The town where Kiss of Death is located is not very large, and it is only a few minutes from the tavern in Serra to the office building in the center of the town. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 Twenty minutes later, Hill and Alex were standing in Partridge's office.

"I see." Partridge closed his notebook and set it aside: "Now that Hill has made a decision, then we don't have much to say. ”

"He is willing to embark on a difficult road with an unknown future for the sake of someone he meets for the first time, how kind His Highness Hill is, he is completely an angel."

Partridge glanced at his secretary, then turned his attention back to Ciel.

"But, is it okay? You've always been playing alone, so don't you lack the experience of teaming up with others? ”

"No problem."

Hill replied without thinking.

"Worthy of His Highness Hill, even incompetent teammates can deign to cooperate with them, how reliable!"

“……”

Is this "incompetence" talking about me? With this question in mind, Alex, who was standing beside Ciel, looked over to Salom. The secretary in black uniform stood there gracefully, and the expression on his face was still as serious and charming as ever.

Maybe I'm too sensitive, Alex thought.

"So, how about I ask a few questions about you?" Partridge's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Let the horses come."

Although there was still no undulating tone, Hill inexplicably seemed calm and confident.

"Heh, it's good to be confident, but I hope you can be so confident for a while." With that, Partridge frowned and began to think.

As the minutes ticked by, all three people in the room were silent, except for the sound of Partridge's ring finger tapping on the table as he thought echoed through the room.

It seems that it will be quite a complicated question, Alex guessed in her mind as she carefully held her breath.

"Ah, there it is!"

After a few minutes or so, Partridge suddenly slammed the table.

Glancing around at the three people standing across the table, Partridge slowly groaned, "It was a night where even the bells were frozen in the cold wind / I couldn't see the shadows of the stars when I looked up / The fog that slowly melted away from the surface of the river / Mixed with the lightness of a cat and the coldness of death......"

"What the hell!?" Alex complained loudly: "After thinking about it for so long, I was thinking about this!" ”

"President, the superfluous weather description is exempt, please get straight to the point."

"yes, is the foreshadowing a bit long? …… However, the atmosphere is also very important. ”

"I'm sorry, but when I look up and see the president's disgusting face, there is no atmosphere."

"Miss Salom!? Didn't you say that it would save me face in front of outsiders? Where is my majesty as president? ”

"Ah, I'm sorry. Because while looking at the president's distorted face, there were still third-rate verses echoing in his ears, and he couldn't keep his reason for a moment. Salom said lightly, "Moreover, since Miss Alex is going to team up with His Highness Ciel, she is not an outsider." ”

"I'm an outsider, please continue to treat me as an outsider!" Not wanting to be caught up in the ranks of the "weirdos" anyway, Alex let out a cry from the heart.

“…… Cough. Realizing the gaffe, Partridge faked a cough and continued to get back to business: "...... on a day like this, Ciel, you and Miss Alex fell into the encirclement of the enemy, but there is a glimmer of hope, that is, you know where the enemy leader is-in this situation, what are you going to do?" ”

Hearing Partridge's question, Alex nodded inwardly. Although his image had deteriorated a bit before, the old man's business level and experience seemed to be quite reliable. The more critical and dangerous the situation, the more we can examine the cooperation and tacit understanding between companions. Compared to some innocuous incidents, this question is quite appropriate.

The need to break out is certain, and considering the friendship with their companions, the average person may choose two people to cover each other to break out or take the other leader. However, there is a trap here, because his profession is a bulky and defensive guardian, which is not commensurate with the high agility and high mobility of Hill as a thief, and the result of forcibly acting together can only be to drag each other down, and fall on the way to break out after running out of physical strength. With this in mind, the right thing to do would be to use Alex as a bait to attract the attention of the enemy, while Ciel takes the opportunity to decapitate. Although it seems like a ruthless and ruthless plan, as the decoy will inevitably be in danger, it is the only way to potentially rescue both.

The question is-

Alex looked at Ciel, worried. There are two reasons for this, one is that she has not told Hill about her profession, and although she is now equipped with a few pieces of armor on various parts of her body, it is difficult to use this as a clue to speculate on her profession. The second is Hill's personal philosophy, although she has only known each other for a few hours, she already has a certain understanding of Hill, in Alex's opinion, with Hill's frank and straightforward style, it is easy to make "two people defeat the leader together" This seems to be a royal fantasy, but it is actually stupid.

"How's that, Ciel? What would you do? Leave your companions behind to defeat the boss alone, as you're good at? Or do you want to break out with Alex? Partridge looked at Ciel with interest.

Alex's eyes widened slightly—this cunning fellow had actually misguided Hill in his words!

In the eyes of the two mixed with consideration, expectation, and worry, Hill blinked lightly with an expressionless face.

"I see."

He looked confident in his answers.

"Just take Alex hostage."

"W-no!!" Before Partridge, who was the subject of the subject, could react, Alex preemptively made a judgment. She crossed her forearms and shouted loudly, putting a giant cross on Ciel's answer.

"Why am I being a hostage? Aren't we companions!? ”

“…… Hey? ”

"Why a sudden look of surprise? Do you mean that I am the only one who thinks so? Alex's face flushed with excitement.

"But, I can't think of anything else Alex can do other than hostages."

"Good! Duel! Alex, who had lost her mind, tugged at Ciel's sleeve and tried to take him outside.

"Miss Alex, please calm down."

"Calm down!? Miss Alex is treated as a person who has no value other than a hostage! ”

"Please rest assured, His Highness Hill has no ill intentions."

"Well, yes. It's because there's no malice that hurts people more, okay!? ”

"I see, is it a real battle?" Partridge, who was sitting behind the desk, suddenly made a thoughtful sound.

"President, what time is it, and why are you still sitting there with a calm appearance?"

"Ciel, Miss Alex."

Partridge's deep voice interrupted the commotion, and he slowly pulled a file out of the drawer to see Alex and Ciel, who was still expressionless while being pulled on his clothes, turn his face to look this way.

"Do you want to ...... A real combat exercise? ”