice.

“Do you have any problems with my assignment here?”

“Hmm?”

“I would like to know so we know how to stand.”

“I don’t get what you’re trying to say.”

“You seem like you are not fond of my assignment here.”

Robert blinks. He loosens his facial expression.

“Did I look like that?”

“Yes. And if you have any problems with my assignment here. Then let’s settle it.”

“I have none. What made you think that, Miss?”

“You don’t look so please.”

“Well, I did miss my paperwork for days. Got scolded by Miss Juliana about it. Other than the work that piled up. I have no problems with you. Must be quite bad in your previous workplace. To have you think that.”

Robert sorts through the documents. She leans one hand on her desk.

“It was bad. I just hope that if you have grievances with me. I’d like to settle it already.”

Robert’s hand is on one document, the other is on the keyboard.

“Nope. I don’t mind at all.”

Robert finds it hard to start a partnership like this.

“Scaletta, how long have you been aware of this side of the world?”

“One and a half now.”

“Not that long either. Any masteries?”

“Elemental spells. Four elements.”

“Nice. I can only use three.”

“When did you become aware of this?

“Two years ago. Not that long.”

She sits on her office chair.

“Saw many things already?”

“I did. Have you read my file?”

“It was interesting. Were you a criminal?

“Mercenary.”

“I see.”

Robert places one of the files on the side.

“So you were a detective?”

“I was.”

“How did you get involved in this? Must be a promising career only to end up in this organization.”

“I was after a criminal. The criminal has connections to this side of the world and when I was able to capture him. He killed my partner and was about to turn me into a puppet. Voodoo Witchcraft that would have made me one of his drones.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Miss Dupont rescued me. She gave me the honor of shooting that man in the head. And I believe that like all Officers here. I was given the choice to join or perish.”

And after that it took only a few months for her to reach her rank.

“Must have done a lot of work, Miss.”

“I couldn’t let them go. Not when Miss Dupont gave me the ability to fight these monsters.”

 Her expression went solid. Robert can somewhat guess that she’s here because of that.

“After something here in Saint Lucius?”

“You can say that.”

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Robert knew when not to ask questions.

“I hope that you find a trail.”

She nods quietly. Miss Scaletta looks at the desk. She is looking at something that Robert doesn't know what.

“Are you still working on the case against the OTS and their connection to the local syndicate?”

“I am. But Agent Wilson hasn’t contacted me after we took Dayton down and captured him.”

“You took down the Captain of one of the smuggling heads. It riled up a lot of the local syndicates here. Honestly, it was quite a reckless thing to do. But it allowed some of the Enforcers to focus on other tasks. I should thank you for that, Oswald.”

Robert leans back. He looks at his desk. Most of the documents in his desk are related to criminal organizations lurking the city.

There are two divisions in the Commission.

The Division that focuses on supernatural elements.

And the Division that focuses on criminal elements that are related to syndicates and organizations who are linked to the occult and supernatural.

It was judged that he was more suitable to this side of the organization after dealing with the sewer accident and his actions against the Smuggling operation formerly run by Dayton.

“Miss Scaletta, are we in the same division?”

“Yes. But I’m not working on the same case. Lt. Richardson made it clear to me that we are spread thin and wants me to take care of a problem in other places. The host country, there seems to be a lot of problems happening around.”

“And you choose to be assigned here?”

Miss Scaletta nods her head.

“I heard that the situation here is better when it comes to learning magical abilities and we have more resources here than other places of learning. Not that it will matter.”

“Oh yeah, that’s getting a lot of attention these days.”

“The Millennium Bug is it?”

It was a prophecy that has been spreading among those who know. It was said that it was coming to them. And many believed it to be true that it would put magic into the lesser side of the scale.

“A shift is coming. I heard that this one is even worse than the last shift in scale. It’s kind of a bummer in a way. Learning that magic exists only for others to say that it might go away in a few years.”

It really was. Robert has been hearing that with magic being severely limited. They would need to have ammunition and fuel for their magic. Medium exists for them to use. And through that medium they can use their magic.

“It really does, doesn’t it? Still, you want to learn despite knowing that?”

“I do.”

Miss Scaletta is determined. Robert wanted to focus on his paperwork, but with how she started their talk. He wants to clear the air. Make it comfortable. He spent two hours trying to get to know her enough that she’d allow him to call her Scaletta.

After that she left to do her job which left Robert alone in his cubicle, typing on his office computer, sorting out reports, and filing it.

Finishing his report, he brings it to Juliana who accepted it without a word. Robert’s about to take a leave. He stops. He looks down and approaches Juliana without the usual lazy expression. Juliana looks up to him.

“What is it?”

“This Millennium Bug that everyone is talking about. Is it real?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Because you know a lot, Miss.”

Juliana stares at him before sighing.

“Yes. It is coming. Our Seers say that it will happen at the end of the century. What? It’s nothing more than a shift. It will… limit our ability to use spells as we pleased. But this is the reality of our side of the world the moment we go to the side of industrialization and science rather than tradition and myth. Are you the kind that mourns because his magic is dwindling as well? I do understand the frustration of limitations. But this is the path better for this world. It will be harder for people to use such powers and also hard to summon creatures from hell.”

Juliana stares him down.

“You don’t seem to care about losing it. If anything you don’t seem fond of using your abilities.”

“I mean guns are useful, Miss.”

“They are. I do understand that you are limited by your own limitations, but other than using it as a lighter. You have no interest in it.”

Robert looks away.

The world isn’t the same.

It’s still fresh. Untainted to the point that for someone who has witnessed a hostile sky. Magic that he has seen and can do isn’t so different from that technology could do.

Witnessing Lesnik’s true magic in that forest has changed that perspective and he knew that no amount of technology could replicate that primal fear.

“I have interest. Unfortunately, my talents are limited. Even more than now.”

“I saw your report. Lesnik… has shifted your affinity to sealing and binding. More of our people will go that way in the end. We will have to find ways to contain monsters and deal with problems that will come to us if the shift happens.”

“How long?”

“I said it already. When this century ends. You might think that magic will cease to exist, but no, it will remain. Most of those who don’t know it really does exist will think that it's nothing more than nonsense. Superstitions that should be abandoned. Anomalies will not cease to exist. The supernatural will remain and maybe in a thousand years. Magic will return back to a time where we wield them without counting how many times we can use them in a day. It will remain as long as one thinks of wanting to shoot a fireball from their hands. Think of superstitions. Pray to God and believe in the old ways.”

There is certainty in her voice. A certainty that made Robert wonder where she was getting it.

“Your stare is disturbing.”

She looks at Robert funny. Robert shrugs his shoulders and says with a tiny smile on his mug.

“Miss, you sure talk a lot for someone who looks annoyed.”

“I like speaking. God gave me my mouth. Are we done with this?”

“We are.”

Miss Juliana looks at her computer and then raises her hand to stop Oswald from leaving.

“One last thing, Oswald.”

Robert lifts a brow.

“Your outfit is now available. Please get it from the Enchanter and try not to have it torn apart by cultists again. After that, please meet up with Agent Wilson in the same café that you met him last time. He will tell you about his latest findings.”

Robert’s face hardened.

It has been days since he has heard from Wilson and now that he is contacting him.

It means that the Agent might now have an idea who Dayton is answering to.

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