On the Pacific Ocean, multiple unidentified and armoured ships travelled slowly. They didn't seem to have a location, instead, they floated on the ocean.
On one of the ships, a girl was sitting down, observing her workers and subordinates as they work.
Her hair was long, silky and black, like any Japanese though her eyes were different. They were slanted and her irises resembled silver. She wore a black suit and white t-shirt; she sat cross-legged on her chair, staring at a series of monitors.
The girl didn't look too pleased.
Behind her were two guards. They chatted to each other to pass the time. The girl noticed but allowed them.
"Hey, Yume-chan!"
A cheerful voice shouted out.
The men straightened up as the girl sighed.
She turned her chair around. The girl loured.
"Oh, you look like a real businesswoman now! Maybe you should get married."
The woman teased.
"I'm 15, Aden-Lada. I also told you to call me Yumeko."
Aden-Lada twisted her light pink hair around her finger. Her blue eyes met with the girl's silver ones.
"So-"
The girl got up from her chair.
"-what does Gluttony want from me?"
Yumeko was on guard. Aden-Lada pouted.
"Why can't I just visit my cute little Yume-chan?!"
She cried, forcefully hugging Yumeko tightly.
"Uh, no, you can... But you never come here to see me. I mean..."
Yumeko pushed Aden-Lada away.
"You're a Mortal Sin, after all..."
Tears flooded from Aden-Lada's eyes. She was like a child.
"Just because I'm a Mortal Sin doesn't mean that I'm serious and special! I'm worthless!"
The tears flooded and they wouldn't stop. The girl desperately tried to stop Aden-Lada from crying further.
"Y-you're a Mortal Sin! One of the most powerful beings in this world! You're not worthless! You're really strong and cute, Aden-Lada!"
"R-really?"
Yumeko shook her head vertically, frantically.
Aden-Lada felt a slight boost in confidence, however, it wasn't enough to stop her crying.
"If... If that's true, then call me Aden-chan!"
Suddenly, Yumeko regretted the idea of calming Aden-Lada down.
She diverted her silver eyes.
"Look... I don't think that... calling you by... THAT name is necessary."
"Please, Yume-chan..."
Aden-Lada gave Yumeko puppy dog eyes. No matter how indifferent she would try to be, she couldn't ignore such cuteness.
"A..."
She inched closer as Yumeko spoke.
"Aden...chan..."
The volume of her voice decreased as she finished her sentence.
"I didn't hear you..."
Aden-Lada said, teasingly.
"Aden-chan! There! You happy now?!"
Yumeko's cheeks became red.
The Mortal Sin jumped around and clapped her hands. She celebrated.
"She said it! She said it! She said it!"
"Now, if we're done with this nonsense, why are you here, former Pink Emperor, Rosé?"
Stopped, Aden-Lada turned to Yumeko. She wore an almost bewitching smile.
"Yume-chan... You know I don't like being called that. I quit being an Emperor after we killed that jerk, the Black Emperor, the first time."
"Tell me."
Yumeko demanded. Aden-Lada's smile faded away. It was like she became someone else.
"Okay, I will. There are three things I'd like to discuss."
"Fire away."
"First, there will be a meeting on the 29th. You have to be there."
The girl nodded.
"Secondly, you've been given a number."
Yumeko shivered. She broke into a cold sweat.
"Oi... You can't be serious, can you? There's no way I became one!"
Aden-Lada didn't seem pleased with Yumeko's denial.
"Oh, but you did become one. Father said that you would become one."
She kissed her tongue.
"Father... We've barely even communicated..."
She breathed under her breath.
"Tell me, what number."
"Number 12; The Hanged Man."
"I'm not taking the number."
The girl fumed, sitting down in her chair. The Mortal Sin questioned her.
"What, why? Anyone else would want to be a part of the Major Arcana. These men want to be, so why not you?"
She asked. Yumeko was biting her nail in irritation.
"Look, Aden-Lada. You guys picked me up after I had a hard time, I passed all of that when I was young. But now, I have a purpose, and having a number is going to make it harder. Especially number 12."
Aden-Lada still didn't understand.
"Shouldn't having a number make things easier, not harder?"
"The characteristics of The Hanged Man will collide with my goal. Could you please tell me, what are the characteristics of The Hanged Man?"
"Well, if I remember... It was that you have to let go of your past and accept the reality you're currently facing."
"Well, there you go. 'Let go of the past.' That's something I can't do. It would defeat the whole reason I joined you all."
The two stared at each other for a short period.
"Fine, I'll tell Father to retract your number from you."
Yumeko bowed her head in thanks before asking another question.
"What's your third reason for coming?"
"Oh, I had already forgotten about that."
Aden-Lada whispered to herself. She sauntered toward Yumeko and leaned over.
What Aden-Lada was doing was similar to intimidation. To the average human, to the guards, they wouldn't be able to feel anything.
Why?
Since this type of pressure and fear can only be felt by those who have danced with death.
Yumeko peered into Aden-Lada's eyes as she sank fear deep into her heart.
She continuously shivered feeling the killer aura from a godly being like Aden-Lada.
"I want to hear the truth from your lips, Yume-chan... Did you find the one who you're looking for?"
The girl nodded.
"Speak."
"Y-yes..."
"Now, you tell me whether his ability is similar to Black Exodia. I have a gut feeling he may be dangerous."
Yumeko swallowed her saliva and spoke.
"N-no... He may be related to me, but he's not that powerful and important."
The Mortal Sin glared at Yumeko intensely. Abruptly, she switched persona. Turning, she clapped her hands and smiled.
"Since it came out of your mouth, it must be true, Yume-chan! I'll see you next time!"
Aden-Lada walked out of the room and out of sight. Yumeko smoothed out her throat.
"Yeah... Shoya has Black Exodia..."
She breathed.
The full name of the girl was...
Yumeko Sasaki. A forgotten daughter of Shoya's family.