Chapter 68 - Secret Cooperation
*Crackle... Static...*
"This has become quite troublesome."
The man gazes at the countless cards floating around him, slightly furrowing his brow as he speaks.
"Paradise, is it time for you to step in?"
"There won't be a second warning."
Dice, ignoring the man's words, looks down at him and begins to vibrate the surrounding cards.
"If you don't withdraw from this place, one of the Seven Cardinal Virtues will disappear today."
"........."
"Shouldn't leaders like us show some restraint toward each other?"
Hearing those words, the man bursts into laughter as if impressed.
"I had no idea you were so well-informed about our internal affairs. I suppose that's the basic level of intelligence expected from the head of the Villain League."
"...Stop with the false modesty and worry more about your internal information leaks."
"I'll take your advice to heart."
Then, with exaggerated theatrical gestures, he extends his arm and bows his head.
"...I'll withdraw for today."
After a moment, the man raises his head slightly, his eyes quietly gleaming.
"But today isn't the only day."
"..............""
"We'll meet again soon, Paradise."
However, when his slightly shining gaze turns toward Trauma, he loses his composure again.
"And you too, Trauma."
With those final words, the man begins to fade away.
*Tsssszzzzz...*
"It seems both our organizations need some internal inspections..."
With those cryptic words, silence fell over the Forbidden City.
"Phew."
After some time had passed.
"That was close!"
Paradise wipes the sweat from her forehead and jumps to the ground with a bright expression.
"We almost lost our mascot!"
Landing lightly, she walks gracefully toward Trauma.
"By the way, it's been a while."
"........."
"Have you been well? The executives haven't been treating you badly..."
But she suddenly stops walking.
"...Trauma?"
Her eyes waver slightly as she notices Trauma staring intently at her.
"Pandora."
"........!"
When a voice different from his usual one comes from his mouth, her eyes widen.
"It's been a while for me too."
"You, you...?"
"...How many days has it been since we last saw each other?"
"...Ah."
After stumbling over her words, she quietly sighs at Trauma's response.
"Right..."
"Has everything been well with you?"
"........"
When Trauma suddenly approaches her, she looks dazed again.
"Somehow it feels both familiar and strange."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."
She mutters this while watching Trauma examining her from all angles.
"By the way, that child..."
Then, with a smile returning to her lips, she walks forward.
"...I didn't expect that guy to be right."
Dice's eyes gleam as she looks at the Knight of Death who is staring blankly at her.
"How did you get here?"
"Well, about that."
She scratches her head in response to Trauma's question.
"I found an unexpected ally."
"That's good news."
Trauma nods quietly at her words, then speaks in a low voice.
"...Then, it's time for some bad news."
"Bad news?"
"There's a spy."
And then silence falls.
"One of the four executives."
> Not me! If I were a spy, I would've been caught and kicked out long ago!
"...One of the three executives."
Trauma quietly corrects his statement after Pandora's drone, hiding behind the Knight of Death, frantically interjects.
""...........""
And silence begins again.
"...A spy."
Dice's eyes darken slightly as she quietly contemplates.
"I'll check it out myself."
After some time passes.
"Before that, there's somewhere I need to take you."
Dice, who had been standing still for a while, snaps her fingers and speaks.
*Fzzzzz...*
The surrounding cards gather together and begin to form something like a flying carpet.
"...It's been a while since we rode together."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."
She quietly grabs Trauma's sleeve and climbs onto the enlarged card.
"What about him... Oh, goodness!"
"......?"
When Trauma turns around wondering what to do with the Knight of Death left alone, the girl is already standing on the card with a blank expression.
"Well, let's take her along."
Dice shrugs and says in a cheerful voice.
"...The enemy of my enemy is my ally!"
> Come with us!! If you leave me here, I'll be torn to pieces!!!
"Hmm?"
> Don't leave!!!
In the distance, Pandora was running toward the card that had already risen to human height, with a tearful expression.
"But we're over capacity?"
> .......!
"Just kidding, hurry up and get on."
Moments later, an unidentified object rose from the Forbidden City, violating various countries' radar networks as it soared high into the sky.
.
.
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.
.
"...Hmm?"
My mind feels hazy again.
Where am I right now?
I remember confronting one of the Seven Cardinal Virtues, but after that...
Did I lose the fight and fall unconscious?
That would be a bit embarrassing after putting on such a show.
"T-Trauma, sir."
While scratching my head in thought, I hear a familiar voice beside me.
"..........?"
My head turns before I can even think.
"L-l-look at this."
In my field of vision, Dice is holding out a smartphone with a completely crumpled expression.
"...Don't be nervous, Dice."
A cold voice comes out of my mouth before I can even think.
"You've been doing quite well lately, for someone like you."
It was then that I realized.
That strange experience I had when being rescued from the hospital by the executives—something that felt like a dream yet also reality.
That experience was happening to me again.
"Th-thank you..."
"Good. I'll reward you soon."
It seemed oddly peculiar to see Dice—who until just moments ago had been exuding a mysterious aura while rescuing us from danger—trembling as I caressed her cheek.
"Um, T-Trauma, sir."
"What is it?"
Without paying much attention to her, I was scrolling through the smartphone she handed me when I quietly looked up at the sound of her voice as she grabbed my hand.
"I-I have a request."
Then, terrified but with a somewhat sad expression, Dice began to speak.
"As a reward, could you please call me by my name just once...?"
"........"
"I'll give up calling you by your name, so please..."
"...Dice."
Cutting off her words, I slowly reach out my hand to her.
"My assistant."
"Eek..."
My hand begins to slowly squeeze her delicate neck like a snake.
"T-Trauma... sir....."
"My eternal sidekick."
"I-I'm sorry......"
"...Do you still have lingering attachments?"
Her face turns deathly pale as she frantically shakes her head.
"We don't need names anymore."
"Kak... kuhek..."
"...We've abandoned everything—our past, our emotions, our future."
"Keheuk....."
"Do you understand what you did wrong?"
At that low, chilling voice, Dice, who had been struggling, closes her eyes tightly and nods.
*Shudder...*
"Please... forgive me..."
Even as her body convulses from lack of oxygen, she whispers to me in a submissive voice.
"...There won't be a second warning."
"Puhah...! Puhaaa...!"
Seconds later, when I release my grip, she collapses to the floor and begins to gasp for breath.
"Understand?"
I quietly stroke her head as I look down at her.
"By the way, what truly unfortunate news."
[Monsters annihilated across Beijing? The incident that shocked the Hero Association...]
[Child missing from the center... Red alert across the artificial island]
[Top-ranking heroes dispatched and decimated. The birth of a new super villain to succeed Trauma?]
[The Child of Prophecy revealed to be a threat that must be stopped at all costs. Anxiety spreads...]
"I had intended to claim Death first."
My lips twist slightly as I read the articles displayed on the screen.
"...I could have treated you well."
Then, I stand up.
"Let's go, Dice."
"...W-where to?"
In response to her voice from behind, my chillingly unfamiliar voice answers.
"It's time to terminate a contract."
"...Contract?"
Reflected in the window, I was wearing a spine-chilling smile.
"I have much to reclaim from that old man."
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.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
"Himari."
Lumia, who had been walking while looking at her smartphone, suddenly turns around and speaks.
"What would you do if you suddenly realized a massive and terrifying truth?"
"Huh?"
"Or if most of your emotions suddenly disappeared in an instant."
After tilting her head at the random question, Himari answers with a bright smile.
"I'd be fine."
"Why?"
"Because I have you."
Hearing those words, Lumia quietly turns her head forward again and mutters in a low voice.
"...Of course you would say that."
At the same time, she's busily sending messages to someone.
"But I wonder if you'll be able to say the same thing in a few days."
"......?"
"...It's nothing."
An avatar with a thief-like icon floated at the top of the chat screen.