[center][h1][color=red]S[/color] [i]a m a n t h a[/i][/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/YdB71c9.jpg[/img]

[quote=Samantha Howard][color=red]"The eyes never lie."[/color][/quote][/center]
Samantha did not get far from the Pitstop before she found herself approached by a rather odd girl. She did not stand out like the girl from the Pitstop because of her appearance, she wasn't conspicuous for that reason. But her nonchalant question to Sam herself did set off enough red flags, for a normal girl her age would likely join the rest of the people who were running. This time, however, Sam was a bit tense, despite not outwardly showing such. Did this strange girl know whom and what she was?

Yet just before Sam could figure out whether or not she was going to preemptively strike at the oddball, a familiar voice answered her question. 

[color=#bd71e8]“Predators don't run from what scares them.”[/color]

Samantha immediately came to realize that the girl before her was no threat, at least not as of now. She did not, however, find herself relaxing. The voice she heard belonged to none other than Vermillion Veronica, her employer. Samantha then knew that having a peaceful day was impossible now. Resigned to her fate, Samantha followed the two back inside the Pitstop, towards the back where she'd spoken with Veronica a while back, but not before they received a couple of additions to their group. This was not the typical meeting, for sure. It was rare for Samantha and Veronica to have extras when they spoke, so Sam began to think there was a bit more than just a random meeting going on here. 

Still, she remained silent as they all found themselves in a pocket dimension. Veronica wasted no time in disciplining the two girls they'd picked up inside the Pitstop for carelessly speaking about that familiar. Because this situation with the familiar-turned-magical-girl, Sam had to wonder if such a light punishment was enough. Information like that escaping could have serious consequences, she imagined. Well, if Veronica thought it to be sufficient, then it probably was. Samantha decided to remain quiet as her employer explained the situation they were in, as well as introducing the strange girl that was tagging along with her. Samantha had no questions. Though she was obviously not privy to Mika's identity or the 'plant' that Veronica had learned about, she'd at least been told to keep her trap shut weeks earlier. A normal Mint agent may have questioned why they were keeping the Ebon Mint in the dark about things, but when she thought about the situation like that, Samantha came to realize her only real loyalty lied in the woman before her, not the organization. 

[color=red][i]...that is strange.[/i] [/color]

She wasn't quite sure how things had come to that. Samantha Howard had only bothered to become a dog for the Mint because she was inexperienced with the magical world, and had no desire to upset what amounted to the magical girl Illuminati, for lack of a better term. Her reason for being here, the reason why she listened to them, the reason why she lived in a manner that far contrasted her human life was all to rid herself of this damned debt, but thinking about it, following Veronica now was potentially going against this even with the explanation that there was a 'plant' of sorts. And the fact that she realized this, yet still could not even entertain the thought of betraying Veronica must have meant... that something was wrong with her. 

She wasn't sure what, though. 

[color=red]"Understood,"[/color] she acknowledged and agreed to keep quiet about Su. She allowed Veronica to give her briefing to the other girl, Eliza, and remained silent as she did so. When it was her turn, Samantha listened attentively. 

It would seem her target was one "Chloe", a name she wasn't familiar with. Apparently, she was some form of Mint agent that'd suddenly shown up after having disappeared without explanation. Such wildcards were usually frowned upon by the Ebon Mint, Sam had come to learn. But that should come as no surprise as most employers tend to prefer it when their employees keep them in the know. The Mint would be no different. Samantha accepted the documents Veronica handed to her as she continued her explanation of her next job. As expected, she was being tasked with locating and interrogating Chloe about her reasons for leaving and returning, and of course to see if she was still loyal to Mint. 

[color=red]"I see. Consider it done. She cannot hide from me."[/color] the girl confidently replied in a near-monotone. An important, yet often underlooked aspect of being a great assassin was the ability to locate your mark. After all, you can't kill them if you don't know where they are. Sam was moderately disappointed she had to make contact with the target, but if she was no longer loyal to the Mint, it was fairly obvious what her orders would then be after reporting to Veronica. She placed the documents she was given into her coat, and then quietly listened to the last bit of information Veronica gave. She couldn't imagine requiring help from someone else in the Mint. But if the other girl needed hers, then she supposed she would be obligated to do so. Allowing her to be defeated would probably only come back to bite Veronica in the ass, so that was not ideal, anyways. As Veronica finished up, Sam shook her head. 

[color=red]"I do have some questions, but they can wait until a better time when there's less company,"[/color] she told the Mint. [color=red]"I'll go ahead and take my leave, then."[/color] she immediately did so, and wasted no time in the Pitstop, either. By this point, most people had caught onto the fact that things were getting crazy because of the unknown to the public, spirit magic. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was causing that shitstorm, so half of Sam's job was going to be easy. The other half was probably not, however. 

She once again exited the doors to the Pitstop, this time in a hurry, her feet carrying her as fast as they possibly could --- in the direction of the conflict!