Chapter 40: A Different Kind of Sweetness

Meanwhile, on the same Snow Country Express, in one of the rear carriages, a crew member was pushing a food cart, slowly making her way down the aisle.

“Any passengers need snacks or drinks?” she called out, though her stern face suggested she was just going through the motions.

In the crowded, stuffy carriage, pairs of bright eyes gazed at the gaudily packaged snacks on the cart.

Among those watching her were adults, and children with curious eyes, but their gazes were quickly covered by grubby hands.

Most passengers had spent a good portion of their savings just to buy tickets; who had spare money for snacks? The sandwiches on this train were several times more expensive than outside, making one wonder if they contained gold dust.

“I’ll have a bottle of water.”

A red-haired woman, cloaked in a coarse hooded robe, said this, handing over three dirty silver coins with a bandaged hand.

“Just water?” The crew member reluctantly pulled a cold bottle of water from under the cart; she wouldn’t earn much from this.

“Yes,” the red-haired woman replied.

The crew member handed the water to the red-haired woman and pushed the food cart away.

In the noisy, stuffy environment, her lips twitched slightly, and she muttered under her breath.

“Poor scum.”

The red-haired woman’s gaze suddenly sharpened, glaring distantly at the crew member’s retreating back, as if she wanted to commit her to memory.

With a click, she twisted open the bottle cap, and the cheek beneath her hood lifted slightly, revealing a savage scar.

It was a scar that cut diagonally across her nose, like a cruel mark, etched with the hardships and tribulations of her past.

She was Kimberley, the assassin sent by Dounia’s “psychological mentor” Latifah—a fellow follower of the God of Slaughter!

“So annoying…”

Kimberley muttered, looking at the countless clamoring people around her, her heart surging with murderous intent, as if she saw a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, only then did her lips curl slightly.

She had two objectives for this trip—

First, to monitor Dounia until she located Alicia Alvarez, who was hidden on another train, and to ensure Dounia would deliver the killing blow to her.

Dounia was the obvious bait thrown out by Latifah, and Kimberley was the blade responsible for cleaning up the aftermath.

Second, if Dounia showed no intention of completing the mission, then she would “dispose of” Dounia as well.

As the food cart slowly moved forward, the sound of wheels rolling and metal chiming reached them, and Dounia, who was sitting on Adelle’s lap, suddenly straightened up.

“It’s… it’s about enough, right?” Dounia said, blushing. “Thank you for your help, Miss Adelle. I should rest a bit now.”

A trace of reluctance flickered in Adelle’s eyes, but she had also heard the sound of the food cart.

No matter how much she wished to prolong this moment of tender intimacy, she couldn’t let outsiders see personnel from their Anomaly Bureau in such a state.

“Alright,” she said reluctantly, loosening her arms, her fingers still retaining the refreshing fragrance.

Dounia, her small face flushed red, pulled Adelle’s coat tighter around herself.

‘Miscalculation…’

‘I should have known Adelle would use this excuse to make a move on me.’

“Any passengers need snacks or drinks?” a smiling crew member asked, her voice as gentle as that of a late-night radio host Dounia had heard in her previous life.

“Do you want anything to eat? To replenish your energy,” Adelle asked proactively.

Ever since the maid’s Corruption value went up, she inexplicably seemed much gentler and more considerate towards Dounia than before.

If it were in the past, she probably would have said something like, “There’s no reason for you to resupply after going out.”

‘I feel like I’m becoming more and more controlled by Lilith like this…’

Dounia looked at the small snacks on the food cart, their colorful packaging making her slightly widened eyes gleam.

She keenly spotted the price tag next to a box of bear-shaped biscuits.

“20 silver coins! That’s too expensive!”

An Anomaly Bureau Executioner only earned 5 to 10 gold coins a month, and this small box of biscuits cost 20 silver coins! That was roughly equivalent to a day’s salary!

‘Why don’t they just rob people!’

Dounia silently averted her gaze.

Adelle instantly saw through Dounia’s little thoughts and found it amusing.

This little thing, though seemingly heartless, was unexpectedly sensible, knowing not to cause trouble for others.

“Give me a box of biscuits,” Adelle said decisively.

“Anything else you’d like to eat?”

“This box of biscuits is enough…” Dounia said, poking her fingers together.

The more frugal and sensible Dounia acted, the more Adelle couldn’t help but want to treat her better.

“Don’t save my money. Our operational expenses are reimbursable,” Adelle said. “But don’t order too much, either.”

“You order it; I’m afraid you’ll complain about me wasting money later and give me trouble again.”

Dounia said, looking aggrieved, and Adelle couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek.

‘Why is she so adorable? I really want to thoroughly… tease her.’

“Then this, and this, and this…” Adelle pointed casually.

“That will be 1 gold coin and 25 silver coins,” the crew member stated.

Adelle promptly paid the full amount from her purse, and the crew member bowed politely before pushing the cart away.

Bags of snacks like bear-shaped biscuits, chocolate frogs, finger biscuits, and pineapple gummies piled up on the table. Dounia blinked, remembering the potato chips Violet had given her.

She hadn’t brought herself to eat them yet.

“Look how greedy you are,” Adelle teased. “Take what you want to eat; I won’t scold you. I’m not really interested in snacks anyway.”

“You really don’t expect me to pay for it, do you?” Dounia carefully raised her head, fearing a trap.

Adelle was amused by her miserly expression. She quickly blinked: “I do. I’ll deduct it from your salary when we get back.”

“Eh!????” Dounia gasped, her small face falling immediately. “How could that be!?”

“I’m kidding,” Adelle laughed. “Go ahead and eat.”

She ruffled Dounia’s hair, inhaling the scent of her tresses, and couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander again.

‘Sigh…’

‘Why have I been like this lately?’

‘I just find Dounia adorable, and then I start thinking all sorts of pointless things.’

“Finger Thrust!” Dounia raised a finger biscuit, pointing it imperiously at Adelle, like a knight brandishing a spear.

Adelle listened subtly to the nearby commotion, then pulled Dounia into her embrace.

“Finger Thrust, huh? Are you still thrusting?” she said in a slightly chiding tone, a hint of indulgence swirling in her grey eyes.

“N-no more thrusting!” Dounia said, flustered.

“Gah, it’s the evil Miss Adelle! We’re doomed!”

Adelle gently patted Dounia’s head, leaning in closer, and moved forward.

“Don’t say silly things.”

Crunch—

The biscuit entered her mouth, carrying a sweetness different from any other day.