“…….”

Miko woke up in his hotel room and immediately felt a massive headache.

“Tsk!”

He sat up and grabbed a bottle of rum at his bedside table and gulped down the whole bottle in one go. He threw the bottle away.

“Miko, are you alright?”

Momo ran into the room when she heard the commotion.

“Are your symptoms acting up?!”

She and Tia, who was already there, started rubbing his back.

“You should really have new suppressants made by Alec. You’re getting worse.”

Momo said. Miko held his head for a bit and then relaxed his body with a smile.

“I’m fine. Liquor surprisingly works just as well.”

“I still say you should have new suppressants made.”

Momo looked like she wasn’t going to back down.

“More importantly…”

Miko, however, ignited her worries.

“Thanks to us going back and forth between here and Red Light District in the last week, I’ve gotten a clearer picture of how things really are in this country.”

“Miko!”

Momo gripped Miko’s shoulders tightly and forced him to look her in the eye.

“You can’t ignore this.”

“I said I’m fine. Besides, I realized that these symptoms might have their benefits.”

“Like what? How could eroding your mind benefit you in anyway?”

Miko showed a mysterious smile and said-

“That’s a secret.”

“?!”

Momo’s eyes widen, her body trembled, and she started gritting her teeth.

“You-!”

“Now, now.”

Tia stepped between she and Miko.

“I understand your frustrations but I’m sure Miko has his reasons, so please calm down.”

“Tsk!”

Momo spun around and returned to her room, visible angry. Tia sighed and looked at Miko.

“Could you not provoke her? You know how much you mean to her. She’s worried about your health.”

“You don’t seem worried.”

“Well, I share an emotional link with you. I can tell that you still have things under control. Momo, however, doesn’t have such a thing; so in her head you’re just putting on a brave face.”

Tia crossed her arms.

“To be honest, I think you’re putting a brave face as well. You might have things under control but that’s only for now. So tell me, why don’t you want to treat your sickness?”

“I said that’s a secret. Did you think that you’re so special compared to Momo that I’ll tell you things I won’t tell her?”

Tia frowned.

“You’re being quite the asshole today.”

“Am I? I see it as just being honest.”

Miko stood up and stretched his body with a groan. He then dropped his hands at his side and stop smiling.

“I appreciate Momo’s and your concern. I know that you’re worried because you love me, but I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

He turned his back Tia.

“I’m the last thing anyone should worry about.”

“…….”

She started at his back in silence. Despite sharing an emotional link with him she couldn’t understand what he was thinking or what he was feeling and that made her feel fear. Even so, she smiled.

“You said that you had a better idea of how things work in this country?”

Miko slowly turned around and looked at her before smiling.

“Yeah.”

He opened the draw of his bedside table and took a piece of paper.

“This is a map of all the territories in the Red Light District. I also gathered basic information on everyone that runs these territories. I plan to use this information as a starting point to taking the city in case things go south.”

Miko grinned.

“And if they do go south then I’ll have a little fun after acquiring it.”

********

The Silver Nest, Bloom was sitting in her office looking through a report that was sent to her by Nico.

“I’ve been observing Miko for the last week. During that time he’s visited the city in the day but leaves just before sunset. I still haven’t figured out why he would leave before the city’s most active period and come only when it’s pretty much dead. Anyway, other than small conflicts caused by others, he hasn’t really committed any violent acts. As such, I conclude that he’s observing the city, however, it still makes no sense why he ignores the night.”

Bloom put down the report and started thinking about its contents.

“Could it be that he knows that he’s being monitored and is trying to throw Nico off?”

She asked herself.

“I don’t get it. I don’t know enough about him to guess his intentions.”

She leant back, sunk into her chair, and cross her arms behind her head.

“Should I ignore him for now and focus on the Four Pillars? After all, it’s not certain that Miko is an enemy.”

She became silent for a while, seemingly staring off into space.

(Your Majesty.)

A voice came from her intercom.

“What is it?”

(Lord Miko is here to visit.)

“What? He didn’t go to the Red light District?”

Bloom thought about it for a bit before speaking.

“Send him up.”

She then started straightening her clothes and making herself look presentable. After waiting for a little bit, Miko came into her office alone.

“You’re by yourself today? That’s rare.”

“Ishma and Regis, can’t be too far from me so they’re nearby. Tia and Momo aren’t in the mood for business so I’m here.”

“Business? Then this isn’t a simple visit?”

Miko shook his head.

“Bloom, I’m offering you a partnership deal.”

“?!”

Bloom’s eyes widen with shock.

“I thought you wanted to see the country more…Why the sudden change of heart?”

“It occurred to me that considering my history my presence here is causing you a lot of mental distress, especially since our relationship is vague. So to put your mind at ease while also making it easier to enjoy myself, I’m willing to sign a deal that will benefit both of us.”

(As I thought, he knew that he’s being followed. He offered a deal so that he could move freely, but…)

“Don’t worry. I promise to live up to the conditions of any agreement we come to.”

Miko cut off Bloom’s thoughts. She looked at him in silence for a bit before speaking.

“Then, I’m willing to negotiate a deal. Do you have a date in mind?”

“Date? I want to make the deal now.”

“Please don’t joke around. This is a deal between two countries. It can’t just-”

“As long as the deal is beneficial to both parties does it matter?”

Miko cut her off.

“We’re both intelligent people, I’m sure that we can make a honest deal ourselves.”

“Why are you so impatient?”

“Am I? Then, let’s not do the deal.”

“No, we’re doing it.”

Bloom stood up.

“I’m stressed out as it is. Let’s get this over with.”

“Really? Then you’re not worried that I might take advantage of you?”

“I’m the ruler of this country for the last 5 years and I’m just 20. A royal family doesn’t exist here so I became the queen with my own strength. Do you know what it would take to make that possible?”

Her eyes became sharp.

“Don’t underestimate me.”

Miko grinned.

“Very well. Then let’s do this.”

*********

Around 15 minutes later, Bloom and Miko moved to a different room where they both sat around a table. Miko was writing on a piece of a paper while Bloom was waiting.

“I’m done.”

Miko pushed the paper towards Bloom and she picked up the paper and started reading.

“I have no problem with trading as equals. I like the clause that say that you will aid me in my future military endeavors. However, this non-aggression pact is weird. You stated that Renacido won’t act aggressively towards Bloom Newgate…..Not only that pact, all the terms are in my name…Why not the Newgate Country?”

“Because I’m doing business with you not the Newgate Country.”

Miko’s eyes sharpened.

“I’m willing to make a promise with you but not with a country funded by people I don’t know about.”

He pointed at Bloom.

“I trust you not them.”

“You trust me?”

Miko showed a sly smile. Bloom looked at him in confusion and then a thought came to her.

(Did he figure it out? But he only went to the Red Light District a few times….)

She shook the thought out of her head.

(I’m just overreacting.)

“So, do we have a deal?”

Miko leant over and asked with a smile. Bloom didn’t answer immediately and started pondering the terms of the deal.

“Alright, I agree to the deal. This is a personal deal between the two of us though.”

“That’s my intention.”

“Then a written document will be sent to you later and you’ll sign it.”

“No. I want to sign it now.”

“But preparing a document might take some time.”

“I can wait.”

“…..I don’t get it. Why are you so eager?”

“Because once I’ve sign then I’ll have freedom to move as I want without your people breathing down my neck.”

Miko leant back in his chair.

“I don’t know if Kaido told you, but I’m currently suffering from some mental issues.”

“He told me.”

“And you still wanted me as your ally? Quite an ambitious woman.”

Miko laughed.

“Anyway, if your people constantly follow me around there’s a high chance of me killing them if my symptoms act up. After all, when I’m sick I act on my instinct. If I’m annoyed by them my first instinct will be to kill them.”

Bloom started frowning.

“Frown all you want but I’m only telling the truth. You also understood that I was sick and still invited me here, so half the responsibility of my actions lay with you.”

Bloom couldn’t deny Miko’s words so she just sighed.

“So you want me to withdraw my people?”

“Not entirely.”

Miko had a bright smile.

“I understand that you see me as a potential threat so I won’t be unreasonable. However, I love my freedom above everything else so how about we compromise?”

“What do you have in mind?”

Miko placed his hand over his heart.

“I’ll come see you every other day without fail, and you can ask me about my day.”

“….That sounds a bit strange. It’s like you just want an excuse to hang out.”

“Think of it as reporting.”

Miko started laughing.

“Oh, if it’s not enough you can have Kaido follow me as my personal observer. Hana too.”

(I think Kaido would hate me if I actually did that.)

Bloom thought.

“No, you coming to visit is enough for now….But I will have someone keep an eye on you. You don’t have to worry about accidentally kill this one or being annoyed.”

“Why’s that?”

Bloom smirked.

“Because they’re not someone that you could detect or kill.”