Arthur and I stood before giant hole at the center of Alexandria. Sprouting from within was the gigantic Yggdrasil, seeping away chunks of energy from its roots toward its trunk, producing light that cast over the shadow. Below it was the notorious Hexagon, the sole prison in Alexandria.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” suddenly we were approached by unfriendly man in black coat. They wore the same emblem like Arthur, a silver shaped-eagle on their chest. Perhaps they were also member of Black Company.

Arthur showed his emblem and explained, “I heard two weeks ago, The Company apprehended one of the Order high-ranking officer. I would like to have a word with her.”

The man crossed his arm, “Oh, you are Sir Arthur, right? Her Ladyship's favorite. Hmm, I thought you were tasked to take care The Greyhounds…,” he seemed confused but then his expression changed into disgust when he saw my Aobana Curse,

“Oh yeah, you already did. Anyway, Sir, if you want to enter, you have to show me your Golden Decree. Do you have it?”

“C’mon now. The Mahamagi send me here on short notice, so I don’t have the Decree with me,” Arthur patted his shoulder and continued,

“But this just between you and me, right? If you let me in, I could say something good about you to our Lady. It’s a deal?”

The man was shocked, “O-Oh, no Sir. Without a Decree, I can’t let you inside. That’s Her Ladyship order herself… Though, it is like her to forget things like this, hahh…” he let out a sighed before saluting Arthur,

“My apologize Sir, but I don’t have the guts to disobey Our Lady’s order! Although, on my break… if someone comes in, I may not notice it. Hahaha, my bad! Please, don’t report it to her majesty, good Sir,” he continued.

Arthur shrugged and salute him back, “Thanks. I’ll make sure you get promoted soon.”

U-Uwah, this city reek corruption and nepotism. Is this city gonna be okay?

Until the guard’s break, we waited in the small restaurant. The homey and tidy environment won my heart over. Though the food was nothing special, it had such warmness of a mother. Looking at the happy family who opened the restaurant made me wonder, is this how love taste like?

“Hey, don’t you have any question?” Arthur asked.

Munching the noodle and gulping it with iced coffee, I replied, “Question what?”

“You know, like, why you were in this situation in the first place? Or what actually happens around you.”

Hmm, now that he mentioned it, the reason why here was the condition that Elysia proposed. In exchange for the information of Kiara whereabout, she requested us to take a vial of drop from a certain prisoner. A witch that was imprisoned two weeks ago. It was a peculiar request but who am I to question one’s hobby?

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“I only know how to get job done, not how to ask questions,” Isaid with watery mouth looking at the steam bun in front of me.

But before I could eat it, Arthur took it from me and ate it heartlessly. Relishing on my agony, he made sure to really enjoy the bun.

“… Listen to me, Princess. If you want to survive in this world, you need more than strength,” he scolded me and flicked my forehead for the second time in this day, “You need to be clever, know how to read the room and most importanly know how to avoid troubles. If you keep that mindset of yours, sooner or later you would get killed. Like any other Greyhounds.”

Hmm, Greyhound, perhaps it was the term used for someone like me. A prisoner on probation, forced to follow the whim of The Company because of the Aobana Curse.

Looking at the ever serious Arthur, perhaps it was not the best time to argue with him. I guess I have to play along then.

“Then Arthur. Can we truly trust Elysia? What if it was all just her plot to get revenge on you? From what I see, you literally risk yourself too much for silly request of hers,” I whispered while leaning toward him,

“You may be one of The Company right now, but the past is still haunting you. What if they found out that you, an Ex-Cloud Order, snooping around in Hexagon?”

Arthur eyes hinted doubt as he whispered, “Well, I can’t deny the possibilites, but I choose to believe her.”

Oh, that’s a nice reaction. Maybe I should tease him a little bit.

“But asking for a blood vial, why? What goods it would bring fro Elysia? I don’t understand.” I asked.

Arthur brushed his chin, “Kiara did say you’re unfamiliar with the world. I guess you don’t know that there is a technique to extract memories from blood?”

“What, really? That’s neat!”

Arthur nodded, “Yes, but only The Order could use it. The Order used blood all the time to communicate with each other in secrecy. Though after you left The Order, that ability suddenly disappeared. Hmm… Till this day, I don’t know how it works actually.”

“So the prisoner’s memory is important to Elysia… Hey, what if we bring the Prisoner to Elysia?”

Arthur shook his head and whispered, “That would be unwise. If Hexagon Prisoners escaped, The Company would relentlessly track them down… even if it meant eliminating all the collaborators."

Arthur fell into deep thought before asking me, “All of this question made me wonder. If you were in my position, what would you do then?”

I smiled, “I’ll make her tell me unconditionally.”

“You mean by using force?”

“No, torture only works to people who value his life. But, people like Elysia, who values her friends so much… There is a better way,” I said while enjoying the view of lovey-dovey married couple on the kitchen,

“I use her friend to make her talk. And after we got what I wanted… I’d make them regret trying to use me. That’s easy and efficient way, leaving no room for betrayal. Won’t you agree, Arthur?”

Arthur dropped his chopstick, looking at me in disbelieve, “How can you say that with a smile?”

“Just kidding! Geez, you’re so serious, Arthur. Relax and enjoy life more. Since last night, you never smiled honestly even once, I’m worried you know,” I chuckled as I flicked his forehead back,

“That kind of attitude would get you killed, Arthur. Don’t worry to much, we’ll save Kiara for sure,” I scolded him back playfully before enjoying my dessert. A slime pudding. Yum!

Arthur shrugged, “Hah, should’ve know it. I take you too seriously. But being lectured by slave, if Kiara found it she would laugh out loud for sure,” he said that before stealing my pudding.

“H-hey! My pudding!”

“You eat too much!” he ate it blissfully.

… Geez.

Although saving Kiara wasn’t my priorities, it might save me time to track down my daughter. Having good names in the Police would surely boosted my connection, right?

However, there is something that piqued my curiosity more. It seemed that not all members of The Order followed it by heart. They were forced and turned into puppet. Then, I came across the wilde idea.

What if I use Elysia to infiltrate The Order? My guts feeling told me.. it’d bring me closer to my daughter.