Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Friend (8)
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Hwayoung's house had a pristine garden. It was straight out of the luxurious estates in old comics or dramas—trees trimmed into duck shapes, a vibrant flower bed bursting with colorful blooms, and a fountain at the back. A dolphin statue stood in the center, birds perched on it sipping from the water basin, while clear streams jetted endlessly from the dolphin's mouth.
And across from the fountain, at the tea table, sat Dennis and Saburo.
"Hm?"
Hm, how to put it.
It felt like bumping into someone I really shouldn't have.
Why are they here?
Driver Shindo pretended to tend the garden while watching Serika's face. He hoped she'd panic, yet also hoped she wouldn't. He wanted her to be a model leader, but still a fragile human they could control.
Clutching those contradictory hopes, he bit his lip as the door opened.
Serika entered with a calm, leisurely expression at first. But upon spotting Dennis and Saburo, her eyes widened. She tilted her head, shrugged, and looked away.
What? What on earth?
Shindo plunged deeper into confusion at her utterly nonchalant reaction. There was no dismay, no fear, no bewilderment when she faced them. Just a fleeting flash of Why are these people here? before shrugging it off like it was nothing.
He could only stiffen at her sheer audacity and poise.
Did she see this coming too? What kind of person is Serika?
But what complicated Shindo's thoughts even more was something else.
Unlike Serika, who barely spared them a glance, Iwamoto Yoshio suddenly lit up with delight and greeted them warmly.
Honestly, Dennis and Saburo being here threw me off a bit, but it wasn't that weird.
From what I'd heard, Hwayoung's dad worked at some company. If so, it made sense for Dennis and Saburo—posing as employees of a major local firm—to show up here.
Maybe they dropped by for adult business talk or some deal. Or Hwayoung's parents invited them as a casual side thing? Kids overthinking grown-up matters just leads to headaches.
To clear it up, I'd have to bug Hwayoung with annoying questions, but now wasn't the time. So I just let it slide.
Sure, that tracks.
Not every event in the world ties into some shady conspiracy, right?
"Dennis. Saburo. Long time no see. Haha, how've you been?"
But Dad was a different story. Our personal ties with Dennis and Saburo aside, he was firmly the junior partner in a contract with a megacorp. True to his savvy businessman nature, he flashed a confident, relaxed smile and greeted them warmly.
"What brings you all the way out here? Business, by any chance?"
Dennis and Saburo's lips twitched at Dad's question.
They looked distinctly unamused.
"What brings you all the way out here? Business, by any chance?"
Shindo froze for a moment at the question, then gathered his thoughts. It wasn't that odd for Iwamoto Yoshio to know those two. On paper, Dennis and Saburo were employees of a local company.
Plus, per Musin Church intel, Yoshio had a research contract with what they suspected was a Prophet front company. So him recognizing and acknowledging them here wasn't outrageous.
But their reaction was strange. They eyed Yoshio with far more wariness than Serika. Saburo started scanning the surroundings, gauging threats, while Dennis took a deep breath to steady herself.
Why?
What had this mere corporate exec done to rattle them so?
Saburo rolled his eyes thoughtfully, then spoke.
"...Well, business, sure. Just curious what brought your boss to this backwater mansion."
Yoshio let out a booming laugh. He chuckled heartily, pulled Serika into his arms, and ruffled her hair as he replied.
"Hahaha! Personal errand. Call it a simple get-together."
Dennis nodded at his response, but her eyes were icy, her body taut with tension.
"Same here—to build some rapport. As you can see."
"Haha, got it. Well, if you'll excuse me."
Shindo eyed Saburo and Dennis's demeanor, then glanced back at Yoshio. Yoshio smiled innocently, oblivious, but the pair tensed excessively at him. It wasn't just Shindo.
From the moment Yoshio appeared, the sharp instincts of the faithful caught the shift in Saburo and Dennis's aura—like cornered beasts baring killing intent, poised to spring.
Shindo looked at Yoshio again. He stroked his daughter's hair and asked Shindo,
As if he alone were free of the suffocating tension.
"So, where should we sit?"
Shindo snapped out of his daze and nodded. He gestured to the empty seats and said politely,
"Right this way, please."
"Thank you."
Shindo watched Yoshio's back, lost in thought. He'd misjudged something big. Looking back, even a bold, clever, wicked girl couldn't forge Prophet ties alone.
Someone had pulled strings, nurtured her talent from the shadows. Shindo realized he'd botched the causality. Serika didn't connect with Prophets at the facility.
She'd started with ties to them, honing that gift all along.
Who trained it?
Who spotted that evil potential and linked her to Prophets?
What if it was Iwamoto Yoshio?
Shindo felt like he'd been walloped across the back of the head.
It all clicked now.
They'd been far too complacent from the start. Yoshio seemed a bland businessman—nothing suspicious. So it ended with Serika and the Prophets.
But the Church's probe was shallower than thought. A bigger fish than Prophets lurked unseen.
Someone right under their noses, scrutinizing everything, piercing their clumsy evangelism.
"Gasp...!"
"Something wrong?"
As Shindo inhaled sharply, Yoshio tilted his head. Meeting that smiling gaze, Shindo unwittingly tensed and exuded hostility. That innocent face.
How many had it fooled?
How many wicked deeds hid behind it?
Shindo shuddered, realizing not just him—the whole Musin Church danced in Yoshio's palm. Sweat beaded as he reined in his emotions, forcing calm.
"...No, nothing. Tea coming right up."
"...Well, business, sure. Just curious what brought your boss to this backwater mansion."
"Hahaha! Personal errand. Call it a simple get-together."
"Same here—to build some rapport. As you can see."
"Haha, got it. Well, if you'll excuse me."
Hm, the exchange wrapped up peacefully as expected. Guess they really were here for a social thing. Glancing over, Hwayoung scanned around with an uneasy look. She'd figured it was just us kids hanging out, but then her parents dragged in these weirdos?
Hwayoung had that quirky mix of shyness and openness, so maybe.
I squeezed her hand reassuringly and said,
"Show me around the garden."
Hwayoung blinked, anxious at first, then broke into a bright smile. She nodded.
"...Okay. Sure."