Always Faithful to Their Work
I knew full well that one shouldn't judge a person by appearances alone.
But never did I imagine that saying would apply in quite this way.
The person standing before me—Yu Gwon-sun.
She was the kind of person whose outward appearance, perfectly matching the moniker "Golden Sun," was utterly different from what lay within.
"A good person...? What the hell are you talking about, Adjutant?"
Gwon-sun asked me with a startled expression, and I answered her honestly with what I was thinking.
"Exactly what it means. Even though you act like you don't care most of the time, you still hold a heart that cherishes human life."
"...."
She looked slightly surprised at my words and fell silent for a moment.
But soon, a light laugh began to escape her lips.
"Haha... Really? Well... depending on how you look at it, I guess you could see it that way. But it's not that kind of feeling. It's not that I cherish lives so much as... I'm just a coward. My heart's too soft, so I feel uncomfortable killing people. Even after being in this business for so long."
"The fact that you still hold onto that discomfort is precisely what makes you a good person. Honestly... in my case, I'm not so sure I could do the same. Maintaining that merciful heart even after spending so long in this world..."
At my words, Gwon-sun stared at me blankly for a moment, unable to say anything.
Then, a short while later, she turned her head away and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"W-what's so good about something like this... I know I'm not in any position to say this, but you'd better get rid of those feelings as soon as you can. Once you're in this business, killing people is inevitable anyway. If you overthink things like me for no good reason, you won't last long."
"Even so. I don't think that's a bad thing either. It's only natural for people to cherish human life. Even if the job makes it difficult, the fact that you protect that without growing numb is something truly worthy of respect, I believe."
"... Tch... You're the one who's too nice for your own good, Adjutant. Doesn't seem like you fit this kind of work."
"Haha... Yes. Well. That's not entirely wrong. With a personality like mine, I've been called a pushover plenty of times in the past."
"Yeah, figures..."
Toward the end, Gwon-sun started speaking with a bit of a snippy tone.
But... in that moment, I could tell.
While talking about this, unlike just before, her mood had lightened considerably...
She's saying that, but... she seems a little more settled now, doesn't she?
It seemed that gently touching on her true feelings and offering her some comfort had been quite a consolation.
Watching Gwon-sun look a bit more at ease, I stood up from my seat, thinking I might order some ramen.
Without realizing that, in that moment, Gwon-sun's gaze had been lightly directed toward me.
Trickle...
Bones poured the red liquid into the glass.
In front of her sat her master, the chairman who was the protection target for this trip.
"So, what are the others doing?"
"Yes, they're taking turns resting in pairs. Even in this situation, they seem to be maintaining their tension and keeping security thorough."
"Right... Of course. The others might be different, but Are and Jinhyun... those two have always been people faithful to their work from the start. Even if the current situation isn't exactly to their liking."
The chairman spoke with deep trust mixed with a touch of regret.
Bones carefully asked her master.
"But Chairman... will it really be all right? This is just my personal opinion, but I still think we should have hired more security personnel. No matter how much they're Dreamouth's A-class hunters and Adjutant Lee Jinhyun, considering the risk level of this art exhibition..."
"It's fine. You've seen it yourself, haven't you? Even in that situation, they handled things perfectly just as I expected. That level is enough. Increasing the numbers for no reason would only make things more cumbersome."
"Mmm..."
Bones still wore an expression of unease despite the chairman's words.
Of course, regarding their skills, Bones had heard about them in advance and even seen them with her own eyes, so there was no room for doubt.
But... separate from that, the root of the worry she currently held wasn't simply from excessive concern.
There's a high chance those guys will show up at this art exhibition. The Chairman must know that too... I'm worried he's placing too much trust in these people.
Rumors circulating quietly among those with excellent intelligence networks.
Considering that, honestly, Bones had hoped the chairman wouldn't participate in this art exhibition himself and would only send a proxy, and she had actually recommended as much... but the chairman's will on this had been extremely firm.
He had shown the determination that no matter what, he would go himself and purchase the items, and Bones ultimately couldn't sway him.
In the end, the final compromise had been attaching security personnel whose skills could be trusted—that was the limit for Bones.
Accordingly, she had hired Dreamouth's hunters, whose skills even she had to acknowledge, along with Adjutant Lee Jinhyun, and finally given permission...
Yet even so, she still couldn't feel at ease.
It would be best if he just didn't set foot in a dangerous place... that would save on security costs too. Haah... Anyway, this stubbornness of his is something else...
Meanwhile, watching Bones display her lingering unease, the chairman drained the liquid in his glass in one go, then spoke in a voice laced with greater seriousness.
"Well then... let's leave the talk about security personnel there for now. Let's go over the plans ahead once more. Have you located those items?"
"Yes, I heard they'll be exhibited at Hamilton Plaza in three days. The expected average prices are around 80,000 euros—not particularly expensive, but..."
"The prices don't matter. What's important is whether the recipient of the gift will be happy or not. In that sense, make sure we get our hands on the items no matter what. Even if any troublemakers show up."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind, Chairman."
Bones showed strong resolve at the chairman's words.
Watching her like this...
A gentle smile slowly bloomed on the chairman's lips.
The capital of France, Paris.
This place, where the essence of European culture gathered and which could truly be called the heart of France, was thronged with far more crowds than usual.
Countless masters of the art world who had come to display the masterpieces they had created for the art exhibition, and collectors who had gathered to sell their own items or purchase new ones.
And tourists who had simply come to enjoy it, as well as peddlers and thieves who had flocked to pick up the scraps that fell among them.
The sight of so many people gathered for such diverse purposes...
Was breathing tremendous vitality into the city of Paris, to a degree that made the special circumstances of the war with the Abysses seem almost irrelevant.
"Come take a look here! The famous masterpieces of Vincent Gore! Genuine? Of course they're fakes! But for decorating the bare walls of your house, there's nothing better! Only 200 euros! Buy good stuff cheap and take it home!"
"These are sculptures made by the unknown artist Gauguin Freeman. I'll offer them at a low price, so please take a look as you pass by."
Merchants raising their voices to sell so-called knockoffs, or unknown artists who couldn't secure exhibition space and were trying to sell their own works on the streets.
Throughout Paris where the art exhibition was being held, such people could be commonly seen.
They were all more crude and slightly lacking rather than expensive and precious artworks, but even that was enough to bring people joy simply because they could buy or look at them casually without any burden.
Moreover, since these attractions were drawing the atmosphere of this art exhibition and attracting even more tourists, the French government side wasn't particularly cracking down as long as they didn't cause excessive problems.
The country of France itself was fairly lenient in such matters to begin with.
And so... the scenery of Paris, quite different from usual.
As they took it in with their eyes...
On the faces of those who had been hiding their bodies in the darkness, a deep displeasure began to form.
"It's started again this year without fail... this damn stage for playing at peace."
"Right. I really don't like it. Someday if I get the chance, I want to blow the whole thing away..."
Two people speaking in cold voices. Regarding that, the figure seated behind them spoke in a calm tone.
"Both of you, calm down. I understand how you feel, but now isn't the time to move rashly. Our goal isn't those small fry."
With those words, that person slowly rose from their seat.
Then the two began to form cold smiles on their lips as they looked at their 'leader'...
And toward them, that one spoke in a voice where calmness and murderous intent intertwined.
"If we run wild carelessly, we might miss the big catch. Just wait a little longer. The time has come to show those arrogant bastards just how sharp a hunting dog's fangs can be."