"Elise-chan~"
Port Mafia Headquarters. Headquarters.
Mori Ōgai was holding a pure white dress with lace decorations in his hands, smiling at the girl in front of him. His voice was full of affection as he said, "This is the latest style of dress that Elise wanted, right? I remember you like white the most, don't you?"
"Rintaro, you got it wrong! My favorite color is red."
The golden-haired, blue-eyed girl, Elise, said while pretending to be angry, "Hmph, you can't even remember my favorite color. I hate you, Rintaro."
"Eh, what's this?" Mori Ōgai, looking a bit dejected, put the dress down. "But last time we went shopping, Elise, you said your favorite color was white, just like a doctor's coat."
"Last time was last time but now is now! Girls' preferences can change all the time!" Elise smiled mischievously. "But one thing that will never change is my love for sweets. Rintaro, I want to eat strawberry cake now."
"Now? But it's night already..."
"Is that a problem?"
"How could it be? Whatever Elise wants, she gets. After all, my little Elise is the cutest."
Mori Ōgai picked up the phone on his desk. His affectionate tone immediately turned into one that was calm but carried authority: "Tell the chef to make... no, have someone go to the nearest dessert shop and buy a strawberry cake. I want it in ten minutes."
"Yes, Boss. Anything else?"
"About the dress that was delivered today, have them make an identical one, but change the color to red."
"Yes, Boss. Understood."
"Get going."
Mori Ōgai hung up the phone, but not long after, it rang again.
"What is it?"
"Boss, we received a report from the security guard. A girl wants to see you."
"A girl?" Mori Ōgai raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I have any appointments today."
"Yes, that's right. So the security guard refused her request."
"And then?" Mori Ōgai asked, a bit impatient. "Is that all you're reporting?"
"Then the girl... she disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes. She seems to be an esper. According to the security guard's description, she was able to blend into the shadows."
"And her physical features?"
"She's wearing a black and red dress, with one long and one short pigtail, one of her eyes is red..."
While Mori Ōgai's secretary was describing the girl's appearance, Mori Ōgai interrupted him: "The other eye is golden?"
"Yes, that's correct, but how did you know?"
"Because she's in my office right now."
After hanging up the phone, Mori Ōgai narrowed his eyes as he looked at the girl who had silently emerged from the shadows. He said calmly: "Elise, the dessert can wait for a bit, it's time to work."
"Still working at this hour? That's illegal."
Elise, who hadn't gotten her strawberry cake, spoke with a hint of complaint, but it was just a verbal expression.
In the next moment, a cute nurse outfit and a giant syringe, far larger than her own body, appeared out of thin air on Elise. The petite girl swung the syringe, which was several times larger than herself, with the needle gleaming sharply.
"Then let's get this done before the cake arrives!"
Facing Elise charging toward her, Tokisaki Kurumi raised her hand, and an antique flintlock pistol appeared in her grip.
"Bang—!"
With the trigger pulled, a bullet made of spiritual energy pierced Elise's forehead, causing her to lose her balance.
Despite being shot in the head, Elise didn't die or bleed. Instead, after hitting the ground, she immediately used the inertia to leap backward and landed gracefully.
In just a few seconds, the injury healed at a visible speed, and there was no trace of the headshot.
Even so, Elise, who couldn't figure out where Tokisaki Kurumi had drawn the gun from, didn't dare to charge recklessly again. She held the syringe horizontally in front of her chest, protecting both Mori Ōgai and herself.
"Is it because I discovered Mr. Mori's peculiar interests and got you embarrassed?" Tokisaki Kurumi said sincerely. "Although I don't quite admire your taste, I'm not in the habit of spreading other people's private lives. So, no matter what I saw earlier, I won't tell anyone else. You can trust me on that."
"Should I say, you've really done me a huge favor?" Mori Ōgai, still sitting in his chair, unhurriedly pressed the button on his desk. "Breaking into the Port Mafia headquarters is a capital offense. Miss, I do believe you, because dead people are the best at keeping secrets."
The next moment, the door to the Boss's office was flung open. Fully armed mafias raised the finest modern weaponry, dozens of automatic rifles aimed at Tokisaki Kurumi, who only held a flintlock pistol.
If Mori Ōgai gave the order, she would be riddled with bullets in the next second.
"So, before I give the order, you have one minute to change my mind."
Mori Ōgai stood up, hands behind his back, his tone icy as he asked, "Otherwise, the cleaning crew will have to work overtime."
Despite the impending crisis, Tokisaki Kurumi's smile remained calm.
She had already anticipated this scenario.
After all, she had broken into the headquarters of the most authoritative and dangerous criminal organization in the city. It was a miracle that Mori Ōgai hadn't shot her on the spot.
In truth, this was already the best-case scenario she had anticipated.
She'd mentally prepared herself for an all-out battle against the Port Mafia.
To her surprise, however, Mori Ōgai was far calmer than she'd expected—saving her a great deal of trouble.
"Mr. Mori," Tokisaki Kurumi said, "although I'm more than happy to speak with you—and that's precisely why I came here—I don't think you'd want unrelated parties overhearing our conversation."
"No need to worry about my bodyguards. They're my most trusted confidants. I don't believe there's any secret so critical that even they shouldn't be present."
"Is that so? Then I'll just reveal a little something first."
Kurumi shrugged helplessly, yet the corners of her lips curled upward into an ever-widening smile. "The Dragon War. The previous Boss. The scalpel."
"You…" At those words, a glint of cold fury flashed in Mori Ōgai's eyes.
"Shall I keep going, Mr. Mori?" Kurumi asked with a gentle smile. "Or would you prefer your bodyguards step out for a moment?"
Mori Ōgai exhaled deeply and waved his hand.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Mafia members withdrew from the office upon receiving the order, thoughtfully closing the door behind them—a door with 100% soundproofing.
"Just to be safe, Elise will stay by my side," Mori Ōgai said, narrowing his eyes as he studied the girl standing across from him. "Don't worry—anyone in this world might betray me, but never Elise. She is the embodiment of my ability."
Vita Sexualis—this was the supernatural power possessed by Mori Ōgai.
His ability allowed him to manifest a little girl who would never betray him. Not only could he customize her weapon and combat style, but also her height, weight, bust-waist-hip measurements, personality, age, and preferences.
Elise wasn't a real human—she was a manifestation of Mori Ōgai's ability.
That was precisely why she remained perfectly unharmed despite having taken what should have been a fatal blow.
"Well then, Miss Stranger," Mori Ōgai said as he settled back into his chair, elbows resting on the desk, fingers interlaced beneath his chin, a faint smile playing on his lips, "let's return to our earlier topic."
Yet his violet eyes held no warmth whatsoever—only an icy, piercing chill.
"Would you be so kind as to explain what those three words you just mentioned actually mean?"