"Who are you?"
The figure's eyes stare intensely at Tachyon. His crimson eyes feel like a hot metal rod on the scientist's skin. Agnes Tachyon was on her guard as the figure kept staring at her from the end of the lab.
"My name is Igo Heita, a trainer in Tracen Academy."
I know it. He is here for revenge.
"I'm here to recruit you as an assistant trainer."
"Eh?"
Agnes Tachyon was completely flabbergasted by the young man's request. She had expected him to crash out and destroy her equipment and chemicals. The development was so out of left field that Tachyon's brain went on a complete reboot before she could find a question to ask back.
"An assistant trainer? Me? You're not mistaken, no?"
"You are the so-called Phantom Triple Crown, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then I said what I said, become my assistant trainer, Tachyon."
"I'm in no need of extra points, thank you very much."
"I'll pay you with money."
To those words, Tachyon's ears perk up and swing around excitedly. Did she hear correctly? This man was about to pay her with money? A student like her being paid adult money?
The young man dug into his pocket and threw a bundle of money at Tachyon. The scientist carefully grabs the bundle with both of her hands. She had rarely ever seen this much money in person. She had only seen them in movies and films, not in person. It was legit money. Money she can use to help with her experiment.
"There's more where that came from."
"Why? Don't you know who I am?"
"What you're doing in the black market is none of my concern. My fellow trainers can go to hell for all I care. I care naught for my fellow men but myself."
What a selfish man. But I suppose that is what it takes to get to the top in this world. A selfish, me-first attitude.
"You're also in heat with the board of Tracen Academy, yes? Spending your days not doing anything related to racing? If you become my assistant trainer, then surely those suited-up dogs will leave you alone."
"How do you know so much about me?"
"These several minutes of interactions should already give you enough clues about my image, no?"
A dangerous man. A dangerous yet exciting man.
Tachyon couldn't help but be intrigued by the silhouette. This young man had entered her territory willingly and asked her a request no one in their right mind would ask. He had given her crumbs of his true self, yet there are still plenty of mysteries about him. As a scientist, uncovering those mysteries became the only thing Agnes Tachyon had in her mind.
"So, do we have a deal?"
"I couldn't say that I'm not intrigued, Igo Heita."
Agnes Tachyon walks up to the wall and flicks the light switch. Only then can she see the true image of Igo Heita. His sharp eyes feel like they are cutting the scientist's body. His body language exudes an aura of absolute confidence. He could inspire people with just his smile. A man with the body of a paragon, but the heart of the dark lord. A complete walking destruction.
"Ah… Now I remember you."
"Oh? That's rare."
"A rookie trainer who makes contracts with multiple Umas before his first year even ends. Not only that, but all of his Umas win their debut race. A talented trainer like you surely doesn't need help from this fragile scientist, no?"
"Flattery of an outsider does not make me happy, Tachyon. I know what I need and what I want. And what I want is you."
"!!!"
Tachyon's heart skipped a beat when the young man stared at her with those sharp eyes of his and proclaimed that he wanted her. Agnes Tachyon has prided herself on being in love with science, yet here she is, about to cheat on science with this young man she has just met.
This man is dangerous… Hehehe… Truly dangerous…
"What do you say, Agnes Tachyon?"
"Will you draft the contract paper? I will not say my answer without an actual legal binding contract."
"Fair."
The young man shrugs his shoulders and admits his incompetence. Truth be told, he hadn't expected Tachyon to easily agree with him. He thought he would need to come here a few more times to convince her to be his assistant trainer. This has become a delightful oversight from him.
"By the way, why were you standing in the dark earlier?"
"Aurafarming."
"What?"
"What?"
"..."
"... I couldn't find the light switch. This place is a beached ship."
"I suppose you're right."
Agnes Tachyon takes a good look around the lab and notices how hard it is for a newcomer to find anything. She had spent most of her days here, so she knows where everything is, but for a newcomer like this young man, this place must feel like a maze.
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Ah… Thank you, Manhattan Cafe."
"Manhattan Cafe? Since when were you here?!"
"Before you left for bread."
"Why didn't you answer me then?!"
"Don't want to."
The girl who came into the picture just now was Agnes Tachyon's friend, Manhattan Cafe. A small Uma girl with long black hair that cascades down her back like a midnight waterfall. Her eyes are a vivid brown, deep and reflective, like the surface of a cup of coffee. They hold a quiet intelligence, the kind that notices everything but speaks only when it matters, which is why she gets along with Agnes Tachyon, although they don't look like it. Currently, she wears the Tracen Academy school uniform.
"What does that supposed to mean?!"
"Are you sure you recruited the right girl, mister trainer?"
"Sadly enough, yes."
"Hey, you two!! Stop colluding against me!!"
This is what Agnes Tachyon is like outside of experimenting and researching: a spoiled girl who wants her trainer to do everything for her. Not only does she have glass-like legs, but she is also a glass cannon at being a girl, too.