The phone call that I had gotten from my, or rather Laura’s, sister this same morning was still quite fresh in my mind. I had a bit less than a week to prepare for that art exposition, which I was sure Laura would have been overjoyed to go to. But she was not I, and I was not her, despite me quite literally being her at this moment. This meant that I would not only have to buy some fancy-looking dress, and probably schedule a hairdresser’s appointment that same morning, but also do some research into art, as I’d have to at least seem competent in what was meant to be my speciality.

The little doorbell above the entrance of ‘Chez-Manon’ rang. I raised my eyes, in hopes of seeing my co-worker Alex who was running very, very late, but was instead met with the sight of two almost-identical people. Both had bright-green hair, with one wearing it in a ponytail, and the other having it cut short. The one with short hair wore a white shirt and white trousers, with a grey overall thrown over it. The ponytail-one wore a similar outfit, but in a blue and brown colour scheme instead.

Something about them looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place what. They were both rather handsome, so perhaps I might have seen them on TV or in a magazine, which, considering Manon’s recent shift in clientele, was not unlikely.

It was the person dressed in white who approached the counter first.

“Good afternoon, what can I get you?” I asked.

The one with longer hair pulled the other person backwards and whispered something in their ear. I could only imagine they did so out of shyness of ordering themselves. The one in white pushed the one in blue aside and spoke:

“We are both government officials. Here are our IDs. My brother and I would like to order two drinks. Please bring them to our table.”

I nodded, apparently, these two were amongst the annoying crowd. Only thing that was missing is them shoving their External Status Windows into my face.

“What kind of drink-”

Nam Hyeonmin

He/Him

19

B-

Diplomat

Sub-follower

A- Amber Mirror [Ac]

B Lion’s mane touch [Ac]

B Foresight [Ac]

C+ Wondering Mind [Ac]

Luck

40/100

MP

60/100

Strength

11

Dexterity

10

Constitution

10

Intelligence

16 = 12+4(skill benefit)

Wisdom

14

Charisma

11 = 8+3(skill benefit)

The lords must have heard my complaint, as the Status Window vanished as unexpectedly as it had appeared. The man in blue seemed rather pleased with himself.

“Show her your ESW.” Hyeonmin whispered to his sibling.

I noticed his lips moving ever so slightly in delay with what he was saying, suggesting that his words were actually translated by one of my own passive skills.

“Why?” The one in white whispered back.

“Please. It will help speed things along.” Hyeonmin hastily added.

What would have helped speed things along would have been them two giving me their orders. Instead, I was greeted with another blue screen.

Nam Dong-hyuk

They/Them

19

A+

Courtesan

Precision weaponry

A+ Battle Thorns [Pa]

A+ Marksmith [Pa]

A- Sleepers of Ephesus [Ac]

B+ Blind Spot [Ac]

B Black dragon scales [Pa]

luck

60/100

MP

40/100

Strength

13 = 11 +2(skill benefit)

Dexterity

15 = 10 +5(skill benefit)

Constitution

10

Intelligence

15 = 12 +3(higher education)

Wisdom

14

Charisma

17= 11 +6(skill benefit)

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I sarcastically replied. “I will encode your ‘government official ID’ as a military card for a discount. What kind of drinks would you like?”

“Two americanos. One regular, one with milk instead of water.” Dong-hyuk replied in a strangely formal tone of voice.

Now that I thought about it, they had been speaking in that manner ever since they had come in. It was almost like an artificial kind of mannerism taken on by someone to distinguish themselves from the masses.

“Then please have a seat, I will be with you in just a moment.” I said after accepting their payment.

The one with the ponytail carried on muttering something to his sibling’s ear as they took a seat at the table closest to the window and furthest from the door. They were way out of reach for me to make out individual words, and frankly, I did not care.

“Who’s this for?” Manon intercepted me just as I was about to bring the drinks to the table of those two green-haired customers.

“Two at table 6. Flat white and americano.” I gladly explained handing her the tray I had been holding.

“Good. We’re finally getting proper customers.” Manon replied.

Based on the volume of her voice, I wasn’t quite sure if she was talking to me or to herself.

“Alex has arrived. She’s working downstairs. Feel free to switch with her whenever you feel like it.”

I nodded in response, trying my hardest not to give my manager a confused expression. She really wasn’t acting like herself today, and I hoped it was just because she wanted to show me her good side before forcibly promoting me.

As I served the next few customers, I thought more about this issue. After all, I didn’t technically have to work. I had done so originally to get some money that could not be traced to anyone but said money had long since run out, and I had done many other things that could link me to my family.

In between serving two customers, I gave a few quick glances in the direction of those two green-haired twins. They had the same last name and had referred to one another as siblings, so it was safe to assume that they were, in fact, twins. Thing was, no one else in the café was paying any attention to them, so they couldn’t have been celebrities. The only other way I could have known them was –

Fuck.

I almost dropped the pressed coffee beans I’d been holding.

Dong-hyuk and Hyeonmin Nam were the two only children of the CEO of a Korean automobile firm; although they might have been manufacturing boats, planes or tanks, I wasn’t quite sure, as ‘immoral immortality’ had remained rather vague on the subject. They were also both part of Huang’s immediate entourage, as they had not only a shitload of money but skills that allowed them to befriend or brainwash most people.

Hyeonmin was usually the one doing the brainwashing, while Dong-hyuk used the distraction to sneak behind the victim’s back and make their death look like an accident. That was how their family corporation had remained at the top for so long. As far as I knew, they had no reason to be in Paris, let alone on the artist’s side of town.

“Mademoiselle?” The customer whom I was supposed to be serving called out. “Everything alright?”

“Yes, sorry about that.” I automatically replied before returning to my task.

Them being here was bad. In the sequel, they were the ones who had chosen my father as a target, because of his white-collar crimes. Of course, the fact that every single one of their own relatives committed these types of fraud and embezzlement had not phased them one bit.

“Here you go,” I quickly handed that concerned customer their drink. “I’m sorry I need to get something in the kitchen, my colleague will get to you in just a second.” I apologized to the next person in line, before dashing downstairs.

I almost tripped down the stairs when I saw a notification window pop up before me:

Mind Stop

Effects of Double Mirror negated.

“Oh, thank god.” I whispered, grateful for that specific skill.

I did not know what those two wanted here, but I knew that I could not let myself be swiped up by it.

“Alex!” I called out once I got downstairs.

“Yes?” A girl with wavy brown hair, pale skin, and thick glasses replied, startled.

“I’m feeling sick, I’m going home for the day. Margaux needs someone to help upstairs.”

“I was just-” She gestured towards the pile of dishes she had been washing.

“Blame that on me. Her majesty is in a good mood today.”

As I was talking, I put on my jacket and got ready to head out through the back door, just waiting for a verbal confirmation.

“Okay. On it.” Alex agreed after a short deliberation.

She dried her hands, and hastily headed upstairs. I didn’t stay long enough to make sure that she actually got there.

I ran, for the first time in a very long time, properly ran down the Montmartre hill. I stopped at the bus stop, then decided that home was not the best place to go right now. I took out my phone and dialled Etienne’s number.

“Laura?” His worried voice came from the other end. “Did something happen at work?”

“Yes. No. Can I come over to yours? Or can we meet up at a park or something. Right now?”

As soon as I said those words, I swore in my head. I had gotten him involved, just now, in god knows what. I had done so much to avoid exactly that.

“Actually-” I tried to correct myself.

“Yes, of course.” His words were followed by the sound of objects being moved or thrown on the ground. “Where are you? I can pick you up.”

“Let’s meet in front of Notre Damme.” I replied. The location was far enough that I would have some time to gather my thoughts before the meeting. “Thank you.” I softly added.

Because despite everything, Etienne was just the sweetest, dropping whatever it was he was going just like that, just from a phone call.

“I’ll see you there.” He replied.

There was a brief pause, as if he wanted to say something else, but then he hung up.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and began briskly walking to our agreed rendezvous point.