GLITCH

Into the Fray

PLATINUM CITY

Monday, October 30, 2500 9:30 PM

"What a mess…"

I've never thought that I'd be here in such a situation. I was able to come here for sightseeing. Platinum City is a great commercial city with tons of entertainment here and there. I was even able to ride that huge ferries wheel at a certain park. But all I can see now is a city full of rubbles, some of the buildings burning, and corpses lying around.

"Welcome to Platinum City, Miss Crystal."

A person in the name of Kyle welcomed me and explained the circumstances. He looks like some blonde prince straight from a fairytale. He's a green-eyed individual and wears a blue shirt and a vest. He's wielding a giant crossbow on his back. It doesn't seem like he's struggling from carrying it on.

As of why I'm called Crystal; I hid my name. The people of the Intelligence Branch are the only ones who know about my real identity. I'm wearing orange-tinted lab goggles, a plain black shirt and shorts, and a lab coat; my clothes aren't ordinary though, since they're made of a certain fiber that can even stop a bullet or shrapnel. As always, I'm wearing my prized Tech Boots.

"I deeply apologize for taking up your precious time Miss Crystal. The commanding officer, Sir Lucio, is waiting for you. Please come with me."

Sir Lucio huh…? I think it's that bulky fellow with a scar on his nose. I nodded in response to Kyle.

After few minutes of walking, we're in front of the tent where Sir Lucio is waiting.

"Sir Lucio, this is Kyle reporting. The informant Miss Crystal is here."

"Come in."

Inside, I see four personnel. Just as I thought, it's Sir Lucio, the guild master of the Platinum Guild. The other two males are his accomplices. The sole lady here is someone I'm familiar with. It's…

"Miss Ferni?"

"Oh, so you're the informant being recommended? It's so good to see you Ry—fgmfhph…"

I quickly approached her and covered her mouth with both of my hands to keep Miss Ferni's mouth shut.

"Oh come on, please don't reveal my identity!" I whispered her with anxiousness on my face.

"Why not? I think its fine you know", she replied to me as she puts my hands which are covering her mouth away.

"Nah-uh! No! A big fat NO! Just zip it Miss Ferni!"

"Okay…okay…as you see fit", Miss Ferni giggled as she responds.

"Do you know each other by chance?" Sir Lucio asked, while crossing his arms and raising one of his eyebrows.

"Ah! Er…Uh…"

"We do. But I'm afraid that I can't tell you her real name. I think this child is a little cautious, so she warned me just now not to tell anyone about it. Well, I think her identity doesn't matter right now", Miss Ferni answered with a smile.

Sir Lucio is nodded in response and then spoke.

"Of course. Her identity is irrelevant. The fact that the Intelligence Branch sent her means that she's a great informant."

Whew. Thank you for understanding Sir Lucio!

Oh yeah. I need to tell him about something.

"May I have a word with you all?" I asked seriously.

They all agreed. I told them the recent discoveries I know. They listened well.

"…so for that, let me have your G-watches for a moment. I shall input the data for you", I reached out for their G-watches and they lend it to me.

After 10 minutes, I finished what the Branch told me to do, and then told them the necessary procedures to give them to the other Glints here. I also told them to look for the additional details about the G-watch new features on my server. My server is affiliated to the Intelligence Branch, so they'll see it as legitimate information.

"Now, since all of the required pieces are here. I want the two of you help each other and do some recon with a missing team within the city. As soon as you confirmed their situation, please contact us. I'm truly sorry for giving you the burden but please, if possible, if there's from Squad One that survived…Please…" Sir Lucio clenched his fists out of desperation. I'm pretty sure that he's infuriated for not saving his precious guild members.

"Please save them!" he bowed in front of us to show his sincerity. His accomplices also did the same thing.

"Leave the rest to us", Miss Ferni responded and made them feel assured.

"Now if you'll excuse us."

The two of us take our leave.

"It's surprising to know that you're the one they called the 5-star informant, Crystal."

She told me while smirking.

"Er…please don't call me that Miss Ferni. I don't even want that title in the first place."

"Okay, let's pick up the pace. Let's go" she said as she starts to sprint.

"Yes!" I followed suit.

•••

After Ferni and Rylai left the camp…

"Sir Lucio? Are you sure sending that child and that lady by themselves? Even Squad One which comprises of grown-ups can't face those glitches…"

One of his accomplices asked Lucio. After hearing that, he smiled bitterly and said, "You know, I really hate to admit it, but those two are on a different league."

"What do you mean sir?"

"That individual known as Ferni is an outstanding Glint. She's colonel-ranked", Lucio spoke as he brew a cup of coffee. "I've been with her once during a mission. She's the one who helped us fight against that 'Giant' Glitch that appeared few years ago. She's truly a monster; her battle prowess is off the charts. She's the one responsible of slaying two out of the ten giants all by herself."

He sipped his coffee after taking a seat.

"For you to describe her that way… I see that you put your trust on her, but how about that child? She's way too young to be true."

"I can see that you have your doubts. Well, I do have too, but since she's the one being sent here for a B- difficulty level by the Intelligence Branch, I think she's the one they call the 5-star informant."

"What…!? She's that 5-star informant?"

"Yes. I asked the Intelligence Branch about her. While keeping her personal records hidden, they told me her achievements; it appears that she's already an expert for she already completed 43 missions as of now, four of them related to Glitches. Also, it seems that out of all members of that Branch, she's the sole person in their arsenal who goes on scouting missions, solo. She got nice reflexes and even though she doesn't have any powers within her, she always return from her missions unscathed."

"What the…isn't just some senseless exaggeration?" the other one asked. He's dumbfounded to know a young girl and without power to deal with Glitches without getting injuries and the like.

Lucio just sighed and said, "I know what you feel. For now, let's just place our bets on them."

"That gambling habit of yours sir is leaking out more often…"

"Is that so?" Lucio shrugged and laughed; easing the anxiousness of his two accomplices.