Aventurine strolled down the long corridor before eventually stopping outside a conference room.
He rested one hand on the door handle, and the expression on his face changed almost imperceptibly.
His smile remained, but the spark it had possessed only moments ago was gone.
What remained was the polished, professional smile he wore during business negotiations.
A faint trace of resignation could also be seen beneath it.
Did the IPC really need this many pointless meetings.
He could have spent this time placing a few bets.
Aventurine pushed open the door.
Several elegantly dressed figures were already seated around the spacious conference room.
“You are cutting it close.”
“You almost arrived late.”
The young woman who greeted him wore a fitted IPC uniform and tall boots.
A streak of red ran through her short silver hair, and her pale blue eyes watched Aventurine with amusement.
Numby stood beside her chair.
The moment Aventurine saw Topaz, some genuine life returned to his smile.
He casually took the seat beside her and spoke in a teasing tone.
“I ran into a fascinating young woman.”
“She claimed she was one of my fans and even asked for my autograph.”
“She said she was a new employee working under you.”
“Today was apparently her first day at headquarters, so be gentle with my newest admirer.”
Topaz froze.
“A young woman.”
“All the new employees assigned to my team recently are men.”
Aventurine’s smile faltered.
“That cannot be right.”
“She even promised to show me some fireworks later.”
“Fireworks.”
Silence fell between them.
Aventurine and Topaz stared at one another.
Once they confirmed that neither was joking, a terrible realization struck them both.
“Oh no.”
“We have a problem.”
…
A short while later, on the roof of the IPC headquarters building.
Kai sat atop the wall surrounding the rooftop.
Her long black twin ponytails swayed in the wind while she idly played with a purple trigger in one hand.
She kicked her feet back and forth, looking incredibly pleased with herself.
Before long, the rooftop door burst open.
Aventurine and Topaz emerged with a squad of IPC security officers.
They quickly surrounded the rooftop and aimed their weapons at the young woman sitting on the wall.
Kai turned toward the commotion.
The smile on her face immediately vanished.
She hopped down from the wall and looked at Aventurine with a frightened expression.
“Aventurine, why are they pointing weapons at me.”
“This is terrifying.”
“Who are you.”
“And why did you pretend to be an IPC employee.”
Topaz stepped forward before Aventurine could answer.
Her expression had become cold and suspicious.
Kai flinched as though Topaz had frightened her.
She took two nervous steps backward.
Mist gathered in her pale blue eyes, making it appear as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
“I was only curious.”
“I pretended to be an employee because I wanted to look around the headquarters.”
“Topaz, Aventurine, I am sorry.”
“Kai knows she made a mistake.”
“Could you please ask them to lower their weapons.”
“I am scared.”
Topaz and Aventurine exchanged an uncertain glance.
Had they misunderstood the situation.
Perhaps the truth was not as sinister as they had imagined.
To test her story, Aventurine raised one of the Kai Dolls that security had discovered.
“What is this.”
“Were you the person who placed these throughout the building.”
“They are gifts.”
“I was taught that you should never visit someone’s home empty-handed.”
“So I brought my favorite dolls to share with everyone.”
“Aventurine, do you not like them.”
Kai pouted and stared up at him with watery eyes.
Her wounded expression made it seem as though his answer might break her heart.
“I like them.”
“Of course we like them.”
Aventurine and Topaz hurriedly reassured her.
No matter how they looked at the situation, Kai appeared to be nothing more than a harmless and overly curious young woman.
The doll in Aventurine’s hand also appeared to be completely ordinary.
Security had already examined it and found nothing dangerous.
Perhaps they really had overreacted.
At a signal from Aventurine and Topaz, the security officers lowered their weapons and began leaving the rooftop.
Topaz folded her arms and put on her sternest managerial expression.
“Sneaking into IPC headquarters is still against the rules.”
“You understand that.”
“If you genuinely wanted to visit, you could have submitted a formal request.”
“Once the IPC completed the appropriate security checks, an authorized tour could have been arranged.”
Kai’s expression immediately darkened.
She lowered her head and quietly sniffled.
“I do not have anyone who could help me submit a request.”
“My parents are gone.”
Silence.
Topaz’s stern expression collapsed.
She is an orphan.
I am a terrible person.
Topaz opened her mouth, wanting to offer some comfort, but no words came.
Aventurine felt a sudden and painful sense of recognition.
He saw something familiar in Kai’s loneliness.
Something that reminded him of his own childhood.
Had he treated a frightened young woman with far too much suspicion.
Perhaps spending so many years inside the IPC had trained him to assume the worst about everyone.
Kai was simply lost and alone.
How dangerous could she possibly be.
After a moment, Kai wiped the corner of her eye and struggled to hold back her tears.
“Kai understands that she did something wrong.”
“My father taught me that when you make a mistake, you should accept the consequences.”
“Topaz, Aventurine, you may punish me.”
Topaz felt another arrow of guilt strike her conscience.
Kai was clearly devastated, yet she was still willing to admit her mistake and accept responsibility.
How could anyone punish someone so sincere.
She had not caused any visible damage, and she appeared to understand what she had done wrong.
Surely a warning would be enough.
Aventurine and Topaz exchanged another glance.
They immediately understood one another.
Aventurine gently patted Kai on the head and gave her a warm smile.
“There will be no punishment.”
“You did not cause any real harm.”
“What matters is that you understand your mistake and do not repeat it.”
Topaz took Kai’s hand.
Her fingers were cold, and the anxious expression on her face made Topaz’s heart ache.
The poor thing must have been terrified.
Topaz remembered how harshly she had spoken earlier, and guilt flooded through her once more.
I really am terrible.
She held Kai’s hand more firmly and spoke with absolute conviction.
“Do not worry, Kai.”
“I will protect you.”
“No one here will hurt you.”
“I promise.”
“Thank you, Topaz.”
“You are so kind.”
Kai gave her a sweet smile and wrapped her arms around her.
Topaz stiffened in surprise, then slowly relaxed and returned the embrace.
Kai let out a quiet, satisfied hum.
So Topaz was just as easy to fool.
What a pushover.
Hehe.
Topaz’s cheeks turned red from the unexpected affection, but she made no attempt to pull away.
Then the rooftop door opened once again.
“Wake up.”
A commanding voice echoed across the roof.
A stream of pale energy shot out from the darkness and passed through Aventurine and Topaz.
Both of them froze.
Several seconds later, their expressions changed completely.
They immediately broke away from Kai and retreated.
Something was wrong with her.
Kai was certainly charming, but Aventurine and Topaz were members of the Ten Stonehearts.
They would never allow appearances alone to cloud their judgment so completely.
“Cognitive manipulation.”
“No.”
“This is the power of Elation.”
A man emerged from the darkness.
He wore an immaculate suit and a formal top hat.
His intense gaze remained fixed on Kai as he approached.
“Emanator of Elation, Kai.”
“Tell us why you have come to Pier Point.”