When he saw Lucius, Kovei greeted him with a broad, ingratiating smile. He stepped forward on his own initiative and reached out to shake his hand.
"Though it's only been a day since we last met, every encounter with Mr. Lucius is something I look forward to immensely."
"You're too kind."
Bathed in Kovei's praise, Lucius's face flushed with pleasure. Praise from someone from the city clearly delighted him far more than approval from Outer Ring locals. His mood lifted, and much of the resentment he'd swallowed earlier at Calydon immediately dissipated.
Suddenly, Lucius seemed to notice something. He tilted his head slightly and looked past Kovei, frowning in confusion.
"Hm? What's wrong with Mr. Perlman? He doesn't look very well."
At that, the skin at the corner of Kovei's face twitched almost imperceptibly. Maintaining his usual false smile, he turned his head to glance back.
Sure enough, even under the bonfire's glow, Perlman's complexion was an unbroken, sickly pallor. His eye sockets were sunken, his lips shriveled and drained of color, giving him the frothy whiteness of someone suffering from extreme anemia.
Lucius, standing farther away, couldn't see it clearly. In reality, Perlman's entire body was trembling. He stared blankly into the flames, his lips quivering as though he were muttering something under his breath.
The sound was far too faint. With everyone standing at a distance, even through the listening devices, Phaga and Ellen couldn't make out a single word—no matter how high they turned the volume.
At last, Phaga shook his head and sighed.
"No good. Still can't hear him. The ambient noise is completely drowning Perlman out."
Victoria's surveillance equipment was top-tier, something not even available on the open market.
Even so, all they could tell was that Perlman was "making sounds." As for what he was actually saying, that remained unknown.
Ellen wasn't having any better luck. She smacked her ears a few times, trying to ease the sharp pain from having the volume cranked to the maximum. Finally, she sighed and gave up, collapsing weakly onto Phaga's lap.
"Let's just listen to what Lucius and this Kovei guy are talking about…" she said helplessly. "Phaga, I feel like we're already really close to the truth."
"I get the same feeling."
Phaga spoke softly, his fingers idly tracing along Ellen's back.
The sensation was tingly, prickly, faintly itchy.
Ellen let out a comfortable hum, unconsciously wrapping her arms around Phaga's waist.
"Up there… a little higher… left, a bit more left…"
"Mm… I'm about to fall asleep…"
...
Elsewhere, in the vast sea of sand.
Kovei clearly hadn't expected anyone to have planted a listening device on Lucius—let alone more than one.
He turned his head to look at Perlman. His words were almost gentle, yet the cruelty in his expression was unmistakable as he spoke in a soft voice.
"Oh, Mr. Perlman? He's been in a bit of a slump lately. You know how it is—the downfall of Vision Industries hit him hard. Add motion sickness and trouble acclimating, and he's bound to look a little rough."
"But rest assured, Mr. Perlman has never given up on reclaiming what belongs to him. He still has his own people in the city, and plenty of companies backing his actions."
"Isn't that right, Mr. Perlman?"
Kovei deliberately stressed the last few words.
As if he'd heard some kind of activation code, Perlman suddenly stood up. Like a walking corpse, he moved stiffly and then shouted his slogans with hysterical fervor.
"That's right! I, Perlman, will challenge the injustice of fate! I will take back everything that's mine! Let those lowly wretches die—die!"
Only then did Kovei nod in satisfaction.
"Mm. Good energy. Mr. Perlman is as lively as ever today."
Perlman let out a dry, hollow laugh. Recent suffering had carved deep marks into him; the wrinkles on his face were so dense they looked like they could crush a fly.
Kovei paid him no further attention. Reaching into his clothes, his eyes suddenly lit up. He pulled out a small, cube-shaped object and handed it to Lucius.
"An Ether Aggregation Catalyst. Just as you requested, I've made it identical to the sparkstones you'll be using."
Lucius took it and looked down at the object as Kovei continued speaking.
"Just toss it into the Cinder Lake, and everything you desire—Dennies, status, and above all, that identity you've always yearned for—will be yours. You'll rule the Outer Ring as a city insider. No one will be able to stop you."
"At that point, TOPS will welcome a new member."
Lucius stared at the Ether Aggregation Catalyst. Usually sly as a fox, his gaze was now burning with naked fervor. His Adam's apple bobbed visibly as he swallowed, the sound loud and unmistakable.
After a long while, he finally tore his eyes away from the small cube in his hand. His voice came out hoarse.
"But… if we use this, then Boss Pompey…"
"He will die," Kovei said calmly. "He will become an Ethereal."
At some point, Kovei had already moved close. His palm pressed firmly against Lucius's shoulder, his seductive, devilish whisper curling around Lucius's ear.
"But you'll still be here. You can build your own kingdom on this land of the Outer Ring. The price you pay is nothing more than a stubborn, rigid old relic."
"Only you are fit to be the king of the Outer Ring."
Crack—
Boom!
The final thread of reason snapped.
Lucius sucked in heavy breaths. It wasn't until the Ether Aggregation Catalyst in his hand creaked under his grip that he snapped back to himself. His eyes blazed as he let out a long, heated exhale.
"Don't worry. I won't disappoint the esteemed members of TOPS."
"…Heh."
Kovei smiled, narrowing his eyes as he waved in farewell.
"Then I wish you smooth sailing, Lucius… Executive."
The moment the word Executive was spoken, Lucius's gaze hardened with resolve. He nodded solemnly and turned away.
He needed to conserve his strength.
Tomorrow, when the Tour de Inferno ended at dusk and golden sunlight bathed the champion—
He, Lucius, would make the entire hall fall into stunned silence.
…
"Target confirmed."
Inside the Outer Ring inn, Phaga let out a long breath. As the tension in his grip gradually eased, Ellen could clearly feel the weight lifting from his heart.
…Immediately followed by killing intent, completely unrestrained.
Ellen climbed up, one small hand braced against the bedside table as she slowly reached for the light switch on the wall.
Click.
The lights went out, plunging the world into darkness.
Only the warmth against his chest and the soft, delicate breaths by his ear told Phaga where Ellen was.
Then, the hand that had turned off the light returned.
The very hand that had reduced the entire world to just the two of them quietly reached behind Phaga's head. In the darkness, her slender fingers were tinged a faint pink.
Soft breathing whispered in the dark.
"It's getting late. Go to sleep."
Another voice responded, its breathing growing heavier.
"But like this… our combined heart rate is faster than a plane's propeller… Hey, don't mess around—hey! Hey!"
"…I'm not messing around. I'm just hugging my pillow. No matter how I hug it, that doesn't count as messing around."
"Since when did I become a pillow? I didn't get that memo… Wait, Ellen. We've got work tomorrow. Work!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Outer Ring.
After Lucius left, the boundless sea of sand was reduced to just Kovei and Perlman.
Suddenly, Kovei slapped a hand down on Perlman's shoulder. Perlman immediately began to tremble all over, his lips quivering uncontrollably.
"Tonight's moon is as white as TOP's wallet. Look at that hollow up there—doesn't it resemble the color of copper-stinking blood bruised and spilled out?"
He tilted his head slightly. "Hm? Mr. Perlman?"
Kovei gently swirled the wineglass in his hand, gazing at the rich crimson liquid inside. Then, without warning, he turned his eyes to Perlman.
"N-no… no, no, no! That's the pure white and red most cherished by the vampire clan! Don't—don't come closer! I already said it, I already gave the right answer! Don't come over! I'm begging you!"
Perlman hung his head in dejection, instinctively nodding along when he heard Kovei's question.
But in the very next second, he realized what Kovei had actually asked. He jerked his head up and looked toward him in panic.
Kovei was already wearing a gentle smile.
To Perlman, that smile was no different from a butcher's grin.
No—even the most vicious murderer in history couldn't compare to one ten-thousandth of the man before him. Kovei treated torment as an art form. If Satan himself were here, he'd be kneeling on the sand, pulling out a parchment scroll and taking notes.
The pitiful Perlman had long since lost all trace of his former pride. The instant he saw Kovei slowly rise to his feet, he screamed and bolted, throwing everything he had into escape.
But…
He hadn't even taken two steps when a massive force slammed into his back. His vision exploded into sparks as the soft sand rushed up to meet him.
Thud!
Perlman crashed into the sand, Kovei's foot pressing firmly into his back.
"Oh dear, it seems Mr. Perlman still isn't willing to cooperate. Looks like the electrotherapy package didn't quite hit the spot."
Kovei sounded almost cheerful. "How about we change things up tonight? I just so happened to find quite a few snakes and carnivorous lizards in the Outer Ring."
"I could hang you up and lower you into a cave. Let you witness a little dance between snakes and lizards with your own eyes."
"Or perhaps I'll head to the beggar camps in the Outer Ring and find someone already starving on the brink of death. I'll give him a few little pills that make people crave warmth and comfort, then smear honey and perfume all over you."
"Tell me—do you think that starving beggar, driven by longing, would eat you first… or eat you first?"
Kovei chuckled softly. "I'm really curious, Mr. Perlman. Oh? My apologies, I've got a call. We'll continue our chat later."
At last, the demonic murmur stopped.
Perlman lay there gasping for breath, his eyes bloodshot, every vein screaming with terror.
What was most despairing of all was that Kovei's foot never left his back. There was no chance of escape.
All he could do was lie there and listen helplessly as Kovei took the call.
[Hello, Bern?]
[Mm. The plan's going smoothly. Mr. Perlman's still a little uncooperative, but I'll do my best to condition him. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up—ah, wait!]
[Bern, I just remembered Khors seems to be in the Outer Ring as well. He knows some of our clan's secrets. What if he comes out and interferes? Oh, the clan's already prepared? Good. That's all.]
Beep—
After ending the call, Kovei's smile returned.
At some point, a collar had appeared in his hand. He slowly brought it toward Perlman's neck, his voice soft and almost tender.
"Mr. Perlman, after careful consideration, I think we'll start with electrotherapy. We'll cure you of this illness—your refusal to swear loyalty to the vampire clan."
"In addition, we'll generously bestow upon you the virtues of unwavering loyalty and an unyielding soul. Even under immense pressure, you'll still firmly lay bare the truth of the matter."
The words drifted down lightly.
In the next instant, Perlman's eyes went wide, veins bulging across the backs of his hands. He clawed madly at the sand in front of him, digging pit after pit until his fingertips were raw and bleeding.
Still, he refused to give up. Desperate to escape, he screamed and begged.
"No—no! Let me go, let me go! Or don't hurt me, I'll listen to everything you say—everything, I swear!!!"
"Really?" Kovei spoke suddenly, his hand pausing mid-motion.
Perlman's frantic struggle froze.
Sensing a shift, his terror flipped into wild excitement. The pallor on his face flushed red in an instant as he shouted eagerly,
"Of course! I promise! I promise I'll obey every arrangement of the vampire clan!"
"Very good."
Kovei nodded, smiling. "Then I'll take you to meet a sow later. You'll bear offspring for that beautiful lady, and when it's over, you'll tell your future wife, 'I love you.'"
In a flash, the color drained from Perlman's face again. His emotions plunged straight into an icy abyss, his expression going blank.
He froze.
And just like that, Kovei—the gold-medal lawyer—briefly took on the role of a mage and pronounced him guilty.
"You still haven't learned loyalty. What a pity."
Kovei shook his head, feigning regret.
The next second, ignoring Perlman's struggles, he snapped the collar into place.
Click.
At the sound of metal locking shut, Perlman's eyes turned red as he made one last, desperate plea.
"Wait! I was just a second slow to react! I'm willing, I really am! Let's go find the sow right now, okay? I love sows the most! Please—please!"
"Fine," Kovei said with a smile and a nod. "But the sow comes after electrotherapy, snakes and lizards, and the starving beggar."
At last, he lifted his foot from Perlman's back. From the inner lining of his suit, he produced a small button.
Zzzzt—
"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!"
A scream like a pig being slaughtered tore through the empty sand sea.
Kovei laid out a blanket and reclined on it, gazing up at the star-filled sky. In his right hand, he gently swirled his wineglass, the translucent crimson liquid sloshing within as Perlman's howls filled the air.
"A delightful piece of music."
Kovei took a small sip, then poured the rest onto the sand, sharing the heightened joy with the desert itself.
"With Mr. Perlman's loyalty secured, the plan moves one step further."