Regarding the Matter of Me Being Picked Up and Adopted by Talula

Orson, who had intended to say, "This place can accommodate many wounded," swallowed his words under the gaze of the other three.

"Is there some kind of event happening over there?"

Truth noticed what seemed to be an event in the lobby of the Kazimierz City hotel. When everyone gathered, they discovered it was a competition called the "First Elegant Service Cup Competition," a name that sounded nonsensical at first.

The general idea was for people to wear maid outfits and serve guests.

"...How boring. Let's go, Anna."

Lumiere glanced at it and was about to leave with Truth, but Lumen, having thought of something, suddenly called out to everyone.

"Perhaps—we could try participating, Sonia?"

Lumen looked at Lumiere with a smile, then turned to Orson.

Isn't this a good opportunity? I can show my approachable side, and also my feminine charm.

After all, as a merchant's daughter, Lumen instantly analyzed the benefits.

"Huh? Why should I—"

"Well, since Sonia is so reckless, she might not really be suited for serving others, right?"

"...Hey, you! This is a challenge, isn't it!"

Lumiere, who had intended to leave, became interested upon hearing this. The two rivals ran off to the registration desk together.

"Hmm, let's go home."

Truth blinked, completely uninterested in watching the drama unfold.

However, the competition's outcome was completely beyond Truth's expectations—

"Your Earl Grey."

Although Lumiere, dressed in a maid outfit, wore a very awkward expression, her every movement was elegant and proper, unlike a genius fighter who could shatter sandbags with a single punch.

On the other hand, Lumen was having a much harder time.

"Please... please, enjoy."

"Um, uh, yes, okay."

Lumen, blushing, shakily held out the Earl Grey, while the guest being served looked pained and walked on eggshells.

Why am I playing dress-up as a maid at a time like this...!?

Why is the heiress of the Rostov family playing dress-up as a maid...!?

They say love makes people blind, and Lumen still had a long way to go before becoming a shrewd merchant who could perfectly weigh the pros and cons.

"Why... Sonia, are you so skilled at this?"

During a break, Lumen asked Lumen curiously while wiping sweat.

"Hmm? Because my mom used to be a maid serving nobles. I was often taught this way when I was little, though I completely dislike this kind of work."

"Eh..."

Lumen blinked. This was a complete miscalculation.

Though they had both lost their composure, seeing each other's unknown sides was a subtly novel experience for both "bears."

I feel like this white bear/Sonia also has an interesting side.

The two exchanged glances.

In the end, the winner of the First Elegant Service Cup Competition was—Orson.

"I'm just wearing the same outfit, I'm not a waiter at your hotel. This suit is from the Rostov family... Mmph?"

Orson, who had been pulled onto the award stage, was still explaining when he was suddenly handed the championship trophy, holding it in a daze.

"..." "..."

Below the award stage, Lumiere and Lumen, dressed in maid outfits, stared blankly at Orson holding the trophy on stage.

Fireworks Lumen Lumiere Fireworks

44. Azazel Clinic

The club activities lasted for nearly a whole day, and the group finally finished their outing as the sun began to set.

"It was much more interesting than I expected, and I saw something very interesting, noble lady."

This time, Lumiere didn't complain about boredom. Instead, she glanced at Lumen with a mischievous grin.

"Ugh... a complete miscalculation."

Lumen frowned, admitting she was still too young. Not only did she fail to display her feminine charm, but she also made everyone extremely awkward and became a laughingstock for Lumiere.

In the end, even the trophy went to Orson!

"Two months' worth of exercise..."

Truth sat on a chair, quietly complaining and panting. She wasn't like these "bears" in terms of strength; her role was more like that of a wheelchair detective.

After a brief chat, the first Bear Squad activity concluded relatively successfully. Everyone went their separate ways, and the relationship between Lumen, Lumiere, and Truth deepened considerably.

"Orson, aren't you going back?"

When Lumen was greeted by the few remaining black luxury cars and three elite suit assassins from the Rostov family's security, Orson didn't plan on getting in the car with them, which made Lumen a bit confused.

"You go back first, Natalia. I still have something to deal with here."

"Mm... be careful."

Lumen knew very well that this wasn't the time to throw a tantrum. Orson was the key to breaking the deadlock, and she needed to support his actions.

"You too, young lady. After this is over— no, I shouldn't jinx it myself..."

Orson wanted to say something, but after rubbing his hair, he held back. In the end, they just nodded, and Lumen was escorted back to the mansion.

After seeing Lumen off, Orson took out a slip of paper with a blurred address written on it.

Following the directions on the paper, Orson eliminated his presence and arrived at a flower shop.

After confirming with his reconnaissance abilities that there were no more spies from Duke Baikal around, Orson pushed the door open and entered the flower shop.

"Hello, do you know the 'Azazel' clinic?"

Orson walked up to the counter and asked the uncle working there. This was Orson's other objective on this trip—to contact the manager of Kazimierz City's underground clinic, the general who had achieved countless merits for Ursus, Hegre.

"..."

The uncle at the counter sized up Orson and then pointed outside.

"Across the street?"

"Get out."

"Uh..."

Kicked out, Orson stared at the flower shop and frowned in thought. Could it be that the address Uncle Isaac helped him find was wrong?

No, although Uncle Isaac seemed unreliable usually, he was quite dependable. It must be that my questioning process was flawed.

Orson nodded and walked into the flower shop again.

"Hello, I'd like to buy some flowers."

The uncle at the counter nodded, indicating it was okay.

Afterward, Orson bought several bunches of lilies of the valley.

"Now, can you tell me the location of Azazel?"

"Get out."

"Hey, you're quite strict about separating business and personal matters!"

Orson was once again kicked out, still holding the flowers he had just bought.

"Young man from the Rostov family, you should learn to give up, otherwise, it will only make both of us look awkward."

Just as Orson was thinking about what to do next, a deep, resonant male voice came from beside him.

"—Ah"

Orson turned his head to look beside him and immediately recognized the man in front of him—a very masculine old man wearing leather pants and the same trench coat as V, with white Liberi hair, walking his bird.

(An illustration is provided here; it can be viewed after updating the version.)

The elder—no, although the man had graying hair at his temples, his entire demeanor lacked the calm and gentle nature of an old man. He was like a war blade, still incredibly sharp and poised for action.

—A sharp and tight short string section, making it impossible to breathe, but... his melody was being intentionally slowed down by himself?

In short, this dashing old man was Hegre, the person Orson was looking for, the person in charge of the Azazel Clinic and Kazimierz City's infected network.

"You are General Hegre, aren't you?"

"General? It's been a long time since I've heard that title."

Hegre raised an eyebrow slightly at Orson's address, but that was all. This elder, who bore the clear traces of time, did not show much surprise or impatience.

"General Hegre, my name is Orson, and I've come because there are some matters I hope you can—"

"Please go back, young man. I have nothing to help you with. My title as general was stripped long ago. All that stands here now is a down-and-out fellow who has abandoned everything."

Without even letting Orson finish, Hegre interrupted him directly.

—A down-and-out person wouldn't spray hairspray on their head and walk around the street in a trench coat and leather pants!

Orson complained silently in his heart, then unbuttoned his suit, pulled at his white shirt, revealing the Originium crystals on his shoulder.

"I am not a legitimate member of the Rostov family, but I am indeed an infected individual."

"...Then, follow me."

Upon seeing Orson's Oripathy symptoms, Hegre nodded and led Orson into the flower shop.

"Pfft—"

As they passed the uncle at the counter, the vindictive Orson didn't forget to make a face.

The two arrived at the back of the flower shop. Hegre gently pushed open a slightly ajar door, and a basement staircase appeared before them.

The space hidden in the basement was a world of its own. A factory-like area slowly unfolded before Orson.

"Go to 1B and find Doctor Ziegler. I don't know anything about treating Oripathy. Next time, you can enter through the clinic on Revolution Road A23; that's the main entrance."

"Understood, Mr. Hegre... Wow, he sure is fast."

Orson was about to greet him when he turned around and found that Hegre, who had been behind him, had vanished.

No... Orson could actually sense Hegre nearby, in the shadows of a rooftop, using Wide-area Low Frequency. But if he pointed out this Batman-like disappearing act, he figured the old man would just kick him with his leather-clad long legs.

He'd discuss cooperation with Hegre later.

Orson followed the signs towards Area 1B. Along the way, he saw many people he'd never seen in Kazimierz City before—infected individuals.

On Terra, almost every country discriminated against and persecuted the infected. Ursus was the most severe among them.

The infected living in Kazimierz City were isolated and helpless, unable to find any way to alleviate their symptoms. Some didn't even dare to tell their closest family members about their condition.

And the Azazel Clinic was the last hope for these infected in Kazimierz City.

"Someone from the Rostov family...?" "Hey, that guy..." "Have we been discovered?"

The scattered infected gathered in the basement noticed Orson, and they all whispered amongst themselves about this uninvited guest carrying flowers.

"..."

Orson silently removed the ID badge from his chest. He had deliberately worn this work uniform earlier to attract the attention of Duke Baikal's spies, but now he realized he should have taken it off sooner.

Based on his observations during this time, while the Rostov family hadn't persecuted or abused the infected in Kazimierz City, they also hadn't done anything for them in return.

Sometimes, "indifference" itself is a form of harm. Even though everyone knew that 'Ursus' infected' had no human rights, they still hoped someone would reach out to them. At the same time, they cursed the nobles who possessed happiness, wealth, and status that they couldn't obtain, yet remained indifferent to the infected.

Looking at the infected whose eyes lacked any vitality, Orson understood clearly that this was another side of Kazimierz City.

It wasn't the bright and shiny "surface," nor was it the "underbelly" where people schemed and plotted behind each other's backs.

This was simply the "crevice" that all infected were destined to reach—unaccepted by society and the world, ignored by everyone.