Chapter 269
“Out of all the many families, what is the reason you chose Schneider?”
Prezen Meredith could not answer that question immediately.
Among the noble families gathered here, the Schneider Family’s prestige was certainly impressive.
Lacking nothing in force, wealth, or power, they were even a founding family of Dusk’s establishment.
Unlike the faltering Meredith Family, unless another cataclysm occurred that would turn Dusk City entirely upside down, the Schneider Family would remain steadfast forever.
Choosing the Schneider Family as an asylum was not a strange decision, that is, if the Meredith Family and the Schneider Family had a deep relationship.
But they did not. There had been no prior interaction whatsoever.
Schneider had built no mutual trust whatsoever with this insular Pure Raver Family. Yet to request Asylum for the family head suddenly was bound to be bewildering.
“That is the same for the other families.”
Prezen Meredith offered the answer.
“Yes, Meredith is insular. So to speak, we are voluntary loners that does not belong to any faction or category among the noble families. Because of that, we cannot say we have formed a sufficient trust relationship with any family. There were many who wished to form a friendship with Meredith, but most were competitors approaching with an interest in our technique rather than companionship, a pack of jackals that couldn’t be called true friends.”
In short, Meredith had no friends. It was an ostracized family that suffered from being ostracized, even among the noble families.
“Rather than choosing a pack of jackals clumsily pretending to be close, it is better to choose a completely unfamiliar family with no prior relationship. Among them, it would be even better if they were on the side of having a strong faction and reputation. If only for the sake of saving face, their protection would be certain.”
So, even if they didn’t know each other well, it was better to pick a decent dominant family that was strong and knew how to protect its pride, and stick with them.
Prezen Meredith was saying that Schneider was chosen based on that judgment.
“Is that the judgment of the Meredith Family head?”
Prezen Meredith answered Team Leader Hank’s sharp question.
“It is correct that it was the head of the family’s judgment to make specific Families, including Schneider, candidates for asylum based on those criteria. However, the head of the family delegated the final decision to me. And I…”
The rest went without saying. Prezen Meredith had chosen Schneider.
And had come here personally to deliver the proposal.
I saw Prezen Meredith in a new light.
Acting as an emissary to deliver a proposal upon which the family’s future hinged was already a heavy enough responsibility.
But he did not stop there! He even made that important decision in place of the family head, even though he wasn’t a publicly known key figure of the Meredith Family.
Was he the Meredith Family’s hidden successor or something? I remembered the officially known successor being a completely different person.
“If you are asking for the reason behind my decision, I can tell you that your visit to the exhibition room played a significant role. It was quite a pleasant experience.”
A subtle smile hung on Prezen’s lips as he said that.
He chose the Schneider Family because we stopped by the exhibition room back then. It was an absurd joke, but somehow it didn’t feel like a joke.
Alexandra and Team Leader Hank’s eyes turned toward me.
Since I had unintentionally ended up having to attend to Prezen Meredith exclusively in the exhibition room at the time, they were sending me questioning looks that said, “Just how did you sweet-talk this raver back then to get a reaction like this?”
It was a question to me as well. I’d feel better if I actually had sweet-talked him. I hadn’t done anything!
I did have a long conversation with Prezen Meredith back then, but most of it was about paintings or a metaphysical story about the origin of ravers.
We hadn’t shared even a hair’s breadth of conversation about Meredith or Schneider.
Personally, it hadn’t even been that much of a pleasant experience, and I truly couldn’t hide my bewilderment at the claim that it became the reason for the asylum decision.
“…”
It was incredibly uncomfortable because the reason was completely unknown, but it was definitely a proposal hard to refuse.
Although Team Leader Hank and Alexandra didn’t have the authority to decide on such an Important Matter, not making a decision here would be a loss.
In this turbulent situation where it was hard to predict even an inch ahead, we could obtain a means of escape in the form of an emergency pod exclusive to the Meredith direct family members, and the only condition - the family head’s asylum - was more of an asset than a loss from Schneider’s perspective. It was a tremendous harvest at that.
By protecting Meredith’s legitimate family head, they could rise to a superior position in the interests surrounding the Meredith Family.
If Meredith fell, they could tear away its legacy - the technique and assets of Enatomia Corporation - and if it survived and succeeded in making a comeback, they could interfere from the position of a guardian to extract concessions.
Either way, there was no way Schneider would take a loss, as long as things worked out well, that is.
Team Leader Hank seemed to share the same thought, as he received authority from Alexandra and began to persistently ask Prezen Meredith this and that.
“We need proof that this is the Meredith Family head’s proposal. Do you happen to have a document with a registered seal?”
“If we accept the proposal, could you tell us the details of the route the companions will take with the head of the family to move to the escape pod, and what level of escort Mirror Castle Dolls will provide…”
Prezen de Se Meredith refused some questions, saying it was difficult to answer without the proposal being accepted, but he answered the rest faithfully. And from what I could see, most of them seemed to have no issues.
Team Leader Hank seemed to think the same, speaking after a groan.
“Please wait a moment. It seems we need time to share our opinions.”
“Go ahead. But we do not have much time. Caution is good, but it would be better for you to decide quickly. Schneider is not our only option, either.”
Team Leader Hank asked for the opinions of the remaining bodyguards and Alexandra, but no other opinion emerged besides the conclusion that “It is suspicious, but it is definitely a proposal we must accept.”
Ah, I did raise my hand in the middle.
“What is it, Aaron Nakamura?”
Team Leader Hank, Alexandra, and even Eres Shore looked at me.
Since I was superficially the closest person to Prezen de Se Meredith among us, they seemed to expect me to share some brilliant idea related to him, making me hesitate.
What I wanted to ask wasn’t anything that grand, though.
“Um… where did Ms. Kali go? I thought we should hear that senior’s opinion too.”
Ms. Kali, who had gone to the restroom with Alexandra, still hadn’t returned even while we were having such an important meeting. I hoped nothing had happened to her.
Everyone seemed a bit disappointed by the trivial question.
Team Leader Hank answered immediately.
“Kali Haywood has decided to take independent action for a while. She said she had to carry out a necessary mission regarding the escort. Just know that much. She will rejoin us eventually.”
Was it a pre-agreed individual action, or had she reported it separately to Team Leader Hank after starting it?
Either way, Team Leader Hank and Alexandra seemed to already know. Mr. Eres Shore… seemed to have no interest in the first place.
I also figured that if Ms. Kali judged that she had a task to complete away from us, she would have a good reason for it, so I didn’t ask further.
“Then I will take it that there is no Additional Opinion. young lady, please make the decision.”
Team Leader Hank left the judgment to Alexandra like that, but it wasn’t as if she would come up with a brilliant idea that hadn’t existed before.
Accept the proposal, or don’t accept it. It was one of the two. The answer was set.
“Present, I, Alexandra Amadeus Schneider, in the name of the family, accept your family’s proposal, sir Meredith.”
An unofficial agreement was concluded between Schneider and Meredith.
“Good. I think it would be best to move right away. What do you think? I will explain the details as we go.”
From the perspective of someone wanting to escape the Mirror Castle even a little faster, it was a proposal with no reason to refuse.
The companions followed Prezen Meredith’s guidance and headed toward one side of the landing pad passageway.
Because a few of Mirror Castle Dolls that had been controlling the runway followed and escorted us, we drew the attention of some of the crowd, but Prezen Meredith controlled Mirror Castle Dolls to stop anyone from chasing us and guided us on a path straight to the Family Head’s Office.
Compared to how terribly difficult it had been to get to the Departure Area, going to the Meredith Family Head’s Office was surprisingly comfortable.
Indeed, contrary to Phantom Thief Zodiac’s words, the Mirror Castle was still the Meredith Family’s territory; traveling with a guide who freely manipulated the crystal lift and Conveyor Passageway to lead us, our movement speed was truly incredible.
One could say everything was flowing smoothly.
However, an unexplained ominous feeling continued to stimulate my mind.
It might be because my physical condition was not good.
Incomprehensible questions, distracting thoughts about the Meredith Family’s new technique, or Mirror Castle Dolls and people of the Mirror Castle throbbed and swirled in my head.
“Are you alright? Your complexion does not look good.”
Prezen Meredith, who had approached my side at some point, asked.
There were countless things I didn’t know about the Meredith Family, but the most mysterious among them was why this noble raver was showing such deep interest in me.