Tables at events like these were a matter of status There wasnÆt an assigned seating per se but they inevitably became arranged by the hierarchy of power amongst people as the night went on Traditionally people would mingle and talk until someone with clout arrived and arrange themselves around that person They were generally a guest of honor and would signal that the coy banter part of the night was over and business could begin to happen
Thaddeus had been to a dozen or so such events in his time in Zone 1 they all unfolded the same way It was only an hour after the charity event had started they havenÆt even moved to the banquet hall yet Most people should be clustered around the elevators or at the bar People should be faking pleasure and offering each other manufactured smiles The knives shouldnÆt emerge for another hour
Or at least they should wait until he arrived The political forces should marshall themselves around him After all Thaddeus Hatch was the guest of honor
It was pride speaking Thaddeus knew But it was earned In Zone 1 he was a legend The man who was Level 49 although freshly so He was the Spartan Shock Trooper the most powerful of Zone 1Æs four heroes
Three now Thaddeus amended mentally as he walked forward The initial forays into the borderlands were unforgiving and two of the four had died Only one individual of merit had risen to join Thaddeus and the Hyper Pilot at the top of the pile And that man was basically just chosen to fill out numbers and inspire hope
No in all of Zone 1 Thaddeus was confident he was the most powerful Classer Which meant he was the most powerful of anyone Well perhaps Zone 32 possessed its own warriors of a similar caliber But how would of any of them arrive at this puny charity function
Calmly Thaddeus walked forward through the empty hallway to the tension filled balcony He was not angry of course but was rather pleased The only reason that he had come to this thing was due to the insistence of his sister Now that it appeared someone else had taken center stage he would have some time of anonymity before he was inevitably recognized
As he walked onto the balcony Thaddeus was amused to see that not a single table was unoccupied It mattered little people would move when they saw him A quick glance gave him the lay of the room rather quickly It seemed that West Providence had set up shop near the edge of the balcony overlooking the city The hardline Citizenship Tier party remained near the bar snappish and angry that the relatively lower Tiered scientists believed they could dictate the seating The moderates and military personnel filled the middle space while celebrities hired to entertain walked through the press of bodies and tried to ease the tension
Thaddeus grinned Curious
He arrived at the bar and ordered a drink The bartender took a step back when he spotted Thaddeus but Thaddeus just put a finger against his lips Very quickly the man got the idea Good Thaddeus wasnÆt above sneaking away and breaking the manÆs jaw for ruining his fun
Intrigued by the strange standoff on the balcony Thaddeus turned back to the group of people and focused on his Enhanced Awareness Skill Immediately the discussions became more understandable and distinct
Honestly I think the bartender was hitting on
Taxes ItÆs about taxes The refugees donÆt have money so
What is this charity event for anyway
but the performance Gentlemen these drones will revolutionize
ThatÆs her over there in the shimmery dress The fool doesnÆt know when to take a hint
IÆll see you later tonight
Your drink sir
With a smile Thaddeus took the drink from the bartender and turned back to the people Most of the conversations were trash but there was one that had an edge of excitement that intrigued him It was the one about the drones and when Thaddeus focused he recognized the speaker a man named Henrik who was an important researcher in the drone initiative Based on some of the people standing around him too he was the one who started the seating All were arrayed around him Curiouser and curious er
Thaddeus would not have expected that man to make such a bold act But perhaps the desperate straits of the drone initiative prompted him to do so Sales were not good because the products were subpar Until they could give a drone worth a damn people would continue to lose support for it for all that it brought jobs into regions that were struggling economically And where the drone initiative was doubted so too was Ghost himself
It was politically awkward for the Citizenship hardliners because their arguments were based upon GhostÆs value but they would dearly love the drone initiative to fail But Thaddeus supposed it was a bland if understandable explanation that Henrik was here and started the seating in order to spread the word of whatever small success they had experienced
Feeling disappointed but curious Thaddeus focused his senses in HenrikÆs direction
The vanity of the rich mostly But I believe the charity associated with Thaddeus cut out the people speaking behind Henrik and focused in on him
I donÆt want to overstate its success it needs to be tested in the field Henrik said but his eyes were bright and the man was sweating from excitement But our projections have it as an extremely efficient bit of machinery Against monsters below Level 40 I have no doubts it will perform splendidly
Bah so what Another man said He was a military man by his look but not one that Thaddeus had worked with Someone low ranked then The problem was never making a powerful robot it was making something that was dependable With high Vitality scores people are even cheaper to rely on than machines Plus they can grow Why switch to drones now A misguided effort
There were mutters of agreement from others but Henrik just chuckled
Bah these are more than a replacement for soldiers Even our strongest soldiers the three that you military men worship have their limits Sure those three are strong enough to defeat one of the drones but how about 10 20 100 These are able to be produced at a scale and speed that people canÆt match And they are expendable I dare say the blueprints for these drones are far more valuable than even the Spartan Shock Trooper
There was a sound of tinkling glass Still grinning like a madman Thaddeus looked down almost surprised to discover that he had squeezed until the glass shattered His hands were unharmed obviously
He looked back up at the silent crowd who all turned to face him Mildy he said Oh Tell me more Dr Henrik
Chapter 564
To his credit Dr Henrik only blinked once before he answered Oh Sir Hatch I hadnÆt noticed youÆd arrived I didnÆt mean to say you are not valuable only
I believe what you are trying to say has been made abundantly clear Thaddeus said calmly He began to walk slowly forward IÆm curious however How many Raid Bosses have these new drones been able to kill consecutively
None Henrik replied brightly excitement still clear in his voice But we have high hopes
Ah a prototype then Thaddeus said with a smile He walked forward and the crowd of people parted Instantly people began to shift the stronger ones following closer to him the weaker making way This was the way of things
Honestly as Thaddeus strolled calmly towards Henrik he had to admire the man Warrior he was not but he blithely ignored ThaddeusÆ focused attention To do that required some Levels to be sure And he didnÆt break as Thaddeus calmly joined the man at his table If anything he seemed more excited
Mr Hatch would you like to see the projected data that Ghost had complied I believe
That wonÆt be necessary Thaddeus said simply looking around After all we are here for a charity dinner correct Why donÆt we get things started
And so at ThaddeusÆ words they began to move
By the end of the night Thaddeus wasnÆt exhausted but he was simply so bored that apathy had settled over him It was difficult to even smile or ask one more inane question of the imbeciles that surrounded him As soon as everything was officially called to an end Thaddeus slipped away took a service stairwell down several floors and walked out onto a fire escape