Calcharo

Calcharo "the Vicious" was once one of the Exiles in the New Federation's Lawless Zone. He has long mastered all kinds of insidious strategies to survive. Nowadays, he has grown even more ruthless for his mercenary: Poisoning, assassination, bribery, kidnapping, bombs... He'd do whatever he found necessary to get the job done. Rumors of Calcharo's impossible feats circulated endlessly. Some spoke of him staying in the desert for 7 days without water for a planned ambush, others of him donning bombs all over his body during a past negotiation. There were even whispers of him hiring killers to fake his assassination in a scheme to garner trust.

While potentially exaggerated, the rumors were not entirely unfathomable to those who knew Calcharo personally. However, the stories became even more outlandish as time passed...

"He single-handedly stopped a truck at 12; when he turned 15, his Forte made the whole New Federation shudder in fear. He even fought the entire country's cops at 18 and left unscathed..."

"His chest is home to the dead spirits, and his forehead bears curses of the gods. Beneath his feet strikes thunder, and out of his eyes shoots flames. His rage will never be quenched until heaven burns down..."

"He has been to hell and back, time and time again... He will always come as a lightning, a phantom, and reclaim everything he deserves..."

The latest rumors about Calcharo have become one of the go-to topics among the mercenary members when off-duty.

But the man himself seems unfazed... He's either desensitized already or scheming to capitalize on the rumors.

In the Lawless Zone, friends can become enemies in an instant—as common as changing air currents. Change is constant, even in the most unexpected places. What once seemed harmful can instantly become a useful tool. It all depends on how we choose to use it.

Rumors sow prejudices. Prejudices grow into misconceptions. Misconceptions produce misjudgments.

And in a cut-throat game, misjudgment of enemy strength is always a bane.

Calcharo started from scratch but made his reputation in only a few short years. His success stemmed from two factors: One, he was willing to take on dangerous but lucrative jobs others didn't dare to tackle. Two, he had a flexible moral code that allowed him to work with all types of people.

He took the cash, he did the job. He promised, he delivered.

From armed protection to disposal of hazardous materials, he always got the job done flawlessly. But if his clients reneged on their end, they were in for a lifetime of being hunted by Calcharo.

Such "impartiality" earned him fear and acquiescence from other powers in the area.

Calcharo sees business as a mere exchange of values, where no job is too immoral, and no secrets are kept. Every transaction is fair game.

Nevertheless, value is not always weighed in terms of money. When faced with desperate, impoverished people begging for help, Calcharo would charge a symbolic fee of one Shell Credit in his own name. The grateful beneficiaries were unaware that this gift became their binding contract with Calcharo, and favors are never easy to repay.

Never accept a deal that brings no benefits. That's Calcharo's core principle.

This approach allowed Calcharo to cultivate many eyes and ears among the common folk, creating a formidable intelligence network that spans all walks of life.

Venal, merciless, and vengeful—these are just some of the words others used to describe Calcharo. Yet even his critics admit that his network has prevented much unnecessary bloodshed. No one can be sure if a lady selling street food in an alley is one of Calcharo's informants. Any bully aiming to harm the common people must consider that before acting.

Many Exiles were blocked from finding legitimate work in the New Federation, facing endless discrimination and prejudice.

They resorted to building camps in the country's outskirts, and the place where they gathered became the "Lawless Zone".

To better survive, Exiles in the Lawless Zone formed various gangs.

Back then, a gang named the "Underdogs" quickly rose to fame.

The first members of the Underdogs were just a bunch of children around the age of 12. As children, they were bullied and ousted, until one fearless boy united them. He observed those who were bullied and invited them to join. With strategic planning and unwavering bravery, the Underdogs gained notoriety among rival gangs.

In this gang, there was no hierarchy or politics—only a primal need for survival and freedom.

However, the members died one after another: murdered by rivaling gangs, betrayed by those they trusted, or trapped by deceitful patrons.

Time showed them no mercy in the Lawless Zone. It was every man for himself.

In the end, the leader boy decided to take fate into his own hands once again, risking it all in a daring gamble for power.

...

Years later, the New Federation waged war against "the Underdogs," the last gang in the Lawless Zone. In a sudden twist, a new mercenary group known as "Ghost Hounds" annexed the "Underdogs" overnight and put an end to the chaos.

Only then did people discover that the mercenary group's leader shared a name with the former head boy of the "Underdogs."

He had returned in a horrific figure, almost like a ghost. He was surrounded by shadowy thorns, and accompanied by fearsome phantoms.

This time, he would reach the top of the ladder, and finish what he once failed to accomplish due to naivety, sympathy, and indecisiveness.

But despite all the time that had passed, he couldn't shake off the memory of that one afternoon. The sun was shining down on them as they established the Underdog in a desolate dump site.

It was a rare moment of tenderness in his life.

"Always count your ammo, check your weapons, wear your protective gears, and make sure your Terminals are online..."

Though fully aware of the inherent danger in their profession, Calcharo still finds himself going over safety reminders before missions, or silently observing his team as they take on quests or report back. It's a fatherly instinct he can't shake, always worrying about their well-being despite the inevitable bloodshed.

To ensure their safety, Calcharo made a set of rules:

"Team formation is free, but members must be informed and not coerced."

"Job details must be kept secret to external parties."

"Observe local laws and regulations."

"Betrayal is forbidden, punishable by execution."

...

Behind the rules lies Calcharo's deep care for his group.

Calcharo has always known that the abyss looks back. Staying in this kill-or-be-killed business is never the best solution.

Therefore, Calcharo decided to keep a low profile and start looking for legal business ventures.

However, his caution drew threats as some new rivals attempted to replace Ghost Hounds. In an act of provocation, they severely injured a Ghost Hound recruit, breaking one of the "unstated rules" of the underworld.

The group thought they had gotten away with their actions against Calcharo, but the following day they were wiped out from the surface of the planet. The incident was dismissed as an accidental fire. No one spoke out, though everyone knew the truth.

Barking dogs do not bite, but if you cross the sleeping dog's line, it will be too late to run when it wakes and shows its teeth.

When in Huanglong, you have to do as the Huanglong people do.

Because of reasons unspecified, Calcharo stumbled upon Jiyan's troops inside the borders of Huanglong.

As a seasoned mercenary, Calcharo recognized the strategic value of Jinzhou and the threats it faced. He then proposed a deal: He would assist the Midnight Rangers in their "war" against Tacet Discords, and in return, Jinzhou would collaborate with him.

After careful consideration, Jiyan accepted this mutually beneficial deal.

Jiyan advised against Calcharo wearing his previous uniform while in Jinzhou city. Instead, he suggested adapting his attire to blend in and potentially stay for a long time due to the situation.

Following diplomatic etiquette and for practicality's sake, Calcharo followed Jiyan's advice and adopted Huanglong colloquialisms and attire. While his new combat uniform was functional and flexible, the decorative ribbons and patterns perplexed him. Likewise, the Jinzhou people's unwarranted kindness left him bewildered.

Familiar with human cruelty, Calcharo could not help but suspect that this was all part of Jiyan's secret plot against him. But Jiyan simply assured him that he'd become used to it.

Now, as the deal progressed, Calcharo has grown comfortable with the culture shock the Huanglong people brought him.

On the Loong-rising Day, one of the most celebrated festivals in Huanglong, Calcharo sat on a roof alone, watching over this "defenseless" city.

People danced in costumes of Lions and Loongs. The air was filled with joy and festivity.

Despite having endured countless battles and sacrifices, they still tried to live every day to the fullest.

These people showed him how grief is not the only way to honor the fallen. Celebrating life is another powerful way to say goodbye.

It wouldn't be bad to permanently base the Ghost Hounds in this city, Calcharo thought.

Then something unusual interrupted his mulling.

Clouds were gathering, and thunder was crackling... Those were the omens of a forming Tacet Field.

If he and his people were to eventually go live under the sun one day, then his mission was to dispel the darkness, as much as he could, before that shift eventually happened.

Calcharo unsheathed his blade and walked into the dark night. Behind him, the city's lights glimmered with liveliness and prosperity.