"A Fixer?"
Hai finished cleaning his spear and raised his head to look at Don Quixote, shaking it slightly.
"I've never heard of a Bloodfiend becoming a Fixer without thralls before…"
"Well, there's a first for everything! Besides, wouldn't that make me the first Bloodfiend Fixer in history?"
Don Quixote patted his blood-forged throne, his excitement unabated.
"And then, wouldn't they record my legendary exploits into Fixer stories, to be passed down through the ages?"
Listening to Don Quixote's words, Hai lowered his head, appearing to sigh:
"Fine, have it your way. Anyway, even if you cause trouble, it's not like I could stop you…"
Stay calm, stay calm—don't laugh!
Absolutely cannot laugh now.
Outwardly, Hai played the pessimist, but inwardly, he was nearly bursting with joy.
He desperately held back laughter—revealing anything now would ruin everything.
His carefully executed plan had finally yielded results, even surpassing his original expectations. All he needed now was to pose a few careful questions to Don Quixote, bringing up issues he would inevitably notice.
As for solutions… for Don Quixote, none of them would pose much difficulty.
"So, what will you do about your bloodthirst? At your core, you're still a Bloodfiend—can society truly accept your existence?"
Hai spoke slowly, looking up at Don Quixote with a feigned expression of concern. Don Quixote hesitated, briefly stunned, before lowering his head in deep contemplation.
True… What should I do about blood? Or rather, how can I solve the issue of emotional sustenance?
Don Quixote pondered this deeply, feeling a headache forming.
Bloodfiends had always struggled with obtaining emotion; their method of extracting it through blood made them difficult for The City's society to accept.
But suddenly, Don Quixote raised his head, a realization dawning upon him.
For a long while now, he hadn't felt hungry… In fact, he even felt somewhat more "full" than usual.
In other words, he was already receiving emotion—continuously, even.
Where was this emotion coming from? Clearly, it originated from within himself. And what was generating these emotions?
A dream? A purpose?
Instantly, Don Quixote understood, a bright smile spreading across his face. He bounded down from his throne, swiftly gripping Hai's shoulders, his eyes practically sparkling.
"Hey! Hai! I've figured it out!"
"Huh? Wait—figured out what exactly…"
"Never mind that! The bloodthirst—I have a solution now! Anyway, hurry up and help me register as a Fixer!"
Hai shook off Don Quixote's grip, rubbing his sore shoulders, and sighed dramatically.
"Alright… just this once. But remember clearly, if you ever cause trouble—like turning people into bloodbags—I'll immediately revoke your Fixer license."
"No problem! So, when can we go?"
Don Quixote waved dismissively, eager to proceed. After a brief pause, Hai reluctantly agreed:
"Right now."
...
"Oh! So this is the current City… Hmm, it looks a bit shabby, honestly."
Walking down the streets of Alley One, Don Quixote seemed extraordinarily excited. Understandably so—after all, he was about to become the very first Bloodfiend Fixer in history. It would be strange if he weren't thrilled.
Hai glanced back at Don Quixote, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
Good enough. Don Quixote's issue is thoroughly resolved… in fact, he's even successfully converted into a powerful asset. For the foreseeable future, Don Quixote would undoubtedly become a considerable ally.
Moreover, Don Quixote's personality had clearly reverted to the familiar, slightly reckless persona Obsidian remembered from long ago.
Soon, they entered the Hana Association. Under Don Quixote's impatient urging, they quickly obtained a Fixer license. Initially, Don Quixote tried persuading Hai to start a Fixer Office with him, but given Hai was already the Hana Association president, he reluctantly gave up.
"You can always find someone else to start a Fixer Office with, right?"
Hai stared blankly at Don Quixote, voice flat.
"Haa… You know how difficult it is to find someone you can really talk to?"
Don Quixote sighed dramatically. Hai pondered briefly, and a thought occurred to him.
Originally, Hai had planned to send Don Quixote out into the wilderness to explore. But with the sudden emergence of the Great Lake, many plans had changed. Now, Obsidian preferred Don Quixote remain in The City for a while longer, dealing with troublesome monsters nearby.
Don Quixote, after all, possessed Color-level strength—he could easily sweep through The City outskirts alone. Even the Great Lake wouldn't pose much of a problem; he could likely handle a few whales by himself.
"Well… I suppose I could introduce you to someone. There aren't many, but the two of you might form a decent small office as partners."
"Oh? Who is it?"
"Not particularly strong compared to us, but I think she'll suit your tastes."
Hai gave Don Quixote a quick glance, speaking calmly before heading for the exit.
"Come along."
"Oh, sure."
Don Quixote quickly followed Hai out of the Hana Association. Moments later, they arrived in a back alley near K Corp. Hai stopped outside a particular door, knocking lightly.
Inside awaited the person who would soon become Don Quixote's companion.
Don Quixote felt a surge of excitement rising within him.
After all, how could the story of a legendary Fixer be complete without a reliable companion by his side?
"This is Hai. Open up, please—I have something to discuss."
Hai cleared his throat, calling out softly. Shortly after, the door creaked open. Immediately, Don Quixote spotted a blonde woman with horse-like ears emerging, wearing a Fixer's license and clad in knightly armor…
Oh, this City certainly is quite different from before!
"Nearl, this is Don Quixote," Hai said casually, gesturing toward him. "He's… the partner I wanted to introduce to you."