Chapter 89: Stranded

I teleported to one of my mana eyes inside the school building. The world spun violently as I was thrown into the student council’s room.

“Gah!” I groaned, clutching my stomach as nausea overwhelmed me. “I shouldn’t have eaten that steak…”

“The food is innocent, Yuri. Jonathan is the problem. It’s all Jonathan’s fault!”

“Yeah! It’s all Jonathan’s fault!” my clones cheered in unison.

It wasn’t about whose fault it was, dimwits. The teleportation had made me sick. Now I had to clench my stomach to keep myself from vomiting.

I staggered out and made my way toward the parking lot beside the school. Calling it a parking lot was generous—it was more like a helipad built for seinjets to land.

Ten minutes later, the seinjet arrived.

My nemesis, Jonathan, rushed out and ran toward me with rapid pitter-patter footsteps, quickly bowing his head.

“You’re late,” I said coldly.

“I came as fast as I could. I even stranded Yuri earlier,” Jonathan replied.

Well… he did seem to be telling the truth. From my mana eyes, I’d seen the seinjet make a beeline straight here.

“Alright. So—Yuri told me you want me to save your brother?”

“Yes. So I beg of you—please save my brother.”

“Who is your brother?” I asked.

“His name is Norn. Technically a distant cousin, but he’s like a brother to me. We grew up together, played together. While I was handling affairs in New Mesa and Eden, he was the one managing NewHill. He’s the only person I’ve ever really been able to rely on in my life. I beg you, Lily—please tell me the pickup location.”

“Well, why do I have to tell you?” I said with a scornful smirk. “I could just save him myself when I go pick up Francesca’s dad, right?”

His jaw dropped.

And then—bam—a barrage of scolding came flooding in from my clones.

“No! You can’t say that. If we kick him out like this, we can’t infiltrate NewStar!”

“Remember! We’re not here to help him or his estranged nobody cousin! Our goal is NewStar!”

“Urgh… my irritation from earlier was still there. I already said it. What now?”

“Um… I understand that the operation was top secret. But at the very least, can I meet him?” Jonathan asked.

“Well… maybe? Why should I entertain you anyway? What can you give me?” I asked, this time choosing not to kick him out. I was probing him—signaling that I might want something.

“I can give you a share of my company! You know that NewStar is the number one company, right? With shares from my company, you’ll be a director of NewStar! All of it could be yours!” Jonathan bluffed.

Now that I had finally cooled down from my infatuation with him, I realized how ridiculously stupid he sounded. It was so absurd I couldn’t help but retort:

“I’d just be one of your shareholders, right? And what rights do shareholders even have? Guardians don’t need money.”

“You must say you’re interested! We have to pretend we fell into his trap!” one of my clones whispered urgently.

“Yes, I am trying! I’m just trying not to be too obvious! If I jumped at the offer, he might get suspicious about why I’m so eager to join his sinking company. Everyone knows Enra and NewStar are plummeting,” I replied.

“Jonathan is so stupid that even if you said you fawned over him, he wouldn’t suspect a thing! Just say he’s handsome and you wanted to get closer to—AARGH!!”

SWISH! A swing of my naginata from other clones silenced the impudent clone.

I’m an actor—I can play pretend—but I refuse to pretend to like him. Even if it’s all an act. It’s not like I wanted that twenty thousand points that badly!

I refuse to lose my dignity, even if someone offers me twenty thousand points!

“Well, that’s true. But that also means you’re free from work! You can just play all day without worry. I mean… You can focus on your Guardian duties while others do the work.”

“How many shareholders are there in NewStar?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about the other shareholders, Lily. Being one of NewStar’s shareholders is a privilege. Not many have such privileges—even among Guardians. Not all Guardians can become NewStar shareholders. You should be proud this offer came to you.”

Jonathan was trying way too hard to seduce me. The more he spoke, the dumber it all sounded.

Still, I had to pretend I was falling for it. I had to pretend I was interested in NewStar.

“Well, how about we go sightseeing this company of yours?” I sighed. I am really struggling to keep my interest in Jonathan and his dumb company. I then dropped the bomb, saying that I wanted to visit his company.

“Of course! May I know your parents? You could relegate your duties to them. Don’t worry—everything will be in good hands. You trust your parents, right?”

“Not really,” I blurted out. The last thing I wanted was for my father and mother to get dragged into this mess. “Wait, does that mean I have to sign my parents into it too?”

“Of course not. The shares are yours. Your parents would merely manage the assets.”

“Well then, let’s see this company of yours,” I said as I approached his seinjet.

“Of course. Let me make a few preparations. I’ll call my employees to welcome you.”

I nodded silently. I didn’t feel the need to answer him.

After I boarded the seinjet, Jonathan closed the door and scurried to the other side to make a call—most likely to his real brother… or maybe his boss was a more accurate term. He took orders from him after all. He didn't plan all of this. This scheme of reporting our misdeeds to the zenith and public was from his brother.

“Fucking bitch,” he muttered as he dialed.

He was truly a two-faced man. I wondered just how many girls and women had fallen for his charms. In NewMesa, I saw him with at least two other girls.

A few rings later, his boss picked up.

“What’s up? Did you get the information?”

“Yuri didn’t know, so I’m talking to Black Lily now.”

“So, did you manage to charm her too? If yes, then I truly underestimated your social skills.”

“No. She didn’t fall for any tricks. However, it seems she’s interested in our company’s shares,” Jonathan said, his face still scrunched as he spoke to his boss.

“Hm? Really? I see. I wonder what she wants. Was she considering jumping ship? But Shirayuki is on the rise, and I heard she had a good relationship with Yuri. Maybe she’s planning to make connections with other Guardians?”

“Dunno. The bitch was so arrogant, I don’t think she’s that complicated. Maybe she just wants to make some extra money, so I need you to prepare some kind of celebratory party for her,” Jonathan said.

I could feel the anger rising through me like a tide. I took a few deep breaths to calm down.

“Was there a problem, miss?” the driver asked.

Yeah—I wasn’t alone in this seinjet, even though Jonathan had stepped aside to make his call. Like me, Jonathan had his own seinjet driver.

But only I could see the screen Felicia had summoned. Only I knew I was watching Jonathan at this very moment.

“Nothing. It’s just a bit hot. Could you turn up the AC?” I asked, managing a calm voice.

“Right away, miss,” the driver turned up the AC as I continued to listen to Jonathan's plan. I couldn't help but sigh to calm down my nerves.

“It’s not that simple, dummy. Probe her. I’ll call several magical girls—C and D rank—to meet her,” Jonathan’s boss said through the screen.

“Yeah, that’s good. It’ll be easier for her to join if she sees a few girls her age. Don’t forget the shares and the party. We need to welcome her.”

“Do you know her parents? It’ll be easier to coerce her through her parents or family. Guardians don’t have many weaknesses. They don’t need money, and they’re protected by law. Zenith made sure to shield their Guardians with allowances and even that Void Clause…”

“No. She was adamant about taking the shares for herself.”

“Hm… she was Black, right? I heard Black Guardians tend to have troubling backgrounds. I see—she wants to get away from her parents. If that’s her wish, then we’ll welcome her. I know what I must do now—get her here, but not too soon. I need about half an hour to prepare.”

“Half an hour? Do you know she asked me to go around a quarter of the city in ten minutes? Do you think she has any patience?”

“That’s your job. Use your charm and social skills, Jonathan.”

The line cut off.

“Felicia, do you know who he is?” I sent a telepathic message to my cat.

“From his voice, He should be Jonathan’s direct brother, Brantford. He’s also the CEO who got away during the trial because he didn’t respond to the call.”

“What!? He is the CEO of Newstar?”

“Yes. And with his behavior just now, we’re beginning to doubt whether he told the truth during that trial. He’s acting so suspicious that the Zenith began this investigation.”

“You mean… he actually answered the call? He lied in court?”

“There’s no proof either way. There were no call logs. We believe he didn’t answer the call—whether by accident or on purpose,” Felicia said.

“That’s why Zenith wants to investigate? Because if he lied... There could be a bigger reason?”

“Yes. Was it just to protect himself? Or was something else going on?” Felicia mused.

“Ugh… if I could just get a recording of that confession, I could throw him in jail.”

“Not really. A recording from a Guardian might convince Zenith, but under human law, such evidence is sometimes dismissed. If I’m not mistaken, it’s due to the exclusionary rule.”

“Huh?” I blinked in confusion.

“Recordings from familiars or Guardian Eyes are classified as unauthorized surveillance. They violate privacy rights. Basically, the UNH won’t accept evidence obtained through illegal means or via privacy violations,” Felicia explained.

I didn’t know such a rule existed.

“Then… was all my work meaningless?”

“Of course not. As long as it’s the truth, Zenith will accept it,” Felicia said.

“Oh yeah, I work for Zenith, not UNH,” I nodded.

I was so preoccupied talking with Felicia that I didn’t notice Jonathan. His boss had already ended the call, so he should have returned by now. But instead of coming back here, that ass went to the cafeteria and bought coffee and snacks instead!

Afterward, he tested his phone, and at the same time, the driver picked up his own.

“That guy is trying to waste our time.”

“How infuriating! I’m gonna kill him. It didn’t take him more than ten minutes to strand two girls on his date! He’s the worst of the worst!”

I spent another ten minutes fuming before he finally came back—with beverages and fries.

“I’m so sorry, Lily. Did I take too long? Well, this is the life of a shareholder—meetings and calls, you know, all that boring stuff. That’s why most guardians delegate the boring jobs to their families. Want some fish and chips? I also brought soda and coffee. Pick whichever you like—I like both, so I’ll take whatever’s left.”

“No, I’m not hungry. I’ll take the soda,” I answered while sulking. I had just stuffed myself with a steak twenty minutes ago. My stomach was about to burst—I didn’t think I could even finish this soda. Still, I had to accept something, or it would create an awkward atmosphere. I needed to placate him so he’d show me around Newstar.

“Of course. Others may say what they want, but I think you have a great figure. You don’t need to work so hard on your diet.”

“Guardians are different in their astral form. You don’t know me. Who knows? I might be a fat, ugly woman inside,” I mocked.

“Well, all the more reason not to diet. Hahaha. People diet just to watch their body and health. Why bother if you have Zenith technology, right?”

“Felicia?” I summoned my cat.

“There are some medicines that help with obesity. Nevertheless, real exercise is still necessary for Guardians. They literally fight hellspawn, after all.”

“I see. Were there any fat Guardians?”

“We can't answer that kind of question,” Felicia replied flatly.

“I see.”

“That just proves you’re not fat in your real form. Now I’m curious,” Jonathan giggled.

“I will not speak anymore.”

“As you wish. Let us depart, Bernard—to Newstar Headquarters.”

“Right away, sir.”

The Seinjet soon departed toward Newstar’s main headquarters. Jonathan must have told the driver to drive slowly, because this driver drove like a turtle. Like Shirayuki, Newstar owned several floors in a high-rise building in New Mesa. In fact, their headquarters were just a few miles away, in the same district—only two tubetrain stations apart.

Jonathan didn’t pester or speak to me during the ride. He kept glancing at the clock on his watch, occasionally messaging the driver to slow down. What should’ve been a ten-minute trip stretched into over fifteen. I chuckled quietly—he hadn’t managed to stall for thirty minutes, but his expression remained perfectly calm.

As we arrived at the Newstar Headquarters, he received a message from his boss.

“The party’s ready,” he said. “Welcome to Newstar Headquarters, Lily.”

Let’s see what this party is all about. This company’s not going to last long anyway.