Chapter 247: Scheme (2)
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Chapter 247: Scheme (2)
Scheme (2)
Johanna terminated the spatial sharing.
The 43 square meters dorm room of Shion Ascal expanded into a vast bedroom.
Silently, she scratched the area around her eyebrows and sank into the sofa.
This sofa costs three million ren. A masterpiece embroidered stitch by stitch by a craftsman, with inherent cleanliness magic.
Moreover, the velvet gown she was wearing was worth five million ren. It would never get soiled without ever needing to touch water, or being washed. Probably cleaner than most sterile rooms.
Thus, everything in this residence starts at a million ren.
Clothes, watches, bags, brooches, rings, jewels, necklaces Things that commoners may never touch in their lifetime were as plentiful as stones here, yet there were no windows.
The sky permitted for everyone to see was not visible.
It was because of her obsessive-compulsive nature.
Its because shes lonely.
Johanna frowned.
It was a presumptuous remark from Shion Ascal.
A condescending comment sympathizing with her, a direct descendant.
Hmm
Thats why now, she was in doubt.
It was both a concern and a simple deduction.
If if Shion Ascal was framing Beckman?
Although Beckmans loyalty remained unchanged, if that bastard Shion was engaging in collusion?
No matter if Chaser had risked his life to save her in the casino, Johanna did not trust a greenhorn who hadnt even been around for a year.
Instead, she breathed distrust as easily as air.
My lord, its Vitro.
A voice came from the handset in the corner of the bedroom.
Speak.
Vitro was another one of her balancers.
Yes. The informant Jake who spoke with Ascal does exist.
Who exactly is he?
This too was part of Johannas suspicions.
Could it be that Shion Ascal had noticed the spatial mediation in advance and was trying to play a farce with some random guy?
His identity has not been determined, but he has quite a reputation on the dark web. Theres talk that he could be a Black Scale level informer after a long time.
That guy is Shion Ascals personal informant?
Yes. I received confirmation from Bell Moore that Ascals informant is certain.
And who the hell is Bell Moore?
Johanna furrowed her brow.
Ascals current marksman.
Which side is he on? Derek?
He seems to be wavering at the moment.
Hmmmm
Johanna exhaled a breath for a moment.
The artifact known as spatial mediation meant that once Shion left the vicinity of the documents, his whereabouts could no longer be tracked.
Surveillance for work purposes was impossible.
Is he trustworthy?
Hes my junior by five years. He listens to me well.
Then lets assign him a task.
You mean surveillance?
Yes.
Having a marksman watch over his own spotter.
Its a complete mess, but its bound to be efficient.
I will proceed.
Go.
Johanna ended the communication with a gesture.
Then, suddenly, she remembered something Ascal had said just before.
Perhaps. I dont trust people either.
The words about not trusting people.
Indeed, there are no trustworthy people by his side.
Johanna is similar.
She doesnt fully trust even Vitro. She always doubts her own balancers.
They might pretend to be loyal to her while actually serving Derek, Jade, Sherlock, and though the likelihood is significantly low, even Zia could be a spy.
Thats why she is just as lonely.
Its not funny
Johanna sank into the sofa.
A trophy on the table caught her eye.
[FINAL WINNER]
The ultimate trophy from the World Series of Poker.
She stared at it.
Somehow, stress was spreading.
Every time she looked at it, every time she remembered that day, an inexplicable stress surged within her.
She still didnt understand why.
Thanks to that, she had gained a stake in the Golden Casino and had won the coveted trophy.
In the past, when she was younger, she relieved such stress by killing people. She frolicked on the battlefield herself.
Now, she cant indulge so recklessly.
Just
Johanna quietly closed her eyes.
And fell into a death-like sleep.
* * *
Swoosh swoosh.
An empty clearing wrapped in bushes.
Summer rain falls from the dark sky.
Soaked by the rain, Elise is lost in thought.
Theres no contact from her father.
Her father, who prides himself on being a strong warrior, might dismiss this as a mere trifle, a non-event that will pass.
But Elise is scared.
Of what?
Of drifting apart.
From whom?
From Shion Ascal.
Right.
Thats all Elises fear amounts to.
The selfish desire not to drift away from him is far greater than the feeling of regret, than the duty to atone as a member of the family.
She doesnt want to become his enemy.
How foolish.
Of course, I declined the offer.
It would be strange for someone who never goes to suddenly start attending.
Im not even sure whose bidding hes doing yet.
Hey.
Bell Moore followed me down the Intelligence Agency hallway.
That personal informant of yours, howd you come across them?
You seem very interested. Intelligence is the lifeblood of a Chaser.
Its fucking impressive, thats why.
I happened to come across them.
What do you mean happened to? Im not asking who it is, just tell me how you happened to come across them. Im curious.
Hes prying too much.
Clearly, hes been approached by someone.
Someone from the direct line?
We met on the line of death.
Line of death? Like a life-or-death situation?
Yes.
Its actually true.
When Grawl was a stone monster, during the fierce battle with Akane, I absorbed part of Grawl into my R-elix.
Hmm.
Bell Moore scratched his chin.
We reached the parking lot.
Oh right, I didnt bring my car today, can you give me a lift? It used to be mine anyway.
Bell Moore grinned slyly in front of the SUV.
Where to?
Just drop me off at Edsilla Station.
Get in.
I climbed into the drivers seat. Bell Moore got into the passenger seat.
Still, I feel good as the person who gifted this car to you since you use it often.
I started the car without a word.
We exited the Intelligence Agency through the tunnel.
Still. Im envious of you.
Bell Moore was particularly motor-mouthed today.
Is there something to envy?
Youve got money. Won that gambling tournament, too. 60 million Ren.
Why dont you retire? Did Johanna take all the credit?
No.
Bell Moore glanced at the rearview mirror. He was gauging my reaction.
Heard you got a gift from Johanna too.
Yes.
Did she take a liking to you?
Thats when I had the intuition.
Its Johannas bidding.
Bell Moore was clearly sounding me out.
No.
What do you mean no? Why would she give a gift if she didnt like you?
I cannot presume to measure the thoughts of Johanna.
Youre no fun But anyway. Be careful, will you? If you get too close to the direct line for no reason, youll be checked.
I pondered what kind of conversation Johanna would favor, what sentences she would deeply consider.
I reflected on her personality and inclinations.
It doesnt matter.
How can it not matter, man? Do you know what could happen? Youre basically one of the juniors people.
But Johanna is, once again, simple in her desires.
Ultimately, she seeks loyalty that expects nothing in return.
You might not realize it, but the dynamics of power arent that simple, man. You could end up butting heads with a Balancer.
In any situation, in any danger, she wants someone who can be unconditionally trusted.
Theres a widespread rumor that Beckman is gunning for you. So just step back a bit. If Johannas crew calls you, just lie and say youre busy.
No.
Just then, the SUV stopped at a traffic signal.
There were many people crossing the crosswalk.
Its my responsibility to handle.
I watched them as I conveyed my words to Johanna.
Sometimes, even someone like me might be necessary to her.
Bell Moore made a strange expression. He seemed to mumble something like What makes you think youre so special? and then leaned back in his seat.
After that, there was no more conversation.
Bell Moore waited quietly and got off at Edsilla Station.
* * *
[Exclusive! Sanrama District Senator, Syrimuss Son Caught in Scandal]
Ha ha.
Derek smiled. A scandal had erupted for a district Senator, someone who was no more significant than Verns finger.
Taking down a bird quite the bold move. Ascal again?
It was led by Ascal himself, along with Bell Moore and Riley as a team, answered Balancer Smith.
Derek folded the newspaper with satisfaction.
Now Vern must have an inkling of who hes messed with.
But this was just the beginning. He wouldnt stop until Vern was on his knees before him, licking his boots.
But how about the other teams results? Aside from Shion, there seems to be no results.
It seems they are unfolding their plans. We will report the outcomes soon.
Derek turned his chair around, looking out the high window as he spoke.
In a way, its fortunate that bastard is Zias.
Starting with Benedict, then Theia Esil, and now Syrimus, Ascal proved to be as competent as any other Balancer.
There are rumors lately that Johanna has been in contact with Ascal.
Johanna. That woman?
Yes. She personally offered a high-priced gift.
Dereks brow furrowed slightly, but he soon sneered.
No need to worry. That crazy woman doesnt trust what belongs to others.
If there was even one instance of loyalty to someone else in their past, Johanna would never trust them. She doesnt give the slightest emotion to anything that isnt money.
She was born that way from the start.
Then, we shall prepare for Verns counterattack.
Dismissed.
Yes.
Smith backed out of Dereks office.
Alone, Derek smiled contentedly and gazed casually at the clouds in the sky.
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Chapter 247: Scheme (2)
Scheme (2)
Johanna terminated the spatial sharing.
The 43 square meters dorm room of Shion Ascal expanded into a vast bedroom.
Silently, she scratched the area around her eyebrows and sank into the sofa.
This sofa costs three million ren. A masterpiece embroidered stitch by stitch by a craftsman, with inherent cleanliness magic.
Moreover, the velvet gown she was wearing was worth five million ren. It would never get soiled without ever needing to touch water, or being washed. Probably cleaner than most sterile rooms.
Thus, everything in this residence starts at a million ren.
Clothes, watches, bags, brooches, rings, jewels, necklaces Things that commoners may never touch in their lifetime were as plentiful as stones here, yet there were no windows.
The sky permitted for everyone to see was not visible.
It was because of her obsessive-compulsive nature.
Its because shes lonely.
Johanna frowned.
It was a presumptuous remark from Shion Ascal.
A condescending comment sympathizing with her, a direct descendant.
Hmm
Thats why now, she was in doubt.
It was both a concern and a simple deduction.
If if Shion Ascal was framing Beckman?
Although Beckmans loyalty remained unchanged, if that bastard Shion was engaging in collusion?
No matter if Chaser had risked his life to save her in the casino, Johanna did not trust a greenhorn who hadnt even been around for a year.
Instead, she breathed distrust as easily as air.
My lord, its Vitro.
A voice came from the handset in the corner of the bedroom.
Speak.
Vitro was another one of her balancers.
Yes. The informant Jake who spoke with Ascal does exist.
Who exactly is he?
This too was part of Johannas suspicions.
Could it be that Shion Ascal had noticed the spatial mediation in advance and was trying to play a farce with some random guy?
His identity has not been determined, but he has quite a reputation on the dark web. Theres talk that he could be a Black Scale level informer after a long time.
That guy is Shion Ascals personal informant?
Yes. I received confirmation from Bell Moore that Ascals informant is certain.
And who the hell is Bell Moore?
Johanna furrowed her brow.
Ascals current marksman.
Which side is he on? Derek?
He seems to be wavering at the moment.
Hmmmm
Johanna exhaled a breath for a moment.
The artifact known as spatial mediation meant that once Shion left the vicinity of the documents, his whereabouts could no longer be tracked.
Surveillance for work purposes was impossible.
Is he trustworthy?
Hes my junior by five years. He listens to me well.
Then lets assign him a task.
You mean surveillance?
Yes.
Having a marksman watch over his own spotter.
Its a complete mess, but its bound to be efficient.
I will proceed.
Go.
Johanna ended the communication with a gesture.
Then, suddenly, she remembered something Ascal had said just before.
Perhaps. I dont trust people either.
The words about not trusting people.
Indeed, there are no trustworthy people by his side.
Johanna is similar.
She doesnt fully trust even Vitro. She always doubts her own balancers.
They might pretend to be loyal to her while actually serving Derek, Jade, Sherlock, and though the likelihood is significantly low, even Zia could be a spy.
Thats why she is just as lonely.
Its not funny
Johanna sank into the sofa.
A trophy on the table caught her eye.
[FINAL WINNER]
The ultimate trophy from the World Series of Poker.
She stared at it.
Somehow, stress was spreading.
Every time she looked at it, every time she remembered that day, an inexplicable stress surged within her.
She still didnt understand why.
Thanks to that, she had gained a stake in the Golden Casino and had won the coveted trophy.
In the past, when she was younger, she relieved such stress by killing people. She frolicked on the battlefield herself.
Now, she cant indulge so recklessly.
Just
Johanna quietly closed her eyes.
And fell into a death-like sleep.
* * *
Swoosh swoosh.
An empty clearing wrapped in bushes.
Summer rain falls from the dark sky.
Soaked by the rain, Elise is lost in thought.
Theres no contact from her father.
Her father, who prides himself on being a strong warrior, might dismiss this as a mere trifle, a non-event that will pass.
But Elise is scared.
Of what?
Of drifting apart.
From whom?
From Shion Ascal.
Right.
Thats all Elises fear amounts to.
The selfish desire not to drift away from him is far greater than the feeling of regret, than the duty to atone as a member of the family.
She doesnt want to become his enemy.
How foolish.
Of course, I declined the offer.
It would be strange for someone who never goes to suddenly start attending.
Im not even sure whose bidding hes doing yet.
Hey.
Bell Moore followed me down the Intelligence Agency hallway.
That personal informant of yours, howd you come across them?
You seem very interested. Intelligence is the lifeblood of a Chaser.
Its fucking impressive, thats why.
I happened to come across them.
What do you mean happened to? Im not asking who it is, just tell me how you happened to come across them. Im curious.
Hes prying too much.
Clearly, hes been approached by someone.
Someone from the direct line?
We met on the line of death.
Line of death? Like a life-or-death situation?
Yes.
Its actually true.
When Grawl was a stone monster, during the fierce battle with Akane, I absorbed part of Grawl into my R-elix.
Hmm.
Bell Moore scratched his chin.
We reached the parking lot.
Oh right, I didnt bring my car today, can you give me a lift? It used to be mine anyway.
Bell Moore grinned slyly in front of the SUV.
Where to?
Just drop me off at Edsilla Station.
Get in.
I climbed into the drivers seat. Bell Moore got into the passenger seat.
Still, I feel good as the person who gifted this car to you since you use it often.
I started the car without a word.
We exited the Intelligence Agency through the tunnel.
Still. Im envious of you.
Bell Moore was particularly motor-mouthed today.
Is there something to envy?
Youve got money. Won that gambling tournament, too. 60 million Ren.
Why dont you retire? Did Johanna take all the credit?
No.
Bell Moore glanced at the rearview mirror. He was gauging my reaction.
Heard you got a gift from Johanna too.
Yes.
Did she take a liking to you?
Thats when I had the intuition.
Its Johannas bidding.
Bell Moore was clearly sounding me out.
No.
What do you mean no? Why would she give a gift if she didnt like you?
I cannot presume to measure the thoughts of Johanna.
Youre no fun But anyway. Be careful, will you? If you get too close to the direct line for no reason, youll be checked.
I pondered what kind of conversation Johanna would favor, what sentences she would deeply consider.
I reflected on her personality and inclinations.
It doesnt matter.
How can it not matter, man? Do you know what could happen? Youre basically one of the juniors people.
But Johanna is, once again, simple in her desires.
Ultimately, she seeks loyalty that expects nothing in return.
You might not realize it, but the dynamics of power arent that simple, man. You could end up butting heads with a Balancer.
In any situation, in any danger, she wants someone who can be unconditionally trusted.
Theres a widespread rumor that Beckman is gunning for you. So just step back a bit. If Johannas crew calls you, just lie and say youre busy.
No.
Just then, the SUV stopped at a traffic signal.
There were many people crossing the crosswalk.
Its my responsibility to handle.
I watched them as I conveyed my words to Johanna.
Sometimes, even someone like me might be necessary to her.
Bell Moore made a strange expression. He seemed to mumble something like What makes you think youre so special? and then leaned back in his seat.
After that, there was no more conversation.
Bell Moore waited quietly and got off at Edsilla Station.
* * *
[Exclusive! Sanrama District Senator, Syrimuss Son Caught in Scandal]
Ha ha.
Derek smiled. A scandal had erupted for a district Senator, someone who was no more significant than Verns finger.
Taking down a bird quite the bold move. Ascal again?
It was led by Ascal himself, along with Bell Moore and Riley as a team, answered Balancer Smith.
Derek folded the newspaper with satisfaction.
Now Vern must have an inkling of who hes messed with.
But this was just the beginning. He wouldnt stop until Vern was on his knees before him, licking his boots.
But how about the other teams results? Aside from Shion, there seems to be no results.
It seems they are unfolding their plans. We will report the outcomes soon.
Derek turned his chair around, looking out the high window as he spoke.
In a way, its fortunate that bastard is Zias.
Starting with Benedict, then Theia Esil, and now Syrimus, Ascal proved to be as competent as any other Balancer.
There are rumors lately that Johanna has been in contact with Ascal.
Johanna. That woman?
Yes. She personally offered a high-priced gift.
Dereks brow furrowed slightly, but he soon sneered.
No need to worry. That crazy woman doesnt trust what belongs to others.
If there was even one instance of loyalty to someone else in their past, Johanna would never trust them. She doesnt give the slightest emotion to anything that isnt money.
She was born that way from the start.
Then, we shall prepare for Verns counterattack.
Dismissed.
Yes.
Smith backed out of Dereks office.
Alone, Derek smiled contentedly and gazed casually at the clouds in the sky.
Chapter 247: Scheme 2Scheme 2Johanna terminated the spatial sharing.The 43 square meters dorm room of Shion Ascal expanded into a vast bedroom.Silently, she scratched the area around her eyebrows and sank into the sofa.This sofa costs three million ren. A masterpiece embroidered stitch by stitch by a craftsman, with inherent cleanliness magic.Moreover, the velvet gown she was wearing was worth five million ren. It would never get soiled without ever needing to touch water, or being washed. Probably cleaner than most sterile rooms.Thus, everything in this residence starts at a million ren.Clothes, watches, bags, brooches, rings, jewels, necklaces Things that commoners may never touch in their lifetime were as plentiful as stones here, yet there were no windows.The sky permitted for everyone to see was not visible.It was because of her obsessive-compulsive nature.Its because shes lonely.Johanna frowned.It was a presumptuous remark from Shion Ascal.A condescending comment sympathizing with her, a direct descendant.HmmThats why now, she was in doubt.It was both a concern and a simple deduction.If if Shion Ascal was framing Beckman?Although Beckmans loyalty remained unchanged, if that bastard Shion was engaging in collusion?No matter if Chaser had risked his life to save her in the casino, Johanna did not trust a greenhorn who hadnt even been around for a year.Instead, she breathed distrust as easily as air.My lord, its Vitro.A voice came from the handset in the corner of the bedroom.Speak.Vitro was another one of her balancers.Yes. The informant Jake who spoke with Ascal does exist.Who exactly is he?This too was part of Johannas suspicions.Could it be that Shion Ascal had noticed the spatial mediation in advance and was trying to play a farce with some random guy?His identity has not been determined, but he has quite a reputation on the dark web. Theres talk that he could be a Black Scale level informer after a long time.That guy is Shion Ascals personal informant?Yes. I received confirmation from Bell Moore that Ascals informant is certain.And who the hell is Bell Moore?Johanna furrowed her brow.Ascals current marksman.Which side is he on? Derek?He seems to be wavering at the moment.HmmmmJohanna exhaled a breath for a moment.The artifact known as spatial mediation meant that once Shion left the vicinity of the documents, his whereabouts could no longer be tracked.Surveillance for work purposes was impossible.Is he trustworthy?Hes my junior by five years. He listens to me well.Then lets assign him a task.You mean surveillance?Yes.Having a marksman watch over his own spotter.Its a complete mess, but its bound to be efficient.I will proceed.Go.Johanna ended the communication with a gesture.Then, suddenly, she remembered something Ascal had said just before.Perhaps. I dont trust people either.The words about not trusting people.Indeed, there are no trustworthy people by his side.Johanna is similar.She doesnt fully trust even Vitro. She always doubts her own balancers.They might pretend to be loyal to her while actually serving Derek, Jade, Sherlock, and though the likelihood is significantly low, even Zia could be a spy.Thats why she is just as lonely.Its not funnyJohanna sank into the sofa.A trophy on the table caught her eye.FINAL WINNERThe ultimate trophy from the World Series of Poker.She stared at it.Somehow, stress was spreading.Every time she looked at it, every time she remembered that day, an inexplicable stress surged within her.She still didnt understand why.Thanks to that, she had gained a stake in the Golden Casino and had won the coveted trophy.In the past, when she was younger, she relieved such stress by killing people. She frolicked on the battlefield herself.Now, she cant indulge so recklessly.JustJohanna quietly closed her eyes.And fell into a death-like sleep.* * *Swoosh swoosh.An empty clearing wrapped in bushes.Summer rain falls from the dark sky.Soaked by the rain, Elise is lost in thought.Theres no contact from her father.Her father, who prides himself on being a strong warrior, might dismiss this as a mere trifle, a non-event that will pass.But Elise is scared.Of what?Of drifting apart.From whom?From Shion Ascal.Right.Thats all Elises fear amounts to.The selfish desire not to drift away from him is far greater than the feeling of regret, than the duty to atone as a member of the family.She doesnt want to become his enemy.How foolish.Of course, I declined the offer.It would be strange for someone who never goes to suddenly start attending.Im not even sure whose bidding hes doing yet.Hey.Bell Moore followed me down the Intelligence Agency hallway.That personal informant of yours, howd you come across them?You seem very interested. Intelligence is the lifeblood of a Chaser.Its fucking impressive, thats why.I happened to come across them.What do you mean happened to? Im not asking who it is, just tell me how you happened to come across them. Im curious.Hes prying too much.Clearly, hes been approached by someone.Someone from the direct line?We met on the line of death.Line of death? Like a life-or-death situation?Yes.Its actually true.When Grawl was a stone monster, during the fierce battle with Akane, I absorbed part of Grawl into my R-elix.Hmm.Bell Moore scratched his chin.We reached the parking lot.Oh right, I didnt bring my car today, can you give me a lift? It used to be mine anyway.Bell Moore grinned slyly in front of the SUV.Where to?Just drop me off at Edsilla Station.Get in.I climbed into the drivers seat. Bell Moore got into the passenger seat.Still, I feel good as the person who gifted this car to you since you use it often.I started the car without a word.We exited the Intelligence Agency through the tunnel.Still. Im envious of you.Bell Moore was particularly motor-mouthed today.Is there something to envy?Youve got money. Won that gambling tournament, too. 60 million Ren.Why dont you retire? Did Johanna take all the credit?No.Bell Moore glanced at the rearview mirror. He was gauging my reaction.Heard you got a gift from Johanna too.Yes.Did she take a liking to you?Thats when I had the intuition.Its Johannas bidding.Bell Moore was clearly sounding me out.No.What do you mean no? Why would she give a gift if she didnt like you?I cannot presume to measure the thoughts of Johanna.Youre no fun But anyway. Be careful, will you? If you get too close to the direct line for no reason, youll be checked.I pondered what kind of conversation Johanna would favor, what sentences she would deeply consider.I reflected on her personality and inclinations.It doesnt matter.How can it not matter, man? Do you know what could happen? Youre basically one of the juniors people.But Johanna is, once again, simple in her desires.Ultimately, she seeks loyalty that expects nothing in return.You might not realize it, but the dynamics of power arent that simple, man. You could end up butting heads with a Balancer.In any situation, in any danger, she wants someone who can be unconditionally trusted.Theres a widespread rumor that Beckman is gunning for you. So just step back a bit. If Johannas crew calls you, just lie and say youre busy.No.Just then, the SUV stopped at a traffic signal.There were many people crossing the crosswalk.Its my responsibility to handle.I watched them as I conveyed my words to Johanna.Sometimes, even someone like me might be necessary to her.Bell Moore made a strange expression. He seemed to mumble something like What makes you think youre so special? and then leaned back in his seat.After that, there was no more conversation.Bell Moore waited quietly and got off at Edsilla Station.* * *Exclusive! Sanrama District Senator, Syrimuss Son Caught in ScandalHa ha.Derek smiled. A scandal had erupted for a district Senator, someone who was no more significant than Verns finger.Taking down a bird quite the bold move. Ascal again?It was led by Ascal himself, along with Bell Moore and Riley as a team, answered Balancer Smith.Derek folded the newspaper with satisfaction.Now Vern must have an inkling of who hes messed with.But this was just the beginning. He wouldnt stop until Vern was on his knees before him, licking his boots.But how about the other teams results? Aside from Shion, there seems to be no results.It seems they are unfolding their plans. We will report the outcomes soon.Derek turned his chair around, looking out the high window as he spoke.In a way, its fortunate that bastard is Zias.Starting with Benedict, then Theia Esil, and now Syrimus, Ascal proved to be as competent as any other Balancer.There are rumors lately that Johanna has been in contact with Ascal.Johanna. That woman?Yes. She personally offered a high-priced gift.Dereks brow furrowed slightly, but he soon sneered.No need to worry. That crazy woman doesnt trust what belongs to others.If there was even one instance of loyalty to someone else in their past, Johanna would never trust them. She doesnt give the slightest emotion to anything that isnt money.She was born that way from the start.Then, we shall prepare for Verns counterattack.Dismissed.Yes.Smith backed out of Dereks office.Alone, Derek smiled contentedly and gazed casually at the clouds in the sky.
