Ch.140I am the Chairman and You are (3)

Zernya isn’t unable to eat onions. Rather, she’s not a picky eater.

However, she’s awkward about sharing food with others. The Adelbein family doesn’t teach table manners. Eating is merely an act of consuming calories.

Therefore, eating with someone else.

It’s a very awkward and difficult thing.

“Eat it.”

“No, Madam President, you eat it.”

“Stop arguing and just eat it, will you?”

Zernya stabbed an onion with her fork and moved it to Eidel’s plate. Charitably speaking, it was sharing; uncharitably, it was disposing of leftovers.

Eidel chewed thoroughly, mixing meat and onions in a 1:5 ratio.

“Without the perilla dressing, this would’ve gotten boring ages ago.”

Eidel harshly criticized the steak.

“There was a place I ate at with Rustila before. That was much better.”

“…Where was that?”

“I can’t remember the name of the restaurant.”

Zernya’s face turned sullen. It was because she heard the name Rustila. She felt bloated and irritation surged within her.

“Here, eat this too.”

She handed over paprika and broccoli as well.

“Are you being picky with your food right now?”

“No, I’m not.”

Zernya deliberately chewed an onion audibly. It was a mindset of ‘I can eat whatever you eat.’

“I’m stuffed to death. Why do you keep giving me food?”

“Because I can’t finish it all.”

“Then take less from the beginning, from the beginning. Don’t keep giving me little bits throughout.”

“Well, you decide that after tasting it.”

“You just never give in, do you?”

Of course. An Adelbein doesn’t yield even in such trivial matters.

Besides, Zernya was barely eating anything. At this rate, Eidel was eating enough for two people. Eidel took out a card in her younger sister’s name from her wallet and fiddled with it.

“I’ll just pay for today.”

“No.”

Zernya quickly snatched the bill.

“I have more money than you.”

“Oh.”

It was a petty pride, but Eidel quite liked it.

“Ah, just a moment.”

Eidel’s phone vibrated. It was just for an instant, but Zernya read the caller’s name.

“Hello, Rustila?”

Zernya flinched.

Rustila Kersil. Just hearing that name puts her in a bad mood. There’s no special reason. That face, that behavior, everything about her has been displeasing since long ago.

“Where am I? I came out to eat. Yeah, with whom? Well.”

Eidel rolled her eyes. Zernya was in her line of sight. Zernya munched on french fries while listening attentively to what would follow.

“With a friend. Yeah. I came with a friend.”

A friend. It still sounds nice.

But it also feels somewhat lacking.

“Together this weekend? Um, hmm. Wait. I don’t know what my schedule will be like this week. Let me check that and call you back. Yeah, bye.”

Eidel hung up the phone with a gentle smile.

“No.”

Zernya answered before Eidel could even ask.

“What?”

“Making other appointments is absolutely not allowed. How can you have time to go out when the student council isn’t even fully formed yet?”

“Who said I was going out?”

“Aren’t you trying to go to Academia?”

“I have to.”

She must stop this. There’s no grand reason. But under no circumstances should she allow her to meet that girl Rustila.

What method should she use?

Her mind worked quickly.

“Recruiting.”

The pledge she had made.

“We need to invite companies for recruiting, so you come along this weekend too.”

“Where to?”

“My house.”

***

The Adelbein Group is one of the largest mega-corps in the Federation.

Heavy industry, clothing, food, cosmetics, entertainment, medical, private education, construction and civil engineering—numerous affiliates are densely clustered like bright stars.

Among them are government-funded research institutes, making it a symbol of political-business collusion for a long time. The Northern Foreign Research Institute and Southern Biological Research Institute, where the previous incident occurred, are also places where Adelbein provides under-the-table money.

“This way.”

I followed Zernya off the shuttle. After more than 12 hours of space travel even with the warp gate, my body was already in tatters.

“From here, over 10 parsecs of distance is all our front yard, ahem.”

The Adelbein planetary system.

The planetary system closest to the Federation capital, and a playground for high-intelligence criminals whose appearances differ from their true nature.

Feels like I’ve entered a tiger’s den.

“Actually, the recruiting matter will be over quickly.”

“Of course. It’s your home.”

“Then what do you think I expect from you here?”

Zernya’s reason, or purpose, for bringing me.

“Since you’re in charge of the External Cooperation Department, you need to practice how well you can do it.”

It was to evaluate me in advance. Whether I could handle the department I applied for well or not.

“If I see you’re really not up to it, I’ll move you to the Internal Affairs Department, just so you know.”

Internal Affairs Department.

The organization that manages and assists with work schedules.

At Stellarium, it also serves as the student council president’s direct subordinate. Because the student council’s schedule is essentially the student council president’s schedule.

So.

It means I’d have to do more of what I’m already doing—being Zernya’s errand runner.

“But you already gave the Internal Affairs Department to a second-year senior.”

“What was given can be taken back.”

Zernya answered confidently as she walked.

Before we knew it, we arrived at a magnificent mansion. When Zernya snapped her fingers, the main gate opened without hindrance. Simultaneously, dozens of fifth-generation androids lined up on both sides.

“We are honored to see the noble Miss Adelbein.”

The androids bowed their heads.

And.

“What a load of nonsense.”

Sonia whispered so no one could hear.

“This is the epitome of snobbism that should only exist thousands of years ago. It’s giving me goosebumps I didn’t even have. Young master, let’s just handle the agenda and leave.”

“What are you two whispering about?”

“Nothing at all, Miss Adelbein.”

Sonia lowered her knee and slightly lifted her skirt. Zernya pouted and flicked her finger.

“Come in.”

We took our seats. Sonia, unlike usual, didn’t stand but sat right next to me with her legs crossed.

Soon the automatic door to the reception room opened and a man entered.

An old man with white hair. There was also a slight purple tint in his eyes. He had the direct bloodline of the Adelbein mixed in.

“It’s been a while, Miss.”

“Grand-uncle, it’s been a while. Please come and sit here.”

Grand-uncle. A title that sounds both familiar and unfamiliar.

“He’s a seventh cousin. Legally marriageable under Federation civil law—essentially strangers.”

Sonia whispered softly.

Only then did I get a sense of who this person was.

“Pleased to meet you both. This old one is Kashu von Adelbein. I work in the bio sector.”

Kashu von Adelbein.

One of the many villains of the Adelbein family.

Particularly someone with whom I have business to discuss regarding the previous dextrorotatory scalene polyhedron incident.

“I’ve already heard that you wanted our Adelbein Bionics to come to Stellarium for open recruitment.”

Kashu bowed his head and continued.

“I’m sorry, but it will be difficult for us.”

“…What do you mean?”

Zernya stood up in surprise. Of course, I had anticipated this.

“Are you backing out of the promise now?”

“Although I replied by email that we would come, the situation changed just yesterday.”

“Then why didn’t you inform us by email in advance?”

“Because it’s a confidential matter that must only be conveyed verbally.”

Zernya showed signs of discomfort.

“Are you saying our email system has security vulnerabilities?”

“We should be able to trust the encryption keys made by that Nordi fellow’s company. I’ve heard rumors that they secretly extract information…”

“We’re part of the same group!”

I watched the situation while munching on the snacks placed in front of me. Zernya continued her dispute with Kashu. Sonia likewise opened a cookie and whispered.

“This house is just like these snacks. Take a small bite and powder falls everywhere.”

Bean powder.

No, it’s a house of bean noodles.

“Humans are truly puzzling. They’re supposedly of the same bloodline, yet they fight like this.”

“You said they’re essentially strangers.”

“Even if they’re practically strangers, blood is thicker than water. At seventh cousins, they share 1.56% genetic identity.”

I smiled bitterly at Sonia’s words. It reminded me of fighting with my biological parents back on Earth, calling each other “you bastard” and “Jinsoo, you bastard.” Being related doesn’t always mean everyone gets along.

Kashu and I made eye contact. He bowed his head and apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

At least he has some decency.

“We have matters to discuss just between the two of us, so would you please leave for today?”

Wow, I’m an idiot for expecting anything. I forgot the universal truth that Adelbein bloodlines lack manners.

“Listen. My home is twelve hours away from here. And you’re asking me to just leave today?”

“You can stay at a nearby hotel. If necessary, our family will cover the expenses.”

“The expenses aren’t the issue!”

I jumped to my feet.

“The problem is that I’m a college student. I have classes the day after tomorrow. If I don’t finish today and leave immediately, I won’t be able to face my professors because of you.”

“…?”

Beside me, Sonia gave me a look that said “what strange nonsense are you talking about?” What? Why? There’s nothing wrong with my logic. Seeing professors’ faces is a major issue.

“Then it would be best if you came back next week.”

“No. I won’t have time from next week onwards. If you want to do this, let’s just do it in writing, and if you want to break it off, say so clearly now.”

“Hmm.”

“Is your hesitation because of the prosecution’s investigation?”

“…I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“The prosecution is currently raiding your group over the human experimentation case.”

“…!”

“So all your executives are about to be dragged away, and you’re whining that you can’t prepare for recruitment when everyone else is participating.”

“How did you… know that?”

As expected. It’s obvious without even looking.