With the meeting of the heads having concluded, the conference room was now empty except for one figure.
Though to be precise, there was only one person who could have remained in the first place.
On the floating monitors, the number Two displayed.
“Heh, you managed to dump it nicely on Nine, didn’t you?”
A burly man with a scarred, intimidating face smiled warmly at the monitor labeled Two.
Though to most people that face was no different from a beast licking its lips before leaping on its prey, Two showed neither fear nor concern.
“His laugh was less gentlemanly than I thought it would be, but he still told us everything we needed to hear. Sounds like he has a death wish, though.”
“Yes, that battle footage had only fired up his fighting spirit.
He may be smart, but he is not wise. A textbook case.
Well, it’s a human thing, I suppose, to want to challenge the impossible.”
Both parties seemed to be mocking Nine.
But it couldn’t be helped, from their perspective, Nine’s proposal may have been convenient, but it was nothing more than foolishness.
That being said, they weren’t being malicious, just stating facts.
“Exactly.
Why do these people persist so stubbornly in believing that they’re better than everyone else?
Even insects know their place better.”
“No doubt about it.”
There was a genuine lightheartedness to the laughter that Two and Six shared.
Not because mocking Nine was enjoyable, but simply because they found him funny.
They might’ve known the difference between humans and insects in their heads, but that was all it was, head knowledge.
They weren’t being fair or cruel, they just didn’t care about discriminating between humans and insects.
But, ironically, that begged the question which of the two they were.
“Ha! Well, thanks to him, we didn’t need to delay the plan.
Let’s just be grateful that he’s at least more useful than a bug.”
“Yes, he’s definitely useful. He looks ready to go wild already. I’m going to use that chaos as a distraction to properly probe into that organization.”
“That one?
Ah, yes. AS, Anti-Snake, right?”
“Yeah, now that Earth’s ended up like this, they’re becoming a real nuisance.
Wouldn’t do for them to interfere with the sealing process, so I figured we’d toy with them a bit.”
“Do as you like, but…”
“What?”
He cut off suggestively, then responded to the question with exasperation.
“…Couldn’t you come up with a better name?
That’s just the code name we randomly gave them, right?”
Way too simplistic, no sense of aesthetics at all, Six grumbled, unimpressed by the name.
But Two immediately shot back, annoyed at the complaint.
“Things like this should prioritize clarity.
Coming up with a fancy name is a waste since no one can understand it anyway.”
“That’s true, but we had all the time in the world.
How long do you think it’s been since we first ran into them hundreds of years ago?”
“And that’s exactly why it would’ve been a waste of time.
Just because we have time doesn’t mean we should waste it,” Two said.
“…Is that one of your signature high-level jokes?
How many dynasties crumbled while you were ‘not wasting time’?
There were tyrants and dictators who rose after your little nudges, interfering with our plans.
Also, wasn’t it you who triggered one of the world wars?
Do you know how hard it was to gather the necessary materials during that chaos?!” Six said.
“I won’t let you say you forgot,” he continued, with a glare sharp enough to pierce.
Had an Earthling been present, they might’ve had more than one question to say about all the bombs these two people have been casually dropping.
“…Please don’t remind me. Who would’ve thought it would escalate that far? Really, just how did it come to that? It’s a mystery,” Two said.
Interestingly Two didn’t deny anything and just replied as though he were embarrassed.
He spoke as though he’d drunk one too many times and made a blunder in his youth.
It was such a disturbingly casual attitude given the gravity of the content.
“All I meant to do was stir things up a bit then watch the fools scramble, but before I knew it everyone was killing each other. Like, damn. Earthlings really love to kill, don’t they?”
“You do realize that a war situation makes it difficult to operate, right? Keep it in moderation, thank you.”
Six might’ve warned him, but he was clearly just annoyed by how much more work Two’s antics made him.
It really makes one wonder just how a sane person would react were one present.
Regardless, the two moved along, completely unconcerned by trifle things such as being horrified or aghast.
They gossiped casually like a pair of aunties talking about the weather.
“Come to think of it, this plan we forced through this time was originally postponed because of the unexpected problems you cause with your weird little game, no?”
“I don’t think that was during hibernation. But yeah, it was definitely unexpected. Still, it was part of the outbreak research experiment, so we got plenty of data from it.”
“Yeah, and because of that, all the other experiments and plans we were preparing had to be scrapped.
In other regions, AS has a stronger surveillance presence, and the conditions weren’t right either, so we had to wait for recovery.
In the end, here we are. If we’d missed this chance too, by the time the next opportunity rears its head, the whole plan might be outdated and need a full redo!”
“But we were able to act this time, weren’t we? Besides, we’re the ‘Snakes’.
It was easier to slip in through all the cracks left by the destruction.”
“Seriously, being immortal has its downsides. You never treat failures as failures!
Listen, that’s just you talking from hindsight, you can’t say the gains balanced the losses!”
“Sigh. You’re surprisingly cautious and fussy for someone who handles the dirty work.
Quite the twist in personality, don’t you think?”
“Right back at you.
How did someone in charge of internal affairs end up being this sloppy…?”
Two laughed at the absurdity of it, while Six shook his head in exasperation.
No one here questioned the strange nuance behind their exchange.
It was as if they were both saying: this isn’t what you were originally placed here to do.
“Anyway, enough of that. So, how was it? Come on, man. Hurry up and tell me,” Six
Still, such banter was apparently routine for them, and before long, Six shifted gears and flashed a grin, excited.
“What are you talking about?” Two asked.
“Oh, come on. Why do you think I skipped the trouble of installing a connector and came here directly? You saw Masquerade through me, didn’t you?”
He rose to his feet and leaned in close to Two’s monitor, his whole face breaking into a terrifying smile as tremendous pressure poured out of him.
But, the monitor responded only with silence.
Even Six found himself tilting his head, wondering what was going on until a quiet whisper finally came.
“…I couldn’t see it.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Even though Six’s head was practically stuck to the monitor, the voice was so quiet he had to ask him to speak louder.
Apparently, it was something Two was shy about it, so much so that he found himself reluctant to share it, but eventually, he let out a sigh and let the cat out of the bag.
He probably realized how pointless it was running away from this when it came to Six.
“I couldn’t see it,” he said.
“…What?”
Six stared in confusion, unsure what he had just heard.
In response to the unspoken what do you mean, Two continued,
in a tone more serious than anything he had spoken with during the meeting.
“The sensory sync worked just fine, but I couldn’t see Masquerade.
It made the whole thing so much more eerie, actually, because to me, it was if there was no one there at all.
Nothing.
And yet, it was clear that something was definitely happening,” Two said.
“…You’re not just talking about how that guy’s usually invisible, right?”
Six’s voice was in such disbelief that his ever audacious tone actually weakened, but regardless, he had to clarify the facts.
And in response, Two confirmed it matter-of-factly.
He wasn’t joking this time.
“Yes, by then, everyone else could see him already, right?”
“That’s right. Once you’ve seen him, you won’t lose track of him anymore.”
“Exactly. So just in case, I switched to basic visual mode…”
“Wait… don’t tell me…”
“At best, I got the faint impression of a black human-like shape but that’s all.”
Six limply fell into his chair.
It was as though all of his strength had left him as he became completely dumbfounded.
To think that Two couldn’t see Masquerade.
It was a complete shock.
He was so shocked that he even missed Two as he muttered to himself.
“If I couldn’t see him even after going so far, could it be… He is the Kurogo (black robes) of the this present world. But, no, something so worthless couldn’t possibly wield power comparable to ours…”
Six sat slightly dazed, while Two groaned over the inexplicable situation.
After a while, it was Six who regained his composure first.
“To think that your ‘eyes,’ which have seen through everything until now, actually couldn’t see Masquerade,” Six said.
“That self-proclaimed origin from a third world is starting to sound more credible by the moment.
We should assume one of our own kind from there has arrived.
And it seems they possess abilities even more specialized for combat and espionage than we do,” Two said.
“If so, then there’s no way mere humans would be able to stand against it, huh… Yeah, let’s just leave it alone.”
With exaggerated caution, Six waved off the idea like he was warding off against bad luck.
However…
“Your face doesn’t match your words at all, Lord Fang.”
You can’t criticize me after that, can you?
Two scolded him, but it was perfunctory at best, though he was nonetheless exasperated by that bloodthirsty expression that now filled Six.
Maybe it was his immortal heart at play, or maybe he was just a hot head.
Though usually rational and pragmatic, Six had an aspect to him that relished in unleashing havoc.
Often, he would do so with his indestructibility as a pretense.
To a ‘Snake’ like them, an enemy this troublesome provided the perfect excuse to let loose, so at such times, Six would frequently use it as an excuse to play around.
Was he a reliable combatant or just a nuisance?
Well, Two wasn’t one to judge, though he found it amusing regardless.
“Hah! I don’t want to hear that from you when your own inclinations have cost us so much more!
Besides, I’m the one who’s going to have to face him eventually, anyway.
It’s not bad, I’ll be able to fight at full power for once.”
Six grinned ferociously.
Despite his overwhelming defeat recently, he showed no signs of fear or concern, only joy.
Did winning or losing even matter to him? Did he just want to fight?
Or perhaps… Did he still have a trump card left?
“Masquerade sure found himself entangled with something strange.
He he, what do you think, Sister?”
『Proceed as you will.』
The one suddenly addressed as “Sister” was none other than ‘I’ who replied in a calm tone.
It was barely a conversation, but Two clapped his hands merrily as if something pleased him.
“That’s exactly how our dear Sister should be!
Now, the most noble of goddesses has granted her blessing!
Let us honor her will and sow chaos in this world!”
His grand, theatrical declaration sounded like a farce to anyone who heard it.
Or perhaps he made it sound that way intentionally.
Six simply shrugged as if to say he’s at it again.
Of course, not a hint of disapproval could be seen in his attitude.
If anything, he seemed to agree.
“You’ve always had terrible taste, haven’t you?” Six said.
“Right back at you, my friend,” Two said.
After that meaningful exchange, Six stood up and began walking away.
He turned his back on Two’s monitor.
And made his way through space made of nothing but white.
But, did it even have an exit?
And yet, his form melted into the whiteness to vanish without a trace.
Soon after, the number Two also disappeared from the monitor, and all that remained was One.
『Then, this concludes the emergency meeting. Thank you, everyone, for your efforts.』
And with those words spoken into the empty white chamber, she, too, vanished.
Slowly opening her eyes was an elderly woman, wrinkles etched to the tips of her fingers.
She had been reclining in a chair, and now rose with calm, but surprisingly nimble movements that defied her age.
Her gaze that was sharp enough not to be called drowsy swept across the room.
That was a quiet space illuminated by the soft glow of lighting induced by photon.
Though spacious, it was evident that there was no one else around.
Only essential items could be seen; no potted plants, and no paintings even.
At most, a few work desks, filing cabinets, a water dispenser, and the same number of terminals as desks.
That was all.
The room could have passed for an office, but the absence of even a guest sofa gave it a cold, unwelcoming feel.
There weren’t even any windows completely closed off from the outside world.
Whether it was above ground or underground, whether it was day or night, there was no way to know.
Perhaps that was the result of pursuing function above all else.
Or perhaps it simply reflected the nature of this woman who owned the room.
Noticing that nothing had changed, she exhaled softly, then naturally, she turned her gaze to the clock on her desk.
Sigh.
“It’s certainly able to save time, but being defenseless even for just a few minutes is so unbearable.”
Muttering to herself, she set her feet on the floor and stood.
The brief glimpse of her slender legs beneath her hem contradicted her elderly appearance.
She rose straight, with a posture that one wouldn’t think from her age.
It wouldn’t have been strange for someone her age to walk with a bent back or even a cane, yet here she was standing tall, as if to scoff at such assumptions.
That alone created an aura so commanding it could make the very air kneel.
If anyone else had been present, they would have felt compelled to compose themselves immediately.
And it was that oppressive presence that she wore as naturally as breathing.
Just as she recalled her schedule for what came next, a sound came from the terminal embedded in her desk.
Not unpleasant, but still clearly audible even to older ears
a call from outside the room.
With practiced movements, she opened the line and answered in a slightly displeased tone.
“…What is it? I asked to be left alone for twenty minutes only half that’s passed, you know?”
She hadn’t intended to sound threatening, but her tone alone was enough to make the person on the other end flinch and shrink.
『I-I’m terribly sorry!
However, we received an urgent call from the President of Russia.
I tried to say you were in a meeting, but he insisted it was about the incident in our Far East territory and said you’d understand if I mentioned that…』
Perhaps the only reason the message was delivered at all
was the person had dealt with the elderly woman enough to know better.
Or maybe failing to do their job properly would be far more terrifying later.
Either way, hearing the flustered voice of the woman on the other end, the elderly lady found herself letting out a weary sigh.
Compared to the meeting she had just been in, this one just felt utterly pathetic.
So painfully deaf-eared.
“Sigh… So that rugged face of his is just for show, huh. At what age do the diapers finally come off, I wonder… Even the boy Novice has more guts.”
『…Excuse me?』
“Just talking to myself. Anyway, tell him I’ll call him back in three minutes and hang up.
Also, adjust the schedule.
Call all my aides even if they can’t come in person, a monitor will do. We’ll hold a meeting in ten minutes. Prepare for it.”
『Understood. I’ll make the arrangements.』
After ending the call, she exhaled silently.
But the first thing to cross her mind wasn’t the president, nor her upcoming meeting or further future plans.
It was the “Head” meeting that occurred just earlier. She went through it again in her mind.
“I suppose I can’t call him a boy anymore. He could easily become a top-tier politician… What a shame.”
It was a sense of unease that only she had picked up on, but then there was that loud laughter.
Using that moment, he acted as if his confession had been forced and then, he dropped an unexpected bombshell.
Before anyone realized it, he had taken the lead in the discussion and brought it to that conclusion.
Whether his words and actions had been entirely truthful or not, his ability to maneuver events toward his intended outcome was masterful.
The only pity was that he seemed intent on using that brilliance solely for his own amusement, a kind of hedonism.
“And that complete lack of pride in being used so easily for his ends? I actually rate that quite highly.”
She had realized there were three people in that room who desired that outcome.
One of them was him, of course another was herself. That much was obvious.
By deliberately proposing a hibernation that would be inconvenient to him, she knew exactly how he would respond.
And he had played right into it, knowingly.
The question was whether the third party had noticed.
“…What a farce. To think that all of it has been orchestrated by him.”
Yet she also sighed inwardly, troubled by the complete lack of ambition or drive for fame.
To survive in that world, to command influence, you need a bit of that.
He joined the “Snakes” and became a “Head” simply because it suited his purpose, but she saw no real attachment to the title in him.
In truth, she had long been nervous, wondering when he might achieve his goal and cast aside his position.
Nine had been appointed to his role faster than anyone before, based purely on his intellect and technical skill.
A man like that could eat dirt, act a fool, do anything for his cause.
If that’s not terrifying, then what is?
“Those inhuman monsters don’t understand that danger.
That’s the real problem.
They’re far from being the true rulers behind the curtain,
all they are are thrill-seekers waiting to be toyed with.”
He possessed the will and ability to become anything.
That was what’s terrifying.
They thought they had used him.
They didn’t understand what that truly meant.
Maybe they believed it didn’t matter, that they could handle it.
She didn’t deny that they had the “power” and special abilities to back it up.
But their understanding of human psychology was shallow.
They acted the part, but in the end, they were just monsters.
Pretending to be in control while lacking the means to truly command it was almost pitiful.
“…”
Perhaps thinking about all this led to Masquerade, a strange wave of sentimentality toward the one who had been dragged into this mess.
“Poor Masquerade, he had almost lost all desire of his own,
and now thanks to that provocation, Garesto is going to drown in tragedy…”
She muttered with something resembling pity.
As if she were a mere bystander despite being one of the masterminds herself.
“Can you still protect it, I wonder?
Ah… But if you can, what a conveniently noble ruler you would make.”
She gave laughed as though in a scoff.
From what she had seen of Masquerade’s actions, his methods were rough, but he clearly wished for global stability.
And yet, in the face of such an overwhelming threat, a genius tinged with madness had been set in motion.
There was no chance of victory, but Garesto’s descent into chaos was now almost inevitable.
Or perhaps it should be said:
Everyone, willingly or not, had been led into this by Nine.
Or perhaps, there were just more people who supported him.
But whichever it was, how great would the damage be in the end?
Where would the hatred go?
And ultimately… what would become of it all?
“How unlike me. Ugh, getting older really does make one prone to muttering and grumbling.”
Shaking her head, perhaps to clear her thoughts, she silently operated the terminal on her desk.
In less than ten seconds, the direct line to the Russian president connected.
Displayed on the open holo-monitor was the rugged face of a white man, but it was tinged with anxiety and unrest, likely because the declared three-minute wait hadn’t passed yet.
“Oh, you do this all time, just when will you finally grow up? Hmm?”
Her opening remark came out of the blue, and it left the man speechless.
It was curious if he realized how exasperated she looked, hoping he’d at least have the spine
to retort, but regardless, the man started with a voice full of tension and apologized
“…M-My deepest apologies.
But, Secretary-General Rinaldi of the UN, this time, it’s about—”
As she listened to his excuses with a flat and unreadable expression, the formidable elderly woman internally smirked as she thought that this might be usable.
Feigning generosity, she gave him some “advice” on how to handle the situation, framing it as a favor then used his ignorance to deliberately steer him into beginning a roundabout version of the hibernation operation.
As she had predicted, she would soon receive similar inquiries from other world leaders regarding similar issues.
And of course, in return, she would once again turn them into conveniently positioned pawns.
After all, she had placed them in their seats for that very reason.
“—Yeah, I figured that the most troublesome ones would be the inhuman freaks and the Secretary-General.”
Returning his consciousness to his body, Nine muttered that right off the bat.
“From the looks of it, she’s figured out at least part of what I’m up to.”
On one side: monsters whose minds were too alien to control.
On the other: the effective leader of the world.
The former held unknowable “somethings” even he couldn’t grasp.
The latter was razor-sharp and armed with overwhelming authority.
Compared to the rest who were, in a sense, easy-to-read “human villains”
These two groups were outliers, leagues above in presence and caliber.
Both groups have already prepared moves in line with their own plans, using his proposal as the springboard.
Of course, he had anticipated this and acted accordingly so it was fair play on both sides.
“Well, whatever… There’s no way anyone can fully grasp everything.
Let them think they’ve figured me out and use me all they like…
As long as they don’t get in my way.”
So spoke Nine, who was a bespectacled young man with a completely emotionless face,
Spinning in his chair as he pushed off the floor, the cheap swivel chair let out an annoying squeal every time, but he just spun and spun with no rhyme or reason.
Through his non-prescription lenses, he stared out at a plain, almost empty, concrete room.
His eyes reflected it, but his mind wasn’t paying attention.
“You did well,” his servant said.
“Sheesh,” Nine replied.
He had noticed the tall man approaching, and he accepted the offered glass of orange juice while spinning, sipping on it through a straw.
“Mmgh… haah… well, I guess that fulfills the obligations I have for now.”
His tone and expression made it clear that he found it all to be a chore.
In contrast, the man who brought the drink – that was a beautiful young man with long golden hair – smiled softly.
Had anyone else been around, that smile would surely have sparked cheers regardless of gender.
But Nine paid it no mind.
He was more focused on the orange juice.
“You sound displeased, yet you’re oddly in a good mood.”
Unbothered by the lack of reaction, the golden-haired man perceptively read the emotions behind the contradiction.
And in response, Nine mischievously smiled, as if to say, ‘you get it, huh.’
“I mean, it’s incredible! Sure, I figured I’d get hit with something, but it turns out Earth-side’s practically on death row and they don’t even realize it!
What the hell is that? I actually got the chills for the first time in ages!!” The beautiful young man said.
He was talking about how he had gotten scared for a moment, yet his face and tone was filled with glee, and oddly, pride.
Nine was still spinning.
“You always manage to catch me off guard even without trying!” The beautiful man praised.
Maybe, you just don’t realize how much effort you’re putting, the man mused, but that made it even more delightful. He laughed.
Nine’s spinning chair picked up speed as though to match his emotion.
“So, Masquerade did something again?”
The beautiful young man, watching him with an affectionate, almost celebratory gaze, asked softly.
In response, Nine began explaining the mask’s quiet invasion, as revealed in the meeting.
He narrated with such enthusiasm that it was as though he was narrating something he had done, but the beautiful man understand why he was being like this.
However…
“Hm? What’s wrong do you have a question?”
Even while spinning, Nine sharply noticed the fleeting change in expression on the beautiful young man’s face.
When questioned so directly, the young man flinched slightly,
but regardless, he voiced what had come to his mind in his own honest words.
“N-No, it’s just, if your assumptions are correct, then…
Doesn’t it seem like someone with that much power is using a rather roundabout, or perhaps… gentle method?”
Click.
At those words, Nine came to a sudden halt as he ignored all sense of inertia and his wide eyes locked onto the golden-haired man with a piercing gaze.
“Did I… say something strange?”
“No… I actually like that about you. Heh… you don’t really get it, but somehow you still get close.”
“U-Um… thank you?”
Though he could tell it was a compliment, the young man couldn’t quite grasp the reason for it,
So his gratitude came tinged with uncertainty.
That very reaction amused Nine, who smiled at him with clear enjoyment.
Then, with no warning, he raised both hands and projected a small 3D hologram above his palms.
A simplified model of Earth and Garesto appeared along with a black humanoid silhouette between them: Masquerade.
“As you said, the methods and scale are being disguised,
but yeah, they’re a little soft.
He’s keeping an eye not just on the ‘Snakes’ and the Diva, but also other groups and individuals trying to keep things smooth and quiet.
It makes sense brute force always hits a limit somewhere, so a bit of diplomacy is smart.
But if he really has power that overwhelming…”
He stood, gesturing like a conductor.
The holograms of Earth and Garesto suddenly collapsed inward on Masquerade, and a cartoonish explosion effect flared up like something from an old comedy animation.
“…then brute force is more than enough.
We can’t touch him nothing we do gets through, but if he does anything to us, it’s game over.
Even accounting for his unknown identity, the sheer difference in strength… in existence… is just too vast.
He could casually crush everything without effort.”
When the effect vanished, the planets were shattered.
Amid the debris, Masquerade stood untouched, perfectly composed.
“If he seriously let loose, even if every human from both worlds united… we couldn’t stop him.”
Not “defeat.”
Not “kill.”
Stop that word choice revealed just how vast a gap Nine perceived between them.
And it hinted at how few truly grasped that gap.
“…Yes. I think the same. He’s on another level entirely.
A being that absolute doesn’t need to consider anything or anyone.”
His nod was pale.
He trembled slightly, body betraying a fear too deep to hide.
It was the truth. If Masquerade so desired, all of his enemies would be crushed, all obstacles erased, and all dissenters silenced.
That’s all it would take.
The wise call it a mistake.
They say it breeds resentment, hatred, opposition.
That it will unite the factions against you.
That it’s nothing but a reign of terror.
But so what?
Such logic only worked between equals.
What use were fear and criticism when you can’t even threaten the target?
The very idea that Masquerade could be threatened was laughable.
That kind of overwhelming force, just by existing placed him above all else.
Above military might, above law, above authority, history, ethics, morality, common sense, abnormality – everything.
All of it was beneath him, and everything was at his whim.
People would scream about tyranny and unjust rule but that’s already irrelevant.
It’s not even a low-level debate anymore.
It’s natural law.
To resist, to escape that’s a fundamental misunderstanding of reality.
What’s a tiny bug supposed to do against a black hole?
Masquerade is something beyond a disaster.
He’s a phenomenon no living creature could stand against.
And yet
“Yeah, you’re right. ─────But that’s still tyranny, isn’t it?”
“……………Huh?”
Nine called it tyrannical as if it were obvious.
Like a parent gently scolding a child:
“It’s wrong, so don’t do it.”
The golden-haired man froze. Of course he did.
“W-Wait… That’s not what I meant Wait, was that what you meant all along!?”
Yes. That was the reason. The answer.
Seeing the man’s dawning realization, Nine flashed a devilish smile.
“Heh… heheheh… Don’t worry. You’ll understand soon enough.
Either way, I’ve already decided to mess with him.
So… are the preparations ready?”
He changed his tone at the end as though to say this conversation was over.
Flustered, but composed, the beautiful young man responded firmly.
“Ah, right yes!
Everything’s already been prepared just as you instructed… but, are you sure about this?
If they find out later that you acted before the meeting’s decision…”
“I was going to do it regardless, so it doesn’t matter.”
Nine brushed off the concern with a casual wave, as if swatting away a fly.
From the start, challenging him had already been decided.
Whatever happened to the ‘Snakes’ and their internal affairs, it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest.
There was no bluff, no mockery, no impatience, no sarcasm on his expression.
To him, it simply wasn’t a problem at all.
Even if the proposal had been rejected, even if his solo actions were exposed.
Whatever resulted from it wasn’t worth considering.
“…Right. I suppose that’s just how you are.”
The golden-haired youth gave a sigh filled with exasperation yet also a hint of admiration.
Nine nodded as if to say ‘and don’t you forget it’ then downed the rest of his drink and tossed the empty glass back before turning to face him.
“Now then, how should we kick this off? If it’s too small, Masquerade won’t show. But if we go too far, the official forces will step in.”
“Yes. Ideally, we want something that catches Masquerade’s eye but is hard for others to respond to immediately.
Of course, such a perfectly convenient scenario isn’t so easily arranged…”
Despite the way they spoke of it like a tough challenge, both wore confident, cocky grins.
“Heh… most people would get stuck on that. But…”
The flaw in Nine’s plan, as presented in the meeting, had been that very point.
There, he had covered it up by vaguely saying they’d stir up smaller incidents and observe the response, but in truth, he had no intention of wasting time with such steps.
More accurately, he didn’t need to.
“We just have to… make it happen right in front of him.”
That alone was enough.
Because if something happened before his eyes, there was no way he’d stay indifferent.
Nine knew that better than anyone.
Even if he played the part of a disinterested cynic, even if he pretended to be jaded at the core, the man who had unknowingly tied his pain receptors to the lives of others…
could not ignore it.
“So come on, whinichi, my best friend, let’s have ourselves a good old brawl.”
In a world with no ties to either of them.
Dragging countless unrelated lives into it.
Smiling smugly at the certainty that he wouldn’t be able to look away from the pain.
What appeared on Nine’s lips was a crescent moon smile.
A twisted, mad mirror of his so-called best friend’s own.
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