Malina wasn't wearing a hood like when I first saw her. Her black hair and the pointed ears protruding through it were plainly visible.

"Why did you suddenly come looking for me?"

"I heard about it. You received a request and went to District 49, right?"

"News travels fast."

Osian didn't particularly deny that fact. People who needed to know probably already knew anyway. It wasn't surprising that Malina knew. She was a skilled professional who used thief abilities, and she even possessed the qualifications for ascension.

Her abilities were excellent for discreetly gathering information about her surroundings. It wasn't strange that she knew what kind of request Osian had taken.

"Is this related to District 49?"

Malina had stealth abilities that even Osian couldn't detect if she was determined. The only ways Osian could notice Malina's approach were if she harbored hostility and attacked, or if she deliberately revealed her presence. This situation was clearly the latter.

"That's right. I already know all the details of the incident. I also know who you were with there and what you brought back."

"I see. Then there's no need to bother with explaining."

"That talking automaton, you know. Battle Trench took it away."

"..."

Osian's expression instantly turned cold. Malina's words weren't something he could easily dismiss.

Even Malina, who had brought it up, flinched at Osian's suddenly changed presence. It was just for a moment, but her neck felt chilled, and she had to touch her nape to make sure her head was still attached.

'It's truly like sharp blades extending from his entire body.'

Osian had become even stronger than when she had faced him that day. Or maybe he hadn't been serious back then. Malina had to revise her assessment of him based on just a fraction of his true self that he had shown.

'When I go back, I should warn Daver to never even think about revenge, and to bow his head immediately if they ever meet.'

But more importantly now, she needed to figure out how to persuade the displeased Osian in front of her.

"First, let me explain what the situation is."

Instead of answering, Osian nodded slightly. It was a silent gesture telling her to go ahead.

"Early this morning, people from Battle Trench took that automaton away. Surprisingly, there was no violence or fighting of any kind during the process."

"What does that mean?"

"This happened regardless of Alonso's intentions; the automaton did it of its own will. In other words, the automaton itself talked with Battle Trench and followed them."

Osian's eyebrows arched upward. Neo went with Battle Trench on his own? No matter how naive Neo might be about the ways of the world, he wouldn't be unaware that Battle Trench was the company that had tried to kidnap him. Despite this, Neo had followed them.

"How is Don Quixote doing?"

"That old man will probably chase after them as soon as he hears the news. That's all I can tell you. I came to find you as soon as I heard."

Osian let out a small sigh.

"This might not concern you anymore. But I thought it wouldn't hurt for you to know."

Malina put defensive words in her mouth, as if feeling somewhat guilty.

"Let me ask you one thing."

"What is it?"

"You must know that automaton companies place great importance on artificial intelligence development."

"...Yes."

"If they could apply proper artificial intelligence to automatons through this incident, wouldn't that actually be good for you?"

Malina was hostile toward her former organization, Dead Dagger. And now Dead Dagger was being sponsored by a major corporation that manufactured steam suits.

In other words, that corporation was Malina's enemy.

Naturally, from Malina's perspective, it would be advantageous to support the two major corporations that manufactured automatons.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Only then could she keep in check those who sponsored Dead Dagger.

But Malina's current action of seeking out Osian to relay this information contradicted that logic. What action did she expect Osian to take that made her go out of her way to tell him this?

Malina responded to that question casually.

"I told you before. I would repay my debt. Since I also owe you my life, I'm simply telling you. I thought you would be very concerned about this matter."

There was no pretense or sarcasm in Malina's words. She just thought Osian should know, so she told him. That was the entire reason.

Osian forgot his annoyance at this absurdly simple explanation and couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

"And don't worry about the steam suit company."

Malina spoke with confidence.

"This is our business, and we can resolve it with the power of our brotherhood."

Alonso's day always started similarly. He would wake up early, read the newspaper, and leisurely drink coffee. Then, he would spend time reading books related to his dream of becoming a knight or practicing old swordsmanship techniques.

But Alonso couldn't do that now.

"What do you mean!"

The news delivered by the mansion servant gave Alonso quite a shock. The automaton Neo, who had been living with them for the past few days, had voluntarily followed people from Battle Trench. And he had done so secretly while Alonso was sleeping.

It was an incomprehensible story. But since the servant was only delivering the truth, Don Quixote couldn't blame him.

"Master Alonso! Where are you going!"

"Out of my way! Something is wrong here! He had no reason to follow those people! I must go confront them right now!"

Alonso looked ready to storm into Battle Trench headquarters at any moment. The servant desperately needed to stop him.

No matter how wealthy Alonso might be, he was still just an individual. He was no match for an entire corporation. Besides, Alonso had recently gone out playing knight and returned with injuries.

Although expensive medicine had healed his wounds, several days of rest were still essential.

"Out of my way! Right now!"

"No, sir! You can't!"

Just as the servant was desperately trying to stop Alonso, another servant came looking for him.

"Master Alonso. A guest has arrived to see you."

"I have no time! Tell them I'm busy! It's not the first time someone has come looking for me uninvited!"

"The guest said you would know if I mentioned they were your comrade..."

"...What?"

Alonso's fiery response subsided as if cold water had been poured on it. It seemed like nothing could stop him now, but things had changed since his return from District 49.

"Take me to where the guest is. Immediately."

Osian was sipping coffee in the guest reception room. David was beside him, his expression constantly fixed on the scenery of the reception room.

"Aren't you being too amazed?"

"Well, this is my first time in a place like this."

David admitted his honest feelings while looking embarrassed.

"How many fixers could come to a place like this? The reality is that most fixers could work their entire lives and never even set foot in the shadow of such a place."

Even the reception room in Alonso's mansion was magnificent. Expensive carpets, plush sofas, antique furniture. The only difference was that the decorations and paintings on the wall were related to knights, not other masterpieces.

The space itself was the crystallization of money. And even this place would be considered humble compared to the entire mansion, which made David feel intimidated.

"Hold your head high. You're not here as a fixer. You're here as a knight, and as a friend of the master of this place."

At those words, David nodded with a somewhat lighter expression. However, his dubious gaze was now directed at Osian rather than the reception room scenery.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Well..."

David glanced at the coffee Osian was drinking. Should that even be called coffee? That thing where he poured regular coffee into a glass filled with ice. And as if that wasn't enough, he added water too.

David still couldn't forget the expression on the maid's face when Osian made his request. She was a veteran who had watched the mansion's owner going around doing all sorts of things pretending to be a knight for years. As such, she was capable of handling all manner of guests, but a request to serve coffee in an ice glass was something she had never experienced before.

"Does that taste good?"

"How else would you drink coffee?"

"Well, that's..."

David seriously considered whether such eccentricity might actually be an essential quality for a knight.

Just then, the reception room door burst open.

At last, Alonso, the master of the mansion, had arrived. Unlike his usual self, he wasn't wearing armor but was dressed in a suit befitting a mansion owner. It felt strange to see him without the armor he had always worn before.

"Sir Don Quixote!"

David started to greet him happily, but realizing the situation, he managed his expression. Alonso dismissed the servants and sat opposite the two.

"What brings you here? No, I needn't ask. You've heard the news, haven't you?"

"Yes."

Osian put down his coffee cup. For a moment, Alonso's gaze went to the iced coffee cup, but that wasn't important, so his eyes returned to Osian.

"Battle Trench. I heard those guys took Neo away."

"That's right. More precisely, he left the mansion and joined them."

Alonso spoke with a somewhat dejected voice. His mind must be very complicated right now.

He had just regained a family member. He had come all this way for him, but Neo himself had left on his own. Not knowing the reason made it even more frustrating.

Betrayal. Bewilderment. Sadness. No matter how calm he tried to be, it was difficult to withstand the whirlwind of emotions. Alonso, who had lived with strong convictions for decades, was at this moment no different from an ordinary old man his age.

"Can you explain the situation?"

"Have you come to help me?"

"I'll decide that after hearing the whole story."

The moment Alonso saw Osian's unwavering eyes, he sensed that Osian knew something.

"Very well. Before Neo left here, people from Battle Trench had approached us."

Alonso slowly unfolded the story, recalling what had happened a few days ago.

Don Quixote, who had returned from District 49, was enjoying a peaceful daily life.

He didn't need to work to earn money. The wealth he already possessed was substantial, so he only needed to manage it properly.

Money has its own gravitational pull. Enormous wealth attracts more wealth. This was one of the rules of modern society, not just in Tirna.

As long as he didn't waste it through reckless or excessive investments, Don Quixote's fortune would grow at a rate that others couldn't earn in a lifetime just by existing.

It was the ideal life everyone dreams of. Because of this, Don Quixote had plenty of time and took pleasure in exploring various parts of the city with Neo.

Neo also enjoyed sightseeing around Tirna with Don Quixote. Everything was a completely new experience for him. From the cityscape he had never seen in books to the people living within it.

Of course, since walking around in his original form would attract too much attention, Don Quixote made him wear clothes, a hat, and a mask.

It was to prevent people from recognizing that he was an automaton. Naturally, Don Quixote didn't forget to wear his helmet either.

One wore a mask, the other a helmet—it was quite an unusual combination. Just by walking around, the two attracted attention from those around them.

Sometimes guards would approach and ask for identification. Of course, on such occasions, Don Quixote would show proof of his identity, and the guards would hastily retreat, apologizing for the inconvenience.

"Well, are you enjoying the city tour?"

"Yes! It's really nice. It's fascinating how each district has its own characteristics."

Neo sat on a park bench. Behind his mask, his yellow eyes took in the scenery of the park.

There was a fountain that spouted water periodically, and decorating it was a unique structure made of brass mechanical springs.

In another area, there was a large brass structure that appeared to be the work of an artist, with people gathered around to look at it. The trees planted periodically around were lush with greenery, and the sky was clear and high.

"If we have time later, we should go outside the city as well. The world is vast, and there are many places to see."

He had expected an eager response, but surprisingly, Neo was quiet. Wondering why, he looked over to find Neo's head fixated in one direction.

At the end of that gaze was what appeared to be a family out for a stroll.

Between the young couple was a son who looked about 8 years old. The child was holding both his parents' hands and smiling brightly.

Neo's gaze didn't leave that child.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, my friend."

"That's...nothing."

Just as Don Quixote was hesitating to say something, someone approached the two of them.

"Hello. I'm Jerey, team leader of the business department at Battle Trench."