Rahe Conquest: Laying the Groundwork (1)
"This incident was truly inexcusable."
In the captain's office of the 7th Squad, Club bowed deeply toward Captain Rahe, who sat before her. Her mood suggested she wanted to prostrate herself flat on the floor.
Not long ago, Club had defied Spade's orders—someone of higher rank—out of sheer stubbornness at the scene, only to end up disgracefully kidnapped by a villain. Fortunately, the villains' goal hadn't been her life or ransom, so she was released unharmed... but still.
After safely returning to base, Club had been confined to quarters for three days on Rahe's command, and today marked her official return to the field.
"Lift your head, Club. I assume you've fully grasped the severity of this mistake. Right?"
"...Yes. I won't let it happen again."
"Good. I believe an outstanding hero like you won't repeat the same error. Just know there won't be a third chance."
Rahe continued gently, like a teacher instructing a student.
"And this matter has been reported to the higher-ups. I covered for you as much as I could with my discretion, but some blemish on your career is inevitable."
"...Yes."
"Even so, it's alright. You're an excellent hero, Club. From what I've seen, most promising heroes cause some kind of incident or accident along the way. Even Check and Coco, whom you admire, and Spade—they've all had their moments. ...So don't get too down about it."
"Yes, thank you, Captain Rahe."
Club was calmer than expected. With her strong desire for recognition, she was quite fixated on achievements and her career, so Rahe had anticipated more gloom. Had Club grown? Or had something changed during her captivity?
Whatever the case, seeing her subordinate's face not as darkened as feared put Rahe slightly at ease.
After adding a few more words of caution, Rahe dismissed Club. Starting today, she was back on field duty. For a while, she'd focus on patrols, gradually easing into full operations depending on her condition.
Compared to the chaotic past, the world was much more peaceful now, but it still wasn't leisurely enough for heroes to slack off. Demands for their intervention were endless, everywhere.
Though freshly returned, Club would have to work hard for the foreseeable future.
After Club left, a knock echoed moments later.
"Excuse me..."
With Rahe's permission, Apple entered, carrying a tray with a cup of coffee—exactly what Rahe had ordered to sip during the meeting with Club.
"Ah, thanks, Apple. Sorry about this. The talk with Club wrapped up sooner than I thought."
"Oh, no, it's fine. Then how about one for you, Captain Rahe?"
"Sure, I'll take it."
Apple set a coffee cup on Rahe's desk, placing beside it a pretty illustrated container. Curious, Rahe lifted the lid to reveal cubed sugar inside—not plain, but etched with intricate patterns.
"The case is lovely."
At Rahe's compliment, Apple beamed proudly. Apparently, it was from a famous foreign company. Apple was passionate about coffee, always sourcing intriguing accessories from somewhere. Even the coffee machine used here had been bought with her own money.
Rahe wasn't as obsessed with coffee as Apple, but she enjoyed her brews and listened with interest to the explanation. At any rate, this sugar was apparently extremely expensive and luxurious. Rahe wondered just how much difference one sugar could make—it was intriguing.
"Captain Rahe, you sometimes add sugar when you're tired, right? I brought it just in case, to introduce it to you."
"...I see. With all that praise, now I want to try it. Mind if I add some?"
"Of course."
Apple smiled in response, and Rahe used the provided tongs to drop a cube into her coffee. She stirred slowly, then sipped, savoring it.
As always, delicious coffee. The sugar's taste... hard to tell. She'd need more to judge.
"...? What's wrong, Apple?"
Suddenly sensing Apple's intense gaze, Rahe looked up puzzled.
Apple stared with an inscrutable expression, then hurriedly shook her head, denying anything was amiss.
"Then I'll be going."
"Yes, thanks, Apple."
With that, Apple left with the remaining cup. Rahe returned to her work, enjoying the coffee's aroma and its refined sweetness.
.......
.......
.......
Another knock resounded in the captain's office.
No response from Captain Rahe inside.
Moments later, despite no permission, the door opened, and someone entered.
It was Apple, who had just left.
She carefully closed the door and approached Rahe's desk.
Rahe was slumped asleep over her desk. Beside her, the coffee cup was more than half empty.
Apple had hoped she'd finish it, but it didn't matter.
"Captain Rahe... Wake up. Keep your mind asleep, but awaken only your body. Your mind remains asleep..."
Whispering in her ear, Apple watched Rahe's eyes flicker open.
With Apple's support, Rahe's upper body straightened. Her half-lidded eyes were vacant, devoid of light.
As ordered, Rahe's consciousness was still dormant.
Apple pulled a vial and handkerchief from her pocket, soaked the cloth generously, and pressed it over Rahe's mouth and nose. Breathing deeply as commanded, Rahe complied. The drug seeped from the cloth into her lungs... and spread through every corner of her body.
Her eyes dimmed further....
Once sufficiently absorbed, Apple removed the cloth and whispered again.
"Good, very good. Captain Rahe, from now on, listen carefully to what I say..."
Thus began the brainwashing. On orders from Villain No. 13.
The conquest of Rahe had started.
"What the hell are you two doing?"
In the corridors of the villain organization Abyss's hideout, Dorothy stopped at the bizarre sight, her face openly contorted in pity.
Her gaze fell on Villain No. 13—and the Advisor prostrated beneath him.
The Advisor lay flat on the floor, Villain No. 13 perched atop her hips.
What on earth was this?
"Don't misunderstand, Dorothy. It's not weird. And it's not an unfair order."
"No need to misunderstand. It's just your sleazy, maniacal sexual tastes on full display. What, playing with the Advisor's loyalty again, giggling like a creep? You perverted slime."
"'Again'? When have I ever?! And it's not that, so seriously, don't misunderstand! More importantly, don't you have something to say?"
Villain No. 13 defended himself, then turned the tables on Dorothy.
From the rough explanation, it stemmed from the Advisor brainwashing him. To regain his waning interest after her gender change, she'd enlisted Dorothy's help, who gladly provided the drug—in exchange for detailed experimental data.
The boss had recently discovered this, forcing the Advisor to apologize directly to Villain No. 13 and beg forgiveness.
"And as punishment for that..."
"Well, since it's the Advisor, it's not too outlandish. No malice, so I let it slide at this level."
Villain No. 13 said, slapping the Advisor's butt with a smack. A coquettish moan escaped her lips.
They'd played like this even when she was male. It was punishment, but also a gesture affirming their unchanged bond—friends, regardless of gender.
"But why do it out here in the hallway? Not in a room?"
"I said the same, but the Advisor..."
"I-I have to show the boss too! To prove my remorse...!"
No matter how you sliced it, she looked like a pervert thrilled at being toyed with publicly.
As Dorothy's eyes cooled, Villain No. 13 pointed accusingly.
"More than that, you, Dorothy. Collaborating with the Advisor to use me as a guinea pig without permission? What the hell? Time for your apology."
"Oh? I think my position's pretty justified. The results from using you as a sample improve the brainwashing tools you use, right? All for your benefit?"
"...Uh... well... yeah..."
"And originally, without my tools, you'd be sucking your thumb while the organization crumbled—a total F-grade loser I saved. This how you treat me?"
"......."
Moments later, conceding defeat, Villain No. 13 prostrated before Dorothy, apologized profusely, removed her shoe to lick her foot, and even served as her chair for 30 minutes.
The Advisor was freed from human-chair duty, but she seemed oddly disappointed....