"Alice-chan~"
Port Mafia Headquarters, Boss Building.
Ōgai Mori held a pure white lace-decorated dress in his hand, looking at the naked Loli in front of him with a beaming smile, and said in a doting tone, "This is the latest style of little dress Alice wanted, I remember Alice likes white the most, right?"
"Rintarō is mistaken, I like red the most."
Alice, a blonde, blue-eyed girl who looked about ten years old, said in a feigned angry tone, "Hmph, you can't even remember my favorite color, I hate Rintarō the most."
There's an accompanying image here, available after an update.
"Eh, how can that be?" Ōgai Mori put down the dress with a dejected expression. "But last time when I went shopping with Alice, Alice clearly said she liked white the most, just like a doctor's lab coat."
"Last time was last time, now is now. What a girl likes can always change," Alice said with a smile. "But my love for sweets will never change, Rintarō, I want strawberry cake now."
"Now? But it's nighttime now."
"No?"
"How could it be no? Alice can have whatever she wants, after all, my little Alice is the cutest."
Ōgai Mori picked up the phone on his desk, his doting tone instantly transforming into a calm yet authoritative voice: "Have the chef make it now... no, have someone buy a strawberry cake from the nearest dessert shop and bring it here. I want it within ten minutes."
"Yes, Boss, do you need anything else?"
"For the dress delivered today, have another identical one custom-made, but change the color to red."
"Yes, Boss, I understand."
"Go quickly."
Ōgai Mori hung up the phone, but it wasn't long before it rang again.
"What is it?"
"Boss, the guard just reported that a young lady wishes to see you."
"A young lady?" Ōgai Mori raised his eyebrows. "I shouldn't have any appointments today."
"Yes, so the guard refused the young lady's request."
"And then? Surely that's not all you have to report?"
"Then the young lady disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"That's right, she seems to be an Ability User. According to the guard's description, she can submerge herself into shadows."
"Her appearance?"
"Wearing a black and red dress, black twin-tails, one long and one short, one eye red..."
While the Boss's Secretary was describing the young lady's appearance, Ōgai Mori interrupted him: "And the other eye is gold?"
"That's right, but how did you know?"
"Because she's in my office right now."
Hanging up the phone, Ōgai Mori narrowed his eyes at the young lady who had emerged from the shadows at some unknown point, and said lightly, "Alice, the dessert can wait a moment. It's time for work."
"Work so late? That's illegal."
Alice, who hadn't received her strawberry cake, spoke with a hint of resentment, but it was just talk.
The next moment she received the command, a small, cute Nurse's Uniform and a giant, human-sized syringe appeared on Alice out of thin air. The petite girl brandished a syringe several times her body's size, its needle tip glinting with a sharp silver light.
"Then let's quickly resolve this before the cake arrives!"
Facing Alice, who charged straight at her, Kurumi raised her hand, and a retro Flintlock Pistol appeared in her grasp.
"Bang—!"
As the trigger was pulled, a bullet made of spiritual energy pierced Alice's forehead, causing her to lose balance.
Alice, who was shot in the head, lost her forward momentum, but she didn't die, nor did blood gush out. Instead, after falling, she immediately used the inertia to leap backward, landing steadily on the ground.
In just a few seconds, the injured area recovered at a visible speed, with no trace of having been shot in the head.
Even so, Alice, who couldn't figure out where Kurumi had pulled out the gun, didn't dare to be as reckless as before. She held the syringe horizontally across her chest, protecting Ōgai Mori and herself.
"Is it because I discovered Mr. Mori's special fetish, so you're lashing out in anger?"
Kurumi said sincerely, "Although I can't commend your interests, I don't have a habit of spreading other people's private lives. So whatever I saw just now, I won't tell anyone else. Please believe me on this."
"Should I say, 'That's a big help'?" Ōgai Mori remained seated in his chair, calmly pressing a button on his desk. "Trespassing into Port Mafia headquarters is a capital offense, Miss Stranger. I do believe you, because dead people are the best at keeping secrets."
The next moment, the Boss's office door was opened. Fully armed mafia members raised their hands, holding the pinnacle of modern warfare art—dozens of automatic rifles aimed at Kurumi, who held only a single Flintlock Pistol.
As soon as Ōgai Mori gave the order, she would be riddled with bullets the next second.
"So, before I give the order, you have one minute to make me change my mind."
Ōgai Mori stood up, hands clasped behind his back, and asked in an icy tone, "Otherwise, the cleaning crew will have to work overtime."
Facing such a crisis, the smile on Kurumi's face remained calm.
She had already guessed this scene would happen.
After all, she had trespassed into the headquarters of the most authoritative dark force in this city. Ōgai Mori not immediately shooting her was already considered polite.
In fact, this was the best scenario she had envisioned.
She had actually prepared herself for a major battle with the Port Mafia.
Unexpectedly, Ōgai Mori was calmer than she had imagined, which saved her a lot of effort.
"Mr. Mori, while I'd be happy to speak with you, and that is why I'm here, I don't think you'd want unrelated parties to hear our conversation."
"Don't mind my Bodyguards, they are my trusted subordinates. I don't believe any secret is so important that they cannot be present."
"Is that so? Then I'll reveal a little."
Kurumi shrugged helplessly, but the curve of her lips grew wider: "Dragon's Head Conflict, Former Boss, Scalpel."
"You..." Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Ōgai Mori's eyes.
"Shall I continue, Mr. Mori?" Kurumi asked with a smile. "Or would you prefer your Bodyguards to step out?"
Ōgai Mori let out a deep breath and waved his hand.
The mafia members didn't hesitate. After receiving the order to retreat, they left the office, thoughtfully closing the 100% soundproof door behind them.
"To be safe, Alice will stay by my side." Ōgai Mori narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the young lady not far away. "Don't worry, anyone in this world might betray me, but Alice never will. She is the embodiment of my Ability."
"Vita Sexualis"—this was the Ability Ōgai Mori possessed as an Ability User.
Its power was to create a female as a subordinate who would never betray him, and he could not only set the female's weapons and attack methods, but also her height, weight, measurements, personality, age, and preferences.
Alice was not a real person, but an Ability manifestation created by Ōgai Mori.
This was why she was still full of life despite receiving a fatal blow.
"Well then, Miss Stranger, let's return to our previous topic."
Ōgai Mori returned to his seat, elbows resting on the table, fingers intertwined, supporting his chin, a slight smile on his face.
But his violet eyes held no amusement, only icy coldness.
"Could you please explain what those three words meant just now?"