"Mr. An Nan?"
"Oh, isn't this our Director of Transportation, Ms. Caso? What wind blew you here? A March magpie, or a July crow?"
"Mr. An Nan! Please don't play dumb, please—"
"Please?"
The man in the shadows toyed with a gold coin in his hand, while half his body remained submerged in darkness.
Across from him, the woman who had been full of arrogance and prejudice during the "surprise inspection" not long ago now lowered her head in humiliation. She frowned, gritted her teeth, and closed her eyes. She removed her hat, bowed, and saluted.
"...Please spare me. Opposing you was my foolishness and overestimation of myself. I have already rescinded the restriction order. I only ask that you forget the ignorant offense of someone as insignificant as me. Please spare my pitiful husband and innocent daughter."
"Ms. Caso!"
Yet her humble apology was interrupted by the other party.
"What made you think I was such a mean and shameless person that I would threaten others with their families?!"
Mr. "An Nan" flew into a rage at once. His impassioned appearance made him seem like an innocent man being slandered, a righteous man being humiliated.
"I..."
Caso could not form a complete sentence for a long while. Nor did she have any evidence. She had asked her daughter and husband afterward, but neither could clearly explain what they had experienced.
Mr. An Nan slowly advanced, forcing Ms. Caso to retreat again and again.
Bang!
When she could retreat no farther, the man questioned her, his calm voice carrying a trace of anger.
"Caso, Caso, what exactly did I do to make you distrust me so deeply, disrespect me, even question my morality and my goodwill?"
Those calm eyes were as still as water, with not the slightest hint of