Azura: My life is in danger.

Noir: Because--- of this "treasure of the Knights Templar"?

Azura: Thanks to some important intelligence information, I was able to obtain coded book that is written about it. In the middle ages--- around the time of the Crusades, some Europeans made the pilgrimage to the holy land of Jerusalem. Some holy knights were given the task of protecting the way so that the pilgrims could travel safely. However, many rumors spread as they began to gain many privileges or great fortunes. They didn't fear God, they indulged in unfaithful deeds, and in order to line their pockets, they formed a secret society entered into agreement with the Devil himself--- The knights were gathered--- someone was tortured into revealing them. Those who stubbornly refused to confess were burned at the stake--- People at that time were said to have started trembling at the sound of the knights' dying curses.

Noir: ---Ha. Sounds like things were a matter of cause and effect. In agreement with the devil, what a good excuse at that time to rob them of their wealth and goods!

Azura: ---Hmph~... Exactly right. Almost all of their goods were confiscated. But there were some goods that escaped that plot. The few remaining knights therefore hid them--- they still have not been found...

Noir: ---- This is...

Azura: Thanks to some important intelligence information, I was able to obtain this sheepskin.

Noir: It looks like it's pretty old... The Bible!? It looks like part of the New Testament...?

Azura: An old French stronghold, Les Andelys, was a territory of the Knights Templar. It was said that for a long time, the remaining Knights Templar concealed themselves in this castle...

Noir: Then, the ones who are after you...

Azura: Probably their descendents. Perhaps there's some secret about this "treasure" that they don't want anyone to touch.

Noir: Why are you so interested in this sort of thing? ---Azura

Azura: I'm merely interested... I suppose. I have too much time on my hands.

Noir: It's going to be expensive if you want to hire me.

Azura: I'm asking you nicely. We've done everything together since we were brats, haven't we!? ---- You were such a skinny brat--- You grew up well, Rei...

Noir: It's... all thanks to you, Azura. You let me run away but I had already died... [stroking Azura's patch-covered eye] How could I repay you for this eye.

Flashback: a young Noir watches in horror as someone stabs at Azura, cutting his right eye.

Noir: At that time, you said to me... "What're you doing? Hurry up and go!" I've been grateful to you--- always...

{sound f/x su: slow movement of Noir's hand along Azura's face}

Azura: ---

Noir: You protected me up until the end.

Azura: That's enough. This isn't in your nature. More than that, allow me to see Masked Noir's true prowess.

Noir: Leave it up to me.

Azura: (Hmph~)

The rest of Noir's bunch waits in Azura's estate. A servant pours glasses for them.

Man #1: There's sommething like Moroccan Whiskey? All right!! Thought it was gonna be so rough coming to an Islamic country.

Man #2: Thought it wasn't easy to get your hands on some booze!

Men: Cheers!

Man #3: UHE~~~~~ What's this, this ain't booze!?

Man #1: AH~ It's sweeeet~

Servant: (Moroccan Whiskey is really sweet mint tea...)

Florian: What're they doing... ----

Outside, Florian watches Laila, who watches Noir at work.

{sound f/x shari: some sort of sudden movement or noise}

Laila: [gasp]

Florian: Ah

Laila: ---! D-don't just stare. You've got no tact!

Florian: ....! Ah--- Sorry... [turning to leave]

Laila: Florian. For Noir, I'd give my life without any regrets. I serve him because of that resolution. So I can be proud to be one of his followers. But---you. You---- who're you!? I won't lose to you...! Just some pretty little pet!

{sound f/x su: Laila suddenly stalking off}

Florian: Laila.

Laila: ---I'm... horrible...

Noir: Florian. You're Florian out there, aren't you!? Come here.

Inside Noir's rooms.

Noir: So the one out there with you was Laila... Did she say anything to you?

Florian: ---- No, nothing...

Noir: ......That right... She's been acting a little strange lately. She seems especially sensitive about you.

{sound f/x pata: gently shutting a book}

Florian: What about you? What do you think about Laila?

Noir: I don't have an interest in keeping people close to me who I don't have confidence in. She's someone I can rely upon. So much so that she doesn't even feel like a "woman"!

Florian: So Noir doesn't like women? (I thought so.)

Noir: [COUGH COUGH] (And what're you suggesting!) I'm not even thinking about that right now; it's too much trouble.

Florian: ---- Ahh... I get it!

Noir: !?

Florian: He seems so shameless, but what's it really like inside of his head? After all, that place is just like it should be for someone his age--- You're still a little kid, Noir~ [grinning merrily] Uh-uh-uh

Noir: (What's with you? You're creepy.)

Florian: More than that, you're actually studying after coming all this way!?

{sound f/x dosha: big thud}

Noir: A favor for Azura. (You make it sound like I'm cramming away.)

Florian: Azura!? Ahh, that ancient text--- It looks like... the Bible.

Noir: Yes, it's definitely the New Testament. But it seems like the writings are scraped together from many different places. Luke, Mark, Matthew----

Florian: You really know a lot, don't you. Even though everyone wrote the same sort of thing.

Noir: Look closely. Change the chapters and you get hit with numbers. With this, it's easy to investigate. There must be some sort of meaning with these numbers. Some sort of simple cryptography code.

Florian: Cryptography code?

Noir: If you consider the 26 letters of the alphabet as 26 numbers, the 26 cycle like clockwork and using algebra you can add them up into a keyword. It's a basic code!

Florian: [looking baffled] But for you to be doing work for someone else---that's pretty rare. I thought you were the kind of guy who only moves on his own convictions.

Noir: ---- Azura's special.

Florian: You said that he raised you in this country like a brother.

Noir: We were tied closer than blood relatives. The one person I could trus, he was a friend, and a brother, and then... a teacher. At that time, Azura was everything in the world to me----

Outside, Florian thinks about what he was told.

Florian: That... Noir (Amazing moonlight) That's all he told me about that man---Azura. But I wonder why... he feels so dangerous. Is it because of his blue eye, bright and clear at that moon?

Florian spots shadowed figures on Azura's grounds.

Florian: What's that? What're they doing, entering in the middle of the night... and through the back gate...?

Florian recognizes the cloaked figure in the moonlight.

Florian: Ah. That woman---Louise!? Why is she there---- It can't be--- but there's no mistaking...! It's the female Mafia boss of the international crime syndicate, "Black Hand"!

{sound f/x da: Florian dashing forward}

Florian: Oh no, I'm losing sight of them! They're entering that door. ---Ah...

Inside the room, Azura calmly greets Louise.

Louise: Thanks to the pressure which you placed upon the Paris prison, I was able to leave without any objection, Romwell Jr... I thank you.

Florian: Azura!?

Azura: The Romwell name is not something to be said lightly, Madam. Besides, you were not released under my power. You should thank my father.

Florian: Azura's real name is "Romwell"!? "Romwell"... I've heard it before somewhere. Where was it......

Azura: ----However, it seems as if there has been a miscommunication.

Louise: Huh!? Which means?

Azura: The world is quite wide, so why did you flee here. And more than that, why now!

Louise: Th...that is because I recieved notification from America to hide myself with you.

Azura: Right now, Noir is in this mansion.

Louise: Wh...what did you say!?

Azura: He knows your face, isn't that right? Your appearance here

{sound f/x jaki: cocking of gun}

Azura: will not become an inconvenience, Louise!

Louise: [reaching for gun] Idiot. D...do you plan on killing me? I'm Romwell's...

Azura: I know that you're his mistress.

{sound f/x zukyun: whizzing of bullet}

Louise: Kya~

Louise's Men: Boss!

Behind Louise's men, guards pour into the room.

Man: !? gu~

{sound f/x dosu: thudding of hitting the ground}

Louise: Ee~ Eee~

Azura: Please do run. If you do, perhaps I will spare just you.

Louise: [fleeing for the door] Ah... Ahhh

Azura: Ku... Ku-ku-ku-ku...

Florian: I... I gotta call someone. !

Florian and Louise crash into each other as Louise flies out of the room.

Florian: Lo...uise

Louise: [holding gunshot wound] Ugu~...

Florian: ! A...zura. Pl...ease. Help Louise. She's... still alive----!?

{sound f/x bosu: muffled thumping sound}

Azura tosses a pillow over Louise's face, shoving the gun on the other side.

{sound f/x bashu: muffled bang}

Azura: Hmph... Stupid maggot!

{sound f/x gatagata: Florian trembling from shock}

Florian: Ah... Ahh

Azura: You came in at a bad time. Fell upon some bad things.

{sound f/x kari: scraping sound}

{sound f/x gui: grip}

Azura sticks a small sphere between his teeth and grabs Florian's head.

Azura: Fight or cry out, and I will likewise kill you.

Azura kisses Florian roughly.

Florian: ......!

Azura: That's it... good boy. Swallow it down. You'll feel better very soon...

Elsewhere, Noir looks up from his work.

Noir: !?

{sound f/x donchan: loud noise and action}

Across the mansion, Noir's men continue to party.

Noir: [sweatdrop] (They don't get tired easy, do they.) Some reason... I feel like I heard Florian's voice. ---Maybe it was just my imagination.

{sound f/x dosa: thumping sound}

Azura's Man: Azura-sama. How shall we despose of this man?

Florian: No...ir.

Azura: For now, carry him to that room. He is our guest after all. We must treat him politely...

Part 3a | Part 3b | Part 3c