From the outside world’s perspective, Dandins had vanished without a trace from Orion. No one in Orion seed to notice his disappearance, making it extrely challenging to track him down.
In terms of strength, Dandins wasn’t particularly formidable.
Even so, Milluki couldn’t rely on his efforts alone to locate Dandins. He had to collaborate with nurous intelligence brokers, which ca with its own set of costs.
"This isn’t the right ti to discuss this," soone comnted.
"To think the Mafia Community would entrust this to the Zoldycks," another remarked.
"Milluki will keep spinning his wheels until he realizes he’s chasing a ghost," soone else added.
High above the clouds, the airship sailed through the sky. Outside the window, the scenery blurred as the clouds rolled by.
Kaizen sat by the window. Compared to when he’d left Zoldyck Manor nearly a year ago, he had grown taller, but he still had the appearance of a teenager.
"Excuse , can I switch places with you?"
A girl’s voice broke his train of thought. Kaizen turned to see a girl with long black hair. She wore a dress that resembled a palace-style gown and looked slightly older than him.
Her aura was non-existent, marking her as an ordinary person. However, sothing about her face seed off. The left side appeared to be covered by a layer that mimicked her skin tone—subtle enough that most people wouldn’t notice. But Kaizen wasn’t most people.
"I want to see the view outside the window," she said expectantly.
Kaizen nodded. "Sure."
He stood up, exchanging places with her. The young man in the seat next to him glanced at Kaizen briefly before looking away.
The girl leaned against the window, staring outside with wide-eyed curiosity.
"So beautiful! So many birds... They look so free. I’m so envious..." she murmured softly.
Her wistful tone made Kaizen frown slightly.
After a mont of silence, she turned back to him. "I’m done. Let’s switch back. Thank you."
Kaizen nodded and returned to his seat.
...
Two hours later, lunch was announced.
Passengers on the airship could choose between two options: visiting the onboard restaurant, where chefs prepared a variety of dishes of varying quality, or dining at their seats with pre-packed als like bread and desserts.
Kaizen had brought bread with him before boarding, as had the girl.
"This is for you. To say thanks," she said, handing him a small dessert.
Kaizen hesitated briefly before accepting it. "Thanks."
Normally, he would’ve avoided taking food from a stranger. But his training at the Zoldyck Manor included poison resistance, making him nearly immune to ordinary toxins. Even highly toxic substances had minimal effects on him. Years of experience also honed his ability to detect poison.
The girl seed pleased when he accepted her gift.
"Are you heading to Yorknew City as well?" she asked.
"Yes," Kaizen replied. "This airship has only one destination."
The girl’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Have you heard about the auction there?"
"I have."
Kaizen had learned about the annual Yorknew Auction both from the original world’s storyline and from intel gathered by Alutan in Orion. Hosted by the Mafia Community, the event featured an eclectic assortnt of items, many of which were illegal. Despite this, the gangsters controlled the city so tightly that external authorities could do little to intervene.
"Are you going for the auction too?" Kaizen asked.
"Yes," the girl said. "I ca with my family. They’re interested in acquiring sothing. I’m curious about the auction as well—I’ve heard it has all sorts of fascinating items."
She leaned closer. "Have you been to Yorknew before?"
Kaizen shook his head. "No."
The girl’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I wonder what kind of city it will be."
Kaizen noticed a young man seated nearby glancing nervously between the girl and a middle-aged woman sitting further back. The woman subtly shook her head, and the young man refrained from intervening.
The girl seed brimming with curiosity, eagerly chatting with Kaizen about everything from the outside world to her interests. Surprisingly, she was passionate about video gas rather than the typical hobbies of girls her age, like dolls, flower arranging, or music.
"Have you heard of Greed Island?" Kaizen asked.
"Greed Island?"
"Yes. It’s a famous ga, but the price of the console is extrely high. The developers poured a lot of effort into it, so it’s said to be incredibly realistic. I’ve been searching for it, but I haven’t found a copy yet."
"Is it fun?"
"I’ve heard it’s amazing—almost like living in another world," Kaizen said.
The girl’s eyes lit up. "That sounds like a dream co true."
As the airship began its descent, passengers lined up to disembark.
Kaizen followed the girl off the airship. As he stepped onto the platform, he noticed a folded note in his hand.
He opened it.
Inside was an email address along with a na that made him pause: Morena
The girl glanced back at him briefly before disappearing into the crowd.
Kaizen waved at her retreating figure, though his mind lingered on the note.
That na... Why does it sound so familiar?
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