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Femina Economica Monster – Part 05

“Whew, just in the nick of time! Talk about a close call. And look at this, I’m in the company of a lovely lady!”

Bon Vivant leaned casually against a spit-roasted calf, arms and legs crossed. Kazuya scanned the surroundings in awe.

The glittering golden sphere atop the black tower was apparently this hall. The ceiling was astonishingly high, adorned with tower-shaped chandeliers that filled the space with light so bright it blurred the lines between day and night.

Encircled by floor-to-ceiling glass windows framed in sleek black iron, the circular hall offered a panoramic view of the sprawling metropolis below, a river of buildings, roads, and artificial stars.

But the centerpiece of the spectacle was a towering pink cream cake, an homage to the Tower of Babel, decorated with a chocolate plate labeled “Tobacco Road.” Sugar sculptures depicted the rich history of the Bluecandy family, from an immigrant ship to the Statue of Liberty, tobacco fields and farmers, Cigarette Girls waving from a double-decker bus, weaving a narrative that culminated in the towering skyscraper, Apocalypse.

Banners bearing the packaging of the Bluecandy’s best-selling brand, Miss Cigarette, fluttered throughout the hall, complete with the slogan, “Miss Cigarette instead of candy!” The image of a petite beauty dressed as the Statue of Liberty smiled down on the festivities.

Whole roast beef, pork, and duck were displayed in lively poses, encircled by fresh salads that mimicked meadows. Chandeliers cast artificial light across the grand hall.

Adults playfully pretended to jump into a golden-clawed tub filled with wobbling red and orange jelly. A tower of small, pyramid-shaped pastries was stacked into a larger pyramid. Melted chocolate gushed from a pink, heart-shaped fountain. At the back, a small, star-shaped pool allowed immersion in rainbow-colored jelly beans.

Gentlemen in tailcoats and ladies in evening gowns strolled leisurely, exchanging cheerful greetings and toasting to the Apocalypse as they sipped their drinks. They actively participated in the upper-class social circles of the new world. Dazzling beauties of the Cigarette Girls served them.

Wrapped in a gray cloak resembling a caterpillar, Victorique muttered in a deep, raspy voice, “This is quite the eerie monster party.”

“Oh, really? Isn’t it wonderful? I love this kind of thing,” Bon Vivant replied absent-mindedly, directing his response not to Victorique but to the roast calf in front of him. The calf’s eyes were filled with candied cherries, and even its roasted eyes seemed to burn a fiery red.

Kazuya held Victorique’s hand as he glanced around nervously. Things seem quite different from outside, he thought.

Despite the commotion at the entrance, in the glamorous party venue, none of the adults paid any attention to Bon Vivant. Though they occasionally glanced at his flashy attire, they quickly looked away, deeming him unrelated to their social circle. Even the supposed automotive king, who was rumored to be scouting Bon Vivant, didn’t approach him. Only children and young people, brought by their parents, whispered excitedly upon noticing him, but they didn’t dare approach, perhaps out of respect for their parents.

A lean, middle-aged man and a full-figured, middle-aged woman chatted in the center. The woman wore a low-cut evening dress with her hair styled in a modern bob cut, her forehead adorned with jewels. Upon noticing them, she whispered something to the gentleman’s ear, waving in their direction.

Bon Vivant quickly grabbed Victorique and pulled the gray cloak. “That’s my mom and dad! Quite the duo, right? Mayor and Broadway star. Ah, thank goodness. They seem to like Wonder Girl!”

As she spun around, Victorique emerged from the cloak. With her blue satin dress adorned with plenty of frills, she gave a startling sense of unease, like she was a delicate rose falling into a gaudy bouquet of artificial flowers.

Surprised, Bon Vivant’s mother stared at her with wide eyes. She then smiled in genuine delight, hopping up and down, expressing her admiration for the beautiful girl by moving her eyes, brows, and mouth.

By the time Mayor Emigré finally looked up, Victorique had already reclaimed her cloak from Bon Vivant, completely covering herself again, resembling a cocoon. The mayor frowned, puzzled, looking only at his oddly-dressed son. He actually showed up, he thought.

Relieved at his mother’s approval, Bon Vivant rubbed his eyes tiredly. “Well, that’s a relief. Looks like Mom’s happy. I think you can leave now.”

Victorique exhaled sharply. “Excellent news. Amenmen. Let’s go, Kujou.” She trotted away.

Bon Vivant whirled around. “W-Wait! I was just joking! We haven’t even said hello to grandma yet!” he exclaimed.

A man in a blue, white, and red costume started arguing with a girl resembling a gray rock.

Meanwhile, Coup de Grâce was engrossed in conversation with a nearby waiter. “Huh? What’s this about the Miracle Car?”

Kazuya watched curiously as Coup de Grâce hurried over to Bon Vivant and whispered something in his ear.

“Suspicious individual? In the Miracle Car? Go check it out!”

“What, now? But I, uh, have to…”

“Well, I have to stay here!”

“Hmm… yeah, I suppose,” Coup de Grâce grumbled, crossing his arms, but reluctantly agreed.

Without warning, he grabbed Kazuya’s collar and effortlessly lifted him up.

Bewildered, Kazuya flailed his legs in the air. “What’s happening?”

“Linlin, lend me a hand! I need to take care of something in the basement. Might need some help… Quickly!”

Kazuya was dragged along like a piece of luggage, protesting, “The basement? Uh… hold on, Victorique… I’ll be back soon!” he shouted.

Victorique watched in disbelief as Bon Vivant, having forgotten about the earlier conversation, proudly displayed a replica of an ancient sword he had pulled from his waist.

“A suspicious character in the Miracle Car?”

“Yeah. It’s always something with Bon.”

Kazuya trailed behind Coup de Grâce. They went downward in the high-speed elevator, descending from the summit of the skyscraper, 500 meters above ground, down to the lower levels. The unsettling hum of the descent made their ears throb.

“Staff spotted some oddball hopping into the Miracle Car down in the underground parking lot,” Coup de Grâce grumbled darkly. “Everyone in New York knows Bon. There’s bound to be people who want to mess around with the car.”

“I had no idea we tagged along with someone so famous. Victorique…”

Concerned, Kazuya’s restless gaze drifted upward. The elevator passed the first floor, descending deeper into the third basement level.

Ding! The doors opened.

A cold, shadowy space greeted them in the underground parking lot. Low ceilings, dim lights casting feeble glows upon the stone walls. Rows of high-end cars were parked like the dead in a catacomb.

An urge to return to the surface seized Kazuya, and he quickened his steps. Coup de Grâce kept pace alongside him.

In the darkness, a flashy convertible in blue, white, and red emerged. Hurrying over, Coup de Grâce inspected the interior, while Kazuya checked under the chassis.

“No one’s here. Nothing out of place.”

“Same here. No one’s hiding underneath either. Maybe they’ve already slipped away?”

“What an odd fellow. Apparently, he was quite the gentleman in a tailcoat.”

“Really? A gentleman playing around in the car?”

Coup de Grâce promptly popped the hood, then gestured to Kazuya. “Let’s not dally. There’s storage space beneath the rear seats. No one should be hiding there, but it’s worth a look.”

Kazuya nodded and lifted the left seat. “Whoa!”

Something sprung out, startling Kazuya. He instinctively caught it.

It was a large stuffed toy of a man cloaked in black, wearing a skull mask and a red cape. Kazuya studied it curiously.

Coup de Grâce glanced from behind the hood. “Oh, that’s a stuffed toy I made for Bon’s birthday. Here’s the mask and cape.” He proudly produced a black cloth skull mask and cape from his pocket.

“You made all this by hand? Th-That’s impressive. You even whipped up a dress earlier in no time. But what’s the story behind this toy?”

“What’s the story? Ah, I see! Since you’re new here, you probably haven’t heard of the characters from the Wonder Girl series,” Coup de Grâce realized. “Take a look under the right seat, too. There shouldn’t be anything, but still. Anyway, that toy is Grim Reaper, the main villain. An ancient malevolent deity awoken from slumber, wreaking havoc with city thugs in Babylon City.”

As Kazuya listened intently, he lifted the right seat.

And then…

He dropped the toy in shock, rendered speechless.

“They try to cause a subway accident, or ram a ship into an iceberg. That’s when Wonder Girl, the champion of justice, steps in… What’s wrong? Let’s get back up there quickly. Hey, Linlin?”

Kazuya remained silent.

Under the right seat sat the head of a gentleman, with closed eyes, a prominent nose, and a meticulously groomed, golden mustache.

“A-Ah…!”