angel

Just the thought of there being another person like you is already giving me a headache.

Haha, don't you worry about that. She and I are very different.

Really?

Yeah. After all, we don't share any blood.

Hwuh?!

No foolin'?!

Of course... Wait, Croissant, how come you're listening in?

You ain't never talked about yer past. I'm so curious I just can't help mahself...

I don't talk about my past?

Oh, let's save the story for later! Don't get distracted. Just keep gaming!

—Too late.

I win.

Ahhhh! Texas! That's darn underhanded to pass me up like that!!

Ugh... Total defeat.

(Everyone sure is curious.)

(But, did I really never bring up the thing with my sister before?)

(Well, I guess it's not altogether surprising, since nobody bothered asking...)

(Speaking of Mostima, I've been waiting for eons now and she still hasn't shown up. Is the Boss trying to pull a fast one on me?)

(Whatever, I'll just have to go with the flow! First, gotta write a response though...)

Hm, wonder if we have any snacks that won't go bad or break...

Oh, Exusiai, where are you going? Not going to play anymore?

Right, you guys have fun. I'm going to go shopping for some nice gifts. Be right back~

We'll have a rematch later tonight, Texas! That round just now didn't count, so let's have a redo!

Hehe, just you wait! I'm gonna win for sure!

I'm curious now. Where did you run off to in the time it took me to use the toilet?

Would you believe me if I told you my life was at risk?

I was under the impression that Lungmen was a city of law and order.

I'm just as curious as you are as to why random pedestrians would be after my head in such a well-policed city.

Okay, I might actually have a pretty good idea of why.

Go find a milk tea place, and get me a cup. See ya.

Hey, what the hell's up with your––

Texas, you could say we're coworkers, right?

More or less.

I don't think coworkers are supposed to draw swords on each other.

But Exusiai's been looking for you this whole time.

And you're a slippery one, so I figured it'd be easier to hogtie you and haul you over to her.

Oh, Siracusans. You always get the job done clean.

I have to admit, though, I was this close to letting you do it.

But at this point, you can't catch me anymore.

Emperor talked to me about you. I never planned to take you on alone.

Hey, Texas, aren't you on delivery? Why do you need me all of a...

Huh?!

Hi there.

Mostima?!

Just happened to bump into her.

Good going, Texas!

Same plan as always. I'm up front, you wrap around.

Tie her to a chair. I've got all sorts of ways to make her spill what you're looking for.

Siracusan ways?

Texas ways.

El, you're not really going to fight me, are you?

Why not?

The boss talks a lot about business culture. Even though his slogans change every day, I've always held onto one for myself––

Play hard!

So let's play, Mostima.

Alright, we'll play a little game of cops and robbers. If you can catch me, you win.

Does it matter how I do it?

You can even smack me around, El. Use your gun if you'd like.

Huh?

Don't worry, the commandments don't protect fallen angels.

Ooh...

Wait, I can't use guns downtown! And you don't get to use your Arts!

Okay, let's dial up the difficulty a bit. You––

I won't use my Arts.

But you're still going to use your swords, right?

As long as you don't resist too much, you probably won't get hurt.

Alrighty. Three–– (Winks)

(Nods slightly)

Start!

She's fast!

I know all your little tricks, El.

Of course you do...

Texas, have you eaten?

Yes. How about you?

I'll manage.

Then let’s get going.

Alrighty!

Ya seem mighty busy today, Exusiai.

Eh, I'm okay, Croissant. You're setting a stall up over here?

Sure am. Didn't have much work today, so I figured I'd do a little hawkin'.

Oh right, have you seen a blue-haired angel? I think I saw her linger here for a little while, from off in the distance.

If'n you mean that Mostima of yers, she went that-a-way.

Alrighty, thanks a bunch.

That about satisfy ya?

And here I was thinking you'd double-cross me halfway through.

Y'all playin' some kinda game?

How'd you know?

Well, I reckon since you've been duckin' her this long, if'n you didn't want her to find you, Exusiai'd never see heads or tails of ya.

Then why didn't you help her?

Let's just say you've piqued my curiosity.

'Course, since I helped ya, ya gotta show my enterprise here a li'l love.

Then, I'll have a smoked sausage.

Now yer talkin'.

What do you want to get out of me?

Hmm... It's less gettin' somethin' outta ya, and more somethin' I wanted to tell ya.

Since she came here lookin' for ya, n' all the time she spent waitin' for ya, Exusiai's been in Lungmen for a good number of years now.

But I'n see that her search ain't no grave matter o' life n' death. Just look at what a whallopin' good time she's havin' in Lungmen!

She talks you up as some kinda unbelievably powerful being, carryin' a buncha secrets you can't tell nobody, haulin' a big pile of yer own problems on them shoulders fer good measure.

But it's been an awful long time. Ya do kinda owe her an explanation.

Croissant, grab her.