After sending Hughes and the others off, the guild returned to its usual lively state.
This day, Blanc sought out Lucy, and the two sat facing each other across a table.
Blanc produced a pair of glasses from somewhere and put them on. The lenses cast a white glare under the sunlight, making it completely impossible to see the thoughts deep within his eyes.
He leisurely took out a pair of white gloves and put them on, lowered his head slightly, and crossed the fingers of both hands, propping them up beneath the bridge of his nose. That posture radiated a thick sense of mystery and coldness.
"Lucy, I have a crucial mission to entrust to you."
Lucy's mouth twitched, and black lines covered her head: "Never minding whatever business it is, explain what's going on with this strange outfit of yours first!"
"Don't change the subject!"
With a deliberate, low bark, Blanc startled an unprepared Lucy into shrinking her neck and subconsciously sitting up straight.
...Damn it, why am I playing along with him like this!
Blanc pushed his glasses up with profound satisfaction, and a reflection flashed across the lenses in absolute cooperation once again:
"Aquarius, Cancer, Taurus, Virgo, Sagittarius... You currently hold a total of five keys of the Zodiac, right?"
"Y-Yeah." Taken aback by the question, Lucy subconsciously touched the ring of keys at her waist. "Why ask this all of a sudden?"
"Then--" Blanc lowered his voice even further. "--what if I told you that the sixth one is actually hidden right here in our guild?"
The air fell abruptly silent for a second.
"Eh----!!?"
With a heavy thwack, Lucy slammed both hands down on the table, her entire body leaning nearly right in front of Blanc. All thoughts of glasses and white gloves were