Dungeon Raider System-Chapter 786: The fallen corporation returns

After being released from the roaming island Sam fulfilled its end of the deal by healing Uriel using Water Warlock's blessing. It was a generous act that in his mind should have earned him the trust of his former companions back, but without Medusa to even hint at the idea, the Dungeon Raiders were less than inclined to do so.

"I can't believe they didn't take me back after what I did to save them! I even went out in the open!" Sam cried under the pitiful gaze of Hathaway who couldn't believe he was in front of the man responsible for the downfall of an entire megacity.

"You may have taken things too far, man. It's not like I don't get what you're feeling, but..."

"You are right! They probably just need some time." Sam shook his head sending his tears to fly away along with his poor mood and smiled for the first time in days.

"That's not what I said." Hathaway said.

"Why do you even want to be with those losers? They may have fancy traits, but they're nothing compared to bigger corporations." Mark pointed at their surroundings.

The meeting room they were in was filled with screens and high tech gadgets none of those present even knew their purpose. Not even Hathaway who owned everything in the building from foundations to the roof. Many guards stood outside the door waiting to make any wish of their boss a reality with nothing but a command.

"You really have no idea. It's not their power what I need, it's not even their knowledge. Back when I founded the fallen corporation I recruited several skinwalkers to replicate my friends. They were identical copies down to the smallest detail, they even had their memories and were completely obedient to me, but they were incapable of finding new dungeons for me." Sam dropped his face on the table making a clanging sound.

"You controlled the cryptids?" Hathaway let out in a gasp.

"Well, yes... it's not even difficult. You just need to find a sentient cryptid and show them who's boss. Then they''ll do anything you ask."

"Entity level cryptids are pretty obedient to horrors." Mark nodded.

"And you happen to be possessed by one, don't you?" Hathaway gazed at him with sharp eyes.

"It's not what you think, it doesn't control me. I can't control it either, but we cohabit in the same body."

"Can I speak to it?" Hathaway asked with curiosity.

"I don't think that would be..." Mark's voice was suddenly overlapped by a different voice. It was deeper and gritty, as though the abyss itself had a voice of its own. "yes, I am here."

"What kind of creature are you?"

"I am the first of my kind and I am old, but people nowadays call me Eclipse." The shadowy creature that inhabited Mark's skin showed itself in half his body, then faded.

"This is remarkable... I guess it wasn't a bad idea to recruit you guys."

"Recruit us for what exactly?" Sam moodily lifted his face from the table to utter those words.

"And why the hell would you need us?" Mark blurted out oozing envy in every word.

"It's not about what I need from you, but what I can do for you. I'm assuming that your goals align with Miss Celes', but you can't achieve the completion of your so called 'ultimate' weapon without artifacts. Correct?" Hathaway asked to Mark who nodded in reply. "You, on the other hand, want to find out what happened to your mother which is why you are looking for dungeons.

"Yeah." Sam replied.

"See? You two are two of the most outstanding hunters I have ever met. One is possessed by a cryptid and can control the fire element. The other has the lighbringer trait which is unique, can fly and to top it off is immortal. Still, despite your best efforts, your goals aren't something you can achieve on your own. That's where I can help." Hathaway said.

"First, don't put me in the same category as that dirt bag. I used to work for him and he was..." Mark said, then Sam cut him short.

"A bully? You didn't seem to mind bullies when you went off on people who couldn't defend themselves, why should I have treated you any different?" Sam glared at Mark.

"Come on, that was a long time ago and lots of things have changed. I've changed!"

"I don't care about your petty quarrels, truth of the matter is, you need me more than I need you. I could just hire a smaller company to do what mine can't."

"And what exactly is that?"

"Take down the Mapple corporation," Hathaway said, shocking both Sam and Mark. "my company's wealth is massive, but money alone is not power. The Mapple corp. hinders their competition by slowly choking them until the point where they can't do business anymore. I was too young and naive when I first took charge of this conglomerate and while I had the best economists money could buy, I should have focused more on the strategy side of things."

"Taking down the Mapple corporation? Why didn't you start by that." A grin crawled up to Sam's face and his eyes briefly glinted in flux energy.

"Hang on, wouldn't that be the same as starting a war against one of the biggest corporations in the world?" Mark stuttered in fear.

"You said it yourself, it's just one of the biggest companies in the world. But no, it wouldn't be the same as starting a war against them because the Hathaway company won't be implicated in any way. We will just happen to do profitable business with two smaller companies that won't even be subsidiaries."

"And since our interest are in line, you will be certain that whatever we do will be working towards your objective. Not to mention that we would stay under the Mapple corp's radar." Sam nodded and Hathaway called in his most competent team.

This wasn't a team of powerful hunters with miraculous traits that defied logic or the laws of physic. They were just a bunch of people dressed in business suits who happened to have degrees in different areas, professionals.

One week later Sam had his own crew, his own zeppelin and had already crossed the ocean to reach America where he had pending business and he pondered on how did things get to that point so quickly.

"In a world of eat or be eaten, where the strong would prevail above the rest, the most horrifying creatures you can ever encounter are lawyers." He said to his first in command, a beautiful huntress that could easily pass as a lingerie model, especially due to the mandatory uniform that almost looked the part.

"Sir, the city of New Texas was hailed and we were giving the clear for landing." The woman said unbothered by Sam's lustful gaze. Dressing in such a revealing outfit was annoying to say the least, but working for such a handsome man made it more than endurable. Except on the rare occasions where Sam completely ignored her and continued on his ominous monologues like in that precise moment.

"With only one exception," He said as he tippled his fingers in anxiety. "land in the south district and have the airport staff call for Wendy."

"There should be a number of Wendys in any given city." The woman replied, but was ignored by Sam.

After landing, the zeppelin remained in the landing port for a few hours until someone finally showed up. It was a tall woman with red hair and eyes. One could tell just what kind of attitude she would have just by watching her walk, though her attire also matched her personality.

"I'm not wearing that uniform." Were the first words Wendy said as she walked inside the ship without so much as asking a question.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but it's mandatory. You also need to state your trait and rank." Sam's assistant said.

"It's fine, she's not a hunter." Sam replied.

"That's insulting. I am a hunter, always been." Wendy chuckled.

"What is your trait then?"

"Didn't you listen to a word I said? Just let her be," Sam grunted at his assistant, then turned to Wendy. "are the others still around?"

"No, the creep is dead and the hag is missing. But it's fine, I'm the only one who remained loyal to the end," Wendy eyed him with desire and surprisingly, Sam reacted by flinching which seemingly amused her. She then handed Sam a backpack. "I brought the stuff too."

"Is this all what's left? It's not much but we'll have to make do."

"But Sir, we only just arrived here," The assistant pouted in a sweet voice. "most of our staff have never been to America and we hoped we could play a bit in the city."

"Maybe some other day. Time is a luxury none of us have," Sam said as he took an ample gaze at the city he destroyed almost entirely and marveled at the progress they made in the reconstruction. "Next stop, Easter island."

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