HSR: A Passing Crimson

"What do you mean?!" Howled Johan, who was conversing with another person, a clear trace of anger laced in his voice.

He eyed the person opposite of him. "You might not know this, but your father and I worked together on numerous projects before. If he were alive today, he would have granted me this favor!"

"But that's the thing... Mr. Johan." The person that was talking to him, a man who looked like he was in his early adult years, replied tacitly. "My father is no longer with us, and I am now the Administrator of the space station. What dealings he had with you has nothing to do with me."

"Moreover..." His voice deepened. "If what you're saying is true... And a supposed Stellaron Hunter is indeed after you, then that gives me all the more reason to once again ask... why should I help you?"

Faced with the sudden shrewdness of the person in front of him, Johan gritted his teeth. A child of a collaborator he was once close with was now turning him down, he who was at his wit's end.

However, remembering his tactics as well as his usual demeanor, Johan calmed down. He took in a deep breath and narrowed his eyes, albeit his voice was still laced with assertiveness.

"...you're just like your father. How about this? Let's make a transaction." At the mention of this, Johan lifted his hand and opened his palm for the other to see.

Instantly, a quiant scroll made of paper that was bronze in color appeared in his palm. The archaic scroll levitated there in place, seemingly under Johan's complete control.

"If you help me, then I, with this contract, vow to support the space station's interests with the Brotherhood's backing for the foreseeable future."

After uttering this, words suddenly began to appear on the quiant scroll. There weren't any pens around, yet jet-black ink appeared on their own and wrote down Johan's words down to the last letter.

"A Logos Bound? I believe that's something only the people of Argive are able to use..." Upon seeing the peculiar ability used by Johan, the current Administrator expressed his astonishment and skepticism.

"That is true. However, there are other means of... Borrowing... these abilities from them." Johan said enigmatically, tacitly hinting the sinister method of extracting such ability. "This ability, in particular, is rather useful when making contracts with others as it forms an unbreakable agreement, making it a highly sought-after ability— as you may already know."

"Stupendous, really." The Administrator nodded his head with a smile. He then leaned closer. "Okay, Mr. Johan, I'll take the bite. However, just to make sure, won't you add a down payment first?"

"...Surely you jest?" Johan frowned. "I'm already doing so much yet you still don't trust me?"

"Haha, it's not that, really." The Administrator shook his head. "It's just that we need to make sure that you really are who you are and that we'd be compensated early for the trouble. That's all."

"Tch..." Johan clicked his tongue. However, since he had no other choice, he decided to comply.

Retracting the quaint scroll, he picked up his briefcase and went to grab the important asset documents relating to the Brotherhood.

"...huh?" However, upon reaching into the briefcase, all he found was... a pair of plain featureless white masks and some cloaks.

'What in the...?!' Startled by the unfamiliar sight of what was inside, his eyes dilated. 'These... These aren't mine! Why—'

Suddenly, he remembered his encounter with the young man earlier. Looking back into that memory, he realized that the young man back then also held a similar briefcase!

'Th-That rascal from earlier!'

He was sure of it. Their briefcase might have mixed up.

"What's wrong, Mr. Johan?" Seeing Johan's sudden strange behavior, the Administrator probed in. "If there aren't any problems, as long as you have the appropriate papers, we could sign the contract right now."

Johan felt cold sweats. He hadn't anticipated this to happen, as such, his mind was racing to come up with some kind of solution.

A brief moment later, he cleared his throat. "I... It seems that I left them in another briefcase of mine. I must have mixed them up since I'm always in a hurry from my pursuer."

"Well doesn't that sound like a perfect excuse?" The Administrator, finding Johan's words somewhat ludicrous, chuckled. "I'm guessing you'd excuse yourself and find them then? I must say, that is quite the trite reason."

Johan frowned once more. "It's just a small matter. I'll go back to my temporary lodging and retrieve them exigently."

"Hmm..." The Administrator hummed. "You're quite something, you know? Making someone as busy as me wait around like this... It's quite an inappropriate etiquette, is it not?"

"However, seeing how far you'd go... I guess I can be a bit lenient." He smiled. "Go, Mr. Johan. This would be the last bit of respect you'd get from me to you, who was once close with my father."

Johan stealthily clenched his fist. The man in front of him knew that he needed protection the most at the moment, and he was exploiting it without restraint. If Johan wanted to be protected from his hunter, he needed to bow down to him.

Swallowing his pride and not retaliating to the opposite party's lack of respect, he stood up and nodded. "Very well. I'll return later."

Picking up his briefcase— which was not his— he turned around and left, but not before hearing the Administrator's words one last time.

"Have a safe trip, Mr. Johan."

Johan ignored those words and left, silently suppressing his anger.

---

"How ridiculous..." Returning to his temporary lodging, Johan cursed under his breath, the veins on his face throbbing due to anger. "Utterly... Argh!"

He had been played like a fool. Him, an executive at a big organization that is both feared and respected— the Japella Brotherhood's top Executive, Johan!

He had partaken in many operations that caused the destruction of many societies and worlds. He committed countless atrocities along with his comrades and even established a ruling body with them. Lastly, he made numerous deals with his ability that benefited the Brotherhood— he was an indispensable member of the organization!

However, now he had fallen so low as to even grovel in the feet of someone lower than him. It disgusted him greatly.

Looking down to the briefcase in his hands, the bulging veins on his face throbbed more. In a fit of anger, he threw it across the room.

- Thud!

"Damn you!" He shouted, his gaze bloodshot and his face twisting with hatred. "Damn you, damn you, damn you...!"

Remembering the young man that caused him to be humiliated both in the streets and the office of the Administrator, his breathing quickened. "I'll find you, you damned rat... I'll make you sign a contract that would control your entire life...!"

He was determined to find that young man that pinned him against a wall. And, by making him sign a contract, his life would fall into Johan's hands; upon doing so, Johan would have full control over him— he can't even die nor live without his permission.

This was the full potential of his Logos Bound— an absolute covenant that cannot be undone.

Leaning against a wall, Johan gradually controlled his breathing and his anger. Hatred might be clouding his mind right now, but he has enough experience to never let it blind his judgement.

His eyes then narrowed, remembering the young man's face clearly in his mind. "Huff... Now, where do I find that rat?"

Other than the young man's face, he knew nothing else about him. However, just knowing about his face and manner of speech was enough for Johan to find him. Not to mention the young man's inhuman strength that surpassed Johan, he believed that it wouldn't be too hard to find him.

And he was right.

"Well, what if I find you first?"

Just then, a light voice reached Johan's ears, alarming him. Turning around, his eyes widened as he looked at where the voice came from.

"You...!" His eyes then contracted, recognizing who it was.

There, leaning against the balcony, a young man with black hair and similarly dark eyes stood. On his hand was what appeared to be a chicken drumstick and he was happily eating it— including the bone.

Despite such odd behavior, his stance was calm and relaxed, almost casual. He had a comely smile plastered on his face as his eyes gazed at Johan.

"We meet again, dear sir." He spoke with a somewhat elated tone. He then kicked over a briefcase, sliding it across the floor. "I believe this is yours? Gosh, you really need to stop being in a rush. First you bump into me then you confuse your briefcase with mine? Seriously..."

"How did you get in here..." Seeing the young man chatting with him casually, Johan stepped back and held his plasma pistol behind him that he had been keeping on his person. "Who are you?"

Johan was no fool; if someone managed to get inside the same room as him without him noticing them the whole time, then that could only mean that they've intentionally hidden themselves and waited for him.

In other words...

"Are you... That hunter's conspirator?" He held his plasma pistol tightly and aimed it at him. "Answer me!"

"Conspirator?" Looking at Johan's pistol briefly, the young man soon glossed over it and continued speaking with a smile, paying the pistol no heed whatsoever. "No, goodness no. Me? Well, if the prices are right, then maybe. But alas, my services are specific and not just anyone can get my help."

"What are you blabbering on about?! Tell me who you really are or I'll melt your face off!" Finding his answers ridiculous, Johan started charging his pistol, threatening the young man.

However, once more, the young man ignored his threats.

He then spoke once more, this time with a silvery tongue and a persuasive voice. "Putting it bluntly, Mr. Johan, I'm here to help you."

"...what?" Upon hearing this, a hint of confusion and paranoia appeared in Johan's eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Well, let's simmer down for a bit, shall we? We're both civilized people here, after all." He spoke fluidly and convincingly. "Although I understand your thoughts currently, a civil and calm conversation won't hurt, yes?"

Looking at the young man, who appeared to have no weapons on his person, Johan didn't let his guard down one bit. "...what do you want?"

"So we indeed can be civil." The young man's smile deepened as his eyes narrowed. "Let me introduce myself. I'm an Informant and occasional mercenary with a lot of experience under my belt. You can call me..."

"Kharon."

'Kharon...' Hearing this name, Johan ruminated over his mind, attempting to find if this name was familiar. However, he didn't know such a person in the criminal network. "An Informant, you say? How can I trust you?"

Upon hearing this, the young man clasped his palms together and explained with a comely smile on his face. "Have you heard of Asdana's Penacony? Well, not to brag, but I've worked there in the past, serving as an Informant for those who wish to enter the sweet dream of the Harmony, as well as working with the Oak and Bloodhound Family."

"Not only that, but I've also been aboard the Xianzhou Luofu. I've worked with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Cloud Knights, and even some Borisins from time to time, offering my services and information."

"Lastly, and although this is a bit of a secret, I've also served as an Informant and research assistant for a certain Genius from the Genius Society. I won't specifically say who it was, but let's just say that she's into Life Science."

After explaining a detailed background of his profession, he paused briefly and took in a few breaths. He then looked back at Johan. "So? How about it?"

Johan listened intently at what the young man that referred to himself as Kharon said. His eyes narrowed, a cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

'Every thing he said sounded true...'

As someone who had to deal with making deep contracts, Johan had developed an innate sense of knowing when someone was being sincere— after all, to overcome someone and make them sign a contract with him, he had to first understand their heart.

As for the young man, everything he uttered sounded as if he had experienced all of what them firsthand.

Observing Kharon, his grip tightened. 'He may look young, but if what he said is true... then that means he's been in this business for a long time now. If so...'

"You said that you don't just offer your service to anyone... So why me?" He cautiously questioned.

"That is a good question." Kharon nodded. "To be honest with you, the only reason I'm doing this is because..."

Merris leans back slightly, his voice lowering just enough to force Johan to focus entirely on him.

"The truth is, Mr. Johan, the only reason I'm doing this is because you're not just another target. I've known for a while now, actually, and our first encounter was no accident. You see, you're an opportunity— one that I can't afford to ignore. Whether it's your survival, your connections, or your hunter's demise... it all leads to something valuable to me. And I think you'll find that keeping me close will be far more beneficial than keeping me away."

Johan hesitated, weighing the words carefully. Though his instincts screamed to not trust the silvery words of the seemingly young man in front of him, the calm confidence in Kharon's voice unsettled him— this was no amateur.

He pondered his choices briefly, ruminating over all the possible outcomes of this situation. Then, slowly lowering his grand while still gripping his pistol, he spoke hoarsely.

"If... If what you said is true... Then can you form a contract with me?"

"You mean that contract you've been mumbling over before that would enslave me?" Kharon chuckled. "Hard pass, Mr. Johan. Don't take my kindness for naivete."

"No, I wasn't..."

- Thump!

Johan was just about to explain himself, when suddenly, the door of the room opened forcefully and a man entered.

"Wait outside for a bit." Said the man that just entered, leaving behind two bodyguards outside.

"You..." Turning his head over to who it was, Johan was surprised to see the Administrator. "What are you doing here? Didn't we agree that—"

"Plan's changed, Mr. Johan. A bounty from the IPC released a few system days ago just arrived at the space station. Care to guess who it is that they want?" Once more, the slithery and shrewd voice of the man that irritated Johan reached his ears.

"There's no hard feelings, really. We of Trace just can't afford to hide a wanted criminal like you under our wing." He added as he took out his own plasma gun. "The Japella Brotherhood or the IPC... Thinking logically, the best one to side with here is none other than the latter, yes?"

"You damned wretch..." Seeing that he was betrayed, Johan aimed his plasma pistol at the Administrator. "Do you think I'd go down just like that? I'm Johan, you fool! I'm part of the Annihilation Gang's Japella Brotherhood!"

He then turned to Kharon behind him while aiming his gun at the Administrator. "You! If you really want to help me, then kill him!"

"...I think there's more pressing matters than just that Administrator, Mr. Johan." However, contrary to the usual calm and relaxed vibe he had been giving off since earlier, Kharon looked uneasy.

Seeing him worried, Johan assumed that he was cowering in fear. "Why are you—"

However, he was far from the truth.

Suddenly, the room grew eerily quiet save from Johan's shouting. It was as if even the shadows themselves stood still in unease.

- Thud!

Suddenly, something fell just right beside Johan's feet, prompting him to look. He lowered his gaze, and, laying there before his right foot, was the head of the Administrator of Trace.

Decapitated from a clean cut.

"H-Hiek!" Upon seeing this, Johan shrieked and stepped back, his gaze fixated on the head. "What the hell?!"

"So you're finally here..." Behind him, Kharon spoke, his eyes darkening as they locked on the door. "It took you quite a while to appear... Now show yourself."

The person he had been anticipating for since earlier had finally appeared. Kharon's eyes narrowed, anticipating the figure that would soon enter through the door.

In the darkness of the hallway outside, the two bodyguards that the Administrator brought fell to the ground, their bodies mutilated. Then, shortly after, a figure gradually entered through the door, revealing his appearance.

'Ah... Just my luck. It had to be you...' Upon seeing which Stellaron Hunter it was that was hunting down Johan, a pale smile formed on his face. 'Why does it have to be you, of all people...'

Standing there, the eerie gaze of the immortal man looked at both him and Johan, a clear intent to kill present in them. Meanwhile, his hand held a seemingly fractured blade with fresh blood still dripping down from it.

'...Blade.'

The most destructive member of the Stellaron Hunters, Blade, has now arrived.