I brought the glass to my face.
A sweet scent, reminiscent of vanilla, drifted toward me—mingled with the smoky char of aging barrels and the deep, rich body developed over years of fermentation.
Streaks of light danced along the inside of the glass with every swirl, bleeding into the amber liquid. The boundary line wavered and distorted, as if the glass held a piece of the sky caught at the fleeting moment night bleeds into morning.
I took a long pull.
A sharp numbness sparked across the tip of my tongue. Immediately after, a bittersweet bouquet exploded across my palate, piercing through to my sinuses. As I swallowed, a scorching heat raced down my throat for a heartbeat before vanishing into a smooth finish.
"...Phew."
Steadying my breath, I drew in the cool air through my nose and exhaled slowly. I could almost see the proof of the alcohol in my misty, white breath.
Hmm. High proof. But damn, it’s good.
Still, I really felt like this was the kind of drink one should sip slowly on the rocks. I muttered to myself with a wry smile. Oh well. It was free booze, anyway.
I took a second gulp. As the amber liquid traveled through my system, my body temperature began to rise with a steady, pleasant warmth.
Then, I noticed it.
Cordeaux was sitting opposite me, staring intently.
"...What are you looking at?" I asked, glaring back as I set the glass down.
I wasn't the type to enjoy being ogled by a man.
Cordeaux chuckled, his massive shoulders shaking. "Nothing, really... I was just thinking. You and I have been at this for quite a while now, haven't we?"
"...Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
It was creepy. But—now that he mentioned it, he was right. He was one of the people who had helped me out in various ways since I arrived in this district. Before I knew it, we’d reached the point where we could sit face-to-face and share a drink like this.
"The world’s a strange place," I remarked with a dry smile, swirling the remaining amber liquid.
"—Well, enough of that."
Cordeaux drained his glass and slammed it onto the desk with a heavy thud.
"Anyway, let’s get down to it. You brought that chip I asked for, right?"
...You were the one who changed the subject, you Muscle Daruma.
I swallowed the insult before it could leave my throat and nodded silently. I reached into the breast pocket of my jacket and pulled out the case.
"Here. Good as new."
I slid the case across the table. It glided over the wood grain and stopped perfectly in front of him.
The massive man reached out with surprisingly delicate movements and took the case. He clicked the lid open and peered inside.
"Hmm... Visually, it looks repaired."
He muttered low, lifting the chip with his fingertips and holding it up to the light.
When it was first brought to me, it was a scorched, crumbling mess. The fact that it now looked factory-fresh was solely the result of my skill. Cordeaux eventually returned the chip to its case and snapped it shut, placing it carefully on the edge of the table.
"...Aren't you going to check the data?" I asked.
Cordeaux shrugged, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk.
"The data is a bit... sensitive. I’d rather check it somewhere more secure. Don't worry, you'll get your reward. I know you're not the type to pull any funny business."
A Speech Bubble flickered into existence above his head.
<Even so, I don't have the full picture myself. The data stream cut off the moment it broke. I won't know just how dangerous this is until I see it for myself.>
I raised an eyebrow and smiled. "...What, so it's even more of a headache than I imagined?"
I brought my terminal close to the desk. A few seconds later, a notification pinged to confirm the deposit. I checked the balance.
"...Hmm. A very respectable sum."
I couldn't help but let my expression soften. With this, I could live a lazy, comfortable life for a while.
Cordeaux let out a short, mocking laugh and gave me a low-voiced warning. "Hmph. I wonder just how much you really know. But listen—don't stick your nose in too deep. This one is beyond a joke."
Above his head, the Speech Bubble wavered again.
<As usual, he’s well-informed in all the wrong places. I’ve had people looking into him, but... even though he works with us, he doesn't have an Information Broker he relies on. Where the hell is he sniffing this stuff out from?>
Yeah, I know you're investigating me. I've seen plenty of Speech Bubbles floating around my shop lately that were far too curious for my liking.
"Fine, fine. It's not like I have any interest in a chip like this anyway," I said, tossing the words aside as I downed the rest of my drink in one go.
The alcohol scorched my throat as it slid down to my stomach, but I didn't let my expression flicker. It wasn't so much habit as it was simple pride.
I set the glass back on the table and stood up slowly.
"Well... I think I'll take my leave now. Get in touch if you need anything else. I might take the job if I'm in the mood."
I turned on my heel with a casual remark. Just before stepping away, I looked back as if I’d forgotten something.
"The drink was excellent. Next time, have some chocolate ready to go with it."
I left him with a light laugh and headed for the door.
"Yeah, see you around," Cordeaux replied, his voice short but resonant.
I didn't say another word as I pushed open the heavy door.
When I stepped into the hallway, the subordinates standing guard all bowed in unison. I gave them a lazy wave and kept walking.
I made my way downstairs and tossed a "See ya" to the android woman at the counter. She returned a perfectly programmed smile. ...Still as creepy as ever.
The moment I stepped outside, the roar of the city hit me all at once.
Sooty air, blinking neon lights, the sound of shouting and laughter, and strange music leaking from the depths of the alleys—all of it mashed together to form the heartbeat of Neo Babel.
Maybe I'll buy something sweet on the way home—
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a prickling sensation ran down my spine.
"...Hmm."
A gaze. Someone was tailing me, and they were terrible at it. They were trying to hide, but that only made them stand out more.
I naturally drifted toward a nearby street stall, pretending to browse the dubious-looking snacks while stealing a glance behind me. Because of the distance, I couldn't read the text in the Speech Bubble, but I could definitely see it hovering there.
Who was it? Who sent them?
I grumbled internally. I felt like I was being targeted an awful lot today. Then again, that was nothing new. Life was cheap in this city. If they had actual malice, they’d show their hand eventually.
I’d just deal with them when the time came.
With that settled, I started walking again. I softened my footsteps, blending into the noise and chaos of the crowd.
"...Now then. Let’s see if I can find a Natural Tart before I head back."