Sacha

Ugh, what a pain.

A few days ago, Sacha took on a bounty to capture a wanted criminal. Everything was going smoothly. She tracked him down with no trouble, and the chase was easy.

Until he fled into Rooks' Territory.

"Sigh… Cold weather is terrible for the skin."

The guy ran in with barely any clothes on. Dressed like that, he won't last long in Rooks. The client's request—"capture him alive if possible"—echoed in her mind.

We have no choice. She had to catch him fast and get out of here.

Sacha entered Rooks with him. Following his tracks through the snow, she reached a steep canyon.

At the bottom, she spotted the wanted man—collapsed in the snow. And beside him, a stranger.

"A minute late."
The man muttered something cryptic, making Sacha narrow her eyes.

"An assassin…?"
"Pretty nice. But I'm not here for him. I came to see you, Sacha."

The moment he said that, Sacha cocked her gun.

"Flirting? That's not how you do it, buddy. Try learning some basic manners first."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I came with a proposal."

The man reached out his hand. A pocket watch, its hands frozen in place, glimmered in his palm.

"Do you want to see what's coming?"

Well...

I'm not exactly the friendly type. I've done some rough things, and I tend to be on guard. You've probably noticed, right?
You know what the first thing I do when I meet someone for the first time? I will analyze them. Their traits, their weaknesses, why they're approaching me, how I'd take them down if needed.

Exhausting, huh?

That's why not many people stick around. Even when someone tries to get close, I push them away first. Even fewer people approach me on their own initiative. Besides, I don't really like people like that. I don't trust them—they usually have an agenda.

But… you're different. You approached me without hesitation. It's been so long since I met someone who could break through my defenses so quickly. You remind me of the one friend I truly cherished.

You really made an impression. So much so that I don't want to let you go.

I hope we can keep this up. And just so you know—I'm really good at remembering people. And tracking them. I've memorized every little detail about you, so no matter where you go… I can find you.

So don't run. Stay close with me.

Got it?

To Artnis:

Rooks' wind is freezing. Even after living here for a while, I still can't get used to it. But honestly, I'm more worried about what it'll do to my skin.

I met an interesting guy recently. He's been traveling all over the country to study the finest alcohol. Yeah, the legendary drink you once said you'd love to try at least once in your life.

At first, I thought he was just a drunkard full of tall tales. But the way he talked about brewing—it was pure confidence. It made me curious. So, I decided to help him make a batch. My payment? Two bottles.

A lot happened along the way, but in the end, we brewed two bottles of red wine using prickly pomegranates. And let me tell you, the taste was beyond anything I expected. I don't usually drink much, but that night, I downed both bottles myself. Easily one of the best drinks I've ever had.

It'd be a shame to keep this to myself, so I took one bottle and sent it to you. You have to try it—it won't disappoint. Just don't drink too much. Wouldn't want to give your managers a headache.

Your friend, Sacha