Chapter 182: Underground Side Story, Part 2

“—We’re sitting over there.”

“As you wish.”

Once we were inside, Belk was surprisingly composed.

He didn't slip up once; he was pulling off a perfect Copy of a butler.

He’s always been the dexterous type. The primary reason for that, I suspect, is those eyes of his. Every so often, he mimics the way I or Allen move.

He acts like he has zero interest in others, but deep down, he’s probably more of a people person than anyone. Not that he’s realized it himself, of course.

I sank into a large sofa, and a shapely woman brought over some drinks.

Belk snatched them up with practiced ease and handed one to me.

I made the motion of taking a drink, but it was all for show.

Sheesh, the guy really gets it. Just as I’d instructed him, he was keeping a firm Dark Eye on our surroundings.

Something must have surprised him, because his posture stiffened ever so slightly.

He’s an easy guy to read. If Allen were here, though, it wouldn’t have ended with just a minor twitch—knowing him, it would have been a whole ordeal.

The crowd continued to grow after that.

And then, finally... it began.

As if on cue, the curtains were thrown open with a flourish.

Standing there in the silence were—children, locked behind iron bars.