"Ben, didn't you say those investors from TOPS would arrive at four this afternoon? It's almost four-thirty now, and there's still no sign of anyone."
"Hmm, let's wait a little longer, President. I called to ask a little over ten minutes ago, too. They said they were stuck in a bit of traffic and should be here soon..."
At Black Eagle Construction Site, where Belobog Heavy Industries was based, their "king of beasts" + "Koleda Belobog" was reclining on a large wooden crate, looking down toward the slightly sinking sun across from her. Beside her were three well-known executives from Belobog Heavy Industries.
There was the honest, good-natured yet imposing-looking bear Thiren accountant, "Ben Bigger"; the foreman brimming with passion and drive, "Anton Ivanov"; and their technical expert (the iron witch), Ms. "Grace Howard."
Koleda turned to glance at Grace, who was sitting beside her operating a terminal, then looked at Anton on her other side, who had grown so bored that he had started exercising. She said discontentedly:
"Fine, seriously, let's wait a little longer... But Ben, why do you think TOPS wants to invest in us?"
Knowing exactly how much their business amounted to, Koleda was very puzzled by TOPS's sudden interest in investing.
Sure, under my leadership, our company has outstanding capabilities, excellent technology, and enormous potential, and we even snatched the newest, most lucrative construction project away from Vision Corporation not long ago.
But that still shouldn't be enough to attract investment from TOPS, should it?
"Well..."
Ben recalled, "On the phone earlier, they were very... very direct about wanting to invest in us right from the start. Then they arranged a time with me for an on-site assessment. In short, I'm not too sure myself..."
"Oh, so that's how TOPS does things..." Koleda muttered, then asked curiously:
"Ben, when you say they were 'very direct,' just how direct were they?"
Ben said, "Uh, let me think back... Well, as soon as the call connected, the first thing they said was, 'We want to invest in your Belobog Heavy Industries.'"
Koleda was a little surprised. "Oh? They actually came right out and said, 'We want to invest in your Belobog Heavy Industries,' so bluntly and straightforwardly...
"Ahh, I've got it! They must have recognized our potential at Belobog Heavy Industries, so they want to invest big in us!"
"...You could think of it that way, President."
Ben said, "Actually, at first I thought it was some kind of prank call. But then someone else took over and spoke to me, and then..."
"President, Big Ben, look! Cars are coming!"
Anton, who had just finished exercising and was taking a water break, spotted the approaching cars and interrupted their conversation.
Koleda jumped off the crate and adjusted her expression, trying her best to look serious as she gazed toward the guests outside the gate.
A luxurious black limousine, followed by several matching black sedans, was slowly approaching the compound's gate.
Ben and Anton hurriedly directed the guards to open the gate and let the convoy in.
The conspicuous luxury car parked sideways a short distance in front of them, while the other sedans parked beside it.
Iron Guards stepped out of the sedans one after another, then formed two facing rows between Koleda's group and the limousine as quickly as possible.
A device extended from the underside of the luxurious limousine, aimed at the two-meter gap between the rows of Iron Guards, and abruptly shot out a red carpet that unfurled right to Koleda's feet.
The display left Koleda and the others a little stunned. They had never expected such a grand entrance.
But it also kept them from noticing that someone could no longer hold herself back and had begun to act while their attention was elsewhere.
"So this is the place?"
The car door opened, and Red One, dressed in a suit and polished shoes, stepped onto the automatically unfurled red carpet.
He sized up Koleda and the others, then made a show of adjusting his collar and tie, trying to give himself the air of a dignified big shot.
But just as he lifted his foot to walk, someone suddenly shoved him from behind, nearly knocking him off balance.
"What are you standing in the doorway for so long? You think we're not getting out?"
Blue Two, dressed just like Red One, also got out and made a show of adjusting his cuffs.
"F***!"
Seeing this, Red One said irritably, "There's more than one door! Couldn't you get out on the other side? Did you have to follow right behind me?"
Blue Two said, "Hmph, what, you wanted to walk the red carpet alone and play the rich guy? Looking like that, you really think we're your lackeys?"
Red One said, "You won't give me even a little face?!"
Blue Two said, "So what if I won't?"
Just as the two were at each other's throats, Yellow Three quickly got out and stepped between them in time to mediate:
"Calm. Reason. Master. Mission."
Red One turned his head away. "Hmph! You really think I'd bother arguing with a **** who likes loaches?"
Blue Two said, "For the sake of the mission, I can't be bothered arguing with you... And it's a python."
Red One said, "A loach is a loach, a stinking loach~!"
Blue Two said, "You ***, you ***! That stinking lizard you play with is the real loach."
Red One said, "*****..."
Yellow Three said, "Calm down, calm down..."
"What are they doing?"
Watching Red One and Blue Two use increasingly profane language, Koleda was full of question marks.
People from TOPS... acted like this, too? With such an extravagant entrance, I thought they were lofty big shots.
But barely a moment after they got out, that image shattered completely. Now they were acting like children, not even caring about appearances?
Watching the scene, Anton leaned toward Koleda's ear and suggested, "President, should we go talk those three bros down?"
Ben leaned over as well.
"Yes, President. If we let them keep arguing, it might reflect poorly on both sides."
Koleda thought for a moment, then replied:
"I'd better go myself. After all, I'm the president of Belobog Heavy Industries. There's no one better suited."
As she spoke, Koleda straightened herself with all her might, vainly hoping to make herself a fraction taller so she could go display a president's bearing.
But before she had taken two steps, she saw a familiar figure slip out of one row of Iron Guards.
It was none other than Grace, who had happily stayed out of sight for more than half the chapter, secretly finished feeling up the Iron Guards, and then set her sights on Red One and the others.
At the sight, Koleda's face immediately fell in alarm. Ben and Anton behind her were startled as well.
"Wait, Grace!"
"*** Red One, you **, I... Who's that?"
Blue Two, who had been in a heated exchange with Red One, noticed someone place a hand on his shoulder and impatiently turned to see who it was.
Then he saw a beautiful older woman, with both looks and stats that were anything but flat, feeling his neck with an entranced expression.
Blue Two immediately swallowed the profanity he had been about to unleash and smoothed back his stiff blue hair.
Ignoring her offensive action just now, he extended a hand and said in a gentle, elegant tone:
"Hello, beautiful lady. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Only after satisfying her urge to touch did Grace stop and take his hand. "Hello, hello, you sturdy gentleman. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Beside them, Red One and Yellow Three, along with Koleda's trio, all widened their eyes, their expressions differing.
Red One and Yellow Three were both shocked that a beauty had cozied up to Blue Two and envious that Blue Two had a beauty cozying up to him.
Koleda's trio, meanwhile, felt fortunate that Grace hadn't gone so far as to start taking him apart on the spot.
Blue Two said, "Oh, miss, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Blue..."
"My name is Red One, beautiful lady."
Red One squeezed in front of Blue Two and brought out the etiquette he had learned at family gatherings in the past, saying softly to Grace:
"Please forgive my sudden intrusion, because just now I saw longing in your eyes. I thought you might need me..."
"Get lost, ****."
Blue Two cursed under his breath, squeezed Red One back out of the way, and continued where he had left off.
"My name is Blue Two, miss. If you need anything, you can come to..."
"Hello, miss. Name, Yellow Three..."
"Move aside, you can't even speak properly... Miss, please come to me if you need anything. I, Red One, am absolutely more reliable than they are."
"Miss, please ignore these irrelevant people. Behind your back, they..."
"Miss, miss."
"Oh dear, miss, just look at those two. They haven't even asked your name. That's terribly disrespectful!"
"As if you asked. Get lost."
Koleda watched the three intelligent constructs fighting like shoppers scrambling for vegetables at a market, along with Grace, who couldn't get a word in but wore an excited expression, brimming with curiosity and itching to dismantle them on the spot.
Helplessly pressing a hand to her forehead, she had no choice but to call Ben and Anton over and separate the two groups.