Vicious Darling

[38]

“She did that for you?”

Peter almost screamed. Hannah snorted.

“Of course not. I pretended to struggle, cutting, crushing, and grinding, putting on all sorts of performances, and then said I failed.”

“…Oh.”

Peter trembled at Hannah’s words.

“I made some noise about how it didn’t seem to contain ordinary ingredients.”

“Are you okay? If you’re thinking of moving your shop due to safety concerns, the Barrel Society could-“

“I’m. Not. Going. Anywhere.”

Hannah replied to Peter’s suggestion, emphasizing each word.

She didn’t want to hear anything about leaving this place.

“I’ll die in my shop if I have to, remember that.”

Peter took a step back at her fierce spirit.

“…I’ll tell the kids to come buy snacks here often.”

Hannah nodded lukewarmly, appreciating that he didn’t phrase it as increasing security.

“Do you remember what the person who brought the medicine looked like?”

“In this weather, he was wearing sunglasses, a hat pulled low, a suit, and even a coat.”

Hannah answered immediately. She frowned as she continued her recollection.

“His hair was kind of straw-like brown… so it looked blonde at a glance. He was quite big. Intimidatingly so. He was a man with a slightly rough voice. The back of his hand, which I glimpsed, had many scars.”

“Thank you.”

Faded blonde, large build, scars on the back of the hand, suit with sunglasses.

Chris did his best to store this information in his mind.

He thought that maybe… it could be a member of the Thorns Order.

‘It couldn’t have been easy to deceive her.’

Chris looked at Hannah with newfound appreciation.

“What?”

“Nothing. Though we just met today, I think you’re a very impressive person, Hannah.”

“…Hmm.”

Hannah, looking at Chris with a troubled face, pulled Peter close and whispered,

“Is he always like this?”

“Uh, no. He’s usually quite blunt. But he’s… honest in ways others aren’t.”

Hannah clicked her tongue.

“Did I make a mistake?”

Chris, who had been politely pretending not to hear their conversation, carefully asked.

“No, it’s not that. I hope you achieve what you want and return to the Winter Continent.”

Hannah hesitated for a moment, then took out a glass jar of lollipops from the kitchen cabinet.

“Well, do you have a favorite flavor?”

“…I like cherry.”

“Alright.”

Hannah, with the kindest face she’d shown since they met, took out a cherry lollipop and handed it to Chris.

The lollipop on Chris’s hand looked like a miniature toy.

Seeing this, Hannah chuckled and impulsively spoke.

“As I said before, body and mind are ultimately connected. So when something sweet enters your mouth, your head also thinks it feels good. If you want to know why, go ask our professor.”

Hannah, grumbling that she wasn’t talented in education, looked straight into Chris’s blue eyes.

“That’s why I decided to make candy. Even if it doesn’t solve anything, I hope it can provide a moment of comfort.”

But like most people, Hannah hadn’t completely left her past behind.

This lollipop was a trace of that lingering attachment.

“…”

“I hope it helps you too.”

Hannah’s blessing was quite meaningful.

Chris tightly gripped the lollipop on his hand.

“Thank you.”

***

Yuri slowly walked into the dark forest.

He had said he was going for a walk because he felt stuffy while everyone was busy with the aftermath.

Someone might find it suspicious, but it didn’t matter.

Because the person Yuri was meeting today was very special.

“Yuri.”

Foreman Hogan appeared.

“You came. Did anyone find it suspicious?”

“Yes. I slipped out carefully.”

“Good. Good.”

Nodding repeatedly while speaking, he asked,

“Ahem. So, you said you wanted to talk about a deal?”

“Yes.”

Yuri had the face of a skilled negotiator.

“I saw the medicine others are using. The effect… is quite good.”

As he twisted his lips into a smile, Hogan flinched.

Yuri, who rarely smiled, looked truly mad when he did.

‘He looks ordinary, but…’

Those eyes, those purple eyes seemed to sparkle with an intelligence and distant madness that Hogan couldn’t fathom.

‘How did someone like this end up at the site?’

Wasn’t this place where small fry that the city could catch were pushed out to?

“I thought there would be many people outside who would want these pills. So I probed around a bit… and they said you brought them, Foreman?”

“…I told you to call me Hogan.”

The man, perhaps wanting to appear friendly, pointed out this fact again and scratched his chin with a groan.

“Will there really be a lot of demand?”

“Even if it’s not truly a panacea, it seems to have effects close to it.”

Hogan slowly nodded at Yuri’s words.

He was too scared to try it himself. But even those who were rolling around saying they couldn’t work would get up and move with just one pill.

There were cases where people developed aftereffects from not receiving proper treatment in time… but such people were “replaced,” so they quickly faded from Hogan’s mind.

“So I thought about selling it. Of course, that’s if you can supply enough quantity.”

“But I can’t just circulate it outside the site carelessly. If we were to get caught…”

Realizing he had just implied the existence of a behind-the-scenes figure, Hogan’s face turned pale.

“It will surely bring in big money.”

That was all Yuri said.

But at the same time, Hogan’s hesitation could be seen slowly lifting.

‘As expected.’

Although the persuasion wasn’t difficult, Yuri remained calm without showing any signs of joy.

It was because he had observed the site for days and understood the people here.

Except for Abigail perhaps, Hogan showed no signs of complex motivations or missions. Yet he didn’t seem very enthusiastic, as if he hadn’t been promised any great reward either.

Yuri knew well about such people.

Hogan was merely sitting in that position because he was ordered to from above.

He doesn’t feel much guilt even when forcing unreasonable schedules on illegal immigrants and criminals, demanding they meet quotas.

Because it’s an order from above.

The treatment of humans who outsource their judgment is predictable everywhere.

The higher-ups, including Abigail, would treat Hogan as a replaceable part.

As a part, he probably knows this fact.

So protecting his own well-being would be the top priority. If he could earn some extra income in the process, all the better.

Who would count how many were used when the medicine was piled up for anyone to take?

Yuri had proposed to buy in bulk the medicine that had been so loosely left out.

‘They’re probably supplying it almost unlimitedly… to encourage addiction.’

It’s always enjoyable to watch humans step on their own toes.

Last night, Chris reported the identity of the medicine as ordered by Yuri.

He said it wasn’t a guiding drug but a very powerful painkiller.

Yuri nodded slightly at the mention that it was highly addictive due to its pain-relieving effect alone.

Finally, Chris added:

“There was someone who asked if they could bring guiding drugs and find out the formula.”

Could it be the Thorns Order? Or a third force?

If it’s the Thorns Order, the situation becomes a bit easier. It means they won’t have to worry about guiding drugs anymore once they use up the stock Rosenhauser had created. If it’s a third force…

‘The political situation across all continents would become more complicated.’

Perhaps they were inspired by the Thorns Order’s rampage. There had been more than a few people jumping into drug sales lately.

Crime begets crime.

It wouldn’t be strange if imitators of the Thorns Order appeared.

Because this is a business in its own way.

A business that squeezes humans and turns blood into gold.

Yuri despises those who destroy others and profit from it. But as long as profit is guaranteed, people who move regardless of morality or law are bound to appear.

‘It doesn’t matter who.’

Either way, Yuri’s goal remained unchanged.

To erase all traces of Rosenhauser from this world.

What does it matter if some get caught up in the process?

They’re all the same bastards anyway.

It might become a bit more troublesome, but there’s no way he’d feel guilty.

“I… I didn’t know it was that expensive.”

Hogan muttered.

“I’ll connect you with a broker.”

Yuri smiled as if painted.

“I think… you’ll be pleased with the amount, Foreman.”

Hogan, who had been nodding as if entranced, paused.

“What do you get out of this?”

“…A small commission.”

Yuri said, lowering his head as if slightly embarrassed.

“If I ever leave this place, I’ll need money to live on. As you know, Foreman, they don’t pay us a penny even if we work here until our bodies break down.”

It was a plausible excuse. But Hogan jumped at those words.

“That… If someone heard you, they might think you’re feeling resentful. Aren’t you voluntarily serving the city?”

‘So that’s how he’s been rationalizing it.’

Whatever his true feelings, Yuri nodded readily.

“That’s right. All of this is volunteer work for the April Continent and Babel City.”

Hogan’s eyes softened a bit at Yuri’s words.

He didn’t want to face his own guilt.

“Ahem. I almost misunderstood because I’ve been on edge about this matter…”

“That’s understandable.”

Yuri smiled.

“But, external distribution is still problematic.”

Hogan, who had been hesitating, opened his mouth.

He knew how dangerous money beyond his means could be.

What if they get caught by mistake? What if they have to pay the price?

Hogan didn’t want to know the answer. Stability was still more important to him than greed.

“I understand.”

Yuri answered readily.

‘It seems maintaining his position is still the most important thing for now.’

If so, all he needs to do is show him what’s most important.

“I have no intention of forcing you to do something you don’t want to, Hogan.”

Yuri stood up.

“If you ever change your mind, please let me know anytime.”

He left the room slowly, but deliberately limping.

Hogan remained seated as if rooted to the spot for a long time afterward.