Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2 Overwatch - Volume 3: Crystalline Universe: Bloodline's Curse Chapter 48 La Squadra Di Investigazione

The warehouse’s lights illuminated upon Azur, who sat on the floor while Mike wrapped bandages on her wounds. Meanwhile, a smooth light rain hit the glass panels while thunders stroke the lands afar. It was somewhat quiet and calm for the first time.

Mike, without a word, dripped a few drops of disinfectant on the girl’s cut wound on the shoulder. Despite the agonizing pain, Azur bit her lip and remained in silence.

[Mike] – “Two executioners… You took down 2 of them… That’s exceptional enough. I knew you had it in you. ”

[Azur] – “Hehe… What can I say… It was pure luck. ”

The young man stood up, pulled the girl up from the ground and proceeded to help her walk by holding her arm on his shoulder. The pair soon made it to a jeep where Mike loaded Azur on and drove off.

While the car rolled through the small village, Azur observed the busy streets where people marched happily with a smile. Through the glow of the lights, the girl saw a few police cars along with a few ambulances in front of the bar where she fought Civil War. 8 body bags laid on the sidewalk as Mike drove past them. She turned her sight toward Mike, who remained apathetic and unconcerned by the scene. As the circulation lights reflected on the young man’s emotionless eyes, Azur suddenly spoke.

[Azur] (with a light voice) – “Mister Mike, what does Kadyn look like? ”

The young man waited for a few seconds in silence before opening his mouth.

[Mike] – “A blond fox girl with green eyes and three red marks on the face. Also, there is a crystal on her chest along with her 6 foxtails where the middle one is crystallized. ”

[Azur] – “Oh. Thank you for the description. I will see what I can do. ”

[Mike] – “I’m currently taking you to your team with Karson and company. ”

[Azur] (shocked) – “But… But… They hate me! I can never get along with them! ”

[Mike] – “You’ll just have to learn how to fit in. ”

[Azur] – “You don’t understand! I… ”

[Mike] – “Yes, I understand. I totally understand. ”

Azur closed her mouth and carefully observed Mike without him noticing.

The girl soon saw the face of a broken man with nothing left in his heart. Despite her not knowing what pain and sorrow he’s being through, the girl knew just from looking at him that if anything happened to Kadyn, he won’t able to live.

[Mike] – “There is something I want to say before you officially work for me. ”

[Azur] – “What is it? ”

[Mike] – “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for putting your life in danger for me. This gotta be the most selfish act I ever committed in my whole life. ”

[Azur] (surprised) – “Why are saying this? It’s our choice to serve you. I mean… you lost your wife… I know how much it hurt to lose someone you love. ”

Mike paused and temporarily looked at the cloudy skies before refocusing his vision on the road.

[Mike] – “No, I never should have loved her at all. ”

[Azur] (shocked) – “What? Why? ”

[Mike, almost busting in tears] – “Because she’s an idiot. She’s so beautiful and kind, she could have found a man that can provide for her and love her but no… she had to choose me, a cursed man with not even the heart of a real man, who was blinded by revenge. She went as far as to take her own life if I refuse to live. ”

[Azur] (with compassion) – “Mike… ”

[Mike] (in sorrow) – “I could’ve loved her if my last name wasn’t Mundy. How my life was dictated by five letters who told me who I must be. In the end, we became a couple because I thought I could love but… ”

[Azur] – “What happened then? ”

[Mike] (in anger) – “I failed to protect her because I’m a born failure. Now I have to find her to redeem my fault but after that, I will force her to stay alive while I kill myself. ”

[Azur] – “Why do you have to kill yourself? You want her to suffer? ”

[Mike] – “With me, her life is a pain anyway. Living with a man who’s wanted by the world, I would rather die for her sake. ”

[Azur] – “So… do you love her then? ”

[Mike] (emotionally) – “A love I cannot share, a love that was never meant to be. ”

[Azur] – “Why are you saying these hurtful words? ”

[Mike] (in a sad voice) – “Because I don’t deserve her, I failed her as her husband. ”

[Azur] – “Mike, you shouldn’t put yourself at such a low. You know, every girl dreams about having a guy like you, so loyal and caring beside them. You are a great husband, you shouldn’t be insulting yourself like this. ”

[Mike] (in a depressing tone) – “Then you should ask: Is it every girl’s dream to be married to a criminal or a sc.u.m hunted by the world? ”

The young man turned the wheel and drove the car in a parking lot in front of a hotel.

[Azur] – “You know, Mike, I think you should stop thinking about suicide. ”

[Mike] (menacingly) – “Who are you to judge me? ”

[Azur] – “Because you never know what fate has prepared for us. Judging from your look, I can tell you have been through a lot before this day but did you face your destiny or… Nevermind what I just said. ”

Mike looked in shock and admiration at Azur and proceeded to smile at her. The young man then pulled a small golden coin from his pocket and handed the piece to the girl.

On the coin was Azur’s face in gold but before the girl turned the coin around to see its backside, Mike talked.

[Mike] – “Life is just like spinning this coin, it’s rather falling on its head or tail. Just like how fate works, it’s not about chance but about a predetermined result that we cannot avoid. ”

[Azur] – “But if we try, we can change what outcome there could be, right? ”

[Mike] – “You should always follow your instincts, try when you need to or hold it back but the outcome is already determined. ”

[Azur] – “I understand now… Thank you for the coin… ”

[Mike] (in a passive tone) – “Let me give you one last lesson: “If your heart is wavering, do not shoot. Only when peace and tranquillity reign upon your soul you shall take your try. ”

[Azur] – “Thank you! And… good luck finding Kadyn. ”

[Mike] – “Hehe, now, go find them in room D-070, they are all there. ”

[Azur] – “Oh then… I guess this is goodbye then. ”

[Mike] – “I’ll see you later when the circ.u.mstances allow it. ”

Azur exited the vehicle and stepped toward the hotel entrance while waving goodbye to Mike.

When Azur moved out of his sight, Mike slowly took out a small picture of Kadyn from his pocket and stared at the photo.

[Mike] – “Maybe, Maybe if I can. Give me the strength. ”

*At Talon base

Inside the empty and soulless throne room, sinister laughter filled the room while Sniper stared apathetically at Divine Maiden.

In a burst of laughter, Divine Maiden launched herself out of her chair while whipping the tears off her eyes.

[DM] (joyfully) – “And guess what, my lord? I named her Kady, which is just Kadyn without the n. Then you won’t believe this but you should have seen Mike *(laughter)* …He…he just talked to her in his pathetic sad face after she told him she wasn’t Kadyn. ”

[Sniper] (fakely amused) – “Hehe… Nicely done! ”

[DM] (in a sinister joy) – “That’s not all, my lord! As I watched him afar, I saw his sorry little facial expression as Krafton asked Kady to go on a date. *(heavy laughter)* ”

[Sniper, in his mind] – (“F.u.c.k.i.n.g freak, that’s just some f.u.c.k.i.n.g sadist shit! The only reason I’m keeping you around is because of your power to manipulate that accelerator. “)

[DM] – “Admit it, my lord! This is everything you wish as revenge for his insolence toward you, right? ”

[Sniper] (fakely agreeing) – “Yes, yes, that’s exactly how I planned his downfall. ”

[DM] – “Anyways, sorry for bothering you, my lord, I will be off. ”

[Sniper] (lying) – “Oh! How unfortunate, I was enjoying this conversation. ”

[DM] – “Sorry, my lord, I have to keep an eye on these two if you want our revenge to be sweet. ”

[Sniper, with a friendly smile] – “Okay then, I wish you a good day. ”

Divine Maiden ran out of the exit and gently closed the door behind her in excitement. Meanwhile, Mazzatello appeared from the shadow behind Sniper and sat in a small throne beside his.

[Mazzatello] (in a cold voice) – “What a sadistic person, even I wouldn’t laugh at that. ”

[Sniper, with a sign of hand] – “Shut! ”

The two men waited for a few minutes in silence before Sniper restarted the conversation.

[Sniper] (in relieve) – “I need to make sure she doesn’t hear us. ”

[Mazzatello] (in a cold and furious voice) – “My lord, you are the most powerful man on this planet and you have to be quiet for a mere demi-human? ”

[Sniper] – “I need to keep her in case of an unexpected attack by Mike at us. Also, since we have little knowledge of her powers, we need to stay on her good side until we find a way to kill her! ”

[Mazzatello] (in a dead and cold voice) – “About that, my lord… Mike has already eliminated 3 teams of executioners so far… ”

[Sniper] – “Send out Lapidazione from your squad, he will take care of him but order him to only severely injure him, I want to be the one to kill him. ”

The light of the lamps can only shine upon the head executioner’s large dark hat with a black feather on the side. Mazzatello’s face remained in the shadow created by the hat while his breathing sounded so silently that some believed that he wasn’t even alive.

In a sudden movement, the head executioner handed out a wooden box where the only opening was a small rectangular hole on the side. As Sniper stood up from his throne, Mazzatello kneeled on the ground by holding the box high up to Sniper’s reach. The warlord inserted a small golden key inside the hole and instantly, a small silver medal fell from the box’s underside.

After seeing the silver medal, Mazzatello raised from the floor and bowed to Sniper in obedience.

[Mazzatello] – “Your orders are my command! ”

*Back the hotel

Azur shyly entered the room while carefully observing its inside. The splendid lights and the authentic furniture all around the room stunned the girl on her feet. After all, it’s a five-star hotel that costs around 6000$ a night.

Suddenly, Darlynn walked toward the girl and hugged her in her embrace like a little sister.

[Darlynn, with a warm smile] – “Long time no sees, Azur. ”

[Azur] (in an embarrassed voice) – “Oh, yeah, hey, Darlynn. ”

[Karson, while drinking beer with Mergiann] – “Oh, yeah, I hope you aren’t useless again. ”

[Mergiann] – “If you let us do all the job again, I won’t hold back on taking your part of the money. ”

[Darlynn] (annoyed) – “Come on, guys, let’s at least make her first day with us comfortable. ”

[Azur] – “No, it’s fine, I got used to it. ”

Without any further interaction, Azur marched toward the sofa and sat in a tired sigh. During this time, Karson stared at the girl from the corner of his eye and after a few minutes, he asked a question.

[Karson] – “Two executioners, huh? Mike surely helped you with this, right? ”

[Darlynn] – “Hey! Cut it out, Karson! ”

[Azur] – “I did it myself! ”

[Karson] (in a provocative voice) – “Oh yeah? Where are your proves? ”

[Azur] (angerly) – “You need me to prove it because you got jealous? ”

[Karson] – “Oh, I’m jealous? I’m letting you stay with us, you bloody loser! If it wasn’t because of Mike, I would darnly traded you for a homeless guy that will probably have more skills than ye. If it wasn’t for us, you would go all to pot, you useless aqua hair wannabe! ”

[Azur, in small drops of tears] – “Waaaa! YOU did not just go there, you bastard, I’m gonna… ”

[Karson] (in laughter) – “Hahahaha! I just wanted to see that face of yours. Hahahaha! ”

[Azur, while grabbing Karson by the tie] (frustrated) – “God damn it, Karson, I’ll kill you. ”

[Mergiann] (in a light laugh) – “Hehehe… ”

[Darlynn] – “Hehe… ”

[Karson, with a grin] – “Calm down, it’s a joke, we don’t even hold a grudge against you anymore. ”

[Azur, with a pouty face] – “Hum! ”

[Karson] – “Anways, did you hide the evidence at least? ”

[Azur] – “Oh… you mean the dead bodies? ”

[Karson] (in a worried face) – “Don’t tell me… ”

[Azur] (in a panic) – “Oh… I… ”

[Mergiann] (in anger) – “You dumbass, “La Squadra di investigazione” will surely be alerted! ”

[Karson] (in disappointment) – “For f.u.c.k sake, Azur! ”

[Mergiann] – “If “La Squadra di investigazione” manages to locate us, we will be done for! ”

[Karson] (in a loud voice) – “Guys, pack your stuff! ”

[Darlynn] – “We are leaving? ”

[Karson] (in a determined voice) – “No! We can’t let them find the truth! We will have to dispose of them. This is a risk we must take or they will trace the evidence back to Azur. ”

[Mergiann, with a grin] – “Let’s go blow up some head again then! ”

After hastily equipping themselves in their armour and accessories, the group stepped together toward the doorstep.

To be continued…

*EXTRA

Profile: Azur Ameri

Real Name: Ari Ameri

Ability: [Sapphire element] “Allows Azur to manipulate 6 pieces of crystal to her will. The crystals all have increased strength, damage, speed, durability and the ability to control the molecules to their proximity. ”

Rle: Deurotagonist.

Affiliation: Previously: Talon / Currently: Mike’s search team.

Backstory: Explored in the chapter: “Azur Ameri”

Character based off: Aqua(konosuba) Akali(League of legend)

ABILITY STATS:

Power – B

Speed – B

Sub. speed – B

Range – C

Durability – B

Sub. Durability – C

Precision – A

Potential – A