"Dammit, where did that guy run off to! I only lost sight of her for a moment, how did she suddenly vanish?"
In a secluded corner, a somewhat irritable red-haired Lupo searched everywhere for the target she had been pursuing, expressing dissatisfaction with her current abilities.
Suddenly, she sensed an attack coming toward her. Even though she used every ounce of her strength to dodge, she couldn't escape the assailant's strike. When her blade swung back at the attacker, the only sound was that of metal clashing against metal.
"Cough... so there was a helper hiding in the shadows? Truly fits the character of someone like you."
The creature that had instantly restrained her, leaving her unable to move, was a pitch-black, hideous, alien monster.
"Don't kill her yet. At least, do not take her life until I have asked what I want to know."
From behind, a cold, clear voice reached her ears. Upon hearing that voice, the Lupo felt a surge of rage explode within her, while the alien creature beside her let out a dissatisfied hiss.
"You... it's you, it really is you... Betrayer! That... traitor!"
The words were squeezed out from between teeth that were nearly ground to dust. How she wished she could personally slay the enemy before her right now. It was laughable that after all the years she had worked for this, she didn't even have the ability to resist in the face of her foe.
"Now then, tell me: who sent you? I don't believe those who want me dead would send such a green assassin to cause me trouble."
Kal'tsit's tone was entirely devoid of emotion, as if the person being stalked just now wasn't herself—or rather, as if she didn't view the opponent as a threat at all. She examined the Lupo on the ground, trying to find any clues to determine the mastermind behind the scenes.
"Those movements... a Siracusan assassin? Then the suspicion falls away from Theresis. He isn't that stupid."
Kal'tsit thought to herself, deducing the opponent's identity. However, a Siracusan assassin, the word "betrayer," and a red-haired Lupo...
"Are you Ilia's child, Lyudmila?"
Kal'tsit looked at the subdued assassin. Now that she looked closely, the appearance, hair color, and even the personality reflected shadows of her former colleague.
"Ha, I didn't expect someone like you to still remember my father's name. I suppose it makes sense; after all, you're the scum enjoying your life now by stepping over the corpses of my family..."
Before Lyudmila could finish, the alien's claws tightened, intending to teach this girl a lesson.
"Stop, Mon3tr."
Following Kal'tsit's command, the alien named Mon3tr—though not particularly happy—withdrew its strength.
"Your hair color is exactly the same as your father's."
"What are you saying... how do you still dare to mention him like that!"
Looking at that stoic, unchanging face, Lyudmila struggled to get up, but she was still pinned firmly to the ground by Mon3tr.
"You went to see Sergei? Did you fail to get anything out of him?"
"Tch, don't you already know? Is it possible he told you nothing?"
Lyudmila turned her head away in disdain, unwilling to acknowledge Kal'tsit. She adopted an attitude of complete defiance, regardless of what was done to her.
"An assassin, red-haired, female, Lupo... it seems you didn't succeed. Otherwise, the police would be doing more than just issuing a warrant."
"Warrant? What warrant?"
Hearing Kal'tsit's words, the uncooperative girl finally reacted. She had been so busy trying to send those three little ones back these past few days that she hadn't had time to look into her own situation.
"It seems you don't know yet. The police station issued a wanted poster, claiming they are arresting the assassin who attacked the famous scientist Sergei. Now do you understand what I meant?"
"This is bad!"
Lyudmila immediately thought of the three children she had hidden in the warehouse. If things were truly as Kal'tsit said, those three little ones might already be in trouble. At the thought, Lyudmila began to struggle violently, and the blood began to seep slowly through the bandages on her abdomen.
"Don't push yourself if you're injured. If you die here, your father's death all those years ago will have been for nothing..."
Just then, Mon3tr seemed to sense something. It hissed toward its right side as if it felt an enemy approaching. Kal'tsit's attention shifted from Lyudmila to the direction of Mon3tr's hiss. Standing there, at some unknown point, was a golden-haired girl—Jeanne, who had come looking for the Wolf Sister.
"Although I don't know who you are, I believe we have no reason to fight. A peaceful resolution is the best way for both you and us."
With just a single glance, Kal'tsit could determine that this person would not be as easily defeated as Lyudmila. If a fight broke out, while Kal'tsit wouldn't necessarily lose, it would definitely cause a commotion. If things developed that way, she might be discovered, which would be far too much trouble.
"I was thinking the same thing. I only intend to take that Wolf Sister over there with me; I don't want a battle either. I'm a pacifist."
"Like hell I'd believe that. If you're a pacifist, then what is that weapon in your hand? Is it a drying rack?"
Kal'tsit looked at the person using a flagpole as a weapon but said nothing. Similarly, the vigilance in her heart did not fade.
Jeanne, on the other hand, recognized exactly who the two people in front of her were at first glance. Weren't these Kal'tsit and Crownslayer? Though for now, this Wolf Sister should be addressed as Lyudmila. Jeanne knew a bit about the love-hate history between these two and could see that Kal'tsit had no intention of killing her. Otherwise, given that Kal'tsit was someone who could trade blows with an Emperor's Blade, Lyudmila wouldn't still be so lively.
Jeanne saw Kal'tsit mutter something to Lyudmila, and the latter stopped struggling, merely looking at Kal'tsit in silence.
"I have said what needed to be said. As for your wound, go back and have your companion bandage it."
With that, Kal'tsit left without waiting for Lyudmila's reaction. It wasn't until Mon3tr released her and departed that Lyudmila, who had been lost in thought, finally snapped back to reality.
Lyudmila glanced in the direction Kal'tsit had gone, recalling what had just been said to her, and finally let out a long sigh.
"Hello. Thank you for saving me. I am Lyudmila, though you can also call me Crownslayer. I... don't know how those three children are doing now?"
Lyudmila clutched her wound and turned to look at Jeanne, bowing her head slightly to express her gratitude.
"You can call me Jeanne. As for the children, you can rest easy. My companion is currently protecting the three of them; you don't need to worry about that."