Netero had actually discovered Dio's arrival only about twenty seconds before Cheadle did.
Because until twenty seconds earlier...
Dio had been quietly hiding in an inconspicuous corner of the Hunter Association Building.
Discussing an absurd proposal with Pariston.
Three hours earlier.
The Hunter Association Building.
The gray sky hung heavily overhead, as though brewing something. The north wind swept in a cold front, whinnying low.
Chewing gum, Dio strode unhurriedly across the marble tiles and into an elevator that was about to go up.
Someone else was waiting inside.
"Doo-doo-doo~"
Humming a tune, Dio pressed the button for the seventh floor.
The seventh floor was an unoccupied fire refuge floor, with nothing but hard, gray cement walls and load-bearing columns.
"Mr. Dio, what are you going to the seventh floor for?"
The other person in the elevator asked with a smile.
"To see someone."
"Oh? I'm guessing that someone isn't Miss Cheadle."
"Why ask when you already know, Pariston?"
Standing behind Dio, Pariston chuckled twice. His eyes, devoid of any highlights, curved into crescents, and his low-hanging bangs cast a shadow over the upper half of his face.
He had changed into a teal plaid suit today. There was no telling how long he had been waiting for Dio in the elevator.
Ding~
The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black space.
The fire refuge floor was completely enclosed. All the windows had been sealed with specially hardened cement, leaving only a few small vents, so the lighting was quite poor.
Although the doors had opened, Pariston did not move.
Dio kept holding the door-open button and did not move either.
The two remained at an impasse before the open elevator doors until the atmosphere grew colder than the north wind in December.
"I'll go first. That should put you