-The night was still, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind whispered through the town. The streets were empty at this hour, most commoners lost in their slumber, while the nobility remained behind thick walls, guarded by steel and wealth-
-Yet, for someone like Dazai, no wall was too thick, no guard too watchful. Moving like a shadow, he slipped through the town unnoticed, his steps soundless as he approached his destination—a grand estate belonging to one Richard Forbit, a noble known for his greed and his family's long history of shady dealings-
-With practiced ease, Dazai infiltrated the mansion, weaving through hallways and slipping past guards like a specter in the dark. By the time he reached Richard's chambers, the nobleman was already fast asleep, his large body sprawled over silk sheets, his snores rattling through the room-
-Dazai made himself comfortable, perching on the rear corner of the bed, watching the door with a quiet patience. He had no need to wake the man violently—his mere presence was enough.-
-Minutes passed. Then, instinct stirred within Richard, his body sensing something was amiss. His snoring hitched, his breathing grew uneven, and then—with a sharp intake of breath—his eyes snapped open.The moment his gaze met Dazai's calm, piercing stare, his body froze-
Dazai: "Hey… You seem to be at ease now that you're not going to get killed. That's good. Let's keep it that way."
-Richard bolted upright, his heavy form shaking the bed as he gasped for air. Sweat glistened on his forehead as he scrambled to understand the situation-
-Dazai merely chuckled, his voice smooth and unbothered-
Dazai: "Relax. I'm not here to slit your throat. I have a proposal for you. And since you've already agreed to do anything to save your life the last time we met, I figured we should put that promise to use."
-Slowly, Dazai pulled down his scarf, revealing his full face under the dim candlelight. The moment Richard got a clear look at him, his breath hitched. His expression twisted into one of shock—his beady eyes wide with recognition-
Richard: "Y-You… You look exactly like Ryomen Carnage!"
-Dazai tilted his head slightly, his smirk never fading-
Dazai: "Oh? So you know my father?"
-There was something dangerous in his tone—not quite a threat, but enough to make Richard uneasy. The nobleman swallowed hard before nodding-
Richard: "Yes… He made a deal like this with my father. Saved his life in exchange for something."
-His voice wavered, but he forced a strained chuckle-
Richard: "Like father, like son, huh? So, what is it you want, lad?"
-Dazai exhaled through his nose, amusement flashing in his gaze-
Dazai: "You're eager to get this over with. That's not very polite, you know."
-Richard stiffened slightly, but Dazai continued before he could stammer out a reply-
Dazai: "No matter. Let's talk business."
-With a flick of his wrist, Dazai tossed something toward Richard. The noble caught it clumsily, his fingers fumbling around the smooth, circular object. He turned it over, his brows furrowing as he examined it-
Richard: "What is this? Some sort of… crystal mirror disc?"
-Dazai let out a low, rumbling laugh before his expression turned serious-
Dazai: "Don't joke around like that. That–" he gestured toward the device in Richard's hands, "–is something that will change the way this world operates. I call it… Bio-Touch."
-He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make the nobleman feel the weight of his words-
Dazai: "A phone, in other words."
-Richard's face twisted in confusion-
Richard: "A… phone?"
Dazai: "That device allows you to communicate with someone from miles away—far beyond shouting distance, far beyond anything this world has seen before. But that's not all. It can also detect individuals with mana. For low-rank users, the range is about thirty kilometers. But for those with mana to spare, it can stretch for miles"
"More than that, it allows concealment—depending on one's strength, of course. A lower-ranked individual won't be able to hide from a superior one. But for someone like you… with the right investment… it could be priceless."
-Richard's hands trembled as he processed Dazai's words. He looked down at the device, then back at Dazai, his throat tightening-
Richard: "This… This would be… revolutionary."
-Dazai smirked-
Dazai: "Exactly. And you–" he gestured at Richard with a slow, deliberate motion, "–are going to sponsor it."
-Richard flinched slightly-
Richard: "And you're sure you can trust me with something like this?"
-Dazai let out another laugh, shaking his head-
Dazai: "Trust? Oh, no, Richard."
-His gaze darkened, a predatory glint shining behind his calm demeanor-
Dazai: "If you betray me, I will kill you."
-Richard stiffened, the weight of those words sinking in. Dazai wasn't bluffing-
Dazai: "But you're not that stupid, are you? I don't think you'd risk your life over something so petty. Besides…"
-He stood up, stretching slightly before making his way to the open window-
Dazai: "You'll profit from this too. See? It benefits us both. Nothing personal… Just business."
-With those final words, he leaned back, letting himself fall from the window-
-By the time Richard scrambled to the edge to look down, Dazai was already gone—vanished into the night like a ghost-
-Left alone in his room, Richard clutched the Bio-Touch in his shaking hands. His mind raced, knowing that whatever he had just gotten himself into.It was far bigger than anything his family had ever dealt with before-