Chapter 276
“…!”
We didn’t show it on the outside, but we exchanged glances among ourselves.
It didn’t seem like he had explained it to the Seduporne family members one by one, but Phantom Thief Zodiac definitely knew the importance of Prezen Meredith.
Since he was said to have the command authority of the prototype artificial intelligence, he might have figured out that the succession to the family head position had been carried out using it.
The important thing wasn’t what Phantom Thief Zodiac knew. What mattered was that the Sedouforne People didn’t know what Phantom Thief Zodiac knew.
As long as they weren’t in a tight-knit alliance, there was plenty of room to dig in!
Alexandra stopped Team Leader Hank as he tried to step forward and speak. It was an expression of her intent to cook it with her own power.
Team Leader Hank had a worried look on his face, but he ultimately accepted it.
How would it go?
I didn’t know everything about Alexandra inside and out, but I at least knew she was a straightforward type of person who wasn’t skilled at this kind of insidious politics and negotiation.
Could she really persuade them without Team Leader Hank’s help? Especially when Matilda Sedouforne already held a grudge against her.
“Matilda, so have you thought about it? Why Zodiac needs this Meredith Family member?”
“Hah! What kind of stupid question is that? It’s because you need the Meredith Direct Line to use the escape pod. You’ve worked so hard bringing the direct family members all the way here, Alexandra. Now you can just obediently hand him over to us. For your information, we won’t take no for an answer, so keep that in mind.”
As expected, the Sedouforne Family didn’t know about Prezen’s true value! They only knew him as a Meredith Direct Line Noble.
All that remained now was the question of how to handle this.
“You say that even knowing it? That’s right, we have the Meredith Direct Line. And we’re thinking of generously sharing the escape pod with you. Is there really a need to hold hands with that wicked Phantom Thief? Even without doing that, we can safely leave together.”
“Hah, you sure talk a good game. But that won’t do. Not even close. I have something to pay you back for, and there’s something I’m supposed to receive from the Phantom Thief too.”
It was obvious what that “something I’m supposed to receive from the Phantom Thief' was. It had to be the command Authority of the Prototype Artificial Intelligence.
Alexandra snorted and said.
“You believe the words of a thief? Do you really think you’ll get what you want if you faithfully carry out the mission like an obedient puppy, just as that thief tells you to?”
“Are you crazy? Are you dying to get killed right here? An obedient puppy? How dare you - .”
“What’s crazy is what you’re doing, joining hands with a mere thief and trying to attack another noble family! Snap out of it, Matilda! Do you need me to slap you again to come to your senses? Think carefully. Even without a thief like that, we can give your family whatever it needs.”
A strange light gleamed in the eyes of Team Leader Hank, who was watching from behind. It was the same for me.
To think Alexandra could speak this well!
Even though our companions were relatively inferior in terms of momentum, wasn’t she pushing Matilda Sedouforne strongly into a corner as if it were the exact opposite?
Was it thanks to the Schneider Family genes engraved in her bloodline, or was it thanks to her affluent education intertwining with the various fierce experiences she had recently gone through?
Right now, she is showing the dignified presence of a city power broker, not the tomboy that others knew.
“…You can give us what we need? What kind of bullshit is that, Alexandra?”
“Enatomia Corporation’s new technique is the Prototype Artificial Intelligence. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Phantom Thief Zodiac. If you join hands with us, our families can collaborate and share it.”
Matilda Sedouforne flinched for a moment, but she hardened her expression once again.
“Spouting nonsense now that you’re cornered! The one who has the command Authority of the Prototype Artificial Intelligence is Phantom Thief Zodiac. With what qualification and ability does your Schneider say we should share it?”
“Right. We aren’t the ones with the qualification. But neither is the Phantom Thief! Because the family head of Meredith is someone else.”
As Alexandra shouted loudly like that and gave a signal with her eyes, Prezen Meredith tactfully manipulated his internal interface.
At the same time, the walls of the Mirror Castle moved, and dolls with flashing orange lenses lined up in the back.
Showing it once was far more effective than a hundred words.
Matilda Sedouforne spoke with a highly flustered look.
“…What? The Meredith Family head is Elaine Renard - .”
“The former family head is dead. And here, Prezen de Se Meredith has succeeded to the Family Head position. And in accordance with our agreement, we are currently moving while safely escorting the current family head of Meredith. Do you understand what this means? I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
True worth never completely fades; although she was more hot-blooded and had a nastier temper than Alexandra in her prime, Matilda Sedouforne was also a learned noble family daughter.
There was no way she wouldn’t recognize the value held by the Meredith Family Head, Prezen Meredith, and the profit her family would gain and the contribution she would establish if she brought him to her family.
For a moment, a wicked aura swirled in Matilda’s eyes.
“Stop it. I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your eyes. Do you think things will go your way? Do you trust the one-armed Iron Dog Invincible that much? Do you think he can kill all of our Schneider’s Bodyguards? Keep dreaming.”
We have Meredith’s Doll Soldiers, and there is also one more very powerful bodyguard who hasn’t revealed himself or herself in this place right now. If your goal is to kill each other, I’ll gladly oblige. Is that what you want? Are you really going to throw away a path where we can see mutual benefit, just to see things get ugly? You should know that the reason we’re trying to negotiate with you is strictly to resolve this nicely, not because we fear you.”
Truly sharp eloquence!
Invincible Iron Dog Maximus remained calm, but the other bodyguards and Matilda Sedouforne seemed to flinch.
Her bluffing was definitely out of the ordinary. Even though Maximus’s arm was cut off, Team Leader Hank’s foot was cut off as well.
There was no news from the powerful bodyguard who wasn’t present, Kali Haywood, so we had no idea where she was or what she was doing, but the Sedouforne Family didn’t know those circumstances.
Naturally, they would think she was hiding somewhere around here, looking for an opportunity to step in!
It was the same for Meredith’s Dolls. Because we couldn’t trust Prezen Meredith, strictly speaking, they couldn’t be considered our fighting power.
But Alexandra was using the fact that Matilda didn’t know that to hide our weaknesses like this and greatly inflate our fighting power to pressure the opponent. It was a smart and efficient strategy.
Matilda Sedouforne looked extremely pissed off, but her subordinate bodyguards must have thought this wouldn’t do, as they grabbed her and began to persuade her.
With just this, we had already achieved half a success. They had completely fallen for it.
It was all thanks to Alexandra. How much she had grown in such a short time! It felt like she wasn’t the person I knew.
Eventually, an answer came from the Sedouforne side as well.
“…The promise to collaborate with our families and divide Meredith’s assets is certain, right?”
In a way, it was an obvious conclusion. There was no reason to choose the dangerous option of holding hands with a thief and turning against Schneider when they could amicably divide and share Meredith’s assets.
No matter how much of a Matilda Sedouforne she was, she wasn’t that foolish.
“Of course. Schneider keeps its promises.”
It was when Alexandra nodded her head and spoke.
[That is a truly excellent family tradition. Sedouforne should keep its promises well too. I trust you aren’t thinking of backing out of the promise you made to this Phantom Thief Zodiac Just like this.]
A somewhat familiar, polite yet sarcastic modulated voice rang out.
It was Phantom Thief Zodiac. He had intervened after seeing that the situation wasn’t going his way!
However, Matilda Sedouforne was very quick to change her stance. She shouted fiercely, as if taking out her bad feelings toward Alexandra on someone else instead.
“Hah! What promise? Do you think this Sedouforne is a family that a petty thief like you can dare to covet and propose a deal to? Get lost!”
[You’re going to resort to discarding the hunting dog after coming here safely thanks to this Phantom Thief Zodiac? Will you truly not regret this? Even now, if you take Prezen Meredith from them and hand him over to me as agreed, I can pretend this never happened.]
Phantom Thief Zodiac’s chilling threat.
However, it might have been different if they had no other options, but there was no way Sedouforne, having decided to join forces with Schneider, would fear a mere Phantom Thief.
“You’re talking nonsense about pretending it never happened. Sedouforne has never made any agreement with a criminal like you. That is what truly never happened!”
[Very well. Do not blame me for being heartless. This is entirely your choice… If you won’t give him to me, I have no choice but to take him with my own hands!]
Along with the Phantom Thief’s rough laughter, the lights unnaturally turned off, and the surroundings became pitch dark. At the sudden unforeseen situation, Team Leader Hank shouted.
“Prezen! Secure him first, without fail!”
It was a situation where Young Lady Alexandra, Prezen Meredith, Team Leader Hank, and I were standing close together.
Team Leader Hank and I moved almost simultaneously to grab Prezen Meredith, but a wall suddenly shot up from the Floor/Ground, blocking our path.
“…!”