The Devil Of Probability-Chapter 54: The Kitsune

The date was November First, and Simon sat in the infirmary waiting for Alina. He still needed to get his items back from her, and more importantly — he needed information from her.

From her own words, she had said she was watching Elliot for Simon. This meant that he would be able to push her for information. It didn’t take long before she walked into the sliding doors, looking at Simon as if she had been expecting this already.

In her left hand was his phone, and around her sleeve was his coat. Simon had already noticed a big change in the coat, the inside sharing the same symbols as his gloves.

Additionally, there was a seven-pointed star on it, which Simon already understood. This would increase his physical prowess, something that he would need in the coming battles.

He didn’t say anything at first, accepting the gifts and slipping the coat on. As the sleeves fell around his wrist, he couldn’t help but realize that the inner lining had also been changed.

The cloth was thicker, which caused Simon to instantly feel anxious. He couldn’t help but wonder why she kept going above and beyond on everything he gave her.

These were no doubt useful to him, but what was the message behind them? Was he overthinking it? Was it really just the message that he needed her for something?

If this was the case, then what exactly was it that he needed from her?

(Healing maybe?)

Simon shook his head. At least this time, he actually got something he asked for. The last time he received a gift from her, it was a pair of gloves. He still used these; they were convenient after all.

"Alina, you said you watch Elliot, correct? Is there any information you can give me about him?"

"...Too formal."

Alina’s eyes narrowed, and with a turn of her head, she said:

"As you know, he hasn’t been around here much. He’s planning to do something, although I don’t know what. But he’s trying to obtain a contract with an entity." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

(A contract? Does that mean he’s trying to form a contract with the entity Leo and Haruto saw?)

Then, something else hit Simon. This whole time, Alina had been watching Elliot, which meant that she could’ve been stalking him, too. It sent an uneasy shock down his spine, but he had no choice but to ignore it for now.

He rubbed the back of his neck, as if trying to wipe the sensation away. It was as if a hungry owl was watching him.

"In that case, who is healing him? Any information will do, I need to make my official report to the bureau soon."

Alina had caught the light behind his words. The information about where Elliot was being healed was crucial, as it would help him figure out what he was trying to achieve.

However, the actual location and the location on paper needed to be separated. Only Simon should know about this; if the bureau did, he could also be exposed.

"There’s a building in Queens he goes to every time he leaves the Hollow World."

"I see. Can you send me the location?"

They were still in front of camera’s and Simon pulled out his phone. In a matter of seconds, Alina had already texted him back.

"He most likely has an entity contracted already; he never gets healed, just goes home."

(Best case scenario for me, its only ability is healing. Worst case, the entity is as strong as that monkey)

"Thank you. I should probably get going. I have a new squadmate today. Although your team is joining us on our expedition this time."

"Yes, I am fully aware of that."

Simon didn’t bother waiting for a response. Every second around Alina, his body, down to his cells, screamed at him not to interact with her. He was too delusional not to do it, however.

He didn’t care about how dangerous she was as of right now; they were accomplices. If she was set up by the bureau, there was a high chance she would receive a worse punishment than he.

This is because she would’ve overstepped her boundaries by now. She had given him too many things that supported his motives; if it were just healing, it wouldn’t matter, but that wasn’t the case.

His phone was permanently safe from the bureau’s watch, his gloves allowed him to stay in the Hollow World longer, and his coat enhanced his physical prowess.

All of these actions weren’t done under the bureau’s watch, but rather on her own time. Thus, Simon had no reason to fear her, but he did anyway. In his mind, the fact that she wasn’t doing this for the bureau enhanced her danger.

He calmed his mind for the time being; he needed to focus on other things for now. He walked into the meeting room, seeing a rather familiar face.

"Haruto?"

Confusion struck him — was he seeing things right? The man in front of him was not who he thought he was, but they could be mistaken for identical twins.

He had a scar on his cheek and bandages around his head. The room went silent at the mention of Haruto’s name, and Simon took another glance at him.

The man’s hair was shorter, only stretching to his jaw. Additionally, he was not blind, his rhodonite-red eyes on display for all to see. What threw Simon off the most was the fact that he did not have ears.

"I am not Haruto. The Sato Clan’s genes are just very strong. My name is Kiyoharu. It will be lovely to work with you, Simon Crest." His voice was direct, honest... Too honest.

(Kiyoharu?)

Simon didn’t have to think about the man’s name for more than five seconds. Kiyoharu Sato, "The Kitsune" as Signators called him. Simon blinked once, only wondering what the bureau’s plan was with this one.

He didn’t bother saying anything else, just taking his seat as Evelyn discussed their plan for the current expedition.

(The Bedeviled, Kitsune...)

Simon’s thoughts were not focused on the task at hand; this was going to be troubling to him.

(Why would they possibly let a man who committed genocide in an investigation team?)