Midnight Disturbance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

This time I managed to obtain the items without any surprise attacks like the one at yesterday’s Energy-Link Industrial Company factory. Before heading back to the mansion, I was examining my new acquisitions.

Along with the mithril warheads, I had also obtained research data on mithril’s physical properties from the Forbes Corp laboratory. In The Youngest Son of a Japanese Conglomerate Family, studying that data alongside the prototype mithril bullets eventually produced mithril-coated ammunition. I had no idea whether the same result would appear in this world.

In the game it had been presented as a foregone conclusion, but now that it had become reality, things would not be so simple. Besides, I still didn’t have a research lab of my own, so I couldn’t even begin the project. For now I had secured the items, but once I returned to Japan I would need to find a decent laboratory before they could be of any real use. Outsourcing the work to Base Technology was an option, yet because the BS Group’s control over them remained firm, it was still too risky to entrust them with something this important. I would have to cheer Han Yu-kyung on so she could completely seize control of the company.

Next was a circuit chip I had found tucked away in a warehouse at the Odin Technology laboratory. It was a prototype control circuit for bodily modification. Odin Technology was still an active, thriving company, so infiltrating their premises had not been easy. Fortunately the item I wanted was stored in the most remote warehouse where they kept defective products, which made the break-in relatively simple. The warehouse had no permanent security detail, making the job even easier.

Odin Technology had labeled this particular circuit chip as defective and shoved it into storage because it failed to deliver the performance they desired. In truth, when paired with an appropriate centipede spine, it was a chip that dramatically amplified the power of psychic abilities.

It was technically a failure, of course. Odin had been aiming for a standard bodily-modification control circuit. This defective prototype had only come into existence through a series of coincidences.

An event that would publicly reveal espers to the world was coming soon. The business of catering to espers would become the next blue ocean.

When the event had taken place in Korea in Megacorp’s Youngest Son, I had only caught glimpses of it through news and information feeds. In this world an incident in America had caused espers to be exposed instead. I didn’t know the exact details, but since I was currently in the United States, I would have to be careful not to get dragged into it.

While touring factories in the area I had picked up several more items, but they were all prototype firearms or discontinued rare guns that weren’t particularly useful to me. I decided to distribute them to the Serutai squad members. Since they were PMC soldiers, they would probably appreciate the gesture and the chance to indulge their inner gun enthusiasts.

I stopped by the AmSang New ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠York branch once more, handed over all the items I had acquired, and asked them to ship everything to Japan. By the time I returned to the mansion, it was exactly the right hour for lunch.

“I’m back.”

“Oh~! Ryuta, still as handsome as ever, I see.”

Oliver Fitzgerald, who had been away on a business trip, greeted me with a hearty slap on the shoulder.

“Hello, Uncle.”

“Perfect timing. It’s just about lunchtime—let’s eat together.”

When Oliver Fitzgerald and I entered the dining room, everyone was already seated at the table. The fact that no food had been served yet suggested they had been waiting for me.

“Sorry I’m a little late.”

“Not at all, Ryuta. You’re right on time.”

When I apologized for being late, Aris spoke up on my behalf. It seemed I really had arrived at the perfect moment. Mimata Chieri was still clutching her temples and groaning; the usual recovery time for a normal hangover had long passed, so she was clearly paying the price for the two-point increase in her strength stat.

Nae Fitzgerald kept giving me meaningful glances, but she sat beside her husband—whom she had not seen in some time—smiling and chatting with him. They really did make a lovely couple.

“Here we are—the finest steak in New York.”

The butler smiled as he set a thick, perfectly seared steak in front of each of us. I cut into mine with a knife and placed a piece in my mouth.

It was… incredible. The exterior boasted a deep brown from a flawless Maillard reaction, while the medium-cooked interior was so tender it practically melted the moment it touched my tongue.

No wonder the chef had been offended when I claimed the top three steak houses in New York were the best I had ever tasted. This was vastly superior. He must have thought, How dare you call those places the best in New York?

“This is the most delicious steak I’ve ever had.”

“Hahaha! I thought so!”

The butler looked enormously pleased by my praise. Oliver Fitzgerald and Nae Fitzgerald also puffed up with pride, shoulders squared. As the owners of a mansion that employed a chef capable of producing the finest steak in the city, they had every right to feel smug.

“So, what are your plans after lunch?”

“I’m going to show Ryuta around New York.”

When Oliver asked, Aris answered while slicing her own steak. Since the only places I had visited since arriving in New York were the now-slum-like AmSang branch and the Brooklyn Naval Yard, a proper tour sounded enjoyable. Best of all, I wouldn’t have to plan anything myself. Aris had surely already mapped out a perfect date route.

“Stay away from dangerous areas. The Chinese gangs are causing all sorts of trouble lately, so be careful.”

“I know, Dad. We won’t be going anywhere risky, so don’t worry.”

It seemed the war between Kurotsuki Do and Otagi Yuka had left New York citizens on edge. Even for a vampire, taking on an entire branch of Kurotsuki Do single-handedly was impressive.

“Thank you for the meal!”

After we finished eating, Mimata Chieri, Aris, and I sat at the tea table set up in the garden, enjoying post-meal tea and small cakes.

“Senior, from the look on your face I think you should rest this afternoon as well.”

“Ugh, just how strong was that alcohol? My head is still killing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me.”

When I suggested she rest, Mimata Chieri gave a small nod. Aris, who had been leisurely sipping black tea, looked at the two of us and spoke up.

“Did you two drink together yesterday?”

“Not together. Only Senior drank. I didn’t have any.”

Well, we had drunk and then had sex, but since she hadn’t asked about that part I saw no need to volunteer the information.

“Chieri, I’ll take care of Ryuta today, so you stay home and rest.”

“Ugh… It’s my favorite netorare situation, but my head hurts too much to enjoy it…”

I ignored Mimata Chieri’s casual, bizarre remark about Aris monopolizing me today and stood up. Aris called out “Just a moment!” and ran to the garage, returning behind the wheel of a car. It was a ninth-generation Ford Mustang.

For the granddaughter of a chaebol family and daughter of nobility, it was an exceedingly modest vehicle. Not that I drove anything particularly expensive myself.

“Dad is ridiculously overprotective, so he bought me this on purpose. It looks like an ordinary car, but it’s packed with every safety feature imaginable.”

So the exterior was a standard Ford Mustang, but the interior had been heavily modified. Driving an obviously expensive car would only make her a kidnapping target, so she deliberately used something that looked normal.

Since the Fitzgerald family’s company, Talon, possessed considerable technological prowess, modifying a single vehicle would have been child’s play for them.

Aris took the driver’s seat while I sat beside her. It reminded me of the past. During our first date, Aris had driven while I sat in the passenger seat, exactly like this.

“It feels just like our first date.”

“You were thinking the same thing, Ryuta? Looks like our hearts are still in sync.”

Aris looked slightly moved that we had shared the same thought.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“I don’t have any particular destination in mind, but I’d like to stop by an antique shop. I want to pick up some souvenirs.”

When Aris asked, I mentioned wanting to visit an antique store. I showed her the location of the shop that contained a hidden item. She entered it into the navigation system and immediately set off.

“Then after the antique shop we can tour the rest of New York. I’ll show you around!”

“Sounds good.”

With New York’s skyscrapers as our backdrop, we soon arrived at our destination. The shop was named “Old One”—a rather Cthulhu-esque name—and occupied a somewhat sinister-looking building constructed of black brick.

As expected, Aris—who I suspected of being the Phantom Thief Francois—entered the antique store with sparkling eyes, eager to browse the goods. I followed behind her, not bothering to hide my own suspicious gaze.

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I tried creating them using the various 2.5D models I had saved. What do you think?