Chapter Sixty-Three – A Very Nice and Civil Discussion

Chapter Sixty-Three – A Very Nice and Civil Discussion

“The art of writing died in 2023, and it’s a machine that killed it.”

–GPT-9, 2023

***

It took ten long minutes for a manager to finally show up.

She was a middle-aged woman, with a swept-back haircut and a suit right off the rack from Corps-R-Us. She walked over and bowed her head, fake smile locked firmly in place. “Hello, Miss Stray Cat. I’m August, one of the on-site managers of the Hitman Cooperative. If I understood correctly, you’re looking for some information?”

“Yeah,” I said. “One of your employees shot someone, and I shot them in turn. No one died, because… well, mostly luck, I think. But I’m not too keen on relying on luck in the long-term.”

“I’m very sorry,” August said with all the genuineness of a pair of brand-name sneakers bought from a guy in a trench coat. “I have reviewed the case in particular, and I assure you that the gunman was not an employee of the Hitman Cooperative.”

“He wasn’t?” I asked. “He certainly got paid by you.”

“It is possible that he was a contractor.”

“Possible, or he was?” I asked.

“Such information is–” she began.

I raised a hand, stalling her. “Look, August, I don’t give a singular fuck about what you are or aren’t allowed to disclose, alright? This is twenty-fifty-seven, there’s no such thing as private information. That means that what I want to know is something that you know.”

“We have a reputation to uphold,” she said. “I imagine that our contractors would be very upset to learn that we leaked information about a job to the first person who asks. You understand, I hope? Samurai also rely heavily on their reputation to get things done in a timely manner.”

I crossed my arms. She was being an obstruction, which wasn’t ideal, not when I needed what she knew.

Then again… how much effort was I willing to put into finding out?

“Alright,” I said. I nodded and started walking towards the door.

“Pardon?” August asked. Her high-heels clicked after me. “Miss Stray Cat?”

“Yeah?” I asked over my shoulder.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“What gave it away? The fact that I’m moving towards the exit?” I asked. Her jaw worked, and I saw her eyes twitch before I reached the elevators.

She jogged to keep up. “If… if there’s anything the Hitman Cooperative can do to assist you, you only need to ask.”

“I told you what you could do to assist me already,” I said. This was weird, why wasn’t she just letting me go?

Catherine, it seems as though they are purposely delaying the arrival of the elevator. Should I work past their interference?

I shook my head, just a tiny bit. Myalis would catch on. “Look, August, I came here for something, you can’t give it to me. I’ll figure shit out on my own.”

“Of course, of course.” She grinned, but judging by the way she was cringing a little, someone was giving her an ear-full. “We sincerely hope that you, ah, look favourably upon the Hitman Cooperative.”

“I mean, you didn’t give me what I wanted and made me waste my time after one of your employees–sorry, one of your contractors–shot a buddy of mine in the chest. I’m not gonna insult your little company to your face, but I sure as shit ain’t going to compliment y’all either.”

“The Hitman Cooperative is merely an organization that aims to provide a service, we aren’t responsible, legally, for the actions of any sub-contractor, only the actions of our employees.”

“Sub-cons, employees. Same shit, different assholes.”

August stared at me for a while before glancing away. “Perhaps the Cooperative could assist you in a small way. As an apology for our… minor involvement in the incident that led you to coming here.”

“Yeah?” I asked. I couldn’t believe it was working.

She nodded, then gestured through the air. I received a file. A relatively small packet, encrypted.