DEMON HUNT

Chapter 13: Insurgency in the Northeast

Mario and Mari both received a text containing their next mission. For Mario, it's his first official mission. A squad, mostly comprising of junior hunters like Mario was put together and Mari was named squad leader. Which is a surprise, given that he only just barely survived trial. There has been growing speculation that an unnatural force was operating up north. The north, of course, is home to a terrorist group. Bigots with extremist principles, by all standards. Squad Mari's mission, appropriately named 'north sweep', is to infiltrate the area and observe if there was anything supernatural going on, without engaging in combat. Apparently, this is the reason HQ added junior hunters to the squad. Junior hunters are only sent on missions with low combat probabilities.

After appropriate preparations, both young men take their bags and head out, as Mari leads Mario. They're dressed casually and Mario's sword is hidden in the luggage. After walking for a while, Mario stops to ask a question.

Mario: Where are we going?

Mari: Huh? To the train station, of course. We're not gonna walk all the way to the north, are we?

Mario gets a flashback.

Mario: I don't want to travel by train. More like...I can't...

Mari: What do you mean you can't travel by train? I'm not going to drive for hours just because you...

Mari stops as he stares at Mario who is clutching his right shoulder, staring into space. Mari takes a deep breath and turns around.

Mari: Fine. I'll make other arrangements. I'm really stressed. This calls for a lollipop.

Mari puts his hand in his pocket and brings out a wrapped lollipop. He unwraps it and puts it in his mouth.

Mari: Hmm. This is good stuff.

Mari gets a cab instead. It took a long time to convince the driver to even attempt to take them north. They didn't mention they were headed northeast, in order to avoid more questions. Mari's squad was to rendezvous at the northern city of Tora. The driver agreed to take them there at double the usual cost. This didn't bug Mari. Why? All the expenses are bore by DDI. As the journey begins, Mario starts asking Mari some questions.

Mario: Toro...how did you meet?

Mari: He freed me and I decided to follow him. That's all I can say.

Mario: That leaves more questions than answers...but okay.

After making multiple stops at different motels as the journey progressed, and days of driving, they finally arrive at the city of Tora. Mario and Mari alight as Mari prepares to pay the fee. At that moment, the driver suddenly began to ask questions.

Driver: What are you here for anyway?

Mario: Tch. Nothing illegal.

Driver: I'm not about to leave two southern kids in the middle of a northern city, without knowing the motive behind your travel. What's in the luggage?

Mario: It's nothing. Clothes and a bunch of other personal belongings.

Driver: Guess there's no harm in me taking a peek then.

Mario looks at Mari who just watches on calmly. The driver takes Mario's bag and opens it, about to search it. No searches are conducted on personal luggage by government officials for people heading north. Searches are only carried out on luggage leaving the area, for some reason. Mari then approaches the driver and asks him not to search the luggage.

Mari: Please don't search the luggage.

Driver: I thought you had nothing to hide.

Mari: We do. We're part of an underground organization which ensures public safety. Not even the government agencies know about this. There's a sword in that bag. I'm a member of house Real and he's a Daline. At least he was, I guess.

The driver just keeps gawking in astonishment. As does Mario.

Mario: What the heck, Mari!

Mari: It's fine, O. We can trust this guy. (To the driver)
Today, we're going to sneak into the north eastern part of the nation. I also have a driver's license, by the way.

Driver: You kids are crazy. I'm definitely calling someone.

Mario: (to Mari) Now what, genius?

Mari reaches into his pocket and the driver, who's on high alert as he begins to dial an emergency line, asks him to stop moving.

Driver: What are you doing? Take your hands out of your pocket. I'm warning you!

Mari: Take a chill pill. I'm just reaching for my glasses.

Mari brings out a small case from his pocket, opens it and wears the pair of eyeglasses in it. He then puts both of his hands in the air.

Mari: (to Mario) Do as I do, O.

Mario: (to Mari) Are you nuts?

The driver looks at both of them in utter confusion as he puts his mobile phone in his pocket.

Driver: Who are you people?

Mario's blood begins to boil and he approaches the man.

Mario: Is that your idea of a prank?

Mari: Hush, O. You're a taxi driver, aren't you? You brought us here for a awful lot of money.

Mari pays the fee. Takes their luggage and begins to walk away.

Mari: Have a safe trip back, sir.

Driver: Thank you. Even though my memory is still a bit fuzzy.

Mari gives Mario his bag.

Mari: Let's go, O.

Mario: You're just gonna let him go?

Mari: Just trust me and keep walking.

The driver starts his car and leaves.

Mario: What's the big idea? You tell him everything, he throws an act and you let him go?

Mari: It's not an act. He doesn't remember anything from the moment we got into his car, and those aren't coming back to him, 'cause I made them vanish. Memory wiper, remember?

Mario: Do you mean the glasses...

Mari: Yes. This is just one of many ways in which they come.

Mario: Yeesh. You didn't think it wise for me to know all this before now?

Mari: Don't whine. Just enjoy the view.

Mari takes out his D-pad and looks at the map.

Mari: We're close to the rendezvous point. We're hours late.

Mario: Isn't that bad?

Mari: It is, but I'm the squad leader. So, they'll have to wait.

The map leads them to a hotel room. Mari knocks and he is allowed in. He sees most of the squad members who greet him respectfully.

Mari: Sorry for being late.

Yash: It's really you. CIT Mari in the flesh. Can I touch you?

Yash smiles in excitement.

Jolie: What an obsessed freak. He's been waiting for this moment his whole life.

Mari: Let's introduce ourselves then.

Humberto: I don't mean to be rude, sir, but I think I should inform you that a member of this squad refused to wait for you and left on his own.

Mari: Who?

Humberto: CIT Renard.

Mari drops his bag in shock.

Mari: No way! Renard is a part of the squad? This is bad...