that we've had our fun, little foxy, let's cut the chatter and get to the point by answering a very important question that's been eating at me from the moment the Inquisition showed up." Lucy's tone came out light-hearted, almost playful.
Billy's eyes rolled. "You hate when I do that. Don't be a hypocrite."
"Come on, little foxy. I thought you loved me more." She placed a hand over her heart, acting wounded. "It's simple, really. Why did they skip all our acquaintances and come straight to us? There was no trail at all—especially since fewer people than can be counted on one hand knew this location. Including us."
"Yeah, yeah." Billy's gaze stayed fixed on her, his fingers tapping against his knee as if trying to keep track of something, trying to make sure his presence wasn't forgotten.
Lucy gave him a bewildered look but moved on.
"But before we can figure out that important question, we must first regain our footing and see if that cult thing is actually possible. More importantly, check which of what we built is still intact..." Her voice caught slightly, fingers curling against her palm. "At least we're alive."
The last part came out with an ache.
"You weren't joking about that." Billy's mind conjured the image of himself harvesting divine power illegally, dressed in black robes. The absurdity of it pulled a small breath of amusement from him.
"It'll give us both what we want. And the Inquisition already wants us. Dead" Lucy's voice came simply, flatly—she never knew when to hold back.
"But it matter how much they want us. Dead" Billy's voice carried something bitter at the edges as he pushed discomfort deeper down. "But forgot it—you always get what you want, Lucy."
"Hey, what do you mean? I always take you into consideration." Lucy's words came out a bit unfocused, her response half-hearted as she waved a hand dismissively.
She paused, then continued, her gaze drifting toward the cave entrance.
"You know you're a lost cause. Just get to work. I'll stay here a while and think of something, get some information and..." She hesitated. Her fingers pressed together, knuckles whitening slightly. "Our oldest acquaintance—I want you to be careful around him. But if you don't mind, check if it was him. Don't push it. Just a hunch."
Lucy's voice carried an unusual hesitation. Her face had paled, complicated emotions flickering across her features as she grimaced.
"So the old bastard finally crossed linr"
The way Billy said it would chill anyone. Cold. Emotionless. Filled with malice.
Something finally clicked. Billy snapped his fingers—cloth materialized on him.
Yes, he'd been naked this entire time. But for some reason, Lucy wasn't.
He bowed, holding his hand to a hat. Then he stood, turning to leave the cave, feeling the weight of a black coat settling on his shoulders.
The smell of fresh air hit him.
"Okay, time to work." His stomach interrupted him with a growl.
"But maybe before that, I need to have something to eat." He moved to a spot next to the cave, studying a section of ground that looked odd. He snapped his fingers—an explosion sounded behind him.
"I never get those locations right. I really need something for my memory." He brushed dust from his coat.
He moved toward the new hole in the ground. There was a small book glowing blue with black spots. He snapped his fingers—the glow faded.
Opening it revealed a small stash of metal coins and paper money. He took them and started moving toward the city.
Buildings rose before him—ornate facades carved from pale stone, wrought iron balconies curling like frozen smoke, grand plazas designed when ore money flowed like wine. But electrical wires were strung haphazardly across those elegant facades like spider webs, retrofitted rather than planned. Neon signs buzzed and flickered against centuries-old architecture, their garish light washing out the carved details beneath.
The streets were a mess of contradictions. Cobblestones cracked and heaving where underground tram lines had been hastily installed. Gas lamps converted to electric, but half didn't work, leaving pockets of shadow between pools of harsh, modern light. Steam vents from old ore processing systems still hissed from grates in the ground, mixing with exhaust from automobiles clogging streets meant for horse-drawn carriages.
He breathed in the polluted air on the outskirts of the city.
His arms spread slightly as if welcoming his city with an embrace. Of course, this air was nothing compared to where he was going.
Before entering the city streets properly, he snapped his fingers. An item in the coin stash glowed. He then removed his hat—his ears were gone. He checked his reflection in a pocket mirror attached to a watch. But when he moved his hand toward where his ears should be, he could still touch them. The coin had runes etched on it. He didn't dwell on it and started moving.
Something stopped him mid-stride.
He stood before a luxury dress shop for women, the name of a famous tailor displayed elegantly above the entrance. He stared—not out of greed, but admiration of craft.
His mind wandered to the safe. To what was inside.
He shut down that thought immediately.
As he was about to enter with the excuse of looking for something for Lucy, he froze.
His hand had already reached for the door handle.
He pulled it back slowly, fingers curling into a fist.
I'm too busy for this right now. Come back later. The shop will always be there. Remember.
He turned and moved on, his pace quickening slightly as he put distance between himself and the shop.
It was quite a while before he reached his destination.
The area had far fewer people. More hoods. More figures hiding their features. He went inside a familiar place to eat.
But a scene unfolding inside stopped him.
A celebration was happening.
In the middle of the restaurant, dancing on a table by herself, was a girl with a red hood. She had soft features, white hair with blue strands, and uncanny blue eyes. She nearly slipped off the table when she saw Billy.
Her eyes went wide.
Billy started laughing as she fell—but he was the only one. Silence dominated the restaurant for a moment, the atmosphere about to turn sour.
Then the girl jumped back onto the table as if nothing had happened.
She started laughing herself, telling everyone to keep celebrating the reopening of the place. She gestured for Billy to find a seat.
"You're celebrating? Didn't know there was a happy occurrence, Reden. Tell me the good news. With everything that's happened, I'm starving for good news." He settled into a chair like he owned the place, speaking to an old friend. "Also, I'm actually starving, so I'll take the usual."
Someone responsible for order-looking sate at him, looking a bit confused.
As Billy looked at Reden, she barked an order, at him sending him running.
"You changed staff." Billy's tone came out light.
"Come on! All the undead I was working with suddenly went motionless. You didn't work with a lot of living bodies. Everything is on fire, or seized by the Inquisition, and then I hear you're dead—you know how horrified I was?" Her hands moved wildly as she spoke.
"Indeed. Frightening." Billy pointed at the celebration around them.
"Well, I had to reopen the place. I need to make it clear—I mean, I need to live! This is my restaurant, and how will I survive without you? I need money!" She started talking in a rushed tone, grabbing a glass of water and drinking with an enthusiasm that was probably unhealthy.
"Yours? I don't remember Lucy giving it to you." The amusement in Billy's voice grew—he was enjoying this conversation.
"Yeah, sorry a slip of the tongue there." Her face paled. A tear nearly fell from her eye.
She finally put the water aside, her hands shaking slightly. "You've had your fun. What do you want? I told you, most of it is gone. And there were rumors you're still alive—most believed it, actually. But I saw the undead magic fade, but I guess I was stupid." The words came out with difficulty, her voice catching.
"Anyway, they came here not long ago. They probably knew about the connection but weren't sure or didn't have solid info, since they didn't stay long. But this is too much, old friend. You got your chance to leave. You always want to do. And she's probably alive—since you are—and if she's ever going to give up, it'll be now."
A complicated smile appeared on Billy's face. His mind flashed with memories—she knew them better than most of their associates, but still, she knew too little. At this point, it never mattered. They just had to keep going.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, then glared at her.
"Reden, this? Not happening? The inquestionn the location leak That's kind of your job. So at least do the other part of your job well and tell me everything I need to know." A polite smile folloed. Little to no emotion behind it.
She frowned. Looked at the door. Then at the restaurant. Then at Billy.
She hit the table in frustration and started whining.
Billy's glare held steady.
Eventually, she gave him the information he wanted.
Yet he stayed seated.
"Why are you still—" She paled further.
"No, wait—second —I'm not the one who betrayed you! Believe me, it wasn't me, it really wasn't!" She moved suddenly, attracting attention from nearby tables.
Billy's expression remained blank. "Where is the food? Why is this taking so long?"
Reden remembered what she was dealing with. She cursed under her breath, sat back down, and gestured sharply at the chef to hurry up.