Nightfall

-2-

The plan was simple: he'd pose as someone in dire need of money (which wasn't exactly an act, some extra cash was always welcome), which would increase his chances to get hired and more prone to his superiors taking advantage of his vulnerable situation like the leeches they were and bring all the needed evidence right to him without much headaches.

Something even someone as normally useless as him could do so the Commander didn't have to sacrifice the time of a properly trained officer. Roberto may not be as physically strong as his peers, but his saving grace was his intellect (and Commander's apparent lack of financial skills, but Roberto had a different theory as to why he became the de facto accountant of the organization and it had nothing to do with Saverio's poor display of mathematical prowess).

As much as Roberto was extremely loyal to the only person he had found worthy to be followed, the truth remained unchanged: the payment sucked big time. Their division was severely underpaid for all the shit they had to endure from their superiors and things will only get worse as the investigation progresses.

The Commander was clearly not thinking about this issue when he decided to launch the investigation so near winter, but it was too late to complain anyway. If anything, some extra money would make his winter easier.

Roberto prided himself in being one of the few Saverio actually trusted within the organization, even if he didn't join for any good reason. He didn't particularly care about the rotten system nor wanted to play an active role in changing it and sure as hell was not like the fanatical old farts who joined "in the name of our god and savior Corvus" and tried so hard to return the organization to its former roots of witch-hunting. To be fair, Roberto didn't really have a reason to join the military police, outside of perhaps upsetting his father with his career choice, but that was before.

He still didn't care much about injustice, not to the same degree his Commander cares, but Roberto was willing to do everything in his power to help him complete his goal. Commander Amarante might have a goal that was impossible to reach (getting rid of the corruption in the military police? In this life?) and he seemed aware of it himself, yet Roberto applauded his drive. When was the last time he was that passionate about doing something? Roberto couldn't remember for sure, but he guessed it was around the time his father disowned him and he joined the police solely to spite him.

Maybe following someone like Saverio could give him a greater purpose than his own pettiness; only time would tell. That's what he thought on their first meeting, when it became clear to Roberto his superior really believes in his bullshit about redeeming the police and he'd most likely die in his attempt. So, despite being perhaps the least person to have any faith in such an unrealistic dream, Roberto had made the decision.

Did that make him an absolute idiot? Maybe. The military police were beyond redemption at this point and they'd both most likely die before any substantial change occurred. That was irrelevant, however, in Roberto's view, since he didn't have anything better to do with his time. His life was meaningless from the very start and he wouldn't pretend it'll ever serve a greater purpose unless maybe Saverio gets some real power instead of what he has and decides to use Roberto to the best of his abilities. Honestly, Roberto wouldn't mind dying for Saverio.

He wouldn't mind dying at all, if he were completely honest. But then his commander would have to go again through the lengthy process of finding someone trustworthy, so Roberto knew he had to at least try to feign any form of self-preservation. He gave himself the permission to die, if that's what's meant to happen, but he won't rush the process by being careless.

But he'll clearly have a chat with Commander Amarante about carelessness because why the fuck did his stupid cousin try to get employed at the damn cleaning company they were investigating undercover? No, no, Roberto realized while waiting for the brat to pour his heart into the interview (as if the idiots managing this hellhole weren't desperate to hire anyone), Saverio must have zero knowledge of the gremlin screwing up their plan by stupidly endangering himself.