"I can't believe his factory is really here in the Fleuve Cendre. But considering the cost, it makes sense..." Chiori said, her twin blades at the ready as they infiltrated Usher's underground factory.
"Stay back," Lu Li whispered, pulling her to a stop before a corner. "There are patrols ahead." He judged their position by sound, then leaped out, throwing his knives. Two guards fell silently to the ground.
Chiori frowned at the sight.
"On a mission, you have to be thorough," he explained. "They all have blood on their hands. They're desperados."
She nodded silently. "I was prepared for this when I came with you."
They moved deeper. "The factory is divided into two sections. Our target is the production area. Usher is most likely there. If we find him, we'll capture him and hand him over to the Northland Bank. If not, we'll find evidence to bring him to justice..."
CLANG—
Chiori's blade suddenly lashed out, deflecting a bullet that had been aimed at Lu Li's side from a hidden guard. Before he could react, she was on the attacker, her face a mask of fury.
"You bastard!" Her small tantō pierced through his mouth, killing him instantly.
Lu Li was stunned by her swift and brutal action. Then, he saw the fear and anger in her eyes. Is she... worried about me?
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Calm down. I'm here. Nothing happened..."
"...Mm. In the end, I'm just like you..." she murmured, leaning back into his embrace.
"So what?" he said softly. "If you don't strike, if you show mercy, these desperados will show none. Since we've decided to be enemies, we must be ruthless. Otherwise, we'll be the ones who die... If you feel guilty, just think of it as protecting me from harm. What you did was an act of courage."
She pursed her lips.
"In any case, Chiori, I'm clumsy with words, but the fact that you would do this for me makes me very happy. It proves that I can really rely on you. But I also know that this is your first time, and you must feel terrible, right?"
"Mm..."
"Then let me handle the rest. I'll do the things you don't like to do."
"I told you, I'm not a burden... Lu Li, let's go. We'll do this together," she said, shaking her head and pulling him forward.
He was surprised. How did she recover so quickly?
As if reading his mind, she said, "When I saw that you might die because of a moment of carelessness, I felt an unprecedented panic and anger. That's why I killed him. It was almost... instinct..." She squeezed his hand, her gaze firm. "Killing someone, even an enemy, is still hard for me... but he wanted to harm something precious to me, and he had to pay the price... I... don't want to see you get hurt... so even if I'm reluctant, I will stand in front of you and protect you..."
"Chiori..." his eyes softened.
"Don't look at me like that... besides, you said something similar to me before. So this time, I'm just expressing my own attitude!" she huffed, embarrassed by his gentle gaze.
He paused, then his eyes widened. It was... that time... The time when she was destitute...
—"Why are you still here? I have no money, the investment I just got vanished in an instant, my clothes are torn, my ideas are rejected! Why are you still here with me? I'm a failure, I have nothing left...! Go away, I want to be alone—"
"No!"
"You..."
"We're friends. So, when you're at your lowest, I will stay with you. Until you recover, until you stand up again, I'll help you with money and connections... Chiori, get up! Even if the whole of Fontaine doesn't recognize you, even if fate itself is against you, I will always be by your side to support you, I will never leave you!"
"You... idiot..."
—A smile played on Lu Li's lips. So it was that time... He looked at her. "Now that you mention it, I remember... but I don't remember clearly what happened afterward. Did you cry and hug me, or did you stomp on me in anger..."
"The latter," she said, blushing. "Alright, are we going or not?!"
"Hey, so you did stomp on me... wait, I'm coming, let's go!"
-------
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