Gathering Wives

On top of a speeding train, the night wind lashed against Kein Moretti's face. His deep red scarf flapped wildly as he moved nimbly between the carriages. Behind him, Cassandra and Selene Moretti were chasing him mercilessly.

BANG!!

A small explosion erupted as Cassandra fired a destructive spell, striking the train's metal near Kein. Shards of iron scattered into the air.

"Oi, oi, oi! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! I'm just an innocent clown!!" Kein shouted as he leaped onto the next carriage.

["Great Master, I doubt that excuse will work..."] Fiora, the AI in his head, commented flatly.

Kein scoffed. "YEAH, I KNOW! BUT AT LEAST GIVE ME A SOLUTION—"

"KEIN, YOU COWARD! STOP AND FACE US!" Selene's voice roared through the night.

Kein glanced back—and instantly regretted it.

Selene was sprinting across the train at an inhuman speed.

And Cassandra? She was flying.

"..."

For a moment, Kein felt his soul leave his body.

["Great Master, I'm detecting an abnormal adrenaline surge—"]

"OF COURSE YOU ARE! WHAT THE HELL?! WHY IS SHE FLYING?! IS SHE A DAMN AIRPLANE?!"

"KEIN!!!"

Cassandra dived down! Her sword gleamed under the moonlight. Kein barely managed to leap back—

CRASH!!

Cassandra's blade smashed into the train's roof, creating a massive crack. The carriage groaned under the impact, nearly splitting apart.

"..."

["Great Master… I strongly suggest running."]

"AGREED!!"

Kein activated Shadow Blink, his body flickering into the shadows and reappearing several meters ahead.

Selene halted for a second—then ran even faster.

"..."

["Remaining Shadow Blink uses: 3."]

"WHY IS SHE FASTER THAN THIS DAMN TRAIN?! IS THIS USAIN BOLT WITH A GOD BUFF?!"

Meanwhile, Cassandra raised her hand.

"Binding Chains!"

WHOOSH!!

Glowing black chains shot toward Kein.

"NOPE!!"

Kein immediately jumped to the side, grabbing onto the edge of the carriage like an action movie protagonist. The chains struck where he had just stood, leaving a gaping hole.

Cassandra clicked her tongue. "He's too agile!"

Selene lunged toward where Kein was hanging.

"Kein. Fake." Her voice was cold.

Kein frowned. "First of all, I'm real. Second, WHY ARE YOU TWO LIKE OVERPOWERED RPG PROTAGONISTS?!"

Selene swung her fist.

BOOM!!

Kein barely dodged in time. The sheer force of her punch shattered the metal behind him.

["Great Master... I believe jumping off the train is your best option."]

Kein swallowed hard. "Fiora, you do realize… this is a HIGH-SPEED TRAIN, right?"

["Yes. But if you stay here, you will experience an untimely death."]

"..."

Kein took a deep breath.

"DAMN IT!!!"

He jumped—!!

SPLAAASH!!

Kein plunged into the river below the railway bridge.

Cassandra and Selene stood at the edge of the train, watching the swirling waters where Kein had disappeared.

Selene scoffed. "He's still alive."

Cassandra clenched her fist. "Continue the chase."

Meanwhile, Cassandra and Selene landed gracefully, their coats billowing in the cold night wind. Their boots pressed against the grassy riverbank.

Before them, the river flowed fast and deep… black and murky… Yet despite scanning the area—

"..."

There was no sign of Kein.

Selene frowned. "Impossible…"

Cassandra clenched her hands. "He vanished…? Without leaving a single trace of magic?"

Silence.

Only the sound of rushing water accompanied them.

"..."

Cassandra took a deep breath. "I don't like this."

Selene gritted her teeth. "He has to be nearby…"

They began searching—looking behind rocks, touching the ground with tracking magic—

"..."

Nothing.

No teleportation marks.

No mana fluctuations.

"THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!" Cassandra roared in frustration.

Selene bit her lip. "...How did he escape?"

They both stood still, deep in thought.

"..."

A cold wind blew past them…

And then—

"Oi."

"..."

They instantly turned to the side.

Their eyes widened.

There… under the shade of a large tree…

A man sat at a small dining table.

A crisp white tablecloth covered the surface… A lit candle flickered atop it… Three chairs were neatly arranged…

And the man?

The same damn clown from earlier.

"..."

"KEIN!!"

Both of them tensed immediately! Cassandra gripped her sword! Selene prepared her magic!

But—

"Please, have a seat, ladies."

Kein smiled brightly behind his clown makeup. He crossed his legs, leaned back, and lifted a teacup.

"I've been waiting."

"..."

Cassandra and Selene remained frozen.

"What… the hell is this?" Selene muttered.

Cassandra glared, full of suspicion. "Do you think we're stupid enough to fall for this obvious trap?"

Kein shrugged.

"A trap? Oh no… I simply wish to talk.

"He sipped his tea leisurely.

"..."

"Tch." Cassandra glanced at Selene.

"Do you sense a trap?" she whispered.

Selene frowned. "No suspicious magic… But…"

"But what?"

"...Something feels… off."

"..."

They remained motionless.

Meanwhile, Kein set his teacup down.

"Well… if you won't sit…"

He grinned wider.

"Then I'll just talk from here."

"..."

"Where should we start?"

Silence hung over them.

Kein sat calmly, his hands folded on the table… a relaxed expression… a small, unreadable smile.

But in his mind—

["Fiora…!!! I'm in serious danger!!!!"]

["I know, Great Master."]

["THEN DO SOMETHING!!!"]

["I am currently calculating your survival probability. Right now… 34%."]

["..."]

Kein maintained his calm exterior, but cold sweat trickled down his temple.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "Why are you so quiet?"

Selene crossed her arms. "I don't get it… After running from us, you suddenly invite us to dinner?"

Kein shrugged. "Can't we have a civil conversation first…?"

["Fiora! I'm serious! They could kill me ANY SECOND!"]

["I suggest you keep talking, Great Master. If you act suspicious, your chance of getting slaughtered rises to 62%."]

["62%???!"]

Kein kept his smile.

"But now that I think about it…" He chuckled. "You two are really persistent, huh?"

Cassandra slammed the table!

BANG!!

Kein nearly jumped from his seat!

["FIORA!!! I'M DEAD!!!"]

["Calm down, Great Master. You're not dead yet."]

["NOT YET?!"]

Kein swallowed and let out a nervous laugh. "Hahaha… Cassandra, relax. You're too quick to anger."

Cassandra's grip tightened on her sword. Her eyes gleamed with fury.

"Don't act familiar with me, bastard."

"..."

Kein kept smiling… but a single drop of sweat trailed down his face.

Selene sighed, staring into Kein's eyes.

"You're not Kein Moretti, are you?"

Silence.

Kein smiled. But in his mind—

["Fiora… I'm done. Finished. Game over."]

["Stay calm, Great Master. I have a suggestion…"]

["WHAT?! SAY IT QUICK!"]

["LIE TO THEM."]

["..."]

Kein blinked twice.

["Fiora, are you serious?"]

["Yes. Lying is your only chance of survival."]

Kein took a slow breath… then grinned wider.

"Are you sure… I'm not Kein Moretti?"

Cassandra and Selene's expressions darkened.

Kein kept his smile.

But inside—

["HAHAHAHAHAHA I'M DEAD!!!"]

["Please remain calm, Great Master."]

["HOW CAN I STAY CALM?! THEY'RE GOING TO KILL ME!!!"]

["I am calculating your chances of success if you attempt to escape…"]

["How much?"]

["3%."]

["..."]

Kein slumped in his chair.

But on the outside, he maintained a mysterious smile.

"How about we play a game?"

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "A game?"

Kein casually sipped his tea.

"If you can guess who I really am… I'll surrender without resistance."

Selene and Cassandra exchanged glances.

Kein held his breath.

["Fiora… This is a bad idea…"]

["You have run out of options, Great Master."]

["..."]

Selene narrowed her eyes.

"Are you absolutely sure about that?"

Kein smiled… but in his mind—

["NOOOOO!!!!"]