The girl recovered from her excitement, then blushed a little when she realized how she had just lost her composure.
She ventured a tentative question:
"Would just those be all right?"
The items weren't expensive. Their content was just a little... hard to comment on.
"Is there anything else you need besides those?" Jonas was somewhat at a loss for words.
Celine shook her head, then seemed to remember something and asked hesitantly:
"Could you keep this from my sister?"
"Of course."
The girl let out a relieved breath, and her gaze toward Jonas grew noticeably warmer.
Often, all it took to bring two people closer in a hurry was a secret that only they shared.
Jonas picked up the knife the girl had dropped on the floor and casually set it on the table. Looking at her, he said softly:
"Until next time, then, Miss Celine."
Even as he left the hospital room, Jonas still felt a little rattled.
He had thought Miss Esnie would be the main problem, but now it seemed Miss Celine was far more troublesome than her older sister.
Of course, that was merely Jonas's subjective opinion.
Objectively speaking, Celine's influence over Esnie had not actually exceeded manageable limits.
In other words, he could shelve his plans for Esnie for now.
Jonas tapped his fingers against the armrest beside the car door. The screen in front of him was playing news about the riot in the Alt District.
[The mastermind behind the Alt District riot has been apprehended. Peacekeeping forces are currently in talks with the Wetting Conglomerate.]
The news seemed to remind Jonas of something.
Barring any surprises, Miss Amau's accomplices should be getting restless about now.
"Change course. Head to the Sterlt District. I have something to take care of."
With the potential trouble posed by Miss Celine resolved, it was time to deal with those rats hiding in the sewers.
The Sterlt District.
A burly red-haired man fiddled with a mechanical component in his hands while the television beside him played news about the Alt District.
[The mastermind behind the recent Alt District riot has been apprehended. The search for the remaining accomplices is ongoing.] [Citizens with relevant information are encouraged to come forward. The Wetting Conglomerate is offering rewards ranging from fifty thousand to five hundred thousand Credit Points, depending on the information provided.]
"That stupid woman. Damn her."
Listening to the news, the burly man cursed under his breath as he adjusted the mechanical component in his hands.
Naturally, he knew who the "mastermind" in the report was. After all, he was one of the accomplices the anchor had mentioned.
Ian Strala, a member of the insurgent organization Destiny, was also one of the chief planners behind the Alt District riot.
He had supplied almost all the detailed intelligence on mechanical weapons used in the riot.
Amau Sueko had originally told him that this operation might become Destiny Organization's first step toward overthrowing the conglomerates' rule.
But now, it looked as though that stupid woman had simply overestimated herself.
And now she had dragged him down with her...
A trace of hatred flashed through Ian Strala's eyes.
The Wetting Conglomerate's manhunt covered practically all twenty-six districts surrounding the Alt District, leaving him too afraid even to step outside.
Who knew whether that bitch Amau Sueko had sold him out...? If the Wetting Conglomerate found out about him, even ten lives wouldn't be enough.
He had to find a way out of the Sterlt District... yes, he had to escape.
Truth be told, he had never felt much attachment to this so-called Destiny organization.
He had only joined the insurgents because Destiny Organization's leader had something to hold over him.
Risking his life to carry out the organization's missions was out of the question...
Besides, this hadn't even been an official mission. That idiot Amau Sueko had acted on her own initiative.
The real problem was that he had believed the plan Amau Sueko had presented to him... she had convinced him that the Wetting Conglomerate could be exploited, and he had even helped her carry it out.
That had landed him squarely in this impossible position.
Beep.
As he brooded over his predicament, an anonymous user sent an email to the inbox on the communications terminal in front of him.
Ian Strala immediately raised his head and looked at the email. He recognized the symbol; the message had come from Destiny Organization.
His eyes lit up. He thought Destiny Organization must have already arranged for people to come and help him escape.
But the moment he opened the email, its contents darkened his expression.
[Ian, we fully understand your current predicament. Rest assured, we have already dispatched personnel to help you evade the Wetting Conglomerate's pursuit.] [Afterward, I will draw up a detailed plan to ensure that Amau Sueko is rescued from the Wetting Conglomerate.]
Rescue Amau Sueko? Were they kidding?!
Forcing their way into the Wetting Conglomerate would be suicide. Yet judging by the email, whoever had sent it clearly hadn't given his survival the slightest consideration.
Ian Strala's gaze turned grim as he cursed under his breath:
"Goddamn bastards. Every last one of them, rats from the same nest."
He was a senior engineer. He didn't even belong to the same social class as those slum-dwelling lowlifes.
If they hadn't held leverage over him, why would he ever have joined their organization?
"The Wetting Conglomerate's full of lunatics, too. Goddamn pigs. Goddamn Jonas."
With that, he slammed his hand against the table, his eyes practically overflowing with resentment.
Bang!
As if echoing his fury, a heavy crash came from the workshop door.
Ian Strala jumped in fright. The next instant, the workshop door was blasted open.
A young man appeared in the doorway. He pulled off his white gloves, looked at the terrified man before him, and said softly:
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ian Strala."
"Allow me to introduce myself..."
"Oh, it seems there's no need."
Before you continue