Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Heels clicked against the polished floor of one of the numerous hallways of the Minos Bureau of Crisis Control. Familiar teal hair framed the sharp features of the ever-reliable second-in-command. Nightingale stopped before an unassuming steel door, barely paying attention to the name on the adjacent wall, and knocked firmly three times.

“Chief? It’s Adjutant Nightingale. Are you still asleep?”

There was no response. Nightingale glanced at her device - eight-thirty in the morning - three hours more than her superior’s usual waking time. The morning assembly was an hour ago, and the latter had missed it. Chief Elysia, or simply Chief to most people, always kept up with the routine unless she got caught in another mission. The briefing for the first assignment would be in thirty minutes from now; most of the Sinners to be dispatched had already arrived in the conference room. 

“Chief, is everything alright?” 

The adjutant tried again, a little louder this time. She hid the worry from her voice; she knew that her commanding officer had been running herself ragged again this past week. Last night was especially grueling. Nightingale only heard bits and pieces from the Sinners involved, but it seemed the Chief had gotten hit with a Mania-charged attack from one of their targets. There were no visible injuries from what she had glimpsed upon their return, but a proper medical checkup had to wait in favor of rest.

Nightingale knocked again. “Chief? Chief Elysia? If you’re alright, please answer. If not,” She hesitated. It was a last resort; she would never dare to disrespect the other woman’s right to privacy. However, if something was wrong…. “I apologize, but I will have to come in.”

The teal-haired woman waited a full minute to be either turned away or invited inside, to no avail. The person on the other side remained silent. With a heavy sigh, she tapped a few keys on the authenticator device beside the door and tapped her identification card. The door split and slid open with a hiss, and she stepped in reluctantly.

The room was bigger than the rest of the crew’s, but the layout was nearly the same. Before the current Chief, codenamed ‘SHEPHERD13’, woke up prematurely from her sleep, the place was empty, save for the standard furniture and equipment that furnished other living quarters. Months after she took office, various knickknacks added color and life to the otherwise dull and stifling environment. The adjutant recognized some of Hecate’s sketches, a knitted beanie from Hella, a flower bouquet arranged weekly by the former Garden members, and even a statue gifted by Enfer. There was even a shield at one corner, whether from Cinnabar, Demon, or Rahu, she could not tell. Other presents seemed out of place but were still important and well-cared for.

Nightingale let her gaze stray longer before focusing on the blanketed lump in the middle of the king-sized bed. She quietly approached, not wanting to startle her superior of her presence. “Chief?”

The figure wriggled slightly but did not emerge from its covers. The adjutant did not want to disturb the other person’s fitful rest, but there was a lot of work to be done. She reached out, touched the fabric, and shook her. She did it gently and carefully so as not to surprise the other woman and get unintentionally slammed by the Shackles. 

“Chief, it’s time to wake up. The Sinners are waiting for you.”

Now that Nightingale looked closely, the Chief appeared smaller. Even if the latter was curled tightly in her sleep, her petite form seemed tinier than it was supposed to be. There was a groan - higher in pitch - and a small grumbling voice. It was one that definitely did not belong to her commanding officer.

“Noooo. Don’t wanna….”

The teal-haired woman froze from where she was standing. Chilling dread crept along her spine as those words - that voice - reached her ears. Too small. Too young. Not Chief’s. The body lock was only momentary as years of training kicked in. The adjutant was used to dealing with strange and dangerous scenarios, given that it was part of her job and that the recklessly and headstrong Chief would flirt and dance with Death nearly every day. 

So, Nightingale did what she was supposed to: breathe, shoot down fear, and act promptly before the situation spiraled out of control. Whether it was a Sinner or an unknown intruder, she must move swiftly for the safety of the Chief and everyone within the MBCC. With one hand, she pulled out her gun from its holster and, with the other, gripped the thick blanket. Her weapon clicked, ready to fire, and she pointed it to the hidden figure. It remained still, oblivious to the barrel pointed at it.

“Chief,” The adjutant’s warm voice was gone, replaced with frigid cold. It was a silent warning - the last chance for surrender. “It’s time to wake up.”

There was no waiting; the fabric was torn off in one smooth motion, unlike the tension in the air. There was no struggle, shouts, or gunfire, just the covers falling into a heap on the floor. The second-in-command, who was prepared to arrest the impostor, stiffened not at the non-resistance but at the sight that welcomed her. Words lodged themselves in her throat as the awaiting madness finally revealed itself.

“What in the world...?”

A child - a little girl no more than five years old was nestled in a fetal position in the center of the bed. Oversized pajamas nearly swallowed her tiny frame. Waist-length hair, the color of storm clouds, radiated like a dark halo against the white sheet. The small, round face scrunched into a frown but did not wake.

The teal-haired woman was at a loss for words. The barrel of her gun dipped as her grip faltered. What was a child doing here? Where was Chief? Her eyes flicked toward the curtains, and she hurried to check the windows. The sunlight allowed her to see the surroundings better, but there was no sign of unlawful entry. Not even a fight had occurred. Everything seemed to be in order. Then, how?

The adjutant put down her weapon and reached for her communication device. The line connected almost immediately, but she did not wait for the confirmation. “This is Adjutant Nightingale. Put the entire bureau in lockdown and send an investigative team here in Chief’s quarters. This is an emergency! Chief is missing. I repeat! Chief is -”

“Mommy…?”

Nightingale paused abruptly and snapped her head in the direction of the voice. The little girl swayed as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyelids. She blinked at the harsh sunlight, mindlessly searching for the said person. The latter nearly stumbled when those platinum eyes met her gaze.

“...Chief?”

The resemblance was uncanny; it was like the adjutant was looking at the younger version of her commanding officer. There was no way she would mistake the other woman for another. Whether she wanted it or not, she had seen numerous pictures and reports. All was to ensure she was well-informed of who she would serve. 

However, the child before her was different and vulnerable. Her cheeks were round and full of baby fat, untouched by the daily physical exertion of running around to protect DisCity. Her wide eyes were innocent and untainted by the horrors of the ever-spreading Mania. This was Elysia, the famed and feared Chief of the Minos Bureau of Crisis Control, but at the same time, not. This was someone who had yet to grow and sharpen into the most effective weapon humanity created against Mania.

“You’re not Mommy,” The little girl frowned. “Who’re you? Where’s Mommy?”

“Adjutant?” The device buzzed on the said woman’s limp hand. “Is everything alright? Are you still there? Hey, hurry up! Get the investigative team immediately! Something might have happened to -”

“Wait.” Nightingale swallowed dryly. She pursed her lips, trying to keep her voice even. The child - the Chief was looking around anxiously for her parents. The confusion in her eyes had started to devolve into fear. “Put the bureau in lockdown, but don’t send the investigative team here yet. Instead, send three people from the medical team. Make sure not to include any Sinners. They must remain in their cells and not be informed about the situation.”

“What’s happening -”

“Just do as I say.”

The adjutant ended the call without another word. She gripped the window railing with a trembling hand as she tried to keep her balance. The morning sunlight suddenly seemed so bright that her head started to hurt. She had been in life-threatening situations and worried too much over her superior’s safety and well-being. But this? This was different. 

“Mommy…?” A tiny voice whimpered. “Mommy? Daddy? Where are you?”

Nightingale tamped down the bitter taste on her tongue. Now was not the time to let emotions take over logic - she had to do something. She straightened and slowly approached the age-regressed Chief. Considering the latter failed to recognize her, it was safe to conclude that she did not have memories of her later years. 

“Chief.”

The little girl ignored the older woman - the title bore no familiarity to her. The latter knelt beside the bed until she was at eye level. She had to look harmless so as not to frighten the kid more.

“Elysia.” 

The child flinched at the sound of her name and turned to the adjutant with teary eyes. Nightingale smiled gently and lowered her voice to a soothing lull. Her occasional interactions with the young Sinners at her commanding officer’s behest were finally put to good use.

“It’s okay.” 

A lie. 

“Your parents have to go away for work. It won’t take long. They asked us to take care and play with you while they’re gone.” 

Another lie.

The adjutant reached out an open palm. “My name is Nightingale. It’s nice to meet you.”

The young Chief stared at the offering. “Mommy and Daddy really said that? Y-You’re not lying?”

“Of course not. Why would I?”

“T-They always tell me if they’re going away.” Elysia stammered. “Grandma...Grandma plays with me, but… she’s gone. Mommy and Daddy said Grandpa took her far away to somewhere pretty and isn’t going to come back….” She sniffed. “I m-miss Grandma. I miss Mommy and Daddy.”

Nightingale winced. She had touched a sore spot for a little girl treasured by her family. So much for being informed. Still, she schooled her expression to kindness. She could not falter here. “I’m sure they miss you, too.” She assured her. “You will see them, I promise. It’s just for a few days. We’ll have lots of fun, okay?”

“R-Really? You...You promise?”

“Promise.” The teal-haired woman drew a familiar sign above her chest. “Cross my heart.”

“You can’t take that back!” The child exclaimed. “Only bad guys break promises! Daddy said so.”

“I know, and I really do promise.”

Elysia nodded slowly in understanding. “...O-Okay.” She clumsily wiped her wet cheeks with the sleeve of her nightshirt. “Okay.”

The adjutant smiled, reaching out to wipe the tears with her thumbs. She would not normally do this as it was improper, but the situation called for it. This might be the Chief, but she was now a child and must be carefully treated as such. The teal-haired woman only hoped whatever her commanding officer was afflicted with would not last long. They had to find a solution quickly. After all, the MBCC never had the luxury of time.

Hurried footsteps echoed faintly from the hallway, and the second-in-command felt her communicator vibrate. “Adjutant Nightingale. The medical team has arrived outside the Chief’s quarters. Permission to enter?”

“No need. I’ll be out in a bit.”

Nightingale stood up and turned her attention back to the young Chief. “We’re going to meet some people, okay? Don’t worry, they’re good people. They’re not going hurt you.”

Her de-aged superior nodded and spread her arms wide. Nightingale paused, wondering what was wrong until she saw the expectant look in those wide eyes.

Oh. 

The adjutant slightly bent down and allowed a pair of tiny arms to wrap around her neck. Her arm slipped underneath the child’s rear as she gingerly adjusted the nightshirt-turned-dress around the latter’s fragile form. Elysia gripped at her uniform until wrinkles formed, but the older woman paid it no mind. They marched toward the door and into the fray of confused and astonished faces.

To say it was chaotic was an understatement. Nightingale was just glad she managed to keep a neutral face amidst it all.

Chapter Text

Doctors, nurses, Mania researchers, and other medical personnel crowded behind the one-way window overlooking an examination room. Onlookers peered behind the laboratory door - the curiosity and disbelief now a raging epidemic amongst the MBCC staff. Nightingale could not blame them - the situation was more absurd than any Mania-related distortions the bureau had investigated. However, everyone still had work to finish for the day, and only she, the second-in-command, could make them.

“Faye.”

The iris-haired head of the Supply Office flinched. She turned to the adjutant with a sheepish grin. “Ah - Oh! Hey, Adjutant. I’m about to head out to, you know, do stuff. Yeah!”

The other woman cast her an unamused look. “Is everything on the supply list already checked out? It wouldn’t bode well for the bureau if we’re lacking resources. I’m sure you’re aware of that.”

“Of course, of course!” Faye raised her hands in surrender as she backed away. Everyone knew the only one who could match the Chief during her worst days would be her right-hand woman. She did not want to be in the same room should the said person finally blow up. “I’ll go now. Gotta make sure we’re stocked up and all.”

The second-in-command simply watched her make a beeline to the exit. “While you’re at it,” She spoke suddenly, nearly making Faye trip. “Purchase necessities for Chief using the excess from today’s budget. The bureau isn’t exactly equipped to provide for children younger than ten. If it isn’t enough, put it on my tab. I’ll pay for it.”

“Uh, you mean clothes and stuff, right? Chief’s a kid right now, so you know…” The Supply Office head gestured wildly. Her eyes glinted at the prospect of dressing up their five-year-old commanding officer. “Can I pick something that a kid should wear? Like not formal - not that I have anything against our uniform - but something sunny, flowery, or colorful, yeah?”

The teal-haired woman bit the inside of her cheek. “...Fine, as long as it is proper. I trust your instincts when it comes to these things.” She meant it - Faye had an excellent eye for fashion.

“YES-!” Faye caught herself before she embarrassed herself and straightened her posture. She saluted eagerly. “I mean, yes, Ma’am! I’ll get to it immediately.”

“Just…” Nightingale closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just go. Tell everyone outside to return to their departments before I make them.”

The adjutant heard the doors slammed open and the murmurs from the bystanders outside before it was drowned again by silence. It was not midday yet, but she was already exhausted. She opened her eyes and peered at the window. The young Chief was sitting on a medical bed, surrounded by the white-clad staff. Her only clothing was changed to an oversized hospital gown. Various equipment built to examine and analyze Mania effects were wheeled inside. The room looked cramped, but neither the child nor the medical crew minded it. 

One nurse was chatting animatedly with the little girl, distracting her from the foreign tubes and wires connected to her. They anticipated the new environment would spook her, but Elysia had been well-behaved and cheerful. If anything, she seemed highly curious about everything and everyone.

“- And then, Daddy bought me ice cream. It was this tall!” The young Chief raised her hands to demonstrate. “There’s chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and cookies! I don’t like the mint thing.” She stuck her tongue in disgust. “It tasted yucky, so I gave it to Daddy. Grandma said that wasting food is bad. Only bad kids do that. I’m a good girl!”

“Yes, you are.” The nurse tapped her on the nose. “Tell me. What’s your favorite flavor?”

“Chocolate!”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh! I really, really like it.” Elysia’s eyes sparkled with joy. “I like those soft, squishy things, too. It’s called ummm…m-mish, marshmi -”

“- Marshmallow?”

“Yes!”

“Then, how about we get some after this?” The nurse offered. “You can try different flavors. How about that?”

“Really? Can Pretty Lady join us? Night…Night…Umm…” The child’s face scrunched in concentration. “Uhhh…I can’t say her name.”

“You mean, Miss Nightingale?”

“Yes, that’s her! Miss Pretty Lady!”

Nightingale coughed lightly, trying not to look flustered from where she was standing. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her at that statement. The Chief had never been stingy with compliments and would tell when someone was well-appreciated. But for some reason, this coming from her child self felt like high praise. They said children were innocent and brutally honest with their words and actions, so….

“Adjutant.”

The said person snapped out of her musings and regarded one of the doctors inspecting the Chief. She had been so distracted that she did not notice him step out of the examination room.

“I’d like to speak to you in private.”

Hushed murmurs rose from the rest of the crew, but the teal-haired woman brushed them off. She nodded at the doctor and gestured for him to join her in the breakroom. The door was shut tight behind them, and curtains were pulled closed to give them privacy from prying eyes.

“I won’t beat around the bush.” The doctor started. “We didn’t find anything significant about Chief’s condition. Her current M-value is high but not enough to be of concern. Her physical and mental conditions are stable outside of the obvious changes in her age, memory, and cognitive abilities. She’s perfectly healthy, and her powers - the Shackles - seemed unaffected, considering the Sinners under her command hadn’t broken out of the bureau nor gone manic at this point.”

It was all good news, but Nightingale was dissatisfied. She was hoping they discovered something. “Then, where does that leave us?”

“I believe we should begin with the possible root cause. Chief was on a mission yesterday night, wasn’t she?”

“Yes, she was.” The adjutant confirmed. “She got hit by a Mania attack but was unharmed from what I’d seen. I recommended that she undergo the mandatory checkup beforehand, but she decided to rest first and come in today after the mission debrief.” She bit her lower lip. “Could this have been prevented if I had insisted she visit here?”

The doctor shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that. Most symptoms of Mania take a long time to set in and might not be visible physically at all. The timeline of each instance isn’t consistent either. In the case of a Sinner’s awakening, a catalyst is almost mandatory. What happened to Miss Roulecca and Miss Eirene during the Day of the Youth was similar, but the cause was different. Regardless, Chief’s case is something unheard of.”

Nightingale crossed her arms. “I see. Then, I’ll have the suspects interrogated and tell Wynn to send a team to revisit the mission site. For now, please continue monitoring Chief. If anything comes up, please inform me immediately.”

“That goes without saying. Also, I’d highly recommend keeping Chief away from the Sinners for now. We don’t know how close proximity will affect her or the Sinners.”

“It won’t be easy. They might notice something is amiss if she doesn’t show up.”

“Yes, but we must be careful.” The doctor insisted, pushing his glasses up his nose. “There’s no guarantee the Sinners will not take advantage of this situation, even with the Shackles still in place. Some of them attempted to harm Chief before during interrogations. What’s more, when she’s this vulnerable?”

The second-in-command could not agree more. The Chief’s safety was always the main priority. Without her, the internal structure of the MBCC would collapse. “Alright. I’ll order the staff to stay quiet about it. However, the Sinners must continue their daily routines to lessen suspicion.”

“Are you going to inform the 9th Agency? The FAC?”

“The FAC no longer holds any power over the MBCC.” The adjutant answered. There was a noticeable, sharp edge in her words. She would not let the FAC or Paradeisos retake hold of the Chief. “I will handle things with the 9th Agency. Commander Langley isn’t around, so we have time. It would be better to settle this issue ourselves without their interference.”

“I see. It’s fortunate that Chief had every Sinner oriented to follow you should she not be available to supervise. Otherwise, things would’ve been more complicated.”

“Yes, it is.” Nightingale unlocked the door, and they stepped back to the laboratory. “But just like you said, we must be on guard. There’s a limit to how cooperative the Sinners can be.”

The gathered medical team had stepped away from the viewing glass and surrounded an empty table. The young Chief was seated on one chair, gushed left and right by the adults. She did not seem to mind. If anything, she was more than happy to socialize with them.

“Chief’s so cute!” Someone cooed. “Ah, I want to pinch those cheeks.”

“My name’s not Chief!” Elysia argued. Her cheeks puffed out in a pout. “I’m Elysia, and I’m five.”

As if to emphasize her point, the little girl raised her hands - one showing two fingers and the other three. The personnel apologized insincerely, but the adjutant could not blame anyone for their reactions. It was challenging to take a five-year-old seriously.

“Miss Pretty Lady!”

Elysia jumped off the chair and toddled toward the woman. Nightingale bent down to scoop her up. The latter giggled and latched on her like a koala. “Are you having fun?”

“Yeah!” The child cheered. “But I’m hungry.”

“Then, let’s eat. The cafeteria should have something you’ll like.” 

“Like marshmallows? The Nice Lady said I can have some after we play.”

The second-in-command nodded appreciatively to the nurse, who smiled warmly in return. “Yes, you can have lots.” 

“YAY!”

The adjutant turned to the doctor she had spoken with earlier. “Will it be alright to bring her out?”

“As long as she stays within the bureau’s premises, I see no problem. It’s better for her to be entertained than get bored with us here. Just make sure to send her here in the evening for another examination. We’ll further analyze the data we got for now.”

Nightingale thanked him and turned on her heels toward the door. Elysia peered over her shoulder and waved at the staff. “Bye-bye!”

“Goodbye, Chief - I mean, Elysia. Let’s play again later, okay?”

“Okay! I’ll bring lots of marshmallows!”

The medical personnel chuckled and watched the two step out of the laboratory. The second-in-command could not help the smile on her face as the young Chief turned back to her and started playing with her hair, muttering something about how pretty the color was. The onlookers from earlier were gone, but she knew the attention would not go away soon.

“Miss Pretty Lady.”

The adjutant glanced at Elysia, who was laser-focused on the strand she held between her fingers. “Call me Nightingale.” She corrected. “What is it?”

The little girl did not answer immediately. Instead, she looked up and stared at the older woman’s face. A pale red reflected from her platinum eyes. It was almost like…. A sense of foreboding made the hairs on the back of Nightingale’s neck rise.

“What’s a Sinner?”

Chapter Text

Nightingale trusted Faye. While the latter was too sly for her own good regarding money, she had always had a keen eye for details and trends inside DisCity. However, this time, the adjutant might have given her more trust than she should have.

“Over here, Chief!” The head of the Supply Office gestured excitedly. “Yes, yes! That’s it! Look here, cutie pie, and smile like the most adorable angel in DisCity!”

A series of clicks fired from Faye’s phone as she took picture after picture of the young Chief. The little girl blinked at her in confusion, her mouth stuffed with marshmallows. She wore a white and grey pinafore dress, white socks, and a pair of flat Mary Jane shoes. Her hair was in a ponytail, tied by a white ribbon. It was simple attire but remained faithful to the dull tones of the Chief’s usual uniform. 

More children’s clothes, shoes, and accessories were strewn on the bed - some spilled out from the shopping bags. They dotted the pale sheets in vibrant colors like paint on a white canvas. After they had a meal and dropped a few packets of marshmallows in the laboratory at the child’s insistence, they met with the Supply Office head outside the Chief’s quarters. It was a tiring experience, to say the least - it was like a storm had swept inside the room.

The iris-haired woman squealed in delight as she scrolled through the shots. “So adorable! Everyone’s going to love these! We’re going to earn lots from all these photos -”

“Ahem!” 

Faye nearly jumped at the sound and shriveled under Nightingale’s scathing gaze. She hid the device behind her. “Okay, okay! I’m not going to sell these. Just let me keep them. I’m not even going to use them as blackmail, no, Ma’am! I swear in my honor as the head of the Supply Office!”

The second-in-command crossed her arms. “You know the consequences if you -”

“Yes! Of course, of course! I would never do anything to tarnish Chief’s reputation. Or the MBCC’s.”

The adjutant finally relented. “Are you done yet? If you have nothing else to do, give her a tour.”

“Eh? You’re not going to?”

“I’d prefer if I do it,” Nightingale admitted. “But I have much work piled up, especially with Chief out-of-commission. I need someone to keep her occupied until tonight.”

“I can do that.” 

The adjutant gestured for her to lean closer, and the other woman obeyed dutifully. “Don’t bring her anywhere near the Sinners.” She whispered. “Or to places where they frequent. It’s better to keep her in the dark about them. Don’t even mention anything about them. Do you understand?”

The Supply Office head must have noticed her being unusually on edge compared to earlier. “Did something happen? Did the medical team find something?”

The teal-haired woman paused and bit her lip. Her short conversation with the young Chief left a sour taste on her tongue.

“What’s a Sinner?” 

Nightingale stopped in her tracks. Of course. She expected this. No parent in their right mind would expose their child to the horrors of Mania. Still…she was transfixed by those platinum eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. It was not a gaze a five-year-old child should have. Intelligent. Hypnotic. Dangerous. It was as if the little girl was gauging whether to trust everything she would say in the following seconds. 

“They’re…” The adjutant swallowed dryly. Her instincts urgently warned her to be careful with her next words. “They’re dangerous people. They have powers, unlike ordinary people. You shouldn’t come near them.”

“Are they bad guys?”

“That’s -” The second-in-command hesitated. “Not all of them. They can hurt you, so don’t come close to them. Don’t look at their eyes and talk to them. Whatever they say, don’t listen to them. Don’t ever tell them your name. If you see one, run, do you understand?”

Elysia bobbed her head slowly, seemingly unconvinced by her explanation. The suffocating feeling loosened its hold and dissipated like it was not there before. “...Okay.”

That was the end of it. Those few minutes were brief, but it felt like Nightingale’s entire existence was being judged. The Chief she knew had never looked at her like that. This was the first time. Was this how it felt to be under Chameleon’s ability? Or any Sinner who had similar powers? She never had the opportunity to experience it before, given that her commanding officer always handled them. She could only watch from the sidelines as Mania dragged her superior away to the dredges of human insanity. If it was….

The adjutant tamped down the jumble of emotions bubbling in her chest. Now was not the time. “No,” She finally answered, skipping the first question entirely. “They didn’t, but Chief should remain out of the Sinners’ reach. There’s no telling what they’ll do.”

Faye - bless her heart - did not prod any further. She leaned away and saluted. “Got it, Ma’am.”

Nightingale was grateful for the other woman’s perceptiveness. “Once you’re done with the tour, bring her to the laboratory. The medical team will handle the rest.”

The head of the Supply Office simply nodded. She turned to the young Chief, who was packing the rest of the marshmallows into the pockets of her dress. The kitchen staff were kind enough to provide her extras to snack on for later. “What’s this? Aren’t you going to give one to Auntie Faye?”

Elysia’s eyes widened as if she was caught in the middle of a crime. She shoved her hands inside her pockets to hide her food. “Nooo! These are mine! Miss Pretty Lady said so!”

“Miss…who?” 

Oh no! The adjutant gestured frantically at the little girl, but it was too late. A chubby finger pointed in her direction. “Her!”

The iris-haired woman stared at the other briefly before curling into herself. Her shoulders shook at the effort not to laugh. “Oh - Oh my God…! She didn’t just - This is - Pfft!”

“If you’re going to laugh, just do it!” Nightingale hissed. Her ears were red in embarrassment. She had repeatedly told the young Chief to call her by name, but the latter had been insistent on the nickname. She could not even scold her. When did she become this soft? 

Faye managed to stifle the impending fit. She took a moment to compose herself and smile. It would have been nice if it ended with that, but the second-in-command recognized that shit-eating grin. This was not over. “Nah, nah. This is normal. I mean, kids say and do what they want and are honest, to boot. You can’t fault Chief if she calls you that, Miss Pretty Lady.” 

“Faye.”

The Supply Office head clapped her hands. “Alright! Who wants to go on a tour around the best and most amazing MBCC with Auntie Faye? Raise your hand!”

“Me! Me! Me!” Elysia threw her arm up enthusiastically and giggled when Faye lifted her. “Is Miss Pretty Lady going with us?”

“I’m -” The adjutant interrupted before the other woman could make fun of her. “No. I got work to do.” It was difficult not to give in when a dejected expression passed on the little girl’s face. She reached out to pat the latter’s head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t go. Promise me you’ll be good, okay? Don’t cause trouble for Faye. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Nightingale watched the door shut behind the two and faced the messy state of the Chief’s quarters. She sighed, picked up the nearest clothes, and stuffed it in a shopping bag. Her communication device buzzed, and she answered the call. “Adjutant Nightingale, this is Wynn. I’ve already organized and sent a team back to last night’s location. The suspects are already taken from their cells and are waiting for interrogation.”

“Good job. I’ll leave the interrogation to you then.” The adjutant replied. “Are the Sinners already out of their cells?”

“Not yet. We’re still waiting for your permission.”

The second-in-command stepped out of the room and into the hallway. “Let them out at three o’clock. Increase the guards on the perimeter and order them not to let anyone near the Chief’s Office without my explicit permission. If Sinners ask why, tell them to answer that the Chief is currently away on official business. I’ll be taking over as Acting Chief as per protocol. That should hold them off for a while.”

“Are we going to interrogate the Sinners involved in yesterday’s mission, too?”

“I’ll handle it. An interrogation will only draw suspicion. I’ll use the debriefing as an excuse to extract information.”

“Shall I send a Mania suppression team to assist you?”

“No need,” Nightingale assured her. “Send them to the conference room. I’ll be meeting them shortly.”

“Roger that.”

The line disconnected, and the adjutant rode the elevator down to the lower floors. She exchanged brief greetings with some employees before heading to her destination. When she entered the room, six pairs of eyes turned in her general direction. Six Sinners from the three ranks had disregarded professionalism and claimed their preferred spots despite the availability of high-quality chairs.

The teal-haired woman decided to let it go and proceed to business. She had a goal here; everything else was a formality. “Good afternoon, Sinners. Let’s skip the formality and head straight to the debriefing. I expect you’ll all cooperate -” 

“Where’s Chief?”

Of course. Nightingale thought. There was always one who would ask. She cast an impassive gaze at Sinner-098, who returned it with an exasperated look. “Chief’s away on a business trip. She won’t be around for a while.”

“WHAT?” Hella slammed her hands on the table. “And she didn’t tell us? That idiot Chief! How long is she gonna be gone?”

“That depends.” The adjutant answered. “And may I remind you to mind your language -”

“Yeah, yeah! Whatever!” The B-rank Fury Sinner cut her off and sank into a chair with a huff. “That dumbass promised we’d get ice cream after the mission. She better come back quick, or I’ll get really mad!”

The second-in-command could only sigh. It was not new. She was used to the brash girl’s outbursts. Kelvin slid quietly onto one seat and raised her hand. “Um….”

“What is it?”

“Is…Is Chief alright? Last night, she was - she got hit. She wasn’t hurt that badly, right?”

Nightingale managed to keep a neutral expression. It was still early to get something out of the Sinners, but this might be good. “Chief’s in perfect health,” A partial lie. “I plan to ask you all about that, so thank you for bringing it up. Can you tell me what exactly happened?”

Sinner-592 glanced anxiously at her fellow detainees. Her bringing the topic caught the attention of the others. Hecate had stopped drawing, finally looking up from where she was curled in one corner. Ninety-Nine tensed from where she was leaning against the wall while opposite to her, Che tipped his cap downward. Crache was nowhere to be found, but the adjutant saw the shadows behind a potted plant shift slightly.

“I can’t remember it clearly because it happened so fast, but Chief ordered us to split up because the gang members were running away. We managed to corner them in the basement.”

“That’s where you fought them before the arrest team arrived, correct?”

Kelvin nodded. “Yes, we took them down, but -”

“A sneaky fucker tried to kill Ninety-Nine!” Hella cut in angrily. “That bastard was holding a crazy-looking gun and shot at her. Can you believe it? If it weren’t for Chief….” She clenched her fists. “UGH! Stupid Chief! She always forgets that she isn’t strong like us. I should’ve bashed that asshole’s head before your guys took him away! Dammit!”

The adjutant cursed under her breath. Of course. This had to happen. Chief was so - She heard something crack and glimpsed Hecate holding a broken pencil. The girl’s face had an undecipherable expression, but the second-in-command could tell what was happening inside her head. Ninety-Nine was getting agitated now, while the others looked uncomfortable. 

“So, Chief took the hit for Ninety-Nine,” Nightingale concluded. “Can you tell me what that gun looked like? Is it a Mania weapon?”

“Can’t say for certain,” Che answered in everyone’s stead. “But it’s nothing like any Mania weapon I’ve seen. It didn’t fire bullets but light infused with Mania. Never seen one like that even in Syndicate.”

A strange-looking gun. A possible new type of Mania weapon. The adjutant needed to look into this. The initial report from the arrest team did not declare anything like that. They probably did not notice it during their sweep. There was still a chance that the item would still be on the mission site and intact if the fighting did not destroy it. That, and she needed information on where the prisoners acquired it. It would be a lot of work, but at least they finally got a lead.

“Hey, Adjutant. Are you sure Chief’s okay?”

The teal-haired woman met Sinner-270’s gaze. Do not give anything away. Do not let them know. Despite the man’s troublesome laidback attitude, he could sometimes be eerily perceptive.  

“Yes.”

Che looked unconvinced but decided to let it go. The others kept silent, eager to leave the conversation where it was. Nightingale set down her clipboard and picked up the remote. She had to nudge the topic in a different direction before more questions were raised. “Alright. That’s enough. If there is no more question,” She looked at the other Sinners. “Let’s move on.”

The mission debrief lasted for less than an hour. It was shorter than most sessions, considering most Sinners, saved for Hella, were quiet like Hecate and Kelvin. Or, they were not paying attention like Crache, Ninety-Nine, and Che. Nightingale left almost immediately after the meeting, leaving the Sinners to wait for the guards to escort them back to their cells.

Hella pushed off the chair as she stood up. “Okay, my ass!” She ranted. “She’s lying! Something’s going on, and she won’t spill the beans. There’s no fucking way Elysia would break a promise!” 

“Chief…is a busy woman,” Kelvin said, fidgeting in her seat. “Maybe something urgent came up, and she had to go.”

“You believe that?” The other B-rank Sinner exclaimed. “Hell, no! Even if Chief has to skedaddle, she tells.” She groaned. “Well, fine, not always because she’s a stubborn idiot and heads first to danger, but she never breaks a promise.”

“That woman… she’s lying,” Ninety-Nine mumbled. “She’s…hiding something.” 

“See? Even Ninety-Nine agrees.” Hella whipped toward the silent A-rank Arcane Sinner. “Hecate, say something! You know I’m right, right?”

“Chief is…someone who never goes back on her word,” Hecate murmured, absentmindedly twirling the broken pencil between her fingers. “But Adjutant Nightingale is always beside Chief. She knows better than anyone if Chief feels ill and will not let it worsen.”

“Traitor!” The B-rank Fury Sinner accused. “You should be on my side! Seriously? None of you find it strange? I mean, what’s up with the lockdown? Precautionary measure? Bullshit! It’s more believable if the guards told us someone busted out of their cell.”

Che sighed loudly. He was getting tired of the younger detainee’s rants. “Well, what would you want us to do? The entire bureau is on high alert. You can’t do anything crazy without risking your neck out there.”

“Huh? Who said anything about crazy? Is sneaking around crazy?”

“Hella.” Hecate had stood up and left the corner. “Don’t. Chief wouldn’t be happy if she found out.”

“Well, Elysia’s NOT here.” Hella countered. “Besides, who said I’m going to be the one to do the sneaking? When we already got her?”

Four pairs of eyes followed the direction her finger pointed. The shadows stilled in surprise before shifting in annoyance. An agitated voice hissed from the darkness. “Don’t get me involved.”

“Come on now!” The B-rank Fury Sinner approached. “I’m sure you want to know what Nightingale is hiding.”

“I don’t care.”

“Not curious what Chief is up to?”

“No! Leave me alone.”

The edges of the shadows crept forward and formed like sharpened knives. Ninety-Nine stepped in front of Hella to protect her, but the latter was unfazed. A toothy smile crept on her lips. “The next time Chief baked us some goodies, I’ll give mine to you. How about that?”

The darkness paused from its impending attack as if considering the offer. It retreated seconds later, and from it emerged the S-rank Umbra Sinner. “If I get caught,” Crache said, glaring at the other five detainees. “The blame’s on you. All of you. Got it?”

“Why am I -”

Hella bumped against Che to shut him up. “Sure! Who fucking cares? Now, come over here and listen up!” She cracked her knuckles and grinned mischievously. “Here’s what we’re gonna do....”

Chapter Text

Nightingale decided this must be what it felt like to have children. The MBCC housed Sinners above ten years of age, but younger than that? The bureau did not have them nor handle juvenile non-Sinner offenders. She had a few interactions throughout her life, but it was the first time she had to take care of one for almost an entire day.

“Look at you,” Faye teased when she came by the laboratory to pick up Elysia for dinner and bedtime. “You’re starting to look like Chief’s mom.”

The adjutant tried not to let it get to her, but considering she had to feed, bathe, dress, and put the age-regressed Chief to bed, it was challenging to ignore those words. It did not help that she always had a soft spot for her superior, but now? She doubted she could say ‘no’ to her on anything.

“- And then, there’s this square thingy! It’s so blue and shiny!” Elysia was recalling her tour as the second-in-command dried and brushed her hair. “And pretty, too! I want one.”

“You mean a Hypercube?”

“Mmm!”

Nightingale considered it. The Chief had one she always wore as a pendant after receiving it from FAC Captain Roland Arouet, serial number ‘036’, during the BR-004 crisis in Keylan Square. It was hidden safely inside the bedside drawer, waiting to be worn by its current owner again.

“I’ll think about it.” The adjutant answered. She did not want to give empty promises nor risk losing that necklace. It was an important item to the Chief - a reminder of who saved her from corruption and why she continued moving forward. 

The little girl did not seem to mind. Her interest shifted quickly to resuming her story rather than insisting on getting a Hypercube. The second-in-command chimed occasionally, keeping the child engaged. The doctor recommended she tire out the young Chief so it would be easier to tuck the latter to bed. He also reminded her of the best time for the little girl to sleep, which Nightingale was grateful for. She still had a few tasks left for the night, including ensuring every Sinner was in their cells during curfew.

“Auntie Faye said…” Elysia yawned and rubbed her eyes. “We’ll go see the pretty flowers tomorrow.”

The adjutant set down the hairbrush. “It’s time to sleep. If you sleep early, you’ll be able to go tomorrow.” She gathered the little girl in her arms and set her on the bed. However, the latter refused to lie down.

“Story,” The young Chief mumbled, tugging her sleeve. “Mommy and Daddy tell me stories before sleeping.”

The teal-haired woman hesitated. She knew no bedtime tales - even if she did, she could not remember them from childhood. She glanced around the room, hoping to find something she could use, and noticed a familiar pile of bound papers on the coffee table. 

Nightingale gently pried Elysia’s hand off and went to retrieve the stack. It was one of Hecate’s sketchbooks, filled with drawings. She flipped through the pages - most were sketches of the Chief, while the rest were other Sinners or random sceneries. She recognized a few drawings and decided to bookmark them using her fingers.

“Miss Pretty Lady…?”

“It’s Nightingale.” The adjutant reminded her and returned to the bed. “Here. Lie down. I’ll tell you a story.” She pulled the blanket over the little girl and sat by her feet. She lifted the sketchbook on her lap and opened it to the first drawing. “Once upon a time, there was a young mage. Her name was Hecate. She could summon a dragon - a beautiful white dragon friend that accompanied her on her journey.”

“Does the dragon have a name?”

The second-in-command thought for a moment. She could not just answer ‘Nightmare’ and leave it at that. “It’s called Enchanter.”

“Enchanter…..”

“Mmm,” Nightingale nodded and moved on to the next sketch. “One day, she decided to go on a legendary treasure hunt. There, she met many new friends like Mess the Warrior, Etti the Witch, and Elysia the Adventurer.”

“That’s me!”

“That’s right.” The adjutant tapped Elysia on the nose. “And so, Hecate the Mage, Enchanter the Dragon, and their friends traveled the world. They crossed rivers, hiked mountains, and even fought magical beasts. They traveled far and wide, going from city to city and meeting more people. Finally, they reached the Isle of Sky, where the legendary treasure was said to be hidden.”

“Is it a…” The child yawned. Her eyes had already started to droop. “Pretty place?”

“Yes, and it was high up in the sky. They rode a flying ship to get there.” The teal-haired woman thumbed for the next scenario. “There, they fought a gigantic dragon. It was a hard battle, but they won.”

“Did they…” The little girl murmured. “Find the…treasure?”

“Yes, they did,” Nightingale confirmed. “It was a big treasure chest filled with gold and jewels. They became legends. Their names were known far and wide, and they became friends forever. The end.”

The young Chief yawned. “Sleepy….”

“That you are.” 

The adjutant adjusted the covers up the child’s shoulders. Her fingers gently brushed away the bangs on the latter’s face. Elysia blindly reached for Nightingale’s hand and loosely held her fingers.

“Stay?”

“Alright.” The second-in-command smiled. “Good night, Elysia. Sleep well.” 

Nightingale watched as the little girl finally drifted off to sleep. The young Chief looked so peaceful - innocent and without a care about the world. It was the complete opposite of her adult self, who suffered from violent psychic backlash coming from the Sinners in the form of nightmares. It had become common for the adjutant to wake her commanding officer during the rare moments she napped during daylight. There was little she could do for her during the night - Elysia was on her own to fight her battles in her quarters. 

The teal-haired woman switched off the bedside lamp and quietly climbed off the bed. She grabbed her coat and cap from the stand and glanced at the sleeping Chief one last time. “Good night, Chief.” She whispered. “I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.”

Her communicator vibrated urgently, and she clipped it back on as she answered. “Deputy Chief Nightingale, we have a situation. A protest has broken out in the cafeteria.”

“What?” 

It was a first. There had been neither a protest nor a prison riot since Chief Elysia had taken office. Even if there were, they were minor, mostly small complaints about a facility or service within the bureau. No one dared to challenge the Chief’s authority, even if she was away for some business.

“Have you identified the instigator?”

“It was Sinner-098.”

The second-in-command nearly tripped in her hurry toward the elevator. She could not believe what she was hearing. Hella? Why? “Did she make any demands?”

The other line did not answer - instead, background voices filtered through the call. Nightingale could hear the rowdy B-rank Sinner’s shouts. “I demand the ice cream we were promised. If you don’t come back immediately, Chief, we will wreck the MBCC! Say it with me!”

“Ice cream! Ice cream! We demand ice cream!”

“Hey, you! Shout it louder! What are you? A fucking chicken?”

Hella’s cackle drowned Che’s protest. The adjutant could tell that the other detainees were dragged into the Fury Sinner’s antic or went along just for the heck of it. It was a chance for a harmless payback for the unexpected lockdown earlier. 

Nightingale pinched the bridge of her nose. “Everyone, on standby,” She ordered when asked. She boarded the lift and punched the floor button. “I’m on my way.”

The adjutant made a mental note to write a report about today and the coming days. She was sure the Chief would want to know - the doctor had warned her of the possibility of Elysia forgetting everything that had happened while she got turned into a child. They would also have to inform the 9th Agency soon, regardless of whether they could fix the situation before the news leaked. The MBCC might be a highly confidential organization, but it never had the luxury called ‘time’.

The elevator door had not wholly opened when the teal-haired woman alighted and marched toward her destination. The dimly lit hallway seemingly held its breath until the click of her heels was drowned by the chaos of the cafeteria and the distinct slam of metal doors.

“Finally.”

Crache emerged from the shadows and surveyed the now empty corridor. She was glad the guards followed Nightingale rather than staying out there. It would make things complicated if there were eyes on the lookout. She decided not to linger and accomplish her side of the deal. The young S-rank Sinner ran toward the lift and pushed a button.

“Chief’s Office first, then wherever that woman came from,” The Syndican muttered, waiting for her ride to complete its ascent. She had watched the floor numbers rise and fall while she waited for the adjutant to come down. “That bitch Hella better give me enough time for this. If I get caught….”

If the leader of the Homeless were being honest, she would do this even without Hella’s goading. The other side of the Shackles had been silent since she woke up that morning. It should be a good thing since it meant that the Chief was safe, but it felt off. It was messed up, like a scrambled jigsaw puzzle - no piece was missing, but everything was deliberately disorganized. The other Sinners had not said anything aloud, especially with how dodgy the MBCC staff were.

The elevator door dinged and opened to a familiar hallway. The Umbra Sinner rushed toward the humongous doors of the Chief’s Office and inspected the authenticator device beside it. Locked. She expected as much - it was always the case if the Chief was away. Only her right-hand woman had clearance to enter during her absence. It also meant that the second-in-command was not lying that Elysia went out on a business trip.

What now? Should she climb to where Nightingale came from? It was the best option right now; it was not like Crache could enter the Chief’s Office without triggering an alarm. Even her powers would be useless against the security measures around the perimeter. 

The young S-rank Sinner decided to let it be - she did not have enough time to poke around - and climbed the lift again. It led her to an unassuming corridor she had not visited before. A red light flashed in her peripheral, and she looked up to see a security camera. There were a few more ahead, and she cursed under her breath, hurriedly cloaking herself with the shadows.

Shit, shit! What to do now? It seemed she had stepped foot into a heavily guarded area in the bureau. Her face was already caught, and it would only take time before the guards marched here. Her only hope was that whoever was operating the surveillance cameras was not paying attention earlier. The Syndican squinted ahead, noticing a steel door a few feet away at her left.

“To all prisoners, please return to your jail cells. An early curfew is now in effect. No inmates are allowed outside their prison cells until four o’clock in the morning, except for Sinners who are to be dispatched or returning from their missions. Anyone caught breaking this rule will be punished accordingly. I repeat -”

The Umbra Sinner nearly jumped out of her skin at the nightly announcement. Her ears caught the thumping of heavy, steel boots from the lower floor as the guards started their patrol. The elevator she came from started to descend - the numbers fell quickly in mere seconds. That idiot, Hella! If that adjutant climbed here and discovered her -

The leader of the Homeless could not let that happen. She could not get caught, especially without the Chief around to intervene. She would rather get found out by her than by other obnoxious adults in this place. Fuck them!

Crache was about to turn and hide in the nearest room when someone spoke behind her. Shadows pounced toward the source, only to freeze inches before they impaled their target.

“Miss Pretty Lady…?”

A child younger than the S-rank Sinner stood by the open doorway. She was dragging a blanket behind her with one hand while rubbing her eyes with the other. She appeared out of place in the dim hallway with her pale nightgown dotted with cartoon puppies and kittens.

The sight of another child somewhat calmed down the Syndican. The darkness receded as tension seeped away from her form. Her fear earlier slowly morphed into confusion. What was a kid doing here? She had not heard anything about a little girl staying in the bureau, much less a non-Sinner. Now that she thought about it, was this child the reason this place was on high alert?

The kid was wide awake now, searching the place for someone. Her platinum eyes seemed familiar to the leader of the Homeless, but the latter could not pinpoint where she had seen it before. Before she could contemplate it further, that gaze locked on hers.

“Who’re you?”

The Umbra Sinner stiffened in shock, staring at the little girl who stared at her with confusion. There was no way the other could see her. The shadows still enveloped her, shielding her from prying eyes. Still, the child’s gaze was fixed on her as if she knew where she was. Could she really see her? Or could she just feel her presence? There was only one person who could sense Crache anytime and anywhere, and that was Chief Elysia.

“Mmm… can’t see you. Too dark.” The kid rubbed her eyes again before looking back at the Umbra Sinner. “You’re not Miss Pretty Lady. Who’re you?”

The S-rank Sinner did not answer. Instead, she hurried past the little girl and into the room. She glanced around and sighed in relief when she saw no installed cameras. “Hey,” She called out. “Come here.”

The kid tilted her head questioningly before obeying. The door closed behind her silently, and the Syndican emerged from the darkness. “Thanks for letting me hide here. I won’t stay long, so don’t worry -”

“- WOW!” 

The leader of the Homeless was startled when the child scooted closer to her. Wide eyes gaped at her with childish amazement and fascination. “Big Sis! What’s that? How did you do that? Was that magic? Are you magic?” 

Crache was dumbfounded. What? Did this kid just call her Sinner power magic? Magic, really? Now that she studied closer, the child seemed relatively young. “You…How old are you?”

“I’m five!” The little girl raised five chubby fingers enthusiastically. “Like this!”

The S-Rank Sinner frowned. Five years old was too young, but only those who lived in fancy places like the Eastside had the luxury of remaining naive and innocent at that age. The Syndicate was an unkind and hostile place, after all.

“I’m not magic, and that’s not magic. That’s a power from Mania.” The Syndican shoved her hands into the pockets of her red MBCC-provided prisoner jacket. “I’m a Sinner.”

That word seemed to spark some recognition in the child’s eyes. The color drained from her face. “S-Sinners?” She backed away from the Umbra Sinner. “The scary guys? Miss Pretty Lady said not to talk to them.”

Miss Pretty Lady? Was she talking about that adjutant? It made perfect sense. While Nightingale had been tolerant of the Sinners, she was not the Chief. She was no different from the obnoxious adults Crache had met. If an opportunity arose that put Elysia in danger, she would not hesitate to sacrifice the Sinners, even if it went against her superior’s wishes. 

“What did that woman tell you?” The S-Rank Sinner asked. “Did she tell you we’re dangerous? Did she tell you we hurt people? Did she tell you to run away when you see us?” 

The teary silence was an answer in itself. The Syndican felt bad grilling someone younger than her. It was unreasonable of her, but she hated it when grown-ups tried to manipulate children like her. That and that woman was right - Sinners like her were dangerous.

“Hey,” The Umbra Sinner knelt to eye level. She knew the drill - she had done this before many times. She softened her voice when the other kid flinched. “I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t hurt other kids.”

It was a partial lie. Crache would not think twice if it was some idiots she knew. “She isn’t wrong, you know,” She added. “There are really bad Sinners. I’m one of them, but I won’t hurt you.” 

The young S-Rank Sinner pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and presented it to the little girl. “Take this. This is the symbol of the Homeless. Don’t show this to anyone, okay? If you find yourself in danger…If those adults hurt you, just draw this anywhere. I’ll protect you. That’s a promise from the leader of the Homeless.” 

The Syndican placed the sheet on the floor and peered at the child. The latter fumbled with her blanket, her eyes flicking between the paper and the Umbra Sinner. Crache did not wait for a response and walked toward the door. She had been gone for too long; she needed to return to her cell before Nightingale or the guards noticed her missing.

“I got to go,” The S-Rank Sinner called over her shoulder. “Don’t tell anyone I’m here, okay? Take care of yourself.”

The Syndican commanded the shadows to conceal her as the steel door slammed behind her. The image of the kid alone in a room too large for someone like her burned in memory as she waited for the lift to complete its ascent. She watched Nightingale behind the glass walls and held her breath as the latter passed by her, unaware. The teal-haired woman disappeared into the room the Umbra Sinner was in a few minutes ago.

Crache took that window of opportunity to snag the elevator. As it descended, she glimpsed the polished metal nameplate on the wall beside the door the little girl and Nightingale were in.

Chief’s Quarters.

Chapter Text

Nightingale scoured the stack of reports she received from the investigation team and the interrogations done. The weapon had been successfully retrieved and sent away for a thorough examination. The suspects had been uncooperative, but one slipped up a tiny detail.

“Check all our channels in the Black Market,” The adjutant ordered. “And send an agent to contact those outside our reach. If a personal appearance is required, arrange backup if things go awry. I’ll inform the 9th Agency about a potential circulation of new Mania weapons.”

“Won’t that backfire on us?” 

“A joint investigation won’t,” The second-in-command assured. “As long as we don’t let it slip that something happened to Chief because of these weapons, we’ll be able to buy time. If they find out, I’ll take responsibility. Commander Langley might be ruthless, but she isn’t unreasonable.”

“That’s a risky mindset.”

Nightingale chuckled ruefully. “I guessed…Chief had rubbed on me.” 

Faye peered at the other woman behind her glasses. A frown wrinkled the usually confident expression. “Hey…Are you okay? Had a rough night?”

The adjutant paused before shaking her head. “No, nothing like that.” She set down the papers and steepled her fingers together. “It’s just that…I might have upset the Chief last night. I left her side when Hella was inciting the other Sinners. When I came back, she was crying. She didn’t say why, and I didn’t know what to do.”

“So, you’re saying she’s mad at you because you left her alone?”

“Yes,” The second-in-command pursed her lips. “I think it might be because she’s in a new environment, and the people she’s most familiar with aren’t here. It’s scary, and it stresses her out.” 

The teal-haired woman sighed, rubbing her forehead. “I talked to our resident psychologists earlier. They said it would be best if Chief had someone with her twenty-four-seven, so she wouldn’t feel lonely or abandoned.” 

“But you can’t,” The iris-haired woman pointed. “Neither anyone in the bureau, including me.”

“Exactly. We have work to do, but I - we can’t leave her alone.”

It was a dilemma. They both knew that. The head of the Supply Office leaned against the desk, facing away from Nightingale. She had a suggestion - a stupid one - and knew it would get shot down quickly, but it was worth a try. 

“How about letting some of the Sinners look after Chief?” Faye spun quickly to stop the other woman from protesting. “Wait! Hear me out, okay? I’m not saying we let all Sinners take care of Chief. I said some! Like Hecate, Anne, Cinnabar, or Sumire. Sinners we’re sure we could trust Chief with. I’m sure you know more than I do since you’re usually with Chief.”

“And the potential impact?” The adjutant asked, clearly agitated. “What if it does more harm than good to her? What if the effects lingered once Chief returned to normal?”

“You said it yourself. Potential.” The Supply Office head pointed out. “What if it does the opposite? What if it does nothing? There’s no way to know if we don’t try.” 

That was what the second-in-command feared - the what-ifs? There was no certainty or assurance that things would go smoothly. There was always a chance everything would take a wrong turn, no matter how big or small. Her superior’s current condition was already bad. What if it got worse?

Faye noticed the increasing distress on the other woman’s face and stepped back a bit. She could not have their acting leader more stressed than she already was. “Look. It’s just my suggestion, okay? No need to rip your hair over it. I don’t want that. Neither does Chief.” 

“But if you decided to try, why not have Hecate for a trial run? Maybe for half an hour or less in a controlled space? Have the medical team and guards on standby. If Chief’s reacting negatively, have her pulled back immediately. If not, you can let Hecate look after her. I believe she would be the best choice for the job.”

The head of the Supply Office finished, studying Nightingale’s expression behind the purple sheen of her glasses. She had done her best to defend her recommendation. The latter would ultimately make the final decision. “Just…think about it, okay?”

The adjutant inhaled sharply, knowing the other woman was right. It was troubling, but Faye’s suggestion was sound. “I’ll… I’ll consider it.” She relented. “It’s risky, but it’s worth a try. I’ll speak with the medical team about it this afternoon.”

“You’ve been making rash decisions lately, Deputy Chief Nightingale. What’s another one?”

The second-in-command groaned. “Get out of here.”

The iris-haired woman laughed heartily. “Chief’s a bad influence on you, huh?” She raised her hands to appease the other person when she glared at her. “Alright, alright. I’ll get out of your hair, and - Oh! Before I forgot….”

The Supply Office head pulled a fist-sized bottle filled with candies from her pocket and placed it on the desk. “Could you give this to Chief? I promised we’d go out to the Greenhouse, but….”

“Faye.”

The said woman raised her hands in surrender. “Not complaining. Definitely not complaining! I just don’t want our dearest Chief to be mad at me, okay? I’ll die if she does!”

“You’re overreacting.” Nightingale sighed and waved her hand. “Fine, I’ll give it to her. Just go.”

“This is why you and Chief are my favorite bosses!”

The teal-haired woman forwent any reaction to that statement. Faye got the hint and left with a grin. The office was silent for a few minutes before someone knocked. “Deputy Chief Nightingale, Chief Elysia is here.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and the Arrest Team Captain went in with the young Chief by hand. The little girl looked very upset, probably because Faye had broken her promise. The adjutant left her desk and gestured at Eugene to leave them alone. She cradled the candy bottle in one hand and knelt before the child.

“Are you mad at Faye because you didn’t go to see the pretty flowers?” 

“...Auntie Faye is a liar!” Elysia gripped the hem of her dress. The edges of her eyes were red with unshed tears. “She said we’ll go. She promised!”

“Faye has to go to work. That’s why she can’t come with you.” The second-in-command explained. She took the kid’s hands and placed the candy bottle on her palms. “Here. She wanted me to give this to you. She said she’s sorry for breaking her promise.”

The age-regressed Chief stared at the gift with teary eyes. “M-Mommy said only bad guys lie. Is…Is Auntie Faye a bad guy?”

“Of course not,” Nightingale said. “She’s just busy. She’s going to help me catch the bad guys.” She reached out to wipe the little girl’s tears. “Please forgive Faye this time, okay? I’ll make sure she won’t break her promise again.”

“T-Then,” The child sniffled. “Is Miss Pretty Lady a liar, too? A-Are Sinners really bad guys?”

What? The adjutant was speechless. She did not know what brought this topic on. Did something happen while she was not around? Did someone slip something about the Sinners? The kid was distressed last night, but her mood had improved that morning. Nightingale thought it might be because she left to appease the Sinners the previous night, but that might not be the case. 

“No, not all of them. Didn’t I tell you they’re dangerous people, but not all of them are bad guys?” The second-in-command gently grasped the little girl’s arms. She was getting more worried by the second. “Elysia, look at me. Did something happen? Did you meet one of them?” 

The child stared at her shoes, refusing to look at Nightingale’s eyes. She clutched the candy bottle tightly against her chest. “I want to see Big Sis….”

Big Sis? Did Chief have siblings? The second-in-command had not read anything about it from the reports. At least not from what she remembered. Did she miss something? Or was she talking about another bureau employee? Maybe Wynn? Did Wynn say something about the Sinners? Before Nightingale could ask, a knock sounded from the door again. This time, it was Wynn’s voice that spoke.

“I apologize for the interruption, Deputy Chief, but something urgent came up. We just received a message that an envoy from Paradeisos will be coming here for a surprise inspection.” 

The world suddenly went to a halt for a moment. There was a painful ringing in the adjutant’s ears that she did not know where it originated. What…What did she say? An envoy from…Paradeisos? Here? Why? It was too soon. The last inspection happened nearly two weeks ago and was not more pleasant than the previous ones. While the Chief was not actively avoiding Shalom, she was still unhappy with her and Paradeisos. The chasm between them since she woke up had yet to close despite the times they had met and spoken since then.

“When…” The teal-haired woman swallowed dryly. “When will they arrive?”

There was a second of hesitation. “We’re told that Miss Shalom will arrive in ten minutes. What should we do?”

What should they do about the Chief? What should they say? Those were the unspoken questions. The adjutant felt her heart drop. Her hands trembled where they were holding the young Chief. The latter was looking back at her with a frown - her platinum eyes reflected the woman’s terrified expression. 

“Miss Pretty Lady…?”

The teal-haired woman did not answer. She scooped the kid into her arms and slammed open the door. Wide eyes looked in their direction, but she ignored them. Instead, she called out to the Arrest Team Captain. “You, come with me. Now!”

Nightingale did not wait for confirmation as she hurried toward the elevator and pressed a button so hard that it hurt her finger. Her mind raced at a dizzying pace. What was happening? Why was this happening? First, it was Elysia bringing up the Sinners. Now this? Her commanding officer has not been involved in any major incident for the past two weeks. Even the last mission she went with the Sinners boasted little attention. 

So, why? Why visit again so soon? Did Paradeisos discover what happened to the Chief? Did someone within the MBCC leak information? The adjutant did not know anymore. However, if there was something she was sure about, it was that neither Shalom nor Paradeisos must get their hands on her superior. She could not care less if it cost her her position - she promised to protect her superior no matter what.

The glass door of the lift opened, and the second-in-command led their small procession through the hallway and toward a door further down. A musty scent of unuse welcomed them as they entered a small lounge. However, the place was different from the other breakrooms within the bureau. Boxes stacked against one wall with dust coating their top surfaces. The only furniture inside was a sofa, a coffee table with a lone plant atop, a carpet, a wall clock, and a water dispensing machine. There were no windows for natural sunlight to filter through. It was the least visited room and a perfect hiding place due to its tiny size and nearly isolated location. 

Nightingale set the de-aged Chief down and glanced at the time. Five minutes left. She knelt on one knee before the child. “Elysia,” She grasped the latter’s free hand gently. “Listen carefully, okay? I want you to stay here with him. You can’t come out until I say so.”

The kid tilted her head in confusion. “Why?”

“We’re going to have a guest today.” The adjutant explained. “And that person is dangerous. She works with people who might hurt you. That’s why you can’t come out until it’s safe.”

“Is she a Sinner?”

“Yes.” The second-in-command inhaled deeply, squeezing the little girl’s tiny hand. The scars the latter earned as an adult crisscrossed the delicate skin, regardless of the age regression. They almost resembled the thorny appearance of the Shackles. “I know you’re afraid, but it’s okay. It’s okay. I will protect you, so, Elysia, please. Please promise you’ll stay here. Promise me you’ll wait for me, okay?”

“Once this ends, we’ll go to the Greenhouse. We’ll see the pretty flowers and eat cookies and marshmallows with Faye.” Nightingale raised her pinky finger. “That’s a promise I won’t break.”

Elysia neither moved nor spoke. Her eyes flickered anxiously between the adjutant’s face and the offered promise. The latter could see her reluctance - her innocent trust shaken by something she had yet to determine. She shook her head and decided to let it go for now; she did not want to upset the child further. 

The teal-haired woman stood up and turned to Eugene. “Watch over her. Don’t tell anyone you're here. Don't leave her side under any circumstances, and wait for my instructions before you leave this place. That’s an order. Do you understand?”

The Arrest Team Captain saluted. “Yes, Ma’am!”

“Miss Pretty Lady…?” A hand tugged the edge of Nightingale’s coat. The kid looked up to her with a pleading look. “Don’t go.”

The adjutant gave her a pained smile and patted her head. “Be a good girl, okay? I’ll be back.” 

The second-in-command gently pried off the child’s hand and walked out of the breakroom. She did not look back as the door slammed shut behind her, cutting her off temporarily from the little girl. The elevator’s descent was agonizingly slow, but it was what she needed.  

Nightingale squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady her breathing. It felt like she was reliving the worst moments of her life again - her living nightmares. The Chief in a straightjacket. The bloodlust in her eyes. Paradeisos. Shalom. Her grip on the clipboard tightened as she harshly pushed the intruding memories back into the abyss of her mind. She could not afford to falter now. Otherwise, that woman would see through her.

The teal-haired woman straightened her uniform before dismounting on the corridor leading to the entrance of the bureau. She could see the FAC soldiers and 9th Agency agents gathered in a small crowd, surrounding the representative of Paradeisos. Wynn and a few high-ranked MBCC employees received them cordially, but the adjutant had no interest in doing the same.

“Welcome to the Minos Bureau of Crisis Control, envoy of Paradeisos.” Nightingale greeted. “We’ve received the message of your visit.” 

Shalom sized her up with a small smile. “I appreciate you coming here personally to welcome me, Adjutant. Though,” Her eyes slid to the space around the other woman. “I don’t see Elysia with you. This is a first. It’s unlike her not to greet me every time I came by.”

The adjutant suppressed her grimace. It irked her to hear the other person calling the Chief by her name so casually. “Chief is currently out in official business. She won’t be back for a few days.”

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner tilted her head. “Oh, is that so? I wasn’t informed about that. How unfortunate. I was hoping to speak with her.” 

Contrary to her words, the Paradeisos representative showed no surprise, as if she had expected that response. That confident indifference set the second-in-command on edge. Did she know? It would be no surprise if Paradeisos already knew about it. Or, at least, they suspected something had happened and sent the HUSH-X to check on things. Still, it was too early to conclude anything at this point. 

“Apologies, but we weren’t informed of your visit earlier either. Otherwise, we would have given you an advance notice for your convenience.”

Shalom was unfazed by the subtle bite of the other woman’s words. “I suppose we could arrange that next time. Still,” She smiled. There was a glimmer in her eyes that the latter did not like. “This is a good opportunity to observe how the MBCC operates without its head.”

“Please don’t worry,” Nightingale assured her. “Everyone in the MBCC is a highly-trained and capable individual. They’re exceptional at their work, regardless of the situation. You witnessed it from the previous times you’ve been here.”

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner chuckled. “I don’t doubt that. I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the MBCC again.” 

The Paradeisos envoy gestured at her escorts to follow her, only to stop beside the adjutant. Their shoulders were a centimeter shy of touching. “Ah, before I forget. Will you pass my message to Elysia? Tell her that...” Her voice dwindled to a whisper only the other woman and Schorl could hear. “...I can’t wait to meet her. Our lovely, little Chief.”

Chapter Text

Elysia was bored. The round thing making ticking sounds called a ‘clock’ moved slowly. Her mother told her it tells the ‘time’ - the thin, black stick had already touched five thick lines on the clock. She did not know what that meant - Nightingale said she would be back, but she took so long. Playing with the Arrest Team Captain was fun, but she was bored and hungry.

“Mister Captain,” The young Chief tugged on the man’s sleeve. “I’m hungry.”

Eugene glanced at the clock and grabbed his communicator. The little girl peered curiously at the device from where she was sitting across from him.

“What’re you doing?”

“I’m sending a message to the cafeteria to bring us food - Ah.”  

The Arrest Team Captain paused, and a frown flickered on his face. He nearly forgot that he was ordered not to tell anyone or leave his age-regressed superior alone. He turned off his communicator and threw an apologizing look at the child.

“Chief, do you mind waiting a little longer? I’m sure Deputy Chief Nightingale will be back soon.” Eugene pointed at the candy bottle beside the kid. “How about you eat some candy for now? Didn’t Miss Faye give them to you?”

Elysia grabbed her gift and clutched it against her chest protectively. “No! I don’t wanna! I want to eat it with Miss Pretty Lady and Auntie Faye.”

“Deputy Chief Nightingale and Miss Faye aren’t here. I’m sure they won’t be mad if you munch on some -”

“NO!” The little girl shouted. “I said I don’t wanna! Mister Guard is a meanie! I don’t want to play with you anymore!”

The Arrest Team Captain flinched, raising his hands to placate the irate child. He prayed no one was outside. Otherwise, they would be found out. The Acting Chief would not be pleased if she learned he failed to carry out her order. “Please calm down, Chief. Someone might hear….”

The kid shook her head vehemently, refusing to be appeased. She jumped off the sofa and step stool and stomped her foot as she yelled at the top of her lungs. “No! I want Miss Pretty Lady! I want Aunite Faye! I don’t want to play with you anymore!” 

Tears formed at the corner of the young Chief’s eyes. “You’re a bully!” She sniffled. “I wanna eat. I’m hungry….”

Shit! Eugene began to panic. If Chief cried now…. He could almost picture himself kissing his job goodbye and never landing another decent position anywhere. The worst scenario would be he might get assassinated by the 9th Agency to protect highly confidential information within the bureau. Either way, he would be done in for good.

“Chief, please don’t cry.” The man pleaded. “I’ll get us food, okay? Is there anything you want? I heard they’re going to serve one of Miss Kelvin’s creations. I’ll get you one, no, two! Just please don’t cry.”

The little girl pouted, turning away from the Arrest Team Captain. The latter swallowed, deciding it would be better to get what the child wanted as soon as possible. That way, he could return quickly and pacify his commanding officer. He just needed to be sneaky and quick about it. “I’ll be back. Please stay here and don’t come out, okay?”

Eugene hurried toward the door and left the room. Elysia sniffed, rubbing her eyes against the sleeve of her dress. She did not want to stay there any longer; she wanted to go out, eat, and play outside. She waddled toward the door and craned to look at the lit screen beside the door. The kid saw the adjutant and the Arrest Team Captain use it to open and close the door. They told her to stay put, but she did not promise. Her father said that only bad guys break promises. 

That meant she was not a bad guy if she went out, right?

The young Chief carefully placed the candy bottle on the floor and rushed to retrieve the step stool. She heaved the furniture and put it underneath the authenticator device before climbing. She stared thoughtfully from the glowing screen to her right hand before pressing them together. The screen beeped - the blue light flickered to green, confirming her identity. The door slid open quietly, revealing the empty corridor beyond.

The little girl leaped off the step tool and grabbed the candy bottle from the floor. Her tiny steps led her to the elevator - the glass walls closed around her, barricading anyone from stopping her. She peered at the panel full of bright, round buttons - each one was tempting to any child to play with. 

“Miss Pretty Lady pick that when it’s time to sleep. That one when it’s time to eat. Ummm…that’s the one Mister Captain pushed earlier…Mmm….”

The pair of platinum eyes drifted to the lower floors - ones that led below the button labeled with ‘G’. “Auntie Faye said I can’t go there. She said scary people live there.” The kid tilted her head. “Scary people…? Maybe Sinners? Is Big Sis there? Ummm….”

Elysia was troubled. The second-in-command said Sinners were dangerous, but not all were bad. She wanted to see the Sinner again from last night and play with her. The latter told her she would not hurt her, so maybe it was okay? Perhaps she could share the snacks the people in the cafeteria gave her. She still had a few chocolates she was saving for later in her pocket.

The young Chief stood on her tiptoes and pressed a button. She peered through the glass wall, watching her surroundings change as the lift descended. People darted back and forth between floors in a flustered hurry. She glimpsed Faye surrounded by crates and boxes on one floor and Eugene hurrying with two trays of food on another. A blonde woman with a white fedora turned unnoticed in one corner, followed by a couple of black-clad men. 

A few floors down was Nightingale. She was with another woman with a floating, black device as they looked over a series of jail cells. The little girl was curious if that was the ‘guest’ she was talking about. The adjutant wore a grim expression, and the child wondered if her companion made her uncomfortable. The latter did not like that - she liked the second-in-command so much and did not want to see her upset. She should scold that woman not to bully Nightingale anymore. 

The view outside turned dark as solid walls closed in. The elevator was silent, saved for the subtle rumble as it continued its drop. The kid frowned at the falling floor numbers above the door as she absentmindedly rubbed her right wrist, which started to throb.

“Where…?”

Elysia flinched in surprise. She swiveled around, looking for the source, but was alone. It was too dark, and there was no one else but her inside the lift.

“Please answer….”

The young Chief hugged the candy bottle tighter against her small frame. The cacophony of voices sounded distant - their words drowned in a sea of static, worry, and uncertainty. There was longing in them as if they were searching for something or someone out of reach. The little girl should have been scared. Instead, it made her chest ache.

“W-Who are you…?” The little girl asked. “I can’t see you.”

“Please come back….”

“Ummm...I-I don’t….” The plea was fading fast, yet the desperation it carried was heavy. “Wait! Please don’t go! Where are you?” 

“Please….”

DING!

The high-pitched sound jolted the child back to reality. The throbbing on her right wrist ceased as a bright light seeped through the growing crack of the elevator door. The hum of electricity replaced the desperate voices, and the kid nearly tripped in her haste to escape the claustrophobic ride. One moment, she was in the lift, and the next, she stumbled into a place the head of the Supply Office had not brought her before. The room was vast, with a huge tree rooted in the middle. The lush canopy covered half of the round ceiling, providing a comfortable shade from the harsh sunlight filtering through the thick glass.

“Hey, what’s a kid doing here?”

Elysia flinched and saw a boy older than her saunter toward her. His orange MBCC-provided prisoner jacket was many sizes too big against his frame - the sleeves waggled pitifully with his movements. He loomed over the young Chief and studied her with interest. The latter stared back warily - her instincts told her to be careful around the other kid. 

Dangerous. Scary. Be careful.

“A new Sinner?” The boy tilted his head. “You don’t look like one. You’re too young. Are you lost?” 

The little girl did not reply. Instead, she stepped back when he smiled too wide to be friendly. There was something feral behind his golden eyes as he reached a hand toward her. “Hey, now. Oliver’s a friend. Why don’t we play -”

“Oliver.”

The said A-Rank Sinner nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled around and faced a girl in a wheelchair. Her skin was pallid, like her long hair - she almost looked like a ghost. A mechanical bird with a tophat was perched atop the push handle behind her, looking over the scene with beady black eyes. Unlike the boy, a red jacket was draped over the newcomer’s shoulder. Elysia’s eyes widened at the familiar sight of it. 

“Whatever you’re trying to do to that child, stop it. Otherwise,” Ice-cold eyes glowered at her fellow detainee. “It will not just be Chief who’ll scold you.”

Oliver let out an undignified squeak of terror. His arms flailed as he tried to explain. “Ah - It’s…It’s not what you think, Eve! Oliver’s not thinking of doing something bad! You’ve got it all wrong! Oliver was just asking if she’s lost.” He turned to the child. “Right? Tell her!” 

The A-Rank Sinner’s gestures were desperate and placating, but his gaze was threatening. Cooperate, or else-! However, the young Chief refused to obey. She stayed quiet while she glared indignantly at the boy. 

Eve sighed, tapping an impatient finger on the armrest. “You’re assigned for a dispatch today, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of playing hooky? Chief would be disappointed in you.”

The Arcane Sinner was flustered. “Am not!” He threw his hands in the air. “UGH! Fine! I’m going!”

They watched as Oliver stormed off in exasperation. The S-Rank Sinner turned to the child once the boy was out of earshot. “You shouldn’t be here. This isn’t a place for defenseless non-Sinners…Hm?”

The kid was not listening - her attention was now fixated on the other girl’s jacket. The Catalyst Sinner noticed, tugged the article free, and offered it. “Do you want this?”

The little girl was startled, looking like a deer caught in headlights. She backed away from the older girl’s reach. A deep-seated urge within whispered to reach out her hand, protect herself, and restrain -

“I’m sorry.” Eve apologized softly. She withdrew her hand and let the jacket fall on her lap. “Oliver must have scared you, didn’t he? Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he won’t come near you again.” She said. “My name’s Eve. Nice to meet you.”

The young Chief stared at her. Unlike the boy earlier, she felt no danger from the other girl. Her instincts told her it was okay. Calm. Nice. Safe. This new Sinner would not hurt her like the one she was searching for. “Ummm…” She mumbled shyly. “Miss Pretty Lady said…not to tell my name to…Sinners….”

“Ah, is that so?”

“’M sorry.”

The S-Rank Sinner shook her head. “It’s okay. No need to fuss over it.” She scrutinized the younger girl. “But…what are you doing here? Did someone bring you here?”

Elysia shifted uneasily on her feet. “I’m…I’m looking for Big Sis.” She pointed at the jacket. “Big Sis also has that. Just like that.”

The Catalyst Sinner was surprised. “You have an older sister who wears a jacket like this? Your family is a Sinner?”

“No.” The little girl shook her head. “Big Sis is not my real Big Sis.” 

So, that meant they were not blood-related? It appeared this child was similar to Eve - she, too, had a precious family that was not bound to her by blood. She empathized with her and wondered if she could lend her help. The Chief had accompanied her to meet and familiarize herself with the MBCC staff and other Sinners. “I can help you if you want.”

The kid looked up at her with hopeful eyes. “Really?” The S-Rank Sinner nodded in confirmation, and she beamed. “Okay!”

That bright, happy expression somehow warmed the Catalyst Sinner’s chest. The feeling felt familiar - it was the same whenever she spent time with the Chief. She could not help but smile. “Let’s look for your Big Sis together. Tell me her name and what she looks like.”

“Ummm…” The young Chief scrunched her nose as she thought hard. “I don’t know Big Sis’ name, but she has blue hair. She can do magic - uhhh, Sinner power! I can’t see her, but she’s there. It’s dark, but she’s there! Like POOF!”

Eve frowned, trying to make sense of the younger girl’s description. Blue hair? Could hide in the dark? Plenty of Sinners within the bureau had blue hair, like Eureka, Adela, Cinnabar, Corso, and more. The ability was vague, too - some were trained to use darkness as cover, like the Garden assassins.

“And, ah! Big Sis said she’s the leader of the Homeless!”

The S-Rank Sinner paused. She had heard of that name before and the hearsays attached to it. Only one Sinner was rumored to be intimately connected to that infamous organization in Syndicate and fit the other’s description perfectly. “Could it be…your Big Sis is Crache?”

Elysia tilted her head questioningly. “Ca...Cra...Crache…?”

“Mmm,” The Catalyst Sinner nodded. She pointed in the direction of another hallway. “Most Sinners should be in the Greenhouse at this time. We might find her there and confirm if she’s the one you’re looking for.”

The little girl’s eyes widened. The Greenhouse! It was where Faye and Nightingale said the pretty flowers were and promised they would go and eat cookies and marshmallows. She really wanted to go! If Crache was there, she could play and eat snacks with her. The child wished Eve to join, too, since she was a nice Sinner. 

“Can we go?” The kid begged. “Please, Big Sis Eve! Pleaseee!”

A blush colored the older girl’s pale cheeks. Eve was called ‘sister’ before but never as earnest as this. Hearing it made her chest flutter. “Of course. That’s our destination, after all.”

“YAY!” The young Chief cheered. “Then, I’ll push Big Sis Eve’s chair. Grandma also had that. I pushed hers whenever we go out with Mommy and Daddy.” 

“Thank you, but I’m fine,” Eve told her. “I can move by myself. See these buttons on my armrest? I can use it to control my wheelchair. Look.”

Elysia watched in awe as the S-Rank Sinner demonstrated. “That’s so cool!”

The older girl chuckled at the innocent admiration. “Thank you. Chief, Miss Eureka, and the bureau staff helped me upgrade my wheelchair.” Her expression softened to fondness. “I’m…I’m quite grateful to them.”

“Does Big Sis Eve like them?”

“Yes, I do.” The Catalyst Sinner admitted. “I like them, but I like Chief the most. You reminded me of her, you know.” 

Now, Eve thought about it. The child looked like the Chief. The hair and eyes…. She stopped and shook her head. It was a ridiculous thought, impossible without a doubt. What was she thinking? There was no way. The Chief was older and more mature - it was simply a coincidence they looked alike.

“Big Sis Eve?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was lost in my thoughts a second there.” The S-Rank Sinner adjusted the jacket on her lap before looking back at the younger girl. “Shall we go find Crache? We should still have plenty of time before sunset. It’ll be difficult to find her by then.”

“Okay!” The kid’s eyes flitted toward the other’s gloved hand resting on the armrest without the control panel. “Big Sis Eve, I want to hold hands.”

The Catalyst Sinner was taken aback. A series of emotions flashed over her usually calm face. It had been a while since someone said that to her without the purpose of assisting in her treatment and therapy. She had not gotten used to direct human contact unless it was the Chief. However, she did not want to reject the younger girl.

“Oh, I…” Eve swallowed and took a deep breath. “It’s alright. Sure.” 

The S-Rank Sinner offered her free hand and watched the young Chief hold it tightly. She could not help but notice how small and fragile the latter was compared to hers. Was this how having a younger sibling felt? The Catalyst Sinner was an only child - the closest she had to a living human mother and older sister figure was the Chief. It felt nice to be relied on like a sibling - a family. She wanted to hold onto this feeling a little longer. It was such a shame she was wearing gloves. 

“Let’s go.”

Elysia toddled beside her, chatting a storm about the people she had met and the places she had gone to in the past few days. Eve listened attentively while watching the pace of her wheelchair. Her mechanical bird had found a nest atop the younger girl’s head, slightly ruffling the ribboned criss-crossed low pigtails. Only a few guards patrol the area - all seemed distracted by their communication devices to notice them. The news of the envoy of Paradeisos arriving had surprised the entire bureau, considering the last inspection was just two weeks ago. 

It did not take long for them to reach the transparent door of the Greenhouse. Lively chatter filtered through the glass, accentuated by rowdy laughter. The little girl suddenly felt silent beside the S-Rank Sinner. Her eyes were affixed on the other side like a trance.

“We’re here.” The Catalyst Sinner said. However, her voice sounded faint to the child’s ears. It was joined by other voices from beyond the door, forming a chorus - the same one she heard in the elevator.

“We’re here!”

The words thrummed with unconcealed excitement, and the kid’s right hand throbbed in matching anticipation. She did not know why, but she felt happy, as if she was about to return home. The door slid open, and the cool air of the Greenhouse greeted them, carrying the voices’ gentle caress.

“Welcome back, Chief.”

Chapter Text

Elysia squeezed Eve’s hand as they ambled further into the Greenhouse. Sinners milled every corner - most divided themselves into small groups, though a few preferred to stay alone. Today was a slow day for the detainees, which was unsurprising given the dispatches were less frequent whenever the top authority of the MBCC was not present. The young Chief’s eyes wandered restlessly, peering at the new faces with curiosity.

“Stay close,” Eve told her. “You might get lost if you let go.” 

The little girl nodded obediently. The S-Rank Sinner scanned the area and led her to a group by a wooden table under a big tree. Two white-clad women conversed with another Sinner in a red jacket. Purple tattoos peeked underneath the thick, glossy fabric. They were discussing something seriously about Mania with technical terms the Catalyst Sinner could barely understand. A black-haired girl sat beside the tattooed woman, not paying attention to the conversation. Instead, she argued with two more - one in red, another in an orange jacket. 

“Excuse me….”

They paused and turned to the younger girls. A pink-haired woman in a nurse’s uniform smiled brightly at seeing her fellow Sinner. “Hello, Eve. What can we do for you?” Her eyes flitted toward the child beside her. “Oh, and who is this darling with you?”

The kid squeaked at the sudden attention and scooted closer to Eve. “She’s…” The latter glanced at the younger girl pressed against the cold metal of her wheelchair, remembering her stories earlier during their walk. “She won’t tell her name. Miss Nightingale told her not to.”

“Oh, I see.” The woman seemed undisturbed by that answer. “I could see why. You’re not a Sinner, aren’t you? You’re too young.” She knelt to Elysia’s eye level. “I should introduce myself. My name’s Anne, and that’s Doctor Iron.”

“Yo! I’m Horo!” A black-haired girl waved enthusiastically. She gestured to the tattooed woman beside her. “This is Boss Zoya. She’s the commander of the Legion!”

“She didn’t need to know that,” The third Sinner in a red jacket drawled. “I’m Bai Yi, the owner of Whitestone Industries.” She leaned forward on her elbows. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes that everyone knew well. “You know, we just got some new products. High-quality, but cheap! They’re child-friendly, too. I’m sure you, kids, would definitely love them! Would you like to -”

“- I’ll stop you there.” A hooded woman interrupted, blocking a hand before the Umbra Sinner’s face. “I’m K.K. Nice to meet you. Please don’t listen to her.”

The young Chief’s eyes darted among the Sinners. They seemed kind and safe like Eve, even if Iron scrutinized her like a hawk, and Bai Yi looked like the people her parents warned her about. She was told they were called ‘scammers’ and should be reported to the police. 

Should she do that? The little girl wondered but did not know where the police were. She should tell Nightingale to do it for her later. Instead, she focused on the nurse with hair that looked like pink cotton candy. 

“Hello!” The child greeted. “Miss Nurse Lady’s hair is very pretty. Like a cotton candy! I like cotton candy.”

Anne gasped and cooed softly. “Aren’t you a sweet child?” She tapped the kid’s nose, earning her a giggle. “You’re very pretty, too! Adorable as well.”

“Awww!” Bai Yi pouted in faux disappointment. “Not a praise for me? Am I not prettier than her?”

Zoya snickered. “Nice try. If the kid didn’t, she’s telling the truth.” She rested an arm against the table and threw a teasing smirk at her fellow S-Rank Sinner. “You can’t compete. Just accept your loss.”

The owner of Whitestone Industries stuck her tongue childishly. “No can do, and you know that.” She regarded the younger detainee. “Where did you even find her?”

“In the Outdoor Recreation Area,” Eve answered. “I was passing by and saw Oliver harassing her. I stepped in and offered to help her find Crache.”

“Crache? Oh, dear.” Anne’s beautiful face became troubled. “That would be hard. She’s been avoiding everyone since last night. Hella and the others had been after her since morning. Something about a deal. I believe it’s related to yesterday’s protest.”

“Even Che got dragged into it,” K.K. added, crossing her arms. “He wouldn’t tell why. He’s still too tired and embarrassed about yesterday. Got his ass dragged around first thing in the morning.”

“Is there any way to find her?” Eve insisted. She did not want to let the younger girl down. “There should be some way….”

The B-Rank Endura Sinner shook her head. “You can try looking for her, but the chances are low, considering she’s determined to remain out of sight. Chief can help using the Shackles, but she’s not in the bureau right now.”

A momentary silence passed over them. There had been a clear understanding among the Sinners - one they dared not speak loudly to the rest of the MBCC. The bureau employees did not need to know, especially when they were dodgy these past few days. Even if they did, they were not intimately connected to the Chief through the Shackles, unlike the Sinners.

The clink of Iron’s prosthetic arm cut through the sudden hush. “This child,” She said. “Is she a relative of Chief?”

The A-Rank Umbra Sinner did not say it aloud, but it was enough to turn heads around. Conversations died down, and eyes landed on them before focusing on Elysia. Murmurs rose, and groups migrated closer to the action, but none dared approach. They waited and listened like gossipmongers in broad daylight.

“She looked like Elysia.” The owner of Salva Hospital explained. “Though, it’s arguable since we have a few with similar features.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you a relative? Perhaps a younger sibling? Or, dare I say, her child?”

Someone choked in the background, and another coughed like it was their last. A few dropped their things in utter disbelief and shock. The awkward silence that followed was so deafening that even the most stoic Sinners became uncomfortable. 

“Hey!” Zoya demanded. Her expression failed to hide how absurd that question sounded. “Isn’t that far-fetched? Elysia’s not that old. Not to mention that the Chief of MBCC having a child would be a liability given the risks of the job.”

“Yeah!" Horo agreed. "Besides, Chief's a workaholic and married to her job. Everyone knows that!”

“It’s only a hypothesis,” Iron replied, unfazed by the incredulity of her fellow detainees’ faces. “However, the possibility is there. Elysia’s a woman in her prime. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she’s married and has a child.”

“Oooh! How scandalous!” Bai Yi cackled, slapping her knee. “No wonder Chief’s that good at avoiding our advances.” She smirked, lowering her voice. “Won’t stop me, though.”

“It’s not scandalous if the marriage is legal,” K.K. interjected. “And I think Chief’s just downright ignoring you -”

“Sshh! Sshh!” The Umbra S-Rank Sinner hushed her. “Don’t say more. You’re just gonna break the hearts and delusions of the MBCC Chief Fanclub.”

“That’s a thing? I thought that’s a joke!”

Iron pinched the bridge of her nose. The topic got derailed to something frivolous. She could not care less about the other Sinners’ wild fantasies and obsessions about the Chief. “As I was saying, it’s just a hypothesis. Concrete evidence is needed - the most accurate method would be DNA testing. However, I doubt the bureau will permit such a test on this child. The next best action would be to ask Elysia if she’s her blood kin.”

“Doctor’s wrong!” The young Chief stomped her foot indignantly. “You’ve got Mommy’s name wrong! We don’t have the same name. Elysia’s my name! Not Mommy’s.”

The A-Rank Umbra Sinner went rigid. Her stern, confident facade cracked at those words. “What...?” 

“Elysia’s my name. Not Mommy’s!” The little girl insisted. She frowned slightly. “But Miss Pretty Lady and the other good guys call me Chief. I don’t know who’s Chief. I told them my name’s Elysia, not Chief.”

Horo, who impressively held her tongue until now, shot up from her seat. “Wait! Wait! Hold up!” Her eyes were wide in disbelief at what she was hearing now. “Nightingale calls you Chief?” 

“Mmm!” The child nodded. She turned to Eve, who was as shocked and speechless as the rest. “Big Sis Eve said she likes her a lot. She’s a nice guy, right? I want to meet her!”

“You got to be kidding me!” Zoya stood up and loomed over the young Chief. She could not find the right words. The only government officer she respected and trusted had become a kid. “We knew something was wrong at Elysia’s end, but this - How did this happen? Why did you turn into this?”

“- The answer is simple.” 

A new voice spoke up, and heads turned at a small crowd standing by the Greenhouse door. A dark fuschia-haired woman was at the front, smiling serenely at the chaos before her. The teal-haired adjutant was right behind her - her face contorted in pure, unadulterated horror. It was as if the last good in the world had collapsed before her very eyes.

“Our dearest Chief got hit by a new type of Mania weapon during her last on-field mission. This is the result of that unfortunate accident.”

Amusement danced in Shalom’s eyes as she gazed at the age-regressed top authority of the MBCC. “You caused quite a stir, Elysia. So much so that I can’t stand back and watch. I wonder how you’ll compensate for this trouble, hm?” 

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner’s heels clicked against the concrete floor as she approached Elysia. The latter tensed with caution and slightly recoiled away as if she was burned. It was the same feeling she had with Oliver, warning her that something was wrong and not to let the Sinner get close. 

The representative of Paradeisos halted at the little girl’s reaction. Disappointment flickered briefly on her expression. “Even in this state, you’re still wary of me. It makes me sad. I hoped you’d be more at ease with little ol’ me.” 

“Still, I’m curious,” Red light flared deep in Shalom’s right eye as she reached out a hand. “For you to react that way…I wonder what else you retained in that form. Can I call forth the adult you if I -”

“STOP!”  

Nightingale nearly leaped forward in panicked fear to prevent the other woman from closing the gap, but something else beat her to it. Mania surged, and a tentacle of shadow lurched from nowhere and sliced the remaining space between the young Chief and the S-Rank Reticle Sinner. Zoya grabbed the child and pulled her out of the way. M-value detectors simultaneously beeped urgently on the bureau staff’s persons, and Schorl blared in alarm at the hostile act against the HUSH-X.

“Alert! Alert! Hostile presence detected! Activating defense mechanism -”

“FUCK OFF!” 

Another tendril slammed against the floating device before it could act. Screams broke out as a storm of darkness whipped furiously across the Greenhouse. It gathered and enveloped Zoya and the kid, shielding them from the perceived danger. Out from the encroaching shadows emerged a seething blue-haired girl.

“Don’t touch her,” Crache growled. Her eyes blazed with fury and malice. “Touch her, and I’ll kill you. All of you!”

The Paradeisos envoy stared down at the younger Sinner. The tranquil smile on her lips was gone, replaced by a stone-cold expression. The tips of her fingers were bleeding - if she had gone further, she would have lost a hand. “This is….”

Shalom did not finish her statement. She retracted her hand back to her side. “I’ll let this slide this once for Elysia’s sake, and,” She glanced behind her, looking straight at the cold barrel of a gun pressed against her head. “Paradeisos will not take her away. You can rest easy, Commander of the 9th Agency.”

A newcomer stood behind the S-Rank Reticle Sinner and held her at gunpoint. Her expression was barely visible under the brim of her fedora, but the aura of bloodlust coming from her was palpable. The bureau personnel were astonished at the sudden appearance - they had not noticed her join the fray seconds earlier.

“I happened to find a shrewd, little mole inside the bureau. You don’t happen to know anything about it, do you, envoy?”

“Did you exterminate it?”

“I already removed it from the premises,” Langley answered. “But I know many ways to make someone croak. Why don’t you pick one for me, hm?”

The representative of Paradeisos exhaled softly. Her gaze flitted to Elysia; the latter was peering between the Legion commander’s arms and behind the swirling darkness. “Very well.” She relented. “You’ve made your point clear. I’ll personally attend to the matter and leave not even a trace. I give my word there won’t be a second time.”  

“In return, please remove your weapon. It’s not good for such a young child to witness an act of violence, regardless of the reason or identity. We don’t want to scare her off, don’t you agree?”

The leader of the 9th Agency held her gaze a second longer before lowering her gun. Neither she nor Shalom stopped Nightingale as she rushed forward. The darkness parted for her, allowing her to pass. However, its master remained rooted on the spot, refusing to back down in the three-way standoff against her fellow S-Rank Sinners.

“Are you okay?” The adjutant asked. Her voice was tinged with worried desperation as she searched for any injury on the young Chief. “Are you hurt? They didn’t do anything to you, did they?”

“I’m okay!” The little girl wriggled out from Zoya’s protective hold. The latter huffed, sharing the same worry and frustration as the second-in-command. “Big Sis Eve is with me. Cool Big Sis protected me, so I’m okay.”

That did nothing to ease Nightingale. “Even so!” She rebuked. “What were you thinking? I told you to stay put! Why did you leave?”

“But I didn’t promise! Miss Pretty Lady said to promise, but I didn’t.”

The adjutant shut her eyes and let out an exasperated breath. The emotions simmering since the start of this ordeal threatened to boil and erupt. She would not be as anxious if the Chief was her usual self, but she was not. The latter was an innocent child inside a den of predators that could go berserk anytime. It did not matter if the Shackles was still active; the dangers to her existence would always lurk nearby, waiting for a chance to strike.

“Miss Pretty Lady, are you mad?” 

Was she? The second-in-command did not know. She wanted to assure the kid she was not, but the words would not come. She could not even look at the latter in the eyes. She just held onto the young Chief’s arms like a lifeline, hoping it would convey everything she wanted to say. 

“I-I’m sorry,” Elysia sniffled. Her tiny body was gripped with guilt at realizing she had upset Nightingale. “I’m sorry. I...I won’t do it again, so please don’t be mad.”

Do not apologize! The teal-haired woman wanted to scream. Please do not! The little girl did not know better. Even as an adult, she would definitely dive first into danger. The Chief’s signature recklessness and stubbornness had always been present, even as a child. That was how Elysia was and would always be.

“Adjutant,” Langley spoke up. “Go. Bring your subordinates with you and leave. I’ll settle things here myself. That’s an order.”

The said woman did not have the strength or will to refuse her. She gathered the distressed child into her arms and hurried out of the Greenhouse without another word or look to anyone. The bureau staff trailed after her in uneasy silence, passing by Hella and a few other Sinners who just arrived.

“Huh? What happened here?” The B-Rank Fury Sinner asked, looking from the adjutant’s retreating form to the ominous atmosphere inside the Greenhouse. “Did we miss something?”

The 9th Agency commander surveyed the gathering of Sinners, sparing a glance at the Paradeisos envoy. Her cane clinked against the concrete floor, demanding everyone’s attention on her. “Get inside and close the door. We have a lot to discuss.”

Chapter Text

The next hours were hectic. Nightingale brought Elysia to the medical laboratory for an emergency examination. She paced around in uncharacteristic anxiety as the medical team darted in and out of the room. Her boots would have left a mark on the floor if Wynn had not pulled her aside to tell her Langley was asking for her. The adjutant did not want to, but she had no choice and left the young Chief under the other woman’s watch. After the medical personnel finished their tests, they allowed the little girl to have an early dinner and return later for the results.

“You’ve caused so much trouble, don’tcha, Chief?” 

Faye poked the kid’s stuffed cheek. The head of the Supply Office joined them for an early meal after sorting out the afternoon deliveries. She sat beside the child while Wynn and Eugene occupied the bench across them. They were the only ones occupying the cafeteria, except for the kitchen staff, who were busy preparing for dinnertime. It was good that she did not bring the ducks with her, or there would be another chaos too soon. The mutated waterfowl were already attached to the adult Elysia like ducklings to a mother duck. It only got worse when she got turned into a child.

“I thought I was going to die!” 

The Arrest Team Captain whined. He was a mess, given how he frantically searched for the young Chief after she sneaked out of the breakroom, only to get summoned by the commander of the 9th Agency and the MBCC’s second-in-command a while later. 

“Acting Chief Nightingale is scary enough when she’s angry, but Commander Langley is another story. Chief, how could you do this to me?”

The clerk of the City Arrest Team sighed. “Just be glad you didn’t get fired or demoted. You’d get kicked out immediately if it were other government departments.”

Faye smacked the table as she cackled in glee. “I can’t believe a five-year-old outsmarted you and Nightingale! Looks like our little Chief’s clever enough to find and take advantage of loopholes.” 

Eugene groaned, burying his face in his palms. “It’s not funny, Miss Faye!”

Wynn patted the man’s back sympathetically. “There, there.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Chief already apologized. She might get down again if she sees you’re still upset.”

The little girl turned to the Arrest Team Captain with a frown. “Is Mister Captain still mad?” 

Eugene jolted on his seat and flailed his hands. A panicked smile forced itself on the corner of his lips. “No, no, no! Of course not! I’m not angry. Not at all!” He laughed nervously. “Please don’t cry. We’re best buds! Here, have more meat. You need to eat a lot to grow, okay?”

The iris-haired woman snorted. “You’re so bad at this.” 

“Miss Faye!” The other woman chided. “Also, Eugene! Don’t give her too much. She’s five. It’s not good for her health if she only eats meat. Give her some vegetables.”

The kid stuck her tongue out as a few carrot slices, sweet corn, and two small broccoli piled on one side of her plate. Wynn clicked her tongue and wagged her finger. “Don’t be like that, Chief. It’s good for you.”

“You heard her, Chief.” The Arrest Team Captain as he set aside the now-empty serving plate. “Please listen, okay? I promise I won’t get angry at you again if you eat your vegetables.”

“...Okay.” The child clumsily stabbed her fork on a carrot slice and reluctantly nibbled on it. Her face scrunched in disgust at the bland taste. “Eww! It tastes yucky.”

“Finish your food, and we’ll get you a slice of strawberry shortcake,” The head of the Supply Office said as she started on her salad. She threw a playful grin at the young Chief. “If you finish your veggies before me, you get two slices. How about that?”

That did the trick. Elysia started munching on her food enthusiastically despite complaining a few times. The three chuckled at the Chief having a sweet tooth regardless of age. It was no surprise, considering their superior hoarded snacks inside her office for quick bites between work hours. There had been multiple instances of someone, usually a Sinner, being caught attempting to steal from the Chief’s secret stash. Not that she minded it - some were gifted by the Sinners themselves.

The cafeteria door swung open, and Langley and Nightingale stepped inside and walked toward their table. The latter looked more like her usual self now compared to earlier, despite the evident exhaustion in her eyes. She regarded the other three with a silent nod, letting the S-Rank Sinner take the reins for now.

“Looks like you’re not having fun, Chief.” The Reticle Sinner said. “Vegetables are good for you. Eating them will help you grow tall and strong.”

The little girl stared at the blonde woman as she swallowed her food. She dropped her spoon and pointed at her. “Scary Hat Lady!”

The others’ reactions were instantaneous. Faye choked on her lettuce while Eugene spit out his water. Wynn gasped in horror, turning to the adjutant, who looked like someone who had given up hope. The leader of the 9th Agency looked down at the child, who bravely mirrored her without missing a beat. An amused smirk crept on her lips.

“Still got the balls, don’t you? I expect nothing less from you, Chief.” Langley circled the table until she stood behind the kid. She pulled a handkerchief from her breast pocket and leaned down to clean the smear on the latter’s cheek. “I’ll let this slide for now. There won’t be a next time.”

Elysia blinked at her. Her gaze drifted to the woman’s temple. “Scary Hat Lady, why do you have a spider on your forehead?” She reached out and touched the pattern. “Why is it there? Is it alive?”

“Oh? Not afraid of spiders?”

“Spiders are scary,” The young Chief answered. “But this one’s very pretty. Shiny, too! Like that stick.” She pointed at the S-Rank Sinner’s cane. “I like it.”

The others watched the exchange unfold in increasing horror. They nearly jumped out of their skin when the Reticle Sinner laughed. It was a crisp sound, full of joyful mirth. However, that was not what shocked them. It was the fact the 9th Agency commander laughed so freely and earnestly. 

“You…” Langley dropped the handkerchief on the table and tapped the little girl’s forehead. “Haven’t changed, even if you became like this. Still taking a fancy to the dangerous things. Should I call you Rookie again instead of Chief?” 

The S-Rank Sinner pulled away from the child’s reach and straightened her back. “I can’t lend it to you now. I told you before that there are hidden parts inside it. We can’t have you injure yourself accidentally. Instead…”

The Reticle Sinner removed her fedora and placed it on the kid’s head. It was two sizes big for the latter - she had to tip it back to peer at the blonde woman. “I’ll let you borrow this. Take good care of it. Make sure to return it once you’re back to normal.”

Langley walked away, only pausing beside the MBCC’s second-in-command. “I’ll stay inside the bureau until your Chief has returned to her usual self. That envoy will be doing the same.”

“Adjutant, I will say it only this time. Focus on caring for that child and finding a way to fix this…mishap. You can leave tracking those filthy sewer rats to the 9th Agency.” The leader of the 9th Agency dropped her voice to a subtle growl. Her fingers tightened around the handle of her cane. “No one touches my subordinates without paying the price.”

“...Yes, Commander.”

The S-Rank Sinner left the cafeteria, and the bureau officers slumped against the table in relief. “I thought we were done for!” Faye moaned. “That’s the longest five minutes of my life. God, my throat still hurts!”

“I told you!” Eugene exclaimed. “She’s a whole another story!”

“I’ve met Commander Langley a few times before, but…” Wynn shuddered and turned to Nightingale. “I admire your and Chief’s bravery. I don’t think any of us could survive another second.”

The teal-haired woman shook her head. “She’s our superior. Chief is the top authority of the MBCC, and I’m her adjutant. It only makes sense we report to her personally more often than anyone else in the bureau.”

“I can’t believe Chief called her that.” The head of the Supply Office glanced at Elysia, who removed the hat and held it reverently like it was the universe itself. “I almost lost a few years of my lifespan there.”

Oblivious to their plight, the young Chief leaped off her seat and toddled toward the adjutant. She proudly presented the fedora like it was a brand-new toy. “Miss Pretty Lady, look! I got a cool hat!”

The second-in-command reached down to pat the little girl’s head. “Yes, it is a cool hat. Make sure to take good care of it, okay? Don’t get it dirty.”

“Mmm!” 

The child nodded and put the oversized hat back on her head. She ran, climbed back to the bench, and resumed eating with renewed vigor. A fond smile flickered on Nightingale’s weary face - one that was frequently seen these past few days. It was a smile she only graced the Chief.

“So…” Faye started, moving on to a different topic as if she was not terrified earlier. “How did it go? Did the boss grill you? Threatened to put a bullet into your skull?”

“Yes and no.” The adjutant sighed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “She held back. I worry that Chief will bear the full brunt once she’s back to normal.”

“Yikes!”

“I’ll step in if that happens. It’s my decision to hold back information about Chief’s condition. I’ll bear the full responsibility for it.” 

The second-in-command inhaled. She decided that was enough and decided to set aside her future worries before getting into real business. “That aside…Wynn, how did the examination go?”

The said woman straightened into attention. She grabbed her tablet and looked over her notes. “The medical team told me that the initial readings are normal.” She reported. “No anomalies manifested, and Chief’s condition remains stable. Her M-value is still high but continues to decrease steadily. From the looks of it, Chief’s interactions with that many Sinners didn’t affect her negatively. They recommend to come back later for the final results.”

Nightingale let out a breath of relief. It was like a thorn was plucked off her flesh, even if the head of the Supply Office gave her a smug, ‘I-told-you-so’ look. “I see…that’s good news.” She said. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll go to the laboratory later and handle the rest.”

“For now,” The adjutant placed her clipboard on the table. “I’d like you to look at this and tell me what you think.”

The three leaned forward to get a better look. Faye’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait. Is this what I think it is…?”

The second-in-command nodded in confirmation. “Yes. It’s not an easy decision, but Commander Langley and I discussed it and adopted your suggestion. Starting tomorrow, we’ll assign Sinners to take care of Chief.”

Nightingale tapped her finger on a handwritten table of names. “We already selected them based on recorded M-values over the past weeks, mental stability, compliance level, and least danger posed to Chief. They’ll be grouped based on their reliability, childcare experience, and team dynamics. Two groups will be allocated a day on duty - one in the morning and the other from mid-afternoon until early evening. They’ll be exempted from missions and dispatches on those days.”

Wynn pored over the clipboard. “Is this the final list of Sinners you’ve decided on, Deputy Chief?”

“No, this is the initial. I still have to revise it tonight. After all, not everyone stays in the bureau because of the implemented bail regulations.”

“This is good and all,” Eugene piped in. “But wouldn’t this pose a problem? The Sinners not selected for this might protest. Especially when some of them are -” He glanced at the kid and lowered his voice as if he did not want anyone else to overhear. “Obsessed with Chief?”

“I anticipate that, but,” The adjutant gripped the edge of the table. Her face turned impassive, almost stone-cold. “Chief’s safety comes first. If any Sinner showed any sign of aggression toward her, we must suppress and confine them immediately, regardless of whether they’re on this list.”

“If that’s the case,” Faye chimed in. “Why not start with these people?” She pointed at a few names on the paper. “You’ve already jotted down those that Chief interacted with this afternoon. I think this is a solid choice for the first group, don’t you think so?”

The other woman glanced at the list and then at Elysia. If she was being honest, she did not want to hand over the young Chief to the Sinners. She respected and trusted them to a degree, but this situation was unique and risky. This was the reason she wanted to buy time to think this over properly. However, it was already too late - things had gone out of their control. The best she could do was to tip everything in their favor.

“Alright,” The second-in-command agreed. “Wynn, inform these Sinners about this arrangement on my behalf. I’ll meet them first in the conference room after breakfast tomorrow. If the others complain, ignore them.”

“Yes, Deputy Chief.”

“Captain Eugene, notify the FAC-MBCC soldiers and assign ten or more as Chief’s escorts. Ensure they’re equipped with the best anti-Mania technology we have. They don’t need to always stay by her side but should remain at reach wherever she goes.” 

“Also, Faye,” Nightingale unclipped a piece of paper from her clipboard and slid it toward the other woman. “Pass this to the Engineering Office. This is the list of Sinners who want to volunteer to examine the new Mania weapon. I’ll leave it to them to decide whether to allow these Sinners to participate in the investigation.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Got it.” The head of the Supply Office wolfed down the last portion of her meal and plucked the paper with two fingers. She turned to the little girl and pinched her cheek. “We’re going now, Chief. Don’t be a menace and make more trouble for Nightingale.”

The child swallowed her sweet corn and grumbled. “I’m not!” She puffed her cheeks petulantly. “And my name’s Elysia! Not Chief. Auntie Faye’s a meanie.”

Faye laughed and slid off the bench. She joined Wynn and Eugene as they waved goodbye to the kid and walked toward the door. The clerk of the City Arrest Team paused, stopping the door from completely closing. “Oh, I almost forgot…Deputy Chief?”

“What is it?”

“Well, we promised Chief we’ll get her strawberry shortcake if she finished her vegetables. Could you -”  

The adjutant cut her off with a wave. She already knew what the other woman was going to ask. “I’ll handle it. Go.”

“Thank you, Deputy Chief!” 

The door closed behind her, leaving the two behind in the mostly empty cafeteria. The only noise was clinking and clattering from the bustling kitchen at the back. However, the second-in-command knew better than to take that shred of silence and relief for what it was. Two more Sinners were present in that place - both peering from behind the galley door. 

Nightingale met their gazes before they could hide and pretend they were not there. “Kelvin, Ignis, come here.”

Someone squeaked, and the door shut briefly. Two seconds later, the two flustered detainees finally emerged. They kept their heads down as they did as ordered. Between them, it was Kelvin who found the courage to speak first. “M-Miss Nightingale, we -”

The adjutant raised a hand to stop her. “Raise your heads. You’re not in trouble. Instead, I have a favor to ask of you.”

The two Sinners reluctantly lifted their heads and exchanged confused looks. “A favor?” The B-Rank Sinner asked.

“Yes.” The teal-haired woman affirmed. “It’s nothing difficult or dangerous. I’d like both of you to be part of the second group who’ll look after Chief tomorrow.”

“Us? You mean, me too?” Ignis gestured frantically to herself. “B-But Miss Nightingale, my power is -”

“Is under control,” Nightingale reassured her. “The Shackles is still active despite what happened to Chief. Kelvin’s with you, so you have nothing to worry about. Also, Adela’s scheduled to visit tomorrow. She and Chief always have afternoon tea every week. I’ll explain the situation to her and ask her to join you. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

“Ummm…then, will it be okay if we prepare the snacks?” Kelvin asked. “Afternoon tea should be accompanied by something sweet. Like tarts, pies, or -”

“Pudding!” Ignis added, almost too enthusiastically. It was no secret that the A-Rank Sinner was obsessed with that dessert, especially if it was a crème brûlée. “I could make some for us to share. I’ve been practicing a lot.”

“Maybe we could have something cold afterward.” The other Sinner suggested. “I could make ice cream. I want Chief to try the new flavor I made yesterday.”

“Ice cream?” Elysia perked up, finally paying attention to the older people around her. “I want ice cream!”

“You can eat some tomorrow.” The adjutant patted the young Chief’s head. “As long as you behave and do as I say this time. No going anywhere without my permission, okay?”

“Okay!” 

“Promise?”

The little girl raised her pinky finger. “Pinky promise!” Then, she showed her empty plate. “I ate my veggies. Miss Pretty Lady, I want cake.”

The second-in-command ignored the surprise on the Sinners’ faces. It would become less embarrassing if she just went along with it. It was not like the Chief would keep her calling that once she returned to normal. “Alright, alright. I’ll get it for you.”

Nightingale glanced purposely at the two detainees, who were watching the conversation. Thankfully, they had gotten the hint and decided it was their cue to return to the kitchen. “We’ll go now, Miss Nightingale,” Ignis said. “See you tomorrow, Chief.”

“Bye-bye!”

The two Sinners hurriedly waved their goodbyes. Their excited chatter about tomorrow’s teatime trailed behind them as they re-joined the kitchen staff behind the galley door. The adjutant felt a tug on her sleeve and turned to see the child had left her seat, looking up at her expectantly. She could not help but chuckle at her helplessness to her superior’s whims and wishes. 

“Let’s eat in my office.”

“Okay!”

The second-in-command tried not to think of tomorrow for the rest of the night. A part of her hoped it would never come because tomorrow would be the day she had to let go of those tiny, warm hands. Tomorrow, she would allow Elysia to be held and embraced by those bound by the latter’s restraining red light. She would have to step back tomorrow so the young Chief could reunite with those who cared and loved as much as she did. It was selfish of her, but it was what she thought was right. Come morning, and she would have to witness the little girl leave her arms like a mother bird to her precious young.

Tomorrow might be the day Nightingale prayed not to come, but tonight, she would cherish the child’s smiles, laughter, and hugs. These little things and moments made the fears and fatigue worth it.

Elysia, her dearest Chief, was always worth it.

Chapter Text

Hecate was afraid. 

That was the best way the A-Rank Arcane Sinner could describe her feelings. She was horrified when Langley broke down the news to them yesterday. She could not believe she allowed something to happen to the Chief under her watch. Hecate worried the entire night about the Chief’s condition and if the latter could return to the person she knew. Despite that, the A-Rank Arcane Sinner felt relieved when Wynn told her she could meet the Chief the following day. 

Now, here Hecate was, listening and waiting with a few other Sinners as Nightingale briefed them on their in-house mission. There were many things to remember and instructions to follow despite being straightforward. She was used to being given orders and accomplishing them to a tee. Only recently did she decide to pursue the path she wanted of her own free will. Even so, the A-Rank Arcane Sinner could not help but feel uneasy. After all, this was new territory and concerned the most precious person in her world.

However, the moment the child stepped inside the room and peeked at them with those wide platinum eyes, Hecate nearly stopped breathing. She immediately knew it was the Chief. It was an instinctive feeling that overpowered the dread gripping her heart. Much more when those eyes landed on her, and a chubby finger pointed at her with wonder and glee.

“A dragon!” Elysia shrieked in delight. “Miss Pretty Lady! It’s a dragon! The one in your story. Hecate’s dragon friend!”

Tiny footsteps hurried toward the A-Rank Arcane Sinner, and a pair of little hands gripped the fabric of her white dress. “Big Sis! Are you Hecate? Can I pet your friend? Please! Pretty please!”

How could Hecate say ‘no’ to that? Not when the young Chief looked up at her without fear of her or the nightmarish entity behind her. Not when she beamed so brightly when she was permitted to touch. It was a sight to behold to see the little girl pet Nightmare so fearlessly yet carefully. The summon nearly purred under the gentle caress, its wings fluttering behind it in joy. Its master watched closely beside them, barely holding back the tears in her eyes.

“Oh, come on!” Hella sprang out of her seat, smacking the underside of the table in the process. “OW! That’s not fair! Hecate, you cheater!”

The said girl discreetly wiped her eyes and regarded her fellow Sinner in practiced nonchalance. No one commented on her uncharacteristic vulnerability. Everyone bound by the Shackles shared her relief. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Someone chuckled, and both young Sinners turned to Zoya. The S-Rank Fury Sinner slouched against her chair, enjoying their banter. “So, is this how it’s going to be? A competition for Elysia’s favor?” She stood up and stretched. “Well, if that’s the case, I won’t lose.”

K.K. sighed from where she was standing beside Che. “Why would you even make a competition out of that?”

“Miss Anne and Doctor Iron should be here instead of me.” The man grumbled. “I’m no good with kids.”

“They’re going to join the medical team monitoring Chief’s condition, remember?” The B-Rank Endura Sinner reminded him. “And you’re involved with that mission that turned Chief into this. This is better than having Bai Yi here. That adjutant sent her out for a reason. Who knows what stunt she’s gonna pull if she’s here?”

“Besides,” K.K. leaned sideways and whispered, glancing at Crache, who glared at them in one corner of the conference room. If looks could kill, they would be deader than a beat-up Corruptor. “Do you want her to die?”

“Hah! As if that gal will keel and die easily.” The commander of the Legion circled the table and squatted before the child. The latter’s face brightened in recognition. It had not gone unnoticed to anyone that the adjutant tensed when the kid reached to touch the Sinner’s face.

“Cool Big Sis!”

A chuckle vibrated from Zoya’s chest. “I’m not a dog, you know.” Despite saying that, she did not stop Elysia from patting her face and ruffling her hair.

“Pretty eyes!” The young Chief giggled. “Soft hair! Very fluffy!”

“Two points for me, then.”

A few eyes rolled at that. Nightingale coughed, demanding attention back to her. Her expression schooled back to seriousness. “I’ll remind you again that you’ll accompany Chief only until after lunch. Wynn will fetch her for her afternoon nap before the second group takes over. You’re free to do as you please after today’s duty. If you wish to go outside the bureau, come by my office for a pass.”

“Sinners,” The second-in-command swept a knife-sharp gaze to the attendees. “I hope you don’t forget what we’ve discussed earlier.” 

A thick silence befell the room. No one said anything - the detainees did not need to. The adjutant was clear about the consequences, and some Sinners would rather not cross the line, especially when their grownup Chief was not there to appease her right-hand woman. 

Nightingale seemed satisfied by their reactions. She picked up her things and walked toward the little girl. She reached down to pat the latter’s head. “Be good, okay? I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay! Bye-bye, Miss Pretty Lady!” 

The adjutant nodded and reluctantly approached the door. She threw one last look at the child before leaving the conference room. Some Sinners let out a sigh of relief. The kid remained oblivious to their plight as she rummaged through the pockets of her blue dress. She waddled toward Crache, holding something tightly inside her fists.

“Big Sis Crache, hand.”

“What…?” 

The S-Rank Umbra Sinner was surprised but quickly surrendered to the younger kid’s demand. She offered an open palm, and Elysia dropped something on it. When the Syndican looked at it, it was a few wrapped chocolates of a famous brand that she could never afford.

“Why are you giving these to me?”

The young Chief tilted her head in confusion. “Does Big Sis Crache not like them?”

“That’s not -” Crache sighed. She should have expected this. Even before the Chief turned into a kid, she still shared snacks with her despite saying she never liked sweets, unlike other children her age. “...I like them. Thank you.”

The S-Rank Umbra Sinner shoved the chocolates inside her hoodie and grabbed something else. It was a familiar rag doll in gray clothes that resembled the adult Chief. “Here. Eve wants you to have it. She said she’s sorry she can’t see you because of her treatment.” 

The little girl’s eyes were wide as saucers as she took the toy. “Wow! It’s so pretty. Soft, too!” She giggled, hugging the doll. “I like it!”

Crache bit her bottom lip to keep herself from smiling. “Take care of it, and return it to her once you’re back to normal. It’s very important to her.” 

“I will!”

Hella skipped toward the child with a teasing grin. “Hah! You’re as small as that toy, you dummy Chief!” She poked at the latter’s forehead. “You’re such a goody-two-shoes. Look at what happened! It’s your fault you turn into this, you know.”

The kid stuck her tongue at the older girl. “Bully! I’m not giving you chocolates!”

“Wha-?” The B-Rank Fury Sinner was taken aback. Her face bloomed in a flustered red. “Why, you! Hey, you brat! Come over -”

Zoya grabbed and lifted the younger detainee by the back of her MBCC-provided prisoner jacket like a misbehaving kitten. “Alright. That’s enough. Stop picking a fight with someone younger than you.” 

“Hey! Put me down, you motherfucking lamppost!” Hella screamed. “This is an abuse of power! ARGH!”

The commander of the Legion handed her over to Nightmare, who gleefully shoved the upper half of the infuriated B-Rank Fury Sinner into its maw. Hecate sighed at the muffled curses. “Nightmare, don’t let go until she calms down. Miss Nightingale might get furious if she hears her saying those words with Chief here.”

The summon rumbled in agreement while the young Chief tilted her head in confusion. Crache muttered something under her breath and tapped the younger child on the shoulder. “Ignore them. Is there something you want to do? Do you…” She paused, testing her next words on her tongue. They felt foreign but not unheard of. “Want to…play?”

It was unusual for the S-Rank Umbra Sinner to say those words - she never had the chance to experience such a thing in the Syndicate. That was until the Chief shackled her. The latter often got roped in by other Sinners her age, whether she liked it or not. Playtime might turn rough sometimes, but she admitted she enjoyed it but would never say it aloud. Maybe Crache was simply returning the favor - seeing the excitement in Elysia’s eyes was worth it.

It did not take a moment later when the bureau witnessed a spectacle - six Sinners led by the little girl marched through the maze-like hallways. When asked what she wanted to do, the child immediately answered she wanted to see the underground floors she had not been to before. Zoya carried her on her shoulders, unbothered by the tight grip on her hair or the nearly nonstop giggles and cheers from the kid. K.K. and Hecate trailed closely behind them, ready to catch the young Chief should she fall.

“Isn’t this a bit of an overkill?” Che asked, glancing at the FAC-MBCC soldiers tailing behind them at a distance. “It’s not like we could kidnap Chief here without them knowing.”

“Pfft. You know how paranoid Nightingale is when it comes to that idiot.” Hella piped in. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more of them hiding somewhere.” She grinned mischievously. “Now, we’re on the topic - What’s the chances of us smuggling Elysia out of here?”

“Zero.” K.K. glanced over her shoulder. “Maybe the negatives. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t risk their head for something like that unless they have a death wish.”

The younger detainee waved it off dismissively. “It’s not like it would be the first time.”

Hecate cast a disapproving look at the other girl. “Hella.”

“What? It’s the truth! How many times has Elysia been kidnapped? It’s like everyday Chief stuff. I could make a meme out of it.”

“Where did you even learn that?”

“Duh! Where did you?” The B-Rank Fury Sinner shot back, crossing her arms. “You’re not the only one who gets to use the internet.”

Point taken. The A-Rank Sinner decided not to reply to the other girl’s jab as their odd entourage reached a floor overlooking a familiar central chamber. Just below, Sinners from all ranks and the MBCC employees chatted and milled around like disorganized ants. Some detainees had just climbed up from the Pandora Cage and were about to begin their day. A few had changed out of their prisoner clothes and were armed, no doubt about to go to their assigned dispatches and missions. 

Zoya surveyed the crowd before planting one boot against the metal railing. The impact was loud enough to draw everyone’s attention to her. Hecate stiffened when she saw the older Sinner grin like a madwoman about to put her plan into action and hoist Elysia off her shoulders. Ignoring the ripple of alarmed gasps, the latter presented the little girl to the crowd below like that one character in an animated movie.

“The Little Chief of the MBCC!”

Silence punctuated by the heavy thudding of metallic boots reigned over the entire place. It lasted only a second before the Sinners below surged forward in frenzied excitement. Some hurried toward the lift while a few tried to swing up to the upper floor using brute force or their abilities. The pandemonium was so sudden that the guards took a moment before attempting to restore order.

“ZOYA!” K.K. rushed forward, reaching for the kid dangling beyond the barrier. Hecate fretted beside her, unsure whether to do the same or call Nightmare for help. The others were not far behind, cursing under their breaths. “Are you insane? What the fuck are you doing?”

The commander of the Legion’s manic grin did not falter a bit. She remained unbothered by the stir she caused. “Relax.” She reassured her. “I’m just announcing to everyone that Elysia’s here, and they’ve got nothing to worry about.” 

The S-Rank Fury Sinner glanced at their armed escorts, who had them surrounded with loaded weapons trained on them. “And you can put those down. She’s not in any danger. See?”

A burst of joyful laughter seemed to prove her point. The young Chief’s eyes sparkled in delight as she swung her legs and flapped her arms. “I’m flying!” She giggled. “So high! Everyone’s so small!”

Zoya chuckled. “You’re as fearless as ever.” She pulled back the little girl into her arms and stepped away from the railing. She smirked smugly at the FAC-MBCC soldiers, who exchanged looks before reluctantly backing down. 

“We’ll let this slide just this once.” A high-ranking soldier glared behind his armored helmet. “There won’t be next time, Sinner.”

The commander of the Legion snorted, brushing off the threat. She knew that despite the Chief’s efforts to make the entire bureau treat the Sinners humanely, there would still be those who did not share her beliefs. Fear was a human trait, and people feared those different from them - the Sinners. However, S-Rank Fury Sinner had no desire to spark a fight right now, especially not with the Chief looking like this.

The child looked between Zoya and the FAC-MBCC soldiers. Her eyes lit up as an idea formed inside her head. She patted the S-Rank Fury Sinner’s cheek to get her attention and cupped her hands as she whispered. The latter’s eyes widened before her lips curled slowly into a grin.

“You sure, kiddo?”

The kid nodded eagerly. The commander of the Legion might have decided not to pick a fight for the Chief’s sake, but it did not mean she would miss the opportunity to mess with those from the FAC. Besides, if she picked a goody-two-shoes route, she would waste a chance to see this playful and spontaneous side of Elysia. 

“Then, hold on tight.” Zoya grabbed the barrier with her free hand and winked at the child. “We’re going to play.” 

The young Chief giggled and wrapped her arms tightly around the woman’s neck. The commander of the Legion addressed their company. “Hey, you guys up for a game of hide-and-seek?”

“Zoya,” K.K. warned. “Don’t you dare -”

“You’re all ‘it’. ”

Before anyone else could blink, the S-Rank Fury Sinner vaulted over the railing and landed on both feet on the lower floor. Everyone was stunned by the sudden stunt and could do nothing as Zoya charged toward the elevator. The glass door drowned out the frustrated shouts from the upper floor. 

The commander of the Legion gently nudged the little girl. “Say bye-bye to the boring guys in armor, Elysia.”

The child looked over her shoulder and waved her hand enthusiastically. “Bye-bye!”

The S-Rank Fury Sinner could not hold her laughter at the uproar on the other side. K.K. was close to tearing her hair off while Hecate, Hella, and Crache seemed determined to break the glass door and jump after them. Che and the FAC-MBCC soldiers had to step in and stop the three younger Sinners. The leader of the Homeless looked as murderous as she did when she squared up against Shalom and Langley yesterday. 

Well…Zoya could not say ‘no’ to a fight, but that would be for later. Causing chaos and having fun with her adorable Chief came first. They would sure raise hell together.

Chapter Text

Only after an hour and a half did the others finally find their wayward company. The two had given up midway through the impromptu game and sneaked inside the makeshift Legion head office. Zoya taught Elysia basic Syndican fighting stances while they waited. The commander of the Legion was not a bit apologetic when she was sent to Nightingale’s office while the others whisked the young Chief away for a tour of the Sinner-related facilities. Time passed too quickly for anyone’s taste, and they reluctantly handed the little girl over to Wynn after lunch.

Two hours later, Ignis and Kelvin picked up the child for afternoon tea in the Greenhouse. The preparations went smoothly - various delectable pastries and desserts were meticulously spread on the lace-covered table. Chamomile tea was served while ice-cold orange juice was poured for the kid. Pacassi and Ariel joined their party a little later, leaving one chair waiting for its assigned occupant.

“Say ahh, Chief.”

Elysia puffed her cheeks at the manicured fingers holding a strawberry and cream scone. The pastry mirrored the theme of her attire. “My name’s not Chief!” She huffed, crossing her arms. “Hmph! I don’t want it.”

The woman at her left was undeterred. Her lipstick-stained lips slightly tilted upward. “My, as willful as always. That’s one of the things I find charmingly delicious about you.” She waved the scone temptingly. “Come now. I promise this one’s good. Won’t you taste it for me, hm?”

The young Chief turned away and surveyed the other food before her. She snatched a blueberry scone and stuffed it inside her mouth. “‘Ma mawt’ ull.” She emphasized as she pointed at her bulging cheeks. “Sowwie’ ady.”

Someone chuckled at the little girl’s immediate right. “My apologies,” The other woman said, though there was not an ounce of regret in her voice. “I just find this situation… amusing. Elysia turned out to be a clever child. Wouldn’t you agree it’s quite endearing?”

“Here, Elysia.” A different hand offered a pink jelly cube dusted with powdered sugar. “This is lokum. I made it myself. One of my customers in my salon was kind enough to share the recipe.”

The child eyed the candy curiously as she munched on her food. “Ish small.” She swallowed and downed her juice before turning to her right-side seatmate. “Is it tasty?”

“Do you want to try it?”

The kid deliberated for a second before nodding and opening her mouth to accept the sweet. She chewed slowly and beamed at the taste. “Mmm! I like it! Can I have some more?”

“Of course,” The woman nudged the bowl of lokum closer to the young Chief. “Here. They’re all for you.”

“Yay!”

Light mauve clashed against royal blue. The two women glared at each other with elegant smiles. M-values fluctuated inside the room but were not detectable enough for non-Sinners to sense. Elysia paused and tilted her head questioningly, searching for the invisible presence. She scrunched her nose and sneezed, forcing her seatmates to break eye contact.

“Um….” 

Kelvin looked nervously back and forth between the two people fighting over the little girl’s attention. The teatime was going well during the first thirty minutes, even though their seventh and last member had yet to arrive. However, the chair reserved for them was occupied by a person neither invited nor selected by Nightingale. 

“I’m sorry, but…Miss Cabernet? Miss Nightingale didn’t tell us you’re coming.” The B-Rank Arcane Sinner flinched at her own words and hurried to explain. A part of her did not want to offend the famous gourmet and food critic. “Ah, but we’re not saying you’re not welcome! Or, or kicking you out! It’s just that Miss Nightingale didn’t inform us and…and….”

“What she means is that,” Adela gingerly dropped a sugar cube and stirred her tea. “You’re not supposed to be here, Lady Franc.” She daintily lifted her teacup to her lips. “And that you’re intruding into a gathering you’re not supposed to be part of.”

“Miss Adela!” 

The S-Rank Umbra Sinner set down her teacup and smiled innocently. “Why? Am I wrong?”

“Hmm…” Cabernet plucked a grape from the fruit basket. She held it up between her nails, inspecting its lackluster quality with veiled disgust. “You’ve got a silver tongue, Miss Adela. Pray tell, what made me earn your ills?”

“Oh, dear.” The Eastside hairdresser mock-gasped. “I didn’t know Lady Franc was having trouble with her sight. How insensitive of me. However -” 

Adela flicked a finger at the immobilized FAC-MBCC soldiers and MBCC employees around them. Thick grapevines wrapped tightly around them, snaking past the armor meant to protect them. Anti-Mania weapons lay useless beside their feet. No one had anticipated the ambush nor the sudden appearance of the lady of the Franc family. 

“- Attacking Elysia’s subordinates is a grave misdeed. Dealing with this would only add to her work. As Chief’s hairdresser and one of her confidants, it’s my job to listen and lighten her worries.” 

The S-Rank Umbra Sinner’s smile dropped. Gone was the kind and gentle hairdresser - the ferocious and crazed ‘Mad Shears’ now sat where that person was. “Anything or anyone that causes her needless worries should be…severed.”

“Miss Adela! Please!” Kelvin panicked, glancing at Ariel, Ignis, and Pacassi for help. The others were frozen stiff as the Mania concentration rose dangerously inside the Greenhouse. The child between the two S-Rank Sinners winced. “Please calm down!”

“Is that so?” Cabernet wrapped her fingers around the grape. “Then, I should return the favor and -” The oval fruit burst, its flesh and juice dripping from her hand and down to the tablecloth. “Make sure you ferment and age into the finest wine.”

The others jolted when the two women stood up. Adela’s signature weapon materialized on her hands while more grapevines grew and slithered closer toward Cabernet. The other four Sinners got up their seats in alarm as the M-value detectors started beeping. They could not stop one S-Rank Sinner, much less two, without committing property damage or getting the trapped soldiers and employees dragged into the fray. Getting the young Chief away from here was the highest priority.

“P-Please calm down, Miss Cabernet and Miss Adela!” Ariel pleaded. “If you fight, someone might get hurt. Chief might get hurt!”

“Miss Ariel is right!” Ignis insisted. She glanced nervously at Pacassi, who was cautiously approaching the kid. “Please just -”

CRASH!

Everyone stopped as glass shattered against concrete. Orange juice pooled beneath the transparent shards, glittering under the artificial sunlight. Elysia whimpered as she held her right wrist. A familiar red light throbbed against the scarred skin. 

“Owie!” The little girl winced. “Hurts….”

Kelvin, Ignis, and Ariel immediately ran to the child’s side, unceremoniously pushing aside the two S-Rank Sinners. Pacassi stood between them and the two older detainees - her glare as frigid as her hometown. Their ranks no longer mattered - Nightingale had told them to report anything unusual concerning the kid. If the latter was affected by the Sinners’ Mania, then….

“Elysia, are you okay?” Ariel fretted. “Did you get injured? Where does it hurt? Should we call Doctor Iron?”

“Hand hurts….” Elysia grimaced. “Aunties fighting. Don’t like it.”

The Sinners were dumbfounded. Unlike yesterday, it was strange that the young Chief was now reacting to the Sinners’ Mania. Crache’s M-value exploded yesterday, and there were more Sinners back then, but the little girl was unaffected. What changed? Was it because the child could not endure the combined Mania of two S-Rank Sinners? Did this have to do with their proximity to the kid? Their emotional states? Whatever the case, they had to inform the adjutant about this later.

“Please control your temper,” Pacassi reminded them. “You’re hurting Chief.”

“I’m not -” Adela pursed her lips. She let go of her weapon, which disappeared in a flash of blue light. “My apologies. That’s not my intention. I didn’t mean to burden Elysia.”

The A-Rank Fury Sinner could not care less about anyone’s apologies. She was not the one affected by the turn of events. She turned to the other S-Rank Sinner. “Miss Cabernet, please leave. If you wish to spend time with Chief, send a formal request to Adjutant Nightingale. Otherwise,” She fixed the two older Sinners with a bone-chilling glare. “I wouldn’t hesitate to bring this place down on both of you.”

An eerie silence. While Pacassi might not be classified as an S-Rank Sinner, her power was on par with one. She was well-known as the ‘walking nuclear pollution’ within the bureau, but that was not a mere title. That was what she was - the Shackles was one thing keeping her power under control and preventing her from unintentionally harming others. The other was her desire not to hurt anyone. However, the Chief had not forbidden her to use her power if it meant to protect herself or the former.

The door of the Greenhouse swung open, and a blonde woman marched inside. “I apologize for being late. I attended a meeting with -” She paused midway. Her eyes narrowed at the grapevines entangling the FAC-MBCC soldiers and bureau employees. “What happened here?”

It had not gone unnoticed by the new arrival the looks of relief from the three younger Sinners. “Miss Matilda! You’re here! Thank God!” 

Matilda frowned as she assessed the situation. She looked at the gathered Sinners surrounding the age-regressed Chief. It did not take her long before she noticed they were one too many. “What is Lady Franc doing here? And Miss Adela, I believe Deputy Chief Nightingale explicitly told us no weapons are allowed in Chief’s presence without her permission.”

“This, too.” The A-Rank Reticle Sinner nudged her boot against a grapevine. “Explain. Otherwise, I’ll call Deputy Chief Nightingale right now. I’m sure you’ve heard about what happened to the instigator of this morning’s commotion.”

Kelvin, Ignis, Pacassi, and Ariel flinched. They had heard of it. After Zoya’s stunt, Nightingale considered removing the commander of the Legion from the roster of Sinners selected to care for the young Chief. It was only thwarted by the little girl, who had taken quite a liking to the S-Rank Fury Sinner. 

However, they realized the same could not be said of them. Elysia proved to be a fickle and clever child and seemed to know which Sinners she should be wary of. While she quickly warmed up with the four of them, there was no guarantee they earned her favor. Somehow, the de-aged Chief was more unpredictable than her adult self. Should the adjutant hear about this incident, she might pull them out of duty. They did not want that; they wanted to spend more time with the kid and get to know more of this side of their Chief.

However, the child had a different opinion on the matter. She slipped past the Sinners and hurried toward Matilda’s side. “Auntie Mattie!” She tugged at the woman’s skirt and pointed at Adela and Cabernet. “They’re fighting! Auntie ‘Dela and Auntie Cab are fighting!”

“Chief!” 

Kevin, Ignis, Pacassi, and Ariel were horrified. They had yet to think of a way to salvage the situation. While they were not the ones about to rip each other apart, they still could not believe the young Chief snitched on them. 

“Fighting is bad!” Elysia insisted. “Daddy said so! I don’t like Aunties fighting!”

The other Sinners could not meet Matilda’s eyes. The A-Rank Reticle Sinner needed not to look them in the eye because her words perfectly conveyed her stand. “Lady Cabernet Franc,” She announced. “You’ve overstepped your bounds and disregarded the order of the Acting Head of the MBCC. You’ve also harmed the bureau staff and caused Chief distress. The same goes for you, Miss Adela.”

Cabernet scoffed. “Hah. Playing the adjutant’s loyal dog, I see. You’re a delightful ingredient, Miss Cavendish.”

“Say what you want,” The other woman bit back. “It is within my power to suppress you according to the bureau’s rules and the authority bestowed upon me. Now, release everyone and surrender peacefully.”

The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner glared at her as if the latter had spoiled her feast. Her knuckles were bone-white as she gripped her cane. The grapevines around her quivered as if holding back a silent wrath. Beside Matilda, the young Chief blanched against the increasing Mania from the red-haired woman. The red light now pulsed vividly against her skin, and her instincts screamed of danger. She grabbed A-Rank Reticle Sinner’s bare hand, and the contact startled the latter. Something jerked at Matilda’s soul, tugging at the invisible thorned chains that bound her to the Chief. It was a familiar feeling - one she only felt whenever the Chief led her and the others to battle. It was a call neither she nor the other Sinners could ever resist.

Danger. Protect. Obey. Danger. Suppress. Protect. Danger. Obey. Suppress.

The A-Rank Reticle Sinner’s body acted before her mind could catch up. Her hand reached for her handgun, but she did not draw it. Not yet. “I’ll repeat it only once.” She warned. “Let go of them and surrender. Don’t resist anymore if you know what’s good for you.”

Cabernet said nothing. Instead, her gaze flitted toward the little girl who stared back at her. The latter had the same expression when she dealt with Carley and Greg. It was neither anger nor resentment but of righteous indignation and disappointment. Ah, yes. That was it. Her worries were unfounded. Despite the change in appearance, her most precious treasure was untainted. The Chief’s soul remained the brightest, purest, and most delicious regardless of age, memory, and personality. The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner could not help the excited shiver across her skin nor the manic laughter from her chest.

“Ah, yes. Good. Good girl!” Matilda shielded the child behind her when Cabernet approached. However, the latter ignored her - her eyes were fixated on the kid. “I’ll stand down for now. My curiosity is sated, and I’ve confirmed what I needed to know.”

The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner snapped her fingers, and the grapevines retreated into the soil. Mania decreased, and the M-value detectors went silent. The freed FAC-MBCC soldiers scrambled for their weapons and hurriedly surrounded the red-haired woman. “I doubt the adjutant would allow me the honor to accompany you. Even so,” She simply smiled. Her expression was uncharacteristically gentle, almost motherly. “I look forward to sharing a meal with you, my dear little Chief. No...Elysia.”

“No. You said it yourself.” Matilda tightened her hold around her weapon. “You won’t. So, it’s not going to happen.”

“Perhaps,” Cabernet agreed. “But everyone knows I’m not the only one who desires to devour her.” She reached out and patted the other woman’s cheek. “So, be an obedient doll and warn the honorable adjutant for me, will you? I’d hate it if others feasted on what’s mine.”

The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner did not resist when someone cuffed her. Half of the FAC-MBCC soldiers present caged her in, forming a formidable wall between her and the Chief. The rest only watched grimly as they left the Greenhouse and to whatever punishment awaited the lady of the Franc family.

“Umm...Miss Matilda?”

The A-Rank Reticle Sinner raised a hand to interrupt Ignis. “Keep quiet about this for now. Let’s wait for a decision first.” 

The younger A-Rank Sinner nodded. “Understood.”

Matilda’s gaze flickered toward the neglected table. “The tea’s gone cold.” She turned to Adela. “Can you handle it?”

“Of course.” The S-Rank Umbra Sinner cradled the teapot with both hands. “Thank you for not sending me away.”

“Don’t thank me. You weren’t taken away because you’re supposed to be here.” The other woman replied matter-of-factly. She ushered Elysia back to her seat. “What happened here will be reported to Deputy Chief Nightingale, and you’ll come with me. I won’t take a ‘no’ for an answer.”

So Adela did not and left with Kelvin and Ignis to go to the cafeteria. Despite the earlier disturbances, the rest of the afternoon teatime went smoothly. 

Chapter Text

Nightingale heaved a heavy sigh. The written report of the young Chief’s interactions with the Sinners throughout the day lay before her. It was just the first day, and many things had already happened. First, it was Zoya, then Cabernet. She forgave the first at Elysia’s wishes but could not let go of the second. The lady of the Franc family had crossed the line - making an example out of her was the best course of action. Confinement for two full days was not as cruel as many would think, but it was enough time to formulate a preventive measure against the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner. She already rejected Cabernet’s request to spend time with the little girl.

Ice clinked against the glass, sloshing the rich brown of whisky. Langley lounged on the sofa, watching the adjutant with evident amusement. “It seemed today’s quite eventful.”

The second-in-command bit a retort. She knew that the commander of the 9th Agency was already aware of everything that occurred. Instead, she stood up and picked up a folder submitted by the medical team. The names of Iron, Anne, Chameleon, and other personnel involved in the latest assessment were written on the cover. 

“Read it to me, Miss Adjutant.”

“Yes, Commander.” Nightingale stopped beside the coffee table and started flipping through the enclosed papers. “According to those present at teatime this afternoon, Chief reacted to the increased M-values of Sinners-706 and -079. The Shackles activated, seemingly warning Chief of the potential danger posed by the S-Rank Sinners. This is opposite to what happened yesterday with Sinner-073.”

“Additionally, Sinner-745 received an order to protect Chief through the Shackles via skin-to-skin contact. It is believed this usage of the Shackles’ binding power was subconscious on Chief’s part as an effort to stop Sinners-706 and -079 and protect herself.”

“Hmm…interesting.” Langley sipped her drink. “What do you think? Any opinion?”

“I believe the Shackles is warning Chief of the increasing Mania.” The adjutant answered dutifully. “That’s how it’s always been.”

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner set down her beverage. “Let me change my question.” She peered at the MBCC’s second-in-command. “For a Sinner like me bound by the Shackles, who couldn’t sense their Chief for days, why do you think this is a big deal? Why am I obliged to report something so obvious from the start of my incarceration?”

Langley leaned forward and folded her hands. “I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Adjutant.” She said. “The Shackles is active and working as it should on Sinners, but the other end isn’t. It was a mess - Elysia’s alive, yes, but everything else a bound Sinner should know about the other end is obscure. Do you get what I mean?”

“Are you saying the Sinners already knew something happened to Chief beforehand?” Nightingale could not believe it. She had not heard anything from the Sinners, not even Hecate and Hella. “But that’s - Why didn’t anyone tell us?”

The 9th Agency commander chuckled. “Why would they? When you and your subordinates failed to notify them of Chief’s condition earlier? When everyone acted like someone set their pants on fire and wouldn’t let anyone help them?” She pointed at her. “That was your mistake.”

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner drummed her fingers on the handle of her cane. “Elysia knows who she can trust and who she cannot. She trusts that Syndican girl and the Shackles does not see her as a threat. There was no harm directed at her. Instead, that Sinner’s purpose was to protect her.”

“Now, imagine if Elysia is stuck between two powerful Sinners, with neither of them having any intent to shield her. Even if other Sinners are present, will they be able to protect her? Can they get her out in time before the first hit? Does she trust them and their abilities enough with her life? If she is still an adult, perhaps, but -”

Langley looked at the adjutant grimly. “She’s a child right now. Her trust is fragile and driven by instinct. Instinct molded by the Shackles - a power she didn’t remember having. Without the memories of her Sinners, she unconsciously relies on something capricious. If a Sinner wanted her to trust them truly, they’d have to appeal to the Shackles, too.” 

“Yet, she trusts you.”

The teal-haired woman did not mean to say that aloud, but the commander of the 9th Agency simply laughed. “You’re being honest. How adorable. It seemed our little Chief woke something in you.”

“You don’t have to be jealous and overprotective, Miss Adjutant. Out of everyone here, she trusts you the most. Her ‘trust’ in me is simply naive curiosity.” 

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner snatched her glass and stood up. “My men already caught some leads. I’ll send them over once they’ve loosened their tongues. It’s only a matter of time.” She walked toward the door. “Give my regards to the kid. I’ll see her soon.”

The door slammed shut, and the second-in-command plopped on the sofa. She scrunched her nose at the smell of alcohol left by Langley’s wake. She was about to stand up and get the air freshener when a knock came. A mass of purple hair peeked inside, and a Sinner stepped inside.

“Hey, Adjutant!” Mess greeted, waving a folder in her hand. “Got something for you. The guys from the Engineering Office wanted to hand this to you. We have discoveries from that cute trinket you sent over.”

Nightingale accepted the folder as the A-Rank Fury Sinner rambled on. “Turns out that weapon’s incomplete. Probably a scrap those guys found and tinkered with, then distributed in the black market for easy cash. Guess some morons got scammed into buying it.”

“Have you found a way to reverse its effects?”

“Still working on it. If I were you, I’d try to gather every single one of those and destroy them. Unless you want everyone in DisCity to get turned into a kid like Chief.” Mess chuckled gleefully. “Now that will be a spectacle!”

“Alright.” The adjutant nodded, ignoring the last part. “Thank you, Mess. You may go.

The A-Rank Fury Sinner threw her hands. “Oh, come on! That’s it? You won’t ask if we want to play with the midget?”

The teal-haired woman frowned. “Please refrain from calling Chief that.” She walked toward her desk and set down the documents. She turned to look at the younger girl. “I can’t just assign any of you to Chief. There are things to consider when choosing who’ll look after her.”

Mess rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right! Like picking a gang boss or that Eastside crazy was a genius idea -” She shut her mouth when Nightingale fixed her a stern glare. “Look! Chief’s a kid! She should be playing games - fun games! Not hanging out with boring ass adults. We can show her a good time!”

“‘We’?”

“Yeah! Me, Etti, Nino, EMP,” The A-Rank Fury Sinner counted with her fingers. “Hella, Horo, and even boring Hecate can join. If you want to send your people, then be our guest. Just tell them not to interfere.” 

The adjutant gave her a cold, hard look. “Miss Mess, you’re not in the position to make demands. Your conduct had been far less agreeable.” She tapped an impatient finger on the desk. “Besides, you’ve volunteered to help figure out this unknown weapon. You said it yourself - you still have to learn a lot about it.”

Mess waved it off dismissively. “Summer and Eureka are going to cover for me. It’s just for a few hours, so it’s not a problem.” She insisted. “How about this? We won’t complain if you decide to break up our playtime. Of course, as long as it’s within reason. Gotta be fair, right?”

“I’ll behave, too! I won’t bring any of my creations or provoke anyone. No malice-collecting, either!” The A-Rank Fury Sinner lowered to her knees as she pleaded. “Come on, Adjutant! We’re not going to do anything dangerous.”

The second-in-command held back her grimace at the pitiful display. While she had fewer interactions with the detainees than the Chief, she knew every Sinner’s personality, attitude, and behavior, including the one before her. Sinner-367 was far from her choices, but she knew the former would likely go behind her back if she refused. The teal-haired woman could not have another situation like with Cabernet that afternoon. Plus, she had another formal request buried underneath the stack of paperwork on her desk…

“...Fine. I’ll consider it.” If Nightingale approved Mess’s request, she might as well hit two birds with one stone. She knew Sinners who would be perfect for the job. “But you must listen and obey everything I’ll say. Otherwise….”

The A-Rank Fury Sinner nodded eagerly, more excited at the approval than scared at the possible consequences should she ignore the adjutant’s warnings. “Sure, sure! Will do! You got a deal.” 

The second-in-command ignored the proffered handshake. “Get up and return to your cell. It’s almost time for curfew.”

Mess retracted her hand and jumped to her feet. She exited the office with a skip on her step, whistling a merry tune as the door closed behind her. Nightingale sighed and carelessly pushed aside unsigned documents until she found an inconspicuous laminated envelope. The familiar logo of Paradeisos was printed on the face - the sight of it made her stomach churn. She did not have to look at its content to know what it was about.

“It’s Nightingale,” The adjutant called over her communication device. “Yes, come to my office once you’re done. I have your orders for tomorrow. Have you contacted him?” She paused, listening to the other side answer. “Good job. I’ll see you later.”

The call ended, and the second-in-command dropped the envelope back on her desk and stepped away from her office. The nightly announcement filled the background noise as she navigated the mostly empty floors and hallways. Soldiers, guards, and employees bid her good night as they finished their shifts and climbed toward their living quarters. 

Since the MBCC was located on the fringe of the city, commuting to and from the city would consume too much time and money. Therefore, accommodations were provided on the overground floors for free. Senior officers, like the department heads, had theirs located on the restricted floors for security purposes. These included the Chief, with whom Nightingale shared the same floor. This made it easy for the latter to come to her superior’s aid should an intruder come in.

…Which was what the adjutant stumbled into inside the Chief’s quarters. Thick webs covered every inch of the room, gluing together things into a massive cocoon. Most items were made of soft fabric - blankets, bedsheets, clothes, pillows, and the like. The curtains were torn off, and the windows were open, revealing the starry sky outside. It was as if a tornado had raged inside the bedroom and merged everything in its path into a hive-like fortress. 

“CHIEF!” The teal-haired woman called out in panic. Her hands reached for her guns and released the safety triggers. She recognized this handiwork; however, the individual behind it should not be here. “Elysia!”

The cocoon shook slightly as a buzz of insect wings seemingly responded. A muffled giggle echoed from within before it went silent and still. Nightingale watched and listened as she cautiously approached, her weapons pointed at the webbed shelter. She circled it once, desperately scanning for any signs of the young Chief.

“Boo!” 

The adjutant nearly jumped out of her skin when a mass of black hair popped out right before her face. She stumbled backward, tripping her ankle against a stray strand of the web. She yelped as she got tangled in the sticky threads, dropping her guns and rendering her limbs immobile. Elysia laughed gleefully from where she was hanging upside-down.

“I got her! I got her!”

“Elysia!” The second-in-command struggled against her binds to no avail. “Get down from there!”

Familiar cutters wrapped around the little girl and pulled her back into the safety of the cocoon. Green hair peeked from where the child disappeared, and Mantis emerged and scuttled toward Nightingale. She tilted her head, studying the latter before carefully slicing the web strands. She let out soft chirps, almost as if apologizing. 

“What…” The adjutant demanded once she was freed. “What are you doing here? How did you get in here?”

The S-Rank Umbra Sinner clicked, lifting her chin toward the fortress. She unfurled her wings and flew back into the hidden opening. Glancing at the other woman one more time, she slipped inside.

What was going on?

What the FUCK was going on?

The teal-haired woman suppressed the urge to scream. Instead, she groaned, rubbing her palms against her face to allow the earlier dread and frustration to seep out. She thought the issue with Cabernet was the end of today, but she was wrong. Of course, there would be someone else trying to top it off. The second-in-command placed her weapons back inside their holsters and kicked off her boots. She had no choice but to follow and scale her way into the shelter.

When Nightingale finally managed to crawl inside, she stumbled into another Sinner who, too, should not be there. Dreya sat beside Mantis, looking through a rectangular opening cut in the cocoon. Elysia and the rag doll Eve lent her were perched on the latter’s lap, enveloped carefully with the sharp scythes in a semblance of a gentle hug. Various snacks and canned goods were piled on one side of the room, no doubt brought in from the two inmates’ infamous hoards.

“That is…Leo,” The S-Rank Reticle Sinner said, pointing at a page of a book on her lap and to the outside world. Her index finger traced the stars. “It is a constellation…that looks like…a lion.”

The young Chief gasped. “That’s so cool!” She tilted her head, looking up at the green-haired woman beside her. “Can you see it, too, Bug Sis? It’s a lion! On the sky!”

The S-Rank Umbra Sinner churred, nuzzling against the kid’s hair. She did not seem interested in stargazing, but that did not stop the little girl from including her in the conversation. It was unsurprising, considering only the latter could understand her.

“Space Sis, what’s that?”

“Draco…” Dreya answered, gently prying the child’s finger off the page and guiding it to the night sky. “The dragon. That one…is the Pegasus. A mythological horse…with wings. While the one…over there is….” 

The adjutant stayed where she was, taking in the peaceful view. A warm feeling bubbled in her chest. It was touching to see her commanding officer’s patience, care, and efforts paid back in equal measure or, perhaps, more. This moment felt sacred and intimate, and she did not want to disturb it, so she let it be. Even as her communicator crackled to life and someone reported that two Sinners were missing from their cells.

“I already found them,” The teal-haired woman told the other line. “No need. I’ll bring them back.”

“Miss Pretty Lady!” The kid’s face lighted up when she saw the second-in-command and wriggled out of Mantis’ hold. She shuffled toward her and clutched her hand. “Space Sis is teaching me star drawings! There’s a lion and a dragon! And, and a horse that flies! Look!”

Nightingale pocketed her communication device and allowed herself to be pulled toward the opening. She listened attentively to Elysia enthusiastically recall everything the S-Rank Reticle Sinner had taught her. However, she saw the stars not in the sky but reflected in the young Chief’s platinum eyes. 

Wonder. Innocence. Joy. Trust.

“Do you see it? Do you see it? It’s so cool!” The little girl chattered, gesturing with her free hand animatedly. “I kept my promise, too! Bug Sis and Space Sis wanted me to leave to look at the stars, but I promised Miss Pretty Lady not to without telling! If I break my promise, Miss Pretty Lady will be sad!”

“So, Bug Sis made this!” The child waved at the hive-like fortress. “Me and Space Sis helped. It’s so big! Like a big pillow fort! Did we do a good job?”

The adjutant smiled fondly and patted the child’s head. “Yes. Yes, you did. Good job.”

The child beamed. Her smile was brighter than the stars, and the second-in-command could not help but soak in its lovely glow. Unlike its older counterpart, it was unsubdued, openly revealing the innermost feelings from where it rooted. All of it laid bare to her.

“You don’t have to be jealous and overprotective, Miss Adjutant. Out of everyone here, she trusts you the most.”

While the second-in-command would not wholly agree with Langley, the latter may be right. She was not the only one who loved and cared for her as much as she did. It was time to let go of her worries and let her dearest Chief fly with her own wings. Even so, she would continue watching from afar and guide her tiny hands to where and whom she wanted to go.

Nightingale would have to investigate how Dreya and Mantis sneaked in here, but that would be for later. For now, she would let it go and embrace this little moment.

Chapter Text

Matilda regretted being here.

Nightingale had assigned her to accompany the young Chief for an entire day. It was to be expected, considering what went down yesterday. She found no reason to turn this mission down, so she accepted. It was supposed to be a simple task - protect Elysia in complicated situations involving other Sinners. However, that was not what was happening, and now, she was having second thoughts.

“Gah! Horo, you stupid! Stop falling into pitfalls!”

“ARGH! Shut the fuck up!” A muffled voice shouted back. “Roll the goddamn dice and lemme out of here!”

An icosahedron dice materialized on Hella’s palm, and she threw it on the grassy ground. It tumbled around a few times before landing with a single-digit face-up. Two positive integers short of the required number.

“Hella the Monk rolled an eight -”

“Are you fucking serious?”

“- and Team Mess’ Horo the Barbarian gets stuck in another pitfall,” Etti announced cheerfully, reading the game window. Her voice amplified across the illusionary fantasy world. “Because the group takes too long trying to get their teammate out, they get surrounded by a horde of fire slimes.”

“What the fuck are fire slimes doing in a forest?” 

“How would I know?” EMP exclaimed as the other Sinners armed themselves and fended off the nearest monsters that jumped out behind the trees. She hurled the dice next, and it landed a pitiful two. “WHAT? I demand a reroll!”

“EMP, you idiot!”

“Team Mess engages the fire slimes in battle.” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner stated. “Unfortunately, EMP the Ranger gets hit and -”

“- Fire!” A little girl’s voice shrieked. “Funny Sis EMP is on fire!”

The B-Rank Reticle Sinner squawked in utter terror. “CHIEF, NO! Not again!” 

“The Chosen Hero of Team Chief has spoken!” Etti declared, more than happy to deviate and go along with the child. “EMP the Ranger gets hit and receives five Fire Damage. The contact with the fire slime sets her clothes on fire!”

A fire slime slammed EMP right on the stomach. Its flames licked her clothes ablaze, and the ranger screamed and started running around in panic like a headless chicken. Her health points decreased by the seconds.

“Put it out! Put it out! Why does this feel so real? WAAAHHHHH!”

“Oi!” Horo called out from the depths of the pitfall. “Someone roll and help us out!” 

Nino checked the turn sequence at the upper left corner of the game window. “Well, that fucking sucks! It’s the other party’s turn.” She turned to EMP. “Hey, idiot, don’t set the forest on fire! Do you want us all to get burned?”

“FUCK YOU!”

The other team watched the chaos unfold through their shared game window. Etti snickered behind her palm while Hecate shook her head in disappointment. Beside the A-Rank Arcane Sinner, the kid clapped and cheered in delight on Donald’s back. 

“Boy, am I glad I’m on this side,” The S-Rank Fury Sinner remarked. “Chief, you’re so ruthless.”

“I think you should worry about yourself,” Matilda interjected, glancing at her former superior crouching on all fours. “You’re a -”

“A horse! Thank you! I know!” Donald exclaimed indignantly. The tail of his equine onesie swished aggressively behind him. “You don’t have to remind me!” He sobbed. “At least, let me walk on two legs. My dignity’s as crushed as my knees.”

Hecate tilted her head. Genuine curiosity shone in her uncovered eye. “What kind of horse walks on two legs?”

The older A-Rank Sinner was about to say something but decided against it. It was not like the man willingly picked a horse as a character; it was just that Elysia chose him to be one. The young Chief wanted to become something other than a princess who needed rescuing, so she became a heroine with a trusty steed. Unfortunately, that role landed on Donald.

“Hey, Matilda the Gunslinger!” Etti called out. “It’s your turn to roll. Don’t keep us waiting. Otherwise, the other party’s going to have one man down.”

Matilda knew that was a lie. The other group still had ways to revive someone with Hella as a monk. The same went for them, with Hecate as their resident cleric. It might seem their team had the upper hand, but the other group had more firepower than them. They would likely lose in a confrontation, especially if they screwed up their rolls.

The dice materialized on the gunslinger’s hand. The goal of the game was straightforward: reach the final boss’ lair and defeat it. The party that dealt the last blow would win the game. There was no consequence for the losing team, but the Sinners were too prideful and competitive to bow down easily and admit defeat.

The A-Rank Reticle Sinner had never played a game like this or something similar, so she took the time to learn the ropes in the first hour. She had invested points in her attributes as efficiently as possible based on her role and planned her choices. She was confident she had gotten slightly better in this game than a veteran player like EMP.

“We’re standing outside a mysterious shack in the middle of the forest,” Etti hummed. Her eyes glinted with unrestrained eagerness. “Wonder what will happen if we enter? Good? Bad? I can’t wait!”

Matilda looked at the dice and then at the wooden door of the cabin. For a good result, she needed to roll an eight or above. Anything could be behind that door. “Let’s find out. We’re going in.” 

The A-Rank Reticle Sinner tossed the dice, and the face showed a ten. “Matilda the Gunslinger got a ten!” Etti clapped, trailing behind the other woman as she pushed the door open and crossed the threshold. “And behind the door, Team Chief discovers an apothecary’s home. The owner’s not around, but they sure left a lot of stuff ripe for the picking. What to do?”

The S-Rank Arcane Sinner tilted her head in mock thoughtfulness. “Should we wait for the apothecary? Or,” She grinned mischievously as she played with the dice between her fingers. “Raid the place? They sure got a lot of useful stuff we can steal - Ouch!”

“Bad!” The little girl huffed, smacking the woman’s shoulder. “Stealing is bad!”

“And setting someone on fire is not - OW OW OW! My hair!”

“Bad horsie!” The child tugged at the stray strands of Donald’s hair peeking out from his costume. “Uncle Don-Don is a bad horsie! Horsies don’t talk.”

“Yeah! Horses don’t talk.” Etti agreed, waving her hand. “They neigh.”

“You brat -” The other S-Rank Sinner’s lips glued shut. When he managed to open them again, a high-pitched sound escaped him. “NEIGH!” 

The others looked away when the man-horse turned to them for help. They knew he would return to normal once the game concluded or the kid decided to change his fate. The latter was unlikely, but there was nothing they could do. In the worst-case scenario, they might even upset her.

Satisfied with her work, Etti turned back at Elysia, who was still glaring. “Oh, fine.” She relented. “No stealing. What do you want me to do, then, oh, Chosen Hero?”

The young Chief tilted her head thoughtfully before turning to Matilda. The gunslinger sighed inwardly. Since the game’s primary creator was on their side to balance the two groups, restrictions were agreed upon beforehand to level the playing field. Once the game started, the S-Rank Arcane Sinner could not make significant alterations and would hand over any decision-making to the little girl if demanded. If something did not agree with the latter, the former must obey without question. However, it did not mean the child could not ask for advice from others.

“Let’s search the house,” The A-Rank Reticle Sinner suggested. “If we find something useful, we can leave a note to the owner so they’ll know. If not, we can leave things be.”

“Okay!” The kid nodded, taking everything she was told like gospel truth. “Witch Big Sis!”

“I’m a wizard, Chosen Hero,” Etti reminded her as she started fishing around for anything valuable. “Herbs, herbs, potions, elixirs…. Huh, that’s one tacky hat. Eww! Who designed this robe? They don’t have any creativity!”

“Hey!” Horo shouted over the world chat. “I can hear you! I designed that! That one’s based on the Legion’s -”

“Ugh! Lame!” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner muted the other Sinner and continued her search. The others divided themselves to speed things up. “Nope, nope, nuh uh…Hm? Oh-ho! What is this?”

The rest of the party gathered as the wizard pulled off the cloth, revealing a hidden chest. She knelt, tapping a fingernail against the lock. A glowing sigil lit up above the brass. “Intriguing. Doesn’t seem booby-trapped or cursed.” She turned to the little girl. “What shall I do? Shall I open it, Chosen Hero?”

Elysia nodded enthusiastically. Her eyes sparkled at the prospect of treasure. Etti cast the dice and earned a number twice the required amount. She placed a palm over the sigil and mumbled incoherent words. The lock slowly gave way, and she opened the chest with a flourish. 

“Ah-ha!” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner pulled out an ivory staff. The uppermost portion curved inward into a hook, surrounding a purple crystal. A golden tassel decorated with multicolored feathers hung at the beginning of the curve. “I found a mighty weapon for our cleric. Look at that description!”

“Blessed Staff of the Saint of the God of Life and Healing…?” Hecate mumbled as she read the game window. “The stats are…” She frowned. “Can I even wield this? The requirements are a bit….”

“Why, of course!” The wizard exclaimed. “Have you forgotten your character background, oh, devout follower of the God of Life and Healing?”

God of Life and Healing? Did she mean one of the ducks? Matilda remembered an ornate marble statue in a temple where they first spawned. A duck dressed in linen and golden accessories was carved on it, just like the gods of an ancient civilization. However, it was an unsurprising development. The mutated waterfowl from the Supply Office were the NPCs of this game world. How Etti convinced Nightingale and Faye to let the ducks participate was beyond her.

“Oi, Etti!” Mess called out from the chat window. “Why is a legendary weapon hiding in a dingy house? That’s cheating!” 

“Yeah, she’s right!” Hella piped in. “You better explain.”

Etti snorted. “It isn’t cheating. Your team’s luck is just that bad. Besides, you already have two legendary weapons. What’s so bad about us getting one? Hmm?”

“That’s the Blessed Staff of the Saint of the God of Life and Healing!” The A-Rank Fury Sinner pointed out. “Its name literally says what it can do! Unlimited healing and resurrections without penalties is OP!”

“Uh-huh…. That’s too bad. Seems like we need to donate our revival scrolls….” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner burst into wicked laughter. “Or not! Good luck with your resources, our ill-fated friends!”

Curses and EMP’s screams were cut off as the wizard completely muted the other group. “Alright,” She threw the so-called legendary weapon toward Hecate, who scrambled to catch it. “Let’s get a move on. Hecate the Cleric, your turn.”

The A-Rank Arcane Sinner scowled at her as she adjusted her grip on her new staff. The dice materialized before her, floating using her divine power. “We should resupply here first, and then, let’s get moving. Chief and I will roll once we’re back on the road.”

“Neigh!”

The cleric cast a sympathetic glance at Donald. “I’m sorry, but horses don’t roll dice. You haven’t even done it even once.”

A horse should not even be inside a small house like this. Matilda was tempted to say, but she did not. Questioning the logic of this game would not work. She had learned that the hard way at the beginning. On the next leg of their journey, the map was nearly bare of civilization, so their group took time to stuff their packs with everything they needed. 

After Hecate and the young Chief used their rolls against a few hordes of monsters, Horo and EMP finally managed to escape their respective predicaments. The two parties continued their chosen routes until they reached the separate entrances toward the final boss’ lair.

“Quack! Quack. Quack!” A duck dressed in chainmail said, flapping its only wing that was not holding a spear. “Quack. Quack. Quack!”

Matilda could only nod politely. Neither she nor her other allies understood what the mutated waterfowl was discussing. The kid and Donald were the only ones who could talk with animals. However, the latter could not translate, given he could only speak in horse, so they would have to rely on the child.

“Mister Guard Duck said the Big Bad can breathe fire.” The young Chief told them. “There’s treasure inside, but the monster doesn’t like anyone touching it.”

“A monster that breathes fire…” Hecate murmured. “There are a lot of monsters that can do that, but the first thing that comes to mind is a dragon. Am I correct?”

“Quack!” The duck confirmed enthusiastically. “Quack. Quack.”

“Mister Guard Duck said Big Sis Hecate is right. Big Bad’s also white and red. Very tall and pretty!”

White and Red? Very tall and pretty? Matilda frowned. That did not sound helpful at all. “Is there anything else? Does it have other abilities we should be wary of? Weaknesses we can exploit?”

The waterfowl glanced at Etti and shook its head. It seemed that was all they could get out of it. Even the NPCs had strict rules to follow within the game. A notification popped out, informing them that the other team already ventured inside the dungeon.

“Tsk! Tsk!” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “So reckless. They didn’t even stop to listen to the poor guard. They didn’t know I changed the final boss at the last minute.”

Silence. It took a moment before the primary game creator noticed her fellow Sinners staring at her. An ‘Oops!’ escaped her lips. She raised her hands in surrender when Matilda planted herself before her and crossed her arms. “I can explain!”

“Explain. Now.”

“It’s not against the rules since it was before we started playing.” The wizard clarified. “And it’s not that big of a change. I just invited someone to play the part of the final boss, and they agreed.”

“WHAT?” 

This was the worst. It was the first set of Sinners on duty, and there were already those coming in uninvited. This was Cabernet all over again. Nightingale would be livid if she found out.

“Who was it? Why didn’t you inform us and Deputy Chief Nightingale beforehand? Do you have any idea -”

BOOM! 

The ground shook violently, nearly toppling the players. Matilda grabbed onto Elysia, steadying her atop Donald’s back. Not a second later, the mouth of the volcanic dungeon started spewing smoke, and a roar rumbled from its depths. The game window lit up, and Etti began to read the event.

“The Hellfire Dragon King senses the presence of intruders within its lair and wakes from its thousand-year sleep!”

More notices flashed before the S-Rank Arcane Sinner’s eyes. “Team Mess reached the First Chamber of Earthen Blazes.” She recited dramatically. “Nino the Paladin rolled a fifteen. She slashes a hellhound using the Hallowed Durandal of Reckoning and deals six hundred, fifty-eight Physical Damage.”

“EMP the Ranger rolled an eleven. She nocks an Arrow of Ice in the Branch of the Elder World Tree and deals eight hundred and six Ice Damage against a lava golem. The Arrow of Ice deals an additional effect: Frozen. The Branch of the Elder World Tree adds an effect: Damage Amplification for five turns.”

“Hella the Monk rolled a thirteen and dealt seven hundred, sixty-four Physical Damage using the Naked Fists of the God of War. Gains Fury status. Increased Attack, Speed, and Defense for three turns. Gains an additional turn.” The wizard continued. “Hella the Monk casts Spiritual Restoration on Horo the Barbarian. Horo the Barbarian recovers five hundred health points. Gains High Morale status for one turn.”

“The team leader, Mess the Artificer, levels up to sixteen. Stat points appointment in progress.”

“They’re going at it, huh?” Etti flicked the game window away as their group’s turn arrived. “I suppose that works out for us. They deal with the small fries while we head straight to the boss.” 

The S-Rank Arcane Sinner rolled her eyes when she noticed Matilda was still glowering at her. “Oh, stop. I did tell that adjutant earlier.” She finally admitted. “And I didn’t tell anyone else because it’s a surprise. If I didn’t, the other party would have an advantage over us. We made this game together, so I’m sure they have something up in their sleeves.”

The A-Rank Reticle Sinner decided to let go of it for now. She would confirm it with Nightingale later. She caught the dice with one hand. “If there’s nothing else we need to do out here, let’s go inside and finish this.”

The wizard grinned and clapped her hands. “That’s the spirit! I happen to know a shortcut in this path. Less monsters and loot, but saves our health and mana points. Follow me, my brave comrades! I shall lead us to our glorious victory!”

“Yay!” The little girl cheered. “We’re going to win!”

The gunslinger bit back a groan and took her position at the rear. True to Etti’s words, they encountered fewer monsters than the continuous onslaught of battle notices from the other side. Less loot did not pose a problem since they resupplied as much as possible on their way here. However, it did not mean they were out of the woods yet.

“The Hellfire Dragon King senses the presence of the Chosen Hero within its lair,” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner announced. “Monster spawn rate increases to fifty percent. All monster attributes are raised to three points. Elite monsters receive the Mark of a Dragon King. Berserk status is now permanent.”

“The Chosen Hero is now considered as the primary target. All monsters will attack the Chosen Hero first.”

“We should hurry,” Hecate hefted her staff and cast multiple protective spells on the child. “We’re almost there, right?”

“Mmm!” The wizard nodded. “That’s the purpose of a shortcut - to save us time.” She switched to their inventories and started pulling out items. “This, this, ah, not this. Ooh! Definitely using this, and - Hm? What’s this?”

Etti opened the description window, and a smile slowly crept on her lips. She turned to the Donald, who stiffened at the sparkle in her eyes. Dread crept up the latter’s spine, especially when the younger S-Rank Sinner undid her spell on him. 

“Hey, you! Whatever you’re planning, I’m NOT going along with it!”

“It’s nothing your pretty blond hair needs to worry about.” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner snickered, twirling a U-shaped band made of solid gold. “No cons, just pros. It will make you a little more useful for our Chosen Hero.”

“Now, then,” The wizard snapped her fingers, casting a Levitating Spell on the kid and veering her away from the man. She glanced at the other two Sinners with them. “If there’s anyone kind enough to hold the Chosen Hero’s mighty steed, that would be very helpful.”

Hecate and Matilda exchanged looks before approaching Donald. The S-Rank Fury Sinner stepped back, sensing danger radiating from the three women. He turned around to escape, but a magical barrier blocked the only exit. 

“Sir,” The A-Rank Reticle Sinner’s hand gripped his left shoulder. Her voice was as stern and frightening as he remembered whenever she would reprimand him. “Stay still.”

The other A-Rank Sinner took his other side, completely caging him in. “It’s for Chief.” She said. “So, please go along with it.”

Go along with it, his ass! These ladies were crazy! There was nothing Donald could do as the three teamed up against him. His scream reached deaf ears - the only witness to the crime was enjoying herself, giggling and doing clumsy somersaults mid-air.

Ten minutes later, their team finally reached the ornate obsidian door to the final boss’ room, waiting for the other group to finish their turns. The impressive entrance almost reached the ceiling, hinting at their last enemy’s massive size. Armor clanged, and heavy footsteps thumped against the gabbroic pathway as the other party finally caught up with them. Elysia perked up at the sight of the five Sinners.

“They’re here!” The young Chief waved at the approaching Sinners. “Big Sis Mess! Big Sis Nino! Big Hella! Big Sis Horo! Funny Sis EMP!”

The others noticed them, and Mess immediately stomped toward them. “Oi, Etti! Why didn’t you tell us there’s a shortcut in the other entrance, huh?”

“If you talked to the guard outside, you would have known,” Etti answered matter-of-factly. “It’s crucial to speak with NPCs. You’ll never know what information you could get. That’s Adventuring in a Fantasy World 101.”

“Even if we did, we can’t switch routes!”

“Aye.” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner nodded sagely. “‘Tis a conundrum indeed. Everything you face in this world is the result of your decisions. This is the kind of world this is.” 

The wizard stepped forward until she was standing face-to-face with the other Sinner. Her eyes were lit in manic delight and thrill. “This is the rule you bound yourself when you entered this game. The price you paid to partake in this marvelous quest. Wouldn’t you agree, adventurer? ”

“You-!”

“Enough!” Matilda stepped between the two younger girls. “Both of you calm down. Do I need to remind you why we’re in this game right now?”

Mess and Etti followed the older Sinner’s gaze. The little girl tilted her head quizzically at their attention. “Is Witch Big Sis and Big Sis Mess fighting?”

“Of course not!” 

EMP, Hella, Horo, and Nino nearly screeched in unison. They elbowed their way past the other Sinners. “They’re not fighting, Chief!” Hella lied. “Just, ah, talking. Yeah, talking! Talking about things they don’t like about each other. Right, EMP? Horo?”

“Right!” The B-Rank Reticle Sinner nodded vigorously. “Of course, they still like each other. They’re, uh, friends. Yeah, that’s what friends do! …I think?”

“What they said!” Horo piped in.

Nino glared at Mess and Etti, whispering her words through gritted teeth. “Play along, will you?” She hissed. “Otherwise, that adjutant will be after our heads!”

The said Sinners hurriedly inched closer to each other until their shoulders touched. Fake smiles were plastered on their faces. “They’re right, Chief. We’re not fighting, okay? Just talking.” Mess lowered her voice until only Etti could hear. “This isn’t over, bitch.”

The S-Rank Arcane Sinner nodded. “She’s right, Chosen Hero. ‘Tis nothing thou need to worry about.” She leaned sideways and whispered. “The feeling’s mutual.”

Matilda shook her head disapprovingly as she watched the farce unfold before her eyes. Despite that, she decided to let it go. It should be fine if the child did not get dragged into it. Besides, if these two decided to duke it out once they got out of this game, the bureau would handle them as per procedure.

Once they convinced the young Chief, the two teams completed their final preparations. They agreed to be careful with sabotaging each other’s strategies to avoid accidentally hurting the kid. They pushed the door open together and stepped into the final boss’ room.

“HOLY-!”

There was no treasure - no mountains of gold, jewelry, and ivory. The entire chamber was built with plutonic rocks, with twin rivers of magma flowing at the sides and dropping to the fiery chasm below. A single throne stood at the far end, with a lone figure sitting on it. Magma-like veins snaked across its arms and face - the same color as its scales, horns, and tail. White hair curtained its otherworldly face as blazing eyes peered at the newcomers with little interest.

Everyone, except Hella, was mesmerized. The B-Rank Fury Sinner was juggling between shock and bewilderment. “What the-? NINETY-NINE?”

“Ninety-Nine the Hellfire Dragon King accepts your challenge!”

Ninety-Nine rose from her throne and roared. Before anyone else could react, she launched herself toward the two groups. The powerful impact sent them flying, leaving a deep, dome-like impression on the rocky floor. The opposing parties scrambled to find their footing and avoid the raining debris.

“Who the fuck designed the final boss?” Hella demanded. “Why Ninety-Nine? Do you want to pick a fight, huh?”

“Shut up! Get your head straight!” Nino shouted, hoisting her shield. “That’s not the real Ninety-Nine!”

“News flash!” Etti announced too gleefully for anyone’s taste. “That’s the real Ninety-Nine. I invited her to join us.”

“WHAT?”

Ninety-Nine locked eyes with Elysia. She pointed a clawed finger at her. “Chosen Hero.”  

“Yes, yes, yes! That’s it! That’s how a final boss should act.” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner cackled. “All Hellfire Dragon King’s stats increase to five points. Fire Sovereign adds an effect: Inflict Burn Damage equivalent to one percent of a player’s remaining health points after their turn. Dragon King’s Throne adds effect: Outgoing Healing reduced to twenty-five percent.”

“Will you fucking shut up?” Mess snapped. “Damn it! Our plan’s ruined! The hell you’re doing? Changing the boss at the last minute, huh?”

“That’s exactly why I did it,” The wizard answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s better to have an equal footing against the final boss - that is, at the beginning of the game.” She smirked. “I told you, didn’t I? Everything you face in this world is the result of your decisions. Whether you’re prepared to face the final boss is up to you. So, good luck!”

“UGH! YOU-!”

The A-Rank Fury Sinner’s words were cut off when something whizzed past his face. It grazed her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Behind her, a small hole penetrated the rocky wall,  creating large radial cracks almost like a broken halo. Ahead of her, Ninety-Nine was gripping her shoulder - her health bar down by a thousand. The artificer’s eyes instantly landed on Matilda, who had the barrel of one of the glowing blue dual pistols pointed at her.

“Matilda the Gunslinger rolled a critical hit!” Etti announced. “She deals one thousand forty-six Pierce Damage to the Ninety-Nine using The Storm Dragon God’s Judgement. Deals one hundred Pierce Damage to Mess the Artificer. Activates the effect: Wrath of the Storm Dragon God. All affected opponents gain a ten percent Defense Reduction for three turns. Activates the effect: Tidal Sovereign. Inflicts Sinking Damage on affected opponents equivalent to one percent of their remaining health points after their turn.”

“The Storm Dragon God’s Judgement added effect: Dragon Slayer. All draconic opponents of the opposite element receive twice the damage. Fire Sovereign inflicts thirty-four Burn Damage to Matilda the Gunslinger.”

Matilda lowered her weapons. “I apologize for this. It’s nothing personal.” She said. “But we can’t let you win.”

“You, bitch-!”

Etti clapped her hands. She was truly enjoying this. “What a bad start for Team Mess!” The dice materialized on her palm. “Well then, time for me to join in the fun. I hope you’re ready!”

The S-Rank Arcane Sinner threw the dice, and the face showed a fifteen. “Etti the Wizard rolled a fifteen!” She raised her wand to the sky with a sly grin. A white magic circle appeared above them, almost as big as half the room. “I call upon the guardians of the everlasting frost, servants of the Goddess of the Northern Winds - the slayer of fiery arrogance and devastator of life. Hear my call and unleash your rage! Freeze the hearts of the ambitious and hopeless!”

A blizzard swept the area, cooling the magma and freezing the rocky ground. It churned around them like the eye of an arctic storm. Its winds howled like the spirits of those damned by the frigid cold. 

“Behold, the Winter’s Tempest! Area of effect gains Low Visibility. All affected opponents gain Movement Reduction until the spell ends. Reduces Fire Elemental Damage to fifty percent. Fire Sovereign inflicts thirty-five Burn Damage to Etti the Wizard.”

Hecate stepped forward, utterly unbothered by the wintry hurricane. She pointed her staff directly at Hella. “I’m sorry,” She said, though her voice betrayed no emotion. She dropped the dice on the floor, scoring two points higher than a ten. “But you’ll have to go first. You’re the most dangerous threat.”

“Wha-?”

“Sleep.”

Magic blasted the B-Rank Fury Sinner straight on the face, and she immediately crumpled on the icy floor and started snoring fitfully. The winds drowned out the other team's protests, and the A-Rank Arcane Sinner handed the dice to the little girl. 

“Hella the Monk fell asleep. She is unable to act for two turns. The Blessed Staff of the Saint of the God of Life and Healing added effect: Increased Spell Success Rate by ten percent. Fire Sovereign inflicts thirty-nine Burn Damage to Hecate the Cleric.”

“Yay! My turn!” The child patted Donald. “Uncle Don-Don!”

“Yeah, no need to tell me twice, kiddo!” Golden wings unfurled from the S-Rank Fury Sinner’s onesie, and he launched into the air. The kid hurled the dice, hitting EMP on the forehead. The dice showed an eight.

“Hey! Why did you-!”

The B-Rank Reticle Sinner could not finish her sentence when the pegasus swooped down and kicked her in the stomach. She slammed against Horo, sending them both stumbling toward Nino. The three tangled into a pile of limbs - the two A-Rank Sinners cursed and yelled as they tried to disengage from each other.

“Elysia the Chosen Hero rolled an eight and ordered Donald the Pegasus to attack. Deals seven hundred Physical Damage to EMP the Ranger. Inflicts Stun for a turn. Deals fifty Physical Damage to Horo the Barbarian and Nino the Paladin. Fire Sovereign inflicts thirty-seven Burn Damage to Elysia the Chosen Hero.”

“HORO!” 

The said Sinner pulled herself up and grabbed the dice. “I know!” She tossed the dice and charged toward Etti. “Take this! RAARRGH!”

“Horo the Barbarian rolled a ten.” The S-Rank Arcane Sinner’s voice giggled amidst the raging blizzard. “However, due to the low visibility, she misses Etti the Wizard and attacks Ninety-Nine the Hellfire Dragon King. The Great Axe of Thunder God deals seven hundred-one Lightning Damage. Gains Increased Speed for three turns. The Great Axe of Thunder God added effect: Paralyze. The affected opponent is unable to act for a turn. Fire Sovereign inflicts fifty Burn Damage to Horo the Barbarian.”

“Shit!” The A-Rank Fury Sinner exclaimed. “That wasn’t supposed to happen!” She flinched when Ninety-Nine glared at her. Despite being immobilized, the older A-Rank Sinner’s intimidating aura did not falter, nor was the intense heat radiating from her.

Hella and EMP skipped their turn, and Nino and Mess took over, trying to gain the upper hand against the other team. Team Chief fought back in their next turn. The two groups volleyed attacks and debuffs back and forth; however, their efforts halted when the final boss’ turn came. A single fire breath from the dragon king reduced their health points to a fourth. That took everyone off guard to the point they had no choice but to work together for the subsequent turn cycles.

“Break her shield!” Nino shouted over the chaos. They were already on the second phase out of three, and things were not looking good for them. “Fuck! Why did we add a shield ability? Whose bright idea was it?”

“Hecate, heal us!” Matilda called out as her turn advanced, thanks to Etti’s spell. She aimed her pistols at Ninety-Nine, already charging her next attack after the cleric.

The A-Rank Arcane Sinner raised her staff, and divine light shone upon the other players. The game window displayed the recovered health points per character. After many healings and revivals, the cleric’s mana points were down to a fourth. Hella was far worse, with less than fifty mana points left. They had nearly consumed their recovery items and had to engage in single-target healing and buffing. It was barely enough to sustain their survival. Things had gotten worse to the point Etti had to abandon her position as the emcee midway through the first boss phase to focus on the climax and set it to a pre-programmed announcer. 

When the gunslinger’s turn came, she fired almost immediately, extinguishing and producing a massive hole in the swirling dome of fire surrounding Ninety-Nine. The others directed their attacks there, but the A-Rank Fury Sinner took them all without batting an eye. The final boss lunged at Nino and swatted her shield away. She smacked the latter with her tail, sending the paladin to the wall and knocking her out. 

“Our paladin’s down!” EMP wailed. “We’re gonna die! I don’t want to die young!”

“Duck!”

Horo dragged the ranger toward the ground as a boulder sailed over their heads. It shattered against the wall a few meters away from the unconscious Nino and rained debris that lowered everyone’s health. The A-Rank Fury Sinner hauled herself to her feet and plowed toward the dragon. She swung her legendary weapon, but the latter caught it with one hand. She yelped as Ninety-Nine flung her toward Matilda and summoned multiple fireballs at them. Heat and smoke covered the entire room, and when they cleared, the two Sinners had their health bars down to zero.

“This is a terrible idea!” Hella remarked unhelpfully as she stood protectively before the kid. They - and Donald - had managed to escape the worst, given that the final boss seemed to be actively avoiding them, even though the dragon king should be going after the Chosen Hero.

“For once, I agree!” Etti shrieked as claws dug against her own shield. Red eyes glared at her from the other side of the weakening protection. “W-W-Wait! What are you doing? You’re not supposed to act before your turn! That’s against the rules!”

“Well, about that…”

Heads turned toward EMP, who flinched at the sudden attention. Mess peered over the rock she used as a cover while she rummaged through her party’s inventories for anything useful. Her grip tightened around the neck of an empty medicine bottle. “Don’t tell me…” She gritted her teeth. “You messed with Etti’s rulebook, didn’t you?” 

The B-Rank Reticle Sinner looked anywhere but at the others. She sweated profusely as guilt filled her expression. She slowly brought her thumb and index finger together. “Just…a little bit, I guess?” She hurriedly added. "I just wanted to make it more challenging - fitting for the Archer Queen of the Syndicate."

“WHAT?” Etti looked like she was about to burst a vein. “It’s just the second phase! THE SECOND PHASE! You don’t make the final boss almost invincible in the second phase. How could you -”

The rest of the wizard’s words were cut off when her shield shattered, and she was sent flying by the rebound. The final boss roared and unleashed a heat wave that swept the others off their feet. A searing light illuminated the room, and when they looked up, they saw the sun itself staring back at them from the tips of Ninety-Nine’s fingers.

Elysia gasped over Hella’s shoulder in amazement. “Oooh! So bright!” However, the latter cursed and shielded the young Chief’s eyes from the blinding glare.

Someone chuckled ruefully. No one tried to find out who it was, not when they could see their lives flashing before their very eyes. “Well…it looks like we’re all dead.”

…Then, white burned their retinas, and the fantasy world cracked and crumbled apart. When everyone came to, they and the ducks were back in the training room. They lay on the cold floor, surrounding the board game they just returned from.

“Ugh…” Nino groaned. “Let’s not do this again. I don’t want to see that game for a loooong time - no, forever.”

The others murmured their agreements. None bothered to add anything; they were too exhausted and sore to say and do anything except for the little girl, who crawled eagerly toward Ninety-Nine. The A-Rank Fury Sinner’s eyes widened in surprise when the child flung herself over the former. 

“Strong Big Sis is so strong!” The kid patted the older woman’s cheek. “Very tall. Pretty, too! I wanna play with Strong Big Sis again.”

“Ah….”

Hella rolled to her side and smirked at the red dusting Ninety-Nine’s face. “Oi, Ninety-Nine! You feeling embarrassed? Your face’s as red as your eyes.”

The other Fury Sinner flinched, scooping a giggling Elysia into her arms and burrowing her face against the latter’s back. “...No.”

The younger girl laughed, finally joining the two into a pile. She poked the older woman teasingly. “We can play again, as long as you’re not the final boss again.” She slumped against the other Sinner. “Ugh! My eyes still hurt. I almost turned blind because of you.”

“Sorry…”

“Nah. You’re fine,” Hella reassured her. “It’s that idiot EMP’s fault, anyway.” Noticing something was amiss, she looked around with a frown. “Wait…where’s that moron?”

Almost everyone sat up simultaneously. They searched the nearly empty training room and found an open door and no EMP. “That fucking little-!” 

Suffice it to say that Mess and Etti rallied a manhunt, and EMP was only spotted during lunch in the cafeteria. As for what happened next, Matilda had an idea. The young Chief wanted to know, but the A-Rank Reticle Sinner kept her mouth shut. Answering curious questions like that could wait for later. They had a garden party to attend, after all. 

Chapter Text

After an exciting morning, Matilda and Donald escorted the young Chief to the Greenhouse after lunch. Faye and Wynn tried to persuade Elysia to nap, but the little girl had too much energy to stay put. The kid was eager to see the flowers she had wanted to see since day one. Their last resort failed - even Nightingale could not coax her to sleep. Instead, it was they who surrendered to the child’s wish.

The moment the young Chief stepped into the Greenhouse, the former Garden members were already on her. Sumire was the first to introduce herself, followed by Garofano, who fawned over her like a doting mother to her daughter. Gekkabijin and Thistle greeted her next - one with her signature cockiness, the other seemingly fighting the urge to squeeze those plump baby cheeks. Despite the women waiting eagerly to see her, Elysia had her eyes on one particular person when she entered that place.

“What?” Coquelic smirked. “Don’t tell me my beauty enchants you? Can’t take your eyes off me now, hm?”

The little girl, with all her brutal honesty, pointed at the woman. Her expression was so earnestly serious that one word threw everyone off guard. “Grandma!”

…And that was how the afternoon garden party started. Matilda and Donald watched from the sidelines while the other Sinners chased the child between the flower beds. Each garden plot was carefully cared for by the former assassins and bloomed in vivid colors. The rest of the former Garden Sinners who did not join the pursuit had gathered on a large blanket under a tree. Though the lighting was artificial, it was enough to guarantee a calm and relaxing atmosphere. 

“Chief, ah, please don’t run! You might trip.” 

The kid was not listening even the slightest. She giggled as she dashed past the violets and to the right. The crown of her black hair dipped behind towering sunflowers. “Can’t catch me! Can’t see me! I’m one with the flowers!”

Sumire and Thistle decided to play along and separated in a mock search. Despite the rustling blooms giving away the young Chief’s location, they pretended they had difficulty finding her. 

“Oh, Chief! Where are you?” Sumire called out. “I can’t see you. I wonder where you’re hiding.”

“Maybe…” Thistle said monotonously as she peered between flower beds. “She’s here? Oh no. She’s not here. Looks like I’m going to keep looking.”

Elysia’s head poked between the sunflower stems before darting toward the bed of purple carnations and crawling toward her next hiding spot. Garofano called out from where she, Gekkabijin, and Coquelic were lounging.

“Elysia, dear, please stand up. Your clothes are going to get dirty.”

The A-Rank Umbra Sinner’s words were drowned by the little girl’s gleeful shriek as the latter almost got caught by Thistle. She slipped away from the older girl’s grasp and retreated to the sunflowers. Garofano sighed, shaking her head. “I should prepare her new dress. She can’t go around the rest of the day in dirty clothes. I wonder what color and style will suit her. Hmm….”

Gekkabijin shifted from where she was lying on her back. “Eh, why worry about that? Just go with anything.” She munched on a bunny-shaped apple slice. “Honestly, I don’t understand why you worry too much about these things. It’s just Chief.”

“That’s precisely why I worry about it.” The older woman explained. “It’s not every day we get to meet and spend time with this adorable version of Chief.” She turned to the only Sinner sulking beneath the tree. “Don’t you agree, Mentor?”

The still-fuming Coquelic spared her a glance and huffed. She had taken earlier personally and had yet to snap out of it. “Do what you want. Why should I care?”

Garofano and Gekkabijin exchanged looks. The latter waved dismissively, rolling to her other side and minding her own business. The child’s laughter filled the background as Sumire and Thistle finally managed to catch her.

“Come now, Mentor,” The A-Rank Umbra Sinner appeased. “She’s a child. She didn’t mean it as an insult.”

Somehow, that ticked the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner more. If the kid’s intention was not to offend her, it meant that she was being honest. It was how she saw her - an old, wrinkly lady past her prime. The thought made Coquelic’s blood boil.

“Grandma Coco!”

The handle of the former Mentor’s teacup cracked audibly. Not far from her, Gekkabijin choked on her food while Garofano exhaled through her nose. The ominous atmosphere surrounding the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner did not deter the little girl from running toward her. However, the former remained unmoving.

“Go easy on her, Mentor,” The A-Rank Umbra Sinner reminded softly. “She’s a child.”

“Grandma Coco!” 

“What?” Coquelic whipped around when the young Chief tugged on her clothes. “What do you want, brat?”

Garofano sighed, shaking her head. “Mentor….”

“What’s Grandma Coco’s favorite flower?”

The question caught the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner by surprise. “What?”

“Grandma Coco’s favorite flower,” Elysia repeated. Her eyes glittered with innocent curiosity. “I wanna know.”

The former Mentor crossed her arms. “And why do you want to know?”

The child shifted uneasily on her feet. “Umm…it’s a secret.” She nodded to herself, seemingly hyping herself up. “Yup, it’s a secret! I can’t tell Grandma Coco.”

Coquelic’s eyes flicked to Sumire and Thistle standing far behind by the flower beds. The two averted their eyes, almost desperate not to give anything away. The nerve! She scowled, disbelieving she had agreed to babysit the young version of that goddamn Chief. “Fine. It’s corn poppy. Happy now?”

The kid nodded eagerly before sprinting back to where her older playmates were waiting. Sumire leaned in as the young Chief whispered to her before leading them further into the garden plots. The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner huffed in annoyance, dumping her tea on the grass and tossing the broken teacup inside the basket.

“Get me a new cup,” The former Mentor ordered to no one. “Make sure the tea’s still hot. If it’s a degree colder than I like, I’m throwing you out of this place!”

Garofano gestured to Gekkabijin to come closer. “I’ll handle the tea. You get a cold compress.” Despite the reluctance of the younger Sinner, she still obeyed and left the Greenhouse.

The A-Rank Umbra Sinner took a spare teacup from the basket and wiped the surface with a clean cloth. Thankfully, they were permitted to use a portable stove, so she prepared a new pot of Coquelic’s favorite tea without borrowing the bureau’s kitchen. Garofano poured and offered the newly brewed tea to the latter just as Gekkabijin returned with a mini cooler box. It did not take long before the grumpy Mentor calmed down with a warm tea in hand and a cold compress pressed on her nape.

“Haaa…really. Kids are a pain to deal with.” The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner complained. “No respect, no fear. This world is hopeless.”

The two former assassins exchanged glances. The latter rolled her eyes, muttering about old people and their endless gripes. Everything was finally peaceful, which Coquelic should be happy with. Yet she could not hear her two flowers’ voices nor the little brat’s shrill laughter. The latter should not concern her, but somehow, it did more than the first one.

“Hey, what are those three up to? It’s too quiet.”

“Hm?” Garofano looked up from the sketchbook she brought along with her. The drawing on the paper was rough, but the outline was of a child’s. “I believe they must be playing somewhere.”

“I can’t hear them.”

The A-Rank Umbra Sinner watched the former Mentor scan the numerous flower beds. She smiled at the barely concealed worry on the latter’s face. “I’m sure they’re safe. There are guards stationed all around this place. No one will dare harm them.”

Despite the reassurance, the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner set down her teacup and cold compress. “Hah! As if these mindless fools can do anything competent.” She stood up, flicking a fallen leaf off her shoulder. “I’ll check on them. Make sure those three aren’t plotting anything stupid.”

Garofano hushed Gekkabijin when the latter snorted. “Please tell them to take a break. I’ll have the snacks ready.”

Coquelic’s clothes fluttered behind her as she strode toward where the three had gone. It should be easy to find them - not all flowers grew tall - but somehow, they were nowhere to be seen. She even checked the white lilies Elysia had taken quite the liking for but did not find her. The former Mentor absentmindedly plucked a white lily as she moved to the next flower bed.

A giggle caught her attention, and the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner followed the direction of the source. She found the three gathered in a loose circle around various freshly picked flowers. No one noticed her arrival - Sumire and Thistle were too focused on teaching the little girl how to make flower crowns. To her credit, the child was listening attentively. Corn poppies and white roses littered her skirt, which got filthy after running and crawling among the garden plots. Her chubby fingers fumbled to connect the last two flowers at their stems.

“Ah, Mentor.”

Coquelic clicked her tongue disapprovingly at their messy state. “What do you all think you’re doing? I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” She crossed her arms. “Now I found you, only to see this? Getting yourself dirty just for flower crowns? I taught you better etiquette than that.” 

The two A-Rank Sinners looked at each other, finally realizing how grubby their clothes had gotten. Theirs were still better than the young Chief’s, but it was enough to receive some nagging. “We apologize,” Sumire said. “But Chief needed help to pick the flowers.”

“Yes, I can see that.” The former Garden Mentor huffed. “Go and get changed. I’m not allowing you to sit with us for snacks in such a sorry state.”

“But -”

“No ‘buts’! Get moving before I have half a mind to kick you out of this place.”

Sumire and Thistle rose, patting their clothes to remove any solid mud and dust. The latter taught the little girl how to finish the flower crown while the other turned to the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner. “Mentor, could you please -”

Coquelic waved it off dismissively. “Yes, yes, I know. I look after the brat.”

“Thank you, Mentor.”

The two younger Sinners returned to their cells, leaving Elysia with the former Mentor. After successfully shooing her little flowers, the latter turned to the child, who had her tongue sticking out as she concentrated on tying the stems into a knot. The thin wood kept slipping off from each other from the clumsy attempts. It was a pathetic sight, so much so that Coquelic decided to offer her help.

“Give it to me. I’ll show you how to do it.”

The kid blinked, finally noticing the woman’s presence. She shook her head vigorously. “No, I want to finish it.”

The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner narrowed her eyes, offended by the cold rejection. “Fine! Have it your way. Don’t come crying to me, do you understand?”

The young Chief did not respond, already focusing back on her task. Still, the former Mentor stayed where she was, watching as the little girl tried and failed a few more times. While the latter had been exasperating, Coquelic admitted her determination was admirable. She had expected her to throw a tantrum after the third attempt.

Minutes frustratingly ticked by until, finally, Elysia succeeded. She lifted the finished flower crown for the older woman to see. “I did it! Look, look! Grandma Coco! I did it!” 

It was not the best flower crown the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner had seen. It was messy - the flowers were not arranged symmetrically, and some petals had fallen off. Yet the child’s pride and joy were so infectious that the former Garden Mentor found herself smiling. “Yes, you did. I suppose you did well.”

“Yes!” The kid stood up, toddled toward the older woman, and offered her masterpiece. “For you, Grandma Coco!”

Coquelic went still. Her eyes widened in surprise. “...What?”

“Grandma Coco said she likes corn poppies, so I made you a flower crown.” The young Chief tilted her head. “You don’t like it?”

How could the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner dislike that? The irritation she harbored earlier had drained away and was replaced by an unfamiliar feeling. Her chest felt warm, almost ticklish. No, no! There was no way a former assassin like her would feel bashful because of something trivial like this. 

“I-I never said anything like that!”

Elysia beamed. “Can I put it on Grandma Coco’s head?”

“Hmph! You’re too demanding for a child.” 

The former Mentor gathered the hem of her clothes, not wanting to muddy them. She knelt and removed her hairpiece, letting the little girl place the flower crown on her head. It was slightly skewed, so she pushed it until it settled perfectly on her hair. The child gasped in appreciation and reached to cup the woman’s face. 

“Grandma Coco’s eyes are red and very pretty! They’re like Strong Big Sis’.”

Coquelic scowled. She had heard about the ludicrous nicknames the kid had given to people. “Are you comparing me to that uncivilized brute? Me?” 

The young Chief tilted her head in confusion. “Strong Big Sis is pretty, but Grandma Coco’s prettier.” She patted the woman’s cheeks. “Your eyes are very sparkly. Like, um, ah…What’s it called? Mommy has those. Hmmm….”

“What? Like the stars? A flower? A blade? The blood of anyone foolish enough to cross me?”

“No!” Elysia’s eyebrows creased together as she thought hard. It did not take a few seconds before her face lit up. “Wubies!”

“Wubies? You mean, rubies?”

“YES!” The little girl nodded vigorously. “Grandma Coco’s eyes are like rubies. Very sparkly and pretty! I like them!”

Somehow, that compliment sounded better than anything the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner had heard in her life - so much better that she could not help but preen in pride. “You -” She pinched the child’s chubby cheeks. “- Who would have thought you could be such a smooth talker? Hmph. Fine. I’ll let you off the hook this time, but you better not push your luck. I won’t be as merciful next time.”

Coquelic slipped the white lily behind the kid’s ear and lifted her into her arms, not caring if her own clothes got dirty. “Enough dawdling. We’ve made Garofano wait long enough. You still have to change out of those filthy clothes.”

“Can I have clothes like Grandma Coco?”

“Absolutely not!” The former Garden Mentor exclaimed. “We’ll find you matching clothes for your age, but not like this. You can only wear mine once you return to being an adult.”

“Awww!”

In the end, a compromise was made. Garofano procured a white tulle dress for the young Chief from the designs she had sewn before, with matching white shoes and a red belt. The latter had taken over Sumire’s lap, munching on a cookie as the A-Rank Umbra Sinner carefully arranged the little girl’s hair into an intricate updo and decorated it with corn poppy hairclips. Garofano wiped the crumbs off Elysia’s cheek, chuckling at how adorable of a messy eater the latter was. Thistle hovered close with a camera in hand, trying to be subtle in capturing photos yet failing miserably.

“Hey, give me a copy,” Gekkabijin said. “I’ll use it to blackmail Chief when she returns to normal.”

“How about ‘no’?”

“Oh, come on! It’s just pictures!”

Coquelic clicked her tongue disapprovingly, making the two younger Sinners flinch and stop their quarrel. “Thistle.”

“Y-Yes, Mentor?”

The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner hooked a finger and beckoned her to come closer. The latter obeyed reluctantly, and the former Garden Mentor leaned. “Have those pictures developed.” She whispered. “I want my copies framed. Don’t use the cheap ones.”

The A-Rank Umbra Sinner blinked. Confusion and disbelief warred on her face. “Er, Mentor? May I ask why?”

“No, you may not.” 

The S-Rank Catalyst Sinner shooed her away and settled down as if nothing had happened. Thistle appeared more confused than a few seconds ago. Gekkabijin elbowed her, asking her what the older woman told her. To her credit, the other girl managed to keep her mouth shut.

Sumire finally finished fixing the child’s hair and tucked in any stray strands. “You look so lovely, Elysia, just like our Mentor.”

Coquelic glanced furtively over her tea. “I suppose you pass.”

“Oh, Mentor….” The A-Rank Umbra Sinner glanced at a clock at one end of the Greenhouse, and her face fell. The kid noticed the change in the atmosphere and looked up at the woman questioningly. “Time flies, isn’t it? We have only two hours left with Chief. I wish it were longer.”

Garofano sighed as she poured juice for the young Chief. “Unfortunately, the adjutant won’t allow that. The recent incidents with a few Sinners had been rather… unpleasant.”  

“Well, I’m glad we can still see her around.” Sumire tapped the little girl’s nose playfully. “Just don’t get into too much trouble, okay?”

“Okay!”

Someone coughed, and the former Garden members turned to Matilda and Donald, who were having their own afternoon snacks on the sidelines. “Chief’s still has an appointment later with another Sinner tonight.” The former informed them, glancing at her former superior, who suddenly found the grass below his boots interesting. “That’s what Deputy Chief Nightingale said.”

The former assassins immediately noticed something was off. It was Thistle who dared to voice their suspicion. “Why are you telling this to us?”

“I just thought you might want to know,” The other A-Rank Sinner answered coolly. “Don’t worry. It’s not confidential information.” 

The other Sinners were unconvinced. “Now, I’m curious.” Gekkabijin grinned. “Who is it?”

There was a pregnant pause as Matilda took a long sip of her coffee. She set down the mug with a soft Clink! and glanced at them in the corner of her eye. “It’s the representative from Paradeisos, Miss Shalom.”

There was a loud CRACK! - this time, it was an entire teacup that shattered. Steaming brown liquid dripped from between slim fingers and splattered all over the pristine white of the former Garden Mentor’s clothes. Only the flower crown was spared from the beginning of the storm.

“WHAT?”

Chapter Text

It was nostalgic - the tense atmosphere, the gaping distance between them, and the wariness behind those platinum eyes. It was as if Shalom relived her reunion with the Chief after the latter lost her memories. The only difference was the lack of a genial smile, replaced by a fierce determination she often had the honor of witnessing during battles.

The young Chief glared at her from behind one of her assigned FAC-MBCC guards’ armored legs. She reminded the Paradeisos envoy of a furious kitten, albeit a small, adorable one. The latter could not help but smile at the thought, which did not sit well with the little girl. Red light flickered faintly on the wrist - one that did not go amiss to everyone in the room.

“Chief…? Is everything alright?”

“... Don’t like,” Elysia mumbled. “Don’t like her.”

Someone snickered, but the S-Rank Reticle Sinner ignored it. “It seemed we started off the wrong foot,” She stepped closer and knelt, peeking at the child whose vigilant eyes never left her. “If I scared you, then I apologize.”

“Then…Then, say sorry to Miss Pretty Lady!”

A beat. Even Schorl stopped beeping beside Shalom as if in surprise. Another FAC-MBCC guard coughed to break the silence. “She’s talking about Acting Chief Nightingale,” The man supplied. “Chief - I mean, Miss Elysia refers to most people with nicknames.”

The representative of Paradeisos heard about it. The Sinners had recently started making a big deal about it, flaunting the nicknames they received from the kid and competing to see who had the best one. The S-Rank Reticle Sinner was quite curious about what the young Chief had in store for her. That is, if she managed to appease the latter.

“Say sorry to Miss Pretty Lady!” Elysia demanded, stomping her foot. “Miss Pretty Lady is a good guy! I like Miss Pretty Lady! Don’t bully her!”

Everyone held their breath. It was no secret that the Chief remained wary of the envoy of Paradeisos every time the latter visited. However, she never openly acted on it and kept a professional and hospitable air toward Shalom, just like how she handled most Sinners. To see the top authority of the MBCC acting up and scolding the inspector from the higher-ups was jarring, much more as a child.

“Chief, there might be a misunderstanding. Miss Shalom didn’t -”

The said woman raised a hand to stop the guard. “It’s fine,” She said before regarding the little girl. “If I apologize to the adjutant, will you forgive me, too? I would love to get to know you and be your friend.”

The child frowned. Her frustration melted to uncertainty. “... Don’t know.”

“Do you hate me, Elysia?”

“...No.” The kid stared at the woman as if she was trying to gouge something out of the latter. “Are you a bad guy?”

Now, that was an interesting question. The S-Rank Reticle Sinner smiled, though the others did not share her sentiment and were horrified to hear that. She decided to ask before anyone interfered. “Why do you ask?” 

There was something behind those platinum eyes - one that neither belonged to a five-year-old nor an amnesiac adult. It was something forgotten and familiar that it sent a shiver down Shalom’s spine. 

“’Cause the other ‘you’ -” The young Chief caught herself and covered her mouth with her hands. A muffled ‘Not gonna tell you!’ escaped the gaps between her fingers. She glanced cautiously at the floating device beside the Paradeisos representative as if she nearly got caught committing a crime.

The other ‘you’. The S-Rank Reticle Sinner wanted to laugh but held herself back. She could barely suppress her interest in the age-regressed Chief. For the latter to know Rebel despite lacking the knowledge or memory of it… was it simply a coincidence? A lucky guess? Or, did she sense it in a way the adult her could not? Perhaps something the older Chief had forgotten or lost? 

Shalom wanted to know, but forcing Elysia to warm up to her would only widen the gap between them. Time, too, was not on her side, nor anyone’s. She heard the bureau staff had made significant progress analyzing the new Mania weapon that turned the Chief into this. Sabotaging their work just to buy more time would only aggravate the situation. It was a shame, but the Paradeisos envoy would have to make do with what she had.

“Let’s make a deal, then.” The S-Rank Reticle Sinner offered. “Give me a chance to prove I’m not a ‘bad guy’. If I can prove it, let’s become friends. Otherwise, I’ll leave the MBCC and promise never to ‘bully’ the adjutant. How about it?”

The little girl slowly removed her hands. The proposal caught her hook, line, and sinker. “You’ll say sorry to Miss Pretty Lady? Really?”

“Of course. I want to prove I’m not a ‘bad guy’ and become friends with Elysia, right?”

The kid frowned, deep in thought, before nodding. “Okay!”

After negotiating a few more conditions for the compromise, Shalom finally persuaded the child to join her for their little ‘date’ in the Outdoor Activity Area. It was conveniently cleared for their use and decorated as she had requested - a cloth-covered table, chairs, vases of flowers, and string lights to lighten the atmosphere. 

The representative of Paradeisos also had to give Nightingale credit - the adjutant had grown devious and learned a few tricks over the years. It seemed the latter had found a loophole and dragged some people into her supposedly one-on-one date with the age-regressed Chief. She had to admit she was so impressed that she was tempted to let this go just this once. Then again, they would never be allowed to be alone, considering the guards were required to watch their every move.

The S-Rank Reticle Sinner surveyed her surroundings. Donald - poor Donald - stood by the sidelines, fidgeting uncomfortably and looking anywhere but at her. His former adjutant was beside him, observing the situation with sharp eyes. It was a pity the MBCC’s second-in-command had taken her under wing - she would have flourished in Paradeisos if the Shalom had gotten to her first. Still, it was admirable how the former could look at her straight in the eye, regardless of rumors about her.

At Paradeisos envoy’s right was the former mentor of the Garden. She heard that the woman threatened to throw hands at Nightingale, demanding to be allowed to join her ‘Little Flower’s’ dinner date. It must be a part of the adjutant’s plan to bait in the S-Rank Catalyst Sinner as a precaution against her. It worked as the second-in-command intended, bringing things to this.

What no one expected was the commander of the 9th Agency seated at her left. The woman arrived a little later, and no one dared to stop her from joining them, especially not when Elysia looked so happy to see the ‘Scary Hat Lady’. She patted the latter on the head before taking her seat like it was meant for her.

The star of this humble dinner was seated across Shalom. The young Chief held Schorl - the cutting-edge technology sacrificed and temporarily reduced to a stuffed toy as part of the compromise. Suffice it to say whoever was observing everything unfold behind it was not pleased. The Paradeisos representative, on the other hand, found it amusing. It was just a shame she could not see their frustration in the flesh.

“Agh! Stop getting the sauce all over your face!” Coquelic clicked her tongue in annoyance as she wiped the little girl’s cheeks. Thankfully, the table napkin prevented the sauce from dripping on the latter’s white dress. “You just had snacks four hours ago and now stuffing yourself again. You’ll get plumper if you keep this up.”

“‘M not fawt!” The kid protested as she chewed on a piece of chicken. “Gawdma Coco ish mean.”

“This brat-!” The former Garden Mentor pinched the child’s cheek. “Don’t talk while your mouth is full!”

“Ngh!” Elysia swallowed her food and turned to Langley. She let go of Schorl to grab the latter’s sleeve. “Scary Hat Lady!”

The 9th Agency commander chuckled as she set down her cup of coffee. “She’s right,” She poked the young Chief’s other cheek. “Look, my finger is sinking. You need to cut off your sugar intake. Too much is bad for your health.”

Shalom watched as the little girl pouted indignantly. The three bantered freely in front of her, seemingly forgetting her presence. Schorl hovered toward her, having granted temporary freedom from the kid’s clutches. “Your plan has only partially succeeded. What are you going to do now, X?”

The envoy of Paradeisos set her utensils down and wiped her lips with a napkin. It went without saying she had plans on how to get closer to the de-aged Chief, including breaking the latter out of the MBCC. It would be interesting to see the adjutant’s reaction if she did just that.  

“So, Elysia…” The child perked up at the sound of her name and turned her attention to Shalom. “How is your stay here in the MBCC so far? Are you having fun?”

“Yes!” Elysia pumped a chubby fist. “Everyone’s nice. I like playing with them a lot!”

“Oh? I’m glad to hear that.” Shalom smiled. “This morning has been…quite lively. I heard you were playing a game. What is it about?”

It was an understatement to say that the young Chief was excited. It was like a switch was flipped, and the annoyance from earlier disappeared in a blink. The little girl’s attention had shifted entirely to Shalom, recounting her fantastical adventure with much enthusiasm that should not be possible to be contained in such a small body. The food and her other tablemates were forgotten, and the Paradeisos representative found the other two Sinners’ expressions satisfying.

“- Then, it’s so bright like the sun! Then, it went BOOM!” The kid spread her arms wide, nearly hitting Coquelic in the face. “We lost, and Strong Big Sis won!”

“You’re not sad because you lost?”

“Nope!” The child answered almost immediately. “Because Strong Big Sis is strong! Very strong!”

“Do you want to become strong like her?”

“YES!” Elysia tilted her head thoughtfully. “Umm…but they said Cool Big Sis is stronger - no, strongest! I want to be as strong as Cool Big Sis!”

How adorable. Shalom itched to grab her camera and take a picture, but she refrained. Instead, she leaned forward and rested her chin on the back of her folded hands as she listened intently to every word -

“- And I want to be as pretty as Miss Pretty Lady and Grandma Coco!”

The Paradeisos envoy’s smile faltered slightly. At her right, Coquelic preened like a proud peacock. “As expected, you have good tastes,” The latter glanced at the other woman with a sneer. “Of course, I’m far more captivating than anyone at this table. You’re the only exception. We even match clothes.”

“Then, can I be as scary as Scary Hat Lady, too?”

Langley raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”

“So, I can scare the bad guys! I wanna fight ’em!”

“Pfft.” The commander of the 9th Agency chuckled. “You’re plenty intimidating enough. I’m certain everyone here agrees.”

It was a lie, of course, but the people around them voiced their agreement while suppressing their smiles. Those wide, innocent eyes and chubby cheeks were definitely a frightening combination. Even a glimpse of them could prove fatal to her enemies.

“It seems you admire them very much, don’t you, Elysia?” Shalom interrupted. “I know someone strong you might like.” She tapped a finger on the table. “I heard you’re going to Eastside tomorrow. How about you bring her with you? I’m sure she’ll make a good and reliable company.”

“She’s going outside?” The former Garden Mentor’s head snapped toward the woman across her. “I thought she has to stay in the MBCC until she’s back to normal.”

“I don’t see any problem with it,” Langley answered, leaning back against her chair. “The medical team approved of it. That adjutant allowed it. The child will only bore herself to death if she’s kept confined in this place. What’s a little trip for a few hours? As long as she has bodyguards with her, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Of course, I had taken the liberty to make some little arrangements.” The 9th Agency commander smirked. “And I’m sure some of Chief’s precious ‘connections’ would be more than happy to lend an aid. With them around, even the most hardened criminals would think twice about harming the kid.”

Everyone in that room understood what the blonde woman meant by ‘connections’. Those who knew and had met these ‘connections’ shuddered at the thought of facing them and pitied the idiots who would even dare. It seemed that Nightingale had already pulled all the stops to make this happen. The only ones who did not seem perturbed by this were the Sinners and the young Chief. 

“Hmph. My little flowers would do a better job than those incompetent fools.” Coquelic picked up her utensils. Her knife cut cleanly through her steak. “I shudder at the mess they’ll cause. I wouldn’t want to be near them and dirty my clothes.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. After all, it’s the others’ turn to look after Elysia.” The representative of Paradeisos smiled, picking up her wine glass. “What a pity. Am I right?”

The former mentor of the Garden scoffed. “Hah! At least I didn’t get pushed down on the bottom list that I needed to beg my masters for help. Did you wag your tail like a good puppy just to get here? You poor thing. Want a bone to feel better?”

“I could ask you the same thing. Jealousy isn’t a good look for you, Mentor.”

“This bitch-!”

THUD! CRACK!

The sound of ceramic slamming on the table interrupted Coquelic. Radiating cracks formed cleanly on the saucer’s polished surface. Langley’s eyes gleamed ominously beneath the rim of her fedora. “Watch your tongue. I’m sure I don’t need to explain why.”

The former Garden Mentor clicked her tongue in irritation but backed down. The atmosphere became quiet and awkward - even the spectators on the sidelines felt uncomfortable. The little girl tilted her head, blissfully oblivious to the tension. The three S-Rank Sinners had kept their M-values at an acceptable level just for the child’s comfort. They continued eating in silence until Nightingale came to pick up the kid. The latter’s face lit up at the sight of the adjutant, and she left her seat and ran toward the woman.

“Miss Pretty Lady!”

Elysia giggled as she clung to the second-in-command’s legs. The latter chuckled, patting the young Chief’s head. “Don’t run after eating. Your stomach may hurt.”

Langley set down her empty cup. “Looks like this party’s over.” She threw a knowing look at the teal-haired woman, who nodded gratefully. Heh. What a worrywart. Her crashing this little dinner date was a request from the adjutant. Usually, the commander of the 9th Agency would not entertain such frivolous things, but spending time with the young Chief was not a bad idea. That and the entire meal had been mostly amusing. Speaking of amusing….

“Elysia,” Langley called out. “Didn’t our honorable envoy here -” She glanced at Shalom with a smile. “- make you a promise?”

The said woman stiffened slightly while the little girl’s eyes widened in realization. “Yeah!” She grabbed Nightingale’s hand and pointed at the Paradeisos envoy. “Miss Pretty Lady! Creepy Lady said she’s gonna say sorry to you.”

Someone audibly choked at the new nickname. There were varying degrees of shock, disbelief, and horror on the faces inside the Outdoor Activity Area. Amidst all these, the usually stern former Mentor of the Garden had forgotten her earlier annoyance and looked like she was having the time of her life. 

“Right, Creepy Lady?” 

The kid’s expectant eyes were directed at Shalom. The latter only smiled while tightly gripping the stem of her nearly empty wine glass. Beside her, Schorl was utterly speechless at the turn of events. “Of course,” She said. “A promise is a promise, after all.”

The Paradeisos representative stood up from her seat and approached the adjutant. The latter tensed up, placing a protective hand over the child as the other woman drew closer. They stood face to face - one putting on an amiable smile, the other reaching for her weapon.

“Adjutant,” The envoy of Paradeisos started. “We’ve only seen each other a few times. However, it seems we’ve started on the wrong foot.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I apologize if I have offended you in any way. Though it may not excuse my actions or words, I hope you’ll accept my heartfelt apologies. I would like to start over again and get to know each other better.” 

Shalom held out a hand. “What do you think?”

The second-in-command was frozen like a statue. A range of emotions flitted across her expression - shock, disbelief, horror, fear, disgust, and contempt. None of which could settle fully on her face. This situation was nothing but a farce. For Nightingale, the woman before her was simply playing along to the whims of a child. No apology could change her impression of this dangerous person.

…And so, the adjutant decided to play along, too. “I see,” She straightened but made no move to shake that hand nor showed any distress lest the perceptive young Chief saw through her facade. Instead, she smiled - the corners of her lips did not reach her eyes. “You didn’t have to bend your back for my sake…or anyone else’s. After all…”

The teal-haired woman stepped forward and lowered her voice until only the other woman could hear it. “It’s easy to disguise lies with sweet words and ulterior motives with grand actions.” She braved to level a glare at those void-like fuchsia eyes for the first time. “I won’t forgive you. I will never forgive you if you hurt Elysia. If you do, then…Mania will be the least of any of our worries.”

Nightingale held her gaze before stepping back and smiling warmly at Elysia, who was blinking at her with a confused look. “Are you friends now?”

The adjutant tapped the little girl’s nose. “That’s a secret.”

The kid puffed her cheeks in discontent. “Booo! But I wanna know!”

The second-in-command chuckled. “I’ll tell you later. Come now, time for bed.” She lifted the child into her arms. “Say goodnight to everyone.”

“Nighty-night, everyone!” Elysia waved at the present Sinners and bureau staff and guards. “Auntie Mattie! Uncle Don-Don! Grandma Coco! Scary Hat Lady! Creepy Lady!”

The employees smiled and waved their goodbyes while a few suppressed their laughter at the list of nicknames. Matilda nodded while Donald let out an audible sigh beside her, relieved it was finally over. Coquelic rolled her eyes, waving the young Chief with one dainty hand. Langley simply tilted her head in acknowledgment, though her amused gaze remained fixed on Shalom. The other S-Rank Reticle Sinner had not moved a muscle, but her smile had neither faltered.

“Goodnight, Elysia.” The representative of Paradeisos said. “I hope you’ll have the sweetest dreams tonight.”

“Bye-bye!” 

Nightingale nodded to personnel and carried the little girl to the door. The staff would begin cleaning this place while the MBCC-FAC guards herd most Sinners back to their cells. Matilda would be the last, as she would supervise everything and report later before turning in for the night. The adjutant opened the door and was about to leave the hallway when the kid suddenly perked up and called her attention.

“Ah - Miss Pretty Lady!”

The teal-haired woman paused, wondering if her age-regressed superior had left something behind. She glanced behind her, eyes already searching the table for anything that belonged to the latter. “What is it? Did you forget something?”

The child shook her head. “No! I wanna ask Miss Pretty Lady,” That got the older woman’s attention. “When I played with Auntie Mattie, Uncle Don-Don, and the big sisters, they kept saying a word.”

“A…word?”

“Mmmm.” The kid scrunched her face as she tried to pronounce. “It’s fa..fa..ah! Fuck! It’s fuck!”

A few loud gasps and the entire Outdoor Activity Area fell silent. Heads whipped in the direction of the second-in-command and the young Chief. However, Elysia remained oblivious to the shocked gazes directed at her. Her eyes were wide in curiosity as she looked innocently at the horrified Nightingale.

“Miss Pretty Lady, what does ‘fuck’ mean?”

Unfortunately for the de-aged Chief, Nightingale had no answer. No one dared to answer that question or ask why the 9th Agency commander, the former Garden mentor, and the Paradeisos envoy were together in the adjutant’s office when a few select younger Sinners were summoned the following day. Only there was crying, a mountain of chores assigned to the young Sinners, and a sudden petition for an increased budget for soaps and bath bombs. 

…The last one was later denied, much to Faye’s dismay.