"Please, please, please..." Belle winced, eyes fluttering as she looked at the scratch card in her hand. She groaned in dismay at the picture of bones in it. "Ugh..." she rolled her eyes and handed the scratch card to Howl. A very smart, very good doggo, it woofed and handed her some dennies.
"Yeah... not even enough for coffee," Belle turned to the newspaper. "I'll take the latest news," she said, returning the dennies she won.
With a flick, she grabbed the newspaper, reading the deadline. "Plead guilty on all charges... Good boy, Perlman~" she flipped through the picture, a picture of Nicole standing smugly in the middle of the battlefield. "She looks so cool, but she was actually scared shitless when they threw those grenades..." she muttered in amusement.
With ding of a bell, the bittersweet smell of coffee waft through her. Belle looked up at the robot barista standing behind the counter. "Why hello there Belle," the robot said. "It's a beautiful day today, the same as usual?"
Belle smiled back at him. "Yep, Berry Latte please~"
The robot's smiled, somehow. "Of course, coming right up!" he started grinding some coffee as Belle picked a seat near the window.
"Hmm..." Belle read the newspaper, not only the article did talk about Vision's mad plan to kill all resident of the Old Metro, it also talked in length about the mysterious Cunning Hares. There's a section on the newspaper containing conspiracies about the Cunning Hares.
Some say that they are Janus HQ's special force, some say they are vigilante, some say Belobog paid them to do all that, others say that Vision originally contracted them but they didn't pay them enough. Belle giggled at that last one, it's, in a sense, correct...
The entrance of the cafe tinkled and a girl stepped in. She looks young, with a long red hair tied in a messy twin tail. She's wearing an eyepatch and a tank top with jacket strapped around her waist. She turned to Belle, tilting her head in deep thought.
"Welcome, how about a cup of joe?"
The girl turned to the Tin Master. "Ah, I'll have the..." she narrowed her eyes. "What would you recommend?"
"Recommendations! Do you prefer your coffee sweet or strong?"
"Umm, sweet please," she put a fist over her mouth, coughing a little as a blush spread over her cheek.
"May I suggest the Tin Master's Special Caramel Mocha?" The Tin Master said.
"Uh, sure, thank you!" the girl nodded turned back to Belle before taking a deep breath. She stood near her. "Uhh, can I sit here?"
"Do I know you?"
"Koleda Belobog, the Cunning Hares should've told you about me," she sat down, facing Belle. "Sorry for being too forward, but we know you're Phaethon,"
Belle tilted her head, leaning her head on to her hand. "Then, what about it?"
"We... wish to give you compensation for your effort," she took out an envelope from her pocket. "And extend our contract, if you don't mind,"
Belle grinned a little. "Aww, thanks, thought you're going to rat me out to the Pubsec," she took the envelope.
"No! I'd never," Koleda shook her head. "Grace told me everything, you were all heroes who saved those people," she tapped her fingers. "As for the next contract... We'll let you know about it, I'm just here to offer you this,"
The Tin Master arrived, carrying the cups of coffee. "Iced Caramel Mocha and Warm Berry Latte," he said.
"Thank you," Belle and Koleda said in sync before sipping on their respective drinks.
"What do you think?" Belle asked with a smile.
Koleda nodded. "Yes, I'm looking forward to..."
"No, the coffee, it tastes good, isn't it?" Belle asked with a giggle.
Koleda blushed a little. "W-well, it's a little sweet," she said. "It's a good treat to have every now and then,"
Belle's eyes twinkled with mirth. "So, you like it?"
"Yeah, I guess I do!" Koleda said, before taking another sip. "I'm usually very busy so I don't have much time for coffee," she looked at the glass before her. "It taste, different than canned coffee I usually drink."
"Of course, don't compare Tin Master's Special with instant coffee," Belle said with an eye roll. "It's the best there is!" she then supported her chin with both hands and gazed at Koleda. "By the day, is it weird that I thought you're a chuuni?"
"What?"
"You're a
Koleda coughed, choking on her drink. "Wh-what?!" she patted her chest. "This isn't... There's a valid reason I'm wearing this! And what do you mean loli?"
"Well..." Belle averted her gaze.
"Hey! Don't look down on me just cuz I look like a kid!"
Belle raised both hands, smiling sheepishly. "Ehehe... sorry, sorry, it's just a random thought..." a mischievous grin formed on her face. "But really, you're really cute you know that? I can imagine you looking so out of place surrounded by big strong bears,"
"I will make you eat hammer for that," Koleda huffed before sitting back down, face red in embarrassment.
Belle waved her hand. "Sure, sure, whatever," she perked up. "Oh by the way, do you like Starlight Knights?"
"You're really asking for a fight huh?"
"No, no, not like that," Belle raised her hands. "Me and the Cunning Hares are planning to have a go together at Starlight Knight themed restaurant today. Was wondering if you'd like to come," she grinned a little. "It'd be fun, we're getting a new member,"
Koleda raised an eyebrow. "New member?"
"Mhmm, the cat thiren you see on the news?"
"Ah, Nekomiya, Grace said she was a great help," Koleda nodded in approval. "I'll see if I can make room in my schedule, but no promises," she finished her cup of coffee. "See you then Phaethon, here's to a good partnership,"
"Later then~"
Belle watched as the little girl left the store, an invisible look of hunger in her eyes as Koleda left. She wondered what it takes for her to have that girl, to have Belobog Industry under her palm. She wondered just how easy it would be to mold that little girl.
"Hm," she took another sip of her latte, it's sweet. "I should buy something for Perlman after this... I kinda put him on the spot there..." she winced a little, a sheepish smile grew on her face. "I hope he wasn't too pissed, ahaha..."
[LINE BREAK]
Deep inside New Eridu Public Security high security facility, amongst all the twisted criminals and monstrous creatures, beyond the steel bars and depraved markings on the wall... There lies... the single most secure prison cell ever created.
The Five Star Containment Chamber
A single chubby gentleman woke up from his King sized bed. He groaned, kicking away his silken blanket and turning on the heater. A couple of servant Bangboo runs around frantically, preparing his bath tub and a dining table for his coffee and breakfast.
"Ugh... I better have an explanation soon," Perlman muttered to himself, thick eyebrows narrowed in annoyance as he gazed at himself on the dresser. "Thought I was a goner there, could've emailed me a memo or something..."
One of the Bangboo behind him froze, blank screen gaze right at him through the mirror. "Come on now Perlman, it's not like you're any good at acting," a girl's voice came from it and the old man froze. "If I were to tell you about the plan, would you be able to keep up the act???"
Perlman tried to keep his scowl on his face, brushing his hair and mustache. "So pretending to try and kill me was better then?"
"At the very least, we were just pretending," the voice spoke coldly.
Perlman gulped, confidence faltering. He knew exactly that the monster behind that voice is more than capable to kill him for real. They've demonstrated that again and again, he's not so stupid as to believe he can go against it. "So what do you want this time? Putting your own men on jail, that's not very cash money of you,"
Another Bangboo showed up from a small flap near the wall, carrying a parcel. Another one showed up, carrying a plate full of Rib Eye Steak, the kind that belongs in a culinary magazine. They put the feast atop the dining table, along with an expensive coffee.
"I pulled so many strings to give you a Five Star Hotel experience in the highest security prison," the blank screened Bangboo spoke. "I mean, you're getting dined premium beef here, a little thank you would be nice!"
"This is the Bare Minimum of what I surely deserve," Perlman sat on the table and tried the rib eye. "And this is made by an ordinary chef,"
"You are insatiable you know that?" the blank screened Bangboo hopped on the chair opposite of Perlman. "Anyway, next mission, I'm sending you off to meet a friend of mine in the Outer Ring,"
"Outer Ring!?" Perlman glared at the Bangboo. "I am not-" his words was cut short when a painful stabbing sensation spread across his body, he clutched his throat, his chest, and dropped on to the floor with a terrifying thud. "Ghk... H-help!" he gasped.
"Yeah, I need you to meet my contact there, continue my mission, etc, etc," the Bangboo spoke, gazing blankly at Perlman's writhing form. "Are you in?"
Tears of fear trickled down his cheek. He nodded vigorously with the last of his strength. His eyes began showing whites, white foam bubbled in his mouth. He knew that he will literally die if he doesn't listen to this monster.
"I'll take that as a yes then..."
Perlman could barely feel the needle stabbing his neck. His vision gradually cleared and he can finally see clearly. The plate of poisoned beef lay on the floor, among the shattered plate. Despite this, he didn't move an inch, his chest is still pounding hard from fear...
"S-sorry..." he whispered weakly, coughing a little. "I'll... do as you say... Black Sun..."