After a few moments he got his mind in order.

“I can’t say I’m thrilled at the idea of serving still. I’m old kid and I’ve seen enough shit to last me several lifetimes. Honestly thought this’d be my last assignment. I’ve seen the docs on your group Steele put together before she died. I knew I couldn’t win from the start.” he said honestly.

“You were fucked from the word go. Not that those incompetent and/or nepotism baby bosses of yours would care. To them they saw a problem and expected you’d clean it up like always.” I said with a scoff.

He sighed “I know. Still either way I don’t expect my suffering will last much longer. So how do you plan on faking my death?” he asked seriously.

“Okay so this might seem counter productive but you need to act like this meeting failed when you return. We will kill our way to you like normal but when we arrive we all trash the place and you send out a death message before we blow your base to high heavens with a body double in your place. After that you lay low on Eden six with the Jakobs till Atlas collapses.” I explained with a shrug.

“Not thrilled at the idea of you lot killing my men to make it convincing.” he said honestly as he took a swig of whiskey.

“Nothing for it mate. Unless you can convince all your men to fake their own deaths and not report it up to the company instead this won’t work. If Atlas even THINKS you are still drawing breath they won’t fall as fast as they would otherwise.” I said honestly.

“I get that. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” he said polishing off the bottle. “I’ll set up the body double and death message when I get back. After that I guess I just need to wait for you lot to reach me right?” he said and I nodded.

“Shouldn’t take us more than a day or two really.” I said with a grin.

He got up took out a few dollars and then set them on the counter before leaving the bar. We gave him a few minutes to gain some distance before we left the bar as well. I of course made sure to leave Moxxi a large sum of money for hosting the meeting and keeping her mouth shut about it’s contents.-

I didn’t think she would fuck us over or anything like that but it was best not to risk it. 

“How goes the progress with that code?” I sent to Mordy as we loaded up on the monster.

“We got it, some bandits were around and needed to be cleared out first but otherwise no problems. How about on your end

?” he sent back.

“All good. I’ll spare the deets after we meet up back at the junction.” I sent and got an affirmative message back as a reply.

We went to drive through the checkpoint we passed earlier but the lance there were less than hospitable this time and those I could shoot got shot. We didn’t stop to wipe them out however even if these soldiers didn’t know it we were kinda sorta working with Knoxx now. We ran into a couple of Lancers that we blew the fuck up on the way back to T-bone junction and got a echo from Athena telling us she got the detonator ready.-

“You do know she’s gonna be pissed when we tell her we aren’t killing Knoxx right?” Lil asked after the echo.

“Probably but he wasn’t the one who ordered her to kill her sister so really it isn’t like we are betraying her or anything. We are absolutely still knocking Atlas down, just not killing Knoxx to do it.” I said with a shrug.

“Think she’ll go for that?” Roland asked.

“Maybe, maybe not. If she’s strictly after revenge then yes. If she just wants to wipe every trace of Atlas off the map then no and we will cross that bridge when we get to it.” I said bluntly.

There really was no middle ground here as she either would go for the new plan since it didn’t conflict with her goals anyways or she wouldn’t because she was out for as much Atlas blood as she could get. The first option was preferable since otherwise i’ll have to deal with that whole mess but the second option wasn’t too hard to deal with either. We just needed to follow the plan we already had except putting Knoxx into my house and skedaddling before she blows the place. Sure we’d definitely lose out on the loot in the process but Knoxx was worth SO much more.-

Anyways we soon parked the monster outside Scooters shop and it was the moment of truth as we walked to the back room Athena was waiting for us in. On the desk with all the blueprints and papers was a rough piece of tech I identified as the denotator. Noticeably it was a short range signal detonator specifically which of course meant we’d need to get up inside the lances fortress either way.

“This is the detonator. Time to take the fight to Atlas. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on your progress. Good luck.” she said seriously.

“Before that though we need to wait for the other two to discuss a slight change of plans.” I said as I pocketed the device into my inventory.

“Your plan to fake General Knoxx’s death I assume. I planted a bug on the Ex-soldier when we met previously and heard the entire conversation. I do not deny that I would prefer him dead but I am not unreasonable. He was not related to my betrayal and so his death is but a means to an end. Him faking his death accomplishes the same end so I have no intention of stopping it.” she said calmly.

Roland quickly checked out his clothes and true enough in the folds of his clothes under his armor at the neck a small rectangular device was settled neatly. 

“Ah shit well that’s just careless of us isn’t it? Overconfidence is a bitch I guess.” I said with a chuckle as I sent a current of electricity over my entire form just in case.

“Your confidence is not unwarranted. Even if I wanted to I doubt I could kill any of you with a fight. In your case specifically I have no confidence at all in success. To put it bluntly you are a monster.” she said addressing me with that last bit.

“I get that a lot.” I said with a shrug.

https://www.pa treon.com/user?u=81578854#:~:text=pa treon.com/pa treon_loskro

_______________________________________________

Alexander Drake

Lifeforce: 1,152,331

Integrated Traits: [Clever mind-Rare grade],[Enhanced senses-Epic grade]X2, [Supreme armored hide-Epic grade]X2, [Energy projection-Legendary grade], [Superior vitality-Epic grade]X3,[Lesser dragon breath-Epic grade],[Regeneration-Epic grade]X2, [Disease resistance-Epic grade],[Amphibious lungs-Uncommon grade], [Thermal sensing-Uncommon grade], [Water resistance-Common grade],[Active camouflage-Epic grade], [Eridian engineering expertise-Mythical grade], [Efficient lungs-Rare grade]x2, [Biometallic bones-Epic grade], [Quick thinking-Rare grade], [Minor spatial awareness-Epic grade], [Siren(Phaselock)(Altered)-Mythical grade], [Adrenal rush-Rare grade], [Mechanical engineering expertise-Rare grade]X3, [Gunsmithing expertise(degrading)-Common grade]X3, [Mechanical Savant-Epic grade], [Embodiment of destruction(partial)-Mythical grade], [Siren(Phasetrance)-Mythical grade], [Supreme body-Legendary grade]X3, [Martial savant-Legendary grade], [Tinkering instinct-Rare grade]

Stored traits: [Agelessness-Legendary grade], [Beautiful form-Rare grade]X3

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep