As Leo descended deeper into the Crimson Lotus, the noise began to fade.
Above… laughter, chaos, voices tangled together.
Below… a heavy silence.
The corridor was narrow, dimly lit, as if the place itself intended to swallow everything that entered.
The two guards stopped before a dark wooden door.
A soft knock.
— "Enter."
Leo stepped inside.
—
The room was unexpectedly simple.
A table. Two chairs. A curtain blocking the light.
No guards. No display of power.
Only a quiet dominance…
And the faint presence of violet saturating the air.
Across from him—
Noctra Vayne sat, idly flipping a playing card between her fingers.
She looked up.
Her hand stilled.
— "Sit."
Leo sat.
—
Silence.
—
— "You won quickly."
Her tone was casual.
—
— "It happened."
Leo replied flatly.
—
A faint smile touched her lips.
— "With that level of precision? Rare."
—
— "Not impossible."
—
She paused.
Then—
— "In the sixth round…"
A brief silence.
— "You changed your call… before the dice settled."
—
Silence.
Their eyes met.
—
— "That wasn't luck."
—
Calm.
—
— "I noticed."
—
— "You observe more than necessary."
Leo said.
—
She smiled.
— "That's my job."
—
— "Then you know I stopped."
—
— "I do."
—
— "Why?"
This time, the question came from him.
—
She studied him for a few seconds.
—
— "Because you don't gamble."
She said.
— "You choose."
—
— "And you?"
Leo replied instantly.
— "You seem like someone who chooses people… not games."
—
Silence.
—
She didn't smile immediately.
But something in her gaze shifted.
—
— "Perhaps."
—
Calm.
Balance.
—
— "I won't take long."
She said at last.
A faint smile formed—subtle, but genuine.
Like someone who had just found something… interesting.
—
She reached into the drawer and pulled out a small card.
Placed it in front of him.
—
— "consider it ... A gift."
—
Leo didn't reach for it immediately.
—
— "What is it?"
—
— "A pass."
—
A brief pause.
—
— "You'll need it later."
—
He opened it slowly.
Intricate patterns. Clean lines. Strange markings.
And that same violet hue woven into its design.
—
— "A passage permit."
She said.
— "Without it… you won't be allowed to cross into the forest."
—
— "Why do you assume I'm going there?"
Leo asked.
—
She smiled.
— "Because you don't look like someone who forces their way through things."
—
He lifted his gaze.
—
— "Why help me?"
Doubt crept in.
—
She smiled again.
—
— "Because you need it."
—
Silence.
—
— "This city… doesn't let winners walk away."
—
A pause.
—
— "Especially those who win the way you do."
—
Stillness.
—
— "How many noticed?"
Leo asked.
—
She looked at him.
—
— "More than they should."
—
Silence.
—
— "And that means?"
—
She leaned forward slightly.
—
— "It means… when you walk out that door—"
—
A brief pause.
—
— "You won't be alone."
—
Silence.
—
— "A warning?"
Leo asked.
—
— "An investment."
—
— "Expensive?"
—
— "Depends on your choices."
—
Silence.
—
— "And the price?"
—
— "Nothing. For now."
—
— "A debt?"
—
— "A promise."
—
— "Worse."
—
She smiled.
—
— "Smarter."
—
Silence.
—
— "I'll take it."
Leo said.
—
— "You were going to."
—
He stood.
—
— "One more thing."
She said before he left.
—
He stopped.
—
— "Don't take the shortest route."
—
— "Why?"
—
— "Because they will."
—
Silence.
—
— "Understood."
—
Leo left.
—
The door closed.
—
Inside…
Noctra glanced at the table.
—
— "Let's see…"
She murmured.
—
— "Are you truly a Big Deal… or just lucky?"
—