Mr. Pantalone has no crazy plans today.

You, a mere fool, the third-ranking executive officer of the Fools, have nothing better to do than come here and claim to be applying for a position as his secretary.

Do you think this is reasonable?

"Don't worry, if you're worried about being seen by others, I don't think it's a big deal. I've actually done a good job of disguising myself, and outsiders won't be able to tell who I am."

The girl's answer almost made him lose his composure.

Is this the key point of the problem?

In fact, it's not accurate to say that Pantalone was particularly resistant to Colombia; it's just that their previous encounter in the snowy mountains had left him with a very serious psychological trauma.

Facing someone whose strength far surpasses one's own, and who most likely seems to be someone the original version of oneself knows.

Why would someone with such formidable abilities keep such a powerful person by your side as your secretary?

Are you sure this isn't someone spying on him?

"Don't be so formal. We've been friends for a long time. Or are you looking down on me and thinking I'm not good enough to be a secretary?"

Columbia's figure suddenly appeared beside him, speaking to him in a meaningful tone.

The breath coming from his nose hit his face, causing his body to stiffen involuntarily.

Although Pantalone wanted to refuse, considering the vast difference in their strength, he could only pretend it was no big deal and force himself to calm down.

He placed his fingers together on the table and answered with a calm, cheerful tone.

"How could that be? I'd be overjoyed if the dignified Third Seat was willing to be my secretary."

"Well, I'll accept your assessment for now, and I'll take this compliment."

The breath from Columbia's lips brushed against his ear, stirring a slight ripple in his heart.

However, the commotion came and went quickly. After Columbia finished speaking, she stood up straight again and smiled gently.

"In that case, I will be your secretary from now on. Please take good care of me, Mr. Pantalone."

"Heh...hehe..."

Pantalone forced himself to calm down, pretended that nothing was wrong, and forced a couple of smiles.

Beneath that forced smile lies a heart that has nowhere to rest.

His mind involuntarily recalled the chance encounter in the snow-capped mountains, the time when he almost thought he was about to be exposed.

And now, the girl who could have killed him has become his secretary.

The thought of this filled him with a sense of gloom about his future, and he felt that he would probably have to live in constant fear from now on.

Right under Colombia's nose.

He glanced furtively at Pantalone of Colombia out of the corner of his eye, then, feigning nonchalance, picked up the official documents on the table and began to work on them.

She tried to numb herself by working overtime, so that she wouldn't think about the fact that there was a third seat of the Fools' Enforcers, the one known as "Girl" Columbia, who was watching her almost all the time.

Meanwhile, Columbia, who was observing him from the side, was thinking something quite different from what Pantalone thought.

Columbia, recalling the words the Queen had once spoken to her, pondered their meaning.

Try to... understand him...

Although she doesn't fully understand it yet, she feels this might be a good start.

……

Meanwhile, inside a mansion belonging to the Hearth Wall House.

Arecino was currently examining the report given to her by her intelligence agents, pondering how to deal with Pantalone.

In her hand was all the intelligence about Pantalone that her intelligence agents had gathered.

The numerous crisscrossing lines on it reveal a vast network of relationships.

Everything, including all of Pantalone's actions, as well as the recipients of each message and their subsequent reactions, is shown in the text.

It can be said that the comprehensiveness of this intelligence is undoubtedly unparalleled, something that only Arecino, as the "servant" of the Fatui's executive officer, could achieve with her intelligence network.

This is precisely why she was so confident that she could defeat Pantalone.

Because no matter what plan Pantalone devised, as long as he chose to take action, she would be able to deduce his purpose based on his actions.

She has been lying low since her last sabotage attempt against Pantalone failed.

Instead of acting rashly, she planned to crush Pantalone with a single sentence next time.

It wasn't just because she wanted to gain a higher position within the Fatui, but more importantly, because long, long ago, she wanted to prove to that man that she was right...

No, I should say she was right.

From the very beginning, that guy was wrong; she was the one who was right.

She will show that guy through her actions that everything she did was right.

Even if that guy has long forgotten about it, she is determined to make that man understand that his choice was wrong.

She will prove this point by making that man utterly defeated in front of her.

Therefore, she specifically chose to gather enough intelligence before taking more effective measures to defeat him.