Still human

As Okisato and Iori decided to head out, they once again found their path blocked. This time, it was by a desperate looking young woman with dark tan skin and long thick curly chestnut hair. The main standout about her was her attire. While her black dress, dark red platform sneakers, and dark red tank top wouldn't draw many eyes by themselves, the white lab coat certainly did.

"You're looking for answers, right? Want to talk?"

"Naturally, but who exactly are you?" Okisato asked.

"Ibtissam Tayfur... We'll talk somewhere-"

"Nah, just do it here and now. You know how many times I see a show where some guy says they'll explain everything, only to die before doing so? Just get it out here," Iori growled.

Ibtissam bit her lip and pulled out her phone, typing something into it before pocketing it and agreeing to humor Iori.

"First off, I believe you're from Babylonia, yes? If that's the case, am I to assume your information is related to it's de-facto leader, Olavi Hellkinen?" Okisato calmly asked.

"You want info about him? I thought you wanted info on Deep- ...!"

Ibtissam suddenly froze up, though based on how frantically her eyes were still swirling around, it looked as though she was being restrained against her will.

"And I take my eyes off you for a second, only for you to make contact with nuisances," a voice snarled.

Everyone turned to notice a bespectacled woman with slit eyes, fair skin, and a short blonde bob strutting out from the shadows along with three other women. Like Ibtissam, all these women wore lab coats, but only the blonde-haired woman bore both the title of doctor, and the oddest fashion sense of the bunch. Rolling down her stockings to the point where they could be confused as socks, which oddly seemed to work with her white heels, this woman was the one always drawing eyes, both due to all the clacking said heels of hers made when she walked, but also due to the fact that she was Dr. Vera Babylon, Babylonia's second-in-command in both the lad and government.

Following Babylonia's resurgence, the nation had quickly become an isolationist nation, refusing to let anyone within it's mighty borders. That being said, it's economy was booming due to it's thriving research and development sector. Many naturally wondered what happened within it's borders, but when gracing the media with pressers, Vera refused to elaborate, though would ensure everyone was doing fine and working hard at the labs and factories.

What drew Okisato's attention to Babylonia was the fact that Olavi was not only it's leader, but the main party responsible for it's resurrection. Vera was a name and face he didn't know personally, though given Skaberghast's message to him just after the women's team qualifier tournament ended, it was possible she had a hand in Kana's death as well. Regardless, it was an indisputable fact she was close to Olavi, meaning she held valuable information. Not bearing any personal animosity as of this moment was a major factor in Okisato's favor, as it allowed him to better keep his emotions in check when addressing Vera.

"So you're Dr. Vera Babylon then. Does your silencing of your subordinate mean you intend to impart the info she was going to tell me, yourself?" Okisato asked.

Vera smiled and adjusted her glasses, but pretended not to notice anything as she grabbed the still frozen-in-place Ibtissam and began dragging her away with her.

"Hey slit-eyes, you wouldn't happen to be related to that slit-eyed cypress tree fuck that kidnapped and tried to kill me, would ya?" Iori called out.

Vera stopped, though more so because she was not expecting such a random call-out. Nonetheless, she continued on her walk.

"Cypress Sycamore? I've only heard of him, and as a woman, I'd likely use him as a guinea pig for bio-testing if he were still around. That being said, he had some skill, while at the time, that nuisance Iori was only rated 400. It was obvious she was concealing her strength, but to that extent? At least now it's becoming more clear she's not to be overlooked. Pewler falling was also unexpected, but also not considering that sack of meat was bred in a test tube. Now, will those two pursue or not," Vera thought as she activated a tiny mirror on the rim of her glasses.

The answer looked to be the latter as Okisato and Iori merely stood there watching the Babylonians leave.

"She was physically stopped from talking. Looks like that trope you hate has struck in reality, though far quicker than expected," Okisato mumbled.

"You're telling me. Bitch was out of the shadows in seconds. But you know, she's got a shitty vibe to her," Iori scowled.

"What do you mean?"

"She reminds me of shit like Rio Segawa, you know, the kind that don't kill personally but make life worse "legally" and have their goons do the dirty work. There's lots of that, but I also felt there was more venom behind her, like she was hating us more than just because of who we are."

"You pick up well. The rumors regarding her aren't very pleasant, namely claiming she's quite the racist, believing in an exclusive master race which she herself claims to be part of."

"And what is that, the Shithole race?"

"That I don't know, but considering Olavi, who she works with, is an ex-Nazi scientist, I wouldn't be surprised if it's rooted in that ideology."

"That oldy guy you hate is an ex-Nazi? How old is he anyway!?"

"I believe he was only 10 or so back when World War II began, so roughly in his 80s I assume."

"HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD, AND WAS A SCIENTIST!?"

"I didn't believe it myself, but that's what I was told by a troublesome, but often times reliable information source."

"That lazy sadistic scientist guy, Skaberwhatsits?"

"Begrudgingly yes. I hate him for what he did to okaa-san, but there's no denying his whims can lead to me gaining valuable information and strengthening my self in the process."

"So then it's true that Olavi guy was a scientist as a kid? What kind of shit did he do?"

"According to Skaberghast's ramblings, the worst war crimes out of anyone in the entire war, possibly all of human history itself. I don't take everything at face value, but given what I know about the bastard myself, the claims of him sending strike forces to abduct and kill people he didn't like, mainly for petty racist reasons, and subject them both dead and alive to inhumane experiments are more believable than not."

A somber, but angry frown formed on Iori's face. "So he killed people for shit like economic status, religious shit, and just cuz he flat out hated how they looked? Fucking shit pisses me off."

"Even though you've killed millions?"

"When I killed, it was 99% indiscriminate. Sure there were times I thought, lol, it'd be fun chucking a knife at that person and watching the one beside them wail in agony at the fact, but I never once thought "Lol, I'll kill them because they're poor, part of a different religion, gay, or have a whole different skin color. I may have been a coldblooded murderer that still has innate bloodlust and cracks edgy and offensive jokes to this day, but I have and had morals."

"You're more human than you give yourself credit for."

Iori meekly smiled as she wiped away her tears. "Always cracking me open to see my pathetic innards. Oki-kun, you really ae the guy I want fucking me and breeding babies in me."

Okisato let out a heavy sigh.

"Oh don't tell me you're gay the whole time! If so, how about you just settle for semen in a cup?"

"Ugh, it's not that. It's just... Romance has never really been on my mind."

"Says the guy who nosebleeds when milf-types get shaved smooth bald."

"Grr, we all have our things."

"Ara, ara. I can morph to the edgy milf-type, or flat out be one if ya pump me full of that creamy Oki-semen."

"I generally don't like overtly horny women, but Iori-chan, when you aren't consumed with fantasies of being impregnated by me, I find you to be a great conversation partner and friend."

"Girlfriend?" Iori smirked.

"I'm still 17."

"Come on, age of consent's 16, and I'll be graduated by the time you're 18. No, actually I could get held back-"

"I don't like women that deliberately hold themselves back to stalk me for another grade."

"Fine, fine, but I like guys that don't pussy up when a cut girl consents to sex. Oo, how about I let you shave my head too?"

Okisato began to scrunch his face, but he failed to hide the fact that he was attracted to the thought.

"Hmm, your cheeks getting red, and is that something rising in your pants?" Iori gleefully smirked.

"After the tournament. We'll spend the night together alone."

"So after the awards ceremony?"

"Ugh, fine."

Iori blushed and smiled as she nodded her head. "DEAL!"