It didn’t take long for the two to find a restaurant. It was quite luxurious, and needless to say, the duo attracted many, many stares. Nearly every head in the restaurant whipped around to look at them, but none spoke a word. Of them, a few were gawking at Finn’s unusual outfit with a massive sword on his back, but most were simply too busy admiring Evelyn’s beauty, even with her mask on. After all, her voluptuous curves were more than enough to capture the lust in any man’s heart and evoke jealousy from any woman.

“W-Welcome, Lady Carmen!” The waitress who was sent to accommodate them yelped nervously. “Your presence honors us. Please follow me, there is a private room vacant.”

Evelyn smiled slightly and didn’t say a word, but Finn could tell she wasn’t very into the flattering. Regardless, the two soon found themselves seated in a private room… but there was only one seat.

“… Why is there only one chair?” Evelyn asked, voice soft but at the same time holding a certain menace to it. The waitress, hearing this, nearly jumped up in surprise, and she hurriedly responded.

“U-Um, I apologize… I thought the man behind you was a mere bodyguard and wouldn’t be eating with you, so… p-please forgive me, Lady Carmen!”

Evelyn, seeing this pitiful scene, gave a sigh and waved her off. It was clear this waitress was new to the job, and she hurriedly scurried away to bring back another chair for Finn. While the two made their orders, the poor waitress waited anxiously by their side, looking like she was about to puke. It was simply depressing to see, but…

“… You purposely stalled time, just now,” Finn said after the waitress left—or rather, escaped would be a better word.

“Oh?” Evelyn tilted her head, then removed her mask so Finn could gaze upon her true beauty. “You noticed, hm? Impressive.”

“… Why?” Finn asked, completely unbothered by her demonic allure that shouldn’t have possibly belonged to a normal human. “Were you simply getting vengeance over a small thing like there not being another seat in the room?”

Evelyn, hearing this, laughed softly, voice mature and gentle.

“Why, yes, yes… and what of it?”

Finn fell silent briefly, then spoke again.

“… No. You didn’t do it for revenge… you’re not the type to be so worked up about a thing as tiny as that. And the sigh earlier shows you feel nothing but pity for the waitress; there is no motive to purposely torture her. In which case… you did it to ‘train’ her, in a sense?”

“Bingo~” She giggled, clapping her hands several times. “You are beginning to understand my personality, faster than I originally expected. What a pleasant surprise—this must be due to your immense attention to detail and strong analytical and logic skills, developed as a result of being a former major in the sciences, isn’t it?”

“… So, you even know about that,” Finn snorted. “But if you know so much about my past… how about you tell me a bit about yours? It’s only fair, and will help me get to know you better for a smoother Shapeshifting process.”

“Fufu, you know how to negotiate,” Evelyn said with a light chuckle. “However… according to your logic, since I have removed my mask for this meal, shouldn’t you do the same and show me how you look?”

Faced with Evelyn’s seductive and wry smile, Finn didn’t feel like arguing. She had a point—it was only fair. However…

“… What if the waitress comes in to deliver the food and recognizes me?”

“Hm… you can keep it on until the food has arrived, then. You’ll need to remove the mask anyway to eat, no?”

Actually, Finn had discovered that there was a little compartment near his mouth on the helmet that could be popped in and out, allowing him to eat and drink without removing the casque altogether, but he decided not to mention that and just remain in silence.

Soon, the food arrived, and Finn at last removed his helmet after the waitress left. Evelyn, keeping her gaze glued to him, widened her eyes ever so slightly.

“Hm… so this is how you really look.”

“… Something wrong?” Finn asked, arching an eyebrow and blinking those striking blue, almost purple eyes of his.

“No, not at all… it’s just… I’m surprised,” Evelyn said with a warm smile.

Finn narrowed his eyes. “Surprised…?”

“Mhm. You’re more handsome than I expected, fufu~” She licked her lips, staring at Finn lustfully, and tapped her cheek with her finger. “Y’know… I’d like a younger man, myself…”

“Enough teasing,” Finn cut in coldly. “Tell me about your past.”

“My, my…” Evelyn sighed. “Very well. What would you like to hear?”

“… Everything.”

In the end, Evelyn was unable to finish her story before they had finished all the food on their plates. She said she would continue later tonight—and right when it was getting to the important part too. Finn regretted saying ‘everything’—he should’ve just said ‘starting with how your old husband left you’.

Either way, the only information he had right now about Evelyn was that she was raised separately from her brother, and some stories from her childhood. They were interesting, but nothing that really would become useful to Finn.

Why, exactly, was he trying to get this information?

The answer was simple: he was trying to turn Evelyn into one of his pawns.

Why? Wasn’t that obvious?

Evelyn was an extremely powerful figure, both here and above ground, and in terms of power as well as authority. If he could get her on his side, raiding that Temple of the Specters will be a breeze, since she seemed to have connections with the House of Spectra, and could help Finn secure some equipment.

That said… all that was just planning for the future. For now, he had a more pressuring task at hand—assassinating Lorenzo. And besides, if he couldn’t earn Evelyn’s heart, all this would go to waste.

“Now then… since we have some time to waste, why don’t I take you to the Warrior’s Cage?” Evelyn asked, a wistful smile on her perfect face, standing up.

If Finn could manipulate Evelyn into becoming his pawn… things would become a lot easier for him both down here and in the surface world.