Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 287



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 287

White and pure (3)

Libra Information Center, Private Office.

“……okay?”

I got the information from Growl.

─Yes! Mistron did something!

A stray cat named ‘Mistron’ successfully infiltrated Jahanna’s residence and extracted some rather significant secrets.

─Jahanna… … She really is a dangerous person… … .

Growl’s voice trembled as if he was afraid.

“I know.”

I expected that Jahanna would somehow move

Because she is the type of person who doesn’t give up easily.

Maybe because I’m someone who never gives up.

“Are you saying that guy wrote the scenario?”

─Yes, that’s right.

A scenario to check your emotions.

Jahanna is a meticulous person. So she will perfectly create the situation and space, and I will pretend not to know and follow the rhythm.

It’s easy.

“……okay.”

The end of this long operation is near.

However, I don’t know how she will change if she finds out all my secrets. It’s a gamble for me too.

First of all, I’m still not sure how much she values ​​me.

───Clap clap clap clap.

Suddenly, a round of applause rang out. It was a sound that pierced through the walls of the private office.

Squeak─

Then my office door opened and a man poked his head in.

It was Belmore.

I tilted my head.

“Team leader?”

“… … Uh. Hello.”

The guy raised his hand.

“What’s going on outside?”

“What… … The director is here. The intelligence agency is applauding the success of the operation.”

He looked quite guilty.

“Operation?”

“That… that operation you planned, that one got screwed.”

I sat on the sofa, scratching the back of my neck.

“Yes. Are you talking about the short selling operation?”

“Oh. That’s going well, that’s, that’s huge. I heard the net profit will be in the tens of billions of Renminbi… … .”

Belmore had a regretful expression on his face. That was all. There was no hostility or murderous intent toward the director.

As expected, he is a person who is far from ambitious.

“I’m sorry.”

“Bellemore said with a sigh.

“No, that’s fine. I think we might be popping the champagne too early.”

The billions of yen in profits will soon turn into astronomical losses.

By the way, I already gave a hint to the pioneering team of [New Frontier]. I was preparing for the possibility that the future I hope for might come too late or might not come at all.

‘That article’ will come out soon.

“Yeah, well. Kkeuuung──”

He stretched.

“Hwaaam──”

Plus, the sight of her yawning in such a relaxed manner was amazing.

“… … More than that, aren’t you dissatisfied, Team Leader?”

“what?”

“It’s clear that the director is keeping the team leader in check.”

“… … Ah~ That? It’s always been like this. I’m the youngest team leader. I have to put up with this kind of antagonism.”

Belmore smiled, fiddling with his big chin. I said meaningfully.

“It might not just be a check.”

“……what?”

Belmore’s expression hardened slightly.

“I have ears, too. I hear rumors.”

“… … .”

Belmore hesitated for a moment, but soon became calm and composed.

“Inma. Don’t I have ears? Arthur, Arthur~ You don’t know, but Director Gedler isn’t the kind of person who would do that. I mean, we were college seniors and juniors. It’s normal for juniors to give bribes to their seniors and stuff.”

He raised himself up.

“Anyway, since you’re okay, I’ll go. Take care, Inma.”

Whistle- I was dumbfounded at the sight of him leaving while whistling.

* * *

Since two months ago, I’ve had a regular schedule.

As a Chaser, you will communicate and report to Zia about your mission, the status of the Information Bureau, and other things.

─… … Wait a minute.

Jia said in the video call that she was surprised. It was because of what I told her today.

─Then… … did your sister really start to like you… … ?

Jia found it fascinating.

“… … I’m not sure yet, but I’m sure I’ll be able to attract Miss Jia.”

─Ah… … Even without that… … I got a call from my sister… … .

“Is this a business trip call?”

─Yeah.

I nodded.

“Just follow the scenario.”

─… … Yeah. I will. What about you?

Zia looked at me blankly. I gave a small smile.

“I’m okay too.”

─Then… …Would you like to eat now?

“yes.”

I didn’t know this before, but Jia likes to eat face to face.

Of course, it could be a show of affection, but the last part of the regular report was always dinner.

Instead, Jia herself doesn’t eat much. All she eats is a banana, a potato, and a piece of chicken breast.

On the other hand, I always prepared a Korean meal. One day, I suddenly developed cooking skills and prepared a colorful menu every day.

─… … Zion eats his food deliciously.

Gia said with a smile on her face.

This is because she reacts positively.

“thank you.”

As I got closer to her, I pretended to be sensitive to her and gradually became one with her, and then I naturally came to understand her.

There was a strange charm to Jia. Now I understood why so many people had pledged their loyalty to her to an almost religious level.

Perhaps the ability to make people take one’s side is Zia’s “spectrum.”

However, you should not approach her rashly. Jia hates intrusion. She avoids people who come too close to her.

Even if she is comfortable with me, I have to keep a proper line.

─Please wrap it up and eat it too.

“yes.”

I wrapped the meat in lettuce and ate it as she said.

─How is it?

“It tastes good.”

─… … Yeah.

Jia’s expression became one of vicarious satisfaction.

At first glance, she appears quite innocent and naive, but she will later become the chairwoman of Edsilla and take control.

It was something we should never let our guard down.

─… … is on the ball.

“Ah. Yes.”

I quickly took off the rice cake. Jia laughed bashfully, and I lowered my head, pretending to be embarrassed.

* * *

Jahanna called Zia in on a business trip, the specific name of which was ‘looking for a new casino site.’

“It’s a desert. They’re building a casino in the desert.”

“In the desert… …?”

“okay.”

A limousine heading towards the desert with nothing in it. Jahanna smirked at Gia sitting next to her.

“I will give you the right to participate in the business.”

“In the desert… … a casino.”

“Don’t doubt it. When has my business ever failed?”

A casino in the desert. It sounds like a possibility, but if you think about it, it might actually be possible because it’s a desert.

Gia nodded.

“Yes, Sister… … But Zion… … .”

“Ah. Don’t talk about that guy.”

Jahanna waved her hand.

“You’re such a picky guy. Keep it.”

“… … .”

Jia looked at Jahanna’s face. She was expressionless as usual.

“But does he even like you?”

“yes?”

“I’m loyal to you.”

Jahanna asked in a strange tone.

“I am carrying on my father’s will… … To me… … .”

Zia answered, wiggling her fingers. Jahanna shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“Yeah. Write well. He doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”

Gia looked out the window cautiously.

There is no escort vehicle. Someone as meticulous as Jahanna would not move alone like this.

So, is the scenario about to begin──

The moment I was thinking about it.

The entire outside of the limousine was dyed pitch black. Gia flinched and Jahanna frowned.

“What is this-”

BAM───!

The car body rose up with a loud explosion.

… … .

Balancer ‘Vitro’ came to my information office. He pushed up his glasses and handed me a file.

“It’s a top secret mission.”

“… …Suddenly?”

I frowned as if I didn’t know and asked back.

“This is a mission of the utmost importance right now. The moment you open this file, you will be included in the operation, and you must not reveal this fact to anyone.”

Vitro spoke urgently. He looked more disheveled than usual. I thought for a moment and opened the file.

The moment I saw the internal document, my expression twitched. To be exact, my expression twitched.

He pretended to be calm, but inside he was very surprised.

“Is it true?”

“It happened five minutes ago.”

I got up from my seat.

“Please go to the scene right now.”

“… … Am I the only one talking?”

He asked again while putting on his outerwear.

“yes.”

“We might need more people.”

“Your Majesty’s business trip this time was a secret matter. So the information was leaked internally. Therefore, we cannot supplement our internal manpower. We do not know who the traitor is.”

Vitro said it plausibly.

“Zion Chaser, you are an outsider whom the lord trusts.”

“… … Okay, I understand.”

“The golden time is 48 hours. I will control the entire interior, and communication will be via satellite radio.”

Vitro handed me the radio. I was about to head out, but then stopped and turned around.

“But, Mr. Vitro. What were you two doing while you were being kidnapped?”

He asked back with hostility. Vitro bit his lip tightly.

“… … It was my fault. I admit it.”

As for the beat itself, it is definitely FM. The stable tone, expression, and eye contact without any wavering.

It’s perfect.

“……yes.”

I left the information office inwardly impressed.

… … .

We quickly arrived at the crime scene. The southern part of Edsilla, at the entrance to the desert nation of Arahal. There were traces of magic power and pieces of the body left at the border, but nothing else.

Is this the concept?

Tsk- I clicked my tongue.

I bent my knees and placed my hands on the floor. With my eyes closed, I recalled the memories that remained here.

A limousine moves forward. A black veil covers it completely. After that, the entire limousine disappears completely.

It seems like you’ve hired some pretty capable people.

Tiring ringing──

A bell rang somewhere. I looked around.

Tiring ringing──

It’s not my phone, but it keeps ringing.

Tiring ringing──

I searched for that sound.

Tiring ringing──

It was deep in the desert sand. An old cell phone was stuck in the sand.

I took it out.

Tiring ringing──

I got a phone call.

“… … .”

Let’s just wait, you spoke first.

─I’m watching.

At that moment, I looked around. There was no significant sign of life.

─Are you alone?

“I’m alone. Do you want ransom?”

Then the guy didn’t answer.

He spoke after being silent for about a minute.

─I’ll leave the coordinates. Prepare 100 million Ren and come here alone. If you’re not alone, I’ll kill the captured hostage.

Click-

Contact was lost immediately. Then the coordinates were sent to me via text message. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far away.

“… … Tsk. The concept is dirty.”

I moved my tongue.

For now, I plan to follow the scenario as closely as possible.

… … .

We arrived at the coordinates. It was a shabby abandoned factory on the border of the desert nation of Arahal. I told Bitro to prepare the money.

“… …Is that you?”

In the abandoned factory, a man was sitting there with a shitty expression on his face.

“Sit down.”

A mask is pulled over the face, and the body is completely covered in black clothing.

He smiled.

I walked over and sat down across from him.

Thud─

He placed a bag of money on the table.

“Hmm. Libra is really rich. I can’t believe I got 100 million Ren this quickly.”

“Aren’t you afraid of the aftereffects?”

“… … I’m scared. But I’m also looking forward to it.”

He chuckled, and my expression hardened.

“There’s no time for chit-chat. Tell me where the hostages are.”

“Um… …what kind of hostage?”

“……ha.”

I sighed and grabbed the sword at my waist. He opened his palm.

“Really. I need to find a way to live. Just choose one of the two.”

“If you want to play with words-”

“I’m not joking. There’s poison gas flowing in the place where the hostages are being held right now. In exactly 24 hours, they’ll both be dead. If you kill me, they’ll die, of course.”

He smiled sinisterly.

“So, pick one first. When you leave one hostage, I’ll tell you the location of the second hostage.”

“How can I trust you?”

I asked reasonably. The bastard twisted his lips and rested his hands on the table.

He spoke with a cold, villainous tone.

“… … If you don’t believe, you both die.”

Of course, this seems to be the scenario that Jahanna prepared.

In the end, it’s a situation where someone has to be saved first. The first hostage can definitely be saved, but the second hostage could die.

Who will my choice go to?

“… … ”

I glared at the man.

If it were me, I would have killed this guy and searched his memory, but for now, it was best to follow Jahanna’s wishes. I had to show her as much as I could about what she ‘desired’.

As if chewing, I said someone’s name.

“… … Jahanna.”

The bastard’s expression twitched.

“Where is Princess Jahanna?”