"Elise-chan~"
Port Mafia Headquarters, Boss Tower.
Mori Ōgai held up a frilly, pure white dress in his hands, beaming at the completely naked little girl in front of him. His voice dripped with affection as he cooed, "This is the latest dress Elise wanted, right? I remember you love white the most, don't you?"
"Rintarō's got it wrong~"
The golden-haired, blue-eyed girl—Elise, who looked no older than ten—pouted in mock anger. "Hmph, you can't even remember my favorite color? I hate Rintarō the most!"
"Eh? That's so mean~" Mori's face fell as he lowered the dress. "But last time we went shopping, you said you loved white the most, just like a doctor's coat!"
"That was then, this is now. A girl's tastes change all the time!" Elise grinned mischievously. "But one thing that'll never change is my love for sweets. Rintarō, I want strawberry cake. Right now."
"Now? But it's already nighttime."
"Can't I?"
"Of course you can. Elise gets whatever Elise wants—after all, my little Elise is the cutest."
Picking up the phone on his desk, Mori's doting tone instantly shifted into something calm yet authoritative. "Have the chef prepare—no, send someone to the nearest patisserie to buy a strawberry cake. I want it here in ten minutes."
"Understood, Boss. Anything else?"
"That dress that arrived today—order another one just like it, but in red."
"Yes, Boss. I'll see to it immediately."
"Make it quick."
He hung up—but before he could even set the phone down, it rang again.
"What is it?"
"Boss, the guards just reported a girl demanding to see you."
"A girl?" Mori raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall any appointments today."
"Correct, which is why the guards refused her entry."
"And then? Don't tell me that's all there is to report."
"And then… she disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes. She appears to be an ability user. According to the guards, she can merge into shadows."
"Description?"
"Black-and-red dress, long and short twin tails, one eye red—"
Before the secretary could finish, Mori cut in. "—And the other gold?"
"Y-Yes, but how did you—?"
"Because she's standing in my office right now."
Hanging up, Mori narrowed his eyes at the girl who had stepped out of the shadows without a sound. His voice was cool. "Elise, the cake will have to wait. It's work time."
"Working this late? That's illegal, you know~"
Elise's words carried a hint of sulkiness—after all, her strawberry cake had been delayed. But she was only complaining for show.
The next instant, a cute nurse outfit and a syringe as tall as she was materialized out of thin air. The petite girl swung the massive needle with ease, its tip glinting sharply under the light.
"Then let's finish this before the cake gets here!"
As Elise lunged forward, Tokisaki Kurumi raised a hand—and an antique flintlock pistol appeared in her grip.
BANG—!!
The bullet, forged from spiritual energy, pierced straight through Elise's forehead, throwing her off balance.
The headshot should have been fatal—but no blood sprayed. Instead, Elise used the momentum to flip backward, landing gracefully on her feet.
Within seconds, the wound closed up as if it had never existed.
Still, Elise didn't charge again. She hadn't even seen where Kurumi had pulled the gun from. Cautious now, she held the syringe horizontally, shielding both herself and Mori.
"Did I stumble upon Mori-san's… special interests and strike a nerve?"
Kurumi's voice was sweetly innocent. "While I can't say I approve of your tastes, I'm not the type to gossip about private matters. Whatever I saw just now will stay between us—you have my word."
"Should I say 'thank you'?" Mori remained seated, unfazed as he pressed a button on his desk. "But trespassing into Port Mafia HQ is a capital offense, miss. I do believe you—because the dead keep the best secrets."
The doors burst open.
Dozens of armed mafia members flooded in, their state-of-the-art rifles trained on Kurumi—who stood there, armed with nothing but a single flintlock.
One order, and she'd be Swiss cheese.
"So. You have one minute to change my mind."
Mori stood, hands clasped behind his back, his voice icy. "Or else, our cleaning crew will be working overtime tonight."
Kurumi's smile didn't waver.
She'd expected this.
Barging into the heart of Yokohama's most powerful underworld organization? Mori being this polite was already the best-case scenario.
Honestly, she'd braced for a full-blown battle.
But Mori was calmer than she'd anticipated—saving her a lot of trouble.
"Mori-san, I'd love to chat—that's why I'm here. But I doubt you'd want unrelated parties listening in."
"No need to worry about my men. They're all trusted. I don't keep secrets from them."
"Is that so? Then let me give you a little teaser."
Kurumi sighed dramatically—but her grin widened.
"The Dragon's Head Conflict. The previous Boss. A Scalpel."
"You—" A flicker of cold fury flashed in Mori's eyes.
"Shall I continue?" Kurumi tilted her head. "Or would you prefer… privacy?"
Mori exhaled deeply. A single wave of his hand.
Without hesitation, the mafia members filed out, sealing the soundproof door behind them.
"For safety's sake, Elise stays." Mori's gaze sharpened as he studied the girl before him. "But don't worry. Anyone in this world could betray me—except her. She's the manifestation of my ability."
[Vita Sexualis]—Mori Ōgai's unique gift as an ability user.
The power to create a loyal female subordinate, customizable down to her weapon, fighting style, height, weight, measurements, personality, age, and preferences.
Elise wasn't human.
She was a living extension of Mori's will—which was why a bullet to the head hadn't even slowed her down.
"Now then, miss…"
Mori returned to his seat, elbows on the desk, fingers steepled beneath his chin. A smile played on his lips—but his violet eyes were glacial.
"Care to explain what those three words just now… really meant?"
--+--