Carmen sat in the Ragnarock Café's luxurious VIP room.
The room looked almost completely disconnected from the Backstreets outside.
Red silk covered the chairs and draped across the tables. Numerous glowing lamps illuminated the room with a warm, sunlight-like radiance, filling the air with a faint scent of fresh forests and flowers.
In the center of the room, a small band played a variety of instruments.
They were, in fact, soldiers from Alexander's Legion.
Eridius had hired ten soldiers specifically for the café—five assigned to Alexander and five assigned to Kuro.
Apparently, their duties now included performing elegant music for terrifying guests.
Standing nearby were three waiters.
Their faces were completely covered, leaving only their glowing red eyes visible beneath their masks.
Carmen slowly looked around the room.
Then she looked down at the menu.
For some reason, she seemed slightly nervous.
Ayin was no different.
He silently held his menu, occasionally glancing around the room as though trying to understand exactly where they had ended up.
Gebura—or rather, Kali—was the only one who seemed completely uninterested in the menu.
Her hand had remained firmly on the hilt of her sword ever since they entered the room.
Carmen finally spoke.
[Carmen]: I would like to order the Sun Cake and a glass of Sunset Coffee.
One of the masked waiters immediately nodded.
[Waiter]: Of course, ma'am.
Ayin examined the menu for several seconds.
He eventually pointed toward one of the drinks.
[Ayin]: I would like a glass of... Hard Sunglow?
He sounded almost uncertain about the name.
Carmen glanced at him.
Ayin glanced back.
Neither seemed entirely convinced that ordering anything from this place was a good idea.
Then both of them slowly turned toward Gebura.
Carmen smiled.
[Carmen]: Kali, would you like to order something?
Gebura didn't even look at the menu.
[Gebura]: Just order anything for me.
Carmen nodded.
She looked back toward the waiter.
[Carmen]: Then bring her a cup of Moon Dew and a ribeye steak.
The waiter bowed.
[Waiter]: Your orders will be prepared immediately.
The waiter turned and walked away.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The music continued playing softly in the background.
Carmen looked around the luxurious room again.
Ayin remained silent.
Gebura's hand was still resting on her sword.
Somewhere outside the VIP room, Eridius was probably having the worst day of his life.
[Alexander]: So, remember what to say, leader.
Eridius looked at Alexander.
Then he glanced toward Kuro, who was hurriedly weaving herself a proper suit to wear.
[Kuro]: Let us just kill them.
Eridius slowly turned toward her.
[Eridius]: Kuro, you know I held back when I named you, right?
Kuro paused.
[Eridius]: You still don't have a middle name, a lower name, an upper name, or even a titled name.
Kuro's face immediately went pale.
Then black.
She slowly took a step backward.
[Kuro]: Please... have mercy.
Eridius raised an eyebrow.
[Kuro]: I don't want to be called Black Black Black.
Eridius stared at her for a moment.
[Eridius]: Don't worry.
Kuro relaxed slightly.
Then Eridius smiled.
[Eridius]: Now, we'll all go inside, talk to them, and help Carmen with whatever she needs.
Kuro stared at him suspiciously.
[Kuro]: ...You aren't planning to rename me, are you?
[Eridius]: Not today.
Kuro narrowed her eyes.
[Kuro]: That's not reassuring.
Alexander sighed.
[Alexander]: Can we please focus on the three people who might destroy the City?
Eridius nodded.
He straightened his clothes.
[Eridius]: Everyone, remember the plan.
Kuro finished adjusting her suit.
Alexander took a deep breath.
Eridius looked toward the VIP room.
Behind that door were Carmen, Ayin, and Gebura.
Eridius swallowed.
[Eridius]: Nobody panic.
A beat of silence.
[Kuro]: You are already panicking.
[Eridius]: I know.
And with that, the three of them walked toward the VIP room.
The moment Eridius opened the door, he froze.
Carmen was desperately trying to restrain a drunk Gebura.
The problem was that Gebura had both arms wrapped around Ayin's neck.
Ayin, who was equally drunk, was wildly swinging his fists at her while trying to pry himself free.
The two of them were arguing loudly about Carmen.
And, unfortunately, the subject had taken a rather indecent turn.
[Gebura]: You always have time for her in the laboratory, leaving nothing for me!
[Ayin]: Look who's talking! You're the one with a body pillow of Carmen in your room!
Gebura froze.
Ayin froze.
Carmen froze.
Alexander froze.
Kuro slowly covered her mouth.
Eridius stared at the scene for several seconds.
Then he slowly turned toward Alexander and Kuro.
[Eridius]: Write that down.
Alexander blinked.
[Eridius]: Write. That. Down.
Kuro immediately pulled out something to write with.
[Kuro]: What exactly am I writing?
Eridius pointed toward Gebura.
Alexander pulled out a notebook.
Eridius nodded seriously.
[Eridius]: This information may be extremely important.
Carmen's face slowly turned red.
Eridius immediately looked at her.
[Eridius]: Yes, Miss Carmen?
Carmen sighed and gave him an exhausted smile.
[Carmen]: Don't take notes, please, Mr...?
Eridius straightened his posture.
[Eridius]: My name is Eridius, Lady Carmen.
He gestured toward the chaos behind her.
[Eridius]: And I am here to arrange a cooperation between you and the force you have gathered.
Carmen blinked.
She glanced toward Ayin and Gebura, who were still struggling with each other.
Eridius paused.
Then he looked toward Alexander.
[Eridius]: Alex, go save Ayin. Quickly.
Alexander looked at Ayin, who was currently being held in a drunken headlock by Gebura.
Eridius pointed toward the two of them.
[Eridius]: Because I don't think people in the City are supposed to be purple-colored.
Alexander looked at Ayin.
Ayin's face was already turning a concerning shade of purple.
[Alexander]: ...Fair point.
Alexander immediately rushed forward.
[Eridius]: And try not to let them kill each other.
Alexander gave him a thumbs-up.
[Alexander]: I'll do my best.
[Eridius]: You will need to do better.
Alexander rushed toward Ayin.
He barely had time to reach him before Gebura's drunken grip sent him flying across the room.
He crashed into a chair.
Eridius watched him for half a second.
Then he calmly turned back toward Carmen.
[Eridius]: Anyway, I can help with your funding.
Carmen looked at him.
[Eridius]: I heard that you were having trouble securing enough funds for your research.
Carmen's expression softened slightly.
[Carmen]: Well... you see, we actually solved the funding problem about a week ago.
Eridius blinked.
[Carmen]: Thanks to Kali, we're now at the final stage of our Cogito research.
She paused.
[Carmen]: We only need to find a suitable—
Eridius immediately raised both hands.
[Eridius]: Carmen, don't do it.
Carmen stopped.
Eridius stared at her with genuine fear.
[Eridius]: I still want to live.
Silence.
Carmen tilted her head.
[Carmen]: Don't do what?
Eridius slowly lowered his hands.
He looked toward Gebura.
Then Ayin.
Then back toward Carmen.
[Eridius]: You know exactly what you were about to say.
[Carmen]: I really don't.
Eridius took a cautious step backward.
[Eridius]: That's even worse.
Carmen blinked.
[Carmen]: Eridius, I was simply going to say that we need to find a suitable—
Eridius raised his hands again.
[Eridius]: DON'T FINISH THAT SENTENCE!
The room fell silent.
At that moment, Alexander finally managed to regain control of the situation.
With Kuro's help, he had somehow managed to wake both Ayin and Gebura.
Although judging by Alexander's face—which had turned an impressive combination of black and blue—it was clear that the process had not been easy.
Kuro's solution had been even more questionable.
She had mixed several extremely sour ingredients together and created what she confidently called an "anti-drunkenness cocktail."
Nobody knew whether it actually worked.
But after drinking it, both Ayin and Gebura were sober.
That was enough evidence for Kuro.
The three of them now sat quietly, staring at Eridius.
Carmen was waiting.
Ayin was waiting.
Gebura was waiting.
Alexander was waiting.
Even Kuro was waiting.
All of them were expecting an answer.
Eridius took a long, slow breath.
The joking expression disappeared from his face.
He looked at Carmen.
Then Ayin.
Then Gebura.
[Eridius]: How much do you know about the City?
Nobody answered immediately.
Eridius continued.
[Eridius]: And more importantly...
He leaned forward slightly.
[Eridius]: Why do you think the taboos here are so strict?
Silence filled the room.
For the first time since they had entered the café, nobody was laughing.
[Chapter End]