BATTER 65

“You looked familiar, like someone I know.”

“That’s a bit cliché, isn’t it?”

The woman let out a faint scoff. Rather than offense, Baron read curiosity from her. He offered a smooth smile, capturing her reflection in his narrowed eyes.

“Is ‘cliché’ not to your liking?”

“Hmm.”

The woman leaned her elbows on the terrace. From her slightly lower vantage point, she quietly studied Baron’s face. A provocative interest shimmered on the surface of those thick, oil-colored eyes. She tapped his chin lightly with her finger, as if giving it a gentle nudge.

“It depends on the circumstances.”

A waiter carrying a champagne tray passed by. Baron picked up two glasses from the tray. When he handed a glass filled with sloshing gold to the woman, she took it naturally. Baron followed up in a near whisper.

“I’ll have to put in the effort, then.”

In response, the woman tilted her glass toward him. The glasses collided, ringing with a clear sound like a silver bell. Behind the rippling liquid, subtle and ambiguous smiles were exchanged. The alcohol steeping on his tongue had a pleasant sweetness. The woman, having moistened her lips with the toasted champagne, spoke.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen your face here before.”

“You recognize that immediately.”

Baron nodded, quickly piecing the words together. There had been several meetings like this before. For what purpose did they meet? If they truly just needed social activity, there were plenty of more comfortable and accessible venues. Why go through the trouble of renting out a place under the sea?

He knew all too well the kind of nonsense bored rich people could get up to, but he had a keen nose for the scent of secrets. Baron replied vaguely. His eyes, narrowed for a smile, hid the sharp texture of his irises.

“I wasn’t particularly interested in the past, you see.”

“I suppose you’re not the greedy type?”

Ah, greedy humans. That’s what makes humans either foul or colorful. A human without greed is a dead one. However, what I’m curious about right now is what kind of greed you all possess.

“Is there such a thing as a human without greed?”

Baron lifted his stiff eyelashes and looked directly at her. The light lingering in her irises resembled the color of a fine fruit wine. A deep, hazy gold—subtly sweet but with a sharp kick.

“There are only lazy humans.”

A brief silence between the two half-empty champagne glasses suppressed the surrounding hum of noise. The woman, looking up at Baron without a word, tilted her chin slightly. Her teeth flashed white through lips wearing a sparkling, effervescent smile.

“I don’t like lazy people.”

“Right. You struck me as a diligent person.”

“And how did you know that?”

Baron took another sip of his drink after a short pause. It was easy for him to produce a voice as smooth as the bubbles swirling in his mouth.

“I saw your hands.”

Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, the woman reflexively looked at her own hands. Held at chest height, she flipped her palms back and forth. Baron’s fingertips cautiously intruded between her long, outstretched fingers. The tip of his half-curled middle finger brushed against the calluses and thread-like lacerations on her fingers.

“They’re the hands of a scholar.”

The woman’s hand closed, and Baron’s fingertips were curled inside. She tilted her head while still holding his hand.

“And?”

“Shall I look further?”

“Go ahead. This is fun.”

“Then it seems I’ll need to borrow your hand a bit longer.”

“Do as you wish.”

Her expression as she willingly gave him her hand was composed, but her voice sounded quite amused. Baron extended her curled fingers as if unfurling a silk scroll. He stroked the inside of her palm with his thumb while his other four fingers respectfully wrapped around the back of her hand.

“There are marks where you’ve used pain-relief patches on your wrist and knuckles. Since the marks remain, however faint, it seems you apply them often.”

Following that, his fingers, supporting the hollow of her hand, stroked the back of it as if tickling the taut skin. Baron continued in a supple tone.

“One might think of an artist or an office worker, but the skin on the back of your hand is somewhat dry. That would mean you disinfect them frequently.”

“I see.”

“And your eyes were shining.”

He had learned long ago how to speak as sweet as sugar. Baron whispered without hesitation, folding her hand back into a rounded shape.

“It’s only natural for humans to have greed, but…”

Then, covering her clenched fist with his palm, he leaned his head in close.

“Only the eyes of those with great ambition truly shine.”

“Aren’t you just calling me greedy?”

“Is that a bad thing?”

The two burst into laughter almost simultaneously. After the brief laugh, the woman curved her lips into a satisfied arc.

“Well observed. It’s an insult to compare me to those people who just eat and play off their family inheritance without a single dream of their own.”

“Then, what is your dream?”

“I wonder… Human preservation?”

The woman replied without a smile. Baron nodded plainly.

“That’s a big dream.”

“I’m not joking. The Earth is terminal, and humanity is falling ill right along with it.”

“In what sense?”

“Look over there.”

She gestured quietly with her chin. On the floor below, a titan Baron could recognize had taken a seat. It was the head of a corporation that manufactured body augmentation devices.

“Cyborgs, cyber-brains—they’re just turning humans into scrap-metal rags. Humanity dwells in the flesh, too. If you keep replacing the body with machine parts over and over, not a single bit of what was once human will remain.”

“It seems you have an alternative in mind.”

“I do. It takes much more time and money, but isn’t that how all luxury goods are?”

While Baron remained silent, the rest of the wine flowed down between her smiling lips. She set down her empty glass and turned her head toward him.

“Call me Bea.”

“Bea?”

“Bea, from Beatrix.”

The corners of Baron’s eyes, which had been consistently smiling, flickered minutely. He didn’t let his composure slip any further than that.

“Well, now…”

Baron, who had been choosing his words, spoke slowly.

“That’s a name fit for a princess.”

Suddenly, the sound of applause erupted. Baron turned his head toward where the surrounding people were looking. They were all staring at the center of the lower floor. It was easy to tell exactly what they were looking at among the many guests.

Appearing with a bit of distance maintained between him and the guests was a blonde Caucasian man. Like most of the figures in this room, he was a famous person one couldn’t help but know. He was a face seen just a few days ago on a news broadcast at a stand.

Was it not the Governor of Neo-New York, where fakes run rampant? Though they say he is actually over seventy, his face and voice looked to be forty at most. Baron rested his chin on the terrace railing and looked down at him. The Governor spoke in the exact same voice heard in the news promos.

“My thanks to all the VIPs who have joined us again today.”

That man is the host? Baron, who had been imagining some grand figure from the underworld, raised his eyebrows at the appearance of such a seemingly respectable, public figure.

“As I have often said before, this is a place for rest and harmony, prepared for all of you who strive for the development of the Earth in your respective positions. No matter the method, protecting the home of humanity is by no means an easy task. Though we may face conflicts on the surface due to the differences in our individual methods, there is no doubt that we are advancing toward a single goal…”

The words that followed were a polite and exemplary speech, even more so than expected. His characteristically persuasive voice was no different from what was heard on broadcasts, and he was far too earnest to be the master of a place frequented by hitmen and mercenaries. Baron tapped the railing rhythmically, deep in thought. The questions flooding into his cortex intersected with the Governor’s speech.

What is he hiding?

“To revive the Earth and humanity, we must remember one vital thing.”

What is he after?