"I was very satisfied with your performance on the Xianzhou. As a reward, once everything settles down, I'll let Liaoyuan leave you."
Russell spoke to Tingyun, then turned. Amid the fox woman's panicked expression, he vanished from sight as swiftly and lightly as a leaf in the wind.
"Wait—"
The cunning fox seemed to want to struggle one last time, but before she could speak, a sudden change interrupted her.
A brilliant light abruptly flared beneath her feet, instantly enveloping her whole body and making her disappear.
Having returned to the dining hall, Russell clapped his hands as though he were a temple master who had just completed an exorcism ritual.
"I'm back."
Russell gave the door a light push, and it opened in response.
He steadily returned to the dining table. Mobius looked up and smiled, counting that as a greeting to Russell, while Herta Snake simply nodded.
Frankly speaking, that reaction seemed a little cold.
But considering that her fusion materials were Mobius and Herta, her apparent indifference toward her father did not seem all that strange.
Russell looked around, glancing left and right as though searching for someone. Yet after scanning the room, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
Topaz was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did Topaz go?"
Russell asked, but before the two people still eating could answer, a hurried voice reached him.
"Sorry, I stepped away for a moment. There was some news from the company."
"I may have to leave early."
Turning around, he saw Topaz, already dressed in company employee attire, along with the Chief Accountant.
What kind of news could make Topaz this rushed?
"What news?"
"The company's hired Envoy, as well as one member of the Genius Club, have arrived at headquarters."
Topaz answered concisely.
"This meeting is