Rahe Conquest, Beginning (2)
"......?!"
"Administrator...?"
Rahe's hand, still under hypnosis, grabbed the arm of Villain No. 13 as it reached toward her.
Has she snapped out of it? Villain No. 13 tensed, staring at her intently, but there were no other reactions.
She doesn't seem awake... So is this just a reflex? Even unconscious, she's counterattacking anyone who touches her without permission?
Whatever the case, he had no choice but to freeze in place. Her eyelids were trembling faintly.
If he moved rashly, she might come to her senses completely.
"Administrator. Stay calm. Slowly, slowly... When I give the signal, pull your hand back."
Apple stepped in to mediate. She cautiously extended her hand toward Rahe, and fortunately, Rahe didn't block her.
It seemed Rahe's reflex was targeted only at men... or specifically at Villain No. 13.
With that, Apple gently soothed Rahe and carefully pried her hand away. Villain No. 13 withdrew his captured arm as well.
Rahe returned to her upright stance, and he put some distance between them.
This had never happened before. His heart was pounding.
He had to be careful. If Rahe woke up, it would be a disaster.
He'd already asked the Advisor to warp him out via shadows if things looked dangerous...
"...Alright. Let's try again."
Tense in every way, Villain No. 13 started the conversation again, keeping a slight distance from Rahe.
She barely responded to his words directly. But when Apple relayed the questions, she answered about two out of every three.
Was it because Apple had been the one personally brainwashing her after the drug? Or was it a matter of familiarity? Or maybe she recognized him as a villain.
This situation was definitely irregular.
He'd thought he could just hypnotize her like before and mold her at will.
This might not last forever.
All the data he'd gathered so far was useless. With Rahe being such an anomaly, even this hypnotic state might end at any moment.
She could snap out of it and attack him again without warning.
He'd thought things were going smoothly, but the captain of the 7th Squad wasn't that easy.
What will you do, No. 13?
The Advisor's voice echoed in his mind—remote communication through the shadows. She'd propped up a smartphone on video call nearby, sharing the scene with him.
Her voice was thick with worry as she urged retreat. Better to play it safe.
She was right. Of course she was.
But regrettably, he couldn't follow that advice now. A day had already passed out of the remaining three, leaving just two days after today.
He couldn't afford more delays if he wanted to brainwash her to the required level in time.
So, they pressed on.
"...Apple. Have Rahe take the brainwashing drug."
He instructed Apple and handed her the drug and handkerchief.
Following orders, she soaked the cloth and covered Rahe's mouth and nose.
For a moment, Rahe's fingertips twitched. Villain No. 13 tensed, bracing himself, but luckily, she didn't react further.
"Now, Captain Rahe. Slowly, slowly... breathe it in."
Suuuuh... suuuuh...
Rahe inhaled rhythmically, deeply drawing in the scent of the drug on the cloth.
Too much could be harmful. Dorothy had warned him and specified the right amount, but now he had her inhale a bit more, for a little longer.
Sure enough, Rahe's body relaxed even more than before. Apple slowly removed the handkerchief from her mouth.
"...Rahe. Can you hear me? If you can, nod."
"......."
No verbal reply. But she nodded.
Even without Apple as intermediary, she'd responded. Was it the extra dose? Or was Rahe gradually getting used to him?
"(Administrator. A moment?)"
Apple whispered suddenly.
"(From now on, we need to set a clear direction for the brainwashing. Pinpoint her weaknesses or reduce her resistance to you.)"
Apple offered advice. He'd thought he wouldn't need her help anymore after all this time, but apparently not.
More than that—direction.
Apple's accepted, but I'm rejected. Must be a familiarity gap.
Then maybe make her perceive me as closer. Something intimate.
What would work if they were close? Lovers? Colleagues? Family?
He pondered Rahe's personality.
He'd scraped together and organized all available info—public records, daily habits, everything.
Not perfect, but enough to form a picture. He thought it through based on that.
Villain No. 13 decided quickly. He had to—no time to waste, as Rahe's hand was starting to tense again.
"Rahe, open your ears and listen carefully."
"Everything I say from now on becomes the 'truth'—."
He licked his lips with his tongue.
Tense but resolute, Villain No. 13 implanted the brainwashing commands into Rahe.
* * *
.......................
.............
.......
'......?'
In a hazy consciousness. It felt like she'd been dreaming.
Rahe thought. Rahe pondered.
Someone had said something. And Apple was there. No, the man with Apple.
Right. That man was a villain.
Why was he with Apple?
...Ah, her head felt heavy. Foggy, thoughts wouldn't flow properly.
What to do.
No idea how much time had passed since then. Seconds? An eternity?
Her awareness sank back into darkness.
Back to sleep.
But she couldn't sleep. She had to wake up.
Because she was a hero. She had to defeat evil, uphold justice.
Villains had to be—
"'Rahe's stone gate, open sesame.' ...Now wake up, Rahe."
And with that voice, Rahe's sinking consciousness was yanked back up.
Surfacing.
Her trembling eyelids slowly opened.
Before her eyes: Apple, and beside Apple, a man.
He.
He.
He.
"Pardon the intrusion, Rahe. Do you remember who I am?"
"......Yes, of course."
After a brief silence, Rahe spoke. Bewilderment flickered in her eyes, but she quickly saluted toward Villain No. 13.
"My apologies. Greetings, Administrator."
Administrator. A position overseeing and inspecting hero association units, part of headquarters staff.
Simply put, in terms of rank and role—though different fields—he outranked Rahe, the unit captain.
In Rahe's eyes, Villain No. 13 appeared as the Administrator.
And Apple beside him? His secretary, assisting on the job.
A workplace superior—especially an Administrator—visiting her home in person was odd, for sure.
But it didn't feel strange to Rahe.
Because to her now, this wasn't her officetel—it was the captain's office at the 7th Squad base.
"Yes. Sorry for dropping by unannounced like this, Captain Rahe."
"Not at all."
"Good. Ah, at ease—no need for the salute."
"Yes. Administrator, would you like some coffee? I'll have a subordinate prepare it."
"No need. Just tell my secretary here if you need anything. I've ordered all 7th Squad members to clock out. Got it, Captain Rahe? It's just 'us' and 'Captain Rahe' here—three people total."
Rahe accepted his words without question. No doubt about this being the 7th Squad base, or the man before her being her boss.
The perception-alteration brainwashing, which he'd been unsure about, had taken hold perfectly.
"Do you know why I came here today?"
"...Why is that?"
"What do you think?"
He met the eyes of Rahe, standing rigidly in the room's center, and asked back.
She pondered briefly, then answered calmly.
"Because of... the Club members?"
That was the only thing that came to mind.
If headquarters suddenly sent an inspector...
Rahe had committed a massive blunder: letting a subordinate get kidnapped by a villain organization.
Club herself was in trouble, but Rahe would face discipline too—hard to avoid.
Moreover, to protect her subordinate's career, Rahe had tweaked the report—downplaying Club's fault, emphasizing her own.
Reason enough for the Administrator to visit personally.
Natural. Convincing.
"Good that you know. As your superior, I need to reconfirm your leadership qualities and command skills regarding that incident. That's why I'm here."
Villain No. 13 rubbed his hands together, continuing softly, gently.
"No need to tense up too much, though. It's just a simple check and inspection... You'll cooperate, right, Captain Rahe?"
Rahe saluted again, solemnly agreeing to his words.
