Previously: Zenos and Cresson were invited to Professor Goldrun’s dinner party.
“Now then, does everyone have their glass?”
The second secretary surveyed the attendees in Professor Goldrun’s mansion, the venue for the event, located in the Royal Treatment Institute.
It was a residential area known as a high-class residential district, near the noble district within the city wards.
The light of the chandelier shone brightly on the hall and the participants. Although it couldn’t be compared to the palaces of the Seven Great Nobles, it was a mansion that could be rightfully called a luxurious residence.
“Now, Professor, a word, please.”
“Ah.”
Goldrun stood before everyone, stroking his beard.
“First, I have one report. As has been rumored for some time, the current director, Lord Shalbard, has decided to retire at the end of next month. A director election will be held soon.”
A small murmur arose from the venue.
“Our faction has the largest number of members. The number of votes is not a problem. The concern is the advisory committee after that…”
Goldrun swirled the wine glass in his hand contentedly.
“Lord Fennel of the Seven Great Nobles has promised to work hard on the advisory committee.”
Applause and cheers erupted. The second secretary, who raised both hands and applauded with exaggerated gestures, added a supplementary comment from the side.
“In other words, it is a fait accompli that our Professor Goldrun will become the next director!”
And, the second secretary continued, they were planning to hold a pre-celebration gathering for all faction members in the near future. Lord Fennel would also attend that meeting.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, things are getting pretty crazy.”
Cresson, dressed in a brand-new suit next to Zenos, said with a flushed face.
“Bro, this is insane, insane, I tell ya.”
“Yeah. I’ve said it repeatedly, but I’m not your brother.”
“What? That’s not true, is it, little sister?”
“Lily. Doesn’t want a big brother like Cresson.”
“S-So cruel…”
Today, Lily was also present. Each invitee was allowed to bring one guest, and Lily had tagged along. It was partly because she strongly desired to come, and partly because it would be more helpful to have Lily present for information gathering. Lily was less likely to be seen as a threat, and she was quick-witted. It would be easier to get results with her than alone.
The attendees were faction executives, secretaries, and invited guests. The other participants also seemed to have brought their spouses or lovers.
Lily looked up at Cresson.
“But Cresson is alone.”
“Ha, I had too many potential girlfriends to choose from.”
“He got rejected by all of them. Poor Cresson…”
“Don’t rub it in!”
Cresson wiped his teary eyes and said.
“It’s okay because I have my aniki Zenos. I’ll be sticking to you from now on, bro.”
“No, I refuse…”
“You’re joking again.”
“I’m not joking!”
Goldrun cleared his throat, ahem, and the venue fell silent.
“Those of you gathered here today are the chosen ones among our faction. Be proud. If you continue to serve me, a bright future awaits you.”
He raised his glass high and said, “Cheers.” The sound of clinking glasses rose from all around.
“Bro, did you hear that? We’re the chosen ones. Woo!”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Alright, I’m going to go suck up to the executives right away!”
“G-Good luck…”
Cresson moved with the swiftness of the wind towards the executives. He seemed quite dejected when Goldrun had blamed him for the surgery, but he recovered quickly. Well, that might be one of this guy’s good qualities.
“Well, I guess it’s time to get to work.”
“Yeah, Lily will help too.”
“That’s helpful. I’m not good at this kind of thing.”
Lily nodded to Zenos and then looked around the hall.
“Everyone brought their wives or girlfriends. Does Lily look like Zenos’s wife…?”
“I wonder… The setup is supposed to be that you’re my sister, right…?”
“I know that…”
Lily puffed out her cheeks slightly.
The purpose of infiltrating the dinner party was to trace the footsteps of a man named Alfred, who was the former deputy director of Becker’s research lab. Alfred, who was said to be excellent, was also scouted by Goldrun, invited to the previous dinner party, and then disappeared.
What exactly happened here? Finding that out is the last task at the Royal Treatment Institute.
The dinner party was a buffet style, and the tables were lined with dishes made from ingredients they had never eaten before.
They went to several executives and subtly asked about Alfred’s behavior during the previous dinner party. However, since it was also a buffet style at that time and everyone was moving freely, there was no one who had been paying close attention to Alfred’s movements. However, they did obtain one piece of testimony that was of interest.
“Alfred, huh? Come to think of it, Bonds was terribly drunk, and he was taking care of him.”
“Bonds…”
It was a familiar name. He was sure it was Goldrun’s first secretary.
All the secretaries should be in attendance. He looked around and saw Bonds in the back of the hall. He was sitting on a leather sofa as if it were his own, drinking directly from a bottle of liquor.
He certainly was a strange man. He was apparently an old acquaintance of Goldrun, but despite being the first secretary, he hardly worked and was always drinking.
“Good evening.”
“Ah… Who are you again?”
When he spoke to him, Bonds turned his face, red from drinking, towards him. They had passed each other before, but he didn’t seem to remember.
“Sorry. There are so many faction members, I don’t know who’s who.”
“My husband… I mean, big brother is a special trainee.”
“Did you just purposefully mess that up, Lily?”
“Special trainee, huh… I heard something about someone like that.”
Bonds raised the bottle of liquor at Lily’s introduction and said.
“What does a prospective executive want with the likes of me? Go wag your tail at Goldrun.”
“I have a few questions for you.”
“Huh?”
“There was a man named Alfred at the last dinner party. Can you tell me about what happened then?”
“Alfred… Oh, the guy who came from another research lab.”
Bonds poured the liquor down his throat.
“I don’t know. I was drunk. I think he brought me water when I was drunk.”
“Was there anything unusual?”
“I don’t remember. I woke up in the morning.”
“I see…”
In the end, it didn’t seem to be a clue. He let out a small sigh, and Bonds continued.
“He was a good guy. After all, none of the regulars ever talk to me.”
“Isn’t that because you’re always drinking?”
“Ha, that’s part of it. Goldrun told everyone not to get involved with me. He says I’m a liar.”
“…?”
The situation was unclear. Bonds was in the key position of Goldrun’s first secretary. Despite giving him such a position, he was telling the faction members not to get involved with him.
“Well, whatever. Thanks to him, I can live a carefree life. I owe it all to Goldrun.”
Bonds exhaled a breath that smelled of alcohol and laughed dryly. However, his laughter sounded somewhat hollow.
Lily said in an innocent tone.
“How did you become the professor’s secretary, mister?”
“It’s just a lingering connection.”
“What kind of connection?”
“That’s…”
Bonds started to say something, then waved his hand as if to shoo them away.
“It doesn’t matter. Don’t bother with me.”
“…”
Zenos had no choice but to leave, and he said to Lily beside him.
“He’s completely drunk.”
“But Lily thinks the mister knows something.”
“Really? He doesn’t seem to remember anything…”
Lily was silent for a moment, then brought several bottles of wine from the table.
“Let’s get the mister a little more drunk. Zenos.”
After that—
“Hee hee hee. You’re a good girl, little lady.”
As Lily sat next to him, pouring him drinks and talking, Bonds gradually became more cheerful.
“Yeah, yeah, and then?”
“Yes, yes, when I was young, I wanted to be a photographer.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Amazing, right?”
“Lily, what on earth is this…”
“If you give a man alcohol and a girl says ‘amazing,’ he’ll get carried away and start talking on his own.”
“No, where did you learn that?”
“Camilla.”
“That floating body…”
What was she teaching that innocent little girl?
Lily subtly mixed in the same question as before.
“So, how did you become a secretary, Bonds?”
“Ah, that’s…”
His eyes were quite glazed over, but he was tight-lipped about the crucial question.
“Muu… It’s still impossible for a child like Lily…”
“No, you did a good job, Lily.”
Suddenly, Zenos had an idea and spoke to Bonds.
“Hey, Mr. Bonds. When you were drunk at the previous dinner party, Alfred brought you water, and then what happened?”
“Ah… I think… He said he was going out to get some air, and then he went outside…”
“That’s a good idea. It’s better to sober up a bit. Let’s go outside.”
“Ah, right…”
Zenos took the drunk Bonds and went out to the mansion’s garden. A security guard approached, so he told him he was taking care of a drunk guest. Lily followed behind.
“Zenos?”
“I just thought of something. Last time, Alfred was taking care of Bonds, who was very drunk. I wondered what would happen if we created the same situation as before.”
The sky was completely dark, but the garden was brightly lit by magic stones of light. However, Bonds looked like he was about to pass out from intoxication, and it wasn’t a situation where they could ask him anything.
Just when he was about to give up, thinking it wouldn’t work out so well, Bonds tripped on the grass and dropped the bottle of liquor he was holding. The red wine that spilled out spread on the grass like a pool of blood.
“H-Hee hee hee…” “What’s wrong?”
Bonds suddenly started laughing and turned to Zenos.
“Hey, Goldrun. Look. It’s just like that time.”
His eyes were hazy and unfocused. Was he mistaking Zenos for Goldrun?
Bonds grabbed Zenos’s shoulder and said.
“If you become the director of the Royal Treatment Institute, you can become a noble, right? Heh heh, you’ve managed to get on Lord Fennel’s good side a-gain this time.”
Meanwhile, three figures were running through the night streets.
“Seriously, I didn’t expect you guys to come too.”
Reve replied to Zofia, who looked back.
“If I weren’t here, who would carry Zonde? Orcs are best at physical labor.”
Zonde, his brother, was tied to Reve’s back with a rope.
“Well, that’s true.”
“Sister… I’m sorry…”
Zonde, who had been buried under a building, said with his last breath.
“You really are, you idiot brother. Remember this because I’m going to punish you when you get better.”
“Yeah… I’ll remember.”
“So don’t die.”
“…Yeah.”
Gaho, Zonde coughed up blood. Ringa, running behind, said quickly.
“We should hurry. Let’s take the back roads.”
“Why are you even here, Ringa?”
“Ringa thinks he can be of some help.”
“You just want to see the teacher, don’t you?”
“…I won’t deny it. But I think I’ll be more useful than Zofia’s subordinates.”
Originally, she was going to bring her subordinates, but Reve and Ringa insisted that a large group would stand out, so the three leaders decided to go. Zofia sighed and turned her face forward.
“Well, I’ll thank you this time. Please make it in time.”
The demi-humans ran with the injured man on their backs.
Straight to Zenos—
A/N: The demi-humans run…!
The second Arc is approaching its final stage.