Chapter 50
Was it a coincidence that he spotted the Steiger figure amidst the swarming crowd at once?
Or was it his subconscious curiosity and obsession leaking out?
[Either way… to think that precious Young Master would actually show up at a party like this.]
Toby Steiger is one of the grandsons of the current Steiger Family Head.
[And the woman following beside him, carrying a rifle in his stead.]
Toby Steiger’s third wife.
Information stated she was the youngest and most beautiful among his wives, so he always attended external events with his third wife.
This was information Max hadn’t known since he had cut off his interest in the Family.
[Toby Steiger is currently at the 4th tier.]
Even if his firearm itself was better than Hoof Steiger’s, whom he had faced at the District 41 Harbor, the difference in skill wouldn’t be significant.
[Rather, there’s a dangerous Person among the group he’s conversing with.]
Having finished his Assessment, Max turned his head.
He walked slowly with Usagi, scanning their surroundings.
[It’s bustling.]
Even inside the Amphitheater, there were individuals holding smartphones and weapons.
Possessing personal belongings was a form of authority. Even though they were attending the same party, it divided them by class.
[With this kind of atmosphere, things will work out somehow.]
It was about time to proceed with their first task.
“Nelly, I need to use the restroom for a moment.”
Usagi understood the signal and moved along with him.
The assigned request included a demand to film specific individuals conversing. However, Max and Usagi were in a situation where bringing in smartphones was impossible.
Then how would they film it? The answer lay in the restroom.
“If you happen to come out first, wait out front. I’ll do the same.”
“Okay.”
There was no one in the men’s restroom.
Perhaps it was because there was more than one restroom in the Amphitheater.
[The 3rd toilet stall from here.]
Even if there was no one around, he had to be careful.
He locked the door and quietly lifted the toilet tank lid with Psychokinesis.
Clatter! Inside the water tank was a small box wrapped in plastic.
[Good.]
He quickly dismantled the box. Inside was a tie clip.
This little guy would film the video in place of a Smartphone.
When he pressed the cubic decoration, a click! rang out.
A faint light briefly flashed from the lens-bearing decoration before settling down.
Filming preparations are complete.
He didn’t think deeply about who had placed the box here.
It was likely an arrangement the Association had painstakingly set up for the success of the request.
[Roach]
After waiting outside the restroom for a moment, Usagi came out, having similarly finished her preparations.
Usagi swapped the brooch decorating her velvet dress. Since she replaced it with the same model hiding a camera, it wasn’t noticeable.
“Nelly. Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m hungry. And you, Honey?”
“Of course I’m hungry too! And thirsty!”
Along with his alias, Max was required to display a certain degree of frivolity.
It wasn’t that the real Chris Garland had such a personality, but rather a role to absorb and Handle all the attention directed at Usagi.
Max repeatedly expressed his hunger as he headed toward the area where the attendees had formed murmuring groups.
He smoothly slipped into a spot laid out with finger foods and drinks.
“I’m worried whether the food here can even match half of our Nelly’s cooking skills~”
“What is that…”
“Our Nelly~ say ah~”
As Max slyly offered a piece of finger food, Usagi opened her mouth.
In that brief moment, he felt various gazes brush past them. It wasn’t bloodlust, but evaluating looks scrutinizing their clothes and accessories.
[Did they get a good estimate?]
After casually picking at the finger foods, Max and Usagi each took a glass of vintage champagne and circulated around the tables.
“Hello! I’m Chris Garland from Anchor Security.”
He exchanged small talk and handed out business cards like a true corporate man. He naturally narrowed the physical distance to the table where their target was located.
Meanwhile, since the auction had also begun, Max kept one ear tuned to the auction items.
After an introduction full of flowery rhetoric, a red jewel was brought up to the stage. - the first auction item is the Scarlet Heart! This jewel has excellent aesthetic value, but its high Mana Conductivity makes it highly sought after as a catalyst!
For now, that item wasn’t on their purchase list.
He ignored the explanation. - the starting price is 1.5 billion credits. The bidding increment will be 100 million credits! Those who wish to bid, please give a signal!
[Filthy expensive.]
He once again ignored the called prices coming from the stage and wandered from table to table.
After spending over an hour socializing with Unrelated individuals to build up a natural facade
He arrived at the table where Toby Steiger was.
The Person giving off a dangerous scent, whom he had briefly seen earlier, wasn’t here.
“Hello! I’m Chris Garland from Anchor Security.”
Spouting the same line, he handed out business cards to the people at the table.
They wore sour expressions devoid of interest. Some individuals, perhaps having seen him handing them out at other tables, didn’t even take a business card, looking annoyed.
“By focusing so much on business even at a party, you’re going to make it really big.”
“I should have that kind of passion too.”
They exchanged glances and sneered among themselves.
Max laughed along with them.
“Hahaha! Thank you! I’ll work hard!”
Even knowing it was a backhanded compliment rather than praise, he naturally didn’t care.
It wasn’t his business anyway. He just needed to push through with momentum and wedge himself into the group, and that would be it.
“This is my wife. Nelly, you should say hello.”
“I’m Nelly Campbell. Please take good care of my husband.”
Usagi’s current face was that of an ordinary woman. Everyone accepted her greeting lightly without paying much attention.
Blatant stares were directed at them, the onlookers wondering when he would get lost now that he had said his hellos.
Ignoring their gazes, Max used the information he had to execute his infiltration.
“The truth is, I shamelessly came all the way here… because I wanted to pay my respects to Mr. Nagayama Shunichi, the pillar of Meruru Holdings.”
“What? Bwahaha! Look at this guy! How did you recognize me in such a bustling place?”
“How could I not recognize you? I’ve finally met the Person I’ve always respected.”
After exchanging a few more words with Max, Nagayama laughed heartily.
He boldly grabbed the champagne placed on the table.
“Come here and have a drink! Right, what did you say your name was?”
“It’s Chris Garland.”
“Right! You said it was a name like that. Give me your business card again.”
Nagayama of Meruru Holdings had been in a rival relationship with Toby Steiger since their Minerva Academy days.
Praising Nagayama in a setting where Toby Steiger was present held far more value than rambling on to people and pretending to know them. He had expected to be able to join the table.
Of course, mentioning Toby Steiger would have resulted in the same picture, but Max chose Nagayama.
“I feel like I’ve heard of Anchor Security somewhere.”
“It’s an honor!”
“What is everyone doing? Take a business card each. This friend is going around with such courage. We should support him!”
At Nagayama’s command, the people at the table took Chris Garland’s business cards.
Except for one Person, that is.
With his shoulders raised in pride, Nagayama smiled slyly and offered one to Toby Steiger as well.
“Toby Steiger. Why don’t you take one?”
“What security… I don’t need it. You keep that kind of trash for yourself.”
“Ah~ is that so? Steiger has been quite noisy lately, will you be okay? I’d like my alumni to live a long, long time.”
“What do you know that you are spouting such nonsense? Steiger is as unwavering as always.”
“Be careful, your lifespan will be cut short if you get arrogant with a Background you can’t even Handle. There’s nothing more unsightly than a fox acting arrogant because it has a tiger’s backing.”
“This bastard…!”
Toby glanced at the gun his wife was holding, his hand twitching.
Nagayama also placed his hand on the sword hanging at his waist, ready to respond at any moment.
[Steiger’s temper, as always.]
Max felt the need for popcorn as he watched the situation unfold.
Even with his mouth shut, he had no problem understanding the context of the conversation.
[The tiger is Crimson Howl; the fox is Steiger. Is this information that everyone in the know already knows?]
There was no need for Max to step in and add fuel to the fire.
A tense atmosphere flowed between toby and Nagayama. Neither seemed to have any intention of backing down.
[Fight, fight.]
While acting with a flustered face, Max was internally cheering them on, cheering them on wildly.
Waste your precious information on a battle of pride. Continue your verbal fight while uglily exposing each other’s shameful secrets.
“Toby Steiger. Doesn’t this remind you of our Academy days? Though the difference is that now, if you lose, you won’t even be able to make excuses.”
“Stop your bullshit!”
The moment Toby Steiger, unable to hold back at Nagayama’s provocation, received the gun from his wife.
A single voice rang out clearly.
“Stop.”
A man with long bright-yellow hair approached, tapping the floor with his scabbard.
The man who had been conversing with Toby Steiger when Max first entered the Amphitheater was the very Person who had given him an intuition of danger.
[Geum Jonghwa of Guryong Heavy Industries.]
A 5th-tier Swordsman from the Geumseong Family.
Though they couldn’t compare to a Magic Noble Family like the Steiger Family, they were a Sword Clan that lacked nothing in Haze.
Geum Jonghwa’s gaze brushed past Max as he approached the table.
Max sensed many things in that brief moment.
[He’s strong.]
He had a different color from the languid Swordsman of the Cheongrin Family.
Despite his affable face, a tenacious desire contrary to his impression could be felt in his eyes.
“I just went to look at the auction items for a moment… Should you be fighting in such an enjoyable setting?”
“I apologize.”
“…I have no excuse.”
The sight of Nagayama Shunichi and Toby Steiger submitting to Geum Jonghwa’s single word was captured exactly on video.
[This is a jackpot in its own right, isn’t it?]
It wasn’t just their conversation. The hierarchical relationship was perfectly expressed.
It was a picture the Client would be more than satisfied with.
Max was cheering internally.
Geum Jonghwa fiddled with his sword and captured Max and Usagi, who were covered in spells, in his line of sight.
“So… who are you people?”