Hired by the Busty Heiress
Next morning.
For some reason I couldn't fathom, Diamond, the young lady of the Brilliant family, was dragging me by the arm through her mansion, giving me a tour.
"This is the kitchen you'll be using! Order any ingredients you need, as much as you want!"
"I see."
It was an impeccably organized kitchen. Fully stocked with cooking utensils, too.
Making desserts in a place like this would definitely fire me up.
"And this is your bedroom! Yesterday wasn't fully ready, so I stuck you in a regular guest room, but from now on, feel free to use this one however you like!"
"I see...?"
What a spacious, luxurious room. Even the bed sheets probably cost more than my monthly salary.
Living in a place like this would make every day feel downright comfy.
"Finally, the bathroom! The tub, toilet—everything's gold-plated!"
"Naruhodo."
I had no idea why they'd gold-plate the toilet, but hey, point taken: it was expensive.
...That aside.
I finally gestured toward the rope binding my hands.
"Mind untying this first?"
I never dreamed I'd be saying those exact lines twice in my life. And this time, it was tied way tighter than when Ravi did it.
"Oh right, forgot about that. Guess it's safe to untie you now?"
She cut the ropes without a fuss, so at least she was reasonable.
"I did some digging on you! Name's Jade, age 25... and your address is—"
Strike that—total nutcase.
"Ruri! Bring the contract I mentioned before!"
"Yes, Lady Diamond."
The maid girl called Ruri nodded at her words.
Undoubtedly the one who'd kidnapped me here last night.
Normally, the mana Ravi planted in me should've activated the moment she attacked—but
'Don't move. Even if you try using mana to escape, it won't work. I've already jammed it with interference waves.'
Her words from when she'd restrained me flashed through my mind.
'Already practical tech, huh?'
The Brilliant conglomerate already dominated markets in countless fields, and their research into mana—the foundation of this world's power—was apparently booming too.
Rumor had it they'd even developed waves to block human mana. She must've used that on me.
I didn't want to test out tech that wasn't even commercialized yet, but at least it explained why Ravi's mana hadn't kicked in.
Now that I knew the enemy's trick, pointless resistance would be reckless anyway. I'd just get caught again quick.
"Um, Diamond?"
"No more stiff talk! We chatted casually before, remember?"
"Fine, Diamond it is. Thanks for the invite, but I've got some questions."
Like why she kidnapped me. Without knowing that, nothing could even start.
She seemed to read my intent and chuckled softly, continuing.
"The tea and desserts you made! I just had to have them again!"
"Tea and desserts?"
Come to think of it, she hadn't shown up at Eclipse much lately. She used to camp out for four hours straight.
Probably because reservations were booked solid now. As the next head of Brilliant, she had to be swamped anyway.
'So she's trying to make me her exclusive chef.'
Giving me a bedroom meant she planned to have me live here full-time. Hiring me would let her eat desserts whenever, reservations be damned.
All for some sweets, and she was making a huge fuss.
"There are plenty of other chefs who can make desserts, right? No need for me specifically."
I tossed out the obvious question first.
Back home, I was just your average joe, nothing special in patisserie or anything. If she had a real chef, she wouldn't need someone like me.
"...We already invited them. Famous chefs from all over the world."
The maid beside her answered my question with a displeased look.
"Compared to what you made, they were all garbage."
"Huh."
That was surprising. Was dessert culture in this world even less advanced than I'd thought?
"Oh right, we haven't negotiated salary yet! How could I forget something that important!"
"Wait, that's not—"
Clunk!
Ignoring my objection, she shoved a bag of cash at me.
"50 billion as signing bonus. And 1 billion a month? Let me know if that's not enough!"
"......"
No normal person like me deserved that kind of money. A salaryman couldn't earn that in a lifetime.
Tempting as it was, I couldn't just grab the stack.
I was a proper Silver Unit member. Betraying the organization on a dime went against everything.
"If you investigated me, you know already. I work for the Gaia Foundation."
I casually dropped Silver Unit's public front company name to signal refusal.
Pretty direct, so she'd get it. Diamond pondered my words for a moment—
"...Just quit, then?"
She shot back with a look like what's the problem?
"You're living in that crumbling mansion! No way you're happy there!"
"Yes. Given your living conditions, switching to Brilliant would massively boost your job satisfaction."
She was convinced a poor guy like me had no reason to refuse.
"What about the cafe? We're already contracted all over the place—if I bail—"
"Don't worry about that! I already sorted it with the Academia!"
"Talk to me first?"
Now I looked like the bad guy for refusing.
As I desperately brainstormed an escape—
"Make tea and desserts just for me. That's all I want from you. Can't you...?"
Diamond gazed at me with pleading eyes as the maid thrust the contract forward, demanding an answer.
"...Just let me make one phone call. Gotta tell my boss."
"Text if possible. Just in case."
No option to refuse.
At the same time, Silver Unit HQ.
Amber and the other executives, having received Jade's text, were hot on the trail of their comrade kidnapped by a noble young lady—
"Haa..."
"What a guy—always landing in hot water."
Crystal muttered as she watched Amber sigh deeply.
Like when he'd saved her little brother last time, or the shootout after getting spotted by patrol drones.
Now even getting snatched by Brilliant's heir.
"My friend kidnapped my work senior—what face should I make?"
"Ruby the magical girl, that girl... Better choose friends carefully."
From Citrin's perspective, buried in lab stats daily, it was absurd.
"Sudden thought, but at this point, maybe Jade himself has issues drawing this mess."
"Like 'you started it'? Face is average, though."
"Not set in stone the Brilliant girl has a crush. Maybe kidnapped for other reasons?"
"Other reasons...?"
Amber's memory flashed to a scene.
Diamond devouring the desserts Jade made like a glutton.
"......"
She didn't want to admit her senior got nabbed over her friend's gluttony. Couldn't.
"Excuse me! Who said I did such a thing?!"
"Whoa, you scared me!"
Amber jolted back like she'd been spooked for real by Diamond's sudden voice.
But the source was a small device in Lapis's hand.
"Why so jumpy? Knew this might happen, so I bugged his clothes."
"Eee..."
Thorough, or just criminal herself.
"Probably offering big bucks to buy him out. 100 billion maybe?"
"Wait, hold up! At that rate, he'd definitely jump ship?!"
Silver Unit's risks vs. making desserts for a rich girl? No-brainer.
"Not kidnapped, more like... I wanted to invite you politely, but I got kinda embarrassed!"
"And if that big-tits blushes while begging, hard to say no."
"Gotta be tough walking around with those. All the food go straight to her chest?"
"Hey, quit badmouthing my friend's boobs."
As they bantered quietly, Jade's resolute voice cut in.
"No matter how much more they offer, answer's the same. I've got a cute junior and a boss I owe big. Can't just ditch those bonds."
"Hoo. Thought he was a lightweight at first glance—color me impressed."
"Can't recall doing him any favors worth turning down that cash."
"...Huu."
Amber clutched her blanket tight, lost in the moment.
"So? How we getting him back?"
Right after, Citrin asked Lapis, sipping an energy drink.
Overreact, and you'd make a global giant your enemy. But couldn't just ignore it.
As they plotted infiltrating Brilliant Mansion—
"Ah. No worries. I'll go fetch him."
Amber replied with a bright smile.