The road is paved in stones, no gates nor guards concealing it, making it distinct from the different mansions around it. The path leads to the mansion ahead.

  Lion statues line the way at consistent intervals, their surfaces polished and intact, no stain visible on them. Their expressions are neither fearsome nor welcoming. They look like a group waiting for their master's order, eyes watching the visitors passing by, giving the impression of being observed from both sides.

  The garden is immaculate, the setting sun painting its orange light on the lively green of the plants. The grass is trimmed to identical height across the ground, flowerbeds arranged in symmetry. No fallen leaves lie on the soil, nor do weeds dare to grow.

  Trees stand tall with branches cut, creating perfect harmony. The air is still, no insects nor birds in sight. Even the wind seems hesitant to pass through.

  At the end, the mansion reveals itself. The ivory walls are spotless, reflecting the sunlight without warmth. The dark roof gleams sharply above. The tall arched windows allow the light in freely, yet they reflect more than they reveal, turning the interior into pale orange.

  A young man knocks at the door.

  "Master, why don't you use the door knocker?" the blonde lady wearing red scarves asks the man.

  The man looks at the door knocker with the lion head, then looks back at the woman.

  "The knocker looks creepy." He points behind him with his thumb, still looking at the woman. "After crossing this road, do you really expect me to use it?"

  The lady looks at the statues guarding the path, then lets out a giggle. "Master, sometimes you act like a child, and I feel like I've failed your education."

  "Stop that." He blushes. "Also, don't call me Master when we're inside, Flaire."

  She raises her fists to the level of her face. "Understood, Master Decim." She says proudly.

  "And here we go. Just don't speak too much."

  "Alright." Her blue eyes sparkle.

  Creak!

  The door cracks open, startling the visitors. Behind the crack, dark eyes stare at them before the door opens completely.

  In a maid uniform, the small-framed figure stands before them. Her pale hair falls in a wavy pattern with a few strands loose near her face, as if not allowed to escape.

  Her eyes meet Decim's. They are calm, almost empty.

  She tilts her head slightly, just enough to suggest politeness, lips curving into a restrained smile, as if she practiced it every day.

  "Welcome..." she says softly.

  Her voice sounds like she's talking to herself. She calmly steps out of the way for Flaire and Decim to enter.

  "Master hasn't told me someone would be added. I'm surprised to see you here." She adds.

  The inside of the mansion uses red as its main decoration. The carpet runs from the door to the stairs, which separate into two different paths going to the second floor.

  On the first floor's right side, a dining hall is visible. On the left, a door. Chandeliers hang in the main hall and dining hall, illuminating them for everyone to see.

  Decim reaches into the pocket inside his coat, pulling out an envelope. "I think this is enough to prove I'm supposed to be here." He offers the envelope.

  She lifts her hands in refusal, closing her eyes, flustered. "If you weren't supposed to be here, Master would've told me not to open the door."

  "Is that so?" He puts back the envelope. "Then please bring me to your master."

  She bows in agreement. "Because unlike the others, you came late, Master went back to her room. So that's where you're going to meet her."

  After saying that, she walks to the stairs, taking the left path with Decim and Flaire following her.

  The hallway still maintains that red composition, with different room furnishings like vases and flowers decorating the sides.

  They walk past multiple rooms before seeing a door at the end of the hall.

  A man stands there, a butler.

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  He's positioned beside a tall table carrying a candle holder. He appears with his hands behind his back, a mustache on his face, eyes shut.

  "Sorry." The maid bows.

  He opens his right eye, looking down at her.

  She straightens back up. "They came to see Master."

  He nods. "I'll take it from here."

  He picks up the candle holder and lights it.

  "Why do you light it?" Decim asks, perplexed.

  "Our master is somewhat particular." He replies.

  After lighting it, he opens the door to her room.

  Decim's perspective:

  We enter the room. It's pitch black. As the candles illuminate the space, I see no chandelier on the ceiling.

  He locks the door behind us.

  Looking at Flaire, she seems frightened. I grab her hand, and she stares back at me.

  This move calms her down. She has nothing to do here, and to be honest, I don't understand why she still follows me.

  The room is large enough. A king-size bed sits in the middle. No, it's the first thing that catches the eye.

  There's a makeup table with a chair in front of it.

  She at least takes care of herself.

  The butler walks toward what seems like a wall, pulling an edge to reveal a curtain. He lifts it for us to pass.

  No, from the beginning it was a curtain.

  "May you enter?"

  I walk to the curtain. "Flaire, stay here."

  She nods.

  I enter. I see the butler lighting a candle from his pocket and giving it to me.

  "It's very dark here. Make yourself at home."

  When the light of the candle illuminates the place, I see a woman lying on a red sofa. She covers her eyes as if disturbed.

  "Sorry, Master." The butler apologizes.

  She gets up in her black suit, looking at me with her red ruby eyes. Her blonde hair is bound at the back with a red gradient at the tips. She looks at the table before her.

  A bottle of vodka and a glass sit there.

  She fills the glass, taking a sip. "Sit." She says.

  Opposite to her, there's a chair. I walk over and sit on it, facing her.

  The butler stands in the middle as the only source of light.

  I watch her sipping her vodka, stirring and sipping from time to time, her left elbow taking support at the edge of the sofa.

  This isn't serious. Why haven't I seen anyone guarding this place?

  "Are you going to say anything, or should I start?" she asks, still focusing on her drink.

  "I would like to have my grade increased, if that's not too much to ask." I grin.

  She empties the glass, then slams it on the table.

  "Is that the reason why you came late?" For the first time, she voluntarily looks at me.

  I freeze. "I need to make an impression, don't I?"

  She crosses her arms. "You're really a pain in the ass, huh? Every member of your team is here already, and none of them showed me the letter. I assume you're Decim."

  "Not really a clever deduction since I made my request clear."

  "What? You think I identified you as Decim because of that?" She laughs. "I thought you wanted to rise up to A grade. There is no vacant seat, so that was my conclusion. But judging by your proposal, I doubt you could decrypt the letter if you can't even think about that."

  "It wasn't really hard to decrypt. I happen to have someone cultivated in my team, and after getting rid of all the misdirection, it's pretty easy to get here."

  "So you had help. That explains that." She fills her glass again. "Hasn't your partner told you how to rise up in this group?"

  I lean closer, grinning.

  "Lambda, or should I say, Chryselia Mantione. How much do you think information about you would be worth?"

  She cracks the glass, shattering it all over the place. "You dare blackmail me?"

  The butler looks at the scene, uninterested.

  "It's simple. I think I'm worth more than the value you gave me. Just give me the power to increase my forces, and we're good. I don't need a title around your table."

  "I see. Iota's son needs to shut his mouth. I knew it wasn't good to have him integrate someone into another's group. After all, he's the reason I lost my bet. Having you threaten me, is opposing me the reason he was born?" She looks down. "Nevertheless, you're just worth a captain, and as such, your team would stay as it is."

  "Aren't you scared you have the wrong judgment about me? Aren't you scared I'll reveal what I know?"

  "Those words are meaningless if you can't make them reality." Her eyes look deep into my soul. "Oh, you're sweating. Perhaps, can you see what differentiates us?"

  Indeed, I'm shivering. By normal means, there's no way I can beat this monster. Now I understand why there's no real line of defense here.

  But still, I can use it.

  A blade instantly appears, piercing through the sofa close to Chryselia's head. She moves, eyes closed.

  "Was that your ultimate move? You really put this much energy into your speech, but sorry, you really are worth captain level, and I'm being kind." She leans closer, crossing her fingers. "Now tell me, what is your goal really? I don't think you have any belief in Nirvain or are pushed by lust and greed. There's something more unsettling about you. Hahaha. Now that you tried killing me, you won't cry and say I did you dirty, will you?" She smiles.

  My teeth grind. "How is that even possible?" I stand up.

  As fast as I rise, a force pulls me back down.

  The butler didn't move. It's her.

  A golden glow of light starts to take the shape of a lion. Red wings add to it with a scorpion tail. She caresses it fur.

  "I don't understand. My spirit and yours should be in the same tier. Why is there such a big difference between you and me?"

  "I don't think that's important. What is important is the fact that you're weak, so you have to comply with my desires. That look on your face is so cute. If you're not going to tell me about your goals, at least do your work properly."

  "You're not going to eliminate me?"

  "Not really. You don't pose a threat for me to fear anything about you." She reaches into the pocket at her waist and pulls out a paper, then places it on the table. "I only target real threats. Aiming for a small fry makes the outcome too predictable, and I don't like that."

  I pick up the paper. "Will you consider my request if I become one?"

  "If it was someone else, it would've been another story. I understand why Epsilon gave you to me. He understands me so well."

  I unwrap the paper and read it. "This can't be real. The tomb of Carcis, the king who reigned in Casis before the Rupture. Are you sure about its authenticity?"

  "Don't worry about that. I got it for a good price and from someone I trust. So don't worry about its authenticity. Do you understand what I'm expecting from you?" She smiles.

  "I do, and I won't disappoint you."

  "Then you can leave. Your friends are in another room. Ceaser, take him there."

  He bows to her. "Yes, Master." He glances at me, giving me a death stare. "Follow me, mister."

  It amuses Chryselia.

  I follow Ceaser out of the curtain.