"Thinking about it that way, it really was pretty disgusting."
Vermouth crossed her legs, swirling the wineglass in her hand as she quietly watched Fujino. "But some things will come looking for you whether you want them to or not. As long as you're alive, someone will always have their eyes on you. Fate put you in that position long ago; the day it comes is only a matter of time."
"The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small."
(The mills of God turn slowly, but they grind very finely.)
"But I don't believe in God."
Fujino snorted and asked, "Do you believe in God?"
Vermouth shook her head. "I don't."
"Neither do I. What decent person believes in God?" Fujino said with his arms folded. "I don't buy into that original-sin nonsense. If people are born sinful, then the God who created humanity in his own image in Genesis is the real culprit."
"Yeah..." Vermouth watched the liquor swirl inside her glass. "If God really existed, then people struggling to live shouldn't suffer misfortune. Still, an angel once smiled at me..."
"Even without God, some things were arranged long ago. Everyone is being silently swept forward along a path that was planned from the start."
As she spoke, she looked at Fujino. "And from what I know about you, you're not the kind of person who lets retaliation go unanswered."
Fujino raised his eyes to Vermouth. "You don't need to concern yourself with my affairs. Just do your job gathering intelligence."
"Mm-hm. I was being nosy."
Vermouth gave a soft hum. "After all, you still have that Assassin Organization behind you. There's no point in me worrying so much."
Fujino's gaze sharpened. "Assassin Organization?"
A slight ripple passed through Vermouth's eyes before she continued, "You didn't