Chapter 83
Chapter 83 - A Ridiculous Hostage Situation(3)
I expected it would be difficult to persuade Jena, but things went surprisingly smoothly afterward.
"Yes, if that's the case... I'll go with you."
"Huh?"
"I vaguely knew... that my brother was pushing himself too hard for me..."
In a way, this might be natural.
This is only my third time meeting her. I know exactly what Jena thinks about her brother Zenon, and what the best way to persuade her would be.
"Can I... really eat all of this?"
"Yes. I bought it for you."
"Wow..."
Perhaps that's why. In front of the food piled high at this fancy restaurant, Jena showed a familiar reaction. It was almost identical to her reaction in her previous life.
Despite her proper appearance, Jena started devouring the food ravenously. I watched her quietly and smirked.
"Didn't your brother tell you not to follow strangers who offer to buy you food?"
My words made Jena's spoon and fork pause briefly. She looked up at me bewilderedly, swallowed her food, and smiled brightly.
"You're... not a stranger."
"Ha. That's true."
"Besides... you know my brother so well."
"..."
"Even better than me... who lived with him..."
I had already confessed to Jena that Zenon was involved in a dangerous business.
At first, Jena didn't believe it, but when I pressured her with various circumstantial evidence, she had no choice but to believe. She must have harbored anxiety and doubt somewhere in her heart for this to be possible.
That's why I brought up the main point directly in the first place.
'Good. This is going well so far.'
The atmosphere is good. Jena is taking a friendly stance toward me. Now it's time to bring up the real matter.
I leaned my upper body closer to her and spoke.
"The reason I brought you here is because I have a favor to ask."
"A favor...?"
"Stop your brother. And persuade him to cooperate with us."
The die is cast. Given Jena's personality that I've experienced so far, the response will probably be negative.
Sure enough, Jena lowered her head, her wide eyes drooping.
"I'm weak and only being protected by my brother... how could I possibly..."
"You're the only one who can persuade him with words. That pervert siscon... no. To Zenon who cherishes his little sister so much, he won't listen to anyone but you."
"Only me?"
"Yes."
This is true. He's someone who would do anything for his sister - dirty work, nasty work, even drowning people. Someone like that won't stop what he's doing just because others tell him to.
Therefore, only persuasion from Jena herself, whom he desperately tries to protect, can stop Zenon.
'I don't know what the Immortal Cult promised him...'
It must be something about Jena's safety or future.
That deal was already made before the regression point was updated. So it's impossible to prevent the deal itself at this point.
Then at the very least, it needs to be broken. If it's something I can handle, I'll fulfill the conditions that the Immortal Cult promised instead.
'I'm prepared to make some concessions.'
He's that important of a component in my current plan, and if left alone, he'll be an extremely troublesome obstacle. Especially given how little information I have about him.
However....
"No... my brother won't... listen to me... I can't do it..."
Right. If it comes to this situation, nothing will work.
Jena giving up on persuasion. I took a deep breath and scanned the surroundings. I caught a glimpse of Seolbaek and the Demon King watching us quietly from the next table.
After thinking for a moment, I twisted my lips into a slightly cruel smile.
"Then I'll kill your brother, Jena."
"!!"
"He's currently involved in completely insane actions. Just to protect you alone, he's allowing a disaster that could annihilate this entire city. That includes me in the targets for annihilation."
"That can't be..."
"I can't overlook something like that. If you give up on persuading him or fail, I'll cut off your brother's head right there."
Yes. If persuasion doesn't work... threats are the only option.
Jena jerked her head up in shock. Seolbaek, who was listening nearby, had the same reaction.
Jena stared at me with trembling eyes. But soon she swallowed and let out a groan.
She must have realized I was serious by looking into my eyes.
"That can't be... without my brother, I...!"
"You'll die soon? I know that too. That's why I'm saying this."
"What...?"
"If you and your brother want to live, you must succeed in persuading him."
Of course, this is just a bluff.
I was overwhelmed by Zenon in my previous life. Though I don't know the reason... despite the level difference, I couldn't beat Zenon.
But Jena has no way of knowing that fact. So she can't help but be shaken by such threats.
"How about it? Does persuasion seem more possible now?"
I asked with the most evil smile I could manage, and Jena nodded reluctantly with tears welling up in her eyes.
The stare from the side is piercing. When I turned my head, Seolbaek was staring at me with a very shocked face. I turned away with a bitter smile.
'It's all just to make a living.'
I'm not originally good at using my head. No, I just don't do it.
I am a person who prefers to solve problems physically first. I don't like such petty methods either.
Although I don't like it, I don't hesitate to use it when I need to.
'Seolbaek, you haven't seen your corpse from your previous life...'
Because you haven't directly seen that disappointing face lying around after being cut off. Because you haven't heard Aran's sad sobbing. That's why you can make such expressions about my actions. If you had seen that... Do you think you could blame me?
I wanted to say that so clearly, but I barely swallowed it.
"B-but..."
While I was organizing my churning insides, Jena opened her mouth with difficulty.
I focused my attention on her again.
"I don't even know where my brother is now... if I can't meet him, how can I persuade him?"
"Ah, that's simple."
"Simple...? Do you know where my brother is?"
"No, but do I need to know? I can just call him here."
"What...?"
I swiftly caught Jena's wrist, who looked bewildered.
Although Jena was intimidated and shrinking due to the recent threat, perhaps due to curiosity, she was staring intently at my hand.
"It will sting a little."
"What...? Ah!"
I fixed Jena's hand and, holding a dinner knife in my other hand, gently scratched the back of her hand.
With a slash, her hand split shallowly, and drops of blood began dripping onto the empty plate.
"W-what is this... it hurts!"
Jena saw her bleeding hand and started resisting to pull it away. I let go easily.
I leaned back in my chair and waited leisurely for Zenon's appearance.
'Since I've done everything I needed to do anyway.'
Zenon didn't evacuate his sister from this dangerous city where disaster would soon strike.
Why? First, he can teleport, and he probably has safety measures to detect his sister's danger.
'But there was nothing in that shack.'
Then there must be safety measures on his sister's body itself.
For example, a system that signals Zenon when harm comes to his sister. Well, I did this expecting something like that.
"J-Jena! What's wrong! Are you hurt? What happened!"
Crack!
Space tears apart in the middle of the restaurant. Simultaneously, a man's voice close to a scream was heard.
What burst out of the torn space was a red-haired elf pretty boy. It was Zenon.
"Right on time, wasn't it? Scared you, didn't I?"
I cheered and immediately threw the knife I was holding toward Zenon. Due to my high strength stat, it flew sharply like a dagger.
Clang! Of course, Zenon easily deflected it with the dagger at his waist.
"Hello friend. Is this our second meeting since getting shouldered on the street today?"
Zenon's eyes finally leave Jena and land on me.
For a moment, Zenon's eyes bulged as if they would burst, then he started shaking uncontrollably.
"You...!"
But having suddenly appeared in mid-air and drawn his dagger, he had attracted the attention of everyone around.
The surrounding guests started staring. Perhaps conscious of the commotion, Zenon couldn't charge at me. He just clicked his tongue and pulled his ragged hood down deeply.
I pointed at Jena while facing the confused Zenon.
"Your sister says she has something to tell you."
"...?!"
"So I called you to set up a place for dialogue. Presenting the First Zenon Family Meeting!"
"What nonsense...!"
Zenon looked at Jena with an expression of disbelief.
And when Jena nodded with a desperate face, confusion deepened on Zenon's face while the strength gradually drained from his hand holding the dagger.
I left the two of them alone and started smoothly leaving the restaurant with my companions, the Demon King and Seolbaek.
No, just before leaving.
As I passed by Zenon, I left one word in his ear.
"Even if you complete this task properly, do you think the Immortal Cult will let your sister go?"
I hear Zenon swallow. I can see his shoulders shaking violently.
Seems like my guess was right. I was lucky. I inwardly rejoiced.
This completely removes any reason to keep close surveillance. I can wait comfortably now.
"Have a comfortable chat and let me know when you're done. The intruder will be out."
"Wait! Stop right there!!"
Zenon tried to follow right away, but Jena pulled on his sleeve.
"Brother, no... don't go!"
"Jena! Why...!"
"Don't go... please... I really have something to say..."
"..."
Perhaps moved by Jena's desperate appearance, Zenon grudgingly sat down next to Jena while grinding his teeth.
'Nice, Jena. I hope you succeed in persuading him with that momentum.'
If you can't do it... the 'Zenon Family Meeting' might continue endlessly to 10 times, 50 times, 100 times. Though it will be remembered as one time for you two, it will be hell for me.
I left the restaurant with a bitter smile, leaving the two behind.
Right after coming outside, Seolbaek, who had been quietly following, worriedly looked inside the restaurant.
"Will it be okay? She can persuade him... right?"
"She has to. Otherwise, they'll both die."
"T-that..."
If even 10, 50, 100 family meetings end in vain, then I'll start attempting to target Zenon directly.
10 times, 50 times, 100 times... if that doesn't work either, then until it does.
He might survive this life, but ultimately, ultimately, ultimately, Zenon will end up leaving his bones in my hands.
"And right now, what you need to worry about isn't that."
Why is someone else's life so important, Seolbaek? First, you need to worry about your own safety.
If persuasion fails. If my plan fails... It's not just Zenon or Jena who will die. You'll die too.
I let out a brief sigh at Seolbaek's appearance, then said to her.
"Anyway. This is assuming the persuasion succeeds."
"Ah, yes?"
"I'll tell you what you need to do from now on."
"Ah, yes!"
Perhaps because her role had finally arrived, Seolbaek nodded solemnly.
I let out a slight chuckle at her appearance, then immediately corrected my expression to be serious and said.
"Seolbaek. From now on, you'll act separately from me."
"Uh, yes...?"
"If Zenon becomes our ally, use his teleport immediately to go to the capital. Understood?"
"Why suddenly the capital...."
"We need to find someone. And you just need to bring that person here."
"Someone...?"
Yes. Someone.
If they heard about my situation now... No. Even without hearing about the situation, someone who would rush here immediately if it was about me.
No. A robot more human than humans.
'It's time to repay for the meals shared during the trial veil...!'
After dwelling on the last image of the woman in my mind, I spoke to Seolbaek deliberately.
"The name is.... Cessna. Find and bring back a woman with blue hair named Cessna."