Time inside the Balay Building seemed to have congealed into something ominously still.
Emergency lights cast a sickly halo, stretching warped shadows across cold marble flooring and metal walls. The air carried faint dust and the burnt tang of overloaded energy. The earlier clash hadn't left much visible wreckage—what lingered was tension, thick and refusing to disperse.
"Lycaon… i-is it… over?"
After the last rebel's scream finally died into silence, Rin—controlling Eous—peeked out shakily.
The motion was cautious and inexperienced, like a startled cub stepping into danger for the first time.
But what she saw didn't match the blood-soaked torture scene her mind had been bracing for.
The floor was so clean it nearly reflected the emergency lights' distorted glow. No pool of blood—no splatter—barely even a drop.
Not far away, Rina was lightly teasing the two Bangboos that never left her side, while Corin was looking after Ellen, who had fallen asleep.
The captured rebel was collapsed on the ground. His body was intact. His combat suit had only minor scuffs—no torn flesh, no crushed bones, no visible "punishment."
He wasn't unconscious either.
His eyes were wide with extreme terror, pupils unfocused, his whole body shaking like a sieve—yet he was clearly awake.
Awake… and bearing some enormous pressure that couldn't be seen.
That eerie neatness was more chilling than any gore. It hinted at a kind of control beyond simple physical violence—precise, terrifying, and complete.
"You flatter us, Rope-maker."
Lycaon's voice broke the quiet, smooth and level.
He drew a pure white handkerchief from inside his coat and wiped his black leather-gloved hands with delicate concentration—almost ceremonial, as though removing a stain that didn't exist in the physical world.
In his crimson eye, the intense "battle red" that had dominated earlier looked like wine diluted by clear water—slowly thinning, fading, merging into the dim light until only a deep, almost inhuman sharpness remained.
"Briefly," he said, tucking the handkerchief away.
His gaze passed over the rebel—cold, probing—then settled with full weight on Eous.
"According to this soldier, their rebel unit began infiltrating and conducting reconnaissance inside the Balay Building approximately three weeks ago."
He paused, choosing words; the relaxed neutrality in his tone was edged now by something more investigative.
"The reason is… straightforward. Their employer funded them with a sum large enough to make men reckless, and instructed them to carry out a 'specific task' on the rooftop B-level section."
"As for the task itself…"
Lycaon gave a small shake of the head, almost regretful.
"Given that this soldier was merely assigned to outer perimeter security, he naturally had no access to the core details."
"However," Lycaon continued, the slightest narrowing in his red eye, "one name appeared repeatedly during the questioning—perhaps even unconsciously."
"Miss Ruin. And each time, it carried the sense of 'critical'… 'indispensable.'"
His focus sharpened on Eous's stiff little screen-face.
"It would seem, Rope-maker, that your purpose here is not as simple as 'rescuing an old friend.'"
"Beyond ensuring Miss Ruin's safety, you likely… require her—or something connected to her."
"Uh… ah… well…"
Rin's voice through Eous turned instantly hesitant, stuttering.
Eous made a very human, very flustered set of motions—scratching and looking away in a way that was almost too expressive for a Bangboo. The panic showed through.
Lycaon watched quietly, then withdrew his gaze.
His mouth curved into a polite smile—not rude, even courteous—but beneath it lay the calm that Victoria Housekeeping carried when it had already seen through the essential shape of things.
He lifted a hand in a soothing, elegant gesture.
"Enough. Victoria Housekeeping is naturally curious about partners' secrets—it is our professional instinct."
"But rest assured. Out of respect for Lord Qianye, and in accordance with the promise we made you, our internal consensus is this: we will not pry excessively into what you prefer to keep unspoken."
His tone hardened into something formal.
"And I will assure you again: if you do not wish for us to know the truth, then Victoria Housekeeping—and I, Lycaon, personally—will treat your secret as a highest-tier commission."
"We will guard it to the end of life."
"That is our principle."
"W-wait, it doesn't have to be that serious!"
Rin panicked at the weight of a vow that sounded almost like an oath of life and death. Eous waved its tiny arms so hard it nearly toppled.
"That's too much! Lycaon, I'm sorry we hid things earlier!"
"I promise—once this is over and it's safe, I'll explain everything clearly. Please believe me!"
Perhaps sensing the air had grown too heavy, Rina—floating nearby like an elegant, smiling wraith—drifted closer.
She bent down lightly, hands delicate, and steadied Eous's flailing little arms. Her touch was cool—oddly comforting.
"You needn't be so agitated, dear Guide."
Rina's voice was soft and airy. Her smile deepened, as if it held old stories in its folds.
"Seeing you just now… reminds me…"
"Lord Qianye once had a moment rather like this."
"Huh? Qianye also hid something and got called out on the spot?"
Rin's attention snapped instantly. Her earlier panic was replaced by a roaring gossip instinct. Even Eous's electronic tone sounded eager.
Logically, Rina should have smiled and refused—kept all of Qianye's private anecdotes sealed.
But—
Where are you now, Lord Qianye?As "Rina" of Victoria Housekeeping, I know the boundaries—perhaps I cannot help with every private matter.
But as Rina of the "Sebastian family," I should—without question—be able to offer you a safe harbor. A place of shelter. A love you could rest in forever.
So why?
Why, even now, won't you send me a single private message? Not even the simplest one?
Yes, I saw that announcement you posted to the internal group—saying you would "disappear for a while."
But that is not the same.
That was for "Victoria Housekeeping" as a whole—cold, official text with no warmth.
It wasn't for Rina.Not for me.
Lord Qianye… you terrible, selfish man.You always do this—say goodbye without meaning to, vanish, then return suddenly as if nothing happened.
Do you realize what you're making me do?
Worry on my own.Hope on my own.Suffer on my own.
If you believe that "not sending a private message" is harmless… if that is simply your way…
Then perhaps—
today, here, telling this "Guide"—someone you trust—a tiny, harmless secret from your past…
Perhaps that is "harmless" too.
After all… she is your family.
She shouldn't become a "rival" I need to fear.
Rina's drifting thoughts gathered back into place like flowers tied neatly by an unseen ribbon.
Her lips still held that mysterious smile as she spoke, voice like a whisper—yet clear through Eous's receiver:
"When Lord Qianye first established cooperation with Victoria Housekeeping…"
"He worried that one of his requests was too demanding—outside the scope of standard commissions, perhaps even touching certain internal boundaries."
"So he privately stated—quite seriously—that he was willing to offer what he considered his 'most precious thing' as an exchange."
"His—his most precious thing?!"
Rin's mind immediately sprinted off the rails.
"Wait—don't tell me… that kind of… offering himself?! N-no way! Lycaon too?! Does Victoria Housekeeping actually have… rules like that?!"
No one can say for certain how many utterly unhinged images flashed through Rin's head in that instant.
Faced with Rina's deliberately suggestive "revelation" and Rin's spiraling reaction, Lycaon remained calm.
He didn't even look at Rina. In a voice like he was commenting on something entirely unrelated to himself, he said:
"Rina. I recall you showed interest in several 'fine works' I have kept in private. I do have a few unseen originals."
"But you know…"
He didn't finish the sentence—but the implication was perfectly clear:
Secrets for secrets.Interest as hush money.
Rina immediately understood.
She turned back to Rin and lowered her head with the perfect amount of apology.
"My apologies, dear Guide. Some old stories may not be appropriate to indulge right now."
"Let us focus on the urgent matter before us."
With that, she neatly returned the conversation to the mission—as though her little "Qianye secret" had been nothing but a harmless aside.
But for Rin, the aside landed like a stone dropped into deep water.
Before she could chase it—
"Master," Fairy's voice cut in. "Incoming call from Mr. Billy. Routing to you now."
A beep, then Billy's voice—half excited, half panicked—burst through.
"Boss! Thank goodness! I finally reached an area with service—no, no time, listen!"
"Something huge happened on the airship!"
"What?!" Rin blurted.
A wave of shock hit, but Zhe—who'd been staying up beside her—didn't waste a second on stunned silence.
"Billy. Don't panic. Explain clearly."
"Okay—about ten-plus minutes ago, Perlman wanted to 'check the suits' inside the two briefcases. The guards let him."
"But the moment he opened one case, it sprayed out smoke. Everyone on board—including the pilot—passed out."
"I didn't get hit because my intake system is broken…"
"What?!" Rin's scalp went cold. "Then who's flying the ship now?!"
"It's on autopilot. It won't crash immediately."
"But—Boss! The flight path has been altered!"
"We're heading straight toward the Hollow where Balay Building is. If this continues, we're going to fly straight into the Hollow!"
"Boss—what do I do?!"
As Rin struggled to process the cascade of disaster, Lycaon leaned in, unhurried and composed.
"Mr. Billy. There is no need to panic."
"Huh? Lycaon? You have a way?" Billy sounded stunned.
Eous turned toward Lycaon in confusion, and Lycaon smiled faintly.
"Mr. Billy, you mentioned only the case that released smoke."
"But the contents of the other case…"
"…surely deserve mention as well."
"Ah—right!" Billy blurted. "The other case had a… rose-engraved emblem? Like a badge?"
"Correct," Lycaon replied smoothly. "That is Victoria Housekeeping's beacon."
"It remains functional even within a Hollow. Once the case is opened, the beacon activates."
"Rescue forces should already be on the way."
"That's great! But Lycaon—how did you know?" Billy asked, baffled.
Lycaon raised one finger to his lips.
"My apologies."
"That… is a secret."
A helicopter flew along the airship's planned route. After confirming the airship was indeed deviating, Hoshimi Miyabi—honeydew already eaten—spoke calmly.
"Qingyi. Can you track the airship's current position?"
"Of course I can," Qingyi answered with a faintly smug tone. "Don't underestimate this old body."
"But if the airship was hacked… then once we find it, what do we do?"
Zhu Yuan's reply came immediately, practical and clipped:
"Senior—the civilian airship systems are highly automated, but they usually retain a physical override port for forced manual control."
"You know the emergency procedure as an officer."
"Then here's the key problem: once we reach it, who flies it?"
"Which of us has large airship piloting certification and experience?"
A short silence.
Zhu Yuan didn't answer.
Miyabi waited, expression unchanged.
Qingyi stared at the two companions who clearly had no piloting ability and sighed in full defeat, shaking her head.
"Enough, enough. Relying on you two girls is hopeless."
She re-focused inward, linking into her information network.
"Looks like in the end I'll have to grind at the last second."
"I'll connect to the internal database and start crash-learning airship piloting basics right now."
She smoothly opened an encrypted tutorial file and mumbled to herself:
"Let me see… first recommended resource…"
"'Emergency Handling Guide for Large Airship Manual Control.' Author…"
"…Zobayan?"
"That name sounds… oddly familiar…"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 147)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter185)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter105)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter215)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 185
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/1
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 206
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 190
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/23
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 106
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 125
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 90
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 80
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 86
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 81
Still playing traditional Honk 65
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 65
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 57
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 45
Transmigrated as Sukuna 59
Checking In in Demon Slayer 59
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 73
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 45
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 36
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 40
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 60
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 30
Why did they assign me to Uma 35
MYGO Beauties 43
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 30
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 31
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