Chapter 48
“What?”
Kael asked back indifferently at Rea’s answer.
His eyes swept over the vehicle once more.
He was recalculating the situation.
He let out a sigh.
“So the only available personnel are the two of us?”
Rea blinked as though puzzled by his words.
“What are you talking about?”
At her words, Kael looked at her.
Rea smiled as though stating an obvious fact.
“You’re the only bodyguard. I’m the client, so you’re the only one who has to respond to external threats.”
Kael fell silent for a moment.
Of course, he could complain, or quit while saying it was ridiculous.
But Kael did not.
He simply accepted the situation.
Rea smiled, pleased with his attitude.
‘Good.’
She had really withdrawn all her security personnel.
Of course, that did not mean there were absolutely no safeguards.
The vehicle itself had defensive functions, and an emergency call protocol remained on Rea’s terminal.
But those were only measures for responding after the fact.
The moment a threat arose, Kael was the only person who could move immediately on-site.
And Rea herself.
She also knew that she was taking on a certain amount of the risk herself.
At the same time, she thought it necessary.
Under unexpected conditions, people tended to unconsciously reveal their hand.
If so, she would be able to learn about the abilities he possessed.
And above all, whether he was truly the card she needed.
So she had set the board.
Rea Valenkroft had many enemies.
If word leaked that she was moving around without an escort today, the hyenas of this city would not let the opportunity pass.
To them, today’s Rea would look like easy prey.
Of course, Rea had no intention of actually dying.
She had enough skill to protect herself.
What she had shown in the alley had been only a fraction of it.
So Rea was not particularly worried.
If danger came, she could move too.
But before that, she wanted to see how Kael would move.
Rea sat in the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt.
Kael sat in the driver’s seat.
[Destination: Archeon Holdings Headquarters]
[Estimated Travel Time: 37 minutes]
[Awaiting Autonomous Driving Route Approval]
Kael looked at the panel.
“Set the route to use the minimum distance.”
The vehicle AI immediately responded.
[Displaying 2 Alternative Routes Besides the Default Route]
He scanned the map and asked,
“Which section would be a good place to be ambushed?”
The vehicle AI gave no response, as though it did not understand him.
Rea suppressed a laugh, but Kael’s expression did not change.
“A section with frequent traffic jams, numerous external access routes, and surveillance blind spots.”
[Analyzing Conditions]
[Displaying 4 Candidate Sections]
When red dots appeared on the map, Kael checked them and asked again,
“Does the default route pass through the second candidate section?”
[Yes. Estimated Passage Time: 11 minutes]
“Can we take a detour?”
[Possible. Estimated Travel Time Increase: 6 minutes]
Kael spoke briefly.
“Detour.”
[Route Change Request]
[Passenger Authorization Verification]
Rea’s terminal chimed softly, and she looked down at the screen.
After glancing at Kael for a moment,
“You’re faster than I expected.”
Rea smiled and pressed the approval button.
[Route Change Approved]
[Autonomous Driving Mode Activated]
And so.
The car began to move.
Kael, how would you move?
..
..
Not long after the vehicle left the Graveblock district, Rea noticed the first pursuers.
Two old motorcycles and a small van maintaining a steady distance in the lane behind them.
Rea glanced at Kael beside her. He was looking out the window.
“They’re following us.”
Rea said.
Kael answered briefly.
“I know.”
A smile touched Rea’s lips.
“What are you going to do?”
Instead of answering, Kael operated the vehicle’s panel.
[Manual Route Adjustment Request]
[Authorization Required]
When Rea’s terminal chimed briefly, she approved it at once.
[Manual Route Adjustment Approved]
Kael placed his finger on the map displayed in front of them.
“The road on the left.”
[That Road Is in Poor Repair.]
“That’s why we’re taking it.”
[Route Change]
The vehicle smoothly changed lanes.
The two motorcycles following them immediately turned as well.
In the meantime, the vehicle entered a narrow road.
The first motorcycle accelerated.
The rider held the handlebars with one hand and drew a short shotgun with the other.
But Kael moved first.
He merely picked up a small metal component from the storage compartment beside the driver’s seat, slipped it between his fingers, and lightly flicked it through the gap in the window.
Tick.
It was a small sound.
At first, Rea could not tell what he had been aiming at.
But in the very next moment, an old utility-pipe cover on the road ahead heaved beneath the motorcycle’s wheel.
More precisely, it tilted ever so slightly at exactly the moment the motorcycle rolled over it.
Screeeech!
The motorcycle’s front wheel twisted sideways.
The rider lost his balance without even managing to fire the shotgun.
The motorcycle skidded sideways, scraping against the wall behind it and sending sparks flying.
The rider rolled across the ground and was injured, so he would not be getting up for a while.
The second motorcycle hurriedly increased its distance.
This time, Kael drew his pistol.
When he lowered the window just slightly, the noise outside flooded into the car.
The moment the motorcycle rider pulled alongside them and tried to throw an electric grappling hook,
Pop.
A short gunshot rang out.
The bullet skimmed beneath the motorcycle’s front wheel, making it jolt violently.
The rider cursed and lost his grip on the handlebars, while the electric grappling hook sliced through the air before wrapping around the rear of his own motorcycle.
Blue electricity flashed.
“Agh!”
The second motorcycle simply slid sideways.
The rider went tumbling off, and the motorcycle crashed into the shutter of a closed shop.
The van saw what happened and hurriedly tried to reverse, but.
Kael operated the panel once more.
[Manual Opening of Barrier Ahead Available]
“Raise it.”
[No Authorization]
Rea smiled and tapped her terminal.
[Temporary Authorization Approved]
Screeeech.
The old road barrier rose halfway before stopping, and the van, reversing without seeing it, crashed into the barrier.
Bang!
The rear of the vehicle crumpled.
At the same time, another gunshot rang out from Kael’s pistol.
Pop.
This time, it was the van’s front tire.
The van came to a stop at an angle.
The doors opened, and two men tried to leap out, but they immediately stopped again.
Because Kael was aiming at them through the car window.
Only after seeing them drop their weapons to the ground did Kael raise the window.
The vehicle continued on as though nothing had happened.
“Clean.”
Rea said.
***
The vehicle stopped in front of Archeon Holdings’ main building.
Several vehicles had already arrived in front of the building.
Luxury vehicles bearing the small emblems of various corporations.
Women in dresses and men in suits could be seen.
Kael looked out the window, then touched his collar once.
He had already changed into the clothes Rea had prepared inside the vehicle.
A black suit.
It fit well without significantly hindering his movements, and there was space beneath it to conceal a pistol.
The material was not bad either.
It was light, durable, and followed the movements of his body.
But since he had never worn clothes like these before, he could not shake the awkward feeling.
When Kael tugged once at the end of his sleeve, Rea saw him and laughed.
“It suits you.”
Kael looked at her.
Rea had also changed into a dress combining black and red.
Her usual playful, sly attitude was still there, but the Rea before him now was clearly showing a different side.
This was probably what Rea Valenkroft looked like at a social gathering.
He opened the car door and stepped outside first, then walked around to Rea’s side and opened her door.
Rea looked up at him from inside, then smiled very naturally.
“Thanks, darling.”
“….”
Kael looked down at her for a moment.
Then came the ensuing silence.
Seeing him like that, Rea let out a small sigh.
“Um, you need to act properly now, okay? Since you accepted the commission, you need to play the part properly.”
“I know.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Rea smiled again and held out her hand from inside the car.
“You’re supposed to take my hand.”
Kael extended his hand without any particular reaction, and Rea took it.
It was warm.
Rea held Kael’s hand and stepped out of the car.
At that moment, several gazes from around them turned in their direction.
More precisely, they reached Rea first, then immediately shifted to Kael.
Kael felt those gazes.
Most passed over them briefly, but some lingered.
The mere fact that Rea Valenkroft had brought a man with her seemed to be enough to draw attention.
She naturally placed a hand on his arm.
“Your expression.”
“Why?”
“You look too serious. Smile a little. Like me.”
“I’m on escort duty.”
“Lovers don’t answer like that.”
“Then what should I say?”
Rea thought for a moment, then smiled.
“Don’t say anything. Just look at me once. Soften your expression just a little.”
When Kael looked at her, Rea studied his face for a moment before speaking.
“…Good. At least you’ve reduced the murderous aura.”
“I’m not sure what difference that makes.”
“Fine. Let’s compromise at this.”
The two headed toward the entrance.
Security guards stood in front of the main entrance to the social hall.
The scanners on both sides of the entrance recognized Rea first.
[Identity Verification]
[Rea Valenkroft]
[Head of Archeon Genetics]
The security guard immediately bowed his head.
“Welcome, Ms. Valenkroft.”
Rea lightly nodded and tried to enter without stopping.
But when Kael tried to pass through with her, one of the security guards stepped forward.
“Please wait a moment, sir. We need to verify your identity.”
Kael stopped and simply looked at the security guard without any particular reaction.
The security guard maintained his polite expression and raised his wrist terminal.
“We’ll verify your name and affiliation. First, we need to check whether you’re registered on the invitation list.”
Rea’s grip tightened.
She slowly turned toward the security guard.
The face that had been smiling moments ago had disappeared.
“Wait?”
The security guard flinched briefly at her sharp voice.
“It’s a procedural requirement, ma’am.”
Rea stepped forward without releasing Kael’s arm.
“He’s with me.”
“Yes, I understand, but the accompanying guest’s registration information has not yet been fully verified….”
“He’s my lover.”