"So? Tie-zi, are you still renting this place out?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The Filth clenched its fist, the sense of fullness leaving it thoroughly at ease in this moment. Its power had returned — not much, but enough to get by.
"I mean it literally. I think you're a pretty interesting guy. If you've got nowhere else to go, then just live here with me for now."
Geno scratched his head, that dopey look plastered across his face, and at once the Filth's expression grew complicated.
"Do you even realize? Just now you could've stood by and watched me die, and then you'd never again have to spend your days terrified of what I might do to you. Instead you handed the Filth's power back to me, and gave me the Filth from inside that guy's body too. Aren't you afraid of what I might do to you afterward?"
Hearing the Filth's words, Geno waved a hand.
"I don't have many good points, but I've got one — I'm a great judge of people." Geno narrowed one eye, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Besides, I'm not the type to repay kindness with cruelty. Since you dared to risk your life lending me your power, then it's only right and proper that I return the favor with a gift of my own. And besides — you talk a big game, but would you really go through with it?"
Trust. Trust without reason.
At least, that was how it looked to the Filth.
"For a moment there I couldn't decide whether to call you a lunatic or an idiot."
"Hey~ neither of those is a nice word."
Fanning his palm, Geno grumbled back at the Filth's remark with no small amount of resignation, then went on: "Anyway, you really wouldn't do it now, would you?"
Watching Geno say it with such utter conviction, the Filth genuinely wanted to give him a good couple of smacks.
But Geno was right. It really wouldn't raise a hand against him again.
"You said before that your birth was mixed with a part of my memories and Ether energy, which is why you look so much like me."
As he spoke, the corners of Geno's mouth curled upward into a pleased little arc.
"So, more or less, your personality should be about the same as mine too. Under the influence of those memories, your temperament has slowly been drifting toward mine."
If Geno's reasoning was correct, then the Filth would absolutely never do anything to harm him.
Because Geno was a hopeless softie, and even if the Filth had inherited only a tenth of that, it was still a thoroughly hopeless softie all the same.
"Fine, you win. What I said before still stands. I won't keep interfering with your life. I'll live here quietly."
Having said all this, the Filth found a corner and lay back down, seemingly unwilling to pay Geno any more mind.
"Good, good, good, yes, yes, yes — you can still stay here. But rest assured, one day…"
Before he could finish, Geno's figure vanished from that space.
…
One day you'll do what?! Out with it!"
Don't you know you'll bite your tongue rotten leaving a sentence half-finished?!
The Filth stared in the direction Geno had left, a whole face full of exasperated lines, then glanced over at the black monster off to the side — the one Geno had subdued and then left unattended.
After a moment's thought, the Filth stretched out its palm and tried to stir the Filth energy within its body. Then it watched as the dark-red Filth energy engulfed the monster entirely. The hunter of moments ago had become the prey in this instant, dissipating within this space in the blink of an eye.
Afterward the Filth once again lay obediently back down.
No matter what Geno intended to do to it later, at least in this moment it was still alive — and so it would keep its promise.
In the real world, Lycaon watched the motionless Geno, weighing whether to seize this chance and slip away with Eous. After all, judging by the current situation, there was no way he could win in a fight.
But before he could act on it, Geno moved first.
Geno's once-terrifying form suddenly contracted, quickly returning to human shape.
Then he rubbed his head, looking a little dazed, as though he'd just woken from a long, deep sleep.
"Uh, why are you all staring at me like that? You're gonna make me blush~"
Confirmed — it was the real Geno, no mistake.
Though there was no telling why the kid had suddenly come to his senses again, it was a good thing in the end.
"Geno, you really put us through the wringer — look at the state you beat Lycaon into!"
Eous planted her hands on her hips and grumbled at Geno, thoroughly put out.
Of course, this grumbling counted as nothing more than friendly ribbing between companions, since she knew perfectly well that Geno himself hadn't wanted things to turn out this way.
"Sorry, I let my guard down and fell for the other guy's scheme."
Geno apologized. He hadn't expected Hartman to have a trick like that up his sleeve.
"So long as you're safe and sound, that's what matters. My injuries are nothing serious. More importantly, regarding Hartman's whereabouts — do you know where he went?"
Faced with Lycaon's question, Geno shook his head a little awkwardly.
He'd assumed that stepping into the trap himself to take Hartman down this time would be a sure thing, easy as pie.
But the result was a total mess — not only had he been played, he hadn't managed to obtain even a shred of intel.
No, wait — it wasn't entirely nothing.
"There's nothing on where Hartman went, but this factory is hiding a bloody operation tied to the Ravenlock family. That should count as evidence — enough to bring them to justice."
This was how Geno saw it: as long as the matter of this factory could be handed over to Mayor Mayflower, they could pressure TOPS into surrendering Ravenlock.
And once that happened, investigating the dealings between Ravenlock and the Rebel Soldiers would become far simpler.
"Mm, indeed so. In that case, may I trouble the esteemed Proxy to notify my colleagues to take this place over."
Lycaon, too, felt Geno's approach was viable — after all, if what Geno said was true, then the municipal authorities had power enough for it.
"Also, regarding Hartman's whereabouts, I believe I know where he's gone."
Recalling that familiar figure from his memories, Lycaon felt an inexplicable, restless throb lingering in his heart, as though something dreadful was about to happen.
"In that case, let the Proxy wait here for the people from Victoria Housekeeping to come take over. You and I will go drag Hartman back — and catch him red-handed with the goods."
It hadn't occurred to Geno that Lycaon still had a card in reserve. Overjoyed, he immediately proposed acting together with him.
Lycaon nodded, and then led Geno out of the factory, heading toward another part of the Hollow.
And that was precisely where Hugo and Hartman had held their negotiation...
"What happened afterward was just as I told you — we rescued you and brought you to the hospital."
Lycaon began peeling an apple once more, while Hugo simply listened in silence.
Two former close friends, now enemies — in this moment, calmer than they had ever been.
____
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