The Over-Break System

-Roughly One Year after the Collapse of the DPZ-

Shuffle...BANG!

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME GERALT! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN YOU STILL CAN'T ALLOCATE US THE RESOURCES FOR OUR TIER-4 ADVANCEMENT!" Cynrik's furious voice bounced off the walls of the Headmaster's office as he slammed his hands down on the desk, leaving two fist-shaped dents on the hardwood.

"YOU SAID THAT IF WE WON THAT STUPID COMPETITION, WE WOULD GET THE RESOURCES WE DESPERATELY NEED! AFTER COMING THROUGH WITH OUR END OF THE DEAL, YOU ARE FOR THE 5TH TIME BACKING OUT!" Cynrik howled as Brance jumped up and grabbed his brother in a full nelson to restrain him so he didn't attack Headmaster Rivia.

"Cynrik, listen to me, this isn't my doing! At first, the other board members were against giving a group of first years such expensive resources, as they don't think much of you, but even now, as second years and Competition champions, they still voted against it."

"That's not all either; as per policy, we sent the request to the Government, only to be rejected. IT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT!" Frustrated that he couldn't keep his end of the deal with Cynrik for the umpteenth time, Geralt thought back to the conversation he had with the Resource department of the Government for the first time.

Back then, he was looked down on by the Resource Minister and dismissively sent away as if he viewed Geralt as an untouchable scourge.

He was just as upset about the situation as Cynrik was, but there was a plot going on behind the scenes to stop the Members of MyrkLys from advancing to the 4th Tier; Geralt just didn't know WHY.

"That's it, I am going to Valor City and nuking the fucking city hall!" Slipping out of his brother's grasp, Cynrik spat as he radiated killing intent and Aura.

"Oh yeah, GREAT fucking Idea, Cyn; becoming a terrorist will TOTALLY get you what you want; WHAT THE FUCK GOES ON IN THAT HEAD OF YOURS!" Grabbing Cynrik's shoulder, Brance forced his brother to sit down and wasn't the least gentle, snapping Cynrik's collar bone in the process, which went completely unnoticed by the injured one.

Instinctively, a royal blue and amethyst glow shrouded Cynrik's shoulder, and with another loud pop, his Supreme Mana Body healed the broken bone good as new.

"Someone is working behind the scenes to stop us, and the moment I find out who, I will gut them and string up what remains of their corpses for the masses to see," Cynrik growled, sending a chill down Geralt's spine.

Over the last year, Cynrik's overall Killing Intent had grown to an astronomical level, having cleared dozens of Egresses of different types, and the thousands of corpses he had amassed showed.

"What...why would they? It's not like this is the first time we've cleared a Purple Egress; why now?" Shuffling in his seat, Brance said to no one in particular.

"I...I don't know, the resource Minister is one thing, but the Defense Department should be a non-biased organization..." Geralt was utterly confused as to why the request was instantly denied.

"Non-bias, my ass; those old fuckers are specifically targeting us!" Narrowing his eyes, Cynrik crossed his arms since he no longer had armrests on his chair and leaned back, falling into thought.

"There are only three possible reasons...scratch that, four, as to why we are being blacklisted like this. The first is our meteoric rise to the top and victory in the Competition. This is the second most plausible reason for what is happening." Curbing his rage to the best of his ability, Cynrik delved deeper.

"The second is unlikely but still plausible, and that is the Jetlensr and Opurn Families know about what we did. I know that our Dad's side of the family has been quiet, but we can't turn on the news without hearing about the civil war in Opurnium."

"Hm, I doubt it. You guys left zero trace evidence, and as far as the official story goes, Haylon killed Viktor and Lithlen...still, it's food for thought." With a curt nod, Geralt added before his thoughts drifted to the still-missing Rikard, who hadn't been heard from in over a year.

"That's why I said it was unlikely yet still plausible. The third reason is the Military. I know I pissed them off, but I doubt those individuals are petty enough to strike out over a rejection. You bullying them into allowing us to abuse their Egresses is a more valid reason." Brance and Geralt nodded this time, considering this to be a decent reason.

It was well known that the Government and Military worked together hand in hand, so if a resource and Egress blackout were triggered, it wouldn't be a stretch to find the Military involved.

"What about this fourth option you came up with, Cyn...The other three are obvious, but I can't determine what else could be happening for the life of me." Brance said as he waited to hear what else his brother had to say.

"The fourth...is a toss-up. I have played around with this idea, and ever since we got ambushed for the first time, I have considered it a possibility. And that is that either Haylon or another Third-Party Shadow Organization is gunning for us."

"I lean more heavily toward Haylon's involvement since we have thwarted his plans not once but twice, but I can't write off the possibility of a deeply rooted org plotting and working to snub us out." Uncrossing his arms, Cynrik stood up and noticed the concerned expressions on Geralt and Brance's faces.

"Option four is the one I must consider the most because there are too many glaringly obvious groups plotting against us.

This may very well be the source of our problems, and if it comes to fruition, a Tier-6 is headhunting us and stomping our growth so we won't continue being a thorn in his side." Finished with his statement, Cynrik turned and left the room, leaving a shocked Brance and Geralt to mull over his words and theories.