Baron said, "Tell me what’s been happening on the Inner Side these past few days. And while you’re at it, tell me how we’re going to get out on the day the Dragon Hunting Ceremony begins."

And so, from Jack, Baron learned everything that had happened on the Inner Side since he fell from the sky over Ben Mountain.

First, the newspapers hadn’t reported his possible death as he had hoped. It seemed they were operating on the principle of wanting a body, as the bounty on his head had been raised again and again. By now, it had reached a figure that even Jack found tempting.

Second, to Baron’s surprise, his ex-fiancée, Freya, had actually started speaking out in the papers, defending him against the charges. According to Jack’s inside information, she had even made several special trips to the Prole Court.

This came as quite a surprise to Baron, because at her engagement party, he had seen no hope of overturning the verdict in her expression—only hatred for her brother’s killer.

Baron felt there might be some hidden secret behind it all.

Third, it was currently assessment week at Westminster Bank. Vice President Howard had tasked Jack with relaying a message to Baron, the gist of which was: if you want Westminster to create value for you, you have to bring value to Westminster.

As Jack put it, "Baron, my friend, since you’re a Westminster Commissioner now, it’s about time you took on a mission."

The subtext was clear: he was telling Baron to get ready for a mission with him that very night.

And Baron’s choice, naturally, was to refuse. Right now, he just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible; he didn’t have time for any cloak-and-dagger business.

Jack, as if remembering something, pulled a crimson ring from his breast pocket. "This is the ring from your ex-fiancée’s dinner party, the one for the proposal. It has a Red Dragon Scale on it. You’re a Dragon Knight, so this should be useful to you, right?"

Baron cleared his throat and said, "When does the mission start? I can’t wait to fulfill my duties as a Westminster Commissioner."

Jack sighed with admiration. "Vice President Howard was right. You really are a natural-born Westminster Commissioner."

Just as the two began to discuss their plan, the small iron window on the metal door slid open.

The confinement room Guard said, "Hey, you bastards, someone’s brought you dinner..."

The Guard’s eyes swept across the small opening, and he gave Baron an inscrutable, cold smirk. "You’re the Bloodless, right? Heard you’re getting fired next week... Give me half your severance pay, and I can let you out early."

’Let me out early... It’s only for one day. What’s the point of splitting anything? He might as well ask for half my juice.’

Baron asked, "And if I don’t?"

"Or else I might just have to take some personal time off. According to the shift schedule, the next guy won’t be here for another three days. By then, who knows if anyone will even remember there are two Bloodless locked up in the confinement room."

The Guard smiled. A naked threat.

Seeing Baron hesitate for a moment before nodding, as if confirming the deal, his smile grew even more smug.

"Well then, please enjoy your meal, gentlemen." The Guard stepped aside, making way for the person behind him.

It was none other than the Maid who had stood up for Baron this morning. He hadn’t expected her to be the one delivering the food.

The Maid placed a tray on the ledge of the iron window. "I’m sorry... It was my fault. I probably wasn’t clear enough during training... and I made you lose your job with the Beowulf Family..."

So this Maid was the one in charge of new recruit training that day.

She probably found Baron’s face somewhat familiar (Note 1), yet knew he was a new recruit, and so she blamed herself, thinking she must have overlooked him that day.

[Note 1: The Chain of the Imitator can mimic a person whom both the wearer and an observer have met before. Subsequently, all observers see this initial mimicked form. The form only changes temporarily if the original person being imitated appears.]

Before Baron could say anything, Jack sidled up and said with a sly grin, "In that case, can you compensate my buddy with a little money? It wasn’t easy for him to get this job, after all."

The Maid was taken aback. She stammered for a moment, then actually pulled a few British Pounds notes from her pocket. "I... this is all I have..."

Baron pushed Jack aside. "It’s alright, Miss... I don’t hold it against you."

"I don’t deserve to be called ’Miss’..." The Maid blushed. "Just call me Wanda."

"Ronnie," Baron said, without batting an eye. "I’m from the countryside."

"Are you done yet? Meal delivery in the confinement room doesn’t take this long."

The Guard started hurrying them from the side.

Wanda quickly put down the tray and said, "Ronnie, I’ll try to plead with the Chief Steward for you. It’s not easy to get a job with the Beowulf Family..."

Before Baron could reply, Wanda’s form was obscured as the shutter on the iron window slammed shut.

Just then, Jack’s voice came from behind him. "Where’s the tray? And the fork?"

Baron turned around, paused for a moment, and said, "The tray is at your right foot. The fork is at your right foot. As for the fork... I think it’s probably in your bleeding right leg."

...

Since Jack had accidentally kicked the tray over, the two of them had to make do with some chocolate from Baron’s Gentiana Pattern Ring. Afterwards, Jack continued to fill Baron in on some well-known facts and recent news about the Inner Side.

This went on until the Guard fulfilled his promise and opened the confinement room door for them ahead of schedule.

"Remember, half the severance pay," the Guard said as he was leaving. "Or else next time..."

Halfway through his sentence, the Guard seemed to realize that since Baron had been fired, there wouldn’t be a "next time" as long as he stayed out of trouble.

So, he switched to a cold threat. "That Miss Wanda will end up in the confinement room one day, won’t she... Seems like she’s quite fond of you..."

Baron narrowed his eyes and gave a placating assurance.

The Guard gave a meaningful look, called over another Guard to lead the way, and chuckled. "Now that I have your word, I can relax. Go and enjoy your career as an Attendant, Bloodless."