Today started like any other, with Hikaru meticulously following his well-honed morning routine. However, unlike his usual demeanor, he looked more serious today as he planned to execute the operation to exonerate Mina. As he stretched and warmed up during his morning exercise, he casually informed Lydia that he’d be home late.
After finishing his morning exercise, Hikaru strolled toward the bustling shopping street. As he approached, the shops and stalls were just beginning to open for business.
The air was filled with enticing calls: “Get your Peter Parker... Fresh from the fryer… Get your Peter Parker…” One stall owner’s voice rang out, drawing attention to his tempting snack.
Hikaru’s curiosity was piqued at the mention of the familiar name. Approaching the stall, he asked, “What are you selling, boss?”
The seller grinned, flipping what looked like orange fruits covered in dough in a sizzling fryer. “Peter Parker!” he exclaimed. “It’s sweet and crunchy, fresh from the fryer. 50 bronze coins for a bag.”
Hikaru chuckled, recognizing the name from his previous life. Reaching for his coin pouch, he said, “I’ll take a bag. Can’t resist trying a Peter Parker!”
The seller scooped several of the golden-orange treats rested on a wooden tray and placed them into a small leather pouch. “Here you go, sir,” the seller said cheerfully, handing Hikaru the pouch along with a wooden skewer to pick up the snack. “Still freshly fried. Enjoy your Peter Parkers!”
Hikaru nodded appreciatively, taking the pouch and feeling its warmth through the leather. He thanked the seller and made his way to the Alchemy Brew, his intended destination, the place where he had previously visited with Lydia for potions.
As the snack was still hot, Hikaru decided not to eat it right away. Instead, he carried the warm leather pouch to the alchemy shop. When he arrived, the shop was still empty. Mira, the alchemist who had helped Lydia the other day, immediately recognized Hikaru and called him over.
“Hey, you in the black shirt!” Mira called out, her voice echoing in the empty shop.
Hikaru sighed internally, feeling a mix of reluctance and resignation. He had hoped to find another alchemist, someone who wasn’t associated with Lydia. But sometimes, plans just didn’t work out.
With a resigned shrug, he walked over to Mira while munching on some Peter Parkers from the bag in his hand. He then greeted her, trying to sound upbeat. “Hey there, Mira.”
“You were the guy Lydia brought along the other day, weren’t you? Does Lydia want to order some more potions?” Mira asked.
“Yes, the other day. I haven’t got the chance to introduce myself. My name is Hikaru. I’m here on personal business. Can you keep my visit here a secret from Lydia?” Hikaru pleaded.
“As long as you give me some of your peepee,” she said with a mischievous grin.
Hikaru’s eyes widened in shock. ‘What? Is she asking me to make love to her? She wants my…?’ He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
Seeing Hikaru frozen, Mira waved her hand in front of his face. “What are you thinking about? I’m talking about the Peter Parkers in your hand. So, will you give me some P…P…?”
Hikaru blinked, realizing the misunderstanding, and let out a nervous laugh. “Oh! Of course, here, take as much as you like.” He handed her the bag, still chuckling at his own awkwardness.
Mira took a handful of P…P…, smirking. “Thanks, Hikaru. And don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. I don’t snitch on any of my customers. So, what brings you here today?”
“I saw in the catalogue the other day about a human skin mask. Can you help me create one?” Hikaru asked.
Mira’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A human skin mask? That requires a five-star fire ritual. I can only perform up to a four-star fire ritual, but my master on the second floor can handle a five-star ritual.”
Hikaru nodded, and said. “Alright, I’ll head up to the second floor and see if your master can help me.”
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“Good luck,” Mira said, popping another snack into her mouth.
Hikaru climbed the creaky stairs to the second floor of the shop. There, he found Mira’s master, an old dwarven male, in a corner surrounded by a circle of candles. Flames danced in intricate patterns around him, casting flickering shadows on the walls. His hands moved with practiced precision amidst the flickering flames, conducting a ritualistic dance of fire.
Deciding to wait until the ritual ended, Hikaru stood at a respectful distance, observing silently. After a few minutes, the flames began to diminish, and the master’s movements slowed as he finished performing the ritual.
“I need to create a human skin mask,” Hikaru said. “Can you assist me, master?”
The master studied Hikaru for a moment before nodding. “Creating such a mask is no small task. Do you have a picture of the face you want to replicate?”
Hikaru took the picture from his hip pouch and handed it to him. “Will this do?”
The master squinted at the photo. “Yes, this will suffice. Now, the price for the mask is 25 gold coins. Do you have the money?”
Hikaru handed over the coins with a sigh of relief. Just as he thought the transaction was complete, the master unexpectedly handed him a container.
“I will also need some peepee to expedite the job!” the master declared.
Hikaru put the bag of Peter Parkers in the container while thinking to himself: ‘Looks like dwarves really do like their Peter Parkers.’
The master blinked in confusion as he saw Hikaru hand him a bag of snacks inside the container. “No, no, not these,” he said, shaking his head. “I need actual urine for making the yellow dye, please.”
Hikaru’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Oh, sorry, I seem to have misunderstood. Let me go and fetch some right away.”
He hurriedly took the container and headed towards the restroom, hoping to rectify his mistake as quickly as possible.
Once Hikaru returned with the container of urine, the master took it with a nod. “Perfect. Now we can proceed with the ritual.”
The master moved with practiced efficiency, performing the ritual with various ingredients that he already prepared. Hikaru watched in fascination as flames leaped and danced, the air filling with the scent of burning herbs. The entire process took only about 15 minutes.
Finally, the master held up the completed human skin mask, the intricate details eerily lifelike. “Here you go. Handle it with care,” he said, handing it to Hikaru.
Hikaru accepted the mask, his awe mingled with gratitude. “Thank you, Master. Your skills are truly remarkable.”
The master nodded. “Safe travels, young one.”
Hikaru made his way downstairs, where he found Mira tidying up the shop. “Thanks for your help, Mira. And please, remember to keep my visit a secret.”
Mira gave him a sly smile. “Your secret’s safe with me, Hikaru. Take care.”
With one last nod of appreciation, Hikaru stepped out of the shop, the mask tucked safely in his backpack, ready for the next part of his journey.
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Once Hikaru stepped out of the shop, he wasted no time hiring a carriage. He directed the coachman to the Kaya residence, where Masaki was already waiting. She quickly joined him in the carriage, and then they set off towards the farmer’s farm as planned.
Inside the carriage, they started conversing with each other. Masaki’s curiosity got the better of her, so she asked, “So, what’s in the bag, Loki?”
Hikaru glanced at her, then reached into his bag and pulled out the human skin mask with the familiar face of the guard they had photographed last night. “This,” he said, holding it up.
Masaki’s eyes widened. “Is that…?”
Hikaru nodded. “A realistic human skin mask. It looks exactly like the guard we photographed last night. We have similar height and build, so no one will notice if I disguise myself as him!”
“Why do you need that?” Masaki asked, her curiosity now mixed with concern.
Hikaru leaned in, lowering his voice. “I plan to infiltrate the Red Curtain tonight. If I can find some leverage, something that can be used against the Viscount, we might have a chance to exonerate Mina. If I come up empty-handed, we’ll have to find another angle.”
Masaki looked confused and asked with a serious expression, “But how do you know where to go? The facility is big. Where can you find this leverage?”
“Easy,” Hikaru replied. “The leverage is probably located in the fanciest building in the facility, the most heavily guarded place. That’s why I chose that guard to disguise myself as—he was guarding that building.”
“And how are you going to disguise yourself as the guard? Do you plan to kill him? I’m opposed to this!” Masaki exclaimed.
“No one is dying. Trust me on this, Ducky,” Hikaru reassured her.
After explaining the details of the operation to Masaki, Hikaru instructed the carriage to stop some distance away to avoid attracting attention. They then proceeded to the farm on foot.
Once they arrived, they began staking out the compound, taking breaks only for a short lunch with the farmer.
During their lunch break, seated under the cool shade of a large pine tree, Hikaru leaned in and spoke quietly to the farmer. “I appreciate your assistance, but I think it would be best if you left the farm for today. You’ve probably already figured out that we’re involved in something risky, so to keep you out of trouble, it’s better if you’re not here.”
The farmer looked puzzled. “Are you sure? Do I need to prepare dinner?”
“No, just leave us be,” Hikaru said firmly.
Understanding the seriousness of the situation, the farmer agreed. “Alright, if you say so. But be careful, young man.”
Masaki watched silently, relieved that Hikaru was considering the farmer’s safety. As the farmer departed, she turned to Hikaru with a smile on her face.
Hikaru sighed, his eyes focused on the compound ahead. “I don’t want anyone else to get caught up in this. Let’s stay focused on our mission.”