Chapter 379 - 379

The trip to the factory was almost too casual considering that the group was about to take on the remnants of a zealous group that nearly took over Chicago and conducted untold amounts of human experimentation. Still, better a light friendly mood than a tense one. Upfront they had shoved as many people as they could fit, which was 4. Technically the front could fit 3. One driver, one gunner, and one in the rear seat underneath the hatch, since the hatch could lead to a mounted gun, which it didn't, and had secondary gunner controls. However a fourth person could squeeze in next to the third person by sitting on the frame of the APC with only a little bit of lap sitting. It was not the most comfortable thing, but considering everyone else in the back was packed in, it was better up front. Adam was silently grateful he was the dedicated driver. Though teaching someone to drive in his stead was still an important goal. Probably Mira or Eve. The others wouldn't get it as quickly.

Regardless, up front with him was Mira, Salvatore, and Deccanus. If he had more room he would have had Eve and Percy up front too, but naturally he didn't. Still, everyone seemed to be getting along enough. Mira and Salvatore were debating the finer points of risk versus reward in mission selection. Either as a mercenary or a soldier. Deccanus was throwing in his two cents as well. Though Deccanus' take on the risk versus reward matter was entirely different. He valued loyalty above all else, in essence: 'even if the outcome is minor if you are doing it for a cause, the mission is righteous. There need be no other consideration.' In his words. Adam had his own thoughts and threw them in from time to time but focused on driving and getting to the destination safely which, considering what luck he sometimes had, went smoothly enough.

However the coordinates did not lead him to a factory, instead he could see the factory in the distance but the coordinates led him to a 4 floor small apartment that was bombed out. As he pulled closer, now cautious in his approach since the location was off, he noticed some people standing outside. At first he was worried it was an ambush, that Madame Aquamarine had set him up. But then he noticed their outfits, and even recognized a few of the faces. They were hunters from The Pier. Though Adam had no idea what they were doing here.

"This is unexpected." Adam said casually as he and his friends filed out of the APC to chat with the hunters gathered here.

"The Madame sent us here because this issue affects us all." Milla, the head of The Pier's hunters said with a stern tone before she then sighed and loosened up, offering a small smile. "Though I think the Madame is just trying to curry favor with you." Adam let off a soft chuckle.

"Well I consider the favor curried." Adam grinned. "I am certainly not going to say no to back-up. The Cult fights tooth and nail. The battle at the church was brutal."

"Yeah I heard." Milla said as she pulled out a cigarette from a pack and then lit it, offering Adam one only for him to turn her down. However Salvatore's eyes lit up and so she shrugged and handed one over to him, which he took gratefully. "Shame you didn't call on us. We may have had our shit rocked at the fight with Famine, but Chicago is our home too. I ain't about to let outsiders handle all our problems."

"I hope you are not counting me as an outsider." Adam smiled.

"Nah, you are born and bred here, just like me. Even if you do come from a hole in the ground." She chuckled and then let out a long hit of her cigarette. "I meant War." She said with a slightly annoyed tone.

"Yeah well there were some… extenuating circumstances around the whole event."

"Oh, I'm sure." Milla laughed. "Though this time you ain't cutting me out from the fight." She grinned a bit.

"So how are we looking over there?" Adam asked as he turned to look at the factory in the distance. "Have you scouted?"

"Yeah we have." Milla returned as she dropped her cigarette to the ground and stomped it out. "As much as we could anyway." She turned to look at the factory in the distance too. "I couldn't get an accurate headcount but I'd venture a guess to say something like 50 maybe more maybe less. They have every entrance secured and even have a bit of heavier fire power but they don't seem intent on leaving."

"Any idea why they set up shop there? Is there a Vat of FEV or something?" Adam asked curiously.

"Oh lord, I hope not." Milla said back with a surprised and unsettled look. "I just figure, for them, the ones who escaped your big attack, this place was defensible and out of the way. It's a good staging ground for… whatever they plan next. But I ain't in their heads. So take that with a grain of salt." Adam nodded slowly.

"How many hunters you got?"

"10. Including me." She said as she gestured with her thumb over her shoulder to some of the men behind her. There were not ten but considering the apartment building looked occupied it was safe to assume there were more inside.

"Any extra support from the Madame?"

"You asking about the destroyer?" Milla said with a raised eyebrow. Adam chuckled, finding it amusing he was seen through so easily.

"I was." He grinned.

"No, unfortunately." She shook her head. Then she seemed to pause, look around for a moment and then leaned in, speaking with a whisper now. "Between you and me we are running out of shells. The destroyer's a big part of our defense plan and the shells are running dry. The Madame is searching for suppliers but it's hard to get rounds for old warships." She then leaned back, speaking in a normal volume again. "But you didn't hear that from me."

"My lips are sealed." Adam paused looking at the factory again. "Right then, let's come up with a plan. We may not have the destroyer, but we have the next best thing." Adam said as he motioned with his hand to the APC. "I have shells I have been sitting on for a while that I am itching to use."