"I see. If it were me, survival would be my true goal. Whether submitting to an enemy or ultimately killing them, both are just means to achieve that end—to stay alive."
"If I had infiltrated my enemy's circle solely for the sake of avenging my father's death, I'd have been exposed and eliminated long ago."
"It's precisely because my focus was always on survival that I eventually acted—when my strength had reached the necessary level, and when I had become a threat in his eyes. Killing him wasn't just about vengeance; it was about ensuring I kept breathing."
Without that level of insight, Connie would've been dead many times over.
Durandal gave a slight nod, acknowledging the logic in Connie's perspective.
"Then, can you answer me now? Knowing all this, what do you intend to do?"
Durandal's tone was casual, almost offhand.
"Think carefully before you reply. If I'm not satisfied with your answer… well, I have a drug that can erase short-term memories. Though the side effects might be… significant."
Of course, Durandal possessed no such thing.
Something similar did exist fifty thousand years later—Tesla had used it around 2005 or 2006 on civilians who witnessed the Arahato incident. The side effects? Foaming at the mouth was among the milder ones.
Connie had no idea Durandal was lying.
After all, compared to everything else Durandal had mentioned, this "memory-erasing drug" sounded like the most plausible and believable part.
"If the Honkai's purpose is to screen civilizations, then as a member of human civilization, shouldn't I contribute my share as well?"
Connie initially considered delivering some high-minded rhetoric, but halfway through, even she chuckled at herself.
She was just a mob boss, not one of those political clowns who loved grandstanding during televised speeches.
She thought about lighting another cigarette, but after hesitating with the pack in hand, she stuffed it into the trash bin instead.
"Why not smoke?" Durandal asked.
"You and that lovely lady over there aren't fond of it," Connie shrugged. "Alright, I'll be straight with you—I don't want to die for nothing. So, I want to tag along with you."
"I figure the wealth my family accumulated over three generations would be better spent supporting your cause rather than being dumped into the stock market to bleed dry the small-time investors. Consider it my… protection fee. What do you think?"
"Tag along with us?" Durandal frowned. "But the places we go are dangerous. Staying with us might get you killed even faster."
She felt it necessary to make the risks clear to this woman.
Connie, however, wasn't bothered. "I can tell neither of you are the cruel type. You broke into my estate, subdued plenty of my men, and made a mess of the place, but you didn't take a single life."
"If you can show that much restraint toward strangers, then if I throw my full support behind you, would you really stand by and watch me die to the Honkai? As long as you have the capacity, you won't abandon me, right?"
"You see things clearly," Durandal said, a smile finally appearing on her face. "I think your support could extend beyond just money."
She pointed to her own head. "Your wisdom might be what I need even more in the days ahead."
Then, Durandal explained her plan to establish an organization to combat the Honkai—one already named the "Flame-Chasers."
After sharing this, she noticed Connie showed no surprise, which piqued her interest further.
She gestured toward Elysia, who was seated nearby.
"Connie, did you know? This Elysia here is someone I recruited from the world's largest anti-Honkai organization, Fire Moth."
"Her strength is on par with mine, yet when I invited her to join the Flame-Chasers, she refused, claiming she'd already joined Fire Moth. But the truth is, she hasn't officially become a member yet."
"I'm telling you this because I want to ask you, Connie—since you already gathered from our earlier conversation that Fire Moth's purpose is to fight the Honkai, and that it's backed by the United Nations, why aren't you skeptical about me wanting to establish the Flame-Chasers? After all, joining Fire Moth might seem like the better choice."
This was something Elysia wanted to know as well.
Having been somewhat distracted since entering the estate, Elysia now focused her attention, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on the mob boss.
Connie glanced at Elysia, then back at Durandal, and replied frankly, "To be honest, I'm not surprised you want to found the Flame-Chasers, Lady Durandal. But I am rather surprised that Miss Elysia wants to join Fire Moth."
"At least from my perspective, whether it's Fire Moth or the United Nations, these organizations are undoubtedly massive and powerful—but that also means their internal dynamics are tangled and complex."
"Take the UN, for example. I don't know if you've heard this saying: 'When two small nations conflict, the UN steps in, and the conflict disappears. When a large nation and a small nation conflict, the UN steps in, and the small nation disappears. When two large nations conflict, the UN steps in, and the UN disappears.'"
Connie spread her hands. "That's just how it is. If Fire Moth were backed by a world federal government instead of the UN, I might be more optimistic."
"But even under the threat of the Honkai, the UN hasn't been able to evolve into something resembling a world government. So, I'd rather trust ourselves than those political animals. Because in the eyes of those in power, their own interests will always come first."
"Fire Moth… I suspect it's just a product of compromise. How much real influence do its members have?"
"In an organization like that, it'd be a miracle if they didn't end up fighting among themselves due to their respective interest groups. Uniting to fight the Honkai? Sorry, but I find that highly unlikely…"
"See? It's not just me who has doubts about Fire Moth."
Durandal looked toward Elysia, a trace of smugness flashing in her eyes.
Elysia: "…"
She really hadn't thought that far ahead.
Looking back now, her single-minded determination to infiltrate Fire Moth… had indeed been rash.
But to admit in front of Durandal that she'd been wrong?
No way!
If this had been back when they first met, maybe—after all, she'd have been happy to oblige a beauty like Durandal.
But now? Not a chance!
--+--