269 – What I’ve Done (1)
Inside the main room of Balderk Castle.
The head of the family, Robert Lynn Balderk, was sitting at a large desk with a solemn posture.
He spoke to the man standing across from him in a polite manner.
“······So what you’re saying is that the situation with [Turning White] Changed suddenly, so the schedule was postponed.”
The man’s identity was Thomas, the temporary manager of [Ford Company] And Maitri’s left hand man. He was granted further powers by Maitri after Oswald’s death.
Of course, the confidentiality of [Turning White] That can be accessed has also increased, and now we know in detail what kind of secret agreement there was between Robert and [Turning White].
Thomas nodded his head.
“Yes, Sir Robert. “One of our key personnel has gone missing, causing a disruption in the progress of the project that was currently being carried out under an agreement with your family.”
Key personnel refers to Oswald, who was killed by Theo Lin Walderk during a secret Polaris bombing mission some time ago.
But I couldn’t say it straight away.
The Polaris bombing was carried out arbitrarily by two people without any reports to their superiors, and Robert in front of us was the owner of Polaris.
Boom──!
Robert slammed the desk and let out a roar.
“How much money have I invested there so far! And at this critical time, key personnel suddenly disappear? You’re talking nonsense that isn’t even funny. “I haven’t looked at it that way, but there is no separate group of fraudsters!”
“I am truly sorry, Sir Robert. But everything I said is true. In addition, many executives and staff members of [Turning White], Including Maitri, are doing everything they can to quickly restart the process, so please refrain from your anger.”
“Hmph. Do you know how many times I’ve dealt with people like you? Everyone was just talking like you. In reality, it never brought any tangible results. Ha ha ha ha ha. My true. “Maybe it’s because I had high expectations… But the disappointment is even greater.”
“I am truly sorry, Sir Robert. “I will do my best to ensure that it can be resumed as soon as possible.”
Thomas bowed his head 90 degrees and apologized. There was no other way than to apologize.
‘Robert’s continued investment is absolutely necessary for the project.’
Robert was the so-called Zhen Zhou.
He was also one of the people who invested the most money in [Turning White] In almost a year, and the amount he invested was equivalent to half a year’s gross regional product (GRDP) of the large city of Polaris.
‘But even from Robert’s perspective, he can’t abandon us.’
Robert knows [Turning White] As a collection of healthy businesses. He also knows that [Ford Company] Is a subsidiary of Turning White.
And [Ford Company] Is one of the best venture companies on the entire continent.
In addition to ‘substitute bodies’ and ‘artificial artifacts’ that are currently being tested before commercialization, [Ford Company] Has also created mechanical devices called ‘robots’ that think and act like people.
Even though the amount invested to date was a waste, there was a high possibility that Robert would invest in a half-baked manner.
And Thomas’s thoughts were correct.
“Tell me exactly right here and now. When will the project be completed?”
Robert said with a sigh.
Thomas immediately lowered his head and answered.
“From Maitri’s perspective, you said it will be completed around the end of the second quarter or early third quarter of next year. As the new head of the project, I think it will be possible by that time, Sir Robert.”
“······Yes. “You know that.”
“However, you also added that additional financial support is needed. Since the missing personnel were irreplaceable, we are in need of a large number of additional high-quality personnel.”
“······hahahaha. Yeah, I get it. I’ll give you more. But keep this one thing in mind.”
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Robert stood up and looked at Thomas calmly. It may have been a coincidence, but those eyes were very similar to Theo’s.
“There is no more next time. You said you can’t disclose the progress of the project due to internal security? “You will have to bring results by July of next year at the latest.”
Thomas lowered his head to 90 degrees again.
“Is there a possibility?”
Thomas did not raise his head again.
Although he is now retired, Robert was the highest ranked hero in the continental rankings during his active years. My whole body tingled from the energy he radiated without hiding. He could have made a mistake in managing his facial expressions.
‘I should be thankful to Lunaflora…’
If Luna, who invaded [Ford Company] Not long ago, had not been trained, she would have had an even harder time…
Thomas bowed his head and chanted.
“······I will make sure to complete the project properly so that you can hear your voice again, Sir Robert.”
* * *
Rattling.
Theo, Aisha, and Irene took a carriage and headed to Polaris.
Eisha’s lips were still protruding.
‘Ehyo~ It’s my fault. ‘How can you fool someone twice?’
For Theo, who speaks little, we prepared dozens of things to talk about in the carriage.
If you get hungry on your way to Polaris, you can also make a sandwich made with healthy ingredients and package it beautifully.
‘······It’s really too much.’
Therefore, Eisha’s sense of betrayal did not easily subside.
······But Theo did not offer a single apology to Eisha. She doesn’t even talk to Irene, who is sitting next to her, and just stares out her window. When I looked closely, I saw that her eyes had lost some soul.
‘Why is it like that? ‘What’s going on?’
Her curiosity was greater than her sense of betrayal.
Eisha took turns observing Theo and Irene closely.
‘Hmm?’
Eventually, Eisha discovered the imbalance.
Theo was as smooth as usual in his well-pressed uniform, but he looked dazed, but Irene was different.
Irene was wearing a crumpled uniform, her lips were cracked, and her nails were bitten, making her look like she was not in good health, but she had a happy expression on her face.
‘What on earth happened between you two… Ah~ I don’t know.’
So far, Theo has performed eccentricities that exceed most of his expectations.
It was already gloomy, but he didn’t want to waste his mental energy. If his guess is wrong, the cost of his mental energy will be even greater…
Either way, the carriage continued to run without stopping.
Time passed, and before she knew it, the outside of her window was filled with darkness. The surrounding area was a grassy area without a single light.
Growling──
At that time, Irene’s belly clock rang. The sound filled the quiet carriage, which only made intermittent clattering noises.
Irene blinked, her face brightening in an instant.
“Ah, ah… This, this. “I haven’t eaten anything since Monday evening…”
Theo, startled by the words ‘Monday evening,’ opened his mouth.
“Should I have told you in advance? Hmm, there’s no place to eat nearby, so we have to go about an hour more to reach the village.”
“······If this is okay, eat it.”
Isha took out a nicely wrapped sandwich from her bag.
Irene opened her eyes wide.
“Can I eat this? “It looks like you worked hard to make it…”
“It’s okay because it’s not important anymore.”
“Really…? “Then I won’t hesitate.”
Irene held her sandwich in her hands and took a big bite, making an audible sound.
Happiness welled up in her eyes.
On the other hand, Eisha, who had been feeling better, felt gloomy again around her eyes.
* * *
The carriage carrying three people arrived at Polaris only after midnight.
Of course, there was no inspection this time either. It was a free pass.
─Hero of Polaris, Master Theo! Welcome back!
The carriage carrying Theo received salutes from the guards and attempted to pass through the immigration office.
At that time, a man who appeared to be the leader of the guards appeared. He knocked politely on the carriage window.
As Theo rolled down the window, the guard captain spoke.
“I’m sorry for stopping you when you must have been tired from the long journey, Master Theo. “Please excuse me because I have something urgent to tell you.”
“No. “What’s going on?”
“It’s no different, Eve, the head of the immigration office, said that she had something to tell you. If it’s okay, could you please wait at the immigration office for a moment? “I will contact Eve immediately.”
Instead of answering, Theo was lost in thought for a moment.
‘Eve said she had something to do with me…’
Eve was treated with considerable importance in this work. She is from the same Balderk branch as Eisha, and she actively supported Eisha when he took over the Balderk family in earnest.
‘Something unusual is happening in Polaris.’
Theo recalled that these days, whenever he is involved, incidents and accidents, big and small, occur.
I feel like a kid who is the main character of a Japanese mystery comic who is good at soccer…
Although he was quite tired, Theo decided to trust his intuition once again.
“I understand. “Let me wait.”
*
*
*
The three waited in the VIP room of the immigration office.
Eve arrived quickly.
“I’m sorry for being late at night. “You waited a long time, right?”
Eisha greeted Eve warmly.
“Hello, Eve. See you again.”
“Ah. Eisha, hello. Is it vacation now? Was it difficult to come from far away? “Theo and Irene had a hard time coming from far away.”
Theo, who was sitting on the sofa with his elegant posture, despite his fatigue, answered.
“I didn’t wait that long. “What’s going on, Eve?”
Eve paused for a moment and opened her mouth.
“······Please don’t tell this story anywhere else.”
“I understand.”
Eve was worried that her conversation might be eavesdropped, so she checked the inside of her room carefully before speaking.
“······I think the head of the family has had a big change of heart. “In a bad way.”
“Can you tell me in detail?”
“······An official letter came from the office today. Taxes will be raised significantly starting next month. Just three months ago and six months ago, there were two large increases…”
Eve could not continue her words.
Because Theo was smiling, which was unusual. Pretty creepy.