A few days later, Danzo sits on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. The past couple of days, since the recruit captain elections were troublesome for him.

  Since that night, Bertrand has been hanging around them more often; his behaviour or questions didn't raise any flags. Meanwhile, Commander Sterling hasn't spoken to Danzo again since their last conversation.

  For the elections, Gilroy won by a landslide, while Gusto and Bertrand were tied for runner-up. To Danzo's surprise, he received three votes, but is unsure from whom. He can guess that two of them were from Gusto and Bertrand, but the third remains a mystery. Since Gilroy has won, Danzo can't leave the camp as much. Gilroy reports on the recruits, and there's always someone outside nowadays.

  Maybe I could do some training in that dirt patch? I could use some maintenance.

  Danzo stands up and walks over to the small basin in their tent. He looks at himself in the mirror.

  His black hair remains short, although it's longer than he'd like it. His sharp black eyes scan his face for any signs of pimples or disease. He finds nothing. He feels the growing scruff on his face.

  He grabs the razor and shaving foam from his bag. After applying the foam, he shaves off the stubble, carefully moving it across his jawline to not cut himself.

  After washing his face, he feels his body relax. He puts on his uniform and leaves the tent, walking toward the dirt patch. Knowing how no one uses it, it should be empty.

  As he walks through the camp, a couple of the soldiers either ignore him or stare at him.

  Upon arriving at the dirt patch, Danzo puts his bag down and neatly folds his jacket. He drinks some water and readies his mind for training.

  It has been a week since he arrived, and the only thing of note he has done is kill a fodder-class hunter. Due to his lack of progress, he can feel himself becoming increasingly tense.

  Danzo does some light stretches before beginning.

  “Ignite the Slayers,” he mutters to himself.

  How will I do that if I can't move?

  Even his excuse for Lifeline duties isn't giving him leeway to walk around.

  He hears footsteps behind him and peeks toward them. Two soldiers are busy walking past the dirt patch. He recognises one of them from the election. He was one of Gilroy's friends.

  Their eyes make contact for a brief second before the soldier looks away.

  I'll need to limit my training. Can't have them know too much about me.

  He begins with simple cardio by running a few laps, making sure that his bag is always in sight. While he did so, a different pair of soldiers walked by.

  Afterwards, he trains his muscles with some lumber nearby. Some soldiers started hanging out nearby.

  He ends with slow stretches to cool his muscles down. The nearby soldiers haven't moved.

  A few minutes later, he packs his items away and heads back to his tent. Opening the door, he finds Bertrand and Gusto setting up a bed in the corner.

  “What's happening?” Danzo asks.

  The two look at Danzo in surprise. Bertrand waves a hand and greets, “Heya, Danzo! I hope you don't mind if I move in with you two. I'm starting to feel unwelcome in the Tower, so I spoke to Gusto about bunking with you two.”

  Danzo turns to Gusto. “Explain.”

  Gusto walks up and wraps his arm around his shoulder. He turns and says to Bertrand, “A moment,” before he walks with Danzo outside.

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  They stop at the edge of The Roost, and Gusto checks if they are alone.

  “Sorry about the secrecy, Danzo. I don't know who is listening nowadays,” Gusto answers.

  “Agreed. They have been watching my every move.”

  Gusto looks for anyone nearby before continuing, “When I went to greet Bertrand, I found Gilroy and James arguing with him.”

  “About what?”

  “I'm guessing it's about the beating he gave James the other day. I'm not sure what happened between then and now, but it seems to have gotten worse.”

  Danzo crosses his arms and looks at the Tower. “Something must be happening in there.”

  Gusto follows Danzo's eyes and scratches the back of his head. “From what Bertrand told me, he despises Gilroy and his lackeys.”

  “Social friction and insubordination.”

  “In the new recruit captain's eyes, definitely.”

  Gusto's focus returns to Danzo. “So would it be fine if he stays with us in the meantime?”

  “It shouldn't be–”

  “AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!” A scream from the camp interrupts them.

  “Wh–” before Gusto can finish, Danzo breaks into a sprint toward the noise. He passes through the tents as he rushes towards the scream.

  From a distance, he finds soldiers gathered in front of vehicles. He notices the red and blue uniforms standing before the crowd.

  What are the Fracture and Claw Division doing here?!

  He slows down and sees four figures standing between the vehicles and the Slayers.

  Kira has Gilroy's right arm locked in submission, threatening to break it with a slight grin. Gilroy screams in pain.

  To their right, a man in a red and black uniform stands next to a slightly battered Bertrand. The man's hair is combed back, and his emerald eyes are watching the commotion. Besides the silver cane he is holding, his uniform and stature are similar to Kira's.

  As soon as Danzo and Kira's eyes meet, Kira smiles at him and loudly greets, “Hey, Dan! ‘Was hoping to find you here!”

  His comrade glances at Kira and asks, “You know him?”

  “Could say that,” Kira answers as he throws Gilroy to the floor, who frantically runs to the other Slayers once he gets up. “But now that everyone's here, you can start.”

  Gusto follows closely behind Danzo.

  “What's the meaning of this?” Danzo asks.

  “You and the Slayers have been assigned a special assignment,” the Claw soldier answers as his cane taps loudly against the floor. “I am Vernon Juarez, fifth captain of the Claws. Captain Kira and I will be accompanying you alongside some soldiers from the Claw and Fracture division to lend our aid.”

  Danzo looks at the Slayers behind Vernon and notices that Sterling is absent from the chattering crowd.

  “Where is Commander Sterling?” Danzo asks.

  Vernon points to one of the trucks, where a defeated Sterling sits and stares lifelessly at the floor.

  Danzo closes his eyes for a moment before he returns to Vernon. “What's our assignment?”

  Vernon raises his eyebrow in surprise and glances at Kira. He readjusts his posture and answers, “You will be assisting us in a hunt and rescue mission.”

  “Hunt and rescue?”

  “Our scouts have found a small group of civilians hiding in the ruins of the town of Banister. But–”

  Vernon is interrupted by Kira, who yells at the Slayers. “Come on, soldiers! While the bigwigs talk, you can load up in the meantime!”

  As the soldiers hesitantly line up, Brutus stumbles toward Vernon and Danzo in an angry huff.

  “The hell are you speaking to this cadet for!” Brutus shouts as he pushes Danzo out of the way. “I'm the bloody second-in-command here! Not him! Speak to me!”

  A disgusted look flashes across Vernon's face before he continues. In the background, Danzo notices Kira snicker.

  “You are correct,” Vernon replies. “As I was saying, this assignment is a Hunt and Rescue mission in Banister. The main issue is our group encountered signs of an Alpha-class Apexer.”

  “Alpha-class?” Danzo repeats. He glances at the Slayers boarding the trucks. “Will–”

  “Private!” Brutus interrupts, “You are acting above your station! Go and join the others while I handle this.”

  Danzo glances at Vernon, who can only answer, “Unfortunately, ranks are still rank, private. You are dismissed.”

  Danzo gives a slight nod to Vernon before joining the other Slayers. Standing at the back of the line, Kira gives him a grin and a thumbs-up.

  An Alpha-class… he looks at the Slayers surrounding him. There is a mixture of tension and fear moving through the crowds.

  This may be troublesome.