The Matter of Me Being Picked Up and Adopted by Talula Chapter 28

"No... that's not it at all!"

Lumen was flustered. Her father was merely 'unconscious,' yet the situation had spiraled so far out of her control—it was completely beyond her expectations.

"Ah, so this is what they call 'the pot calling the kettle black'?"

Just as the situation was about to completely devolve, Orson's voice rang out. After all, Orson had always used a virtual vocal cord, and his previous appearance had merely been an imitation.

"You bastard—oof!?"

One moment, Orson was being suppressed by everyone; the next, he had broken free from the bodyguards' hold. Not only that, but he had also pinned the security captain, who had been shouting the loudest, beneath him.

"What's going on—!?"

Everyone re-aimed their weapons at Orson, but this time, Orson was unhurried, as if his previous predicament had all been an act.

"Thank you for your self-incrimination, Security Captain. And thank you all for being so cooperative. This farcical performance has brought everyone right to me."

"A farce...? Then my father—"

Lumen asked, confused.

"No, your dad really did want to run, and I really did give him a bump with a vase."

"You traitor, what are you—Gahhh!!"

With a crisp snap, Orson completely dislocated the security captain's arm.

"Of course, this isn't the only way I could stop Mr. Andrei, but it's the only way to create a commotion and gather all the security personnel—That's right, this captain was correct, there is a mole within the Rostov security forces who is loyal to the Baikal faction, and that mole is him."

Orson lifted the security captain pinned beneath him and declared loudly.

"You're spewing lies!"

"Then explain this walkie-talkie on the inside of your uniform. Who were you planning to contact?"

"—!?"

Orson produced a walkie-talkie, and upon seeing it, the security captain's pupils immediately contracted.

The intelligence provided by W not only included the possibility of the current Sarkaz mercenary captain's attack but also the message that "there is a mole within the Rostov security team."

When confronting Lumen and the head of the Rostov family, Orson had thought he might be able to use this method to gather everyone. Afterward, he could use his abilities to scan the external anomaly outlines of all security personnel at close range and then use Rest Note to seize them.

As expected, the fish had taken the bait.

"Do you want me to ask who you're talking to?"

Orson questioned the security captain as others surrounded him. The captain finally broke.

"Was it you who revealed the security vulnerabilities that led to the guards being attacked? You... haven't you been serving the Rostov family for at least 10 years?"

Lumen questioned him, disbelief etched on her face. The man finally dropped his pretense completely.

"Because this family is beyond saving! You touched the old nobility's interests, and even if those Sarkaz didn't finish you, the combined forces would flatten this place! No one will escape! You idiots! I'm trying to—Ptuh!"

Before the security captain could finish speaking, the guards whose brothers had died in the attack began raining blows upon him. However, more guards frowned in deep thought after hearing his words.

Orson had lost interest in what happened next. He moved away from the crowd and walked over to Lumen, who was still somewhat dazed from the shock.

"Are you alright, Natalia?"

"I... let me have a moment... No, I need to go see my father."

Lumen shook her head and then walked towards the infirmary. Orson said nothing, merely following behind her.

When the two arrived at the infirmary, the head of the Rostov family had already woken up. After all, Orson had deliberately aimed for a spot where the thunder would be loud but the rain would be light when he hit him.

Of course, if it hurt, it really did sting.

"This is a bit embarrassing... saying those things and then not making a clean getaway, only to be knocked to the ground with a vase by my own security."

Lumen's father rubbed his forehead and then looked at Orson and Lumen.

"Why did you stop me, Oreo?"

"Did hitting me reset me to factory settings?... Why am I Oreo again? (His initial mispronounced name). Anyway, I don't like seeing people go to their deaths, and this solves nothing; it's just self-gratification."

"It was the only way. Only the Emperor..."

"No, you weren't planning to find any Emperor at all. After all, this journey isn't one you can make in dress shoes and a suit. And the documents in that briefcase, they should be contracts and deeds for the Rostov family's assets, right?"

"—"

The head of the Rostov family frowned deeply, then forced a wry smile.

"My judgment of people was correct after all. You're right."

"Father...?"

Lumen couldn't comprehend her father's decision to "surrender without a fight."

"We'll find a way. You can't just—"

"Do we really have any other way?"

The family head interrupted Lumen.

"I've been in contact with Marquis Boris and other business partners during this time, but they all stated they wouldn't interfere with Duke Baikal's actions. These people have no intention of helping; they're all just waiting to pick over our corpses. They haven't even considered what Kazimierz City will become if the old nobility regains power!"

"Just like those who persecuted Infected never imagined how they'd be treated if they became Infected themselves?"

Orson's words made Lumen pause for a moment, while the head of the Rostov family chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"That's right. We have no allies, no resources. These merchants have chosen to side with the old nobility for self-preservation. All I can do now is use my life and the family's assets to try and secure a chance for you to survive without being implicated, Natasha."

"..."

Lumen couldn't offer words of comfort this time. In truth, she knew better than anyone that the new nobility had no chance of winning this war. Yet, she had continued to persevere, relying on the honor of her family, the Rostovs, to support herself alone.

As the atmosphere turned deathly silent, Orson spoke—though his voice was emitted through a virtual vocalizer.

"I might be able to help you."

"—But the only question is whether you are worth the risk for my comrades. This has nothing to do with profit; what we seek is the [Future]."

"Future...?"

"That's right. How will you prove yourself, head of the Rostov family? Prove that after enduring this ordeal, you can do something for the Infected—no, for those struggling to survive in the North?"

Orson's question was sharp. At the same time, for the first time in front of Lumen and the family head, he took out his communicator.

Looking at the young man before him, the Rostov family head, as a merchant, knew very well that he had found an ace—no, a savior.

But he also knew that the only reason this young man was still here was not for profit, nor for coveting the power of the Rostov family, but because of Natasha, his daughter.

He saw a certain "possibility" in Natalia, which was why he continued to stay, even preparing to confront Duke Baikal.

Since that was the case, he only had one remaining "chip"—

"Sister Talula? It's Orson. I've pretty much confirmed the situation in Kazimierz City. Yes, it's complicated, but there are also opportunities, chances for people to live better lives."

"Please have Reunion prepare themselves. I'm still negotiating with the head of the Rostov family. I'll decide whether to have my comrades—"

Orson's words were suddenly interrupted by a booming voice.

"Then there's only one answer! I will betroth my daughter, Natalia, to you—!!"

"Wha—!?" "Wait a minute!?" "Or—son—!?"

Lumen's father's voice clearly transmitted through the communicator to Reunion in the North. Then came Lumen's startled cry, Orson's wail, and from the other end of the phone, the sound of something burning.

42. Miss Lumen's Class is Now Open

A day had passed since the previous farce.

Driven by the will to survive, Orson desperately explained to Lumen's father, "If you still want me to live, then shut up quickly," managing to prevent the Rostov family head from continuing.

As for Lumen, she was even more direct. At that moment, she charged in like a bear using a powerful skill, followed by a second dash, and then a spinning piledriver in mid-air, instantly transforming into a signal axe and taking down her father! (Mistake)

Although the farce had temporarily ended, Talula hadn't contacted them since, and whenever Lumen saw Orson now, she couldn't help but look away.

"Over here~"

On a day off, Orson was sitting at a drink shop with the eldest daughter of the Rostov family. When he spotted a familiar figure, Orson immediately waved to signal her over.

"Morning, Sonia, Anna."

"Yo."

Lumiere and Truth walked up to Orson and the two from the other side, greeting them casually and refreshingly as always.

"Why did you call me out on the weekend, Orson? Combat training?"

Lumiere asked Orson the purpose of their outing, glancing at Lumen beside him and scoffing.

"If it's combat training, we can borrow the school grounds later. Speaking of which, Sonia, how's your emotional training for controlling your combat stance going?"

"It's okay, but I always feel like I have no momentum when I fight like that."

"Momentum is useless most of the time. Practicing with brute force like that doesn't work either."

Orson lectured earnestly, and although Lumiere was displeased, she took his words to heart.

After all, he had initially used "teaching you to become stronger" as a bargaining chip to get Lumiere to form the Bear Squad. After its establishment, Orson naturally kept his promise, teaching Lumiere combat techniques whenever he had the chance.

It was worth noting that when Lumiere first punched through the sandbag, Orson just thought General Winter had extraordinary talent.

Later, when Summer punched through the sandbag, Orson thought it was only natural for such prodigies.

And when Sister Gummy, who inexplicably started pestering Orson to learn combat techniques, shattered the sandbag with one punch, Orson faintly realized that he might be the weakest one.

When Gummy also shattered the sandbag with one punch, broke through the armor with two, and blew up the sandbag with three, Orson's eyes were vacant, and he muttered as if he had been broken, "So, it turns out I was the only noob..."

Lumiere and Lumen's strength were simply outrageous. Fortunately, these two only had a superficial understanding of fighting, and the other had no experience at all, so Orson could still manage to teach them some techniques to get by.

"So, why is this guy here too?"

Lumiere pointed at Lumen, her tone filled with displeasure.

"I have the same question, Sonia. Did you come over on your own accord?"

Lumen retorted, smiling while exuding a terrifying aura.

(Image here, viewable after updating)

"Huh? You white bear—"

The two started bickering within five seconds of meeting, while Truth walked excitedly to Orson's side.

"The answer to last time's riddle was that there were actually two corpses, and they died a day apart, right!"

"As expected of Anna, you got it right again. I'll prepare a new detective script next time."

The condition for tricking Truth into joining the team before was "detective stories not found in the library," so Orson often told Truth detective plots and had her guess the killer.

To be honest, Orson felt a little guilty. He had basically told all the mystery novels he had read, and all that was left in his mind were detective plots like Conan's "kicking a soccer ball to blow up an armed helicopter," which had nothing to do with deduction anymore.

"So, what are we doing today, Orson?"

After Lumiere and Lumen finished their usual bickering, General Winter casually sat next to Truth and asked why she had been called out today.

"It's very simple, today is our Bear Squad's first extracurricular club activity!"

Orson's tone was a little excited.

"...Club activity?"

Lumen frowned. Given the current situation of the Rostov family, Orson was still organizing club activities?

"That's right, but calling it a club activity is just going shopping. Our goal today is to wander around and experience the interesting places in Kazimierz City. It's a shame Rada and Rosaline couldn't come because they had other things to do, but there's nothing we can do about it, hahaha..."

As Orson was explaining, a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead because, under the table, Lumen's hand was resting on Orson's leg.

It wasn't a romantic caress, but Lumen was waiting for Orson to give a more reliable reason, otherwise, the white bear would crush Orson's knee with a million horsepower magnetic field rotation. Damn it, what could possibly stop her!

For Lumen, it was already a matter of the family's survival. She had been tricked out by Orson, only to find out it was a "club activity"? She couldn't accept such an explanation.

"I, I also have other considerations, Natalia..."

Orson whispered an explanation to Lumen, who finally sighed and released her death bear claw, choosing to believe Orson.

—If it were Orson, then there was probably a reason.

This time, venturing out with Lumen despite the risks was indeed not a simple club activity.

Helping Lumen find friends she could laugh with openly was also one of the goals, after all, after today, Lumen would probably not be able to live at her usual pace for a while.