Chapter 184
Chapter 184
Residential Trespassing (3)
Compared to getting in, the procedure for getting out was rather simple. As the mansion staff’s workday began, most of the security systems, including the pressure plate devices, were turned off.
Even so, the security systems inside the study were still operating.
For example, the security devices attached to the windows and doors. But to Kairus, a wall was a door, so it posed no problem.
“You all worked hard.”
After blowing through the wall and leaving the mansion in an instant, Kairus told Irena and Nora that they had done well.
“Are your arms okay?”
“It wasn’t like I had to hold it for long.”
I had been startled because I suddenly had to take that position under the desk, but it wasn’t something I could call overwhelmingly exhausting.
“I’ll get in touch and come back, so wait.”
After arriving at the train station, Kairus contacted Younia with Nora’s help.
― So? What should we do with that?
“Isn’t that something the President should decide?”
There were quite a few methods that immediately came to my mind. But there was no reason to tell her. In the first place, it wasn’t as if Younia had asked that question because she truly didn’t know the method.
I had finished what I set out to do. That was the end of it.
“You must keep your promise.”
― Yes, you don’t have to worry about that.
With this, the Featherwing box was secured for now.
― Ah, and since you handled this matter so well, we would like to ask you for one more favor.
“President Younia.”
I cut Younia off as she tried to continue.
― Yes?
“If I were to do more work for you, what could the Aylan Republic offer me?”
― As for compensation, we would make sure it’s generous….
I clicked my tongue softly.
“Soon, Bennett City will distribute the profits generated from operating the Antaria Grand Canal.”
The distribution was carried out in accordance with the change of seasons. What I would be receiving this time was the settlement payment for the same operating period of Antaria.
An enormous canal that both nations coveted yet could not lay their hands on. It was a core facility through which the logistics of both the Republic and the Empire flowed. It generated monstrous profits, like an inexhaustible gold vein.
It was also a major source of revenue that greatly supported the operation of the four organizations other than Kairus.
“President Younia, in your opinion….”
Moreover, I did not even run a separate organization. Those monstrous funds were used entirely as my personal assets.
“Do you think there will ever be a time when I lack money?”
There wouldn’t be. It was impossible to move me with money.
― Probably not.
“If you wish to work with me, you’ll have to prepare something other than money. It was a pleasure speaking with you.”
The reason I had taken on this job in the first place was not money, but to obtain the Featherwing box. If the Aylan Republic wanted to use me once again, they would have to prepare something of a similar caliber.
I boarded the train and returned to Bennett City.
“It would’ve been faster if we’d just flown.”
“No!”
Since Nora and Irena both reacted with visible horror, I had no choice but to pick this option. It seemed that, unless it was something truly urgent, the two of them had no intention of flying with me again.
“This is what you call traveling.”
Nora scooped up the marshmallow floating atop her hot chocolate with her tongue and wore a relaxed expression.
“You were the one who kept going on about how much you wanted to fly.”
“Before you experience something, it always looks nice.”
Knock, knock. I heard a rapping at the door. Checking Flicker, which I had leaned beside me, I spoke.
“Who is it?”
“I’ve been sent from the Rose Garden.”
Letting out an “Oh,” I opened the door. A man greeted me from outside.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
It was an extremely polite greeting. Judging by his face and build, he didn’t look like the kind of person who would show that sort of attitude just anywhere.
I nodded and offered him a seat.
“Would you like some hot chocolate?”
“That’s all right. I only came to relay the Representative’s words, so I’ll be leaving shortly.”
“Ah, it seems Cecilia has already received the message.”
The man nodded.
“The Representative sent her thanks. She also said that if you visit her after returning to the city, she will hand over the box she promised.”
While I had been carrying out my task, it seemed Cecilia had also been busy preparing the item for our deal.
“That’s good to hear. I would’ve been annoyed if she’d said she couldn’t get it.”
“The Representative is not someone who handles matters that way.”
The visitor’s business was finished. As he rose and exchanged farewells, Nora handed him a chocolate chip cookie.
“Then.”
The man departed. In any case, it would take about two more days on the train before we reached Bennett City.
“This is boring.”
At Nora’s remark, I grinned.
“That’s why I said we should fly. If you just endured a few hours, we’d already be in Bennett.”
At my words, Nora gazed out the window at the passing scenery and replied,
“I’d rather walk.”
After a two-day journey, I returned to Bennett City.
“Are you going to stop by right away?”
“I should.”
While Irena and Nora headed back to the office, I went straight to Cecilia’s mansion.
“Thanks to you, things worked out well.”
Upon arriving at the mansion, I was guided to the drawing room where I faced Cecilia. Without dragging things out, she immediately held out the box to me.
It wasn’t a large box. At most, it looked like it could hold a few books.
“Aren’t you going to open it here?”
“The Representative certainly has a fine sense of humor.”
After receiving the box, I smiled and responded to Cecilia.
“The regular meeting will be held soon, correct?”
“I’ve heard it will be soon.”
The regular meeting where the discussion about profit distribution would take place. Having just become an operations committee member, this would be my first time.
“Everyone is already talking behind the scenes.”
“What do you think they’re talking about?”
At my question, Cecilia lightly cracked the crème brûlée placed on the table for guests with a small spoon and replied,
“Your share.”
“…I suppose so.”
If it were customary to divide everything neatly into five equal portions, there would be no reason to hold a regular meeting in the first place.
Through that regular meeting, each person’s share would be determined.
“As you know, Mr. Kairus, you don’t have any retainers under you, do you?”
If my share were reduced, that much more would go to the other committee members. And I had the disadvantage of having no subordinates to support.
“May I allow myself to expect a little, as to why you’re telling me this?”
“I’ll take your side. I don’t particularly want anything. Think of it as a signal that I hope we continue to get along well.”
I stared at the steam rising from my coffee, took a sip, and answered,
“How much do the committee members think my share should be?”
Cecilia seemed to ponder briefly at my question, then spread her right hand wide.
“If you don’t take any measures, about this much?”
Five percent. From my perspective, it was an absurd distribution.
“Have these bastards really lost their minds as a group?”
Of course, given my particular circumstances, I hadn’t expected to claim a full 20 percent.
But five percent was truly a thug-like way of dividing things. Still, as Cecilia said, if I took no special measures, there was a high probability I would end up with just that much.
‘I need to find the tail feather right away.’
If I had to worry about that distribution on top of everything else, it would give me a headache. In that sense, the cooperation Cecilia had promised would be helpful.
“From my perspective, Representative Cecilia’s help looks very much like a promissory note.”
“That’s right. It’s better if you think of it that way.”
Offer goodwill first, and expect goodwill in return later.
“Do you dislike that?”
I quickly ran the numbers in my head. At the extraordinary meeting held to acknowledge me as a committee member, there had only been five members present. But this time, the Police Commissioner and the Security Captain would also participate.
At the very least, the Police Commissioner would cooperate in increasing my share.
‘And if I secure Cecilia’s cooperation as well.’
That would mean securing three out of the seven committee members. With that, I wouldn’t end up with the ridiculous five percent share.
“Representative Cecilia, what level are you considering for my share?”
At my question, Cecilia spread both hands this time.
“I was thinking perhaps double.”
Ten percent.
If we were to consider only numerical fairness, I could demand up to 20 percent. But fairness in distribution was not determined that simply.
“I’ll say this in advance—if you get greedy and ask for more than that, it will be difficult for me to help you.”
It was true that the committee members other than me led organizations of enormous scale, and for that reason, it was only natural that they would receive a larger share than I did.
‘If someone living alone and someone supporting their parents with five children under them received the same amount of money, that would actually be unfair in the opposite direction.’
What had been shocking, however, was that even taking that into account, five percent was utter nonsense.
Ten percent was a figure I could acknowledge and accept.
“That sounds like a reasonable number.”
“I’m glad to hear that. In truth, even at that level, you’ll likely have the largest amount you can actually make use of.”
Having reached an agreement, Cecilia seemed finished with her business. I rose from my seat and gave a slight bow.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Yes, take care.”
Cecilia also stood and saw me off as I left.
Once I returned to the office, there was something I had to do immediately.
‘What could be inside.’
It felt like I had become a child who had just received a present. I didn’t know what was inside, but it was certain that it contained something valuable.
“You’re back? You got it? Then hurry up and open it!”
Even Nora, who was practically unrelated to this matter, was showing interest. As soon as I arrived at the office, I lightly cut my palm with a knife and let my blood flow into the groove of the box.
When the engraved image of a silver bird turned completely red with my blood, a click sounded from the box shortly after.
“It’s open.”
“It really opens like that. What’s the principle behind it?”
I didn’t know either. The details about this box were surely recorded somewhere in the family’s books, but I didn’t possess them.
“…Training Compendium.”
Inside the box was a single book bound in reddish-brown leather. The title engraved in gold letters read Training Compendium.
Without saying much, I carefully took the book out and examined its contents. If you wanted to guess what a book contained, the first thing to do was read the table of contents.
“This is good.”
It was literally a training compendium. Swift Blade and Cloud Seizing Art, and even Moonwalk.
It was a volume that included all the training methods applicable at each stage. In the case of Swift Blade, it even separately included training methods that those who were not direct members of House Featherwing could attempt.
“Wait, then doesn’t that mean you don’t need the other books?”
At Irena’s question, I shook my head.
“No. It includes all the training methods, but instead….”
It lacked crucial details, such as specific precautions or how to properly apply the techniques in order to achieve effective training results.
In order to cram every training method used by House Featherwing into a single volume, a kind of compromise had been made.
“You know how, when you buy exercise equipment, there are small stickers next to it with little pictures?”
They show how to use the equipment and roughly which muscles it trains.
Those picture-form stickers only include that level of instruction. For someone exercising for the first time, it’s hard to know exactly how to train just by looking at them. But someone with experience can more or less infer how to use it just from that.
“This is exactly that kind of item.”
There were almost no proper explanations, but all the training methods developed and refined by House Featherwing were included.
That was why it was titled Training Compendium.