Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Serendipity (6)
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Late at night, after finishing her packed schedule, Celestina collapsed onto her bed without even washing up.
A penthouse penthouse at the top of a skyscraper, offering a panoramic view of the nightscape across all of Omega Detroit.
In the midst of splendor that anyone would envy, she was suffocating.
'It's so stifling...'
Every day felt overwhelming. Today had to be even more perfect than yesterday, and she had to keep climbing higher without end. She had to devour everything and never show a single weakness.
And the result was this. Once again, her heart clenched in a panic attack.
Most people living in this city probably envied her life.
That made it even harder to breathe. Because no one could offer genuine sympathy to the object of their envy, she had never once opened up about her suffering. No, she couldn't.
After pretending to be perfect for so long, she had grown afraid to let it go—even from herself.
["Live as the hunter, not the prey."]
Her father's teachings lingered even now, like shackles binding her life.
If only she had truly been a ruthless hunter from birth, it wouldn't hurt this much.
Perhaps her father had chosen that path. A man who severed all emotions and chose only to climb endlessly upward. But Celestina couldn't follow that road. She had realized too late that she wasn't as strong as him.
"Hic, hngh..."
Her chest tightened. Breathing grew harder by the second.
She forced down the anti-anxiety pills from the bedside table without water. Then, absentmindedly, she picked up the handkerchief beside them. She pressed it to her nose like it was her last comfort, but had too much time passed?
No scent remained.
Nowhere left to lean on.
"........."
All she could do was curl up on the bed, trembling, and endure the lonely, endless night alone.
Just as always.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Private security firms.
Or private guard companies, as they're also called, enjoyed steady demand in Omega Detroit, where crime rates ran high.
Safety needs never ceased for homes or businesses alike, and distrust of the ODPD—which responded sluggishly to civilian reports—ran deep. As a result, these services were treated like health insurance in the city.
The main clients were middle-class households and small-to-medium businesses that couldn't afford full-time bodyguards.
That said, mid-sized and larger corporations didn't shy away entirely.
Of course, groups with that kind of capital could maintain their own private forces—or even armies.
But as everyone knew, the core goal of any corporation was profit.
And armies? They produced nothing while burning through astronomical costs. That was why modern developed nations were always trying to shrink theirs. Just maintaining one was a massive expense.
So even big companies outsourced low-priority security to private firms.
Someone might think that major conglomerates kept surprisingly light armed forces for their prestige.
But the true might of the corporations ruling this city came from the influence of their overwhelming capital. When needed, they could hire mercenaries flooding the streets and assemble an army on the spot.
And they didn't even need to go that far—they had the ODPD. With their massive sway over city hall, they wielded that giant police force like a limb through legal channels.
In truth, the ODPD was little more than their strongest private army.
Some might ask why not just strike preemptively before they prepared defenses. But that's naive. One of the corporations' most powerful weapons was information.
Their eyes blanketed the city, missing not even a rat in the sewers. Under that surveillance net, a decisive surprise attack was next to impossible.
That's why the Nexus Initiative incident stood out as such an anomaly. No one could have predicted military androids suddenly emerging from outside the city to launch a terror attack.
The story's veered a bit.
Anyway, to sum up: megacorporations didn't keep vast standing armies like people imagined.
Instead, they bound foes with invisible info networks and influence, projecting overwhelming capital and force only when truly necessary. Far more economical. And that demand is likely why Omega Detroit was called the city of opportunity—and why mercenaries ran rampant.
Thus, even a giant like Tessellation Investment outsourcing low-priority security wasn't odd. What was strange was something else.
'Out of all the security firms in the city, why us—Asecure Corporation...?'
I'd recently reviewed a status report on Asecure Corporation from our professional manager.
Surprisingly, personnel and clients hadn't fled post-acquisition. Word of the acquisition by Lumina Group—a megacorp—had even boosted business a bit.
'But still, it's just a mid-tier firm serving the local district.'
Not exactly a match for bids from places like Tessellation Investment.
Normally, big corps ran competitive bids across multiple firms to get the best terms. Pointing at one specific company upfront like this was rare.
This kind of favoritism screamed personal influence.
And at this point, only one person came to mind.
Celestina, Vice President of Tessellation Investment.
Those cryptic words she'd left after our last dinner suddenly replayed in my head.
'Next time we meet... call me 'Cella.'
What was her angle? What did she want?
I'd consulted those around me, but we concluded the only way was to hear it from her directly. Reject or accept the proposal—we'd have to meet again to gauge her intentions either way.
Thus, the meeting was set.
Celestina, whom I reunited with at the hotel after a few days, was still a stunning beauty exuding elegance. But she looked far more exhausted than before—was it my imagination? I hesitated to even ask if she'd been well.
She handed me a document and cut straight to business.
"Tessellation is opening a new branch office in the outskirts soon. We'll need security personnel there, and your company came to mind, Miss Eve."
She even knew Asecure was under my name, as if it were obvious.
I scanned the contract. The terms and upfront payment were incredibly generous. Overly so for a mere mid-tier security outfit.
So I voiced my puzzlement.
"Why us?"
Celestina smiled faintly.
"You seemed uncomfortable with direct repayment for keeping my secret. I thought this might be more acceptable."
Unsure how to reply, I hesitated. She spoke again.
"No need to overthink it. I just like tying things up neatly. Leaves no loose ends."
This had nagged at me since our last meeting.
Maybe my blanket refusals had provoked something in her.
From my perspective of wanting no ties, I should've accepted moderately. And this renewed offer was just a sweeter deal on needed business—so it made sense.
'If that's how it is...'
I signed the papers without further refusal.
Intending to end it cleanly.
'Will this satisfy her...?'
I glanced at her subtly.
But as I'd thought earlier, her face looked sickly fatigued.
Nosy? Still, I asked.
"Um... is the panic still happening?"
Her expression stiffened slightly at my question. Had I been rude? As I shrank inwardly, a calm reply came.
"Always has. I'm used to it now."
Her casual tone surprised me. The episode I'd witnessed seemed severe, yet it carried the resignation of long suffering.
I hesitated long, then barely spoke.
"Uh, listen..."
Strictly speaking, the contract wrapped everything up. But she'd repaid my favor with overly generous terms. Turning away pretending ignorance sat wrong. Like last time, I wanted to help a little.
So I broached carefully.
"I heard that hugging someone when exhausted releases oxytocin medically, easing tension and stress... So, uh, may I hug you for a moment, Vice President?"
Even to me, it was an out-of-left-field, embarrassing proposal. And that flimsy excuse...
But to use my ability without her noticing, nothing else came to mind.
"Wh-what do you think...?"
I awkwardly spread my arms a bit, looking at her.
Ready to bolt if refused. Mortifying enough already.
But as I moved to withdraw, she stood suddenly. Then strode over and...
Pulled me into a tight embrace.
The warmth of another's skin, soft breathing close by, fragrance at my nose.
A bit dazed by her scent and feel, I snapped to what I needed to do.
I discreetly touched my fingertip to the back of her head, carefully activated my ability, and whispered in her ear.
"You've been through so much. It's okay to rest a little. You've worked hard."
"........."
She leaned silently on my shoulder.
I suddenly thought: how exhausted must she be to accept such random comfort without protest?
With pity, hoping to help, I poured in a touch more power than last time.
Just a bit more, so she could live easier.
Thus, an unseen light flickered from my fingertip and faded.
"........."
"..........."
Moments later, she slowly pulled back. Her dazed red eyes met mine as the hug ended.
Then she murmured softly.
"...Do you hug all your business partners like this, Miss Eve? Very effective strategy."
I smiled gently.
"No, this is special service."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning.
Celestina opened her eyes in her plush bed, struck by an uncanny sense of dissonance.
She checked the clock reflexively. 5:46 AM. Plenty of time before work. Not late.
So what was this inexplicable feeling?
With a foggy mind, she pondered deeply.
Then it hit her—a simple fact.
That she had just woken up.
And waking up meant...
She had fallen asleep.
For a solid five hours straight.
'Not once did I wake...'
First time in three years.
"......"
Celestina froze on the bed, eyes wide.