DEMON HUNT

Chapter 31: Personal objectives

It's a beautiful scene. A garden with a variety of flowers in full bloom. A casually dressed Renard squats as he meticulously observes a particular flower. Captain Nicole stands beside him, also casually dressed. All signs indicate that they're at her residence.

Renard: Pink coloured flowers, and this size, too...it must be a damsel bloom flower.

Nicole applauds him as she smiles.

Nicole: Nicely done. Now, on to the next...

Renard stands up hastily, turns towards her, and cuts her short.

Renard: Is this your idea of a punishment?

Nicole: Punishment? I'm not punishing you...I heard Mr. Lisandro took this as a hobby, and so I thought we would honour his memory this way.

Renard: It doesn't matter what you do now. He's dead and gone.

Nicole: Eh? You don't think he's somewhere watching us now?

Renard: It doesn't matter. What matters is that he's dead. I guess the punishment is listening to you, after all. But what can I do? You're a captain.

Nicole: I wouldn't want anyone to respect me simply because I'm a captain or because I'm older or anything.

Renard: Well, I see nothing else to respect. I may not be social, but I keep my ear in the ground. I know nobody likes you. Not even the members of the captain's council. Captain Charleston doesn't count.

Nicole: Eh? Mr. Charleston likes me?

Renard: Just never mind.

Nicole: Sure. You already apologized for what you did, and I know you regret it, too. There's no point in punishing you.

Renard: Sorry?

Renard chuckles.

Renard: I only apologized because Captain Sinister made me. In the end, those hunters died because they weren't up to standard. Nothing to do with me at all.

Nicole: Captain Sinister? Is that what he asked you to call him?

Renard: It doesn't matter, and it's none of your business.

Nicole: You're always so grumpy. Do you hate Mari?

Renard: Hate him? Of course not! We're healthy rivals who constantly push each other to get better. No malice at all.

Nicole: I suppose that's a good thing? Listen, Ren, I believe you have your reasons for acting the way you did. I believe in you. I know you'll work whatever it is you're going through...

Renard glares at her.

Renard: Don't presume to know me well enough to give me a nickname. I'm not your buddy. I'm only here because I have little or no choice at all. You're a Captain and yet I'm not even sure you could take Mari or me down in a fight. You have nothing to prove you can, but I suppose we'll never know. Not until you beat someone neither of us could beat. You don't deserve to be a captain. Know this and know peace.

Renard lets out, staring her dead in the eye. Nicole simply smiles and gives a warmhearted reply.

Nicole: On to the next flower, now.

Renard: Tch!

Renard turns around to continue his task.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mario walks among a crowd of people as he gets off a ferry at the south western port city of Marcella. There's a black bag around his left shoulder. Captain Omero decided to have Dark nemesis delivered to him on his arrival, to avoid a problematic travel.