Chapter 22 – #5 What’s in That Drink (1)
“…… I thought you were going to die.”
The hideout of the villain organization [Abyss]. The center of the lounge space.
Number 13 sat down on the floor holding Dorothy in her arms and let out a voice mixed with a sigh.
The two of them were confronting the hero in the underground parking lot of the shopping mall a while ago, but they jumped over the space and now safely arrive at the hideout.
All of this is thanks to the staff member who is sitting leisurely on the sofa in front of me, tilting a cup of tea.
“It must have been a really big deal. My heart trembled and I thought I was going to die.”
“Are you drinking black tea leisurely on such a subject?”
The staff member put the teacup to her mouth and tilted it while laughing.
No. 13 turned her head involuntarily at the shiny silver hair and graceful movements that somehow exuded femininity.
Oops… Oops… Oops… !
“Ah, Dorothy.”
“Puha… ! Hey hey! What if I hugged you so tightly… ! I thought I was choking to death… !”
Dorothy, who was pounding her fists in Number 13’s arms her, pushed Number 13 away and fell.
He was gasping for breath, his face flushed red.
Of course, it wasn’t just because I was choking….
“… But what is it? What happened to us?”
“I came back with the ability of a staff member.”
“I guess I know a little bit about that.”
With the staff’s ability, it was transferred through the [Shadow].
However, this ability can only be transferred through a pre-registered shadow, and only two people can register it.
Right now, only two people, number 13 and the boss, Violet, were registered.
The reason I instructed Dorothy not to fall while holding onto her just now was to prevent the transference of No. 13 alone.
“Rather than that, how did the staff know about the situation?”
Dorothy also knew the staff’s abilities, but what she was curious about now was not “How she came”, But “How she knew”.
The two of them’s smartphones were lost, broken, or destroyed, and there was no way to contact the staff because there was no communication device.
How on earth did the staff know everything that happened from a location several kilometers away?
Aside from that, it bothered me that while the club had figured out Dorothy’s hidden gun, they hadn’t noticed the flashbang that Number 13 had boldly prepared.
“It’s thanks to No. 13’s belt. It has bugs in it.”
“… Come to think of it, staff member, you asked me to make one….”
“Did you make that, Dorothy?”
Anyway.
The staff was able to detect the situation with the wiretap attached to No. 13’s belt, and she communicated her intentions through the registered shadow of No. 13.
No. 13 also simply specified the brief situation and the timing to execute 『Transfer』 To such a staff with an eavesdropping device.
It’s transmission through the shadows, so Dorothy or her club wouldn’t have heard it.
Dorothy felt strangely drained by the trick, which was less than expected.
I’m glad anyway
I was in danger of being dragged into a mess with my limbs being crushed by the hero right away, but fortunately, I was able to return safely with my limbs intact.
She went to eat dessert without thinking and ended up in this kind of situation. How could anything be so funny?
“…… Number 13?”
“Yes? Wow!”
However, the relief was short-lived, and Dorothy, feeling strange about No. 13’s behavior her, pounced on No. 13 and pulled up his jacket.
Under his stripped shirt her, number 13 had large bruises on his side and back.
As you can see, his shoulders are slightly lifted, and his condition is strange in many ways.
His side his knows when he got hit, but his back his is….
“You got hit when you transferred, you.”
“Ah. I didn’t want to be found out because I was embarrassed.”
Although she said it slyly, Dorothy’s heart her was heavy.
Right before the transfer, #13 hugged Dorothy in an unnatural way.
The location where No. 13 was right now was exactly where Dorothy’s head would have been, judging from her posture her a moment ago.
Even though it’s a liver, the ability to aim for Dorothy’s head her without shaking even when the flashbang exploded at close range is amazing…
After all, that hero has a bad personality.
‘I can’t forgive you.’
“… Come to the infirmary right away. I will treat you.”
“Uh, Dorothy, are you mad?”
“It didn’t happen! … It’s just a little bit annoying.”
Dorothy grabbed Number 13 by the collar, raised her up, and dragged her to the infirmary.
13 Hoden-chan, to be all honest, he always thinks it’s fine no matter what.
As the organization’s scientist-doctor, seeing the wounds of the two firsthand, Dorothy couldn’t help but feel something dark over her heart.
As a result, no. 13’s bones were not broken, but his skeleton was slightly distorted, internal bleeding, and other minor cracks were diagnosed.
With Dorothy’s special body activator and cure, he said that in a week or so he would be well, but without any problems.
The plan to raid the club, which was originally scheduled to be carried out within three days, had to be delayed a little.
But in the meantime, fortunately.
“It’s okay, Mr. 13.”
“Because the measures have already been taken.”
“… She really can’t forgive.”
While feeding No. 13, who was sick and unable to lift his arms properly, he handed over porridge to him.
It was because he confidently told me that the staff didn’t have to worry about anything.
* * *
“Then excuse me.”
Clack, squeak——
Percussion
The Hero Association, the 7th division.
The club, who encountered the villain at the shopping mall, just came out of the captain’s room after a detailed report on the situation at the time.
The word “Fuck” Came out of my mouth involuntarily. In many ways, I sigh in a displeased mood.
‘I missed the villain, but I didn’t even taste the dessert.’
The club, which encountered the villain despite being off duty, eventually consumed all of its precious off-duty break time by looking for traces of the villain without even having time to enjoy dessert.
I was thinking of wrapping it as I wish, but the store is in an unexpected situation…
For example, a villain planted a bomb, or just in case, I closed the door and everyone left work.
Although it was thoroughly investigated and found to be safe,
Anyway, it was a pity that I couldn’t eat the dessert I was looking forward to this time.
‘Annoying! It’s really fuckin’!’
In the end, I couldn’t figure out why No. 13 and the woman who seemed to be his companion were there, or why they appeared.
I thought about it over and over again, but it was never, definitely, definitely not that the villains appeared because they wanted to eat seasonal limited-time desserts directly from the store.
It was frustrating not being able to know his true intentions his, but the fact that he missed out on his subordinate his and then his boss his also spurred the displeasure of the club.
To miss it
Right in front of your eyes! The moment you catch everything!
It’s putting a dent in my career!
Thanks to this, the goal between the villain organization [Abyss] And the Hero Club has deepened even more.
To the point where I swore deep in my heart that the next time I saw him, I would make a horrible scene without mercy.
In addition, even without knowing the woman who was next to him, he confirmed that the [Clearance permission] Had been given for Villain No. 13.
This time, I had no choice but to incapacitate the other person, but the next time it’s really bad.
‘…… But it’s not like there aren’t any results at all.’
A smartphone that no. 13 dropped.
There must be something useful inside.
‘Because he found me and was going to call somewhere right away.’
‘Aside from that, information about the hideout… Whether it’s a photographic image… I’m not sure, but there must be some information.’
‘There will be anything.’
However, the club himself was not familiar with computer equipment or anything like that, so he left it to Apple.
In the end, I have no choice but to wait endlessly for the results to come out, but I am determined deep in my heart that I will never miss it next time…
For now, I decided to put my urgency aside and wait patiently.
* * *
Fortunately, the results the club had hoped for did not take long.
After that happened, the day after the investigation was entrusted to Apple, the club visited her room at Apple’s request for her.
I wondered why it was my room her, but I could understand it when I heard the explanation that some equipment related to Apple’s abilities was in the room.
–Smart
“Mr. Apple? It’s a club. May I come in?”
In this 7th division, the combat-type club and the general affairs-type Apple have different departments, so the title and tone are unified to the extent that they respect each other firmly.
However, Spade, who is in the same combat system, has a hero career and other elements, so he is called senior.
In fact, this is a custom that only existed on the island where the club was located, and on land… Especially in the case of a big city where the 7th division is located, there are many cases where they don’t do that.
In addition, depending on the character of each department, the title, tone of voice, and even the uniform regulations vary greatly.
As most of the heroes are individual, the rules are loosely set so that each of them can do whatever they want.
Anyway.
When I knocked on the door and identified myself, it didn’t take long before I heard a soft voice from beyond the door saying, “Please wait.”
Voice of Apple. The club admired the clear and beautiful tone that made people drowsy just by listening to it clearly, even after hearing it through the door.
And after a while,
The door opened with a click and a clang.
“Hello, Mr. Club. Could you please come inside?”
Does her her Apple room her suit her her or not?
There was hardly anything particularly feminine in the interior.
Instead, it was difficult to feel empty because I immediately saw a large bookshelf filling one wall from bottom to ceiling and a bunch of books tightly packed in it.
Opposite the bookshelf was an expensive-looking computer and various other devices. Next to it, various parts were neatly lined up on a low table that looked like a workbench.
Apple is said to be in charge of general affairs, but in reality it is in charge of not only paperwork, but also communication, computerization, and these things.
I always think about it, but I think it’s a specialty that does not suit her appearance of her, such as Apple’s usual appearance of her.
How to say, I felt like men would be good at touching machines or something like that.
It’s hard to imagine Apple’s face her with charred greasy and soot on its cheeks and hands her.
“The reason I called Mr. Club was because of the smartphone that asked me to investigate.”
“Did something come out? What about their hideout? Any clues?”
When the club asked with a face full of excitement and anticipation, Apple gave a puzzled look.
“… First of all, let me say I’m sorry.”
Unfortunately, however, the club’s expectations were betrayed and Apple said so.
A small table next to the bed. Asking to sit in front of him for a while, he put down the cushion, and Apple took a drink from the refrigerator in the corner of the room and served it in a cup.
The colorful drink, which even had ice floating on it, looked cool and sweet just by looking at it.
When I drank a little, I felt a tingling sensation… A little bit, but it seemed like there was alcohol in it too.
Alcohol to talk about work can be a bit problematic, but… If it’s this level, it’ll be fine.
The club waited for Apple’s explanation as they sipped from the cups in their hands.
(Apple)
