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[Ding!]
[Darkness Is Coming – Precursor clue detected. Main quest updated.]
[Darkness Is Coming – Node Quest: Investigate the Heretic Coven's conspiracy and destroy it.]
[Quest Rewards: 50,000 points, Demon Bloodline Awakening +10%, Unknown Demon God Relic ×1]
Soren's steps faltered.
He stared at the system notification floating in his mind, his breathing suddenly heavier.
Fifty thousand points. Ten percent bloodline awakening. And a relic from an actual demon god.
This was the fattest reward he'd seen since binding to the system.
But this goddamn system really needed to learn how to trigger quests before he opened his mouth.
He'd already turned them down. Now he had to walk that back without looking like a complete idiot.
Soren exhaled, steadied himself, and turned around. He walked back to the table like nothing had happened.
He looked at Bayonetta and Constantine, voice low and serious.
"On second thought… I just remembered something my uncle always told me."
"Protecting the innocent and saving the world is part of a demon hunter's duty. I can't just walk away."
Bayonetta pushed her glasses up with one finger and let out a soft, amused laugh. "Did you learn that line from your uncle too? It doesn't really match the vibe you were giving off thirty seconds ago."
Soren kept a straight face and pretended he hadn't heard the jab.
Whatever. He was committed now.
"Since we're all after the same thing, how about we share what we know?"
Even though the system had given him the quest, he had zero intention of doing the heavy lifting himself. With this walking nuke of a witch in front of him, he could happily stay in the backline, fish for assists, and still collect the rewards.
The quest only said to destroy the conspiracy. It didn't say he had to personally storm their headquarters.
Getting some intel now would make it easier to leech later.
Bayonetta watched him for a moment, red lips curving. "From what I've tracked, they've been quietly collecting humans with special bloodlines and ancient relics all over the world."
"Unfortunately, when I was tailing one of their key members, the bastard triggered a soul contract and blew himself up. The trail went cold."
Soren met her eyes. "So next step—we figure out what they're actually planning to do with all that blood and those relics?"
"Not yet."
Bayonetta wagged a finger.
"I do have the locations of several of their bases. But if it were your uncle standing here, I might consider a direct assault to get answers."
She gave Soren a slow, deliberate once-over, her gaze lingering on certain parts of him with open amusement.
"You, though… we should take our time."
"They've got things even the Angelic Council is wary of. If you go charging in, that pretty little body of yours won't last five minutes."
Soren didn't argue. Facing an organization that even this arrogant witch wanted to drag Dante into, admitting he wasn't ready yet was just common sense.
Still…
The way she looked at him while saying it made him feel like she and he were thinking about very different kinds of "strength."
"So why did you come find me in the middle of the night?" he asked. "What's your real goal here?"
Bayonetta seemed pleased with his reaction. Staying calm even when being underestimated wasn't common among young hunters.
She stepped behind him, placed both hands on his shoulders, and gave them a slow, firm squeeze.
"What? A woman showing up at your place this late… shouldn't the reason be obvious?"
She leaned down, her warm breath brushing his ear, carrying a faint, intoxicating scent.
Soren's breathing hitched. This woman was pure walking temptation.
Bayonetta straightened up with a satisfied little smile and continued, "I mentioned it earlier. They're hunting people with special bloodlines all over the world—"
Soren's expression didn't change. "You want me to be bait?"
Bayonetta covered her mouth and laughed, shoulders shaking. "Don't make it sound so crude. Bait gets eaten. With your current strength, you'd at least be a hook they can't just swallow."
Soren stayed quiet.
No matter how nicely she phrased it, she was still planning to use him as a tool.
"I've found several observation bases they've set up across America. They're researching human-demon fusion technology there."
Bayonetta's tone turned businesslike again. "All you need to do is hit those places, cause some chaos, and mess with their experiments. Once they get annoyed enough, they'll come looking for you themselves."
Soren's eyes narrowed.
Wait.
Observation bases? Human-demon fusion research?
This sounded way too familiar.
Wasn't this exactly what he'd been destroying?
He'd been hitting those same facilities without even realizing it, which was why they'd sent that armed team after him and nearly dragged Patty into it.
So the group Bayonetta was investigating… was the same one he'd already pissed off?
No wonder Fiona and Marie Laveau's divinations had both mentioned powerful sorcerers shielding them and barriers blocking scrying. An organization that had survived for who knows how many centuries would naturally have serious resources.
Once he connected the dots, Soren's attitude shifted.
Before, he might have been content to coast for the rewards. But now that they'd threatened Patty, this wasn't just some distant conspiracy anymore.
No matter how deep these rats were hiding, he was going to drag them out and exterminate every last one.
"When they finally show their faces, I'll handle the rest," Bayonetta said.
She reached into the front of her tight leather outfit and pulled out a neatly folded slip of paper, offering it to him.
Soren took it. The paper was still warm from her body and carried a faint, pleasant scent.
He unfolded it. Several state names were written in elegant handwriting:
Louisiana. Illinois. Maine. Virginia.
Soren frowned at the vague list. "No actual addresses? Just state names? How the hell am I supposed to find their bases with this?"
Bayonetta smiled. "I don't do low-level reconnaissance work."
"You just need to make noise and play the bait. As for the actual intel… once you're in the area, someone will reach out and feed you the locations."
She turned and started walking toward the window.
"Wait," Soren called out.
Bayonetta stopped and looked back over her shoulder.
"I'm putting myself at serious risk playing bait. You're not even going to offer some kind of compensation?"
Bayonetta raised an eyebrow and slowly licked her red lips.
Interesting.
She deliberately stretched, the motion full of lazy seduction.
"Then I won't leave tonight? I even brought my driver's license."
Soren rubbed his chin, openly admiring the view. "I suppose that could work."