I kept my Splitfang aimed at the woman.
Even though I couldn't see her with my normal eyes.
Reina shared her vision.
Instantly, the woman's figure appeared before me.
Blurred.
As if part of her body was merging with the air itself.
I studied the strange cloak wrapped around her.
"Reina."
"I know."
"Why can't the thermal sensors see her?"
"Heat-concealment equipment."
I frowned.
"Some kind of camouflage?"
"More than that."
Reina's eyes continued glowing.
"She's hiding her body heat, ordinary frequency signatures, and part of her visible light reflection. My best guess is a high-grade invisibility cloak."
I fell silent for a moment.
"How expensive?"
"Very expensive."
I didn't ask anything else.
The woman chuckled softly.
I didn't lower the Splitfang.
I kept it trained on her.
The woman sighed.
"Are you really not going to lower that weapon?"
Slowly, she opened part of her cloak.
Her body became more visible.
A black tight suit.
Neat.
Practical.
But the parts still covered by the cloak seemed to disappear into the background.
It was a strange sight.
I took a step back.
"Green Serpent?"
"No."
"Then let's pretend we've never met."
I began lowering my rifle.
"I don't have any business with you."
Then the woman smiled.
"But I have business with you, Archemidas."
I froze instantly.
The Splitfang came back up.
This time aimed directly at her head.
The woman raised both hands.
"Huh. Scary."
I didn't answer.
"Relax."
Her smile remained.
"I don't want a pointless fight."
Then she pulled out a sidearm.
My finger immediately tightened halfway on the trigger.
But—
"Wait, Arche!" Reina shouted.
The woman dropped the sidearm onto the ground.
Then dropped her second weapon.
Clank.
Clank.
Both hit the ground.
"How about now?"
She smiled again.
"Do I still look like an enemy?"
"I'm not interested."
I kept aiming at her.
"I don't have time for this."
The woman sighed again.
"You're difficult."
Then she pulled out a tablet.
And tossed it to me.
I caught it on reflex.
The tablet immediately activated.
A holographic screen appeared.
And—
I froze.
Reina froze too.
There was a picture of me on the screen.
My name.
Archemidas.
Below it were large red letters.
WANTED.
100,000 NEXBIT.
DEAD OR ALIVE.
A chill immediately ran down my spine.
"Reina."
"I'm checking."
Her eyes glowed brightly.
Accessing the A.R.M. network.
Several seconds passed.
Then her expression turned grim.
"...It's authentic."
I remained silent.
"The data is real."
The atmosphere instantly became quiet.
Then the woman spoke again.
"I didn't come here for the bounty."
I looked at her.
"I came to offer you protection, Archemidas."
I immediately spoke to Reina in my mind.
"Reina?"
"I'm scanning her."
Reina's eyes glowed again.
Heartbeat.
Microexpressions.
Muscle movement.
Neural responses.
A few seconds later—
"She isn't lying."
I frowned.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
The woman smiled faintly.
"So?"
She pointed at my rifle.
"Can you lower that weapon now?"
"Heh."
I didn't answer.
Still aiming at her.
Slowly, I lowered the Splitfang.
But my finger remained close to the trigger.
"Reina."
"I know."
"If she does anything strange, take over my body."
"I've been ready since the beginning."
Good.
I still didn't trust this woman.
The woman finally lowered her hands as well.
I immediately asked,
"So?"
"Hmm?"
"Have you been following me this whole time?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
I frowned.
"Since when?"
"Since the Green Serpent supply-point explosion."
I fell silent.
The woman continued.
"I saw the smoke."
"And then?"
"I followed you."
The answer was far too casual.
"I was actually prepared to help if they managed to surround you."
She smiled slightly.
"But it turned out I didn't need to."
I didn't respond.
"Because you escaped on your own."
I called out to Reina mentally.
"Reina."
"She still isn't lying."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"But don't let your guard down."
I agreed.
Then the woman tossed something to me.
I caught it.
A card.
At the top was written:
The Whisperers
Under it:
Whisper Agent
Elthea Morne
On the back of the card was a small chip.
"Reina?"
Her eyes immediately lit up.
Several seconds passed.
"Authentic."
I looked at the card again.
"Registered within the Black Market Firmament organization network."
I raised my gaze.
"So you're from the Black Market?"
Elthea smiled.
"That's right."
"You can tell just from the card?"
I pointed at the chip on the back.
"From this."
"Oh?"
Elthea looked interested.
But didn't ask further.
"I'm Elthea."
"Heh."
I ignored her laugh.
"Then explain."
Her smile disappeared.
"You get straight to the point."
"I don't like wasting time."
"Fair."
Elthea sighed.
Then looked at me seriously.
"Archemidas."
Her tone changed.
"I'll give you some intel as a gesture of trust."
I waited.
"Green Serpent is looking for you."
I didn't appear surprised.
That much was already obvious.
But her next sentence made me pause.
"They're searching all of Firmament."
"..."
"Logistics stores."
"Inns."
"Hospitals."
"Every place that has ever processed payments from your A.R.M."
I immediately thought of the inn.
Gun and Greed.
Ryvolin's clinic.
And several other places.
"Reina?"
"If they have sufficient access, that's possible."
I exhaled slowly.
Elthea continued.
"In short."
"You can't return to Firmament right now."
Silence.
I didn't answer.
Then Elthea continued.
"However, my boss has an offer."
"An offer?"
"Yeah."
She crossed her arms.
"The Whisperers are willing to protect you."
I remained silent.
"Until?"
"Until we arrive at our headquarters."
I immediately frowned.
"Headquarters?"
"My boss wants to speak with you personally there."
I looked at her.
"Why?"
"Don't know."
The answer came too quickly.
"I'm just following orders."
I glanced at Reina.
"?"
Reina immediately scanned her.
Several seconds passed.
"She's telling the truth."
I looked back at Elthea.
"What's in it for me?"
Elthea smiled.
"First."
"You won't be hunted alone."
"..."
"Second."
"You gain access to The Whisperers' protection."
"..."
"Third."
She pointed at the bounty tablet.
"If that hundred-thousand-Nexbit bounty becomes widely known, your life is going to become much more difficult."
I fell silent.
That was true.
Very true.
Elthea shrugged.
"Of course, we're not going to trap you."
"I don't believe that."
"Fair enough."
She actually laughed softly.
"Then I'll add one more thing."
"What?"
"I'll personally escort you back to Firmament."
I raised an eyebrow.
"A moment ago you said I couldn't return to Firmament."
"Not alone," Elthea replied.
"But I have a different route."
I immediately turned to Reina.
"What do you think?"
Reina stayed silent for quite a while.
Then answered.
"Arche."
"What?"
"For the first time since we met this woman."
"Hm?"
"I genuinely can't find a reason for her to be lying."
I looked at Elthea.
Elthea returned my gaze with a faint smile.
Then extended her hand.
"So?"
"What's your decision, Archemidas?"