‘Having dinner alone with a man. Father would faint if he knew.’
Han had left the room.
In the dim cabin, still without the lights on, Violet was putting on her Skin Suit.
She had been courted by all kinds of men for years.
With her exceptional beauty, extraordinary family background, and unrivaled wealth, she was a single precious flower carefully nurtured by the Bradin Family. It was only natural.
However, she had rejected every proposal and advance.
Under the laws of the Republic, one came of age at twenty-one.
Violet was only twenty and had not even reached adulthood yet. More importantly, she had no interest in things like love or engagement.
‘Or perhaps he'll clutch his chest and shed tears of outrage.’
Violet's lips slowly curled upward as she imagined the scene.
She had turned down every dinner invitation from men of renowned conglomerate families and prestigious houses, yet Han was a soldier. A captain, at that, which could hardly be called a particularly high rank.
Violet had even been the one to invite him to dinner first.
She could clearly imagine how her father would react if he ever learned of this.
Even if there was nothing romantic about it.
‘I've gone through so much to keep this hidden. I absolutely refuse to let the fact that I'm a mage leak out. But I don't know what kind of person he is.’
Han did not seem like a man who could be moved by money.
That was precisely what made him difficult to deal with.
For the daughter of a conglomerate family, there was nothing easier than a problem that could be solved with money.
That was why Violet decided to learn a little more about Han.
If he needed money, she would give him money. If he needed affection, she would feign affection. Whatever it took to make sure Han did not let her secret slip, even by accident.
And—
‘I'm also a little curious about what kind of person he is.’
Violet straightened the men's hat on her head and looked down at the lock Han had destroyed on her bag.
His marksmanship had been remarkable. He had hit the lock and nothing else.
Then she thought of Han.
Pitch-black eyes resembling the night sky and equally black hair.
The fact that he was rising through the ranks so quickly in a Republic where discrimination against Easterners (people of the East) still remained meant that he was exceptionally capable.
And he belonged to the Special Unit, an organization one could not enter with merely ordinary ability.
‘He did look flustered when he realized I was innocent. But only for a moment.’
Han had faltered when her innocence was established.
He had tried his best not to show it, but Violet had noticed.
Her bloodline had produced seasoned politicians and merchants for generations, so Violet herself was exceptionally perceptive.
‘He doesn't seem like the type to indulge in luxury. I wonder what he'll wear.’
Violet finally opened the door and stepped into the corridor.
Her identity had been exposed to a stranger, so she should have been troubled.
Yet she almost seemed to be enjoying the situation.
***
“Did I explain myself poorly? I said we were going to a ballroom, not going to kill someone.”
A short while later, those were Violet's first words when she met Han again at the ballroom entrance.
Han answered calmly.
“Unfortunately, I do not own any extravagant suits. Nor do I need one.”
“I still didn't expect you to arrive dressed like someone I'd see at a cemetery. Are you perhaps imitating a crow?”
“……You hardly look any different.”
“If we're being precise, I'm dark brown. I'm from the eagle family, not a crow.”
Violet curled one hand like a bird's talons, mimicking an eagle.
As she did, the red mark beneath the glove concealing her feminine hand became visible.
Was it especially noticeable because Violet's skin was so pale?
Or had Han simply gripped her that hard?
“Shall we go inside, then? Ah, you don't seem accustomed to occasions like this, so I could at least escort you.”
“Before that, one moment.”
Han removed the wristwatch he was wearing.
“Put this on. Your wrist is thin, so it may not fit perfectly, but it should cover the mark.”
“……I appreciate the thought, but I own plenty of watches.”
“You do not have one now. Especially not a man's watch. It isn't expensive, so do not worry about it.”
Violet accepted the wristwatch.
She examined its face for a moment before speaking.
“Is this perhaps a military watch?”
“Did I not just tell you? It isn't expensive.”
Nothing about the watch's exterior revealed its true nature.
However, given the circumstances, Violet could tell that it was military issue.
“I thought you weren't supposed to take issued equipment outside without permission.”
“That is why you must return it. Before it becomes troublesome.”
Violet smiled softly at Han's answer.
“Well, we'll be stuck aboard this ship for five days anyway, so there isn't much danger of me running away with it.”
“Exactly.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
Violet decided to accept Han's gesture and put the watch on.
Its face looked large against her wrist, but after tightening the strap, it no longer hung loose.
Just as Violet was about to thank Han—
“Hey, do you think I'm a joke? Do you, you bitch?!”
A commotion erupted inside the ballroom.
A man was being dragged out by the guards.
His face was bright red, apparently from having drunk quite heavily.
The woman he was raging at looked terrified.
People who appeared to be her acquaintances were trying to calm her down.
“Do I look like a beggar? I'm fucking loaded, you goddamn bitch! Hey, let go! I said let go, you bastards!”
Before long, the man had been dragged close to Han and Violet.
Han took Violet by the elbow and pulled her toward himself, allowing him to examine the man from close range.
“What am I lacking? What the fuck do I lack that makes you look down on me?!”
The man had adorned his entire body with accessories, as though deliberately flaunting his wealth.
Along with gold rings and a gold necklace, both his clothes and shoes were luxury goods.
His perfume was so overpowering that Han's nose tingled when the man passed in front of them.
Once the guards finally dragged him away and he disappeared down the corridor, peace returned to the ballroom and the frozen atmosphere slowly began to thaw.
“Code Tuie Twelve.”
Han looked at Violet, and she continued.
“That's the name of the perfume that man was wearing. It's famous among perfumes for lasting a long time and having very strong projection, so a single spray is usually enough. He seemed to have sprayed it five or six times.”
“You seem to know quite a bit about perfume.”
“A little. But…… something feels strange.”
“What do you mean?”
Violet kept her gaze on the end of the corridor where the man had disappeared.
“It was very faint, but there was another scent mixed in. I don't know whether the perfume was old and the fragrance had deteriorated, or whether there was some other reason. But like that, it almost seemed as though…….”
“He deliberately sprayed himself several times to conceal another smell.”
“It's only speculation.”
Violet turned her jewel-like violet eyes toward Han.
It was almost as if she were asking what he thought.
Han answered.
“At the very least, it wasn't the smell of blood.”
“Does that mean you smelled something else?”
“I do not know. My sense of smell isn't nearly as sharp as yours.”
“You seem to have some idea. What is it?”
At Violet's question, Han recalled the brief moment when the man had passed him, as though replaying it before his eyes.
“That man's pupils were unusually small.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“A person's pupils change according to the amount of light, but their size can also change depending on their emotional state. When someone feels unpleasant emotions such as hostility, the pupils tend to dilate. But that man's pupils were abnormally small. Almost as though he were under some kind of influence.”
“By influence, you don't mean…….”
“MFP. A new drug that has recently begun spreading. Those are its symptoms. When taken, the pupils can dilate up to eight times their normal size, but afterward, they become severely constricted for approximately twelve hours.”
This time Han asked the question.
“What was that strange smell like? Did it smell anything like mud?”
“Mud……. Mud, you say. Now that you mention it, it was similar. Like the day after it rains.”
“Then we should confirm it.”
He had just gained another task.
“First an unidentified person in a Skin Suit, and now a suspected drug user. Even during your precious vacation, incidents just keep finding you. This truly must be your calling.”
With a faint smile, Violet remarked on Han's troublesome fate.
Han merely shrugged.
“We cannot be certain yet. Still, even if that is the case, it would be wise to prepare for the possibility. I apologize, but would you mind being alone for a while?”
“You're going to stand up a poor lady?”
Han smiled slightly at Violet's playful response.
“Right now, you're a man, aren't you?”
“Hehe. True. Still, I'm certain you'll be better off if I accompany you.”
Violet spoke confidently.
To be fair, a mage on the level of a State-Certified Mage could be useful in virtually any situation.
However, Han shook his head.
“You are a civilian.”
“But hardly an ordinary one.”
“Did you not want to keep your identity hidden?”
“It won't be exposed. Right now, I'm not Violet Bradin. I'm merely a thin young gentleman.”
Violet lightly lifted her hat and gave him a gentlemanly greeting.
The two spoke quietly enough that only they could hear, and Han did not deliberate for long.
“Then come with me.”
Han and Violet immediately set off.
Following the man's trail was extremely easy.
The smell of perfume guided them like a trail of bread crumbs.
Eventually, they arrived before a room marked off-limits to outsiders.
“Outsiders are not permitted inside.”
“Captain Han Augustus, Special Unit Capital Second Headquarters.”
“Th-the Special Unit!”
The moment Han showed his identification, the guard standing at the door straightened his back.
The Special Unit was also known as the Republic's fierce hunting dogs.
Each member possessed abnormal physical abilities or power.
Moreover, obstructing their duties was treated as a serious crime.
“Th-thank you for your hard work! But what brings you here……?”
“I am here to investigate the man who was dragged out a moment ago. He appeared to be showing symptoms consistent with MFP.”
“MFP……! I-I thought so. Understood. Please, come inside. The other guards should be trying to calm him down.”
Just then—
“Fuck! All of you, get out before I kill you!”
The man's shout came from inside.
The guard, Han, and Violet hurried into the room.
It was a space used as an employee break room.
Inside, the man who had caused the disturbance in the ballroom earlier was facing off against several guards.
There appeared to have already been a brief struggle.
One guard had a long knife wound across his face.
“Who the hell are you two?!”
DRIP. DRIP.
Fresh red blood dripped from a dagger.
Its sharp blade pointed toward Han.
“I told everyone to get out! You think I'm a fucking joke too?!”
The thoroughly agitated man looked ready to charge at Han at any moment.
Han, however, calmly analyzed the evidence before him.
‘As I thought, I've never seen his face before. He's not one of the known bastards.’
‘His grip on the knife is awkward, and I can see hesitation in both the trembling blade and his eyes. He's definitely a rookie.’
‘But if there's one problem…….’
Han focused on the tattoo visible through the man's open shirt.
Most of it was hidden, so he could not see it clearly, but it was unquestionably a tattoo Han knew well.
“Han. That man. He's 『Pest』.”
Violet had noticed the tattoo as well and warned him to be careful.
Pest.
It was an organization of heretical mages.
More precisely, a massive criminal organization composed of heretical mages.
However, Han—
“I know.”
The Special Unit had been created to capture people like them.
They were the Republic's hunting dogs, ferociously sinking their teeth into criminals.
“That is why I came.”
WHOOOSH—!
Han flew.
There was no other way to describe how far and how quickly he moved.
Sharp and precise.
“GAH!”
He drove his iron fist into the man's abdomen.