Chapter 56: 5 years ago, Charlotte

Chapter 56: 5 years ago, Charlotte

"...Ngh, guh..."

I sat huddled against the wall inside an old, abandoned warehouse, sobbing.

"They're going to kill me..."

I knew what failing to complete a mission meant for an agent. I hadn't killed my target, and now my life was hanging by a thread.

"Why? Why did this happen...?" All of this, every single thing, was... "Come on, stop crying already."

...the fault of my target, the white-haired girl next to me, who was casually holding out a handkerchief.

"If it wasn't for you—!"

Yeah—she was the target I was supposed to kill. Code name: Siesta.

It was my first real combat experience since I'd joined the organization, and I'd been so nervous I'd thought my heart would burst. Even so, I'd cornered her in this abandoned warehouse, and I'd shot her in the left side of the chest...or so I'd thought. However, for some reason, she wasn't even wounded, and the next thing I knew, she'd pinned me down instead. Then she'd made me a certain offer, and here we were.

"I don't mind if you cry and yell at me, but your face is a mess. Here, blow your nose."

...She has no idea how I feel. Irritated, I snatched the white handkerchief she was holding and blew my nose on it as hard as I could. "Accepting mercy from my enemy. This is humiliating..."

"Heh-heh. Well, you were up against the wrong person." Next to me, the enemy gave an elegant smile. She was gonna drive me crazy.

"...! Fine already! Just do whatever you want with me."

Now that I'd failed in my mission, the organization was bound to take me out anyway. Dying here would be better than that, but...

"Exactly. And after that, I'd like you to help me." "Huh?"

"It's the terms of the deal. I'll save your life this time. In exchange, I'd like you to help me with my work once in a while. What do you think?" She

leaned in to peek at my face, smiling. "...That's not fair."

Instinctively, I knew she didn't actually need my help. She was just calling this an "exchange" so that I could accept her kindness freely.

She hadn't just won; she'd annihilated me in every way. "...!"

The tears I'd been holding back spilled over again.

"Oh, honestly. I suppose I'd better...," she said. I think she just couldn't stand to watch me break down. "Let me give you some advice, so that you won't make the same mistake twice."

She reached into her dress, fumbled for something, then brought it out. "It's so pretty..."

It was a pendant set with a blue jewel.

The pattern from the refracted rays of light showed it was completely flawless.

"This stone could take a hit from an artillery shell. I put it over my left breast, inside my bra. I have an acquaintance who's very good at making these things," she told me casually. "I'd heard you were a good shot, so I was sure you'd strike my heart accurately."

"Then you knew the whole time...?" I murmured. I'd gone clear past surprise to amazement.

"First-rate detectives resolve incidents before they even occur, you see."

The smile she gave me would have captivated anyone who saw it. "...I'm no match for you."