Chapter 355: Penacony Arc 『 Part Fifty 』, Masquerade Duet Part 1
「 A while ago—
On the Golden Hour commercial street, Black Swan was conversing with members of the Family.
"…In my view, this is undoubtedly a murder," Black Swan said with certainty.
"Murder… that word is too foreign to us. Under the protection of the Family, no casualties can occur in Penacony," the woman said. "In a dream, even if a person is struck a thousand times by a sledgehammer, at most they will simply wake up in the reality of the hotel."
Sampo walked up from behind Black Swan: "Now, let's not put it that way. Even if the result doesn't constitute a casualty, the criminal intent… is quite obvious, isn't it? You specifically came over to seal off the scene because the nature of this case is egregious, right?"
"You have a point. Even if no one is truly injured, being walked down the street and suddenly pummeled with a hammer… is absolutely not something that should happen in Penacony."
Having said that, the Family member departed, indicating that the scene was left for the two of them to investigate.
Their gazes simultaneously fell upon an exquisitely crafted and flashy large hammer by the roadside, with several purple Memory Bubbles scattered beside it.
Once the person had walked far enough, Sampo scurried over like a little puppy: "Are you a witch?! Just how did you manage to convince them in the blink of an eye that we're some kind of detectives..."
Black Swan told him the truth: "Just some suggestions at the memory level. If something happens in everybody's memory... then that something becomes a fact. If we had a little more time, I could have even convinced her I was Xipe the 『 Harmony 』." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Vought Cinematic Universe, The Boys Worldline〜
The moment he pushed open the apartment door, Hugh smelled a pungent scent of elderly perfume and the choking aroma of burning leaves.
"F*ck."
Hugh couldn't help but curse under his breath.
In the living room, Soldier Boy was lying flat on his back on a leather sofa, several lipstick marks printed on his bronzed chest muscles. Three white-haired old ladies, with wrinkles deep enough to trap mosquitoes, were draped over him—it was clear they had been playing wildly; one of the elderly women's dentures was soaking in a champagne glass on the table.
"Did we interrupt your senior citizens' social club?"
Butcher said.
"We were actually getting along quite well; you know what to do next,"
Soldier Boy winked at them.
"Wow, they really are cute."
"Of course, women are like fine wine; the older they get, the more fragrant they become."
Soldier Boy slapped the hip of one of the old ladies, producing a crisp 'smack.'
"Hey, sweethearts, we have some business to discuss. Come find me another day, and we'll finish the rest."
The old ladies giggled as they stood up, dressed themselves, and tottered out, not forgetting to throw Hugh a flirtatious wink before leaving.
Once the last old lady closed the door, Hugh finally exploded:
"Good god! Didn't we emphasize this to you? The sky-screen! The Paths! Instead of focusing on that, you're flirting with a bunch of women who could be your grandmothers?"
"Correcting you there—in terms of actual age, they might have to call me father."
Compared to decades ago, Soldier Boy had hardly changed at all; no more wrinkles, no curvature of the spine. On him, time was frozen.
Soldier Boy picked up a glass of champagne from the table.
"I know what you're thinking. You want me to step onto a Path, become some 『 Hunt 』, 『 Preservation 』… or whatever Pathstrider, so that I can be a sure bet when dealing with Homelander."
"Listen."
Soldier Boy stood up and walked over to Butcher,
"When I was landing at Normandy, fighting bravely, I didn't use some damn Path; I used a pair of f*cking fists… and courage. I've taken down characters meaner than Homelander; I've fought the Russians."
"It's not seventy years ago anymore,"
Hugh couldn't help but interrupt,
"Now—"
"FUCK YOU!"
Soldier Boy rudely cut him off, extending an index finger to point at Hugh's chest,
"Do I f*cking need a sissy like you to teach me?"
He looked up at the sky-screen, where Black Swan was chatting with Sampo; his green eyes continuously scanned the Memory's elegant curves.
"Fuck… that's really exciting, more exciting than the German bunkers at Omaha Beach."
Soldier Boy gulped wine, his Adam's apple bobbing,
"Which Path is she on?"
"『 Remembrance 』,"
Butcher said.
"Oh, if I step onto the Path of 『 Remembrance 』, can I ask her out?"
Soldier Boy asked.
"Maybe,"
Butcher flashed a bastardly smile,
"Why don't you try?"
—
( Translator-kun: Good luck with that.... )
「 "Then on to the next order of business - let's discuss your companion, shall we?"
Just as Black Swan finished speaking, a mask suddenly appeared out of thin air beside the two of them, and Sparkle's voice emanated from within: "Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection, I've been watching you for a long time."
"When I checked into the hotel, you were peeking at me. After arriving in the dream, wherever I went, you followed; in the shop windows of the commercial street, underwater in Aideen's Park, even in the reflection of a wine glass—you are everywhere!"
"—Dear, are you secretly in love with me? Well, since you're so interested in me, let's play a game, shall we?"
"I've left a puzzle for you near the Oti Shopping Mall. Solve it, and prove you have the ability to amuse me. If you can do that… It's not impossible for us to talk."
"Don't keep me waiting too long, dear. Before Penacony is turned upside down, try to find me~ catch me~ stop me~"
The mask giggled, then vanished in a flash.
Black Swan's tone was somewhat helpless: "In fact, there is more than one Memokeeper in Penacony; she has confused me with someone else. But it doesn't matter… the address mentioned by the mask is right here, though I didn't expect… the 'game' Miss Sparkle spoke of to be a 'rampage' on the streets of Penacony." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Baki World〜
"Such freedom, Masked Fool."
Inside the Tokugawa estate, a muscular Black man over 190cm tall was gently flicking the ash from his cigar.
"Daring to kill in public on the streets, she must be the 'freest woman in Penacony,' right?"
Oliva let out a "hehe" laugh, seemingly very appreciative of the Fool lady's actions.
"She's only killing unarmed ordinary people. If she dared to move against that Sunday kid and Acheron, then that would be freedom,"
Miyamoto Musashi grinned.
"Acheron…"
Oliva slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Miyamoto Musashi, rumor has it you were a great swordsman of Japan's Sengoku period; would you dare to move against Acheron?"
"Ah… of course not. Why ask such a boring question?"
Miyamoto Musashi wore a puzzled expression:
"If I were to draw my sword against that woman, I would undoubtedly be cut down on the spot, wouldn't I? Swordsmanship, killing techniques—they are all stepping stones to seek wealth and fame. Since coming to Penacony is equivalent to obtaining these, why would I draw my blade against her… and make myself lose everything?"
After listening, Yujiro Hanma let out a disdainful "Tsk":
"Too low in purity."
"Purity… is it useful?"
Miyamoto Musashi looked up at him,
"Yujiro Hanma, I know that if you had the chance, you would definitely act. On Earth, you can pursue your so-called 'purity' without restraint… but in a world outside of Earth, if you pursue purity excessively… You won't live long either."
—
( Translator-kun: This one is the only Comanion Mission on Penacony, specifically 'Masquerade Duet' Sparkle Companion Mission. )