0.11.

The red light district.

A place to vent, a place to indulge, a place to live your wildest dreams. It was an indispensable part of every human city. There didn't exist a kingdom where such a distasteful place couldn't be found.

It was also one of the only few places where demons can live alongside humans in peace, as a community–namely, succubi and incubi. They were the dominant species in this industry.

Anna wore a smile as she casually paced down the neon light streets. It was filled with the scent of sweet perfume and smoke. This wasn't her first time here, and it probably wouldn't be her last.

Despite her efforts to hide her raunchy clothes under a cloak, a man came to approach her. Muscular, lean, he towered above her in height. He had a slightly darker shade to his skin, perhaps from an indigenous tribe living somewhere outside the empire.

As for where Anna got the clothes she wore currently–it was a secret she kept to herself. Though she knew Sequencee and the princess was waiting, she had to excuse herself for this duration in order to meet an acquaintance. She didn't know when she would get another chance if she didn't meet her now.

"How much?" He asked.

"I think you have the wrong person sir. I'm not a prostitute," Anna responded with a troubled voice. The scent of alcohol was quite strong, and he looked like he had just staggered out of a bar. His gait was all wobbly.

"You don't look like you know what you're doing here then," the man's lips curled into a smirk. The thoughts of debauching this gorgeous woman before him made his blood boil.

[Activated Trait: Beseechment]

[Passive Trait: Gift Resistance]

To counter a Gift which affected the psyche, another Gift had come into effect.

"One gold, let's go for a night."

Anna shook her head. "No. I have a rule to only bow to do it with someone who's stronger than myself. Money isn't the problem here."

He flinched. Thinking about it for a minute, he glared daggers at her.

"If that's all I need then–"

His muscles bulged, an overwhelming presence dominated the surroundings.

"... Don't regret it!"

Pulling out his sword, he lunged at her.

Crack.

[Wind Magic: Time Monarch]

Time, as in the ability to alter the flow of progression; Monarch, as in holding complete authority over all things wind.

The man's body froze mid-attack. Anna simply walked past him. Those that saw it couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't the first time the Rending Wind had personally come to visit the red light district. The stupid drunk lad couldn't recognize the girl as one of the most feared unofficial SS-rank mercenaries on the continent.

Anna stepped into a prostitute establishment and took off her coat. Many eyes shot towards her at once. The beautiful black one piece baby doll covering her figure could barely hold onto the bountiful breasts on her chest, the short translucent skirt which revealed much of her velvety legs was too stimulating for most of them to bear.

The men that were waiting at the lobby almost wanted to ask for a replacement when they realized that she was also a customer just like them. Anna, ignoring the lecherous gazes, walked right up to the counter and greeted the clerk.

"O-Oh, Your Hig … ahem, I mean, what brings you here?" the girl, no taller than 160 centimeters asked with a bright smile. The cuteness of her expression created this air of innocence, tickling the heart of those that witnessed it.

"Mnn ... I came as a guest. Is she in?"

"She?"

"You should be able to guess who I'm referring to, right?"

"Ah, I-I think she's already waiting for you, this way please."

The girl hopped off the counter and led Anna deeper into the establishment. Anna watched as the girl's black tail swayed to and fro, she could help but reach out to touch it.

The young succubus trembled in delight.

"I'm still in my s-sensitive period, don't touch me like that."

"Oh? You're quite honest. Perhaps you're expecting something from me?" Anna showed a smug smile.

"N-No, nothing like that, Your Highness," the girl blushed furiously. If possible, she would've wanted it. But she couldn't possibly just request something so arbitrary from a figure like Anna. She increased her pace as if trying to escape from her.

The halls were adorned with bright lights and maroon coloured walls. The floor had been carpeted, the smell of sweaty love filled the air. Of course, Anna surrounded herself with a light barrier of wind to block out the scent.

"Her Highness Lydiane is here, please enjoy your stay Your Highness Anna."

"Thank you."

Nodding, the little succubus ran off. Anna turned to the door and knocked.

"Enter," a crisp, authoritative voice boomed.

"Excuse me," Anna pushed it open.

A wide room with a circular bed in the middle. Curtain-like-waterfalls surrounded a round posh bed, a blurry silhouette could be seen just beyond the translucent fabric. Themed around the colour of hot love, the room was bright right and black. 'Safe' torture devices could be seen near the end of the room with various accessories ready for use.

"Come here," her voice rang.

"Dear Lydiane, don't you think you're being too obvious here?" Anna sounded like she was fuming.

"…" Lydiane remained silent.

"Oh, I'll just sit here to have a discussion then. Otherwise you might lose too much blood from a nosebleed and suffer from anemia again."

"…"

Anna sat on the bean bag.

Lydiane, relenting to Anna's childish temperament, pulled apart the curtain and sat at the edge of the bed.

Ruby red eyes, impeccably pale skin. Her hair was a shade of moonlight, fangs peeked out from between her rosy lips. Her one piece red dress was just as seductive as Anna's baby doll, a wide slit could be seen at one side.

Her body had the perfect proportions, wide waist, rich bulging chest. Yet, as mature as she looked, she had a cute face.

"Speak."

"Why did you do this?"

"Elaborate."

Anna rolled her eyes. Can't this vampire talk to her properly? Did she have to so openly display her displeasure whenever she was unhappy?

"Why did you cooperate with Euincing Trading Company? Why did you destroy the Marquis' family? Why did you kidnap the princess?"

"Guess," she smiled. Anna's cheeks twitched.

'No way … '

Anna expected her to deny it–

"I won't be able to guess your thoughts in a million years. Just tell me what you wish to gain out of this. Creating chaos in the human empire is only going to make things worse for everyone. Don't you remember that we should stand by our mission?"

"Naive," Lydiane curled her fingers and placed her long nails gently on her pale lips.

"Naive? You're going to call your husband's goals naive?"

"What do you know about this world, Anna? You've only existed for less than half a century."

"I have the perspective of a human at least! What do you think he'll think of you if he finds out what you're doing?"

"Heh," Lydiane snorted.

Anna glared at her. The air trembled.

"In the end, he's just a tool in her eyes. We're all tools in her eyes," Lydiane muttered, sounding somewhat angry.

"…"

"You don't know anything do you, Anna?" she leaned in and supported her elbow with her folded legs, chin on her palms. "If you're not planning to cooperate, don't complain when she comes to exterminate you."

"Who do you mean by she? Vyiella? Claire? Lilliath? Who?" Anna's voice turned sharp.

"Let's propose a deal shall we?"

"Tell me who this she is first!"

"I'll stop the terrorist attacks. You tell the human emperor that it's all the work of us demons, and suggest they usher in the era of a New Dawn."

"What? You mean … you're actually planning to summon the next hero?"

Anna tried to process the information, but nowhere in her mind did the piece seem to fit. She was a mercenary, not a politician nor a strategist. While she had some interest in philosophy, she wasn't someone who had the capability to make sense of vague pieces of information.

All she knew from her words was that the New Dawn was the code word representing the next summoning rites. It had been almost 500 years since the last time a hero was ushered into the world, and to do so now would mean that they were voluntarily going to put the demons in a precarious situation, again? What nonsense was this?

"Yes."

"Lydiane, this … to create chaos in order to incite the empire to usher in a New Dawn, isn't that against our mission? Why … "

"Ask your husband."

"…"

"If you want to preserve the public image of us demons then, by all means, tell the human emperor to keep the issue a secret. But what excuse could he use hm… let's see…" she tapped her nails on her lips. "Yes, yes. There's this prince who you can use as a scapegoat. It is true that one of them is cooperating with us, but I won't tell you which one.

Anna already knew which one, her fingers dug into the beady cushion of her seat.

"Anna," Lydiane said in a consoling voice, "I understand that you seem to always fall in line with these plans of ours owing to your unnatural attraction to serendipity. And though I admire your goals and efforts, in the grand scale of things, it doesn't amount to much."

"..."

"I say this out of respect: if possible, stay out of it. What shall come shall be. Your life is short, enjoy it while it lasts. He married you for that purpose, don't overdo it."

"…"

"And don't forget, if I don't hear any changes in a week's time, expect there to be another wave of turmoil."

"Yes … "

A tool.

A derogatory term used often in the mercenary world. She hated this word, she didn't want to be in any way associated with this, yet–she was just that: a tool.