Chapter 164

“…….”

If there was an accessory like a hand fan, it would be folded with a snap.

The host of this social gathering, Kasane Amagi, turned her body toward us.

Her fingers, nervously caressing the glass in her hand, were slender. Her long, drooping eyelashes could give anyone the impression of a pitiable and helpless woman, but… even without glaring, her sharp eyes, which appeared to be looking up, devoured everything around them.

In the end, what remained was an overall sinister impression. And correspondingly, an elegant outfit.

The plunging neckline of her halter dress captured attention at once, and the smooth velvet gloves worn to complement the gaps exuded a movie-star atmosphere.

The rings and gold threads adorned here and there were not merely sagging under gravity; they seemed to float lightly, perhaps secured by electromagnetic means.

…No, I was mistaken.

This was an incredibly stylish appearance by my standards, but to them, it was likely a very calm and restrained fashion.

As the outside world moved toward the 23rd century, buried under various neon lights and synthetic plastics, and as the trends of electrification and mechanization became mainstream.

Conversely, the upper class pursued antiquity, differentiating themselves from the masses.

‘…Huh?’

This was somewhat strange when I thought about it.

Then what was Show thinking when he assigned such clothing to me?

He wore a Western-style suit adorned with cuff links featuring the Enema logo and a lavishly decorated lapel, so why am I stuck in something like this…?

Was he trying to make me some sort of fashion leader?

Hey, drawing attention is your job. I was supposed to sneak in and deliver checkmate. What in the world is this…!

As I continued to silently complain about my current boss and partner, the distance sufficiently closed, and even though Kasane had no intention of welcoming the guests… at the very least, she had the responsibility to greet them, so she spoke first.

“…It’s been a while, our youngest. Or should I call you Director with respect? I heard you diligently went through that dirty and petty tax audit a few months ago.”

Her upper body leaned at an angle.

The address was friendly, but her attitude was the opposite. If she had been smoking a cigarette, I could bet she would have exhaled the smoke right into Show’s face.

I wondered what stance an outsider would take to defuse this standoff… to the point of contemplating it.

But I knew well that there was no friendship or trust among the Amagi siblings, so I simply held my ground with the resolve that a mountain is a mountain and water is water.

In fact, Show didn’t seem particularly righteous either, receiving her sharp greeting with a casual attitude.

“It’s not wrong to operate a business with discretion and pursue profits, but if that becomes a factor that hinders the overall development of Enema… I have no choice but to do my part.”

Hmm… he’s not just passing it off; he just slapped her right back. Such a temper.

With a wide smile on his face.

Receiving an elegant response that said, ‘If you had done well, I wouldn’t have had to act like a jerk,’ Kasane openly clicked her tongue. Or… maybe it seemed like she was about to spit but managed to hold back?

In any case, she suppressed her surging emotions and transformed her anger into irritation.

After managing to hold her irritation to the level of a pet peeve, she began to complain as if it were pathetic.

“Ha… aren’t you going to stop serving that old man soon? Can’t you at least pretend to follow along? With how well you’ve trained his little puppets, you’d think you’d have cut them off by now, but instead, you keep empowering them… It makes your older siblings too tired. …It’s really pathetic to think that a person who lived by innovation is the one hindering generational change.”

“…….”

Show’s eyes gleamed at the mention of the peculiar term ‘generational change.’

Even the smile he had been displaying briefly twisted.

Well, it’s not entirely a mystery.

If Paradise’s infinite competition system is based on the idea that ‘the capable should stand at a higher position,’ then the factional structure within Enema is nothing but a horrific bloodbath and power struggle.

It could be said that the research and reinvestment into pure science and applied engineering, along with the employee management system completed by the chairman, could have damaged the company’s prestige if not robust.

And while the same generation was busy tearing each other apart, the monstrous chairman of Enema, who really should lay down the crown, was lurking behind the scenes, watching malevolently?

It’s understandable to feel a sense of frustration looking at Show, who is siding with the chairman and acting as a lackey.

…But what should I do? If I later lead the protagonist onto the corporate merger route, this crazy dog will end up biting and winning anyway! Eek!

“Hm…! You should have caught several solid lifelines like me.”

Of course, one of them might be a bit too sturdy and tangled, making it difficult to pull my wrist out… but that’s a concern for later.

I said I wouldn’t mimic the pretense of seeking power, but I couldn’t help but smile inside at this irony.

Did I accidentally let something slip because I got carried away? Or was it a problem that I was the one who awkwardly introduced a new topic or gossip that had been dormant now that the mind games between the parties involved were over?

Each throwing a ball back and forth in friendly competition, the two Enema executives, like the other guests, switched topics to personal matters and acquaintances.

Hehe.

Kasane’s face twisted as if she had discovered a good target or something to latch onto. I found it hard to describe but somehow a feline predator came to mind.

No, it’s not. I don’t know what sort of bad idea you had, but I have nothing to do with it. I’m a harmless being, so you really don’t need to pay me any mind…!

“…To introduce myself, I am the researcher who was fortunate enough to accompany you, Anastasia Makarovich.”

Concise enough only to touch on what the other party might be curious about. Without a hint of rudeness.

I did consider not revealing my name and status, but I chose to calmly state it like it was nothing rather than letting them investigate separately.

As the executive director, who hadn’t had an outing in a while, personally groomed an ornamental plant, there was no reason for me to return a favor with my own discomfort.

No matter how beautifully arranged the plants were, the president of a subsidiary wouldn’t have the leisure to pay attention to the flower itself, would he? Unless it was the gardener who maintained them.

“Hmm…? You’ve been behaving like you’ll never be with a woman for life, so I was wondering where all that built-up tension was coming from… Seems you just didn’t find anything you liked until now?”

“Yes…?!”

I stammered a vague response, but nothing changed.

My gaze was still directed toward the wary Show, but her body leaned just a little closer to me.

Ah, it’s not necessarily talking; I could at least endure some criticism…

“Especially… with such black hair and pretty eyes.”

As soon as Kasane finished her words, I felt a soft touch.

Her outstretched finger used my chin as leverage to lift my face. As if she wanted to look just a bit closer, her charming gaze looked down at me.

“Um… thank you for the compliment…?”

Even gestures that could be construed as sexual advances.

Since I viewed it as a ceremonial greeting from an object, a mere subordinate, there wasn’t really a chance for strange interpretations to creep in, even if the subject was an enchanting beauty. Or perhaps it would have been best to stay silent until Show responded… Ah!?

“Ugh…!?”

Suddenly! My body was forcibly moved.

Show’s hand, which had lightly touched my shoulder, slid to my waist without permission, pulling me towards him in a rough manner. …As if to say I shouldn’t even dare to look.

“…Could you please refrain from handling me so recklessly?”

“Oh my, how unkind.”

As if touched by a sharp response, Kasane’s tone was filled with laughter.

A participant who showed a little interest in a partner, and a host scolding a guest for wandering around.

Hmm… From my perspective, I can’t quite tell who did worse. They both seemed very problematic!

She laughed as if she had just seen something fascinating and amusing after a long while.

Well, even though we prodded each other’s feelings, if we could ultimately get through without suspicion, that would be our gain. Sadly, after everything ends, Kasane will likely have little power left, so there wouldn’t be much need for further caution.

“Ha, well. Even if it’s a kid I don’t want to see, as a big sister, I can’t just leave without buying a few drinks. So let’s play a bit and…”

…But did I perhaps take her easygoing attitude too seriously? Just as she was about to dismiss me, her mouth suddenly snapped shut.

“…….”

Her face contorted as if she had a thorn in her throat, and her previously relaxed gaze sharpened again as it scanned the chairman.

There are no coincidences in this world.

If he, who had previously had no reason to visit, wasn’t coming to boast about having a woman, why had he suddenly arrived?

Just bored? That seems unlikely. Simply looking for a quarrel? That’s too trivial, isn’t it?

And where did Heirong and his team, who had been near the mini bar until just a while ago, go? Did they head to the restroom or something?

The formal opening greetings hadn’t even begun, and there was still some time before the deal, so there was no reason for them not to be within my line of sight. Sure, logically there shouldn’t have been…

Had I compared her to a beast earlier?

With almost animalistic instinct, Kasane just managed to stop herself from stepping on a hunting trap concealed in the underbrush and fixed her gaze on Show.

“…What in the world is this rebellious little brat who has none of my cuteness doing here??”