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You consider taking a hit to get the edge off, mulling the pros and cons for a moment. Despite how much you're craving it, being a little too high might end up impeding you instead, since you're supposed to be keeping it stealthy.. Though maybe the secondhand smoke will be enough if you sniff a few extra times..

You keep your tone light, "Nah, I'm on the clock. Maybe I'll come back later."

Kenji shrugs and moves to take a hit, "Eh, suit yourself. More for me." He chuckles to himself, "You need somethin'?"

You nod, hands in your pockets, "You seen Eiko today? I'm trying to keep an eye out for her or anything weird."

He seems to squint as he takes a deep, deep, breath, then gives the blunt a slight puff before fully exhaling. Like he's showing off how much you're missing. You try to remain chill despite your deepening envy.

"Ah. That wolf. Yeah, I saw her sometime this morning before she went out on that mission the Boss gave her. Seemed to be in a peachier mood then. When I came by to drop some stacks off I caught the tail end of her comin' up. Seemed pissed."

"Pissed in what way?"



He gestures, like he's telling a joke, "Didn't want anyone comin' near her. Had all my pups tuckin' their tails in too. The usual. Though with a little more oomph. Practically stormed in draggin' this bloody jacket like she just had a big meal and wanted to show off her prize. Makes sense, since she was supposed to be takin' someone out today."

You think back to hearing how her whole pack died, "You think she was pissed from losing her pack?"

"Would make sense, yeah. Would be messed up not to. Even I got some empathy," he chuckles and you feel a brief prickling of embarrassment at judging her a bit too quickly.

"Who was she taking out?"

Kenji gives you this funny look, a cross between a smirk and a wince, "Ah well... You never had to deal with the guy, but I see why he gave the order, y'know what I mean? If you think we're scammers than that guy was the king. Ever since the boss started talking to that one lady, it's been a lot smoother sailin'."

You don't have all the pieces, but you get the gist. "Must have been a tough guy."



He laughs at that, "Real scummy one. You hear about the aftermath? The cleaners came by and didn't find the target's body anywhere. Instead, they found a whole lot of blood. Wasn't pretty to look at."

The thought unnerves you, "... You think she?"

"Who fuckin' knows. If you're lookin' for her, you should ask. I'd like to know too."

As you pause to mull this over, he suddenly leans in to whisper, "You didn't hear this from me, but I only met the target once. And they're a different level of crazy... I don't think the boss was expectin' Eiko to come back."

You feel a chill tickle your spine, the torn hood in your pocket weighing a bit heavier, "Huh.. Why her?"

"You never met the old boss, but I was there when they were still around. Every time they got pissed off they had this real mean look to them. The kind that made you realize you're about to get your whole shit rocked. Up the boat and out the water.."

"So if I can see it, he probably does too."



He leans back and yells, the ears of the other wolves wincing, "But those are all rumors! You hear me?! HAHAHAHAHa.."

Yeah.. You are listening to Kenji after all. You can never fully take him seriously...

Before you can ask him to clarify, he starts speaking again, "Oh and what's that you asked about something weird? Yeah, I saw some cosplayers walking around. Fun seein' what the kids are up to. Some hornies and scalies sniffin' around too," he takes another hit of the blunt and you subtly sniff the air as he exhales, "Besides that, there's been more of those tie-necks makin' the rounds. Even gave me a paper talkin' about this wondrous world on the other side. I'll eat my blunt if that shit's real."

There is a giant mecha crab that sits at the roof of your base...

>Time to get back on the trail. Thank him for the intel, and it's time to go over everything you know now.