Chapter 12


    Il Migliore’s HQ, the Optimates Tower, was the most luxurious ce Ryan had ever seen.


    Most of Dynamis’ properties were located northeast of the city, on the far opposite of Rust Town. Unlike its neighbor though, this


    district catered to the supreme elite of New Rome. II Migliore’s tower was a seventy-floor-tall building, half penthouse skyscraper,


    half luxury hotel. The lower portion was bulkier than the top, housing gardens, pool balconies, and even helipad areas, while the


    upper floors belonged to offices. The building clearly took cues after the Art Deco movement, with its mix of luxurious, shiny


    splendor and modern geometric design.


    Ryan himself had a meeting on floor sixty-three, sitting in an expansively decorated waiting room. A thirty-something secretary


    worked behind a desk on herputer, while another familiar face waited in another chair, near an office’s closed doors.


    Through the room’s window, Ryan could see the actual Dynamis HQ nearby, a reinforced ss spire that oversaw the entire city;


    even the II Migliore building couldn''t hold a candle to it in size,cking at least twenty floorspared to its big brother. How


    fitting that thepany’s fortress overlooked both New Rome and its superheroes’ base.


    On a closer look though, Dynamis’ HQ reminded Ryan of those futuristic arcology designs, buildings meant to be entirely self-


    sufficient. He noticed a few greenhouses and gardens on some of the floors, even water reservoirs; however, past a certain


    point, something in the ss’position prevented the Genome from seeing through it. How suspicious.


    Unlike downtown, both buildings were protected by the elite units of the Private Security; people in white armor withser


    cannons imnted in the right arm and state of the art weaponry. Unlike their lesser cousins, they were a true military force, well-


    trained, and ferociously loyal to Dynamis’ interests.


    He had heard that they didn’t even ept bribes!


    “Excuse me.” Having been restless for an hour, Ryan turned to the other person waiting for an appointment. “Are you... the


    Panda?”


    The poor manbear looked up at him with hope. Compared to the previous loop, the would-be hero seemed less bombastic and


    more subdued. “You know me?”


    “Of course | know you! You''re the Panda! The veryst of them!” Ryan said, pumping his fist for added effect. “When | see you


    riding your bicycle of justice, | always get goosebumps!”


    “Thanks!” the hero replied, suddenly a lot more cheerful. He must be d to have at least one ‘fan’ in the world. “I’m really trying


    to live up to my legacy, and make them trendy again.”


    “But what is a solo hero doing here, in this bastion of corporate superheroism?”


    “The Panda... the struggles on his own,” he admitted. “I’m really trying to make a name as a solo hero, but it’s hard. None of the


    viins even want to fight me in public, because I’m simply too powerful for them.”


    “I''m sure you are,” Ryan replied with heavy sarcasm, which thepletely missed.


    “It''s so frustrating!” he said. “I can’t make it to the news without some big awesome duel, you know? Really, with great power


    comes great istion.”


    He sounded like he believed it too.


    “Mr. Romano?” Ryan’s head perked up, as the secretary called his name. “Mr. Manada will receive you.”


    Finally! “Good luck with the interview,” the told Ryan, as the courier moved towards the office’s doors. “What’s your name?”


    “Quicksave!” Ryan replied with a thumb up. “I’m immortal, but don’t tell anyone!”


    “| won''t!”


    The secretary let Ryan through the doors and then closed them behind. The courier waltzed inside an office as big as a house,


    but whose space was mostly upied by flowers. Geraniums, roses bushes, chrysanths, muguet, dozens of various species of


    nts were on disy. The office even included a miniature Japanese pond, with golden carp swimming in the waters.


    Atall, slender man waited for the courier behind a mahogany desk positioned to give the upant a spectacr view of New


    Rome through a full window. If he wasn''t the supreme authority of a superhero team, Ryan would have mistaken his host for a


    superviin. The man wore an expensive tuxedo suit with a ck rose on the left side, carried white gloves, and hid his face


    behind some kind of stylized white helmet reminding Ryan of the pre-war Daft Punk electronic band.


    The courier could only apud his fashion style.


    m Enrique Manada, the Chief Brand Officer at Dynamis and Head Manager of the II Migliore program.” The man shook


    Ryan’s hand, his voice pleasant to hear yet firm. He smelled like roses, probably perfume. “You may also call me ckthorn.”


    “| don''t see any thorns on your cost—” Ryan gasped, as he noticed the matter making up the suit. “Wait, is that cashmere?”


    “You have a sharp eye,” Enrique mused, showing Ryan a wooden chair and inviting him to sit down. “We have our own


    production program at Dynamis since we cannot import it from Asia. The production cost is horrendous, but you cannot put a


    price on elegance.”


    While sitting, Ryan barely paid attention to the man, his eyes fixed on his clothes. He wanted a suit like that too!


    “We have no shortage of volunteers wishing to join our superhero teams,” Enrique said, joining his fingers. “But few make it to


    my Office. | believe in personal rmendations, Mr. Romano. If Wyvern hadn’t vouched for you, we wouldn''t be having this


    conversation.”


    Ryan briefly wondered who had rmended the of all people, deeming the mystery as important as tracking down his


    assassin.


    “She seems to have a good feeling about you, especially after you forewarned her about ourtest prisoner. Which makes me


    wonder how you knew about Ghoul''s escape attempt.”


    “Just a gut feeling,” Ryan replied innocently.


    “| don’t believe you,” Enrique replied, going straight for the jugr. “We have been having trouble with the Private Securitytely,


    and several members tasked with escorting Ghoul actively tried to help him run away. If you know of any security breach, | would


    be thankful for sharing the information.”


    Well, Ryan hade looking for information too, so it was all good. The fact the Meta had inside men among the Private


    Security bothered him though. It didn’t surprise him that they would bribe locals to look the other way, but this gang seemed a lot


    more organized than most Psycho warbands.


    He would look into it.


    “In any case, | must thank you foring here. | am certain ourpetition made you an offer, knowing Vulcan’s rivalry with


    Wyvern, and your trust in us won’t go unrewarded.” Enrique observed Ryan closely. “Why do you wish to join II Migliore?”


    “Ever since | was young, | always wanted to be an ad.”


    “An ad?”


    “Like Mr. Clean and Felix the Cat. A recognizable icon of consumerism, with my face stered on every cereal box.”


    “Uh uh,” Enrique replied, seemingly seriously.


    “To transcend the human condition and be a packaged product. That has always been my dream.”


    “Uh uh,” Enrique nodded, “and the real reason?”N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Ryan shrugged. “Greed?”


    “Your psychological profile tells me otherwise.”


    They even had a psychological profile? Poor boys, Ryan wondered how many people had gone madpiling it. “Alright, alright,


    | thought it would be fun to try being a superhero, and | promised someone that | would kick the Meta out of the city as a


    personal favor. Business and pleasure.”


    “The Meta-gang is a problem,” Enrique conceded, “although not as much as the Augusti. Who is this person you owe a favor to?”


    “Some guy in Rust Town named Paulie. He probably won’t even remember me though.”


    “I''m certain there is an interesting story behind this,” the corporate mastermind mused. “I will put my cards on the table, Mr.


    Romano. | feel conflicted about your case. You have an incredible power, with a very high development potential ording to our


    research team. Your skills with weapons are impressive, as the security check-up can attest to. | didn’t even know one could fit


    so many miniaturized weapons in a kid’s plushie, even if | don’t see the point.”


    “They will never see iting,” Ryan exined.


    “Which brings me to the matter at hand,” Enrique presented Ryan with a small pile of paper. “The sixteen pages long index of


    coteral damageints associated with your name, from people all over Italy.”


    Something bothered Ryan greatly. “Only sixteen pages?”


    “You expected more, perhaps?”


    “Hell yes | did,” Ryan replied, “I guess I’m too good at silencing witnesses.”


    The corporate Genome remainedpletely unfazed. “Plus eighteen demographic then,” he said. “Loose cannons have no


    ce at Dynamis. If we sign a work contract together, foolhardy behavior will not be tolerated.”


    “Hey, | always fulfillmands to the letter,” Ryan defended himself, wounded in his honor, “It’s not my fault if everyone leaves


    the methods open for interpretation!”


    “| will not. However, | need more guarantees. While no one ever used you of betraying a contract, you have a mercenary past


    and a suspicious link to a certain criminal Genius.”


    He offered Ryan a photo, and the courier’s heart skipped a beat.


    That was her, in a mugshot. She had aged a few years and had a ck eye in the picture, but it was her, holding a paper with a


    number while ring at the photographer.


    “Len ‘Underdiver’ Sabino.” Ryan could sense ckthorn’s eyes examine his face, looking for any sign of weakness. “Daughter of


    Freddie Sabino, alias Bloodstream. An extremely dangerous Psycho who almost rivaled Big Adam and Augustus in infamy, until


    his demise four years ago against Leo Hargraves’ Carnival. Many witnesses said he traveled alongside his daughter and an


    unidentified teenage boy, whose body was never recovered.”


    “Alright, let''s cut the bullshit, greenhand,” Ryan said,pletely serious and putting the photo in his coat. “Where is she?”


    “In a ce out of your reach, for now. I’ve had my eyes on her for a time. Her arrest was my brother, the vice-president’s, doing,


    and a missed opportunity for recruitment. He believes in harsh measures, | believe in rehabilitation. The public loves redemption


    stories.”


    “If | behave, you will lead me to Len, while hoping that my presence will make her join your group.” Definitively an evil


    mastermind.


    “Ah, now we are getting somewhere,” Enrique replied. “It will be much better for us if you told me the truth, Mr. Romano. How


    much is she worth to you?”


    “Everything.”


    “Perfect. Here''s my offer then: you sign a five-year contract with II Migliore, help us clean New Rome of the filth that infests it,


    promote Dynamis’ brand, and most importantly, you behave. In exchange, we offer you a clean te, generous


    amodations, and the opportunity to reunite with Miss Sabino.”


    He handed Ryan a contract far, far heavier than the coteral damageints, but the courier didn’t even pay it any attention.


    That deal sounded a lot like Vulcan’s, minus the personal vendetta bit. “What do you want out of this, greenhand?”


    “Most people think my family is only interested in profit,” Enrique said, “but what we really want, is to rebuild Italian society into a


    prosperous nation. A dream that unfortunately, cannote to pass while groups like the Meta, the Augusti, and marauders run


    rampant.”


    “A proud nation under copyright, eh?”


    “We also wish to democratize superpowers by reverse-engineering and mass-producing Elixirs,” Enrique replied, ignoring the


    jab. “As per your contract, you will be subjected to a full DNA-based test; this will ensure the Private Security''s drones can track


    you should you default on your contractual obligations. You will also be asked to participate in our Elixir research development


    program. We have few Violet Genomes like you under our employ.”


    He should have known they wouldn’t want him just for his pretty face. “You won’t seed in replicating my power.”


    “We have made great progress on replicating powers, even created fully functional knock-off Elixirs.”


    “You won''t be able to reproduce my power,” Ryan repeated himself. “I’ve tried, more times than you can count.”


    “Good, then you can share your findings with the research division,” Enrique dismissed his words. “As for hero work, we divide


    the II Migliore franchise into two very different branches: the Pro-League, for established icons like Wyvern; and the Little


    League, for juniors and less-known superheroes. Obviously, you will start with our secondary division.”


    Ryan listened as Enrique exined to him the rules inside the organization—mostly corporate bbering—before grabbing the


    contract and skimming it. While the possibility to meet Len was tempting as always, the courier mostly wanted to identify the


    assassin during this loop. ess to Dynamis’ buildings and databases would help a great deal. If thepany could introduce


    him to Len quickly, then all was good; if they dyed too long, he would simply take the information and return to the Augusti


    path.


    Something caught his attention. “Only thirty percent royalties on merchandising?” Ryan asked. “That''s theft.”


    “We will also change your name,” Enrique said, “Quicksave is not punchy enough for our marketing department, and video


    games are a very niche market nowadays. How about Timelord? PR says it will catch on quickly, especially with teenagers.”


    Asoulless name developed to please hordes of monsters.


    Why did Ryan feel like he had made a deal with Satan?