In a safe house somewhere in Backlund.
"Backlund hasn't exactly been peaceful lately. No, nowhere has..." Five of Clubs sat in a chair with his legs crossed.
Boss stood by the window, the Monocle over his left eye reflecting the lights outside. He glanced at his irreverent subordinate without getting angry. "I've read the report from Tingen... The True Creator's divine descent?"
"Mm-hmm~" Five of Clubs made an exaggerated gesture. "I thought it would just be a simple little assignment~ Who knew we'd run into something like that?"
"Don't forget to pay me overtime, Boss."
"The True Creator..." Boss mulled it over for a while. "What's the official line on that incident?"
"The Aurora Order claimed responsibility, of course." Five of Clubs shrugged, a mocking smile curling his lips. "Still, it really was their fault. They couldn't even keep an eye on their own god's Divine Descent Vessel."
"What about our people?"
"Everyone in Squad 161 has withdrawn. It's just that one Clown's condition..."
Five of Clubs briefly described the condition of the Clown who had been corrupted by the Antigonus Notebook.
"I left him with Six of Spades. If he's lucky, he might make it out alive."
"Oh, right, Boss. What about that Intis ambassador? You promised Sherlock Moriarty you'd take care of him."
"Are you going to handle it yourself?" Five of Clubs sounded rather eager.
"Tsk..." Rather than answer, Boss posed a question of his own. "Five of Clubs, why do you think I agreed to help Sherlock Moriarty?"
"Hmm... Because it's fun?" Five of Clubs blinked.
"No, no, no." He wagged his index finger.
"Do I look like someone who only cares about having fun and ignores the Society's development...?"
"People who do whatever they please just for their own amusement are scum!" Boss's words