Chapter 36: Indulging Desire

Inside the dessert shop, the surroundings were a complete mess.

Broken glass and overturned tables and chairs silently spoke of the intense conflict that had just occurred.

“Hello, ladies.”

One of the Fifth Department agents walked forward and took out his license.

“I am Hyde, a member of the Fifth Department's Special Operations Division. This is my partner, Lawrence. Regarding what just happened, would it be convenient for us to ask you some questions?”

“Mmm….”

Mel showed just the right amount of unease from her narrow escape.

“Could you please describe the incident in detail, especially the characteristics of the attackers?”

Mel and Vilnia Randell exchanged a glance.

Then Vilnia Randell took a step forward and spoke:

“We were just enjoying our afternoon tea, when suddenly three people wearing bird-beak masks broke in through the window. They were holding strange syringes with some kind of corrosive liquid inside. I think they are from the Omniscience Society.”

“You know about the Omniscience Society?”

Lawrence slightly raised his eyebrows, looking at Vilnia Randell.

“I am a Red Moon Shepherd.”

Vilnia Randell did not conceal her identity.

“The Fifth Department should have a record of my existence.”

Hearing this, Hyde and Lawrence exchanged a glance.

Then Lawrence pulled out a notebook and looked through it for a moment.

“Found it. Vilnia Randell. She's indeed a Shepherd. And miss, what's your name....”

“Mel Rossetti.”

Mel said.

Seeing Lawrence flipping through his notebook, she continued: “No need to look. I'm a Shepherd too. I just became one last week.”

Hearing this, Vilnia Randell's eyes suddenly widened.

She had intended to hide it for Mel, but she didn't expect Mel to admit it on her own.

“Mel Rossetti…. Hmm, it's just as you said—wait, your name is Mel Rossetti?”

Lawrence suddenly realized something and looked at Mel.

“Yes, is there a problem?”

Mel tilted her head in confusion.

“No…. I get it. I understand.”

Lawrence nodded inexplicably, then put away his notebook.

“Since you're both Red Moon Shepherds, things are much simpler—you can leave the rest to us here.”

Mel nodded lightly, showing a look of relief.

Her gaze unintentionally swept toward the kitchen.

Then Vilnia Randell's voice sounded in her ear.

“Can we leave now?”

Vilnia Randell asked.

“The atmosphere here makes me a little uncomfortable.”

Hyde and Lawrence looked at each other.

Then Hyde spoke: “Of course, but before you leave, we still need to confirm a few details. Miss Rossetti, you said the person who was chasing you ran away. Can you describe the direction he ran in?”

Mel pretended to recall, her brows slightly furrowed:

“I remember… he jumped out of the kitchen window. That window faces the back alley, if I'm not mistaken.”

Lawrence nodded, quickly writing in his notebook.

“Last question, did you notice any special marks or tattoos on the attackers?”

Vilnia Randell shook her head: “Their entire bodies were covered by black clothes. I didn't see any marks.”

“I didn't notice either,” Mel echoed.

“It was too chaotic at the time. I was just focused on getting away.”

Hyde showed a look of understanding: “I understand. This was indeed an unsettling experience. Alright, I think we won't bother you anymore for now. If you remember any important details later, please feel free to contact us.”

He handed Vilnia Randell a business card with the Fifth Department's contact information on it.

“Thank you for your understanding,” Vilnia Randell took the business card.

“If we remember anything, we will contact you immediately.”

The two investigators nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to continue surveying the scene.

Mel and Vilnia Randell slowly walked toward the dessert shop's exit.

As they passed the chaotic area, Mel's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly, then returned to normal.

Walking out of the dessert shop, the sunlight was still bright, as if everything that had just happened was only a nightmare.

The street was packed with people, but what puzzled Mel was that not a single person was curious about the ruined dessert shop.

It was as if it didn't exist in their line of sight at all.

“I didn't expect you to be a Shepherd too, Mel.”

Vilnia Randell suddenly spoke.

“Based on what you said about the timing, were the two days you missed school because of this?”

“Mmm….”

Mel nodded.

“This kind of supernatural thing was a bit of a shock to me, so it took me two days to recover.”

“Mmm-hmm, I can understand that too.”

Vilnia Randell took Mel's hand.

“I was going to hide it for you, but I didn't expect you to say it yourself.”

“The white dove has already found me, so hiding it is useless,” Mel gently shook her head.

“So you don't need to keep my secret anymore, Vilnia Randell.”

“That's not right, Mel,” Vilnia Randell leaned in close to Mel and said softly: “The secret I was talking about isn't that one.”

Warm sunlight shone on the two of them.

Vilnia Randell's eyelashes trembled slightly in the light, casting tiny shadows.

The corner of her lips curved into a meaningful smile.

A cunning glint flashed in her eyes.

“The secret I'm talking about is what you did in the kitchen, and that pretty little knife.”

Vilnia Randell lowered her voice, her lips almost pressed against Mel's ear.

“It was a beautiful hunt, wasn't it?”

Mel's pupils contracted slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

She turned her head to look at Vilnia Randell, her gaze with a hint of a test: “When did you find out?”

“I knew the moment you came out,” Vilnia Randell chuckled.

“There wasn't just cream on your skirt.”

She reached out and stroked a dark red stain on the hem of Mel's coat.

Her movements were so gentle, as if she were stroking a delicate rose.

“But you don't have to worry,” Vilnia Randell's voice was filled with a bit of pleasure.

“I'm very good at keeping secrets. Especially… secrets about you.”

Mel was silent for a moment, then asked softly: “Why?”

“Hmm? Is there a need to ask a question like that?”

Vilnia Randell asked back with a smile.

“Because I am a Red Moon Shepherd.”

Under the sun, Vilnia Randell's eyes glinted with a dangerous and enticing light, like a glass of sweet red wine with poison in it.

“Indulging desire, isn't that the creed of the Red Moon?”

Mel looked into her eyes, at a loss for words.

“Speaking of which,” Vilnia Randell suddenly changed the subject.

“I still haven't tasted their raspberry pudding. Since we can't go to this shop for now… why don't you come over to my place? I can make a serving myself.”

She leaned closer to Mel, the corner of her lips curving into a mysterious smile:

“Then, how about we continue what we didn't finish before?”

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