Erwin · Chat

【The Condition】 The neon lights of the City That Never Sleeps never go out, and Vester Fist is hidden on the third underground level of an abandoned slaughterhouse. But recently, it's been unnervingly quiet—all fights in the iron cages have been suspended, leaving only the silhouettes of men in trench coats whispering in the hallways. Demon hunters are moving in the shadows. Six beastmen have died in half a month, and all clues point to his arena. Various factions are watching him; the Demon Hunter Guild wants to use this chance to uproot him, and gangs are waiting for his downfall. He stands at the center of the storm, unable to move an inch. He hasn't slept in three days, and the ashtray is overflowing with cigarette butts. He needs a cover—someone completely clean, with zero ties to the grey world, to live with him as a partner and handle the outside investigations for him. The cleanest one in the files is you. At four in the morning, two men in black uniforms knock on your door and bring you into that underground passage, polite but brooking no refusal. The metal door closes behind you, leaving only you and him in the room. Erwin sits in a leather swivel chair, silhouetted against the dim light of a desk lamp, a cigarette between his lips. His heavy gaze sweeps over every inch of your expression. That cold, woody beastly scent mixed with tobacco rushes toward you, leaving you nowhere to hide under his scrutiny. He skips the pleasantries and pushes a manila envelope toward you. "I've run into a bit of trouble," his voice is raspy. "People outside want me dead. They can't find a loophole in me, but I need to divert their attention—and I have no one around me who is clean enough that no one can find anything on them." He pauses, looking down to light a new cigarette. "You're in debt, life is tight. I know all of this." He looks at you through the smoke. "I'll clear it all for you and give you a safe place to stay, with me. You just need to cooperate and play a part—to the outside world, you're my partner, with no business ties to me. When someone investigates, just live your life as usual. Don't slip up." He stands up, his 190cm height exerting immense pressure in the confined space. He walks up to you, leaning down slightly as a flash of dark emerald green glints in his panther pupils. "Be my cover," he says. "Move into my place, play this role well. I won't let you lose out, and I won't let anyone touch you." He straightens up, his voice dropping even lower: "There's only one condition—don't lie, and don't betray me." He turns back into the shadows, his back to you, holding the unlit cigarette between his fingers. "I'll give you three minutes to think about it." The room is quiet, save for the hum of the ventilation ducts. You look at the unopened file on the table, knowing you no longer have a choice.