Chapter Text
The first time he saw a glimpse of the lean, silvery-haired man’s figure vanishing behind Random Play’s entrance, Von Lycaon immediately recognized the gravity of what had wronged him.
He recalled that one particular afternoon as vividly as if it were yesterday: the day he and Alexandrina Sebastiane—Rina—announced Rain’s scheduled departure. The young, talented hacker who’d spent the past few weeks in Victoria Housekeeping’s custody excused herself after believing she was in good shape, pursuing further discussion with Phaethon. Their farewell was brief, causing the highly intelligent girl to think that the temporary bond between them was simply over and didn’t think she’d be tailed. Rain and the Proxy siblings exchanged a few quick words before she disappeared into thin air, even from the traces of the surveillance cameras, as if she’d never stopped by Sixth Street.
Von Lycaon quietly withdrew from his impromptu hiding spot and tracked the movements of the two Proxies towards a small shop on the corner of the street. His razor-sharp auditory senses—courtesy of his natural hunting instincts—came in handy when the noises of surrounding activities were sufficiently distracting. He beckoned Rina to join him on the rooftop of a building across from Random Play. Silently, they watched as two women known to be part of Belobog Heavy Industries entered the scene. They seemed to greet each other before the only man in the group closed the door.
He should’ve stopped his pursuit there,
…but he didn’t.
Professionally, there weren’t any upcoming commissions that required Victoria Housekeeping to collaborate a second time with Phaethon. If Von Lycaon returned to Sixth Street on the third, fifth, and eighth days, he himself had no idea why. On two of his visits, he utilized his espionage techniques by stealthing through the night. On one occasion, he sipped a cup of hot coffee brewed by the artisan himself, though he only managed to do it once during daylight. His looks and stature wouldn’t allow a wolf Thiren like himself to blend in with the majority of the residents of this neighborhood. Not due to discrimination or the likes, but when it came to being incognito, Von Lycaon reverted to the former plan. That was what he did on the twelfth night: monitoring Random Play from behind the newsstand.
Approximately thirty minutes prior to Von Lycaon’s arrival at Sixth Street, unbeknownst to the skillful attendant, a copy of the live broadcast footage from several security cameras was obtained by Fairy. Some of these captured images or videos were incomplete; a half-body, the sole of a boot, or a wisp of cloud-like silhouette (that was no doubt the fluffy tail of the wolf Thiren). There was no mistaking it; the representative from Victoria Housekeeping was making his fourth return to this establishment. Five times, if the encounter with Rain almost two weeks ago was taken into account.
“Wise, are you sure about this?”
The inquiry in a concerned tone came from his sister. Wise, who was fastening his shoelaces, partially looked up to find a matching emotion in that adorable countenance.
“We’ve calculated everything, Belle. Nothing bad shall happen,” answered the brother before letting out a sigh and standing upright from the orange sofa where they usually relaxed. “Calm down, I’m sure Lycaon won’t cause me any harm. No harmful information or ulterior motives were discovered regarding their faction, and you saw for yourself how he used his own body to protect Eous.”
Belle offered a slight nod. Of course, she still remembered the incident in the Hollow that happened half a month ago—after all, she was the one who linked up with the Bangboo, while Wise, who acted as an assistant, supervised their winding journey via the blinking screens in their secret workspace.
“Are they really that distrustful of us?” Belle proposed an idea. The short-haired girl leaned against the bookshelf, rubbing her chin as her forehead furrowed.
Wise shrugged, “Whatever the reason, I’ll make sure he confesses everything. I won’t let anyone in this world cause my baby sister to feel uncomfortable in her own home.”
Belle let out a small chuckle at that. Usually, she was the one who cracked jokes without any sense of timing. Listening to Wise shoot a light-hearted one managed to make her chest less tight.
“Stay alert, Wise. If something goes wrong, you know where to run,” Belle remarked as she escorted her brother to the front door.
“I’ll always be in contact with you and Fairy,” Wise gently tapped the back of his ear, where a micro-communication device was attached. It didn’t cover much distance and the sound it transmitted wasn’t the clearest, but the main point was in its size. Anyone exchanging words with him would never suspect that their conversation might be intercepted. “Besides, I’m sure Lycaon will cooperate with us since I have what he wants.”
When Belle saw the shiny, polished object Wise took out of his pocket, she was confident that her sibling’s prediction was on the mark.
Ten minutes after confirming that his figure was well hidden from the windows of the Proxies’ rooms located on the second floor of Random Play, Von Lycaon instinctively reached into his left breast pocket to check the time. He let out a low growl, realizing that his pendant watch was no longer there. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when his valuable possession went missing, though he was certain that he had dropped it somewhere on Sixth Street. He’d also tried to hunt for it. Credit should go to his advanced night vision that was far more potent than the average human. Supposedly, the strikingly colored item was relatively easy to find in the darkness of the night, unless someone else had spotted and claimed it before he had the chance. Getting it back legally was out of the question; reporting the said watch as a formal loss would be tantamount to admitting to unauthorized spying.
Speaking of regional security, Von Lycaon just realized how effortlessly he managed to secure this particular spot—he didn’t detect the usual NEPS mascot of a giant cat plushie standing guard behind the newsstand. Avoiding Public Security was second nature to him, so lurking this dangerously close was a rare opportunity. Von Lycaon could even discern a shadow moving from behind the shutters of the room he had marked as ‘belonging to the male Phaethon’. He silently witnessed how the short-haired, tall human silhouette paced back and forth with one hand bent to the side of his face in what the attendant interpreted to be a phone call. It was extremely subtle and quite muffled, but the Thiren could overhear a one-sided conversation in a dulcet timbre that he categorized as masculine.
There’s no mistaking it, he mused. The target was inside his bedroom.
Though his objective was successfully met, Von Lycaon experienced an odd sense of dissatisfaction.
In his previous operations, he’d rarely gained such explicit visual and auditory access, whether due to distance or other obstacles. Coupled with the eerie stillness and the absence of the roving patrols that usually required the agent to hide at fifteen-minute intervals, tonight was completely silent. Sensing something was amiss, Von Lycaon decided to call an end to his covert investigation, and how astounded he was to encounter the silvery-haired figure right after he turned around.
“—!”
Wise, with both palms submerged in the sides of his jacket and wore a friendly smile, greeted, “Good evening, good Sir. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing in our neighborhood at this late hour?”
Habitually, Von Lycaon had reverted to his poised stance. His spine erected, his chest slightly puffed out, one hand was bent in front of his abdominal area.
“Master Proxy, it’s a nice coincidence that we happen to reunite under these… unexpected circumstances,” he replied with an intonation that he imposed to be somewhat neutral. Even so, he had to bitterly admit that his brain wasn’t as speedy as his tongue. He recognized the glint in his interlocutor’s eyes: that his way of addressing him was a grave mistake.
“Turns out I don’t have to do anything to get you to admit that you’ve been doing this for some time, yes?” Wise chuckled and it made him appear even more harmless. An aura of camaraderie emanated from the way his eyes squinted like a pair of crescents, along with his laid-back manner. “Von Lycaon, there’s no reason for you to call me by that title unless you’ve been watching me beforehand. Now, either you formally admit it, or the other ‘Master Proxy’ will present all the recorded evidence for the past two weeks to Public Security, and hopefully, you will pick the least risky option.”
Ah—
“Apparently, you’ve prepared to that extent, as expected from a seasoned pathfinder.”
Von Lycaon lowered his head, conceding his ultimate defeat.
“There’s no other way but to apologize profusely for trespassing on your privacy,” he muttered before bowing courteously. “I, Von Lycaon, hereby acknowledge that I have acted in violation of my authority as the representative of Victoria Housekeeping. I am willing to take the amicable option that Master Proxy has earlier offered, and I hope this incident won’t affect our professional relationship.”
Wise nodded firmly before sliding a hand behind his ear, “Did you hear that, Belle?”
// “As clearly as I see the two of you.” //
That soft rattling sound, to the ears of a wolf Thiren, could be perceived as a woman’s energetic voice echoing throughout the Hollow. The identical voice that guided him and his team to the hiding place, the forgotten treasures, and the way out of the filthy, foul wasteland. One layer behind the voice that Von Lycaon labeled as ‘Miss Proxy’, followed another one that sounded programmatic. He recognized it as ‘Fairy’, the AI that provided rescue options based on its real-time observations from various sources. (Suddenly, he experienced the frustration of an Ethereal who was about to be executed.)
“Then, I’ll disconnect this line,” Wise hummed two agreements to the other party before deactivating his communication device. As a gesture of true chivalry, Wise removed the homemade gadget and tossed it at Von Lycaon, which the melee fighter caught without difficulty. “You’re allowed destroy it if you want.”
Von Lycaon, instead of following Wise’s advice, carefully pinched the fragile-looking craft between his deadly claws. He stuffed it into the breast pocket of his black vest, patted it tenderly, and brought his focus back to Wise. “No need to go that far, I suppose.”
“Mm,” Wise was momentarily stunned at Von Lycaon’s response.
Normally, those who were guilty would mindlessly eliminate all proof.
“Well, now that ‘the other Master Proxy’ can’t hear our conversation, do you intend to explain the reason why you did all this? Think of it as a… friendly discussion between two men.”
“Before we get to that, would you like to enlighten me how you learned that I was observing you?” Von Lycaon also had no idea as to why he was asking the obvious. Perhaps, he simply wished to hear firsthand how terrible his espionage acts were. Consider it a harsh criticism and motivation.
Wise blinked three times as if he was granting Von Lycaon the opportunity to rephrase his question. He once again snorted a small laugh before elaborating, “Just so you know that Fairy’s reach, both in the current realm and inside the Hollow, is just as lethal. If only Phaethon lacked ethics, we’d probably be filthy rich instead of running an honest business like the one we’ve pioneered.” Wise’s chin jerked towards the boldly painted building, implying a sense of pride in the collection of movies they rented and sold. “You know, Lycaon, I can send you a footage of you sprinting across the neighbor’s rooftop—”
“No need, Master Proxy, thank you in advance,” Von Lycaon hurriedly cut in as he held back his embarrassment. “Does that mean I’ve been spotted since my first visit?”
“I wouldn’t consider it a ‘visit’ if it was one-sided, Lycaon, but yes. I noticed you and Rina’s activities shortly after we parted ways with Rain,” Wise now had his arms crossed over his chest. He took a few steps back and sluggishly leaned his back against a lamppost. “At first, I thought it was only natural that you on behalf of Victoria Housekeeping would want to ensure the safety of those entrusted to your services. However, Fairy found repeated sightings of you around this area, at unconventional—if not sus—hours. That’s when I plotted this ambush to get you cornered.”
“Ah,” perhaps this is what a counterintelligence approach means, Von Lycaon fathomed. All this time, he had always been in the position of the hunter, never the prey. Phaethon had proven once again that tactics could defeat raw strength. “I should never know that you were one of the Proxies.”
“Bingo,” Wise fashioned his fingers to resemble a gun and ‘fired’ his index finger at Von Lycaon. “Up until now, you’ve only communicated with me via audio. Not to mention I’ve always used a voice-changing device whenever I received a phone call or when I assisted the ‘other Phaethon’. You’re not supposed to recognize the character behind the voice, unless you’ve seen and confirmed who ‘the real Phaethon’ is with your very own eyes.”
“While your deductions are all true, there’s one more thing I must emphasize.” Von Lycaon lowered his head for a moment. He inhaled before adding, “We, Thiren, possess the capability of attuning to frequencies that humans are unable to perceive. You have a peculiar depth in your voice that I can identify with, which can’t be concealed no matter how skillfully you camouflage it.”
“Is that so?” Wise tilted his head, genuinely intrigued. “Care to describe in more detail?”
“I’m afraid I can’t express it properly, Master. After all, it’s tough for me to come up with a suitable equivalent to account for the sharpness of my senses,” the well-built male contemplated briefly, and Wise took the opportunity to quietly marvel at the other party. Forget the distinction of their species for a second; how an individual with animalistic instincts such as Von Lycaon could conduct himself in such a refined and courteous manner was completely beyond him. “However, all I could conclude is that you have the attributes of someone who is sincere and benevolent.”
The answer caught Wise by surprise, “An unorthodox explanation, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“It is indeed the case,” the attendant clarified.
“Unfortunately, that still can’t negate the fact that you’ve watched me multiple without my consent,” Wise was quick to revert the topic back.
Von Lycaon sighed deeply before he finally admitted, “That’s correct. Sincerest apologies, this is my fifth visit—I mean, espionage visit.”
“You could’ve said ‘stalking act’, Lycaon,” Wise quipped while suppressing a smile.
“With all due respect, I’ve never harbored such malicious intents,” he didn’t attempt to be defensive. Von Lycaon merely needed to rectify the misunderstanding between them. “Truly, I’ve never witnessed or overheard anything happening inside your house. You may probably think it’s all gibberish, but this is the first day—or, night, technically—where I got such a clear vision.”
“Just how do you think you’re able to be here without attracting the Public Security?” Wise asked rhetorically.
The butler hesitated for a moment, and his one eye widened upon finding the answer, “You’re the one who drove them all out of the neighborhood? I should’ve known that it was a well-calculated ploy.”
“It was tricky to relocate the stubborn cat mascot, but cracking the roving patrol was comparatively straightforward. They should be here in—” Wise pulled out his smartphone and swiped his thumb upwards. “—twelve minutes. We still have plenty of time.”
“I have no further defense to propose, Master Proxy,” Von Lycaon malevolently stated.
“Thus, we resolve this conflict peacefully,” Wise snorted with a small whimper as his waist parted from the streetlamp. He often complained to Belle that she was slacking when it came to exercise, but it turned out that both of them were equally awful when it came to physical flexibility. “Sorry if I appear to be overly territorial; I have a little sister in the house, after all. I’d appreciate it if you can tolerate my attitude,” the man with slender frame politely, but no less firmly, stated.
A second later, Von Lycaon felt as if time around Wise solidified, and he could sense how those frail-looking shoulders were actually capable of bearing a tremendous deal of weight. He wasn’t only dealing with an older brother who was responsible for the livelihood of his sister, but also a patriarch who desperately attempted to safeguard his family. Such instincts were all too familiar to him, and beyond comprehension, Von Lycaon accepted it as a way of life.
Someone had to protect this man, said the voice inside the attendant’s mind, despite at that moment, he wasn’t entirely sure how to proceed. Wise didn’t appear like someone who required assistance or support, and that left Von Lycaon a bit frustrated. (Not that he expected Wise to have a hard time, mind you.)
“Of course I can totally relate to that, and you don’t need to be apologetic for that behavior of yours,” Von Lycaon coughed out a single noise. “Just to be clear, the one I’m keeping an eye on is your room.”
Wait a minute—
Had he just confessed to something brazen?
“I—I mean,” the exceptionally tall male gasped. “…that didn’t make me seem any better, yes?”
Wise arched both eyebrows before bursting into laughter.
He didn’t seem to care that it was already past midnight, and thankfully no one cracked open their windows to toss a bucket of water at him. “I wonder what’s so fascinating to observe about my life, but for some reason, I knew it already,” the guide brushed away a speck of tear that had pooled in the corner of his eyes. “But well, one thing’s for sure, it afforded me the opportunity to walk around the Arcade and catch you here, watching and listening to what you thought was me.”
“You mean...” Von Lycaon had hardly finished his sentence when Wise motioned him to look towards his room. The curtains and shutters were flung wide open, revealing Belle—who was wearing several layers of jackets to make her shoulders resemble Wise’s—and Eous, who were enthusiastically yet silently swinging their arms. Somewhat awkwardly, Von Lycaon waved back, and then turned back to face the eldest of the family. “I assume that the voice I overheard was a recording?”
“You can figure out the rest,” came the response Wise supplied with no resistance.
“No wonder the voice I was hearing sounded flatter,” Von Lycaon mumbled to himself. He jerked his head to dismiss any weird thoughts before bowing courteously to Wise, “The night is growing late, Master Proxy. I suggest you return to your bed and get some rest.”
Wise flashed a lopsided grin, “How can I be sure of a good night’s sleep when I know someone is so obsessed with my bedroom?”
“Kindly refrain from bringing it up further,” had his visage not been covered in snow-colored fur, Von Lycaon’s face might have turned redder than a fire hydrant. “I’ll be returning to the Ballet Twins in the meantime.”
“Mm. I doubt I need to say this but... safe travel? Although actually it’s those who have ill intentions towards you who should be careful,” lightheartedly, Wise rolled out the friendly remark. Unlike Belle with her abundant, chaotic energy, Wise was more composed and mature, analyzing and handling all situations and possibilities with a level head. Tonight, too, he hadn’t lost his confidence and calm demeanor, and in fact, it had sparked another imaginary thrill inside Von Lycaon’s chest. “See you again, Lycaon. You may notify me once you have arrived at your residence. And, oh, if you plan to visit this place sometime in the future, please enter through the front door like my other friends.”
Hearing the word ‘friends’, Von Lycaon who’d devoted his whole life as a ministering role was rather dumbstruck. He didn’t exactly know how to treat a friend, let alone position himself as one.
Nonetheless, something in Wise’s expression that evening rendered Von Lycaon powerless to refuse. He nodded stiffly as he offered, “In that case, I’ll buy some of your home movies.”
“We’re still offering memberships if you’re interested, twenty percent off for those who subscribe for a year,” Wise wittily quipped as he turned around, ready to cross the street.
“Thank you for the offer and I wish you a restful sleep,” reciprocated Von Lycaon who had returned to his well-mannered and gentlemanly self.
“Also, Lycaon.”
“I’m here, Master Proxy.”
From his perspective, all Von Lycaon could see was how those shoulders slumped, right before the possessor turned until half of his torso was back facing the wolf Thiren, “I am Wise.”
“Oh,” at that very second, when Wise uttered a fragment of a name, Von Lycaon immediately grasped what kind of strong impulse that kept him returning to the vicinity of Random Play.
Ever since he first time he listened to the third voice—the only voice with the nuance of masculinity from behind Eous’ figure—something foreign yet warm had captured his affection and loyalty.
The urge intensified, drawing him closer and deeper, unable to let go. When Von Lycaon spotted the silvery hair from a distance that couldn’t be considered nearby, he wasn’t sure what to do. And when the person in question was this close, it wasn’t an exaggeration that he needed to clench his pair of pawed, clawed palms behind his waist, suppressing his ferocious instinct to overreach.
“Yes, you are indeed wise,” he acknowledged.
Wise frowned though a smile never stopped adorning his face, “I’m not sure you understand. I mean, you can call me Wise.”
“With all the knowledge and experience you possess, Master Proxy, I have zero doubt about it,” Von Lycaon replied, equally confused.
“Goodness,” Wise cackled amusedly. “Wise is my name, Lycaon. I’m unveiling who I truly am.”
For the first time in his immaculately sanitized and hygienic life, the attendant wished a fissure would formed beneath his feet to hurl his useless self into the filthiness of the Hollow.
“Forgive my ignorance, Mast—”
“Wise.”
“—Master Wise.”
Wise rolled his eyes lazily at the title ‘Master’, but chose not to argue, “Well, a good start for a buddy,” he commented dryly as he rummaged in his parka pocket and waved a golden pendant watch Von Lycaon was intimately familiar with. “Next time, come to reclaim what’s rightfully yours.”
An overwhelming barrage of emotions hit Von Lycaon’s poise,
The first reaction he experienced was relief. Knowing that his precious treasure was in the hands of the right and trustworthy person alleviated a lot of his worries. This was followed by a question as to why Wise didn’t return the pendant watch to him immediately, despite the fact that he had lost it and was desperately searching for it. Finally, there came a ray of hope; did that mean that his upcoming arrival was truly expected? Was that the way Wise offered him a second chance; by endearing a piece of his belongings, which he usually held close to his heart? Even he knew that only time would tell.
That particular night, miles away from each other, two infatuated souls drifted off to sleep with broad smiles on their faces.