Chapter 323: Flow ⑴

I handed the commercial district transfer deed to Zia.

"......"

Zia stared blankly at it, her face flushing red.

"Are you pleased?"

"Yes......"

She clutched the deed in both hands and spun around in place, as if dancing a waltz. Round and round, round and round.

A smile spread across my face without me realizing.

"Also, it seems that Team Leader Bell Moore is confirmed as the next di rector."

It's a meteoric rise to directorship since it's been less than two years since he took on the team leader title. Bell Moore's ambition is truly remarkable.

The Chasers at the Intelligence Agency are very impressed with his trajectory.

"Has Bell Moore... decided to become one of our people too?"

Zia asked cautiously.

"Yes."

Bell Moore, of course, expected low risk. Indeed, the risk itself would be low.

In the not-too-distant future, Zia will surely seize Libra.

"He seems to support Miss Zia under the guise of pursuing Neutrality.'"

"......Its okay."

There's still a long way to go.

Johanna has already semi-retired, and Derek is in prison, but the collateral branches of Libra are still intact.

Represented by the elders, they are dreadful. Malicious and vile. Like ghastly old ghosts. Who knows what kind of atrocities they would commit if their chosen successor fails...

"ls the next di recto r... trustworthy?"

"Yes."

I answered with conviction.

Honestly, I never thought I'd say this about Bell Moore.

"He's the person I trust the most at the Intelligence Agency."

I can trust him. I can trust his words. I can trust his thoughts.

Because his innermost thoughts are too transparent and simple, too easy to see through.

"......Yes. That's a relief. If Shion trusts him, I trust him too... ..."

Zia smiled broadly.

"And...... it Looks Like you might become a Balancer at the next elder council meeting. My brothers and sister have given their permission...... "

Balancer.

Soon, I will become Zia's first Balancer.

"lt is an honor."

It was indeed a great honor.

"l'm hanging in there."

On a day when the seasons were changing, I received a health check-up from Professor Yu Hains.

"For now."

"Can't you take a break from work?"

Yu Hains asked. I rubbed my stiff neck as I responded.

"Yeah. Whether I rest or not, it seems Like it wouldn't make much difference to my lifespan."

Treatment started much faster than before my regression, but my physical condition was similar or perhaps even worse than before.

Probably because I've been pushing myself as much as I've improved.

"You're hastening your own death."

"People eventually die."

But I certainly do not wish for death by disease. Kd rather meet my end at the hands of someone else.

Thats how I died before my regression.

A Life spent lying powerlessly in bed, waiting to become dust, the worst of the worst.

"Here's the investment amount."

I placed a briefcase full of cash on the table. Glancing at it, Yu Hains made a remark.

"Johanna has come and gone."

"......"

I had anticipated it, but it required an act.

After all, I am the scoundrel who exploits not only Johanna but also Professor Yu Hains's personal emotions and the wounds of his bereavement.

"Is that so."

I let my expression darken. I colored my tone with calmness.

"What did she say?"

"She asked about your condition."

"And you didn't answer, I suppose."

Yu Hains nodded. I gave a bitter smile.

"I see."

"Do you intend to keep your distance until the end?"

His question was tinged with a slight regret. Perhaps, he was projecting the relationship between his old love and himself onto us.

"Yes. It must be so. For both of us to forget each other."

Then, Yu Hains quietly retorted.

"The memory of a Loved one can help endure the pain of the future."

His stance seemed a bit changed, but I shook my head.

"......I don't think so."

When soliette died, my life shattered. The death of the woman I once loved completely broke me down.

Those left behind can't change anything and can never be happy.

"Because I love Johanna......"

Someday, I will engage in a false love with Johanna, but because of this, my death will be the punishment that befalls Johanna.

It would be the punishment for the countless sins she has committed— the inexcusable evils.

"I don*t want to burden her."

The world flows steeply onward. People live as if they will never die, and everything changes completely from the day before.

—Celebrating the establishment of the Hero Association, Trick City will never compromise on the safety of its citizens and we will not back down...

This is the inauguration ceremony of the Hero Association.

I am watching Senator Amota's speech from a distance. Beside me, Soliette is eating ice cream.

"Shion. Are you really not going to eat? It's a specialty of Trick City."

"Yeah."

Having regained her sense of taste, she has become a complete glutton.

——Additionally, I would like to invite a special guest who has attended today.

Senator Amota pointed to the sky. Then, from afar, a remarkable guest, a hero, appeared.

Shiiiiik-

Mila, making a grand entrance with an incredible surge of air, has accomplished countless good in her against her arch-enemy, "Raquel Dra: Now, overwhelming cheers and applause pour down from the citizens.

"Wow. Impressive. A true hero."

By the way, I'm tight-lipped, so I haven't even told soliette that Mila is actually Layla.

"I wonder who would win if we fought."

Lately, she's been Learning the Severing Sword, and her competitive spirit is overflowing. Its a side effect, if anything.

"Don't even think about fighting."

"Why not?"

"Because you would definitely win."

Layla has considerable talent, but this one's potential is on par with Jade, or perhaps even greater.

"Hmm. Is that so."

Soliette swallowed a large bite of her ice cream with a satisfied expression.

...

The world changes rapidly, but there are places where time flows somewhat slower. Prisons, or jails, are the most typical examples.

—The bail... has been denied.

Visitation room.

I'm not going inside, just watching Derek and Smith from outside. The atmosphere feels grim.

—Again?

...I apologize.

Smith bowed his head to Derek's intensely angry question.

-Sigh.

Thus, Derek is still trapped in jail. Bail will be impossible until the trial ends.

Theia is also detained, so there's no way you can get out.

—Such uselessness...!

Derek stood up abruptly.

Zzzak——!

A tearing sound echoed as he even resorted to physical violence, and I placed a Lunchbox on the floor of the visitation room.

"Please deliver this after the visitation ends."

I asked the guard. All in order to avoid any trouble coming my way.

"Yes, I understand."

...

Time passed again, and a council meeting of the elders was held in Libra.

I was invited to the beautifully decorated Aerial Garden and stepped onto the podium.

"Congratulations."

An elder named 'Anakta' handed me a tie as the representative. It was a blue Veroma tie, symbolizing a balancer.

Veroma is a mysterious item, both a mineral and a fabric. In other words, even a single tie is worth a million Ren.

"Thank you."

The wrinkled, old hands of the elder placed the tie around my neck. There was a hint of a foul smell at the tip of my nose, but I showed no reaction, and as I stepped down from the podium, someone tapped my shoulder.

"Congratulations."

It was sonya. Before the regression, she was Zia's right hand, now my right hand.

"Balancer. Shion AscaL"

She grinned at me, and I too responded with a smile.

...

In the basement of the Intelligence Agency, there's a garden with artificial sunlight. Since the entire Intelligence Agency is built underground, this garden is designed to maintain the work-Life balance of its members—

"Ah fuck, this is fucking bullshit, I'm so fucking pissed off, I'm going crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Anyway.

Today, in that garden, the inauguration ceremony for the new director is taking place, but the main character, Bell Moore, is in the waiting room, unleashing an endless stream of curses and tantrums.

"Just stop it."

I sighed.

"...Ah, fuck."

Bell Moore slumped into the chair with a vacant expression. His face was drained even before he took the stage.

"How was it for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you became a balancer."

"I didn*t think much of it."

"...Bullshit."

Bell Moore flung his speech papers aside. Sweat had already begun to bead on his forehead.

"Just read it as it is. It will be over soon."

It would only take 20 minutes.

"At the banquet, just show your best side to the elders I've marked."

...

Five elders are attending the director's inauguration ceremony.

Bell Moore sighed as he checked their faces and names.

"And... this is about the team Leader selection."

I handed him the official documents that needed the director's seal.

"Team Leader?"

Bell Moore glanced at me.

"Yes."

"Hmm."

He seemed slightly concerned.

"Hey, can't you just persuade the people who left to come back?"

The four team leaders who had joined Gedley's operation had all died.

Of course, Bell Moore wasn't literally asking to bring back the dead; he actually thought they had just left.

Their passports and several documents had been manipulated, so their deaths weren't confirmed.

"Everyone has a firm intention to Leave with Director Gedley."

"...Sigh. Is that so? Then do as you please. I don't care."

He lay back down on the sofa, pressing his temples with his thumb, then looked back at me with a grimace.

"Hey. I'm just filling in five years and then I'm retiring."

Inci dentally, five years is the period to receive the maximum retirement pay.

"D0 as you wish, but for now, memorize the speech."

I slapped the speech papers back onto his face.

...

Right after Bell Moore's appointment as director was confirmed.

I gathered the Chasers who had been operating under Bell Moore's team.

"Nice to meet you."

Sia, Chloe, Jeff, Luin, including the original members, a total of seven direct elite team members.

"ls this the first time everyone has gathered like this? I called you to get to know each other's faces."

True to their elite status, they simply nodded without any change in expression.

"Try smiling a bit. Such a stark atmosphere isn't great. Ah, maybe this will make you smile."

I picked up a Libra phone. I executed the bonus payment that needed the director's approval under my own authority.

Ding-ding—

All of their Libra phones rang simultaneously. The team members couldn't help but smile as they checked their screens.

Even Jeff, the calmest of them all, made significant contributions by assassinating the team Leaders, slightly smiled.

"...lfs much more than expected?"

Chloe murmured in surprise.

It probably was. I don't skimp on money.

I distributed all my bonus and incentives to them, so the amount they expected probably had an extra digit.

"lts too early to be surprised."

Rewards and punishments must be clear. In that regard, money is just a simple reward.

The real prize is 'rank.'

"ln this team Leader selection, Ms. Sia and Ms. Chloe will be assigned."

The eyes of Chloe and Sia widened.

From the previous Johanna mission, the two had come to command a dozen or so Chasers under them, making them capable enough to officially perform the duties of a team Leader.

"Team Leader?"

The two of them looked utterly stunned.

"Yes. You two will assist Director Bell Moore as team leaders, but in reality, you will be having more conversations with me. The director dislikes being on the front Lines."

Chloe nodded resolutely.

"...I know. Bell Moore of the Shadows."

Bell Moore of the Shadows?

It seems like a strange reputation is spreading, but it's not necessarily a bad thing.

"And Mr. Jeff?"

"Yes."

Jeff responded gravely.

He had made significant contributions, but his lone-wo If attitude made a team Leader position impossible for him.

"You will act as my direct agent, a direct Chaser under a Balancer."

I—the Balancer—am now treated as a department in my own right. Thus, Jeff becomes my first employee.

"lts an honor."

Jeffs face showed he truly believed that.

"Additionally, you will establish yourself as a key figure at the Magic Space Intelligence Agency, but all tasks directly requested by the high ranks of Libra must be reported to me."

The high ranks of Libra assign specific missions to the Intelligence Agency. Just by compiling these mission details, I can discern the thoughts of Derek and the elders.

"Does everyone understand7"

"""Yes!"""

"Good."

Now, upon taking office, Bell Moore has filled the team Leader selections with his own faction. They would actively infiltrate and take over the entire Intelligence Agency.

"You've all worked hard following and trusting me in the shadows."

Bell Moore's unknown ambitions had grown this immense.

"Now, everyone, return to your duties."

I had successfully hijacked the Intelligence Agency.