After leaving the castle, Rudolph first returned to the police station with Ivonna.

  At the station, he checked the police supply records and instructed his black-market contact, Cooper the Ghoul, to acquire embalming fluid as soon as possible. The police occasionally preserved corpses for investigative purposes, and their supplier for embalming fluid was, logically, the cemetery. After all, not every body was buried immediately—sometimes, the living needed time to sort out inheritances before proceeding with the burial. Cemeteries also needed embalming fluid to accommodate such requests.

  Rudolph made his way to the cemetery and found Old Grey.

  “Old Grey, do you still have embalming fluid?”

  Old Grey was wiping down a tombstone. Hearing Rudolph’s question, he straightened up. “The police station’s monthly supply has already been delivered.”

  “It’s not for the station. I just returned from a farm—there was a werewolf attack. The farm owner asked me to get some embalming fluid for him. I need it fast, or his family won’t be recognizable by the time it arrives.”

  “Oh.” Old Grey resumed wiping the tombstone. “I see. I’ll get you some in a bit.”

  After finishing his work, Old Grey went to his underground storeroom and brought out several barrels of embalming fluid.

  “You… probably don’t need this much…”

  Old Grey insisted, “You’ll use it. With so many victims from a werewolf attack, there’s always a need. If the farm owner doesn’t use it all, he can sell the excess nearby.”

  “Old Grey, you think of everything…”

  Rudolph loaded the embalming fluid onto a carriage and arranged for a trade caravan to deliver it to a designated location. From there, Cooper could steal it himself. Either way, even if the goods were ‘lost,’ Rudolph wouldn’t be out of pocket for the transport fee.

  As he watched Rudolph leave, Old Grey felt uneasy.

  “That boy… I hope he doesn’t get screwed over by that other one… Their wits are leagues apart.”

  ###

  That night, with everything settled, Rudolph finally had some free time. He went alone to the bathhouse.

  He loved soaking in the water, especially in the late hours when there was no one around. His stored bottle of liquor sat by the poolside, and steam curled in the air—it was his personal sanctuary.

  After washing away his fatigue, Rudolph prepared to leave. It was already past midnight.

  Standing at the bathhouse entrance, he felt the chill of the April night breeze. The alcohol in his system made his head swim slightly. Out of habit, he opened his pocket watch—Leman Town was completely silent.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  He walked through the midnight streets, alone again.

  At a street corner, a figure suddenly rushed out.

  Rudolph’s drowsiness vanished instantly. His hand instinctively went to the revolver at his waist.

  But then, a familiar perfume scent reached his nose, and his tension eased.

  A lady? What was she doing in such a hurry at this hour? Was this the aftermath of a secret rendezvous, or an unsuccessful one?

  The perfume was distinctive…

  Rudolph’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure. His mind felt hazy, but his feet followed her.

  Deep into the night, what urgent matter could a lady possibly have?

  After a dozen steps, he saw her turn into an alley.

  He reached the alley entrance and looked in.

  A pair of eyes met his gaze.

  What eyes…

  They were like those of a lover, standing in a bustling crowd, smiling tenderly at him, full of affection, as if he were the only person in the world.

  Rudolph’s head grew heavier. His breathing quickened, especially after seeing those eyes.

  As if under a spell, he stepped into the alley.

  His figure vanished into the darkness.

  ###

  Dazed, Rudolph felt someone embracing him. Hands undid his clothing, and he couldn’t help but respond in kind.

  He had no awareness of anything wrong—until his hand brushed against something rough and bristly.

  Chest hair?

  Rudolph snapped awake.

  No. Something was wrong. Everything was wrong!

  Summoning his Star Force, he activated *Venom* and quickly identified the problem.

  The perfume.

  Without hesitation, he drew his gun and fired.

  Two cries echoed in the alley.

  First, the man in front of him—rugged features, dressed in a long gown, black chest hair thick and coarse under the moonlight.

  Then, a second, sharper cry—there was a girl behind him.

  The bullet had struck the man’s leg, soaking his dress in dark, spreading blood.

  Rudolph looked at his own clothes—buttons torn open.

  The burly man, still wearing a dress, wailed in agony, while the girl sobbed in fear.

  Rudolph was deeply frustrated.

  He had nearly lost his innocence to a cross-dressing man. *He* hadn’t even cried—why were these two bawling?

  He raised his gun. “Shut up! One more sound, and I’ll shoot again!”

  Pointing his weapon at the man, he demanded, “Who are you? Why did you do this to me?”

  To his surprise, the man, despite his burly build, sounded utterly aggrieved.

  “I was just drunk and heading home late! I don’t know why I’m here! I was gonna ask *you* the same thing! Why the hell did you shoot me?!”

  “You tell me first—why are you wearing a dress? And perfume?”

  “I’m wearing a dress? I put on perfume?”

  The man was stunned. The pain in his leg was momentarily forgotten as he looked down at himself.

  Sure enough—he was in a dress. And he *did* smell of perfume.

  “I… I don’t know why I’m dressed like this! I don’t know why I smell like this!”

  Clutching his leg, he wailed, “Even if I *am* wearing a dress and perfume, why did you *shoot* me?! Do cross-dressers get shot now?! Do people who wear perfume get shot?!”

  Then, spotting Rudolph’s uniform, his wailing turned into a plea.

  “Somebody help! A patrol officer just shot a man in the street! Is there no justice?!”

  Rudolph was momentarily speechless.

  *I was the one who almost got assaulted—how did this turn into my fault?*

  Footsteps echoed outside.

  It was Sam, the rookie patrol officer. He had been nearby and rushed over after hearing the gunshot.

  “Rookie Officer Sam, awaiting orders!”

  Seeing that it was his captain who fired, Sam raised his shotgun, ready to blast the cross-dresser on sight.

  A burly man in a dress, half-exposed with thick chest hair? Clearly no good!

  The man panicked further, no longer daring to scream.

  Rudolph ignored him and looked past him, focusing instead on the girl.

  The tenderness from her eyes was gone.

  Just moments ago, it was those same eyes that had drawn him in.

  Now, they were filled with disdain and defiance.

  Stepping out from behind the man, she kept silent, her expression unreadable.

  “I suspect you of being a Heretical Apostle,” Rudolph declared. “I advise you to cooperate.”

  At those words, Sam tensed immediately.

  Heretical Apostle?!

  He gripped his shotgun tightly, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.