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The trees' leafs were waving a bit, some were falling towards the ground. An Inkling woman, wearing a long dress, was watching the lake with her hands on her chest… her tentacles were waving a bit to the right.
Mirii's eyes were blinking twice… watching the whole painting.
"Isn't technology, beautiful…?" The woman's eyes closed, while giggling a bit. "I can't stop looking at this amazing phenomenon of our superior intellect…"
Immediately, Mirii's shoulders turned to her right as her face went paler.
"Wh-who's that person?!" Mirii's left forefinger pointed at the Inkling woman on the painting.
"Oh, her? A cavy." The woman nodded. "She agreed to play the role of a damsel waiting for her price in shining armor…" Her glasses turned white. "Actually, I was looking forward to add a man to insert in front of the girl… and turn the painting into a never-ending tale of love."
Mirii's face went even paler.
"Can't you see how incredible this technology is?!" The woman's hands clasped, as her eyes were sparkling. "We have the possibility to become wonderful actors or actress without the need for learning how to be one!" Her head nodded. "Not to mention, the unique experience we learn from seeing the world we draw!"
"… t-tell me there is a way for them to… t-to get out of the painting…" Mirii swallowed silently.
"There is, there is…" The woman turned forward. "It's just a matter of using the InkZap on this painting, so the ink starts solidifying…" Her right hand went over a metallic gun, which was resting on the table. "… then put the whole material inside the Ink-Reformer and wait some hours before the person gets back to be themselves."
The woman smiled a bit.
"… but I don't see why anyone would want that…" Her head turned to her left. "Especially when one day I'll bring this experience to a whole new level…"
Mirii's eyebrows went up.
"Oh, first of all… I'm Manna." Her eyelids went to the middle, as her smile increased. "A beginner with great ambitions, mind you… … the ambition to make this world, a huge masterpiece."
Mirii's irises shrunk, as sweat covered her forehead.
"Eh eh… I know more than one way to make sure many cavies would agree to participate in the world's biggest masterpiece…" Her head shook, as her eyes closed for a moment. "I just need to point out how inferior they are… you know, making them realize how brainless they are and the fact who can't get a true specialization on anything at all."
Manna's eyebrows went down, while smiling even wider, as her head rose and her irises shrunk.
"Eh eh eh! What use do they bring in our society?! No use! That's the truth!" Her arms opened a bit. "But thanks to this new piece of technology… they will finally have a purpose! They will become beautiful… and we, the superior Squids, will admire their poses and their love stories for the eternity!"
Mirii's hands pushed the woman down, as she jumped on her arms and pointed her weapon right in front of her neck. Manna screamed, as she began breathing loudly.
"Wh-what are you doing?!" Her eyebrows went up. "Ouch, ouch, l-leave me alone!"
"No… someone this mad cannot roam freely in our society…" Mirii's eyes squeezed a bit. "Release that person in the painting… or else I'll make sure you are the one being the painting."
Her weapon pushed a bit more towards Manna's neck: she coughed a bit.
"Are you crazy?!" Manna frowned, as she moved a bit around. "Why are you giving a care to those inferior Squids?! They are useless! They would just go ahead and eat our precious resources like seapigs! You and I passed a difficult test to prove our superiority… would you let any ignorant idiots steal your Ranks, your merits and everything that shows how perfect and superior you are?!"
Mirii's irises shrunk, as her mouth opened wide. Manna smiled a bit.
"I knew you would think like me…" Her eyelids lowered to the middle. "Now, be a good little Agent and release"
"I would never let anyone steal my progress, that's true…" Mirii's face darkened. "… but I would at least help them becoming better than ever before."
"… eh?" Manna's eyes grew a bit, as her mouth opened slightly.
The darkness went away, as Mirii's weapon pushed a bit more on Manna's neck.
"Release that person, you pile of garbage!" Mirii was frowning a lot. "Release her!"
"Gr-grrr…" Sweat covered Manna's face, as she was frowning and gritting her teeth.
"The games are over, Mirii."
Mirii's posture lifted, as her ears rose. Behind her, an Inkling woman holding a painting of an Inkling boy wearing farm clothes. She was wearing a red shirt with long sleeves, a black dress and a pair of black heels. Her eyelids were black and her lips were red.
Near the woman's sides, two Inkling men holding each a Heavy Splatling and wearing both a tuxedo suit.
"… name?" Mirii's head rose.
"Libera Justice… and I'm ordering you to let that newbie free." Her right hand patted the painting delicately. "I have a hostage in my hands."
"WHAT?!" Mirii turned behind, as her irises shrunk. "… no… Hunley…"
Manna stands up, while frowning.
"What is going on, Libera?!" Her right sleeves went over her glasses for a moment, as her right hand pushed them. "I'm getting too confused!"
"Mirii Kelpshell is an Agent who wants to arrest us all…" Her left wrist rose, covered with a golden, large ring. "… but thanks to my superb intervention, her progress is the only thing who will be arrested."
"Nnnggghhh!" Mirii bended forward, as her face began sweating. "Pl-please, release Hunley…"
Libera laughed loudly.
"I'm putting a price: I'll give your friend's life back… and you and this Hunley will give me your own freedom."
"Wh… freedom?!" Mirii's irises shrunk.
"You and your boyfriend showed some impressive skills..." Libera's eyelids lowered to the middle. "Your cunning mind and his Squid abilities could be very useful for my needs… especially for taking control over Project Neo myself." She laughed.
Mirii's eyes expanded.
"She… she's not working for the project?!"