(A ten-thousand-word chapter; please vote with your monthly tickets before the month ends.)
Night fell, and Raphael met Audrey at the "Haunted House" as promised.
Today, they were going to punish a noble suspected of siding with an evil organization. This was Audrey's first operation of this kind, and she felt both nervous and excited. Still, she concealed her emotions well and appeared perfectly calm.
Raphael took out the masks he had prepared in advance and handed one to Audrey.
Audrey accepted it. "I have a Sealed Artifact that can change my appearance."
Raphael smiled. "Punishing evil while wearing a mask doubles the sense of accomplishment."
"Oh," Audrey said, putting it on as instructed. She immediately felt much more at ease.
Almost instinctively, she performed a psychological analysis: Once my face is covered, I have the illusion that no one will ever know I did this. That illusion greatly offsets the worries currently arising in my subconscious.
Having finished her analysis, Audrey thought, I don't know whether it doubles the sense of accomplishment, but it certainly eases my nerves.
Raphael entered his Wraith state, while Audrey entered a state of Psychological Invisibility. Then Raphael used Traveler to take Audrey to Viscount Falco's home.
Viscount Falco, a man in his thirties, had just finished a passionate encounter with a young woman and was resting in bed with her in his arms.
At the sight, Audrey involuntarily took a step back.
Raphael whispered, "If you don't want to kill that woman, you need to hypnotize her right at the start."
Audrey encouraged herself: Audrey, pull yourself together. If you want to uphold justice, you may see scenes like this often. Don't make too much of it!
Then Audrey reflected that it was fortunate Raphael had accompanied her on her first operation. Otherwise,