Mastermind Behind The Scenes

"Gina, you're back," the wealthy woman said, turning her head. In that moment, there was no trace of age in her eyes, only the clear, youthful sparkle that belied the passage of time. Her face glowed with the radiance of youth, almost as if she were still in her prime.

Standing at the tavern door, Gina held a bag of vegetables in her hand. She had been on her mind for days, and now, seeing her again, the woman's eyes lit up with a warmth that only deepened her charm.

"Chloe… Sister Chloe, why are you here?" Gina's voice was soft, her eyes quickly lowering, embarrassed by the sudden attention. Her thumb unconsciously rubbed the back of her hand, trying to calm herself. A delicate fragrance wafted through the air, a fresh, sweet scent that made Gina pause.

"It smells so good~" she murmured, taking a slow breath.

Sister Chloe lifted her chin gently, and Gina, almost involuntarily, looked up. Their gazes met, and Chloe's eyes, so warm and inviting, seemed to burn with an intensity that took Gina's breath away. Her pupils shimmered, a soft pink hue flickering within.

"You're so beautiful," Gina whispered, barely audible, but Chloe heard it.

A faint smile spread across Chloe's lips, and they curved upward in a knowing way. "I came to see you. I've missed you so much while you've been away. Did you miss me?" Her voice was filled with affection, and her lips formed a playful pout. Then, with a breath, a soft pink mist spilled from her lips, drifting toward Gina's face.

The plastic bag of vegetables slipped from Gina's hands, landing softly on the ground. Before she could react, she instinctively reached out and embraced Chloe, her head gently nestling into the woman's soft, snow-white chest.

"I missed you too, Sister Chloe," she murmured, feeling her heart race.

Chloe's voice dropped a little lower, her words tinged with playful teasing. "Really? Then will you come home with me?" Her eyes, which had always drawn Gina in, now burned with an intensity that was hard to ignore. The look in them was possessive, deep, and unrelenting.

Gina hesitated, but after a moment, she whispered, "Okay."

The fiery red lips inched closer to her own, and Gina instinctively tilted her head, eyes fluttering closed, ready to meet Chloe's kiss.

But then, a sudden, unexpected cough broke the moment.

"Ahem~"

The sound was sharp, interrupting the closeness between them. Gina's eyes snapped open, her heart racing in confusion. Chloe, her lips still parted but no longer touching Gina's, pulled back just slightly, her eyes flashing with disappointment.

"This is a beautiful scene," a voice said, amused, "but I didn't want to ruin it. Unfortunately, she's my employee."

Chloe's gaze hardened slightly, and she stepped back, her expression shifting with a mix of resignation and lingering desire. Her lips, though still parted, released another soft pink mist that floated through the air. Gina's pupils dilated, and she blinked, momentarily shaken by the sensation. She pushed Chloe away with force, her body retreating instinctively.

"You~" Gina gasped, her voice a mixture of shock and unease.

Chloe watched as Gina pulled away, her face a study in hurt. "You're too heartless, Gina," she said, her voice almost whiny, as if she had been deeply wounded. She shook her head slowly, turning away. "Forget it. I'll come back next time."

She looked back at Ethan, who was still sitting at the table, enjoying his wine. Chloe smiled, giving a casual wave. "Mr. Ethan, I'm leaving now. Your wine was delicious. I'll pay you later. Goodbye."

Ethan raised his glass in a silent toast, smiling in return. Chloe responded with a small bow, her movements graceful. Then, with a final glance at Gina—who stood still, still too alert for comfort—Chloe turned to leave.

"Goodbye, Gina," Chloe called, her voice soft, but with a promise hidden within. "Come visit me when you have time. I'll always welcome you."

Gina didn't answer. She just watched as Chloe left the tavern, a feeling of unease settling over her. She didn't relax until the roar of Chloe's Ferrari faded into the distance.

Her mind replayed the strange encounter, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. She had to stay away from Chloe—there was something unsettling about her. If she wasn't careful, she might just find herself caught in something she couldn't escape.

She must never give Chloe another chance, Gina thought firmly to herself. Otherwise…

A shiver ran down her spine as the thought hung heavily in the air.

"Why did it take you so long to buy vegetables?" Ethan's voice suddenly broke through her reverie, his question direct and nonchalant.

"I was on my way…" Gina muttered, recounting her experience with Alex.

Ethan barely seemed to notice, nodding indifferently. He wasn't concerned about Alex's survival. Alex was a tool, and as long as he served his purpose, Ethan had no interest in his fate. If Alex died or was captured, it would simply be a matter of finding another tool to replace him.

"Go cook," he instructed, his tone final.

"What's going on with Sister Chloe?" Gina pressed, curiosity getting the best of her.

"You mean the rich woman from earlier?" Ethan asked, his voice flat. "She's just a customer."

"No," Gina pressed further, her tone serious. "I'm asking about her ability. She's one of my kind, right?"

Ethan smiled, a hint of amusement playing at the corner of his mouth. "She ordered the most expensive wine as soon as she arrived. As a responsible merchant, I'm just providing her with the goods that match her financial means."

Gina frowned, not satisfied. "What is her ability?"

Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. "You could ask her yourself. Aren't you familiar with each other?"

Gina didn't answer. "Forget it," she muttered. "I'm going to cook. By the way, today's food cost me $11.50. Add that to the $2.80 from last time. You owe me a total of $14.30. Don't forget to pay me back."

"I know, I'll pay you back in a few days," Ethan replied without hesitation.

"How many days is 'a few days'?" Gina asked skeptically.

"Just a few days," Ethan answered carelessly, already turning his attention back to his wine.

Though she knew it was unlikely she would ever see the money again, Gina clung to the hope. It was $14.30, after all. She wasn't going to let it go until Ethan promised to pay her back the next morning.

Watching her leave, Ethan took out his little notebook and began to make a note.

[Chloe: Flower Fairy Potion User]

[Ability 1: Psychedelic body fragrance – Affects the spirit of creatures, making them feel pleasure and affection toward the user.]

[Ability 2: Psychedelic pollen – Anyone who inhales it with weak mental fortitude falls into a hallucination created by the user, with varying degrees of resistance depending on mental strength.]

[Ability 3: Flower spores – Can parasitize other organisms, allowing the user to control them.]

[Ability 4: Ultimate absorption – Absorbs the physical and life force of flower spore parasites to restore the user's own strength.]

[Side effects: Increased life consumption, requiring frequent absorption of others' physical strength and life force to maintain balance.]

---

The scene shifted to the conference room on the fifth floor of the Riverton City Police Station. Senior officials from the Riverton City Police Department and the Kyoto investigation team gathered around the table, listening intently to Daniel's detailed report.

"…This is the specific process of today's operation," Daniel explained, his voice serious. "Although the mission ended in failure, we didn't walk away empty-handed."

He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "First, we can confirm that 001 possesses strength, speed, reflexes, and perception at human limits. In addition, we've observed that his vitality and recovery ability surpass anything humanly possible."

"He was caught in a close-range C4 explosion, yet his injuries healed in a matter of seconds. This proves his extraordinary recovery ability, similar to that of a lizard."

"Even after being shot multiple times, including a direct hit to the heart, he was still able to move. His vitality exceeds the human limit."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "Additionally, we can confirm a connection between 001, the Lizardman, and 002, the Ghost. They know each other, at the very least."

"Given that only Riverton City has displayed clear supernatural events, I suspect that there is a source here. Both 001 and 002 may have gained their powers from this source."

Daniel's expression hardened. "Lastly, 002 appears to be a woman."