Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store.
Second basement floor.
Guang Xi and her four Fiends moved through the aisles, picking out specialty snacks to take back.
Now that Cael had reached a cooperation agreement with China, their mission was officially complete. They had already eaten well, played enough, and there was no reason to stay any longer. None of them planned to keep working under Cael like unpaid labor.
Overall, Guang Xi was satisfied with the trip.
The only regret she had was Kobeni.
Kobeni hadn't chosen her. Cael had gotten to her first.
"Sailboat chocolate, Tokyo banana cake…" Pingtsi muttered excitedly, tossing items into the basket one after another.
The Fiends had zero interest in local souvenirs like charms or traditional clothing. Food was the only thing that caught their attention.
"Ha, and this! Lord Guang Xi, look at this one, it's shaped like a cigar!"
Guang Xi gave a small nod. "Looks good."
"Halloween." Cosmo tore open the package and held the cigar-shaped roll in her mouth like she was smoking.
Crunch.
Long suddenly leaned in and bit off more than half from Cosmo's mouth. "Guang Xi, it's good."
"Halloween?!" Cosmo puffed her cheeks, clearly annoyed that her "art" had been ruined.
Guang Xi reached out and tapped both of their foreheads lightly. "Stop fighting. There's plenty here, no need to steal from each other."
"Yes, listen to Lord Guang Xi and don't make her upset~" Pingtsi added in a playful, butler-like tone.
"Halloween…"
"Oh." Pingtsi clung to Guang Xi's arm and looked up at her with bright eyes. "Lord Guang Xi, would you like to hear a fun fact about cigars?"
Guang Xi hesitated. "Maybe later. That sounds like something for bedtime."
Pingtsi flushed slightly. "It would be my honor to help you sleep, Lord Guang Xi~"
…
The 11th and 12th floors of Ginza Mitsukoshi were filled with restaurants, offering both Japanese cuisine and international options.
11th floor.
A fast food restaurant.
A young man and woman sat by the window.
The woman wore a brown striped shirt and fitted trousers. Her long black hair draped over her shoulders, framing her emerald green eyes and soft, delicate features.
The man beside her was tall, with short blond hair and a plain white shirt, giving off an almost harmless impression.
"Torika, do you know," the woman said quietly, hands resting neatly on her lap as she looked down at the city below, "this is my first time in a place like Tokyo. There are so many people…"
Torika finished his drink with a soft gulp. "Didn't you go to Berlin before, Master?"
Zeina's expression dimmed slightly. "I did. But I was always busy with missions. I never had the chance to actually experience the city."
Torika was about to respond when the waiter arrived and placed their food on the table.
"Your order. Please enjoy."
Torika slid the tray toward her. "You should eat while it's hot, Master."
"Mm."
Zeina slowly lifted her hand from her lap.
It trembled uncontrollably.
Clink.
A silver needle slipped from her fingers onto the table.
At its tip was a faint trace of red.
Blood.
Torika immediately noticed it and frowned. "Master, what is this?"
"Curse," Zeina replied softly.
"The Curse Devil?"
She gently rolled the needle between her fingers. "Yes. I've already stabbed the target three times with it."
Torika's eyes widened slightly.
"The target is downstairs," she continued with a faint smile. "He didn't notice a thing. Careless."
"All that's left is a fourth strike. That will summon the Curse Devil and end his life."
Torika went quiet for a moment, processing.
What shocked him wasn't just the ability, it was how she had done it without him noticing.
She had been sitting right here the entire time.
"Master… how?"
Zeina's smile turned faintly unsettling.
"Think of it like hunting. A city is just a steel jungle. People let their guard down when they feel safe."
She tilted her head slightly.
"When you're in a bright, comfortable place, do you ever imagine something lurking in the shadows, waiting to kill you?"
"Shadows?" Torika frowned deeper.
He didn't fully understand, but the idea unsettled him.
"Yes." Zeina slid the needle toward him. "The final strike will be yours."
"If you can do it, I'll tell you how it works."
Torika picked up the needle without hesitation. "I can handle it."
As Zeina unwrapped her hamburger, she added, "Don't touch his body when you use it. If you do, the ability won't work."
"I understand."
What Zeina didn't say was that the Curse Devil's power wouldn't truly kill Cael. Weapon Humans didn't die that easily.
But that wasn't the point.
She only needed to stall him.
She knew exactly how dangerous Cael was.
And she was willing to gamble.
Because she had already received something from a far more terrifying existence.
The Darkness Devil.
Shadows belonged to darkness. The ability to attack through them was just a fraction of its power, a small "gift" to secure her cooperation.
Rustle.
Zeina's hand trembled as she tried to hold her burger.
"Torika… this is actually my first time eating one."
She raised it to her lips.
Before she could take a bite, it slipped from her fingers and fell back onto the tray.
"What a waste," she murmured.
"Master, what's wrong?"
She looked down at her shaking hand.
"It's the contract. I've already used the needle three times. The Curse Devil doesn't seem satisfied with the lifespan I gave it, so it's taking more. My sense of touch is fading."
Torika didn't hesitate.
"I'll feed you."
He picked up the burger and held it carefully to her mouth.
Zeina took a small bite.
She chewed slowly.
"Master? Can you still taste it?"
Her eyes lit up instantly, a soft blush spreading across her face.
"Yes… I can."
She leaned forward and took another, bigger bite.
"So this is a hamburger… it's really good."
A faint smile formed on her lips.
"If we weren't in public, I might actually start dancing."
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