Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Holy Blood (9)
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In one corner of a neat and spacious cafe.
The man seated across the table was unleashing a torrent of words toward us.
"I can already see it with my own eyes! A superstar shining brightly on a massive stage, piercing through countless camera lights! I stake my reputation as the chief producer who has successfully debuted countless idols—mark my words, in three years, no, less than a year, you'll become the idol everyone in Omega Detroit envies! You have such innate talent. Your gaze, your smile, even the way you walk—it all draws people's attention with an irresistible aura! That's not something you can learn through training! It's a quality only those born to be stars possess! How could I just let that pass by? We've been searching high and low in our company for raw gems like you, jewels that appear once in a thousand years, and to find one on the street...!"
Did he not need to breathe while rattling off like that?
His praise flowed out endlessly, without a single hitch.
It wasn't empty flattery—it carried genuine sincerity and passion, which made it all the more awkward.
My face burned the entire time I listened, making it hard to bear.
'Haa...'
I just smiled awkwardly at the nonstop compliments, but in truth, no matter how persuasively he spoke, my answer was already set.
Of course, it was a refusal.
'Become an idol...'
What kind of job was being a celebrity?
It was a position that drew the public's gaze and attention all at once.
But in my current situation, I absolutely had to avoid that spotlight.
From the start, hadn't I even established a church to desperately hide the existence of miracles?
And now, stepping into the entertainment industry to become famous? It was utterly absurd. Associating with people in that field was a risk I had to avoid entirely.
Beyond the dangers, I simply had no desire to do something like being an idol myself.
So why were we sitting here, enduring this embarrassing flattery?
"Yes, exactly! That's Sister Eve's charm! You really know your stuff!"
It was all because of Yoanna, who was enthusiastically chiming in beside me right now.
"A successful producer really has an eye for talent!"
When the man had first approached, asking just to talk for a bit, I'd planned to refuse outright.
But Yoanna had snatched it up and accepted on the spot, leading us to this meeting.
Honestly, no offer he made would have swayed me.
Yoanna was a smart girl; she surely knew that.
So why had she agreed to hear him out? Was this just another one of her mischievous pranks?
Whatever the case, her encouragement had put us in an excruciating spot.
We had to keep listening to this embarrassing praise about my supposed "enormous idol potential."
"It's rare to find someone who shows star potential at a glance like you. We have trainees with all sorts of charms in our company, but your visuals are unparalleled! So, why not polish that beauty with me and show it to the world? Are you thinking, 'I can't sing or dance well...'? Of course, skills matter. But don't you have a weapon strong enough to overshadow every other condition? We can build the rest step by step. You already have the most crucial foundation."
Yoanna joined in excitedly.
"Right! My sister is the prettiest in the world!"
The man's passionate persuasion continued for a while longer until it was interrupted by a notification chime from the terminal at his waist.
He tried to brush it off casually with, "Excuse me," but upon glancing at the screen, his eyes widened in shock.
"Ah... I'm terribly sorry. I have to take this one."
After excusing himself to us, he stepped to the corner of the shop to take the call.
Only after he left did I finally let out the sigh I'd been holding.
"Haa... Yoanna. What was that all about?"
Yoanna grinned sheepishly, her response a bit brazen.
"Well... I felt like I met a kindred spirit who recognizes Sister Eve's charm. I got so excited, I just... Hehe."
She gave an awkward smile.
I couldn't bring myself to scold her smiling face, so I decided to wrap things up.
"Phew... Alright, satisfied now? Let's politely decline and head back."
As I spoke in a sigh-tinged voice, the girl nodded readily.
Yoanna hadn't taken the scouting offer seriously from the start anyway.
She'd just gotten childishly thrilled by the unexpected fun.
Now, though, I was getting tired, had no intention of accepting, and felt it would be rude to waste more time.
So, when the man returned, I planned to convey our polite refusal and leave—
That was when an unexpected twist intruded.
The man who'd just stepped away for the call returned with a dazed, bewildered expression.
"Would you mind waiting just a bit longer? Our company's vice president is on his way here right now."
"Pardon? You're joking, right?"
I responded in utter disbelief. It was just too ridiculous.
'STARLIT Entertainment' might not be the top in the industry, but it was a reputable agency among the top ten in the city.
For its vice president to come all the way to this suburban area just to see a rookie spotted on the street? It made no sense.
A seed of suspicion sprouted in my mind.
'Is he just a scammer after all?'
Perhaps noticing the wariness flickering across my face, the man panicked and added hastily.
"I-I swear, this is the first time something like this has ever happened to me! Please, just wait a little; I'd be grateful..."
I narrowed my eyes, pondering how to handle this.
At that moment, a low humming sound came from somewhere.
Weeeeng—
Not the sound of a drone. It was a clear, pure vibration, like an electric car's motor.
Soon, a sleek black object emerged from between building shadows, slowly crossing the sky.
A black craft with a sharp design reminiscent of a luxury sports car.
It was an urban aerial vehicle (AV).
In name and appearance, a vehicle—but in function, price, and maintenance, closer to an airplane.
Thus, only one class of people in this city casually piloted such personal craft.
High-ranking corporate executives.
"........."
In that instant, I knew intuitively: the man's words weren't a lie.
But at the same time, I still couldn't believe it.
'No way.'
One of the most dangerous entities I had to avoid— a corporate high-up—suddenly right in front of me?
I couldn't make sense of it. Just bewilderment.
And with it, my inner vigilance surged.
'...Should I slip away right now?'
Right then, one of the church guardians standing shadow-like behind me whispered in my ear.
"No external forces entering the vicinity aside from that vehicle. Additionally, thirty 'Saved Ones' are on standby within two minutes' arrival."
His low voice calmed my racing heart.
Right—this was the First Street, closest to the city, but still firmly in the eastern suburbs.
Territory already under our church's control.
So, meeting a corporate bigwig here briefly wouldn't pose an immediate threat.
'Fleeing abruptly might just arouse unnecessary suspicion.'
Whatever their intent, they had come for a reason.
Perhaps it was better to hear them out, resolve it quickly, and send them on their way.
With that, I steadied myself and decided to wait.
Wooong—
The AV had already arrived in the airspace above the cafe.
A blue holographic landing marker lit up clearly on the small plaza in front of the building, and the craft descended silently onto it, settling lightly.
Whoosh—
Then, the side door slid upward smoothly.
First out were two guards in light gray exoskeletons.
They scanned the surroundings sharply before bowing politely toward the AV's door.
Finally, a middle-aged man emerged from the shadows.
"........."
A gentlemanly figure with neatly combed graying hair.
He straightened his luxurious suit and strode into the cafe.
With each heavy step closer, an indescribable presence emanated.
Not overtly menacing, but his near-190cm stature and perfectly tailored high-end suit on his massive frame created a subtle pressure that bore down from above.
Our eyes met directly.
Without hesitation, he approached me briskly and extended his hand as if for a handshake.
"Ah, you must be the young lady. Nice to meet you."
His voice was a low, smooth baritone, echoing like a cave.
"Benjamin Hayes."
I glanced at his thick hand for a moment before awkwardly grasping it and shaking lightly.
"Yes, nice to meet you. Call me Eve."
I was tense inside. He smiled amiably and offered a business card.
"My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself properly."
[STARLIT Entertainment - CFO, Benjamin Hayes]
This was worlds apart from the cheap plastic card the "manager" had given earlier.
A premium digital card with an embedded e-key; scanning the tag connected to the company server for instant verification.
My guard silently scanned it with his implant and nodded to me.
Authentic, no doubt.
'So this man really is...'
I grew even more tense and added cautiously.
"Apologies in advance, but I was planning to politely decline the scouting offer. I have no interest in becoming a celebrity."
He looked puzzled for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter. "Puhaha!"
After laughing heartily, he said,
"Well, shot down boldly, I see. Can't force it if you're not interested."
His nonchalant reaction left me puzzled instead.
"Weren't you here to persuade me into a contract?"
"Hmm, in a way, yes. But not quite. Mind flipping that card over?"
I turned it over, revealing entirely different text etched clearly on the back.
[LUMINA Holdings - Director, Benjamin Hayes]
He began explaining calmly.
"I hold the title of entertainment agency vice president nominally, but I barely involve myself in its operations. My main role is as director of the parent company. Have you heard of Lumina Group?"
The familiar name made my shoulders twitch involuntarily.
Omega Detroit had a list of the "Top 100 Corporations," legally defined by capital size.
Lumina Group was undoubtedly one of them.
A conglomerate focused on fashion, distribution, dining, hotels, leisure, and entertainment.
STARLIT Entertainment was just one of its subsidiaries.
And LUMINA Holdings oversaw the entire group as the holding company.
This man was claiming to be an executive there.
"Understand? Actually, I'm here about your business, Miss Eve."
The more I spoke with him, the colder my nape grew.
"........."
Of course, Lumina ranked near the bottom at 98th among the Top 100, relatively small compared to others.
Especially dwarfed by the true "megacorps" in the top 10.
But a megacorp was still a megacorp—the pinnacle predator ruling the city, exactly the kind I'd been wary of all this time. My expression hardened instinctively.
At that point, Benjamin Hayes turned to the producer, still frozen in the corner, and said curtly,
"Good work. You can head back now."
The producer bowed hastily and fled the cafe.
When I came to, the spacious cafe was empty save for our group.
They must have cleared it beforehand.
"......"
With all chatter gone, a subtle tension hung in the now deathly quiet space.
Benjamin Hayes casually sat in the empty chair across from me, where the producer had been.
And spoke in his still-light tone.
"To get straight to the point. Our company wants..."
But the content beneath that gentle voice was anything but dismissible.
"...to buy exclusive distribution rights for that wine you've been releasing in the city lately, 'Holy Blood.' You wouldn't say you lack the authority to decide, would you? Saintess of the Radiance Church."
Clatter! I involuntarily shoved back my chair and stood.
At the same time, the church guardians lurking in the shadows surrounded me protectively, assuming alert stances.
"......"
In response, his two guards stepped forward, facing off.
In the center of the empty shop.
A taut silence prevailed, thick with tension.