Elsa Granhiert turned her head and looked at him.
Long, silver-white hair, golden eyes, and a dark robe.
He carried no weapons, emitted no magical energy, and appeared to pose no danger.
But Elsa Granhiert's intuition told her...
This person is dangerous.
"Who are you?"
She asked.
"Higashino Makoto, you can remember this name."
Higashino Makoto stood up, walked up to her, and stopped.
Give me the badge.
Elsa Granhiert looked at him, her purple eyes flashing with a complex light.
"On what grounds?"
Because I'm better than you.
Elsa Granhiert's smile froze.
She looked at Higashino Makoto, at the calm, emotionless light in his golden eyes.
"You're very interesting."
She drew the short knife from her waist.
"Let me see just how strong you really are."
Higashino Makoto didn't move. He just stood there, his golden eyes looking at her.
"Let's do it then. It's been a while since I've had any physical activity; I need to stretch my muscles."
Elsa Granhiert's figure vanished from the spot.
The next second, she appeared behind Higashino Makoto, her short sword slashing towards the back of his neck.
The speed was astonishing; the blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
Higashino Makoto did not turn back.
He turned to the side, the blade grazing the hem of his clothes.
At the same time, he raised his right hand, and a golden spear appeared in his palm.
Golden light shimmered in the dim room, bathing everyone's faces in a golden glow.
Elsa Granhiert's pupils contracted slightly.
She stepped back and reassessed her opponent.
"Good."
Higashino Makoto twirled the spear in his hand.
"Again."
Elsa Granhiert gritted her teeth and charged forward again.
The dagger pierced towards Higashino Makoto's throat like a venomous snake.
Higashino Makoto dodged to the side, his spear sweeping across and striking Elsa Granhiert's arm.
Click--
The sound of bones breaking echoed in the room.
Elsa Granhiert's arm was bent at an impossible angle.
Her face turned pale, but she didn't cry out.
She stepped back a few paces, grabbed the broken arm with her other hand, and twisted it hard.
Click--
The bone has been repositioned.
Her arm had returned to normal, but the marks of the breakage remained on her skin.
"Immortality?"
Higashino Makoto raised an eyebrow, recalling that Elsa Granhiert did indeed have a similar backstory, seemingly related to a certain Sin Archbishops?
"Interesting."
Elsa Granhiert did not answer.
She simply stared at Higashino Makoto, her purple eyes flashing with a complex light.
It wasn't fear, but excitement.
"You're very strong, so your gut must be amazing!"
"Sorry, I personally don't really like such extreme gameplay."
Higashino Makoto strode forward.
Elsa Granhiert charged forward again.
This time, she went all out, holding nothing back.
The short sword flashed through the air, each strike aimed at Higashino Makoto's vital points: his throat, heart, and eyes.
But Higashino Makoto did not dodge.
He simply parried with his spear, accurately blocking each of her attacks before counterattacking.
One strike.
Elsa Granhiert's left hand flew off.
Blood gushed from the severed wrist, tracing an arc in the air.
She didn't cry out, but simply took a few steps back and looked at her severed hand.
"Continue."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
Elsa Granhiert gritted her teeth and charged forward.
Another stab.
Her right leg was severed, and she fell to the ground.
She tried to stand up using her remaining hand to support herself on the ground, but she couldn't.
Because her leg was broken.
"Shall we continue?"
Higashino Makoto looked down at her.
Elsa Granhiert looked up at him, her purple eyes meeting his.
Why aren't you killing me?
Because you're beautiful.
Elsa Granhiert was stunned.
"What?"
I said, "Because you're pretty."
Higashino Makoto crouched down to be at her eye level.
"I don't really like killing good-looking people, especially when they pose no threat to me. You're too weak."
Elsa Granhiert looked at him, her purple eyes flashing with a complex light.
This is the first time someone has said she's too weak.
"You're such a weirdo."
"I know."
Higashino Makoto stood up and took a step back.
"Reisen, treat her too."
"Yes, sir."
Reisen stepped forward, squatted down next to Elsa Granhiert, and raised her hand.
A pale golden light emanated from her palm, enveloping Elsa Granhiert's body.
The broken bones began to realign, and the severed limbs began to regenerate.
A few seconds later, Elsa Granhiert's left hand grew back. Her right leg also grew back.
She stood up, stretched her new arms and legs, and looked at Reisen.
"What powerful Yang magic!"
"It's not Yang magic, it's healing magic."
Reisen withdrew her hand and took a step back.
Elsa Granhiert turned her head and looked at Higashino Makoto.
What exactly do you want?
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"Let's take a look first, no rush."
He turned around and looked at Felt.
"Badge."
Felt's lips trembled.
She took the badge out of her pocket and handed it over.
Higashino Makoto took the badge, looked at it, and then handed it to Subaru Natsuki.
"Give."
Subaru Natsuki took the badge, his hands trembling.
"Thank you, thank you so much, Higashino!"
"You're welcome."
Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at Elsa Granhiert.
Come with me.
Elsa Granhiert frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"I spared your life, shouldn't you repay me?"
"Oh, what do you want in return?"
"We'll see. To be honest, there's nothing about you that I'm particularly interested in. How about you sell yourself to me?"
Elsa Granhiert looked at him as if he were a monster.
Then she laughed, as if she had finally found something interesting.
"Okay, I'll go with you."
Higashino Makoto nodded and walked towards the door.
"Let's go. Oh, and old man, and Felt, remember you owe me a life, don't forget."
Reisen followed behind him, Subaru Natsuki followed behind her carrying the badge, and Elsa Granhiert brought up the rear.
The four men walked out of the Loot House and into the night.
The moonlight shone on them, casting their shadows long, long on the stone path.
Old Man Rom stood behind the counter, watching their backs, a complex light flickering in his gray eyes.
"Higashino Makoto..."
He murmured the name.
Only the night breeze blew through, causing the wooden door to creak softly.
Felt stood to one side, her red eyes fixed on the closed door.
"Old Man Rom."
"Um."
"That person is incredibly strong."
"Um."
Old Man Rom paused for a moment.
"Ten thousand times stronger than me."
Felt's pupils contracted slightly.
"Ten thousand times?"
"Perhaps more."
Old Man Rom turned around and went back behind the counter.
I have a feeling that guy might not be human.
Felt looked at him.
What is that?
"Have no idea."
Old Man Rom sat in his chair, his gray eyes staring at the ceiling.
"But whatever it is, it's not something we can afford to mess with."
Felt fell silent.
She looked down at her hands.
Those hands were still trembling.
The oppressive feeling, the cold touch of her abdomen being cut open, still lingered in her body.
"Higashino Makoto..."
She murmured the name.
What exactly is your purpose?