"Business? That sounds more like a trap. Do you think I'd be lured in by whatever business you claim this is?"
"You just asked me to kill people who might become a threat," Ananta gritted his teeth. "Then you show up, and suddenly I'm being hunted like a dog."
The woman chuckled, then looked into Ananta's eyes — slowly trailing down to his shoulder. "But you did kill them, didn't you? And that was my way of making you understand…"
"That I hold the power now, Ananta!"
Feeling that sharp, piercing gaze, Ananta clenched his fists tightly. Slowly, he raised his head.
He stared deep into the woman's eyes. In them, he saw a burning ambition — the same look worn by those who would do anything for power.
"This empire really is on the edge of collapse if you two are the ones holding the reins… Hahaha…" Ananta chuckled lowly, though his eyes never left hers.
"What's wrong, Valeria?"
The woman flinched slightly, but quickly held back the man beside her who was about to draw his sword.
How dare he! To address the Empress by name with such disrespect!
"That's your second warning, boy. Next time, I'll sever that head of yours!"
Her smile faded slightly. Ananta's gaze shifted to Djandel, and his face darkened. "Unless, of course, you survive my bullet first. You son of a bitch!"
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
Ignoring Valeria's warning, Djandel drew his sword and split the table in a single slash.
The place was a mess now — the table sliced in half, shattered teacups everywhere. The tip of the sword now rested against Ananta's neck, but he remained sure of one thing.
"You should have been able to cut me clean in half. Something's off..."
Ananta crossed his legs again, still seated calmly. Then he stood up, gently pushing the blade away from his neck.
"You're just puppets, aren't you? I bet the real ones are at the Imperial Palace, celebrating the Emperor's birthday."
Benedict, who had been silent all this time, observed the two of them. With his eyes, he could see the flow of mana around them — but nothing seemed off. They looked like ordinary people.
Except for the strands of mana linking them to several locations at the edge of the city.
"Even if you realize we're just puppets, so what? My sword will strike you down first!"
"You're forgetting about my friend over there."
Ananta glanced at Benedict before leaping backward, dodging the incoming slash.
The undead immediately understood Ananta's intention. Channeling his own mana, he disrupted the strands inside Djandel's body.
Instantly, Djandel collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.
Ananta wiped the sweat off his forehead — that was way too close. Almost died. But well... he was still alive, so it could be ignored for now.
He stepped toward Valeria, who met his approach with that same signature smile.
"You should have your answer by now, don't you?" he said, touching her chin.
Their eyes met once more.
And now he was certain of his decision.
"Shhh..."
He placed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
"I don't care about your pathetic threats, because in the end..."
His hand slid from her chin to gently touch the soft skin of her neck.
But he wasn't trying to seduce her — this was a warning.
"I'll be the one laughing last."
Ananta smiled as he slowly tightened his grip, choking the puppet's neck.
Soon enough, just like her brother, the clone of the Empress dropped lifelessly, like a doll whose strings had snapped.
"Fuck! Bastards, damn it all!"
Ananta dropped into his seat, staring at the curtains covering the window. He raked his fingers through his hair.
Benedict obligingly opened the curtain, allowing the moonlight to pour into the room.
"Their mana strands connect to the outskirts of the city. They're probably waiting for you to walk right into their trap."
Ananta remained silent, checking his watch. It was past half-past three in the morning.
"That's an obvious trap. We'd be dead the moment we showed up."
"We might already be in serious danger now," Benedict said softly.
Ananta glanced around the inn room.
"You're right. We need to leave this place immediately."
"Yeah… but we can't just move carelessly. Using a sky ship or warp gate would reveal our location instantly."
He rubbed his skull thoughtfully.
Ananta nodded slowly.
"Do you still have the coordinates for Pirate Cove?"
"Mmh… yeah. Oh!"
Benedict clapped his bony hands like he just remembered a birthday.
"But where are we going?"
Ananta stood up, facing him.
"Trust me, it's a good place — and we might even get a little vacation out of it."
"Mmh… sure, unless we get stuck helping fight off the demons attacking it."
Benedict stroked his jawbone.
A nice place… currently under siege by demons?
***
"You're really unlucky, kid. Ten million on your head — that's insane."
Ananta raised his sunglasses and looked up at the bearded man swinging toward him.
Wearing an elegant coat embroidered with intricate patterns and velvet cuffs, the old man raised his rum-filled glass with his hook hand. With the other, he fanned a newspaper so he could read the front page.
He approached Ananta, who was basking in the sun.
"Take a look at this — you're repeating history again, hahaha!"
Placing his glasses on the side table, Ananta noticed the shadow of the pirate's wide tricorn hat shading his face a little.
But he didn't pay it any mind. Instead, he began reading.
"Haha…"
Handing back the paper, Ananta put his glasses on again.
"Their accusations are getting more ridiculous. Leading a separatist group? Orchestrating the Monster Wave? What kind of idiot would believe that?"
Ananta placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it slowly.
"Well?"
He glanced at the old man who was taking a sip of rum.
"We'll do it. But only up to Tetar Island. Those pointy-eared bastards will blow my beloved ship to pieces if we get any closer."
Ananta smiled, smoke drifting from his lips.
"Good. You've always been a loyal friend, Francis. How much do you want?"
"No need. This is how we repay the debt we owe you. Just relax and enjoy the ride."
The old man patted Ananta's shoulder.
"But what the hell happened?"
Ananta didn't answer. He simply inhaled deeply from his cigarette.
"They both showed up."
"And?"
"I killed them."
Francis nearly choked on his rum.
"You what?! The Empress and that bastard?!"
Ananta chuckled.
"No need to look so shocked. They came using their clone bodies."
"They're making their move again."
Ananta flicked the cigarette butt away. Lowering his sunglasses, he looked Francis in the eye.
"You should be more careful. I'm tired of attending funerals."
"Minos, Aglea… we've lost too many friends."
Francis sighed heavily.
Ananta stood, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"When do we set sail?"
The old man stroked his beard.
"Once all our cargo is loaded. Tonight."