"One here, another over there, mmm... better put two in this spot."
Inside the Interastral Peace Corporation, Clara tucked away adorable little dolls in every inconspicuous corner she could find. Just to be safe, she even placed an extra doll in some of the more distant spots.
The dolls were tiny, no bigger than her palm, with soft, long black hair, little red eyes, and slightly parted lips curled into a smile—perfect miniature versions of Clara herself.
"There, all done. That should be enough to blow this whole company sky-high."
Clara closed her eyes, sensing the locations of every single doll she'd hidden within the corporation.
A satisfied nod followed.
"Now then..."
"Hey, which department are you from? Why are you here during work hours?"
Just as Clara was pondering her next move, a clear, crisp woman's voice suddenly sounded from behind her. Clara was quite familiar with that voice. She turned around, a sweet smile spreading across her face.
"Oh! It's big sister Topaz! Long time no see, I've missed you so much~"
Streaks of red ran through silver hair, blue eyes sparkled, and a dimensional warp trotter trotted by her side.
"It's you!"
Once Clara had fully turned around, Topaz got a clear look at the girl's face. Her expression instantly shifted to one of shock, and she swiftly drew her weapon, aiming it directly at Clara.
"Don't move!"
Seeing Topaz point the gun at her head, Clara showed no fear. Instead, she put on a pitiful, woebegone expression.
"Wahhh~ Big sister Topaz, what did I do wrong? Why are you pointing a gun at me?"
With that innocent look, if Topaz hadn't known the girl's true identity, she might have softened and lowered her weapon, wondering if she'd made a mistake.
"Don't move! State your purpose for being in the Interastral Peace Corporation!"
Therefore, Topaz wasn't fooled by Clara's appearance. She tightened her grip on her weapon and shot a meaningful glance at her companion, Trotters.
"Oink oink." Sensing Topaz's look, Trotters let out a few grunts, then opened a dimensional rift at its feet and dove right in.
Watching Trotters disappear, Topaz felt a slight sense of relief.
"Big sister Topaz, I really don't mean any harm." Clara watched Trotters leave without a care, continuing to speak cheerfully.
"I'm actually here to turn myself in to the Corporation."
"I spent all of last night reflecting on my past actions, and I feel deeply ashamed." Clara placed a hand over her heart, a look of resolution on her face.
"If I continued down that path, my conscience would surely 'trouble me'. So, I've come specifically to surrender myself to the Corporation."
"..." Hearing this, Topaz narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't lower her guard.
Turn herself in? Topaz absolutely didn't believe Clara would come to the Corporation to surrender.
She must be here for something else. Whether it was good or bad didn't matter right now; the most important thing was to stall Clara until Trotters could deliver the message to Diamond.
With that in mind, Topaz lowered her weapon and forced a smile onto her face.
"Surrendering can lead to reduced punishment. It's good that you've come to your senses, Miss Clara."
"I can put in a good word for you, try to get your sentence minimized."
Upon hearing this, Clara's face lit up with an innocent smile. "Really?"
"Of course. I swear to you in the name of the Amber Lord."
"Wow! (◕‿◕✿) Thank you! Big sister Topaz, you're such a good person~" Clara clapped her hands happily and even gave a little bounce, looking nothing like someone here to surrender.
"Could she really be here to turn herself in?"
Taking in Clara's demeanor, that thought couldn't help but surface in Topaz's mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
Topaz would sooner believe Clara was here to blow up the company than believe she came to surrender.
Given all the things she'd done to the Corporation, her fate would be either eternal imprisonment or a lifetime of indentured servitude.
Topaz refused to believe Clara was unaware of the consequences of surrender. She must be scheming something involving the Corporation...
"Big sister Topaz?" Seeing Topaz lost in thought, Clara feigned confusion with a questioning tone.
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. Follow me." Topaz snapped back to reality, pushing the thoughts aside, and walked beside Clara to lead the way.
"Okay~" Seeing this, Clara reached out and took Topaz's small hand in her own.
Feeling the softness against her palm, Topaz's body stiffened involuntarily.
"Big sister Topaz... is this not okay...?" Sensing Topaz's stiffness, Clara put on a pitiful expression and looked at her. It seemed that if Topaz uttered a single 'no', Clara would burst into tears right then and there.
"I-it's... fine." Looking at Clara's expression, Topaz's voice softened considerably.
Seeing Clara's sister-like demeanor, a thought arose in Topaz's heart: 'Could the Corporation have gotten it wrong?'
After all, from every angle, Clara seemed completely like a young girl who knew nothing of the world. She bore no resemblance whatsoever to the description on the wanted posters—unscrupulous, committing every crime, arson, murder, and pillage.
Moreover, having survived within the Corporation for so long, Topaz was well aware of what the Corporation was truly like.
So, perhaps Clara wasn't as the Corporation's wanted notices claimed—at least, not entirely.
It was possible the Corporation had taken a liking to her personally, or to something she possessed, and thus deliberately tarnished her image to force her into a corner, compelling her to bind herself to the Corporation.
This sort of thing was far from the first time. Since the Corporation's founding, who knew how many times it had been done.
Setting aside the facts for a moment... Clara, too, was a victim...
With that thought, Topaz's inner impression of Clara improved significantly. She even tightened her grip on Clara's small hand, as if offering her some sense of security.
Completely forgetting that Clara's identity was that of the notoriously infamous Stellaron Hunter.
No, perhaps not forgotten—but rather, a certain super-cute individual had pulled a little trick.
Noting Topaz's expression and subtle movements, a slight curve tugged at the corner of Clara's mouth.
Cognitive modification is really handy~
Big sister Topaz~ you're such a~ pushover, a real pushover~
…
Topaz: Regarding Clara
Do not believe a single word she says. Don't believe it! Don't believe! Any of it! Any!!!
…
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