While Sophie, Melina, and Fiona are looking around Titia with Violet… Casper has meanwhile also arrived in Titia… He left later than Fiona… because he missed the train.
(a few hours earlier)
Casper: "Oh… they're… probably gone… I missed the train."
(meanwhile)
Sophie: "Where did that Casper go?"
Fiona: "Probably overslept…"
Sophie: "Huh?!"
(back to the present)
Sophie: "So since Casper isn't here, we'll have to find Remy ourselves… Fiona… you understand, right… if Remy… is a threat, we'll have to kill him."
Fiona: "Hahhhh…"
Sophie looked at Fiona. Fiona took out a cigarette.
Sophie: "What the hell, Fiona? Since when do you smoke?"
Fiona: "Huh?…"
Sophie: "Hey!"
She took the cigarette from her.
Fiona: "What?!"
Sophie: "Cut that crap! What if Melina sees you?"
Fiona: "She's not here… give it back… I paid a lot of damn money for it."
Sophie: "You're not doing that. Got it?"
She took the cigarettes and threw them in the trash.
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
Sophie: "What's wrong with you, Fiona…"
Fiona: "Ah, forget it…"
Sophie: "Don't tell me you've been smoking for a while…"
Fiona: "…For… 3 days…"
Sophie: "Haahh… at least not long… thank god Melina and Violet are looking around right now…"
Fiona: "Mmm…"
Sophie: "Huh?… mmm… do you feel… guilty?"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Sophie: "You've always been like this, Fiona… you always think about others… listen, I understand you… but smoking and ruining your body… won't help you, Fiona…"
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
She walked to the trash can and took the cigarettes out again.
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Don't just throw them away… I'll give them to Meliodas… he likes to smoke. I paid for them."
Sophie: "Just throw them away… I'll pay you, okay? I threw them out."
Fiona: "Then you owe me 30 coins."
Sophie: "Fine…"
Melina: "We're back…"
Violet: "Hahh… the hotel Slewisch is ready… you can go in."
Fiona: "Thank you."
Sophie: "Good work."
They went inside.
Sophie: "Hmmm…"
Hotel employee: "Hello… huh?…"
She noticed they were cursed… something you can tell, since Hotel Slewisch has a curse detector.
Hotel employee: "How can I help?"
She changed her tone.
Sophie: "Hello… we would like to rent a room."
Violet: "Hmm… her tone changed."
Melina: "Yeah…"
Hotel employee: "Ugh… you there…"
She looked at Fiona.
Hotel employee: "Hey."
Fiona: "Huh?… what is it?"
Hotel employee: "Green eyes… are you aware that in Titia, green-eyed people are considered criminals?"
Fiona: "Huh?!"
Sophie: (Sweats) "Excuse me? Why?"
Hotel employee: "Many criminals in Titia had green eyes… that's why there's a law. Green-eyed people are monitored… or their eyes are torn out."
Fiona: "Try tearing my eyes out… I'm sure you wouldn't dare if you knew we're agents of a recognized organization… Dark Umbrella. We just want to rent a room… attacking an officer of Dark Umbrella is strictly forbidden… and I'd rather warn you… we're allowed to kill in self-defense."
One of the bodyguards grabbed Fiona's arm.
Bodyguard: "Out… now… green-eye."
Fiona: "Touching without consent… what…"
Sophie: "Hands off her."
She pulled out her gun.
Sophie: "Hey!"
Fiona: "Woah, woah… Sophie… you want to cause chaos here? No need… it's not worth it… I'm leaving anyway."
She shook his hand off.
Sophie: "Then we'll leave too."
Fiona: "No… stay here… with Melina… and Violet… they're exhausted, they need rest."
Melina: "Miss Fiona…"
Fiona: "It's fine, Melina…"
She started to leave.
Bodyguard: "Hmph…"
Fiona: "By the way… I may be leaving… but stealing from me…"
Quickly, she pulled out a knife and stabbed the bodyguard's hand.
Bodyguard: "Arrghhh!"
Fiona: "Give… me… my money back…"
She stared at him with wide-open eyes.
Sophie: "Oh dear… when Fiona gets like this… it usually means she has killing intent… they even call it owl eyes…"
Fiona: "I really don't like repeating myself…"
Bodyguard: "Alright… here…"
He gave her the money back. She pulled the knife out.
(Splach!)
Bodyguard: "Ugh…"
Fiona: "Hmph… ugly bastard…"
Sophie: "Ugh… (Sweats)…"
She left the hotel.
Violet: "Wait…"
She followed Fiona.
Fiona: "What is it… go back inside, I'll be fine."
Violet: "I know a place… where you can sleep."
Fiona: "Where?"
Violet: "In… in my treehouse…"
Sophie: "Good… better than staying here… that bodyguard scares me anyway… if he stole from you, he'll do it to us too."
Melina: "Yes…"
Fiona: "Sophie and Melina… just stay here… Violet, please take me to your treehouse."
Violet: "Okay."
They set off.
Violet: "Say… what was that look earlier?"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Violet: "You were really scary…"
Fiona: "You think so… hmm…"
Violet: "But I have to say… I think your eyes are beautiful…"
Fiona: "Oh really?… I think eyes… no matter the color or appearance… are all good… I don't know why people always like to differentiate…
Violet: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Violet: "Are you married?"
Fiona: "No…"
Violet: "That's strange, you're pretty… though Sophie is also really pretty…"
Fiona: "She was engaged once… her fiancé died…"
Violet: "Oh…"
They kept walking.
Violet: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "You once said… your friends died, right?"
Violet: "Yes…"
Fiona: "Can I ask how?"
Violet: "Oh… Namesis…"
Fiona: "Namesis?…"
Violet: "Yes…"
Fiona: "Namesis attacked them?"
Violet: "No… they became Namesis…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Violet: "Hmm?"
Fiona stopped, shocked.
Violet: "What is it?"
Fiona: "They became Namesis… hey… what does that mean? Namesis can't infect other humans… Namesis are created from human emotions… fear… hate, anger, grief, desire… and so on…"
Violet: "I saw it… they were swallowed by a black liquid… I'm really not lying, okay!"
Fiona: "Ugh… hhh… sorry… I know you're not lying, I didn't mean it like that…"
Violet: "Oh… sorry…"
They continued walking.
Violet: "Hey… Fiona…"
Fiona: "Yes…"
Violet: "Is it okay… to be afraid?"
Fiona: "Hmm?… of course it is…"
Violet: "I see…"
Fiona: "Are you afraid?"
Violet: "Of death…"
Fiona: "You're afraid of dying?… hahh… my goodness… I'm more afraid of living too long…"
Violet: "Huh?… why?"
Fiona: "…Life is overrated… so far… I've only lost friends… and seen people die… even if you pretend to ignore it… the human mind… doesn't just forget things like that…"
Violet: "Huh…"
Fiona: "Hmm."
Violet: "There…"
Fiona: "Huh?… that's it?"
It was a treehouse… not particularly impressive.
Violet: "Sorry… my friends and I built it once…"
Fiona: "It's fine…"
Violet: "Hmm… let's go up…"
Fiona: "Are you sure I'm allowed?… it belonged to your friends…"
Violet: "Yes… come in with me…"
Fiona: "Okay."
Violet: "Hehe."
They went up.
Violet: "So?"
Fiona: "I have to say… it's good."
Violet: "Then get some rest…"
Fiona: "Okay."
She took off her jacket.
Violet: "Oh…"
She was wearing a Victorian-style outfit… white… with black pants…
Violet: "Woow… (she's so pretty)…"
Fiona: "Hmm?…"
Violet: "Oh… do you want to shower?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Violet: "If you want to…"
She went to a room.
Violet: "Then here…"
Fiona: "Hmm… where do you get the water from?"
Violet: "Oh… look out the window."
She looked outside.
Fiona: "Ugh… woow…"
It was a large lake.
Violet: "Beautiful, right? We actually built the house so we can take water from the lake… we collect it… and warm it with the morning sunlight toward evening…"
Fiona: "I see… very practical…"
Violet: "Right? So… do you want to shower?"
Fiona: "If that's okay…"
Violet: "Of course… here's the soap… I stole it… I mean bought it…"
Fiona: "Stole… you mean?"
Violet: (Sweats) "Why would you think that?"
Fiona: "We met you when you stole bread…"
Violet: "…But thanks… I only need water… I actually have my own soap…"
Violet: "Oh… then… enjoy…"
She closed the door.
Violet: "Hahh… oh dear…"
Nurse: "Hehehe."
Violet: "Huh?…"
She looked around… but no one was there.
Violet: "Hahh…"
(a few minutes later)
Fiona came out.
Violet: "…oh… already done… huh!"
Fiona wore an undershirt and mid-length pants.
Violet: "Hey…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Violet: "Are you sure you're single?"
Fiona: (Sweats) "…huh?"
Violet: "Oh forget it…"
Fiona: "Okay…"
Violet: "If you want to sleep… then here… next to me… sorry… there isn't much space."
Fiona: "No problem."
Violet: "Okay."
They lay down on the bed… Violet quickly fell asleep.
Violet: "Hahhh…"
Fiona: "Hmm…"
(Patch!)
Violet: "Mmm…"
Fiona: "Huh?… hey… is something wrong?"
Violet leaned against Fiona's back.
Violet: "…sorry… it's just… I'm glad someone is here with me… am I bothering you while sleeping?"
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Fiona turned around.
Violet: "Huh…"
Fiona: "Come here… lay on my shoulder… if you're already doing it…"
Violet: "Huh…"
She did so. Fiona held her head.
Violet: "Mmm… you're nicer than I thought…"
Fiona: "Is that supposed to be a compliment?… hahh… whatever…"
Violet: "Thank you… Fiona…"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Violet: "Hehe."
She moved closer… so her face rested against Fiona's chest.
Violet: "…sorry… it's just… I was always lonely… and even my friends… didn't like sleeping near me… I was older than them… or… chaotic…"
Fiona: "I see…"
Violet: "Hehehe."
Bird: "(Chirp)"
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Violet: "Mmm…"
Fiona: "For someone who's 18… you're pretty childish…"
Violet: "Oh really…"
Fiona: "But honestly… I'm not very good with people… I don't really know how to deal with them…"
Violet: "Oh… I see… what do you actually do as detectives?"
Fiona: "As detectives of Dark Umbrella, we investigate cases… or supernatural cases… I can't say more than that."
Violet: "Okay…"
(a few hours later)
Sevasti: "Hmm?… Miss Zantanel…"
Zantanel: "Sevasti, I've learned some things in Titia that concern me…"
Sevasti: "Hmm?… such as?"
Zantanel: "A liquid has appeared… I want to send someone from my people to you… treat him well, he's a kind of detective… his name is Remy Thomas…"
Sevasti: "Okay… anything else?"
Zantanel: "I heard members of Dark Umbrella are also here… I want you to deal with them… and one more thing… do you know Ruslan Shenkow?"
Sevasti: "Of course… a Titia politician… very popular…"
Zantanel: "Kill him."
Sevasti: "Ugh… I should kill him?… is there a reason?"
Zantanel: "He is dangerous… oh and by the way… our reports say… the black hole… will appear here… in Titia…"
Sevasti: "Ugh…"
Zantanel: "You have about 5 days… hurry."
(Knock!)
Sevasti: "And?"
Circus member: "We've connected ourselves to five heads through the devices…"
Sevasti: "Good… search for Ruslan Shenkow… is he one of them?"
Circus member: "No… not yet…"
Sevasti: "Good… no problem… keep going. We must kill him today… preferably kill his entire family as well."
Circus member: "Even his 8-year-old daughter?"
Sevasti: "Hmm?… he has an 8-year-old daughter… hmm… yes… kill her too… age doesn't matter to me…"
Circus member: "As you wish…"
He walked away.
Sevasti: "We Stellaron… were tortured and abused since childhood… and so were our children… right… Ninel?"
He looked at the photo of a woman.
Sevasti: "Stellaron are often born with objects inside their bodies… it depends on when it happens… it's the syndrome of the black hole… the stronger it is, the more likely one is born as a Stellaron… there are normal Stellaron, also called mages… and there are those who are changed by the black hole syndrome…
The black hole itself doesn't even have to appear… it can simply be nearby… in another kingdom… its range can be so large that it affects four kingdoms… though there are also Stellaron who are simply born that way… talking animals… or objects…
And never… were we seen as humans… or even living beings… but as objects… even in the law… we are listed as a… thing…
That's why murderers often kill us… and they get at most one or two days in prison… that's it…
But those… so-called humans… will regret it… with our mistress… Zantanel… we will turn Grimmhoth into a world… where humans… who are not cursed… who have no magic… will no longer exist…
That is… what I want… whether child or adult… I don't care…"
He entered a room… multiple brains in jars.
Sevasti: "To understand human thoughts… I killed many people… without damaging their brains… this row here… these are the brains of women… this way we can study different kinds of women… how they think and what they like… though human women… are simple for me…
Over there… the brains of men… so we can study them too…
There… the brains of children…
And there… the brains of murderers…
I want to study every human…"
His grin widened… his screen flickered.
Sevasti: "So that I can eliminate them… without any problems!!!"
(a few hours later)
Circus member: "Hmm… oh… hello… you must be Mr. Remy?"
Remy: "That's right…"
Circus member: "Good… then come in…"
(Tick…)
Searcher: "Isn't that… Remy Thomas?… the guy Fiona Household from Lilly Mond worked with?… what is he doing here?… I need to call Master Meliodas…"
(meanwhile)
(Ringing)
Meliodas: "Yes?"
Searcher: "Master Meliodas… this is Searcher Nols… I've seen Remy Thomas…"
Meliodas: "I see… where?"
Searcher: "…(silence)"
(Bzzzzz)
Meliodas: "Hello?"
Searcher: "AAAAAAARGH!"
Meliodas: "Hello?!?"
(meanwhile)
Searcher: "Urk… ghhhh…"
Circus member: "What is a Dark Umbrella rat doing here…"
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Sevasti: "What do we have here…"
Remy: "Hmm…"
Sevasti: "You were right, Remy… you are being watched…"
Remy: "I thought so…"
Sevasti: "Hmm… kill him… ahh… no, wait… hehehe… you kill him, Remy."
Remy: "Me?"
He handed him the weapon.
Sevasti: "Shoot him."
Remy: "Hmm…"
Sevasti: "I need to be sure you're loyal… shoot him."
Remy: "Hahh… if I must…"
Searcher: "No… please… don't…"
Remy: "Sorry… you shouldn't have followed me…"
But what they didn't know… there was another searcher watching… a woman this time.
Searcher (female): "Hahh… hahh…"
(Peng!)
He collapsed after the shot to the heart… into the river.
(Splach)
Searcher (female): "Huh!… mmm…"
She covered her mouth.
Sevasti: "Good work… Remy… now I can trust you… come…"
Remy: "Okay…"
(a few hours later)
(Ringing)
Meliodas: "Hello… Fiona, can you hear me?"
Fiona: "Yes, I hear you… what is it?"
Meliodas: "Remy has been spotted."
Fiona: "Huh?… where?"
Meliodas: "In Titia…"
Fiona: "Oh really?… Master, that's why we came to Titia… can you give more details? Location, street?"
Meliodas: "Near the Resin River…"
Fiona: "Resin?… okay…"
Meliodas: "One more thing… a searcher was there… he got caught and was shot… the one who shot him… was Remy…"
Fiona: "(silence)… okay…"
Meliodas: "A female searcher nearby saw everything… you'll find her at the Resin River… her name is Nolita… meet her quickly with Sophie and Melina…"
Fiona: "Master, there's a girl named Violet I met… she can help us, she knows the area."
Meliodas: "Good… but don't put her in danger."
Fiona: "I won't… I'll do my best, Master… goodbye."
She hung up.
Fiona: "Ghhhh… Remy… you idiot!"
Violet: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Fiona: "Nothing…"
Violet: "Okay…"
(meanwhile)
Sevasti: "Hmm… how do you like it?"
Remy: "I have to say… I'm disturbed, but impressed…"
Sevasti: "Right?"
Remy: "And you collected brains from everyone… by killing them?"
Sevasti: "Something like that…
You see the chemicals in the jars where the brains are kept? They ensure the brain still functions… at least enough so we can extract the brain fluid… and put it into our machines…
The machines used for killing… we give them the brain fluid of a murderer…
The fluid of women… we use so the machines take care of our children… or act as nurses…"
Remy: "And the brains of children?"
Sevasti: "Those are for emergencies… if something happens to someone with cursed powers… as you know, cursed ones, mages, Stellaron and users… are not treated well…
It's time… we make these people regret treating us like animals…"
Remy: "I see… and what about animals? Do we kill them too?"
Sevasti: "Of course not… even that would be too cruel for me… after all, they're just like us… not appreciated…"
He patted a dog's head.
Sevasti: "Hehehe… I'll show you… our killer machines… go on… insert the fluid…"
They poured the fluid into the machine's head.
Sevasti: "Then… we add the brain fluid of a soldier… so it obeys us…"
(Splach)
Sevasti: "Now we wake it up…"
(Bzzzzz)
Killer machine: "…re…re…ready… for orders… who… should I kill… your honor…"
Sevasti: "Hahahahahaha… look at that… isn't it a dream!… it looks good… it's dangerous… and loyal…"
Remy: "Hmm… and are you sure Zantanel would like this?"
Sevasti: "Zantanel… can go to hell…"
Remy: "Huh?"
Sevasti: "Hehehe… Remy… Zantanel may be evil… but she acts carefully… she is… a coward!…
I, on the other hand… want to strike now… so that everyone in the Slavic kingdom… knows they will suffer…"
Remy: "You do realize Zantanel sent me…"
Sevasti: "Of course I know that…"
(Klick!)
Remy: "Ugh…"
A gun was held behind his head.
Sevasti: "Hahahahaha… thank you for your support, Remy… don't take it personally… I prefer working alone… thanks for the money, metal, and weapons… I'll handle the rest…
But I won't kill you, Remy… that wouldn't be a good thing… after all, you are cursed… and I don't like killing cursed ones… except those who work for Dark Umbrella…
Take him away… and put him in prison."
They took Remy away.
Sevasti: "Hehe."
Remy: "Hmm…"
Sevasti: "Let's see… killer machine… I want you to go to Resin… I think we were still being watched… one searcher wouldn't be alone…
Hehehe…"
Killer machine: "Understood… should I kill them?"
Sevasti: "Of course… you have my permission."
Killer machine: "As you wish, my lord…"
Sevasti: "You can also involve some civilians… as long as they are not cursed… unless they are members of Dark Umbrella…"
Killer machine: "As you command…"
Sevasti: "Hmph…"