The man, feeling the shadow, slowly raised his head.
His eyes, red and full of a terror he no longer tried to hide, met Mark's as he looked down at him from above.
Mark studied him for a couple of seconds without saying anything, until he finally spoke.
"Hey dude, do you mind if we have a little chat?" Mark asked with a half smile.
"…"
"From what I heard from one of my subordinates," Mark said, looking down at the officer, "you're not exactly from around here."
He looked up from the ground with reddened eyes.
"So I'd like to know what brings you so far from home," Mark said, leaning slightly forward.
The officer swallowed and his eyes moved quickly from Mark to Yuki, who was behind him with her dagger still in hand.
"I-I…" he began, his voice trembling at first, but then something shifted in his face.
He clenched his jaw, straightened slightly on his knees, and lifted his chin in a gesture that tried to convey authority but looked ridiculous coming from him.
