Interlude 3: Confrontation

12 hours ago

Aliki was sitting in a small, barren room, her legs on the stiff bed and her back against a cold wall as she was reading a message she'd gotten from Norma a few minutes before. She fixed her black hair of waist length, letting them roam free just beside her.

"Prepare and go meet with Youngwoo Lee tomorrow." This was what the message stated.

She breathed deeply. She needed to calm down. This was about making a good first impression on that man. He wielded a powerful skill, SS-rank clairvoyance. She needed to act as composed as she could. She absolutely couldn't blow this chance.

Quickly, she went through her room and locked the door. After she did that, she took her shirt off and posed in front of a mirror, her breasts only covered by a blue bra. She cupped each of her girls momentarily.

'He's a man...' She thought as she let her breasts down. She sighed, feeling their weight. 'Could I persuade him...?' Aliki didn't dare finish her thought. No, man or not, that person was powerful, aware of their doings, and capable of predicting the future even better than Norma. Thinking she could sway him with her assets was... somewhat immature of her.

She undid hooks of the bra and started looking for another one in a small drawer. Picking through the colors, she decided to go for a plain black one. Yes, black was fitting for her. Add black shirt to that and some good jeans, and she'll look really presentable. On top, lay a nice, grey blouse, and she'll look like anyone else.

After she made her decision, Aliki slowly placed the clothes on a chair next to her bed, taking care for them to be folded properly. After she did that, the woman took her steps across the room. Reaching the door and checking the lock, she slowly undid the buttons holding her pants on her bottom. As the last straws were undone, she took them down, her underwear together with them. After that, she turned the lights off and laid down in her bed. Chilly air attacked her immediately, and the thin sheets didn't warm her easily. Shivering with cold, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

In the morning

She opened her eyes and slowly felt some consciousness return to her. First things first, she stretched her fingers, then wrists and ankles, and after about a minute, she made sure that her entire body was capable of movement.

Aliki took note of how the sheet she was sleeping under was already tucked on the floor, sitting on the concrete floor. Turning onto her back, she suddenly felt her breasts jiggle and send some unnecessary weight to her other side. She sighed with a little frustration and got up.

As she stood with her feet bare against cold concrete, she bent a little forward and back, ensuring that her spine was also operating properly. After walking up to a sink located in a wall, she washed her face quickly.

Taking a towel and a body gel from her drawer, she dressed in some clothes and went to wash herself in a public bathroom. The time was nearing 7 when she turned on a shower. Cold water sprayed all over her body as she took some gel and started cleaning herself. After she finished, she used some on her hair as well.

Her walk back to her room was uneventful. In fact, she didn't meet another person all the time she went to the showers and back, so it was good for her. Once she was back in her room, she messaged Norma.

"When should I go and meet him?"

After waiting for a few minutes, she got an answer.

"From what I can see, him and Dragon Witch will be in the main park a little past 11. However, once you will approach them, she will give you both space for about half an hour. I can't see what happens after she goes away, but it's safe to assume he will allow for a talk."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. If he didn't want a meeting, he'd not let me see things like that. It's today or never. Don't screw up. Remember, presentation is important."

"I know."

Aliki tossed her phone aside. After she did that, she took a hairbrush out of her drawer and, standing in front of the mirror, she brushed her hair. Swing after swing, she took care of the hair that were glued together. Then, she took a hair dryer, dried them, and repeated the brushing. 'Presentation, she says.' She thought as she started braiding her hair. Presentation... it could have too many meanings to ponder on.

But she wasn't getting prepared to go and seduce Youngwoo... she wasn't crazy. He'd see right through her intention. She was only going there to begin a dialogue, hopefully a positive one. Moreover, she had to take into account his demands. He was stronger and knew it, so... he could request nearly anything he wanted... Aliki shivered at the thought, but she remembered Norma's words. She was to do what he demanded, no matter what it was. That was how afraid Clairvoyant was of him. And honestly, Shadow also started feeling nervous about this meeting.

But just thinking about it won't solve the issue. After she finished making her braid, Aliki changed into her official clothes for meeting, took a small backpack packed with her basic equipment, and left the room, locking it behind herself.

After eating a breakfast at nearby cafeteria, she took her steps into the park and checked if the bag contained everything she needed. Yes, indeed. Her throwing knifes and daggers, a mask to hide her face, a nice cloak she'd sometimes wear to hide her assets. Everything in place.

Currently, 11:21

She was sitting on a tree and watching that man's movements. He was moving leisurely through the park with that red-haired girl, neither of them talking, but it was clearly a date between them two. A few dozen seconds passed, neither of the two hurrying anywhere. However, Youngwoo suddenly tilted his head towards her. He didn't look at her directly, but Aliki knew it; he was aware of her presence. Indeed, he was good at this.

He looked like he checked something on his phone for a short moment as he directed their steps to come nearer tree on which she sat, and no longer than a minute later Dragon Witch's phone started ringing. As she picked up and exchanged a few words (which Aliki didn't hear), she spoke a little with Youngwoo. As they both seemingly agreed to something, Dragon Witch pecked his lips, and before he could reciprocate the act, she was quickly going away. Was all this staged? It looked like it was.

He patiently waited until she was outside of hearing range, and after that, he looked straight at Aliki. She felt cold sweat travel down her spine as he eyed her from the distance of nearly 10 metres. The trees might've not had leaves (since it was just about the ending of January), but she was certain that nobody could see her... unless they knew exactly where she was.

He didn't say a word. He didn't need to. She already knew what to do. Swiftly, Aliki took her steps towards the end of the branch and jumped in a small clearing between them. Distance of almost 4 metres to the ground seemed like it would be dangerous, but not for her. She bent her knees and performed a front flip without much trouble, and stood up. She quickly fixed her black shirt, and checked whether nothing else was amiss in her attire.

Then, she turned around to meet his eyes. He was standing leisurely in one spot, observing her with a neutral, calm, but also somewhat curious look. Was he also anticipating this meeting? Well, only one way to find out.

"Lee Youngwoo. In the name of the Shadow Cult, I want to greet you."

[A/N: One day, 3 chapters. Yay!]