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'Our best bet would be to pay a visit to Fen, but if we're trying to avoid the Vanguard, then he's not an option,' said Overra. 'Who's the best doctor you know? Or the best integrator?'

Feromas exchanged looks with Damian. 'There are a couple of options,' said the reaper. 'They're both in Vanguard territory, though.'

'But they're not Vanguard themselves?'

'No.'

'Then either will do.'

'How tolerant of you. Are you sure you are not still being affected by Ettol's manipulation? The Overra I know would be demanding all sorts of details before saying something like that.'

'Oh, you will still be telling me all of those details, but let us get moving already.'

'We'll make a game of it, then. See what you can pry out of me.'

After hearing that, Parson already intended to stop listening.


Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Three: 'The devil's stew...'
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Beautiful. His eyes were wide with delight as he watched the testing ground ahead of him. That orange light was really something. The way it shone through the holes was somehow so charming, he felt. He could stare at it all day.

The context helped, of course. Sure, he found it quite pleasing from a purely aesthetic point of view, but really, it was the knowledge that all those years of secrecy and fundraising were finally bearing fruit in a visceral, tangible way.

And that smell. Sulfuric. Brought back memories, that did.

The others were all hiding back in the bunker some fifty yards away--even Lozaro himself--but Jercash had truly grown to enjoy these experiences.

He wondered if this was how Morgunov felt all the time. If so, he envied the mad bastard.

But that was nothing new, of course. His love for the man had always been colored with jealoussy.

These holes, though. Lozaro had truly outdone himself, this time. Perhaps Morgunov would be the jealous one now.

In fact, that could actually be a problem, now that Jercash was thinking about it. He'd wanted to surprise the boss with this whole thing, but might it actually be wiser to break it to him softly?

Eh, probably. But where was the fun in that? And even if he got angry at first, he'd most certainly be more appreciative once the dust settled.

Ooh, Jercash spotted a tentacle emerging. And were those blades attached to it? Mantis-like sickles up and down the length of it. That was new.