Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Returning Dressed in Black (3)
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"What? It's already been resolved...? What do you mean?"
I stammered in confusion.
The Radiance Church was in the midst of preparing for war right now.
Our target was Asecure Corporation, the ones responsible for the terrorist attack in District 1.
While we'd easily crushed their suburban branch office, their main forces were still in the city. The moment they learned they'd been hit, some kind of retaliation was inevitable.
We were gathering our scattered forces from across the parish to brace for that war when a completely unexpected call left me utterly dumbfounded.
"It's been taken care of?"
The voice on the other end of the line—Lian Lumen, chairman of Lumina Group—chuckled heartily.
["That's right. We've handled it nicely on our end. Next time something like this pops up, give us a heads-up, won't you? Feels a bit awkward between us otherwise."]
"Th-that..."
Even before the content of his words sank in, the genuine disappointment in his tone threw me even more off balance.
Lian Lumen, chairman of Lumina Group. Honestly, he still felt like a distant figure to me.
And that was only natural. No matter how much goodwill they showed, it was like a division commander or prime minister sidling up, clapping me on the shoulder, and saying, "Whatever you need, just say the word." I couldn't exactly let my guard down and lean on him completely.
In this city, a major corporate chairman's influence was at least on par with such figures—if not greater.
I could sense it in this very conversation.
"So... what exactly do you mean by 'resolved'?"
["Haha, nothing much. We just tossed those arrogant fools into prison. Sentences around... 700 years, I think? They won't see the light of day again, so no need to worry."]
If what he said was true, Asecure Corporation had been decapitated entirely. There wasn't even room for a fight anymore.
All our war preparations felt utterly pointless now that it had ended so anticlimactically.
But perhaps it was the natural outcome. It was like kids brawling only for a tank to roll in and flatten one side.
"........."
I was struck anew by the realization.
Of the power wielded by one of the city's top 100 corporations.
And of just what kind of existence the man I was speaking to truly was...
Yet strangely, I didn't feel the same rigid tension as before. His tone remained consistently gentle, laced with magnanimity. I didn't know if he was like this with others, but it felt like he was genuinely eager to do something for me.
It was a transformation I could scarcely reconcile with the gloomy, cold-hearted corporate titan I'd first met.
["Were you hoping to deal with them yourself, by any chance? If we jumped the gun, I apologize. We can always pull them out and..."]
"N-no! It's fine! It's already done. I'm just grateful."
A satisfied laugh echoed from the receiver at my flustered response.
And then he added something else.
["Oh, right! Speaking of which, this incident gave us the perfect opportunity to prepare a little gift."]
"A gift?"
["Since we had their executives in hand anyway, we acquired a chunk of shares and took over the company's management rights. We're transferring it all to your name."]
"Whaaat?!"
I was stunned speechless for a moment.
In this city, money could buy anything—but precisely because of that, it wasn't squandered frivolously.
Fine, jailing the executives made sense. But snapping up shares and handing the whole company over? Even for a megacorp's capital, it bordered on wasteful.
It was all too sudden, far too burdensome for me to handle.
I started to refuse on reflex.
"No... I couldn't possibly..."
But before I could finish, a piercing voice cut through from the other end.
["Hm? You sure you want to turn it down? You'll definitely need it going forward."]
"Huh?"
["From what I can guess, the Radiance Church's next move will be into the city proper, right?"]
I nodded unconsciously at his words.
It was a logical deduction, really. The church's operations always aimed for expansion, and we'd already seized half the suburbs as a result.
But even with that many followers, it was still nowhere near enough to perform the miracle that would send us back to our original world.
'Even spreading to the southern and western districts probably wouldn't cut it.'
We'd still be miles away even after taking the entire suburbs. That left only the city center.
This metropolis was so vast it rivaled a nation in population.
The downtown core alone dwarfed the suburban numbers.
To gather the required followers, the church would inevitably have to push inward.
The voice continued from the speaker.
["For the church to expand into the city, your bodyguards will need to come along... Do you think hundreds of mercenaries at that level can just stroll into downtown without issue? Getting them through inspections won't be easy."]
".....!"
I flinched, shoulders trembling.
I hadn't even considered that problem.
'True... a few mercenaries could slip through, but...'
If the number of combatants crossing the border hit triple digits, the city government would flag it as a clear threat.
Even sneaking in individually had limits. The border checkpoints and surveillance weren't forgiving. The more there were, the sooner their affiliation would be exposed. Then we'd be branded an illegal armed group with no defense.
At best, arrests and deportations. At worst, full military action.
"........."
'I should have thought of this sooner.'
Then the man spoke again.
["That's why it's a gift. With a security firm in your pocket, your bodyguards can register as official employees and enter the city legally, completely naturally. Pretty useful, no?"]
"....!"
Of course. That was exactly what security companies were for.
There was no better way to move church forces into the city without suspicion.
He'd foreseen it all in advance.
A corporate chairman was a corporate chairman. His vision and savvy never stopped at one angle.
Not only did he eliminate our enemy, but he handed us an irresistible gift in the process.
I hesitated before replying.
"Thank you so much, Chairman. I don't even know how to repay you..."
Suddenly, the voice on the line turned icy cold.
["Hm... Hold on. Something bothers me."]
"Y-yes?"
As I stammered in confusion, he spoke in a dissatisfied tone.
["I hear you're on a first-name basis with Rachel already. You going to keep calling me 'Chairman' all stiff-like forever? When will you call me 'Father'? Hm..."]
"........."
I knew it was a joke, but I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Was this really the same gloomy, cynical corporate magnate I'd first encountered? They said couples grow alike, and he had that familiar air about him now—playful yet sincere, like someone who visited the cathedral daily and never gave up.
But... even if the division commander adored me, becoming his son-in-law felt a bit much.
As I wavered, he pressed on.
["If 'Father' is too much, how about 'godfather'?"]
"Godfather... you mean?"
["Yes. I hear your church has that system."]
He was right. When founding the Radiance Church, we'd borrowed heavily from Christian structures for efficiency, including the godparent system.
It was meant to foster tight-knit bonds among believers. Not mandatory, so only those who wanted it participated, but it had caught on decently in the rough suburban districts.
People liked knowing spiritual parents could step in for their kids if something happened to them.
It was far less burdensome than actual legal adoption into a family.
'A godparent... that doesn't sound bad.'
We'd already received guardian-like support from the chairman and his wife.
I couldn't deny wanting to repay their kindness.
So, a bit awkwardly but sincerely, I said,
"Then... please take care of me from now on, Godfather."
A booming, satisfied laugh erupted from the speaker.
["Hahaha, likewise. My dear goddaughter."]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ This incident wrapped up so anticlimactically thanks to Godfather stepping in.
Lumina Group even volunteered to handle the cleanup without a fuss.
From our perspective—bracing for all-out war with a mid-tier city firm—it felt a tad hollow, but... better a thousand times over than our followers spilling blood in battle.
The acquired security company was currently being stabilized by professional managers dispatched from Lumina Holdings.
Once internal affairs were sorted, they'd transfer the shares promptly—but honestly, I'd prefer to delay it as long as possible.
I had zero knowledge about running a company, business, or management.
Truth be told, even managing the church was starting to overwhelm me.
The Radiance Church was no longer just a simple congregation.
Its scale was ballooning daily. We were reaching the point where professional expertise was needed for administration and operations alike.
But as the one responsible for everything, I lacked that expertise entirely.
Though I'd delegated as much as possible to Yoanna and other admin staff, final decisions rested with me alone. In a religious order, no one but the Saintess could lead.
So far, we'd muddled through with ad-hoc efforts... but now, potentially adding a whole company to the mix.
I might have finally hit my limit.
"........."
And that was why.
I now stood before a mirror, staring at the reflection beyond.
Across the clear glass stood a silver-haired beauty in a neatly donned school uniform.
A form-fitting royal blue crop blazer hugged her figure, layered over a crisp white blouse with a women's necktie. A pleated skirt that barely covered half her thighs completed the look.
The chest pocket of the outer jacket bore the emblem of "Lumina Academy," which I'd only learned about days ago.
Frankly, it was mortifyingly embarrassing.
Wearing feminine clothes in daily life? Fine—thanks to Yoanna's insistence, and I could excuse it as just suiting my body.
But a school uniform... somehow...
It felt on a whole other level.
Compared to my usual self-image, this made me look far younger, flushing my cheeks without thinking.
"........."
So what did this have to do with the church's management woes?
"Haa........."
Ah, what a story—one that could only draw a sigh.