Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 73



Only Krnovel

＃Returner’s Notepad Episode 73

Hanging Garden (3)

The innermost secret space of the Libra Hanging Garden.

Zone 0, which is wrapped in the most advanced barrier magic in the modern era and cannot be observed by anyone or dared to invade.

The mansion of the Libra clan.

“Is that so?”

In the study there, Jahanna, the second and eldest daughter of the family, received a report from Bellingham. It was news that Jade had brought the insignificant Senior of Endex to District 1.

“You’re not surprised.”

“Considering Jade’s personality, it’s worth it. It’s something that Jedric would be pissed off about. “I don’t care.”

Jahanna hates her blood relatives. To her, her younger sister Jade is nothing more than an imbecile, her eldest son Jedrick is nothing more than a businessman who has lost his essence, and her youngest child Zia is a psychopath with Peter Pan syndrome.

“But he’s really good at drawing. “It’s hard to find talent like that in art schools these days.”

Among the many assets currently owned by Sheylock, Libra Art School is a business whose successor has not yet been determined.

“Perhaps Lord Jade also covets art school?”

When Bellingham asked in a subdued tone, Jahanna sneered without an expression.

“Jade is the one who broke the arm of a painter she was supporting when she was eighteen.”

“Yes. “It was a famous incident.”

How dare you insult your own insight or something? It was a talent that stood out even at art school.

“Zedric is a guy who gathers people who are reasonably good at drawing and comes up with ways to evade taxes.”

Zedric was the one who more than doubled the market value of recent works of art. His goal, of course, is tax evasion and evasion. All the artists he raised were for that purpose.

Of course, their ‘love for art’ is genuine to some extent, but at least not as much as Jahanna’s.

The assets she inherited are the continent’s best hotel casinos, stocks, department stores, etc., but the area she is currently focusing her efforts on is the art school and other Libra training institutions.

Of course, Jahanna has a plan that the moment she catches them, her father Sheylock’s entire human network will fall into her hands, but more than anything, Jahanna loves art itself.

“Rather, Bellingham.”

She glanced at Bellingham with sharp eyes.

“Who are you standing next to?”

Despite the unexpected question, Bellingham smiled softly.

“I always stand by Libra.”

“… … hmm. I guess I’ll have to write my name bigger when I sign in the future. “Sometimes I feel like you can’t read.”

Jahanna got up from the chair.

“Where is the painter that Jade brought with him staying?”

“I’m in a lodging in District 1.”

It happens about 2-3 times a year that Endex seniors enter Zone 1. It’s not common, but it’s not very special either.

“Do you know this guy?”

“He’s a guy with a few spots on him. This is the guy who gave me a card. “The talent itself is lacking, but the loyalty seems useful.”

Jahanna raised her eyebrows.

If Bellingham, who is known for his strict evaluation standards, praises his loyalty, it would at least mean that he is a natural ‘dog’.

“… … “It was quite boring, but it turned out well.”

She left the office with her back turned and an expressionless face.

* * *

Jade’s portrait was completed leisurely on the spot. This was thanks to Jade, who had only promised 30 minutes, but ended up posing for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Instead, I couldn’t use the portrait as an assignment.

Jade retrieved it.

Well, it probably means that I liked it that much.

Anyway, after that, Jade left for Area 0, and I was guided to the lodgings in Area 1 by the butlers.

“It’s normal… … .”

The room itself is modern and clean. It’s not extremely fancy, but it has everything you need, including a TV and massage chair, and the brands are all luxury goods.

Even the bed is ‘Bellaio’. One king-size bed costs a whopping 200,000 Ren.

I sat down on it.

“It’s worth the money.”

It’s comfortable on the butt. It feels like a moderately hard and moderately fluffy cloud is supporting my body.

I looked out the window in that state. The “blood barrier” of the Libra main family mansion was right in front of us.

That barrier is so smart that it refuses entry unless it contains Libra’s blood, and even if you do enter, it tracks your every move. In the unlikely event of a trespasser, it is possible to remotely twist blood vessels and kill the person.

It’s a little bit bitter.

Before returning, it was a place I could not even see even if I had devoted my entire life to it, but now that I am only a high school student, I am so close to it.

“Did I buy it wrong?”

I laughed out loud.

I was tired.

My whole body was tired.

smart-

At that time, someone knocked on the guest room door. I gave up trying to adopt a habitual alert posture.

This is the first district of Libra. No monster can break in this far.

I went over and opened the door.

“hello. “This is the butler, ‘Janna.’”

It was a female butler wearing a suit. she asked as she entered the room.

“Is there anything you need?”

“no. it’s okay.”

“It’s almost dinner time. Do you have anything on the menu?”

“… … The menu doesn’t matter. “I eat a lot, so is 5 to 6 servings okay?”

“yes. Has confirmed. Also, Jade said that if there was anything she wanted, she would give it to her. “For the price of the painting.”

“is it so?”

It was an unexpected benefit.

Even with Jade, there is no pressure. If the other person had been Zedric, the correct answer would have been ‘I won’t accept it’, but Jade is the type of person who would get angry if I told her she wouldn’t accept it.

“Can you think about it and let me know?”

“sure.”

The butler smiled brightly and asked the question again.

“But, I guess you learned how to draw? I can’t believe Jade likes it so much. “The technique is also unique.”

“no. I never learned it. “Because it’s a hobby.”

“Hobby?”

“yes. Thank you for liking it. “Just coming here feels like a dream.”

This is not just empty words.

It really feels like a dream.

“Uhm… … .”

The butler glanced over me from head to toe.

“I guess you like Libra a lot?”

It was a slightly meaningful comment. I looked at her in silence for a moment.

It seems like they’re trying to dig up some information, but it’s worth it. Because this is the heart of Libra. You should give me the answer you want.

“yes. I like Libra. “Because I owe her life.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Of course, I don’t owe it, it’s Libra who owes it.

Because they killed my father. Even I killed him ‘once’.

“This is a family where my grandfather and father were loyal. “There’s no reason not to like it.”

“aha… … .”

I shrugged and pointed to the TV in one corner of the room.

“Can I turn on the TV?”

“sure.”

It was a gesture asking me to go now, but the butler took the remote control without notice.

“… … Oh yes. Thank you.”

“What.”

Click – I pressed the remote control button.

─No~ Does this make sense? Libra is in trouble right now.

It was a current affairs debate broadcast. The topic is the controversy over the Libra family’s acquisition of the SNS company ‘Whiteboard’.

I turned it on for no reason.

What is this inconvenient?

─This kind of bidding itself makes no sense in the first place! They are trying to acquire a company worth 1 billion Ren for only 200 million Ren!

There was one panelist in particular who objected vehemently.

A reporter named ‘Denver’ is foaming at the mouth as if looking at the old me, no, even more than that.

… … This is someone I know.

It’s been a while, and even though I only watch it on TV, my face is disgusting.

“That’s controversial these days. what do you think?”

the butler asked.

“what. “It will work out somehow.”

I spoke as little as possible.

“no way. “Somehow, where is this?”

The butler kept asking questions.

“Especially that person named Denver, he seems like a troublesome person to Libra.”

Those words gave a small smile.

“well.”

─Look! The industry also estimates this whiteboard as a 1 billion Ren company.

I almost got fooled by that guy in the past too.

It’s not that he wasn’t, he was quite famous even before his regression. He picks fights with Libra, tackles her, and gives her one-man comfort.

I thought you were a colleague like me.

“I don’t think it’s a problem.”

“why?”

The butler looked at me.

“I feel like they’re on our side. “It increases the value of the whiteboard.”

“The corporate value is 1 billion ren? “Isn’t Libra suffering a big loss?”

“There is no loss. That’s because we don’t have to take over. Libra is already the majority shareholder of Whiteboard.”

─1 billion ren. 1 billion ren! How about 1 billion ren for 300 million ren?! This is tantamount to robbery using the power of the family!

Look at the constant emphasis on 1 billion ren. Whiteboard is currently an undervalued company – this is the equivalent of crying out.

If you are fooled by those words and invest in stocks, you will be in trouble.

This is a tactic that the eldest son, Zedric, often uses.

“Thanks to that person’s words, the price goes up. Then we can just pretend to lose Libra and sell it as is.”

Denver also builds its reputation that way.

He snipes at Libra, and Libra pretends to back down after taking full advantage.

If the process is repeated a few times, those who have a grudge against Libra will naturally flock to Denver, the ‘authority’.

Denver listens to their stories. It collects only their most intimate weaknesses and delivers them back to Libra.

Libra is so thorough.

They know that having one of their most famous opponents on their side is more valuable than cultivating hundreds of thousands of supporters.

“I can’t believe that that whiteboard company is worth 1 billion ren.”

In fact, Whiteboard was delisted three years later.

“Uhm. is it so?”

The butler looked at his watch.

“The food will be ready soon. “What about the gift you will receive from Lord Jade?”

“Oh, I’ll just use the magic core.”

“Maghaek. “I confirmed it.”

“yes. thank you.”

The butler stood at the threshold. Looks like he’s finally thinking of leaving.

But she suddenly turned around. She looked at me blankly.

“You don’t tip?”

“… … yes?”

I almost found it a bit absurd, but I soon understood.

Libra is from the family of Libra. Therefore, tipping is so obvious that it is almost a law.

“uh… … .”

I rummaged through my uniform pockets. There were only two 10-ren bills. I spent it all on taxi fare and entrance fees.

Instead, I touched a few things that were cold.

“… … “This is all I have right now.”

I eventually took one of them out. I think it would be much better than 20 ren.

“are you okay. please.”

Janna raised her palm. I put the item down on it.

It was a casino chip.

“… … .”

For a moment, the butler’s expression hardened. A crackling sound rang out as if it had been cooled to cryogenic temperatures.

I quickly made an excuse.

“ah. That’s something I brought with me a while ago. It’s made of magic stones, so it’ll be a bit expensive. really.”

She still glared at me with a cold face. A strange current wavered in her transparent eyes. It even seemed like it had a murderous feel to it.

“That’s fun.”

She twitched one corner of her mouth, and boom! The door closed so hard it felt like it would break.

“… … .”

I was dazed and scratched the back of my neck.

“… … “If I had given him 20 ren, he would have been murdered.”

* * *

Hanging Gardens, outside the accommodation in District 1.

Bellingham stands leaning against the wall. Waiting for one person.

A nobleman whose footsteps are even regular.

“Can I ask you what you think, Janna?”

he asked playfully. Butler Janna came out of the dorm and her expression hardened.

“… … .”

Then, without saying a word, he lifted the human face mask. Her face changed. Her ordinary appearance suddenly becomes more noble, and the blue color symbolizing blood relatives seeps into her hair and eyes.

“I guess something happened, Lord Jahanna.”

Jahanna glanced at Bellingham. She held something out in her grasp. Bellingham received it.

“… … He was a bold guy. “I almost bit him to death.”

“hmm?”

It was an unexpected statement. Bellingham tilted his head and looked at his hands.

It was a small, round casino chip.

“… … haha.”

As soon as I saw it, I smiled involuntarily. It flowed naturally from the corners of my mouth.

“You have guts.”

“Whether it is guts or recklessness remains to be seen.”

Jahanna loves gambling as well as art.

No, for her, gambling itself is an art.

She learned life at Libra’s hotel casino from an early age.

Minor success. Minor failure. Huge success. Huge failure.

I realized that they were all results from ‘bets’.

Like the front and back of a chip, success or failure was ultimately just two sides of the same choice.

A man may reign in a splendid palace today, but he must be ready to sweep the dirtiest roads with a broom tomorrow.

She has lived with that mindset for 30 years. She built her own financial power through bold bets, confident success, and unrepentant failure.

Therefore, these ‘casino chips’, which symbolize his life, are the words delivered by that young, bright yellow guy.

“I know who you are” is an expression that is both polite and sassy, ​​euphemistic and bold.

“I was vaguely aware of Denver’s existence.”

Jahanna said. Bellingham put the casino chips in his pocket.

“You have an eye for understanding people and reading the situation. Are you going to attach a scout?”

Bellingham asked. Jahanna shook her head.

“It’s like advertising that a useful card is here.”

Then he reached out to Bellingham again.

“It’s my stuff. “I never gave it to you, so give it to me.”

“You got caught.”

He took out a casino chip and handed it to me. Jahanna flicked it between her fingers as if playing and then slipped it into her pocket.