Lynch rushed to the station square in the Grand Cross District at top speed, ignoring the fact that it was already dark and the crimson moon had begun to rise.
He did not even bother to acknowledge the security guard or the bearded Truen at the club entrance, rushing straight up to the third floor.
He felt deeply uneasy.
Based on his understanding of the officer, these unusual behaviors clearly indicated that she needed his help but was hesitant to ask. That was why she had left without leaving a message when she realized he was not there.
If Natalie needed his help, it must be a troublesome matter, perhaps even a dangerous one.
Lynch hoped he was just being overly sensitive and that she was actually fine, but he did not want to gamble.
Since his arrival in this world, during his most difficult times, Officer Natalie Angel had remained by his side. Now that she might need help, even if he hadn't noticed it before, to feign ignorance now would be a failure of his character as a man.
Therefore, Lynch checked his gear, even bringing the Lawrence's Pipe he had just purchased, and went straight to knock on the door of 304.
Please be home, please let nothing be wrong.
His heart raced with tension, and he prayed silently until the door opened, at which point Lynch finally exhaled.
However, the breath caught in his throat halfway, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
The officer was dressed uncharacteristically in a black, light silk dress that swayed as she moved, with long legs wrapped in black stockings appearing and disappearing through the fabric. She wore a wide-brimmed lady's hat with a pure white feather stuck into the top, which looked particularly playful against her black attire.
Her face was lightly made up, softening her sharp features, and her long chestnut hair fell in curls behind her, emitting the pleasant scent of soap.
This was the first time Lynch had seen the officer in women's clothing, and his only thought was that she was stunning, making his twenty-some days of transmigrating feel like a waste.
Lynch opened his mouth, wanting to offer a compliment, but for the first time, he found his mind so sluggish. After staring blankly for a long time, he finally managed a strained, "Whoa."
"Lynch? Why are you here?"
Not only was Lynch stunned, but the officer was also taken aback upon seeing him, her expression complex as if she had words she wanted to say but could not.
"I have a friend who knows a difficult woman. When she needs help, she refuses to say so directly. He didn't want to hide at home guessing, so he decided to come over himself to see what she wanted."
"You..." Her expression was fierce at first but soon softened. The officer bit her lip gently, staring at Lynch's face for a long time before whispering, "I really didn't expect you to come over so suddenly, but... I am truly glad you appeared. It seems fate is a truly strange thing."
"So, what is it? It’s so bizarre to see you in a dress."
"I am a woman, to begin with! Is there something wrong with wearing a dress?" The officer tapped her fist lightly against Lynch's hat and glared at him before pulling him into the room. Her voice was light, and a happy smile graced her expression. "It's nothing serious, just that I suddenly felt like drinking and wanted someone to keep me company. Since you bumped into me, don't think about running away today. Come in and drink with me."
"Huh? Just for that?"
"Of course. Someone who wants to drink is quite a terrifying thing."
Lynch, dragged into the room, discovered that the officer was indeed drinking. The bottle of wine he had given her when he first moved into the apartment sat on the coffee table next to a half-empty glass.
The officer slammed the door shut, expertly retrieved another glass, and poured a small amount of blood-red wine for Lynch before topping off her own. She then gave Lynch a firm push, seating him on the sofa before sitting down beside him, lifting her glass, and staring at him with bright eyes.
"To our meeting, cheers."
Lynch was full of suspicion, feeling like something was wrong, but he still clinked his glass gently against Natalie's and downed it just as she did.
"I am fortunate that I insisted on going to your home to find you, which gave me the chance to know you," Natalie said, picking up the bottle to refill their glasses. "You showed me the resilience and persistence of an ordinary person. Even without any power beyond common sense, you faced mystery with calm and wisdom, completely changing my view of ordinary people."
Lynch sighed, realizing her emotions were definitely not right. Although he couldn't fathom the reason, he still held up his glass to clink it against hers. "It seems you've suffered greatly because of ordinary people, which is why you were so stiff with me when we first met."
"It was my father. He was a Watcher during his lifetime, an old friend of Victor's, code-named L, and a soul manifestation of the Lord of Order with level five authority."
The officer leaned her head back against the sofa, staring at the ceiling, her misty eyes seemingly seeing images of the past:
"He was the greatest father in the world. He not only taught me how to fight but also how to be a true soul manifestation, teaching me what justice, order, and the responsibilities and duties of a transcendent are." He often told me that we Watchers have a responsibility to protect innocent civilians because every penny we receive comes from the taxes of the people. We must protect those who provide for us.
"So that's why you suddenly rushed in that night and pinned me to the ground, multiple times?"
The officer giggled, stretching out her legs as she curled up on the sofa. She kicked Lynch's thigh lightly with her high heel and whispered, "Yes, I admit it. I truly wanted to protect you, to try and save you. And I am luckier than my father; the one I wanted to save was you."
"He..."
"His last mission was also to save an ordinary person who didn't want to die, someone who also wanted to investigate the truth with him," the officer said with a mocking smile, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, that person did not have such a firm will and failed when confronting his own fear and weakness. He not only allowed himself to be consumed by mysterious filth but also ran around wildly, disrupting my father's plan, which led to my father being critically injured. He struggled all the way back to the Watcher's entrance before collapsing."
Lynch sighed and reached out to pat Natalie's gloved hand, but the officer reacted sharply, pulling her hand away and staring at him with a fierce expression. After a moment, her gaze softened, and she smiled as if nothing had happened:
"I didn't even get to see him one last time; he only left me this sword. That is why I have always hated it when ordinary people participate in investigations, as I feel they only drag us down—until you appeared."
Lynch frowned, his doubts growing. What was wrong with this woman? Why did she act like she was drunk?
"You have helped me a lot these days. Having you by my side has made me very happy. If it is possible, I would like to continue being this happy. Thank you, Lynch."
Lynch bowed slightly. "My honor, miss."
"Heh, then, one more honor. Help me with one more thing."
Lynch took a deep breath and pressed, "Help you with what?"
"Remember our bet, the three conditions I owe you?" The officer smiled and slowly took off the glove on her left hand—the very one Lynch had almost touched earlier. "I am sorry, but I am reneging on the debt."
In an instant, Lynch's pupils contracted, and his hair stood on end.
Her rough right hand was now covered in dark sores of various sizes, emitting an incredibly eerie aura. The rotting flesh on the sores moved like it was alive, madly squirming and spreading up her arm.
Lynch suddenly realized this was the spot splashed by blood filth when he had severed the tentacle of Klin's twisted one that afternoon.
"Truen is fine, but I am not. I have been contaminated, and the distortion has already begun," the officer sighed and tossed her father's relic to Lynch. "Do me a favor and send me off as a human being."
Rate on N.U.
