What is a smile?
Literally, it refers to a face grinning without making a sound.
A smile, when one person greets another, was also a response designed to elicit the most positive effect.
Service industry workers don't smile at their customers for no reason.
It's a sign of friendliness, conveying "I am harmless to you and not hostile."
But just as there are various people in the world and this smile doesn't always work positively for everyone.
Ronan Roland was one of those people.
The Ronan that Osian knew was a very competent broker.
First, he is rational in everything. He was excellent at gathering information and possessed outstanding insight in discerning its authenticity.
Moreover, he treated fixers not just as tools, but as business partners and colleagues.This industry, where people work with fixers, is usually rough and barbaric.
Fixers think about backstabbing brokers, and brokers try to use fixers like tools to exploit requests.
There’s no romance at all, just pure practicality. No, something even more terrible than practicality.
This situation is prevalent throughout the industry.
Considering this, Ronan was truly like a dragon rising from a small stream.
His past identity must have had considerable influence in building such an image.
Just from the information he picked up during the Princess Orlea assassination case, Osian could infer that Ronan was a nobleman from another country.
Ronan leverages those advantages and treats people with gentlemanly behavior.
There was just one problem.
Ronan always smiles to create a positive impression on others, but that smile was not perceived as positive at all by other people.
Most people are wary when they first meet Ronan.
How should one describe Ronan's smile with his narrowed eyes and that grin?
'It's like suddenly encountering a leopard in the wild jungle? That kind of feeling?'
I'm not sure if this comparison is appropriate for someone who's smiling, but at least that's what Osian thought.
And this thought probably wasn't much different from what others thought.
'At least for strangers, it looks way too suspicious.'
Think about it.
In this violent industry, there's someone who wears a well-pressed, neat suit, maintains an aristocratic or gentlemanly attitude with formal speech, and even maintains a smile at all times.
Could that really be considered normal?
'Of course, once you get to know him better, you realize Ronan isn't just a suspicious and dangerous person.'
Even the Violet Fox colleagues who knew this were often startled when they encountered Ronan.
How much worse would it be for a stranger?
'Plus, a sincere smile? How is that different from his usual smile?'
As Osian expected, everyone reacted ambiguously to Ronan's words.
When Ronan mentioned his "sincere smile," they seemed closer to wondering why he would do such a thing rather than feeling sympathy or pity for him.
"Huhuhu. Why is everyone looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong? I have no idea what's going on."
Ronan asked back.
He was genuinely asking because he really didn't understand the current situation.
Unfortunately, from others' perspective, it sounded like he was deliberately mocking them while being fully aware of the situation.
Once an image is established, it's not easy to shed.
Especially for someone like Ronan who emits a very peculiar aura, it would be nearly impossible with ordinary effort.
"But Ronan, you're always smiling, so what's different about a sincere smile?"
It might seem funny to suddenly ask this, but Osian just couldn't help but ask.
At those words, others seemed curious as well and waited for Ronan's response.
"Hmm. If you ask how a sincere smile is different, of course it's different. Because this one that I wear normally comes out naturally, but that one is a smile I make more consciously."
If this is what comes out naturally, what should we call it?
A devilish talent?
"Come to think of it, we've never seen it either."
Even the senior members of Violet Fox like Lorraine, Diolan, and even Edgar had never seen Ronan's "sincere smile."
"Of course. This is more of a business smile, especially one I use only for very important occasions."
He's saying he doesn't need to do that with Violet Fox colleagues because they're close, but for some reason it sounds like "you guys aren't worthy of my sincere smile."
Of course it's a misunderstanding, but somehow when Ronan says such things, people can't help but react that way.
"Now that you mention it, I'm curious. Show us once. Let us see it too."
"Hieek!"
When Lorraine asked that, Lucent suddenly curled up and trembled like an aspen.
"I-I don't know! I haven't seen anything!"
What's with him now?
Lorraine's eyes turned to Ronan. What did you do to make Lucent react like that?
At those words, Ronan raised both hands, genuinely feeling wronged.
"I don't know either. Just after the interrogation was over, he was strangely terrified. Perhaps the oppressive atmosphere of the interrogation room gave him trauma?"
Ronan tried to explain, but no one believed him.
There was definitely something. Ronan must have done something.
By this point, it felt almost like opening a forbidden box, but having come this far, they couldn't just stop.
"So let us see it too. We've worked together for so long, but never seen such a smile, so I feel a bit left out."
"Hmm. This smile doesn't come out well unless the atmosphere is really tense."
"What do you mean it won't work! You're always smiling anyway! Just show us once! We'll evaluate it."
"Very well, if you insist."
Now that he was put on the spot, maybe he felt nervous.
Ronan cleared his throat, bringing his fist to his mouth.
And after composing himself, Ronan showed what he called his "sincere smile."
“──────”
The world froze.
It was just a moment, and it might have been a subjective impression, but everyone felt it that way.
Ronan's normally subtle narrowed eyes curved even more, and the smile on his lips stretched like a crescent moon all the way to his ears.
The terrifying pressure that emanated with that smile was eerie enough to give goosebumps even to experienced fixers who had been through thick and thin.
"That's about it. Nothing special, right?"
Ronan immediately released his sincere smile and spoke.
"It should come out better normally, but maybe because you forced me to do it, it didn't work out as well as I wanted."
"......"
"......"
"......"
Everyone was silent, and Lucent was trembling with his head buried in the floor like an ostrich, as if he didn't even want to imagine it.
So, this devil showed that demonic smile, like he just crawled up from hell, in the interrogation room?
And he himself really thinks that with good intentions and considers it a sincere smile?
Osian almost drew his sword from his waist despite knowing and being prepared for it. It was just for a moment, but still.
The reactions of others were even more extreme.
"Wow. Wow......"
Ena's mouth fell open like someone whose soul had left her body, and then she staggered off to the kitchen and disappeared.
Diolan's eyes changed to look like a cat's, and his hair was standing on end. If he had a tail, it would have stood straight up like an antenna.
Edgar, who always wore an arrogant expression, suddenly straightened up from his casual stance and adopted a respectful posture. His expression also changed as if he were a child being scolded by an adult.
In Lorraine's case, perhaps it was too much for her heart as she was panting.
Having faced such a smile without any mental preparation, the impact was not small.
"Hmm. Strange. I don't understand why everyone is reacting this way."
Only Ronan tilted his head to the side, as if he didn't understand at all.
Osian gathered his courage and lightly patted Ronan on the shoulder.
"You don't need to understand."
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"In fact, I'd rather you not understand. If you intentionally utilized that, it seems a bit dangerous."
I could understand why nations agree to ban biochemical weapons during wars.
I wasn't sure if comparing it to biochemical weapons was appropriate, but looking at the effect, there didn't seem to be much difference.
While Ronan was feeling dejected, Lucent, who had regained his composure, thanked Osian.
"Thank you. I showed an unsightly side of myself. It's just that the scene from the interrogation room came to mind, and I..."
"I understand. So everything was handled properly?"
"Yes, and I also received a lot of help from Mr. Delan Goldiron."
"What happens to the Saint Tree now?"
"It will be effectively disbanded. Even if the project they were trying to undertake was real, now that the incident has grown this large, they've lost trust."
The directors were all caught, and they had to cough up more money than they had earned.
What about those who couldn't?
Tirna is a city of capital. It means they definitely collect the amount they're owed.
Even the body of a decrepit old man would fetch a price when sold.
‘I have no intention of sympathizing with them. It's all an incident that occurred due to their own greed.’
They were simply paying the price. The price for being swayed by desires they couldn't handle and taking the witch's hand.
"And I'm going to start anew."
"You mean that business."
"Yes, I'm starting at a new company. Of course, the person supporting me is Mr. Delan."
A new business under Delan Goldiron’s name.
Since that was what the deal was about from the beginning, Osian nodded.
There was no need to question the possibility.
After all, this was a technology that Foolish Hans, one of Mother Goose's close associates, had his eye on.
Given that a smart guy was targeting it, the utility of this technology could be considered sufficiently proven.
'The city of Tirna knows this, so they'll probably protect Lucent's new project.'
In reality, this technology that Lucent was trying to implement would only develop Tirna further, not make it worse.
"Thanks to the compensation given by Tirna, my neighbors have regained their smiles again. Although I suffered losses, at least I can stand up again."
"That's fortunate. So, did you ask the flower shop girl on a date?"
Lucent's face reddened at Osian's mischievous question.
Though he seemed like he would wave his hands and deny it, this time he was surprisingly docile.
"Huh. Was it really true?"
"If it were the me from before, it might have been impossible. But after facing a life-threatening crisis, I guess I gained some courage."
Osian nodded with satisfaction as he watched Lucent smiling sheepishly.
At that moment, Osian saw the power of starlight burning within Lucent being absorbed by him.
It was a sight visible only to Osian, not to anyone else's eyes.
The power of Starlight, flowing like the Milky Way, came from Lucent and filled Osian's insides.
Before he could feel satisfied with it, Lucent abruptly handed something to Osian.
"What's this?"
What Lucent handed over was a small envelope.
Since it was given, Osian accepted it. Upon checking the contents inside, there were physical bonds.
"This is..."
"The payment for the request. It's stock in New Tree, the company that's about to be newly launched."
Unable to contain his amusement at Lucent's boldness, Osian let out a laugh.
"A case involving stocks, and the payment is in stocks. There's no irony like this irony."
"W-well, it might seem that way right now, but this time will be different. Yes, I'm certain."
"I'm not saying I don't believe you. With Goldiron's backing, you'll have ample funding, and you'll be able to fully unfold what you want to create. I was just a bit surprised, that's all."
"For now, that's all I could give you. Ah, everyone else please take one too."
Lucent distributed envelopes to everyone.
Though thinner than Osian's, he had prepared for the other members, so it certainly wasn't a small amount.
Edgar naturally put it in his inside pocket, while Diolan looked at it carefully before placing it beside him.
A honking sound was heard from outside, it was a call for Lucent.
"Ah, I think I should go now. I need to start the project right away."
"I see."
"Someday, if I have another request, may I come back?"
"You can come even without a request."
Lucent's expression brightened at Osian's answer, and he left the tavern, leaving behind his greetings.
"Stocks? Is this supposed to be payment?"
The most unexpected reaction to Lucent's gift came from Lorraine.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
"No, you saw what I went through recently."
Lorraine's complexion wasn't so good, perhaps recalling the suffering from that day.
Even so, since Lucent gave it as payment, it felt awkward to throw it away.
Lorraine spotted Ena, who had just come out of the kitchen, and handed her the envelope.
"Take this."
"Oh? What's this?"
"They say it's stock in a new company called New Tree that's about to be launched. I don't need it anymore, so you might as well use it. I suppose you could sell it right away for money."
Ena accepted it with a bright smile. She was someone who didn't refuse gifts.
"I suppose so."
"So, are you going to sell it now?"
"No? I'm thinking of waiting a bit."
Lorraine seemed displeased with Ena's attitude and spoke somewhat curtly.
"It might become a piece of trash later. Don't say I didn't warn you if you regret it then."
Ena just smiled.
Suddenly, Osian had a thought and somehow felt like he knew who would regret it later.