episode_0094

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“I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this time.”

Inside the 7th Unit’s Captain’s office.

Club bowed deeply towards Captain Rahe, who sat before her. She felt like prostrating herself and banging her head on the floor.

A while ago, Club had ignored the instructions of Spade, who was her superior in rank, and stubbornly insisted on her own way, which resulted in the shameful act of being kidnapped by a villain.

Fortunately, the villain’s objective was not Club’s life or ransom, so she was safely released…

After Club safely returned to the base, she was confined to quarters for three days by Rahe’s order and was finally re-deployed to the field today.

“Raise your head, Club. I believe you are fully aware of this mistake. Aren’t you?”

“…Yes. I will make sure such a thing never happens again.”

“Good. I trust that an excellent Club will not make the same mistake twice. However, I want you to know that there won’t be a second chance.”

Rahe spoke gently, continuing her lesson.

“And a report about this incident has been sent to the higher-ups. I’ve tried my best to cover for you with my discretion, but some disadvantage to Club’s career will be unavoidable.”

“…Yes.”

“But it’s alright. Club is an excellent hero. Most of the promising heroes I’ve seen over the years have usually caused some kind of accident or incident. Even Check, Coco, and Spade, whom you respect, were no exception. …So please, don’t be too dejected.”

“Yes, thank you, Captain Rahe-nim.”

Club was calmer than expected. Club had a strong desire for recognition and was quite obsessed with achievements and her career, so Rahe had expected her to be more dejected.

Had Club grown? Had something changed in her heart during her abduction? Whatever it was, Rahe was a little relieved that her subordinate’s expression wasn’t as dark as she’d thought.

* * *

After giving Club a few additional words of caution, Rahe sent her off.

Starting today, Club would return to active duty. For a while, she would focus on patrol duties, and depending on her condition, she would then be deployed to more serious assignments.

Compared to when the world was in turmoil, it had become much more peaceful, but it wasn’t yet peaceful enough to be called idle. There were still many places here and there that needed the heroes’ help.

Though she had only just returned, it seemed Club would have to endure hardship for some time.

After Club left, a knock sounded a moment later.

“Excuse me….”

With Rahe’s permission, Apple entered. On the tray in her hand was a cup of coffee.

It was the coffee Rahe had ordered. She had ordered coffee to drink during her meeting with Club.

“Ah, thank you, Apple. But I apologize. My meeting with Club ended earlier than I expected.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine. In that case, would you like a cup, Captain Rahe-nim?”

“That would be lovely. I’ll have one.”

Apple placed a coffee cup on Rahe’s desk.

Along with it, she placed a small dish with a pretty pattern next to the cup. Curious, Rahe opened the lid of the dish and saw cube sugar inside.

It wasn’t just ordinary sugar; there were strange patterns etched into it.

“The case is pretty.”

At Rahe’s compliment, Apple proudly showed it off.

Apparently, this sugar was a product from a famous foreign company.

Apple was very passionate about coffee, always procuring unusual related items from somewhere.

The coffee machine used to brew this coffee was also purchased by Apple with her own money.

Rahe wasn’t as interested in coffee as Apple was, but she enjoyed drinking Apple’s coffee, so she listened intently to her explanation.

In any case, Rahe understood that this sugar was extremely expensive and luxurious. She was quite intrigued by how much difference a single piece of sugar could make.

“Captain Rahe-nim, you sometimes add sugar when you’re tired, don’t you? So I brought it along, just in case, to introduce it to you.”

“…Really? You praise it so highly; I’d like to taste it. Is it alright if I put one in?”

“Of course.”

Apple responded with a smile, and Rahe picked up a sugar cube from the case with the prepared tongs and plunked it into the coffee.

After stirring it slowly, she sipped, savoring its contents.

It was delicious coffee, as always. As for the taste of the sugar… she wasn’t quite sure. She probably wouldn’t know if it was truly delicious without tasting more.

“…? What’s wrong, Apple?”

Suddenly, Rahe felt an intense gaze on her and asked, puzzled.

Apple looked at Rahe with an unreadable gaze, then quickly shook her head, denying that anything was wrong.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Yes. Thank you, Apple.”

With that, Apple took the remaining cup and left.

Rahe enjoyed the aroma of the coffee and the subtle, luxurious sweetness flowing within it as she began her work.

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…….

Inside the Captain’s office, another knock echoed.

There was no answer from Captain Rahe within. A moment later, the door opened without permission, and someone entered.

The one who entered was Apple, who had left just moments ago.

Apple carefully closed the door and approached the desk where Rahe was sitting.

Rahe was slumped over her desk, asleep. Next to her was a coffee cup, more than half empty.

Apple had hoped she would drink it all, but it didn’t matter.

“Captain Rahe-nim. …Wake up. Your mind remains as it is; only your body awakens. Your mind is still asleep….”

As Apple whispered into her ear, Rahe’s eyes fluttered open slightly. With Apple’s support, Rahe’s upper body was raised.

Her half-open eyes were glazed over, as if they had lost their light. As per Apple’s command, Rahe’s consciousness was still asleep.

Apple took out medicine and a handkerchief from her pocket, soaked the handkerchief thoroughly with the medicine, and then pressed it over Rahe’s mouth and nose.

When commanded to breathe deeply, Rahe obeyed. The medicine absorbed into the handkerchief spread through her mouth and nose, deep into Rahe’s lungs… and permeated every part of her body. Furthermore, the light faded from her eyes….

When the medicine had sufficiently permeated, Apple removed the handkerchief. Then she whispered into Rahe’s ear.

“Good, very good. Captain Rahe-nim, please listen carefully to what I am about to say….”

And so, Apple began the brainwashing process. As ordered by Lord 13.

It was the beginning of the process to subdue Rahe.

* * *

“…What in the world are you two doing?”

The base of the villain organization 『Abyss』.

In the hallway, Dorothy stopped, having discovered a strange sight. An expression of utter disdain was plastered across her face.

Dorothy’s gaze fell upon Lord 13, and beneath him, the Chief of Staff was prostrate on the floor.

The Chief of Staff was lying face down on the ground, and Lord 13 was sitting on his backside, perched on top of him.

What on earth was going on?

“Don’t misunderstand, Dorothy. It’s not weird. It’s not an unfair command either.”

“There’s nothing to misunderstand. It just fully exposes your creepiness and maniacal sexual preferences. Is that it? Are you once again toying with the Chief of Staff’s loyalty and giggling with enjoyment? You creepy pervert.”

“‘Again,’ you say? When did I ever do that?! And it’s not like that, so really, don’t misunderstand! More importantly, Dorothy, you’re the one who has something to explain, aren’t you?”

Lord 13 seemed to be defending himself, then turned to interrogate Dorothy.

From a rough explanation, it seemed to be related to the Chief of Staff having brainwashed Lord 13.

After she became a woman, the Chief of Staff had asked for Dorothy’s cooperation to regain the rather awkward Lord 13’s attention, and Dorothy had readily provided the brainwashing drug to the Chief of Staff. She had demanded detailed data on the experimental results in return.

Not long ago, the Boss discovered the truth, and eventually, the Chief of Staff personally apologized to Lord 13, begging for forgiveness.

“And as a punishment for that, something like this….”

“Well, since it’s the Chief of Staff, I didn’t think she’d make me do anything too strange, and there was no ill intent, so I decided to let it go with this much.”

Lord 13 said so and smacked the Chief of Staff’s backside. The Chief of Staff let out a lewd groan.

They had often played like this even when the Chief of Staff was a man. In the end, this was both a punishment and a gesture that their relationship remained the same. Whether the Chief of Staff became a woman or remained a man, they were still friends….

“But why are you doing this out here in the hallway? Do it in your room.”

“I said the same thing, but the Chief of Staff….”

“B-because I have to show the Boss too! I have to show the Boss that I’m reflecting…!”

No matter how you looked at it, it just seemed like a pervert who got off on showing others how he was being toyed with by 13.

To Dorothy, whose eyes grew colder, Lord 13 pointed a finger and rebuked her.

“More importantly, you too, Dorothy. Cooperating with the Chief of Staff and using me as an experimental sample without permission, what kind of act is that? I need an apology from you too.”

“Oh, really? I think my position is quite justified. The experimental results obtained from using you as a sample are used directly for improving the brainwashing tools you use, aren’t they? It’s all for you.”

“…Uh… that’s… actually… true….”

“And besides, if it weren’t for my tools, you’d be sucking your thumb and watching the organization crumble, doing nothing. After I saved such absolute trash, is this how you treat me?”

“…….”

A moment later.

Eventually, Lord 13, admitting defeat, instead prostrated himself on the ground in apology before Dorothy, then took off Dorothy’s shoes, licked her feet, and even became her chair for thirty minutes.

Thanks to this, the Chief of Staff was freed from the human chair punishment, but somehow, the Chief of Staff seemed disappointed….