SPY x FAMILY — Chapter 2

MISSION 2

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH I CAN DO WITH THAT BODY TYPE. WITH ALL YOUR TALENT FOR DISGUISE, THIS IS THE BEST YOU COULD COME UP WITH? REALLY?! I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PULL OFF THE MOTHER ROLE, FRANKY. Though I've met women who look worse...

NO. THIS WON'T DO.

I DON'T WANT THIS MAMA.

AS A SPY FROM A WESTALIS INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, I WAS ASSIGNED THIS TOP SECRET MISSION. THE GOAL IS TO AVERT A WAR BEING ENGINEERED BY OSTANIAN POLITICAL LEADER DONOVAN DESMOND.

I CAME ALL THIS WAY TO HELP, YOU KNOW!

YOU CAN HAVE A PEANUT.

THIS IS OPERATION STRIX. MY CODE NAME IS TWILIGHT.

...BUT WE FAILED TO ANTICIPATE THAT BOTH PARENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE MANDATORY FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEW.

WE MANAGED TO PASS THE ENTRANCE EXAM NEEDED TO WORK OUR WAY INTO OSTANIA'S ELITE EDEN ACADEMY...

THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT, THEN.

I'LL GO FIND A WIFE.

MISSION 2

CITY HALL THE CAPITAL CITY OF BERLINT

DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS? OUR OFFICES WERE ROBBED!

DOESN'T THAT CREEP YOU OUT? HE MUST BE SOME KIND OF PERVERT! APPARENTLY THE PERP ONLY BROKE INTO CABINETS CONTAINING THE PERSONNEL FILES OF FEMALE RESIDENTS.

IT'S THOSE SHORT SKIRTS YOU WEAR.

NOTHING CREEPS ME OUT MORE THAN OUR SECTION CHIEF.

BUT MY BOYFRIEND LOVES IT WHEN I WEAR THEM!

HE WAS OGLING ME AGAIN THIS MORNING!

WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS, THAT SORT OF THING STOPS.

YOU'VE GOT A GREAT BODY, SHARON. YOU SHOULD SHOW THOSE LEGS OFF!

DOESN'T THE ROBBERY CREEP YOU OUT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, YOR?

I GUESS?

COME BACK TO EARTH NOW AND THEN, YOR, AND MAYBE YOU COULD ACTUALLY MEET A MAN! HUH? OH, YOR. WHAT A UNIQUE TREASURE YOU ARE.

SNOT? Hee hee!

SHOULD WE PUT SOME SNOT IN IT? IS THAT THE CHIEF'S COFFEE?

I never knew that. DOES THAT MAKE THE COFFEE TASTE BETTER?

COOL IT, MILLIE.

I JUST WANT TO KEEP WORKING. THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME.

YOR'S SO PRETTY. IF SHE PUT A LITTLE EFFORT INTO HER APPEARANCE, I KNOW SHE COULD TURN SOME HEADS.

I'LL GIVE HER SOME MAKEUP TIPS WHEN I HAVE SOME FREE TIME.

W H A A T ?

SIGH

AT THAT AGE, YOU NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL. YOU'RE 27 YEARS OLD NOW, AREN'T YOU?

?

THEY SAY THERE ARE SPIES EVERY- WHERE THESE DAYS. AND NOW PEOPLE ARE REPORTING EACH OTHER OVER ANY LITTLE THING.

DIDN'T YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT 30-YEAR-OLD BACHELORETTE WHO WAS TURNED IN BY HER NEIGHBORS FOR BEING "SUSPICIOUS"?

YEAH, CAN YOU BELIEVE SOMEONE BEING SINGLE AT THAT AGE? How sad! HEH HEH IT'S SUSPI- CIOUS, ALL RIGHT.

Really? THAT'S HILARIOUS.

YOU'RE PROB- ABLY RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WARNING ME!

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M THROWING A DINNER PARTY THIS WEEKEND!

YOU SHOULD COME JOIN US, YOR.

AND MAKE SURE TO BRING SOMEONE!

DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S A LITTLE AMBITIOUS FOR HER?

MAYBE SHE COULD BRING THE PERVERT WHO BROKE INTO OUR OFFICE.

YOU'RE HOR- RIBLE! HEE HEE!

HOW ARE YOU DOING, SIS?

BRIAR RESIDENCE.

OH, YURI?

YOU'RE SO WEIRD. I WORRY ABOUT YOU.

GOOD. EVERY- THING'S GOOD.

TH-THAT'S SO RUDE! I'M NOT WEIRD!

STILL WORKING HARD AT CITY HALL!

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET MARRIED?

THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN...

YOU FOUND A GOOD GUY YET?

I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL ACCEPT IT YET. IT WOULDN'T FEEL RIGHT TO LEAVE YOU ALONE LIKE THAT.

LISTEN, I MIGHT BE OFFERED A PROMOTION AT WORK.

BUT I'D BE EVEN BUSIER THAN BEFORE, RUNNING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE IF I HADN'T HAD MY BIG SISTER LOOKING OUT FOR ME ALL THIS TIME.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU'RE HAPPY.

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW THAT, YURI.

THANK YOU.

MAYBE I COULD INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEONE?

THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. SO THIS PARTY... IS IT THE ONE WITH YOUR CO- WORKERS?

YOU'VE GOT A BOY- FRIEND?!

IN FACT... I'M GOING TO A PARTY THIS WEEKEND! AND OF COURSE I'LL BE BRINGING SOMEONE!

Y-YEAH, I...I GUESS I DO! HEH. SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, OKAY?

WHAT?! Y-YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT!

Mm- hm.

THEN I'LL GET DOMINIC TO GIVE ME A FULL REPORT ON THIS BOYFRIEND OF YOURS.

WHAT?

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THIS PROMOTION UNTIL I'M SURE YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS.

I KNOW HOW NAIVE YOU CAN BE.

IF HE'S A BAD GUY, THEN IT'S MY JOB TO DRIVE HIM AWAY, RIGHT?

WELL UM ...

I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT HIM! GOOD NIGHT, SIS! YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO...

I HAVE TO MEET SOME- ONE BEFORE THAT PARTY!

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

IF HE FINDS OUT I LIED, HE'LL THINK HIS "WEIRD" SISTER IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR TOO! HE'LL NEVER TRUST ME AGAIN!

RRING FOR THE SAKE OF HIS CAREER, I NEED TO FIND A GOOD—

ARE YOU AND YOUR BROTHER FIGHTING? THAT'S UNUSUAL.

OH! SH-SHOP- KEEPER? I'M SO SORRY, I THOUGHT—

YURI, WHAT I SAID EARLIER—I WAS JUST JOKING!

HUH?

GOOD EVE- NING.

I HAVE A "CLIENT" FOR YOU, THORN PRINCESS.

THE ROYAL HOTEL, ROOM 1307.

DING

SORRY, LADY...

DID SOME- BODY ORDER A GIRL?

WE'VE RENTED OUT THIS WHOLE FLOOR.

UH...

RESPECT- FULLY, SIRS...

I'VE HEARD THAT A TRAITOROUS SCUMBAG IS STAYING HERE?

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!

A LONE FEMALE JUST— URK! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK !

EX- CUSE ME.

MAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF TAKING YOUR LIFE?

VICE MINISTER BRENNAN, FROM THE AUDITING DEPART- MENT ...

...I PRE- SUME?

CODE NAME: THORN PRIN- CESS

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTRUSION, BUT...

THE WOMAN WAS AN ASSAS- SIN.

SCRUB SCRUB

THE SKILLS OF HER TRADE HAD BEEN DRILLED INTO HER FROM A YOUNG AGE.

SHE'D BEEN DOING WHATEVER DIRTY WORK HER EMPLOYER HAD ASKED OF HER SINCE.

Ugh... It won't come off...

NOT MY DRESS ...!

AGH! NO WAY! HUH ?

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? THIS IS THE ONLY NICE DRESS I HAVE!

NOW I CAN'T GO TO THE PARTY!

SIGH ...

Can you believe someone being single at that age?

And make sure to bring someone!

You found a good guy yet?

IT WAS HOPELESS ANYWAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO HOME- MAKING ...

...CLEANING HOUSE IS THE ONLY THING I KNOW.

NOT YET. THIS ISN'T EASY.

DID YOU FIND A MAMA?

IT'S GOING TO BE SCRUFFY HEAD?

SO YOU NEED A WOMAN WHO'S REFINED ENOUGH FOR EDEN ACADEMY...

...WHO DOESN'T CARE YOU'RE DIVORCED WITH A KID ...

...AND WHO'S WILLING TO GET MARRIED WITHIN 48 HOURS?

THAT'S A BIG HELP.

I COPIED ALL THE FILES OF UNMARRIED WOMEN FROM CITY HALL. MEANWHILE, I HAVE NO STANDARDS WHATSO- EVER, AND I CAN'T EVEN GET A SINGLE DATE!

IF SUCH A GODDESS EXISTS, I'D SURE LOVE TO MEET HER. SCRUFFY !

THAT'S PA- THETIC.

DON'T CALL ME PATHETIC!

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. THIS IS ABOUT GETTING YOU INTO SCHOOL.

IS HAVING A KID... BAD?

AM I KEEPING THE MAMAS AWAY?

YOU GO WATCH TV AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, OKAY?

OKAY.

WHY CAN'T YOUR AGENCY JUST SEND YOU A FEMALE OPERATIVE?

SO...

THEY'RE WORKING YOU LIKE A DOG! THEY'RE SO SHORTHANDED RIGHT NOW THEY SENT ME ANOTHER MISSION ON TOP OF THIS ONE. Breaking up some smuggling racket...

NONE OF THE ONES LEFT FIT THE BILL. THEY WERE MOSTLY WIPED OUT DURING THE RECENT SPY SWEEPS.

AH. WHOLE LOT OF RATS OUT THERE THESE DAYS.

WELL, ALL THE MORE REASON TO RESOLVE THIS QUICKLY.

AND IF NOT, WE CAN ALWAYS FABRICATE SOME. IF WE CAN FIND DIRT ON THEM, WE CAN USE IT FOR LEVERAGE. LET'S START WITH WOMEN WHOSE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT GIVE THEM A REASON TO COOPERATE.

I'D PREFER TO AVOID ANY COMPLICA- TIONS.

0947 05 A 0981653 20 JUN NONCOMBATANT'S CE HOLY CLAR

REALLY? HARD TO IMAGINE A BIGGER COMPLICATION THAN THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.

NO WAY DOES THAT LOOK LIKE THE SCION OF A PRIVILEGED FAMILY.

RIGHT THERE

I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT HER AP- PEARANCE, AT LEAST. HMM. YOU'RE RIGHT.

WHERE IS SHE LEARNING THESE WORDS?

AM I BEING SOLD TO TRAFFICK- ERS?!

COME WITH ME, MISS. I'LL TAKE YOUR MEASURE- MENTS.

OOH.

NOT IF YOU'RE A GOOD GIRL.

THE SEAM- STRESS... LOOKS LIKE SHE'S ALREADY MARRIED.

THE PRO- PRIETRESS WAS ON THE LIST OF UNMARRIED WOMEN...

...BUT SHE'S BEEN ARRESTED FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE PAST. I CAN'T TAKE THAT RISK.

I'M GOING TO NEED A LOT OF LUCK TO GET—

EXCUSE ME!

WHO IS SHE, THAT SHE CAN SLIDE RIGHT PAST ME...

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY? HELLO. I NEED TO GET MY DRESS MENDED ...

OH, HELLO, YOR. IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

... WITHOUT ME EVEN NOTICING ?!

BOTH PARENTS DECEASED. ONE BROTHER, SEVERAL- YEARS YOUNGER.

YOR BRIAR, 27 YEARS OLD. NEVER MARRIED OR DIVORCED.

AH. I REMEMBER.

BOTH ARE CIVIL SERVANTS. NOTHING UNUSUAL IN THEIR FILES.

YOR BRIAR

JUST SLOPPI- NESS ON MY PART, THEN? I REALLY HAVE BEEN LOSING MY EDGE LATELY...

YOU'VE BEEN STARING AT ME SINCE I WALKED IN HERE.

CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING?

SIR...

Yor's so pretty. I know she could turn some heads. (If she put a little effort into her appearance.)

WHAT?! SHE COULD EVEN SENSE MY GAZE?! HOW?!

UH, NO... I JUST THOUGHT... YOU WERE VERY PRETTY. Sorry.

SIR... PAPA! I GOT MEASURED!

SO...YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE A POSITIVE IMPRESSION OF MY AP- PEARANCE?

UM, WELL... YES.

ALTHOUGH IN MY CASE, I'D CERTAINLY KILL HER FIRST... HMM.

I NEARLY ASKED ANOTHER WOMAN'S HUSBAND OUT ON A DATE!

ANOTHER CUSTOM- ER.

WHO'S THAT?

I'VE HEARD OF CASES WHERE WOMEN HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY THE WIVES FOR THAT.

HE HAS A KID!

NO, I MUSTN'T EVEN ENTERTAIN THE IDEA! THAT'S JUST THE SORT OF THING THAT COULD EXPOSE ME AS AN ASSASSIN.

Act more normal!

A- A- A-

ASSAS- SIN?!

SPY ASSASSIN

THE GIRL WAS STARVED FOR ENTER- TAINMENT.

SOOOO COOL!

...A WOMAN THAT INTUITIVE COULD BE A THREAT TO THE MISSION. HM, I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE A PROSPECT FOR THE WIFE ROLE, BUT...

I THOUGHT HE MIGHT WORK FOR THE BOYFRIEND ROLE, BUT... ...I SHOULD AVOID ANY POS- SIBILITY OF BLOODSHED.

I'M DOING MY BEST TO RAISE HER AS A SINGLE FATHER. MY WIFE PASSED TWO YEARS AGO. I JUST MISS MAMA SO MUCH!

WAAAHHH! I'M SO SAD THAT MAMA'S GONE!

EX- CUSE ME ... THEN NO ONE WOULD TRY TO KILL ME IF I ASKED HIM!

IS YOUR WIFE AWAY?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

AH... WELL ...

mons & mons

YOUR PRETEND BOY- FRIEND?

I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO ASK, BUT... I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU TO A PARTY.

YES. I LIED AND TOLD MY BROTHER THAT I WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP.

I UNDER- STAND. AND I WILL ACCEPT ...

I PROMISE YOU, THIS ISN'T SOME SORT OF SCAM!

...TO PUT MY BROTHER'S MIND AT EASE.

REALLY ?!

I JUST WANT ...

AND OF COURSE I'LL FIND A WAY TO REPAY YOU!

...UNDER ONE CONDI- TION.

I WANT TO ASK YOU TO ATTEND A FAMILY INTERVIEW, POSING AS ANYA'S MOTHER.

LONG STORY SHORT...

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO MY WIFE THAT, IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES, OUR DAUGHTER ATTEND A GOOD SCHOOL...

MAY I ASK YOU TO HELP ME DO THAT, JUST THIS ONCE?

AND NOW THAT SHE'S GONE... WELL, I WANT TO HONOR HER WISHES AS BEST I CAN!

WHAT A WONDER- FUL PERSON!

IF YOU REALLY THINK I CAN PULL IT OFF, THEN I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP.

I'LL LURE HER IN WITH AN INITIAL SMALL REQUEST AND PARLAY THAT INTO AN AGREEMENT TO MARRY.

PAPA IS SUCH A LIAR.

THANK YOU. THEN I'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY FOR THE PARTY!

I'VE ARRANGED A SITTER FOR SATURDAY, AND I EXPECT YOU TO BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR.

AND YOU GET TEN PENTS BACK. RIBBIT.

COME AGAIN. RIBBIT.

YES, YES, FINE.

SO THE T CIPHER? OR IS THAT THE F CIPHER...?

THESE MUST BE THE DETAILS OF MY SIDE MISSION.

THE PLAN IS TO STRIKE WHEN THE SMUGGLERS MEET THE BUYER, SATURDAY AT 6 P.M.

I'M TO RECOVER VALUABLE ANTIQUITIES STOLEN FROM THE WEST AND DESTROY THE SMUG- GLING RING RESPONSIBLE.

WAIT, SATUR- DAY?!

SO THAT'S THE DEAL.

I NEED TO MOP THEM UP QUICKLY SO I CAN MAKE IT TO THE PARTY IN TIME.

I JUST DEAL IN INFORMATION! I COULDN'T FIGHT MY WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG!

WHOA, WHOA!

YOU'RE GOING TO HELP.

SEVENTY- EIGHT HISTORICAL TREASURES, APPRAISED AT A TOTAL VALUE OF THREE MILLION DALC.

PLUS, YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH MAXED OUT YOUR CREDIT WITH ME ALREADY.

I'M YOUR MAN!

IF ONE OR TWO OF THEM DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK TO THE WEST, WOULD ANYONE EVEN NOTICE?

IN FACT, I'VE INVENTED SOME NEW SPY GEAR FOR JUST SUCH AN OCCASION.

HE DOES HAVE HIS USES.

LOID...

HE MUST BE RUNNING LATE...

I HOPE THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING...

WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?! GET BACK HERE !

EEEP!

THEY HAVE REINFORCE- MENTS?! THERE'S NO END TO THEM! DON'T GET SLOPPY ! EVEN AT TEN SECONDS A PIECE, THAT'S TIME I DON'T HAVE.

YOU NEVER SAID THERE'D BE THIS MANY OF 'EM!

EVEN AT TEN SECONDS APIECE, THAT'S TIME I DON'T HAVE. TWO, FOUR, SIX ... LOOKS LIKE 38 OF THEM?

THE LOOT'S IN THE VAN! GET IN!

HEY! THAT'S A DIAMOND !

I'M TAKING THIS ONE.

NOW, WHICH OF YOU BEAUTIES ARE COMING HOME WITH ME?

THAT'S GOTTA BE WORTH A FORTUNE, YOU JERK!

I NEED IT FOR A DISGUISE.

YOU DO NOT! GIVE IT BACK!

I STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELA- TIONSHIPS WITH MY CO- WORKERS... FOR MY BROTHER'S SAKE AS WELL AS MY OWN.

DITCHING CAMILLA'S PARTY IS NOT AN OPTION.

SO THIS IS HOW IT FEELS

...TO HAVE YOUR FEELINGS TOYED WITH.

STATION

YOR! YOU'RE SO LATE!

I brought you this.

AND YOU'RE ALL ALONE! I THOUGHT YOU'D BE BRINGING A BOYFRIEND...?

I'M SORRY.

AWWW, WHAT A SHAME. I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING HIM!

HE MUST HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF EMER- GENCY...

ABSOLUTELY! FOR ALL WE KNOW, SHE'S A SPY SENT HERE TO LOWER THE COUNTRY'S BIRTH RATE!

SHOULD WE REPORT HER FOR LYING?

I KNEW THE TALK OF HER HAVING A BOYFRIEND HAD TO BE A LIE. WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE IS THAT? THIS IS TOO MUCH! HEE!

SHE'S PROBABLY JUST A WEIRDO. LEAVE HER ALONE. THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.

AH HA HA! THAT'S HILARIOUS! WOW, SHARON, YOU'RE THE WORST! HEE!

IT'S TOO BAD... I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOUR BEAU.

OH, NO. HE'D NEVER!

ARE YOU REALLY SO DESPERATE TO IMPRESS PEOPLE, YOR?

YURI IS ALWAYS GOING ON ABOUT HOW WORRIED HE IS ABOUT YOU.

COULD YOU MAYBE TELL MY BROTHER THAT I BROUGHT SOMEONE NICE? I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

DOMI- NIC...

DON'T YOU SEE HOW PITIFUL THAT IS?

I CAN'T STAND THIS ANYMORE.

CUT IT OUT, CAMILLA.

C R A C K

MY BROTHER WOULDN'T HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANY OF THIS...IF EVERYONE HERE WERE TO DIE—

HOW DARE SHE TALK TO MY MAN! HE'LL DO THE RIGHT THING AND TELL YOUR BROTHER YOU CAME ALL ALONE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND. IS SHE GAINING SOMETHING FROM MY HUMILIATION?

SORRY ABOUT THAT. UH, ENJOY THE PARTY. Not doing that. NO, NO.

BOURL

The very definition of elite! And my eldest is applying to Eden Academy this year. Wow, very impressive.

And then the man said to me...

AH HA HA

SO THIS MUST BE...

...WHAT "ORDINARY" LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS WHAT MY BROTHER WANTED FOR ME.

CAN YOU BELIEVE SHE'S STILL HERE?

SHE MUST, TO HAVE COME HERE STAG IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SHE'S GOT GUTS, I'LL GIVE HER THAT.

THIS IS ALL BEYOND MY GRASP.

IT'S CLEAR TO ME NOW.

IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME...

I'M AFRAID IT'S TIME I SHOULD BE—

I'M LOID FORGER, YOR'S HUSBAND.

PLEASE FORGIVE MY TAR- DINESS.

UM... YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY BOYFRIEND, NOT MY HUSBAND.

I MIXED UP HER MISSION WITH MINE.

AH, INDEED. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

YOU'RE BLEED- ING...

MR. FORGER, WAS IT? UH...

HAVE YOU BEEN ENJOY- ING THE PARTY, YOR?

ARE YOU A PROFES- SIONAL STUNTMAN OR SOME- THING?

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. YOU'RE MARRIED, YOR?

I'M A PSYCHI- ATRIST.

FORGIVE ME, I HAD AN EMER- GENCY PATIENT WHO BECAME A LITTLE VIOLENT. Happens all the time.

A doctor ...

UM, WELL...

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS REFINED, HAND- SOME MAN IS MARRIED TO HER!

SHE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN A NOTCH!

GRR... NO. FRICKING. WAY.

That's my fault.

G R P

IT'S EMBARRASSING, BUT THIS IS MY SECOND MARRIAGE, AND I HAVE A CHILD FROM THE FIRST. I'M SURE THAT'S A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR HER.

YOR, HAVE SOME PIPING HOT MACARONI AU GRATIN, FRESH FROM THE OVEN!

OH NO, I TRIPPED, AND IT'S SLIPPED OUT OF MY—

OOPS!

TUP

HEH HEH

IT'S QUITE GOOD. MMM, BUT THIS IS DELIGHTFUL, ISN'T IT? OH, I'M SORRY! WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT FOOD IS NOT WASTED, THAT WAS A TOUCH CRUDE. You mustn't use your feet.

THAT'S IT...?

THAT WAS

STOP ...

DID YOU KNOW, MR. RANGER?

THE "MASSAGE" PART WAS A EUPHE- MISM... FOR MURDER.

IT'S FOR- GER.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, LOID...

MEN WOULD SUMMON HER TO THEIR HOTEL ROOMS TO GIVE THEM "MASSAGES," I BELIEVE?

APPARENTLY YOUR WIFE WAS IN QUITE AN UNSEEMLY LINE OF WORK BEFORE SHE CAME TO CITY HALL!

HOW DID IT GO AGAIN?

WHAT AN INCRED- IBLE ACT OF SELF- SACRIFICE. AFTER YOR'S PARENTS DIED AT AN EARLY AGE, SHE WORKED HERSELF HALF TO DEATH TO PROVIDE FOR HER YOUNG BROTHER.

I THINK IT'S WON- DERFUL!

WHAT?!

TO ENDURE SUCH A HARSH JOB...

...FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER, FOR THE SAKE OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN ONESELF...

THAT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST ANYONE WOULD DO.

I TRULY ADMIRE THAT.

I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO GO, YOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

GAH!

I'M SORRY ABOUT THE HUSBAND THING!

I was so addled...

IF IT GETS BACK TO YOUR BROTHER, I'LL COME UP WITH AN EXCUSE...

LISTEN, LOID...

THE REMNANTS OF THE SMUGGLING RING?!

WHAT THE—?!

!!

THEY MUST HAVE HIDDEN A TRACKING DEVICE IN THE ANTIQUITIES!

BUT HOW DID THEY FIND ME?!

BIP BIP

DAMMIT! YOU REALLY ARE LOSING YOUR EDGE, TWILIGHT!

UH, UM, WELL...

I HAD NO IDEA PSY- CHIATRY WAS SUCH A DANGER- OUS JOB.

THANK GOD SHE'S A SIMPLETON !!

IT, UH, APPEARS THAT SOME OF MY PATIENTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH DELUSIONS!

WHAT'S GOING ON? WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE?!

LET'S JUST GET AWAY FROM THEM FOR NOW!

LOOKS LIKE HE ABANDONED THE VAN.

BUT HE'S PROBABLY LURKING AROUND HERE SOME- WHERE. SPLIT UP AND FIND HIM!

IT'S CALLED CONCUSSIVE THERAPY. IT'S A NEW TREATMENT AT THE VERY CUTTING EDGE OF PSYCHIATRY.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, YOR?

THIS WAY, QUICKLY!

OH ...?

UM... IS IT OKAY TO STRIKE YOUR PATIENTS LIKE THAT?

AH, YES, WELL...

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS THE SHARPEST WOMAN I'VE EVER MET OR THE DUMBEST.

YOR, LOOK OUT!

ANOTHER ONE!

DODGE

TO BE HONEST... I'M FAIRLY SKILLED AT SELF- DEFENSE. MY BROTHER TAUGHT ME.

OH! I'M SO SORRY! I SHOULDN'T BE TRYING TO TREAT HIS CONDITION AS A LAYPERSON!

HA HA!

THANK YOU, YOR!

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! YOU REALLY SENT HIM FLYING! HA HA HA!

TEE HEE HEE ... HEE HEE ... I'M SORRY, I... I GUESS I DID!

TMP TMP TMP AHH! THIS WAY! RATTA TAT TAT

SO, UM, LOID...

THERE THEY ARE!

I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE BEST TIME TO ASK, BUT...

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

OH DEAR ...

I HADN'T REALIZED HOW SUSPECT IT MADE ME APPEAR... TO STILL BE SINGLE AT MY AGE, I MEAN.

MARRIAGE WOULD BE A FORM OF... CAMOU- FLAGE.

AND A WAY FOR ME TO CONTINUE MY CONTRACT KILLING! I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS...

I'M SORRY ...?

PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE PHRASED IT AS "WILL YOU EXTEND OUR AGREE- MENT?"

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO REMAINING TOGETHER...

INSTEAD OF PARTING WAYS AFTER THE INTERVIEW...

...WHO COULD POSSIBLY ACCEPT ME AS I AM.

...AS AN ACTUAL MARRIED COUPLE

...FOR BOTH OUR SAKES?

THIS IS THE ONLY MAN I MAY EVER MEET...

WE CAN SWING BY THE COURT- HOUSE ON OUR WAY HOME.

RIGHT NOW ?!

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

OH! THAT'S RIGHT!

LOST

WE'VE GOT THE BASTARD CORNERED!

WE'RE GONNA TEAR YA LIMB FROM LIMB!!!

I TAKE THEE, YOR...

FOR BETTER OR WORSE

TINK

...FOR RICHER OR POORER

IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH...

I PLEDGE MYSELF TO YOU.

UNTIL...

...MY KILLING ...MY MISSION

...DO WE PART.