TSSAH 26

Chapter 26

The place Gisela Loth led me to was somewhere I’d already been before—the Nest.

We’d started from a completely different location, yet I ended up standing in front of the same door with the dragon sculpture.

The secret passage that appeared behind the fireplace had only minimal lighting and branched off in multiple directions like a maze. I couldn’t tell at all which direction I was walking.

“You’ve been here before, right?”

“I followed DuPont Clanshire here yesterday.”

The couch that had offered overwhelming comfort came into view. Along with the plush carpet and the quietly burning mana stone fireplace.

This space, which had made me stifle exclamations of wonder when I first set foot in it, now held no charm for me at all. Because I had realized a timeless truth I’d momentarily forgotten.

Is the workplace furnished with luxury items and facilities?

That’s not a good sign at all.

It either means they need to keep their members tied down with amenities, or they work them so hard that this level of support is just a drop in the bucket.

“That couch is really comfortable, huh?”

“I suppose it was.”

“You’ve already sat on it, I see?”

“Yes, briefly.”

That thing in particular is a demon’s couch.

The soft yet firm, unwavering comfort that cradled your backside was indeed demonic—but that wasn’t the problem.

This wide, large couch was perfect for using as a bed instead. There was a high probability I’d have to eat and sleep here without even having time to return to my quarters.

“So you even had time to plant your rear end on it. I guess it’s true that the Captain has his eye on you?”

“What do you mean by ‘has his eye on me’……?”

“Sit down. Let’s talk sitting down, first.”

I didn’t want to plant my rear end on that demon’s couch ever again, but Gisela Loth had settled herself across from me and was gesturing for me to sit, so I had no choice but to take the same spot as last time.

‘Ugh, damn it.’

It’s comfortable.

I knew it was a demon’s temptation, but it was undeniably, comfortably relaxing.

“Ah, I’m tired.”

Gisela Loth propped both feet up on the low table in front of the couch, leaned back against the backrest, and half-sprawled out.

“You’ve probably heard the gist from the Captain. Ask me anything you’re curious about.”

A question was about to leap out of my mouth—”How can I be curious about anything if I don’t know anything?”—but I forced it back down my throat.

Instead, I raised my right hand and asked.

“You keep mentioning someone called ‘the Captain.’ Who is this Captain?”

“Our Captain? DuPont Clanshire.”

Gisela Loth casually tossed out the name of the First Executive as if he were a neighborhood friend.

“DuPont Clanshire is…… the Captain, then.”

Does that man have ten bodies or something?

Not only is he Killian Knox’s closest aide, the head of the seven executives, and the final person in charge of all major Knox affairs—now he’s also the Captain of the real intelligence division?

Only then did I understand why DuPont Clanshire had seemed so familiar with the Nest.

I raised my hand again for a second question, and Gisela Loth gave a chin gesture granting permission.

“And who are you, Miss Gisela Loth?”

“Me?”

I nodded toward Gisela Loth, who pointed at herself with her index finger as if bewildered.

“Judging by the fact that you brought me to the Nest, it seems you’re one of the Crows, but all I know about you is your name.”

“Ah, so you’re wondering who I am that I’m ordering you around and leaving notes for you?”

“Well, more or…… less.”

“Yeah, I suppose you would.”

Gisela Loth chuckled, then pointed alternately at me and herself.

“You, rookie Crow. Me, your handler.”

“Han, handler…….”

I sprang up from the demon’s couch and bowed toward Gisela Loth once more.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you! I’m Runelk Ains! Please guide and advise me well!”

“Oh?”

Gisela Loth wiggled the tip of one foot crossed on the table and laughed.

“What’s this? I thought you’d be pretty pathetic since you’re from the Action Division, but maybe not?”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

Until we met in front of the warehouse and arrived at the Nest, Gisela Loth had acted as if nothing was wrong. But inside, she’d been judging me as ‘pretty pathetic.’

‘Damn.’

In any organization, if you get on your direct handler’s bad side, life becomes difficult. Especially for a rookie, distinctions like ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ don’t matter. At the end of the day, you’re in a position to be criticized just for breathing while pressed against a wall.

So only one standard matters: ‘Does it irritate your handler’s eyes?’

The fact that I had to return to life in the intelligence division was already annoying enough. I didn’t want to make things even harder by getting on my handler’s bad side.

“I’ll be more careful from now on!”

“I didn’t tell you I was your handler, so that’s on me. Besides, Crows tend to be fairly casual with each other.”

Gisela Loth shrugged, as if she truly didn’t mind.

But I wasn’t fooled.

Whenever that woman said something normal, there was always a hidden meaning that followed.

“But I do happen to like keeping discipline.”

There it was.

Still, I could understand her saying she liked keeping discipline.

Rookies must be taught strictly. You have to grind them and work them until they shine. Only then do they learn quickly and become somewhat useful.

“Yes, I thought you would.”

“……Hah.”

Gisela Loth let out a hollow laugh, one corner of her mouth twisting crookedly.

She seemed annoyed.

Why?

She said she liked keeping discipline, so I was just playing along?

“Did I make a mistake?”

“No, no. I’m just thinking this is going to be fun from now on.”

“I think so too.”

I wasn’t sure what it was about, but agreeing with your handler was always good for your well-being.

“Riiight. Well then, sit back down for now.”

“No, I’m more comfortable standing—”

“My neck hurts from looking up at you, you know?”

“I’m seated!”

“Having to explain every little thing like this—you’ve got a long way to go, really.”

She clicked her tongue as she watched me plant my rear end back on the demon’s couch.

“Well then, you’re done with your questions.”

I’d only asked two: who the Captain was, and who she was.

“Now I’ll tell you what you need to do as a rookie Crow. First, after your Action Division shift ends, you will return to the Nest immediately. If you’re caught slacking off elsewhere, you die?”

She thrust out her fist, but what I’d just realized was far more frightening.

“So I have to…… keep working in the Action Division too?”

“Of course. If you want to maintain your surface affiliation, you have to keep up that side of the work too. If you’re not Runelk Ains of the Action Division, then what are you?”

Gisela Loth scowled and growled.

“What, are you planning to say ‘I’m a Crow’ if someone asks what you do in Knox?”

“That’s, that’s not it.”

I urgently wiped my face with my palm. If I didn’t do at least that, I felt like I’d let loose a string of colorful curses in front of my handler.

‘Right, he did say it was a cover identity.’

The weight of DuPont’s passing remark was dreadful.

‘I have to go to work twice?’

It wasn’t just about going to work. I had to do the work of both the Action Division and the Crows.

The relaxed and peaceful life at Knox was truly over.

All because of Killian Knox, that lizard bastard.

Gisela Loth watched me dry-washing my face repeatedly, then spoke.

“Rookie.”

“Yes.”

“You’re really fun.”

Her eyes were gleaming. The silver glint in her light brown eyes was enough to send a chill down my spine.

“Runelk Ains, you.”

She slowly lowered her legs from the table and leaned toward me, asking.

“By any chance, do you not want to be a Crow?”