True Love Exists Between People of the Same Sex...

Without notice, preparation, or the slightest warning—and without even being told the purpose—these half-finished agents produced by the Cipher Pol Agent Academy formed the standard four-person teams and gathered in the Pine Sea outside the academy, awaiting their unknown mission.

"Whoosh~~! Rustle~~~"

The wind swept lightly past, setting the pine forest swaying in waves.

Gazing at the scenery, Brad suddenly said, "Take a good look. You probably won't get chances like this again."

"What makes you say that?" Esdeath asked.

The silent atmosphere was finally broken.

That silence had stemmed from mutual discord or unfamiliarity—mainly Esdeath's lone-wolf nature, Melard's behavior around pretty girls like a randy terrier, and her treatment of boys, handsome or ugly, like a garbage collector handling trash.

Brad, Kurando Akabane, and Mosquito Girl got along well. Kurando Akabane was Brad's roommate, while Mosquito Girl simply followed Brad's lead in everything.

"We're still unripe fruit. If the orchard keeper didn't urgently need us—or perhaps had a customer request—why would he bear to pick us?" Brad said metaphorically. "Once we officially join the ranks of agents, our work will never truly end."

Esdeath crossed her legs and smiled faintly, looking rather expectant. "Oh, I see! I was getting sick of staying at the academy anyway. I long for the feeling of constantly pursuing battle and bloodshed."

The moment she finished speaking—

"Hehe~~~ So, so beautiful~~~"

Melard's besotted laugh followed immediately. An unhealthy, perverted flush spread across her languidly beautiful face, overflowing with lewdness. One look at her expression made it obvious she was fantasizing about something filthy.

Crack—crack~~~

Chill dispersed through the air.

An ice spear blossomed from Esdeath's fingertip in an instant, piercing the skin of Melard's neck. Esdeath said coldly, "You'd better rein yourself in, Mela! Don't mistake me for ignorant just because I haven't read much. I already understand what your past behavior meant. I might kill you at any time."

"But sooner or later, you'll understand the philosophy that 'true love exists only between those of the same sex; the opposite sex is merely for reproduction.' I'll wait for you~" Blood dripped down, but Melard did not care in the slightest. Smiling, she opened her arms and added, "Dying by your hand wouldn't be so bad, actually. At least you're someone I like! Ah~~~ A grave covered in lilies..."

Brad silently bared his teeth in inward complaint. What progressive thinking! But is it really okay for you to raise a death flag that tall?

"L-lively bunch, aren't you?" Minister Honest arrived at the pavilion looking as though he were out of breath. The moment his huge, bloated body reached it, he eagerly sat down on the ground to cool off, seemingly gasping for air. "Hello, children. I am... I am Cipher Pol's highest-ranking officer, Honest. You may call me Chief, Chief Honest, Minister, Minister Honest, and so on."

"Yes, Chief!" Brad said mildly. "But please don't overdo the act. With your strength, you wouldn't get tired from merely walking this far."

"Hm? Hahaha!" Honest laughed, and his exhausted weakness vanished. "Sharp senses. You're Brad Hyman? The best kid?"

Brad nodded.

"You are Kurando Akabane, Barutes Esdeath, Melard Auberg..." Honest called each of them by name before letting his gaze settle on Mosquito Girl. "A demi-human Super Dangerous Beast? Has Auberg overcome the obstacle posed by medium- and large-sized insect-type Super Dangerous Beasts other than uncontrollable ones?"

As Melard stopped her own bleeding, she replied indirectly, "She has a name—Joanna. Joanna Hyman."

Honest seemed to suddenly realize something, but then he met Brad's disdainful white-eyed stare. Brad's message was perfectly clear: I don't believe you didn't thoroughly investigate our backgrounds before summoning us!

"Hahahaha~~~" Using laughter to hide his awkwardness, Honest adopted a serious expression. "First, let me ask you a question. Do you know about the Hunter Association?"

"A civilian organization jointly established by professionals involved in excavating ancient relics, providing hired protection, tracking down wanted criminals, exploring wilderness regions, and so on. It has a history of more than seven hundred years, roughly as long as the government itself. Its scale is considerable, and people often regard it as the lever balancing the three major powers: the government, pirates, and Wano Country." Melard, born into a major family within the Cipher Pol system, was quite familiar with the inside story. She spoke lazily. "The government has always been ambiguous toward the Hunter Association—suppressing it at times, cooperating with it at times, and trying to win it over at times. Like a timid girl with a crush on another girl. If you like her, just go for it! If she dares refuse, force—"

Everyone: "..."

"Ahem."

Brad coughed, cutting off Melard's nonsense.

Honest smiled. "A vivid description!"

"Enough nonsense. What exactly is our mission?" Esdeath asked impatiently.

Honest did not put on airs or throw his weight around. He merely continued smiling. "Impatient young people, that won't do! In any case, the government's current stance toward the Hunter Association is suppression. After behaving themselves for a few years, they have begun touching the government's bottom line again, investigating the Historical Poneglyphs explicitly prohibited by the government—the 'Void Century.' Therefore, your mission is to infiltrate the Hunter Association and obtain evidence of their crimes."

"The Hunter Association's Hunter License Exam is about to begin? Is that why you're in such a hurry?" Kurando Akabane, who had remained silent until then, spoke up.

Honest snapped his fingers. "Bingo!" He further explained, "Famous agents are entirely unsuitable for infiltrating the Hunter Association. Most agents, including those who have completed the Agent Academy's full curriculum, carry the shadow of Cipher Pol and could easily arouse the Hunter Association's suspicions. But those lacking sufficient strength cannot earn a Hunter License either. Thus, I selected you."

In the end, Honest left behind four files, instructed the youths to act separately and not reveal information to one another, then irresponsibly took off.

They exchanged looks.

"A liar full of lies," Esdeath snorted coldly.

Brad agreed with Esdeath, though he put it more tactfully. "I suppose... that's what agents are like?"

Honest had definitely concealed something—not just a little—but Brad had no way of knowing what.

"See you at the Hunter Association." Kurando Akabane was the first to move.

Brad did not linger either.

Soon—

Brad tore open the file and found an address, two photographs, and a dossier.

West Blue, Ohara.

Archaeologists, the Nicole couple.

"Fate truly is strange." Brad looked up, holding Mosquito Girl's face as she bent down toward him, as though playing with a pet dog. "What do you think, Joanna?"

Joanna did not understand. For the time being, she still lacked fully developed human emotions. She only knew how to smile foolishly—if Brad was happy, she was happy; if Brad was unhappy, she was unhappy.

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