"…"
"…"
"…"
"...Or how about we say something? It feels a bit awkward with the two of us just silent," Roy broke the silence, looking at Hintleyya in front of him and saying, "I know what you want to say. You failed. You didn't stop Shining Knight, and you didn't wipe out the Red Pine Knights. All in all—you basically didn't complete any of your tasks."
"...After you've said all that, what else is there for me to say?" Hintleyya rolled her eyes. "Besides, I don't think it's all my fault. After all, all of this… was done by Shining Knight."
"Haha, I agree. Going head-to-head with that guy is indeed not worth it," Roy chuckled. "But Monique doesn't think so. She's very angry because her bonus is gone."
"I don't even know what Monique's plan was?"
"That's not important, little Pegasus. What's important is—we both failed, our bonuses are both gone. See, aren't I also avoiding Monique?" Roy teased. "Anyone who appears before Monique now will be treated as a stress-relief tool. But luckily, you still have other work to do. Come on, tell me, you've been in Noah's company for so long, you must know some of Noah's weaknesses, right?"
"As for knowing… I definitely know," Hintleyya frowned. "But she told me herself, so I think the credibility is very low."
"Tell me?"
"She has the ability to locate sounds, but if the ambient sound is very chaotic, it will also affect her judgment—" Hintleyya began. "To deal with her… first deal with her hearing."
"That sounds quite reasonable—but why would she tell you that?"
"...I don't know," Hintleyya shrugged. "I've never been able to understand her thoughts."
"Hmm… never mind, just keep it in mind. Little Pegasus, I still need to remind you, you are just a nail lurking by her side. An assassin cannot develop feelings for her target," Roy blinked, giving a warning. "By the way, we're still good colleagues, right?"
"...If you say so, then it is, Sir Roy," Hintleyya nodded expressionlessly. Roy smiled with satisfaction.
"Alright, don't talk like that, it's too formal. Being called by name with an honorific is really too uncomfortable. I don't often call you Hintleyya, do I? Platinum Position? How about we use nicknames from now on? Little Pegasus?"
"There are many Pegasi in Kazimierz."
"It's enough that you know I'm talking about you. By the way, there's one more thing—"
"What?"
"Plastic Knight is missing—"
"…" Platinum's expression hardened. "So what? The Howling Guard is already finished. It's normal for these knights to run away, isn't it?"
"Yes, the Howling Guard is already finished, but he is still the 'property' of the Howling Guard, and don't mistake one thing—"
"Hmm?"
"Knights are inherently commodities, and their value is merely that of commodities—" Roy said. "Zero Block is about to start fulfilling its purpose, my little Pegasus. If you don't want to feel sick, then don't secretly inquire about things you shouldn't know."
"...Hmm."
"And one last thing…" Roy ran a hand through his hair. "Don't you think—I've changed?"
"...You dyed your hair?"
"Yes, that's it. Don't you think my dyed hair looks good?"
"...Hmm, it looks good."
"Why does your tone sound a bit perfunctory?" Roy frowned. "You are Platinum, so your hair and clothes are all white. As Azure, isn't it very fitting for me to dye my hair blue? Monique also has blue hair!"
"I believe that's a personal matter." Platinum's gaze began to drift. Roy originally had black hair, and because of his special identity, most people didn't even know Roy's true appearance, so his hair… honestly, even if it was a wig, Platinum wouldn't care. But since the other party brought it up, she could only nod in agreement.
"I can't help it, Platinum is white, and Monique is Azure which also matches her color scheme—I'm the only one with pitch-black hair, isn't that a bit off?" Roy complained. "Your hair that matches your position is too convenient, isn't it?"
"...I can't control my hair color," Hintleyya said helplessly.
"So, for the sake of the company's image, I dyed my hair," Roy said with a smile. "How is it? Isn't it very professional?"
"...You… as long as you're happy."
Platinum took a deep breath, finally suppressing the fire in her heart, and spoke.
Speaking of which… Roy's original hair color was indeed black…
In Kazimierz, the only two people with black hair that Hintleyya remembered were Roy and Noah. However, Roy now had to be removed from the list of black-haired individuals.
She didn't know why he suddenly had the whim to dye his hair… One should know that this guy had been Azure for much longer than she had been Platinum, and he had never dyed his hair back then. Why this time…
Never mind, thinking so much was meaningless. The Zero Block situation was already giving her enough headaches… If she could, she wouldn't want to do this kind of dirty work either.
—
Let's turn our attention back to Margaret and the others. At this moment, Margaret was facing Manner. After Margaret returned, Manner had the smallest reaction, but he was the first among everyone to talk to Margaret. However, no one knew what the two talked about for now. The only thing known was—after their conversation, the two began sparring. Margaret used to do this kind of sparring often with her father, Snitz. Before Snitz left, Margaret even won against Snitz once.
However, that time he clearly went easy on her, and now, facing Uncle Manner, she still felt a sense of oppression.
Even though Uncle Manner didn't draw his sword immediately, this sense of oppression had already permeated her body. Uncle Manner always had the habit of carrying a sword, whether he was working or at home, his sword was always by his side; it was his biggest habit.
And when he sheathed his sword, he seemed to pose no threat—but that was an illusion.
Those who could truly perceive Manner's strength would understand that Manner's sword was a presence that could make people tremble even without being drawn.
But this time, Margaret, with Noah's help, had a whole new set of equipment, and with the help of Craftsman Cat and Maria, after her sword-spear was reforged, she finally put down her warhammer and shield and picked up her most proficient sword-spear—this sword-spear, which could transform between spear and sword forms, was crafted according to the Lingguang Family's heirloom sword-spear, specifically tailored to Margaret's characteristics, and was by no means comparable to weapons forged by ordinary craftsmen.
And looking at this sword-spear, Manner couldn't help but show a nostalgic expression.
"...You really are becoming more and more like Snitz."
He spoke, "Now, can you prove anything to me?"
"…" Manner's words did not shake Margaret. "I will stick to my original path, but I will no longer be alone."
"Is that so?"
"Please enlighten me," Margaret said, holding her sword-spear and striking a pose. "Uncle Manner."
"It won't sting your eyes."
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