'I'm glad it seems to have been resolved well.'
Osian nodded with satisfaction as he watched Lucent and Delan shake hands.
"Don't tell me you were aiming for this?"
When Loraine asked, Osian shrugged his shoulders lightly.
"I vaguely thought it would be nice if it turned out this way, but I didn't know it would work out this well."
"Liar."
"I'm serious. It wasn't me who did the persuading, it was Lucent. Would I have predicted all of that?"
Loraine still looked unconvinced, but Osian's words were completely sincere without a trace of deception.
Of course, there was some intent.
The Saint Tree board of directors was already aware of Lucent's reckless behavior like this. Nevertheless, they chose to persuade rather than eliminate Lucent.Osian bet on that.
'They must have judged that the value of the information Lucent possesses is that high.'
The Saint Tree board members had already carried out their scam based on Lucent's research data, but their greed didn't end there.
They planned to sell the proper data to other research companies and make even more money from that.
For this, the presence of Lucent Philburg, the chief researcher who was key to the research data, was essential.
'But when Lucent tried to cross the line, they judged persuasion impossible and sent cleaners to try to kill him.'
They probably thought that even if they killed him, they could just recover the research data Lucent had and use it for deals.
But there was something they overlooked.
They didn't expect that timid and introverted Lucent would go this far.
'More precisely, he came to request our services.'
Lucent must have agonized a lot.
In his pursued position, the only option was to hire fixers who would take on any request as long as they were paid.
However, he couldn't entrust the request to a mediocre fixer as that wouldn't guarantee his safety.
Violet Fox was what Lucent chose as his absolute last resort when backed into a corner.
There was no calculation in it, just a choice made following his heart.
But that became the one lifeline of salvation he would have in his life.
'He was lucky. Though luck wasn't everything.'
Lucent met Osian, and thanks to that, he was able to meet Delan as well.
But meeting Delan and persuading him was clearly Lucent's own ability.
"What exactly did you trust when you left it to him?"
Loraine whispered from the side.
It seemed she felt uncomfortable with how well things were working out, even if Osian hadn't predicted the situation to this extent.
"Because I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"A warm flame."
Over Osian's retina that remained fixed on Lucent without falling, a pure white flame could be seen shining.
That was the light of the heart that Lucent as a person possessed.
Just like during the North Blinders incident, it was a trace of sacred light dwelling in a human heart.
"What do you mean you saw a flame, I don't understand what you're saying..."
"It's fine if you don't understand. Either way, the matter has been handled well, so just know that it's a situation to be happy about."
"Tch. Speaking in riddles only you understand."
While Loraine was grumbling, Lucent and Delan, who had finished their conversation, approached.
"Thank you so much."
Lucent bowed deeply toward Osian.
"The client's gratitude seems excessive to me."
"I was able to do all this thanks to you, Osian."
"Stand up straight. I may have brought you here, but it was you yourself who purely persuaded Delan through conversation."
"But..."
While Lucent was still hesitating, Delan crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
"Yeah, don't bow your head. When you do that, it looks like I made the deal with you because I was manipulated by that man."
"Th-that's not it!"
Lucent straightened his bent back sharply.
Only then did Delan's sharp gaze soften.
"Right. Act confident since you persuaded me with your own strength. That's courteous both to yourself and to others."
"Ah. Yes, yes."
Lucent nodded with a dazed expression.
Just then, Sebastian opened the door and brought in steaming cups of tea.
"Have you finished your discussion? It seems I came a bit late."
"No. Your timing is perfect. I was just getting thirsty. Partner, will you have some too?"
When Delan asked, Lucent nodded his head vigorously up and down.
"Yes. I'll have some."
"Good choice. These are precious tea leaves that you can't easily taste anywhere. Not to mention Sebastian's skill in brewing them."
"Hehe. You flatter me."
"I don't give unnecessary praise. Such formalities have no value."
Delan said this while lifting his teacup and taking a sip. Though brusque, that was his way of giving praise.
Lucent also sat quietly and drank his tea.
Perhaps because the tea tasted good, he gulped it down despite it being hot.
Osian quietly watched this scene. Wondering if Ronan would be sad seeing this sight.
That's when butler Sebastian asked.
"Would you like some too, Osian?"
"If you're offering I won't refuse, but is it alright?"
"Ah. You mean that? I was just about to address it."
Delan and Lucent's gazes turned to Sebastian.
"It seems some unsavory characters have gathered outside the mansion just now."
"Hmm. So the tail followed us here. More surprising though. I wouldn't think they'd be ignorant of what would happen if they tried such things in District 29, of all places."
"Yes. That's probably why they're unable to move freely."
They might have been able to somehow bribe officials through lobbying up to the 30s districts, but from the 20s it was different, especially here, where wealthy people's villas were mainly located.
If an incident occurred in a place where security was life, then the heads of the district's guard post and related officials would all roll.
No matter how much Tirna's officials were called iron rice bowls, they couldn't endure the anger of the wealthy.
The people sent from Saint Tree probably knew this and thus couldn't act rashly.
"How stupid. Even if they force their way in, there's nothing they can do in this mansion anyway."
Although this was called the Goldiron family villa, it was far larger in scale than most families' main mansions.
And naturally, the number of servants working in this mansion, and the security guarding it were likewise.
Sebastian shook his head as if troubled.
"But even with them there like that, we have no way to drive them away. Since they haven't actually intruded, and are just watching, it's not easy to establish grounds either."
"They're probably waiting for the client to come out. It would be easier to work in a place with few people around."
Osian cast his gaze beyond the window.
The wide garden, and the tall, thick wall at its edge.
Beyond that, there would be guys trying to somehow spy on this side.
"Won't I be ambushed the moment I go out?!"
"Not likely. No matter how far they go, they can't commit such acts in this district. By now, the guards would have noticed something suspicious and deployed."
"Then..."
"They'll watch to see when we come out and where we're trying to go. And they'll report to their superiors."
The reporting is fine. The moment they confirm we're trying to go to another district, they'll see it as their chance and attack right away.
Though Osian didn't particularly think they would lose in a fight, his goal was to protect Lucent.
No matter how low their level might be, if they pushed in with numbers and targeted only Lucent, Osian would have no way to protect him.
"What should we do now?"
"Have you forgotten what we came here for?"
"That's..."
"They're trying to compete with money. We came all the way here to compete with money accordingly."
When Osian glanced at Delan while speaking, Delan frowned as if exasperated.
"Looks like you see me purely as a source of money."
"Hasn't the deal already been made?"
"Haa. Right. Having come this far, I'm essentially drawn into this endless bubble battle too."
The Goldiron family's funds.
Though they couldn't circulate all of it right away, even moving just a portion would be enough.
"I'm the expert in this area, so you think about other things. For instance, how to survive. Well, staying in the Goldiron villa, which is safer than a bunker, wouldn't be bad either."
"Y-yes, right?"
"What do you mean 'right'?"
Osian reminded Lucent of the cruel reality as he was feeling relieved.
"Would anything change if you hold out like that?"
"Huh? Well..."
"The Saint Tree board members have already made their money, and are probably plotting how to divide their performance bonuses. Was revealing the truth about this incident your only real goal?"
At the penetrating question, Lucent squeezed his eyes shut.
"No. I want all the money they earned illegally to be recovered."
"And?"
"And...I'd like that money to be returned to its original owners."
Yes! That's right!
Hearing those words, Loraine clenched her fist and supported Lucent's opinion.
Osian gave her a stern look telling her to stay quiet, then asked Lucent again.
"Then, what should we do?"
"That's..."
"At the very least, I don't think that answer will come from just staying safely holed up in here."
Delan, who had been listening quietly, cut in.
"Recovering the money won't be easy. Even now, Tirna hasn't been able to charge them for criminal acts."
Considering what Saint Tree had done, they should have already raided and finished investigating everything.
But they couldn't do that not only because Saint Tree had fed massive bribes to check them, but because they had committed their acts while cleverly avoiding legal nets.
"They're guys who smoothly secure their interests outside the legal net. How do you plan to draw in such guys?"
"Isn't it easy to draw them in? When there's bait they covet like this."
When Osian spoke, everyone's gaze turned to Lucent.
"Y-yes?"
People showed different reactions as they realized what Osian meant.
"Hey. Are you crazy?"
Loraine demanded what nonsense Osian was talking about.
"Indeed, I see."
Delan nodded in understanding.
"You still make dangerous choices."
Sebastian gave an awkward smile.
"J-just a moment, I don't quite understand what you're saying..."
"The Saint Tree board members are concerned about you, Lucent, right now. They're trying to somehow get back the data and information you possess. The other businesses, including building the communication network using that plant, are impossible without you, right?"
"That's...probably true."
"Do you think those greedy old men will be satisfied with just the money they've earned now?"
Osian tapped his arm with his finger while keeping his arms crossed.
"If they fed enough money to move officials, significant expenses must have occurred from their earnings."
"They...they might just give up, right?"
"Give up?"
Osian scoffed at Lucent's words.
"You don't understand their desire well. For people who try to keep secrets even by killing others, do you think there would be such a thing as giving up? Rather, they'll try to somehow make up for their losses this time."
Osian asked Delan.
"The partner should know what I'm talking about."
"Yes. Because for a businessman, desire is absolutely inseparable from their soul's companion."
Delan didn't deny that fact either.
"Desire always urges businessmen on. Sometimes it becomes a driving force, but sometimes it acts as poison. What's important is the difference between being swayed by desire and wielding desire. That's the criterion that determines first-class businessmen."
And in Delan's view, Saint Tree's pigs were those who couldn't become first-class.
"Even after raising bubbles to collect money, they left data to sell it and make more money. If this is what's revealed, considering what isn't revealed, they were probably plotting to rake in money three or four times over."
"You mean, you'll use me as bait to draw them out?"
"To draw fish swimming freely outside the legal net into the fishing net, you need bait that's equally attractive."
Meaning bait excellent enough to provoke enormous greed that they can't handle.
Hearing this, Lucent could newly realize that he was such an important person in this incident.
Right. I've come this far. I can't stop now out of fear.
If I was going to stop, I should have stopped earlier.
"I'll do it. Being that bait."
Osian and Delan smiled at Lucent's bold words.
Osian with a faint smile, Delan with a cynical smile.
Of course, both smiles meant they found Lucent admirable.
Seeing their expressions, Lucent felt courage he didn't have before.
"What's the worst that could happen, death?!"
Loraine, who had been listening quietly, cut in.
"Well, dying painlessly might be better."
"Uh, um...really?"
Lucent's courage cooled rapidly.
Osian and Delan, and even Sebastian glared at Loraine.