Morning came, and Ezekiel woke up early.
He checked a nearby drawer and found various set of clothes neatly folded inside.
Are these from one of her family members… or a lover?
He examined them carefully. They didn't look like they had ever been worn. In fact, they appeared absolutely brand new. Some of them still had price tags attached.
After washing up in the bathroom inside his room, he picked and put clothes on.
It was a black shirt and a pair of black pants. Simple. Ordinary. Yet they were fitted just enough to outline his well-built frame and highlight the sharp lines of his handsome face, even though he always carried a serious expression.
To most people, that expression might seem intimidating.
But to Viola… she might even like it more that way.
Well, everyone has their own unique taste. We can't really blame her for that.
Moving on, Ezekiel went downstairs and was surprised to see that Viola was already in the kitchen cooking. A set of plates and food were neatly arranged on the table.
The scene made him feel that strange, unfamiliar sensation again.
Viola noticed him and gestured for him to sit down.
Ezekiel approached and said,
"You're quite early…"
"Oh, yes," Viola replied with a small smile. "I usually wake up at this hour to prepare for work."
"Right. You work in the entertainment industry, correct?"
"Yes, but not exactly. They don't really need me that early at the agency. I wake up early because of my other job."
"Another job?"
"I work part-time at a hospital."
He raised a brow slightly.
"Though technically," she added sheepishly, "they only allowed me to work there as free advertisement. Still… I'm grateful I can continue doing my job."
"Can I ask what you do at the hospital?"
"Oh! I'm a nurse," Viola said happily.
"I see."
Ezekiel quietly observed how her eyes lit up as she talked about her work. There was genuine passion in her voice.
—
Viola finished cooking and placed the remaining dishes on the table. Ezekiel was already seated, waiting.
She sat down across from him.
"Thank you for the meal," Ezekiel said sincerely.
They both prayed silently before starting to eat.
Breakfast consisted of rice, eggs, bacon, and a side of pancakes for dessert.
They conversed while eating.
"By the way," Ezekiel began casually, "where is that little creature that was following you yesterday?"
Viola almost dropped her utensil in surprise but managed to compose herself in time.
"You… can see her?"
"How could I not? It looked like a baby dragon. I didn't know it was female."
How is this possible? Viola thought. Elizabeth told me I was the only one who could see her…
"Yes," she answered carefully. "Her name is Elizabeth."
"What exactly is she? Did you pick her up in a dungeon?"
"No. She's a magical beast."
Ezekiel's expression turned visibly confused at the term.
Viola shook her head. "She's not like the monsters inside dungeons."
She smiled faintly and said the continuation in her head.
I didn't pick her up there either. I found her in the middle of a destroyed city, or perhaps she found me… and she was actually a giant dragon to begin with, so it's not like I could just 'pick' her up.
"Elizabeth is intelligent, useful, and very different from dungeon monsters."
Ezekiel simply listened without interrupting.
They continued eating and eventually finished.
"Let me wash the dishes," Ezekiel said, standing up. "I can't freeload here without doing anything."
"Okay."
He gathered the plates and began washing them.
Viola watched him quietly. After a minute, her expression shifted as her thoughts turned serious.
"Ezekiel," she called. "After you finish, can you come to the living room? I have something to show you."
He nodded, and she went upstairs.
Once he finished, he headed straight to the living room. There, he saw a pile of documents and photographs spread across the table in front of the couch.
Viola stood beside it, waiting.
Ezekiel stepped closer and began scanning the papers.
They contained detailed information about the people connected to his case, including Clyde and his entire party. There were background checks, personal records, transaction histories, and even information regarding the lost dungeon resources.
His eyes narrowed.
"Where did you get all of this?"
"I have my ways," Viola replied calmly. "I investigated them and gathered everything I could."
Ezekiel couldn't believe she was capable of something like this.
She truly wasn't simple.
"If we want to gather solid evidence," Viola continued, "entering Ozburn directly or joining the Palladium Guild, which has connections to it, would be our best options."
"In my case, I can enter the Palladium Guild easily. But infiltrating Ozburn and finding evidence there would be much more challenging."
She took a breath.
"So I came up with a plan."
Ezekiel looked at her attentively.
"I'll handle the guild," she said firmly. "And you…"
She met his eyes.
"You'll have to forge a new identity and join that company."
"Forge a new identity?"
Ezekiel felt slightly relieved that Viola would not be the one infiltrating Ozburn. That path was far more dangerous. As an S-rank healer and a known public figure, she would at least be respected within the Palladium Guild and given certain privileges.
But he couldn't help wondering how he could enter Ozburn without being recognized.
"We'll disguise you carefully," Viola assured him. "Don't worry about identification papers or documents. I'll handle everything."
He didn't know how she planned to accomplish that.
And yet… he found himself trusting her.
Perhaps he was being reckless.
But whatever happened from here on, he would take full accountability for the consequences of his choices.
Silence lingered between them for a moment.
Viola watched him carefully, as if waiting for him to object.
Instead, Ezekiel reached out and picked up one of the documents again. His eyes scanned Clyde's name, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.
"When do we start?" he asked calmly.
Viola blinked, slightly surprised by how quickly he accepted it.
"As soon as possible," she answered. "The longer we wait, the colder the trail becomes."
Ezekiel nodded once.
"Then we move fast."