Now it is time to continue the investigation. For the Lilly Moon, this will probably become a little too difficult. For the Hunters, however, things are going well.
The Joker: "Hahhh... Ughh..."
She stood up.
The Joker: "...No, I must have passed out again... I... need to take my pills..."
She stood up and took a pill.
(Gulp!)
The Joker: "Hhhh... hahhh... if I don't take these pills, I can't use my curses or arcane powers..."
(Meanwhile)
Sophie: "Hahh."
Fiona: "Still nothing."
Siegfried: "It's getting complicated."
Violet: "Yeah."
Lina: "Oh dear..."
Meliodas: "Maybe we need help... how about Ms. Sonda?"
Lina: "Oh."
Fiona: "Good idea... maybe Marcus too?"
Meliodas: "Yeah... I'll call him as well."
(Meanwhile)
Ms. Valentine: "You're going to Villicia..."
Rosalie: "Hmm?"
Marcus: "Hmm?..."
Ms. Valentine: "To help the Lilly Moon... the mayor of the capital, San Madrid, was murdered, and also a good friend of his named Sergio Blanco..."
Rosalie: "Okay."
Marcus: "If that's the case."
(A few hours later)
(Tschut)
Rosalie: "Hmm."
Marcus: "First time here?"
Rosalie: "Nope. And you?"
Marcus: "No. My second time."
Rosalie: "For me it's already the third time. I was here during the Heitelheimer War... to negotiate."
Marcus: "I heard you don't negotiate anymore."
Rosalie: "No. Nowadays I'm just a normal agent... The last time I had to negotiate... I had to kill my family..."
Marcus: "I understand... how are you doing, actually?"
Rosalie: "...."
Marcus: "Sorry... that was a stupid question."
Rosalie: "...Emilie... has left the Dark Umbrella."
Marcus: "What?... Really?... Why?"
Rosalie: "I don't know... although I think it's because of me."
Marcus: "I think she wants revenge... you'd better be careful."
Rosalie: "You think my sister would want revenge on me?"
Marcus: "She could join an organization like the Owls..."
Rosalie: "Mmm."
Marcus: "Just so you know... I don't make exceptions... if she is a threat or becomes a threat... and I'm ordered to kill her... I will kill her..."
Rosalie: "Mm."
He walked ahead. She followed him.
Handschuh: "...Amazing... that's him... that's Marcus Schneider... Joker was right... The situation really is serious if they're sending him... Not bad, Joker, she really does think like them... That's why she thought it would happen, but... who is that other woman?... Joker didn't mention her... Hahh... knew that woman was overrated... She has no right to order me around... Then let me see... how strong you are, Marcus... Schneider."
(A few minutes later)
Rosalie: "We should be there soon."
Marcus: "Hmm?"
He noticed someone watching him...
Marcus: "Hmm..."
He quickly headed over there.
Rosalie: "Hey..."
Marcus: "Wait a moment."
Rosalie: "Hahhh... damn it..."
He followed him.
Marcus: "Ugh."
Handschuh: "Hello."
Marcus: "Hmmm."
He had a hostage.
Handschuh: "(Let's see how you'll manage this. Will you discover that the hostage... is actually a doll... that can move? Hehehe)... Don't mo—"
Marcus: "Hey!"
Handschuh: "Huh!"
He turned around.
Marcus: "Do you really think I'm that stupid?... By the way... watch out... your face... is slipping."
Handschuh: "What?"
His face was split apart.
(Splach!)
He fell dead to the ground.
Marcus: "Hmph."
Rosalie: "Marcus."
Marcus: "Oh, oh..."
Rosalie: "What was that about? You can't just run off."
Marcus: "Sorry, had to deal with that guy."
Rosalie: "That guy?"
She looked behind him.
Rosalie: "Could it be that you're actually drunk? There's nobody here."
Marcus: "Hmm?"
He turned around... and indeed, he was gone.
Marcus: "Oh... that can't be. I split his face open."
Rosalie: "Good grief, come on already."
She grabbed his hand and ran.
Marcus: "Hey..."
Rosalie: "Otherwise we'll be late."
(Pump!)
Handschuh: "...Holy shit... I need to tell Joker he's strong... too strong..."
(A few minutes later)
The Joker: "(Humming)..."
(Knock, knock)
The Joker: "Hmm?"
She opened the door.
The Joker: "What do you want, Handschuh?"
Handschuh: "Marcus Schneider is here... and another woman too."
The Joker: "Okay... I expected Schneider, but not the woman. She must be important... Why is your face bleeding?"
Handschuh: "Uh... well... I dressed up as some kind of robber and... tested Marcus... and he really is... strong."
The Joker: "...Excuse me? You did what?... Hahh... come inside."
For a moment he was scared, then he went in.
The Joker: "Alright then... tell me... I'm listening."
She leaned against the wall.
The Joker: "What exactly did you mean by that... hmm?"
Handschuh: "Huh?"
The Joker: "(Smiles)... Oh, I thought you said you disguised yourself as a robber to fight him. Guess I misheard."
Handschuh: "No, that's exactly what I said."
The Joker: "Ohhhh... I see..."
She walked closer to him.
The Joker: "Hahhhhhh..."
She stretched out her arm.
The Joker: "Bite him."
Handschuh: "Huh?!"
(Splach!)
Something bit him from below... below, meaning between his legs...
Handschuh: "AAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHH!"
He fell to the ground.
The Joker: "...I don't like it when people don't follow what my boss says... what I say... If you do it again... you'll experience something even worse... My Beasters are going to eat you now... You won't die from it... but you'll suffer a lot."
Handschuh: "AAAAAAARGHHH!"
The Beasters appeared and slowly devoured him... slicing through his body.
The Joker: "Hahhhh... I hope for your sake this didn't endanger our mission, Handschuh... I'm warning you... don't test my patience..."
Two arcane abilities and a curse on top of that... The Joker still has a weakness that has already been shown... namely, the more magic, abilities, or curses she uses, the more pain she suffers. Without the pills, she cannot use her abilities at all. The pills are for pain... and for mana...
The Joker: "Just because you bathed in the blood of a mermaid doesn't mean you're immortal, you idiot. Even I can die... The difference is... I use my head... you don't... and if you don't start using it, I'll kill you, and believe me... the boss is getting tired of you too... We only make an exception because you're the youngest... so be grateful that I'm so nice and only... torture you..."
She shattered a glass.
The Joker: "And next time... I'll kill you and everyone important to you..."
Before the monsters could continue eating him... she looked at him with her eyes... wide and terrifying...
The Joker: "...I... am... The Nightmare..."
She grabbed his jaw.
The Joker: "Either you behave... or I'm really going to get angry!!!"
she shouted loudly.
The Joker: "Hahhh... hahh... h...(Cough)... but... hey... at least you told me something important. I really didn't expect them to send someone else too... I need information. If you tell me what she looks like."
Handschuh: "Only if the monsters stop eating me."
She snapped her fingers.
(Click!)
They stopped.
The Joker: "...Talk!... I'm getting impatient... and when I'm impatient, I can't control myself anymore... and the whole plan falls apart... talk."
Handschuh: "Black hair... red eyes... wears a black jacket and black pants... looks pretty... has some... chest too."
The Joker: "The last part wasn't necessary... but whatever... good... good boy... okay... you can continue."
Handschuh: "Wait, hold on—"
The Joker: "You're still being punished, my dear... The only language people like you understand is violence!"
They continued eating him...
(Splach)
The Joker: "Good... then I'll get going... Clean up when you're done."
She left the room.
The Joker: "Black hair... red eyes... black jacket... and black pants... looks good... Hmmm... I guess I'll have to see for myself..."
(A few minutes later)
Rosalie: "Ahh... there we are."
Marcus: "Hmm... We must have gotten lost. We were on some other road."
Rosalie: "Yeah, because someone absolutely had to become paranoid."
Marcus: "There really was someone..."
Rosalie: "Doesn't matter... let's go."
Just as she was walking, someone accidentally bumped into her and fell.
Unknown Girl: "Ouch..."
Rosalie: "Huh... I'm sorry. Are you alright?"
She slowly stood up.
Unknown Girl: "...Please forgive me, young lady... I... was careless."
Rosalie helped her. It was a poor girl with broken feet and a very tired expression. She had a somewhat deep voice.
Rosalie: "Can I... help you?"
Unknown Girl: "No... thank you... Hhh... but... do you have... some water?"
Rosalie: "Oh... sure, sure."
She handed her bottle over.
Unknown Girl: "Thank you very much."
She drank it.
Rosalie: "...Um... are you alright?"
She hugged her.
Rosalie: "Huh."
Unknown Girl: "Oh, forgive me... but... this is how I always say thank you... thank you very much."
Rosalie: "Mm... (Smiles slightly)... oh dear... you poor thing."
She patted her head.
Rosalie: "Tell me, what's your name?"
Unknown Girl: "Minerva..."
Rosalie: "A beautiful name..."
Unknown Girl: "May I... ask what your name is?"
Rosalie: ".Oh... Rosalie... Rosalie Sonda... well actually Theresa Rosalie Sonda... but everyone calls me either Theresa or Rosalie."
Unknown Girl: "Ohh... excuse me... thank you very much for your help, Madam Rosalie... but... I must go now. My mother is waiting for me... hehe."
She went on her way.
Marcus: "Poor girl, huh?"
Rosalie: "Mhm... let's finally go inside."
They went in.
Sophie: "Oh... Rosalie!"
Rosalie: "Hey."
Fiona: "Oh Marcus... well, look at that..."
Marcus: "Hey... They sent us because you weren't making any progress."
Rosalie: "You're really hopeless without me, hmph... but don't worry... Rosalie... is here..."
Fiona: "(Sweat)... You can go back if you want... Actually we were only waiting for Marcus."
Rosalie: "(Forehead vein)... Ohhh... you nasty brat."
Fiona: "Hmph. I'm the same age as you, but whatever..."
Marcus: "Top-tier ragebait."
Siegfried: "Mhm."
Marcus: "Oh... Siegfried, yo."
Siegfried: "Yo bro."
They gave each other a high five.
Sophie: "(Sweat)... Marcus... why are you friends with someone like him?"
Marcus: "Huh?... He's funny."
Siegfried: "Hahahaha, see?"
Sophie and Fiona: "Simp..."
Siegfried: "(Sweat)... Uh... okay... mean, but okay."
(Meanwhile)
Minerva: "Mmmm... mmmm... hahhh... hahhhh... mmm... good..."
She dropped the crutches, took the rest of the water bottle, and poured it over her head.
Minerva: "Mmm."
Her hair changed from brown to blonde... She wiped her face... it was... The Joker.
The Joker: "So then... Ms. Sonda... hehehe... I see..."
(A few minutes earlier)
The Joker: "Alright... I need to see for myself who this woman is..."
She dyed her hair.
The Joker: "Hmm... Now some dirt on the cheeks... crutches... and... a deeper voice... (Cough)... Oh, forgive me, young lady... I was careless... do you have a bottle of water for me?... Not deep enough... (Cough)... Oh, forgive me, young lady... I was careless... and if she asks me anything... then I'll say... please, a bottle of water... good... but still not deep enough... hmm."
She took a knife and slightly injured her own throat.
The Joker: "Urk... ghhhh... good... that should be enough... by the time it heals, it'll already be over... still... better use a bandage so it doesn't heal too quickly... and so nobody sees the regeneration..."
(Back to the present)
The Joker: "So... so... hehehe."
She removed the bandage. Her wound healed itself.
The Joker: "Puhhh... that... hurt... (Cough)... ghhhh... not again."
She took her pills and swallowed them... but the headaches were still strong.
The Joker: "Okay... good... at least... I found something out... I'm... going to take a break..."
She went back into her house.
The Joker: "Hmm... oh, you're finished already... You can spit him out in the garden. He'll regenerate on his own anyway..."
(Patch!)
The Finger: "Well, look at you. Tired?"
The Joker: "Ahh... good that you're here... Are you taking care of things?"
The Finger: "Yep. I even have an idea where our next target is."
The Joker: "Hmm?"
The Finger: "To find our target, we need... eight keys."
The Joker: "Eight?... Damn... that's way more than I thought."
The Finger: "Indeed... They're protecting it well... the people here."
The Joker: "And what else?"
The Finger: "I've discovered where one of the keys is located... It's here in San Madrid."
The Joker: "Well, at least that's good news..."
The Finger: "Get some rest. I'll handle the rest."
The Joker: "Ohhh... well thank you very much... (Cough)... If you say so... Then I'll leave it to you."
The Finger: "Sure... after all, we're both the boss's right hands..."
The Joker: "Hehehehe... Then let's see... You've been doing well so far. What about Undertaker and Eliska?"
The Finger: "Eliska isn't a problem. She's a good girl. Undertaker is impatient, but as long as you give him virgin blood, he keeps quiet. And Handschuh..."
The Joker: "Hahh... he only gives me headaches. I had to waste so much mana just because of him..."
The Finger: "It's getting bad. We need to tell the boss that we should finally get rid of him. His ability is good, but his stupidity is dangerous... He's like a child who doesn't know how to behave."
The Joker: "Ohh... could you take care of him for me? You have much more mana than I do and you're stronger than me in terms of power."
The Finger: "Of course... For the mission, I'll do it. You've worked hard... No wonder the boss trusts you so much... Get some rest... now it's my turn."
The Joker: "Okay..."
She went to her room.
The Finger: "Hmmm..."
He walked into the garden... He watched as Handschuh's body parts reattached themselves...
(Splach)
The Finger: "Disgusting..."
His bones, flesh, and skin regenerated.
Handschuh: "Ohhh... damn it."
The Finger: "Hmmm... Handschuh, from now on you're staying with me... Don't give The Joker any more headaches. It's a miracle she didn't kill you... Be careful... She once killed a child because he cried too loudly... That woman is not someone to joke with... She has... no limits... when it comes to the mission."
Handschuh: "Someday I'll kill that whore."
The Finger: "Hahahahaha... Not even in your dreams can you do that... Even if she may not be as strong as me in raw power... her ability is insane. I have two arcane powers like she does and one curse, but... mine comes from Lilly... and hers... from Rumpelstiltskin... his curse... his curses... are always terrible."