D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 1972: Chapter 1972 Back and Forth

--- Kat ---

Angie had her clothes back on by the time Ramor and Steel made it out of the interrogation. Neither of them were looking happy. At all. Kat waited patiently while Angie yawned, though nobody took it as a queue to speed up. Seeing Steel was the more out of it of the pair, Ramor took this chance to change the subject to give him a bit more time. ”So, how did your tests go? I see Angie is still awake...”

”I can affect the curse in her mind... but I’m not entirely sure which parts are the curse and what aren’t... and my best tool for dealing with that is burning it away with questionable real demonic fire that could do some very real mental damage if I’m wrong about things. So we’re going to wait a bit, or see if an enchantment could work better. My method does seem to fight the curse at least,” explained Kat.

Ramor nodded and glanced over at Angie who shrugged. ”It’s a lot more progress then I’ve seen in years. I honestly wasn’t expecting anything at all when she made the offer. A small nap would’ve been nice, but I wasn’t expecting it. The fact there’s a real chance of sleep on the table? That’s a miracle,”

”Miracles from a demon,” laughed Ramor. ”Still... seems like a bit of a risk.” Left unsaid was that Ramor wasn’t sure it was worth it.

Angie however, was. ”As long as I’ve got someone with more know-how watching while Kat makes the attempt to prevent the worst from happening... I’d be willing to lose more than a few memories and a chunk of sanity. Considering how little sanity I have now, it might be a net positive if I loose a bunch and then get to sleep,”

”I see...” mumbled Ramor as he glanced towards Steel.

”Yes, yes. We can go forward with things,” grumbled Steel.

”Fair enough. The question is, who do we share this information with? I know WHY Kat is here but I’m not entirely sure if she’s cleared to help with the rest of the investigation,” said Ramor. Steel turned to look at him and Ramor raised both hands in resignation.

”Hey, look, I’m happy to tell her if you want. Technically she’s already involved in the investigation and you having her help out with other stuff means she’s at least an assistant and as such, part of the guard force, even if temporarily. There are plenty of ways to twist it so that she can hear everything... but that’s not how you like to roll now is it?” queried Ramor.

Steel sighed. ”You’re right it’s just... hmmrgm... there are other reasons she should know that you haven’t been told yet either. It was meant to be finalised some time later today but obviously I’m now busy and I’m not sure if the final decision is going to be made or not.”

It better be. I’m not liking how long it’s been since we’ve contacted Weaver. In fact, I might just contact her anyway even if they won’t be happy about it. I’ll just warn Weaver not to mention it.

”Well that just complicates fucking everything doesn’t it?” asked Ramor. Steel glared back at him. ”Oh come off it. I get that I’m not technically allowed to know. I’m not complaining about that, but it DOES make it awkward for us now doesn’t it? At the very least when I’m bending the rules I do so with full understanding of what I’m doing.”

Steel sighed. ”I haven’t decided what to do just yet,”

”Bah, I’m sure you have you’re just lying to yourself but whatever. You still haven’t told me what I can say, what you can say, and how many people we’re telling. I obviously get why you want to keep it quiet, and also that you do NEED to share it a bit. Angie here tends to be my main assistant because of her lack of field time...”

Angie gave a wave at being acknowledge before sinking back into the couch. ”... and functions are more of a second in command then my actual deputy. So I’m pretty sure she’s going to be told. So, are you sharing?”

”To blatantly change the subject and give me more time to think, mind telling me why your real deputy isn’t doing their job?” asked Steel, challengingly.

Ramor laughed, ”Because he’s a smart corrupt bastard that’s why.”

”Wait... why do you still have him around then?” asked Steel.

” ’Cause he keeps ratting out the others obviously. Plus, there’s technically nothing I can pin on him. I’m damned sure he’s at least taking a bit of something on the sides but I’ve got no idea what and he’d never let me catch him. Plus, unlike the real bad apples I’ve had to chuck out he does actually do his job most of the time,” explained Ramor.

Steel glared at that. ”I’m not happy with that decision.”

”Tough titties,” sneered Ramor. ”You know my position is a bit unique here after all. Sure, technically you can order me to do things but unless you make the call to replace just about everyone, you can’t touch the guy. Or me really,”

Steel let out a pain groan. ”You know I’m not going to do that to you unless I’ve got proof you’re really crossing lines,”

”As you should. To other’s that might sound like you’re being generous to an old friend, but you know quite well what happens when this area isn’t carefully managed. A lot more give in the rules here than the other areas...” offered Ramor.

”Yes, yes, I KNOW” insisted Steel. ”I know it’s quite clear to me that you do good work here and I’d be bad at it. Can we get back to the main topic at hand?”

”You were the one that didn’t want to make the final decision on who to tell. This has all been YOUR side tangent,” offered Ramor with a cheeky grin.

”Yeah, and I’m RIGHT HERE,” cut in Kat. ”I get that you two are enjoying yourselves arguing like this but I would really like to be either making orbs or getting ready for the two major tasks I have. Don’t get me wrong, this is important and I understand why I’m here... but if you’re not going to tell me, let me know now and I can go off and get back to work.”

”Why would you need so many orbs? If you don’t mind my asking?” Ramor said.

”Bracelet cursed to remove me if I don’t have enough at a set time each day. Same with my companion but not my familiar,” explained Kat.

”Well, I can give you some of mine!” smiled Ramor. ”Come let’s go grab some from storage,”

”Wait what?” asked Steel. ”I had to make sure all the requisition paperwork was filled out, make sure nobody would question it, keep the information mostly secret in case they try to use it against Kat... and you just have orbs lying around?”

”Yeah?” asked Ramor uncertain. ”We’ve got a massive backlog of them just sitting around,”

”What?” asked Steel.

”I feel like I just explained...” Ramor continued uncertain.

”Why do you have so many spare orbs? I have some, but it sounds like you’re about to give away dozens?” asked Steel.

”Probably because I am? The storage room is essentially full of them. We barely use them here despite getting the same amount as everyone else and then there’s the fact that a lot of people don’t like to use the recharge station in this part of town coupled with the fact that technically we’re meant to confiscate orbs when people are doing illegal things with them... and it makes a nice slap on the wrist. We’ve got a lot,” explained Ramor.

Ramor was already halfway to the door when Steel said ”Ok stop... just... hang on,” Ramor lifted an eyebrow. ”Look, if the issue is sorted for the moment we can wait on it... correct?”

”Correct,” agreed Kat with some trepidation.

Ramor shrugged but didn’t move to sit back down, clearly waiting for Steel to keep explaining. ”Ok, fine... I think Kat is going to have to know. Not just for the other reasons, but because she’s strong enough that we might need her in case things escalate.”

Ramor shrugged. ”You do have the authority,”

”Yeah, yeah, and I don’t like to use it this way but things are coming to a head,” grumbled Steel as he turned towards Kat. ”Do you remembered how I mentioned that we have a group of people always clamouring to leave?” Kat nodded. ”Well it seems like they’re building up to something big. They weren’t so silly as to tell a random thief everything... but she’s not just a random thief. The girl your familiar managed to catch is Jen Halebloom. The second daughter of the Halebloom family and one of the most interested in leaving...”

Kat could only sigh with Steel nodding along. ”So, as I said we don’t know everything... but we do know a bit...”