Lapland's ears twitched, and the corners of her mouth curved upward.
Texas noticed and suddenly asked, "Is he cursing at us?"
"Yeah."
"What's he saying?"
"That tonight he's going to really let us have it."
Texas was completely speechless. "…Oh."
Lapland looked at her, feeling a sudden urge to laugh.
"You don't mind?"
"Mind what?" Texas tilted her head. "It's not like he can touch anything."
Su An, off to the side, was sputtering with indignation. "Fine, FINE — so that's how we're playing it?! Once I have a body, I'm going to grab you and bite!"
Lapland froze mid-bite of her mille-feuille, then burst into far louder laughter than before. "HAHAHAHA——!"
She leaned back, shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Texas watched her and asked, "What did he just say?"
Lapland was laughing too hard to speak properly. "He said… he said once he has a body… he's going to grab you and… bite…"
Texas went quiet. Then, with a completely blank face, she asked:
"Bite what?"
Su An: ???
Lapland laughed even harder. The mille-feuille nearly slipped out of her hand.
When she finally calmed down, she straightened up, wiped nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes, and looked over at Su An.
"You sure you want to grab her and bite?"
"I…"
"Right in front of me?"
Su An: "...…"
Lapland's expression was calm, her smile still lingering — but now there was something else in it.
Su An suddenly felt a pang of unease.
"I was just… talking off the top of my head…"
"Oh." Lapland nodded. "Just talking."
She turned to Texas. "He says he was just talking."
Texas nodded. "Understandable. Since he can't touch anything, all he can do is talk a big game."
Su An: "…When exactly did you two form an alliance?"
Lapland ignored him, took another bite of her pastry, and stood up.
"Come on, let's keep walking."
They passed through two more streets and entered a district noticeably quieter than the ones before — fewer shops, fewer pedestrians, but figures lurking at street corners and in alleyways, eyes sharp and watchful on anyone passing through.
"This is Moretti family territory," Lapland said, slowing her pace. "See those people over there?"
Texas followed her gaze. Three figures stood at the corner, dressed in matching dark clothing, bulges at their waists — clearly carrying weapons.
"Do they recognize you?"
"Probably."
"But they won't move. My father and their boss just signed a three-month ceasefire. Whoever strikes first is in the wrong."
"Then what are we here for?"
"Just having a look." Lapland kept walking.
Su An drifted beside her, unusually serious for once. "The one on the left — besides the short blade at his hip, he's also got a dagger. The one on the right has something bulging under his coat — probably a crossbow."
Lapland's ear twitched.
"Two more at the alley entrance, in the shadows, watching us."
Lapland's step faltered for just a moment, then she continued forward without missing a beat.
"Texas. If something happens, fall back. Don't engage."
Texas glanced at her. "Why?"
"You're a guest right now. If something goes wrong, I won't be able to answer to your grandfather or my father."
"What about you?"
"Me?" Lapland smiled. "I'm hoping they start something."
The three of them strolled past the Moretti men without any pretense of caution.
The men watched. Just watched. Didn't move. But their eyes were the eyes of people watching prey.
Su An glanced back, and his brow furrowed.
Something's wrong.
Those men weren't looking at them like passersby — they were looking at them like… a target already marked. He drifted back over and circled around the group.
"How many Moretti people are here today?"
"Just us."
"Boss said don't make a move. Just watch."
"Just watch? So when do we make a move?"
"Waiting on further orders."
Su An's frown deepened.
He floated back to Lapland's side and lowered his voice:
"They've been given orders. Watch you, wait for the signal."
"What signal?"
"Don't know. They didn't say."
Lapland was quiet for a few seconds, then spoke. "Texas."
"Hmm?"
"We've seen enough for today. Let's head back."
Texas looked at her, didn't ask why, and nodded.
The three turned and retraced their steps. Su An drifted at Lapland's side, glancing back every so often.
The Moretti men were still standing in place, watching them go — but their hands had moved to rest at their weapons.
"Their hands are on their gear."
"Mm."
"Shouldn't you walk faster?"
"Walk faster?" The corners of Lapland's mouth lifted. "I'm still hoping they'll start something."
"They won't. They're just posturing. If you actually want to cut someone down, you'd have to make the first move."
"Fair enough~"
Back at the Saluzzo estate, as they passed through the courtyard, the butler's voice came from down the corridor.
"Young miss — the master requests that you and Miss Texas join him in the council chamber."
"Now?"
"Yes. The master and several guests are waiting."
Lapland and Texas exchanged a glance, then followed the butler toward the council chamber.
Su An drifted alongside them, offering a bored remark:
"Lapland, they're just small-time errand boys carrying a message. Don't let it get to you."
Lapland said nothing and kept walking.
The moment the council chamber doors swung open, the conversation inside ceased. Alberto sat at the head of the table, with two middle-aged men in the chairs on either side — evidently representatives speaking for one of the Moretti family's factions.
When they saw Lapland and Texas enter, smiles spread across their faces.
"So this is the young miss of the Saluzzo family? As distinguished as expected."
"And the young lady from the Texas family beside her — we've heard so much about you."
Lapland gave them an expressionless nod and sat down to Alberto's left. Texas sat beside her.
The pleasantries ended, and the two representatives came to the point.
"Lord Alberto, the matter of the Originium trade — the Moretti family has quite an interest in that as well."
Alberto began peeling an orange. "Oh?"
"The Texas family has operated in Columbia for years. The Originium route is a lucrative prize. Does the Saluzzo family really intend to eat it alone? That's quite the appetite, wouldn't you say?"
Alberto set the peeled orange on the table without eating it.
"The Originium trade was initiated by the Texas family, who approached the Saluzzos directly. If the Moretti family is interested, they are welcome to approach the Texas family themselves."
One of the representatives stood up. He was only a messenger, but he couldn't afford to look weak. "Alberto. What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. What the Saluzzo family does is not the Moretti family's concern."
The other man's hand moved to the hilt of his sword. Lapland's hand moved to hers.
The atmosphere in the council chamber went taut in an instant.
-------
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