"The Chief and the new target have arrived together."

"Any change?"

"No movement at the winery."

"Keep watching. Security is tight, so don't give away your position."

"Roger."

A camouflaged man was keeping watch through a long-range infrared scope from a low hill overlooking the Darius Winery.

He seemed to be a former sniper; he'd blended into the terrain so well no one could have found him.

"Haaah... What's with this target? What kind of guy has headquarters this worked up?"

The operative, from the organization's special operations unit, grumbled.

Surveillance of the Chief had gone on for months now, on orders from above.

The new target was two Asians he couldn't care less about.

"When this mission's over, I'm taking Rachel out. All this stress, I'm about to snap."

The watcher grumbled to himself.

Whatever he said, his sharp eagle eyes never left the winery.

Thonk! Tho-do-donk! Thonk

A big-nosed old Westerner about 170 centimeters tall was drumming on an oak barrel with his hand.

Dozens of oak barrels were aging wine from only the finest hand-picked grapes.

The specially made barrels gave off a rich smell of wine.

"Merlot. Wake up now. Time to get to work~."

I saw the big-nosed old man talking to an oak barrel.

I froze and watched him.

"Are you really going to do this? Sleep in moderation. Keep this up and you'll rot!"

He was even getting mad at the barrel.

His face looked very familiar.

I knew it from somewhere.

"You're seven years old, why are you giving me so much grief! Your firm, powerful flavor is second to none. And that hint of spice now and then is part of your charm, don't you know that? The Cabernet Sauvignon boys rule this neighborhood, but you're special! Come on, make me some lovely bubbles. Make that little pop-pop sound and make me happy~."

What the...! That old man!

He coaxed and sweet-talked the barrel.

He poured his heart into it, like the wine inside was his sweetheart.

The problem was, his feet were floating in the air.

And he was a…