"With the support of Dream Corporation, no wonder you were able to establish a company at such a young age and were able to buy ACL," Herriet told Ryder as she stepped inside the car.

"Not really. I might be living with Shu, but I don't use his influence for my business. As for the money I used to buy ACL, that was my own too. He did help me a lot in different ways, though," Ryder answered as he started the engine of his car.

It was complete silence. Herriet didn't speak anything, mostly because she was stunned. Ryder was able to collect so much money on his own without the help of Shu? She was having a hard time believing.

"Are you joking?" she asked suspiciously.

A wry smile appeared on Ryder's face. He wondered why he even told her that. He should have expected that reaction. Maybe because he didn't want her to give credit for his success to someone else?

He was surprised that he cared so much.

' Why did I even care if she was giving credit to Shu. It's not like it would be harmful to me in any way,' Ryder thought.

"Hah, you're not answering. You were definitely teasing me." Herriet chuckled as she misunderstood Ryder's silence.

Hearing her cute laughter, Ryder couldn't help but smile as well. He slowed down the speed of the car even though the road was empty so that he could gaze at Herriet.

Looking sideways, he watched the slender face of Herriet. A beautiful smile was on her face as she laughed.

"You look really pretty when you're happy. You should always be like that," Ryder let out softly before he shifted his gaze back to the road.

"W-what?"

Herriet immediately closed her mouth as a slight blush appeared on her face. She didn't know why her heart skipped a beat as she heard Ryder's praise.

She took a deep breath as she calmed herself down before she said with a smile, "I must say, your flirting skills are improving. It's way better than the line that you used at the start about getting a current when touching me."

"What can I say? If you stay near me, I might become an expert at flirting," Ryder answered as he smiled wryly.

"Oho? Aren't you going to ask if I have a boyfriend?" Herriet inquired with an amused smile on her face.

" Do you?" Ryder asked casually.

"I don't. You're lucky. Keep taking me to drinks like this, and I might actually fall for you," Herriet said jokingly.

"Hah, I don't think I'll be able to handle you. But I can't stop taking you to drinks either. Sigh, a tough life," Ryder laughed as he joked around too.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Herriet asked softly as she looked outside the window, hiding her red face.

"A girlfriend, huh," Ryder muttered softly as he fell into a deep thought.

'Esmi counts as one, I think, even though we haven't clarified our relationship.' he thought as Esmi's face appeared on his head.

" You're not saying yes or no. Do you have a girlfriend?" Herriet asked again. Her fist was clenched as she waited for an answer. 

"I do have a girlfriend, kind of," Ryder replied vaguely.

Hearing his answer, a disappointing look appeared on her face. She didn't let it show. 

"What do you mean kind of? How can you kind of have a girlfriend?" She asked.

"It's complicated. Anyway, we're here," Ryder let out as he stopped the car in front of the bar.

"Complicated huh," Herriet muttered as she stepped out of the car. 

Ryder also left and locked the car before he entered the bar with Herriet.

The two of them started drinking.

****

In another part of the country, a board meeting was taking place.

A wooden rectangular table was placed in the center of the room.

There were chairs all around the table, and Shu was sitting in one of the chairs. His seat was the main seat that was right in front of the screen, which was used to show projects and presentations.

Shu was sitting comfortably with his feet stretched out lazily. His fingers were tapping the table, creating a sweet melody that seemed to have harmony with nature itself.

Other than Shu, no one else was inside the room.

Shu gazed at the clock, which was showing the exact time. There were still two minutes left before 2 in the afternoon.

" Two minutes," Shu muttered as he closed his eyes, but he continued tapping his finger.

There were still two minutes left before the meeting time.

Only one minute had passed before the door of the room opened. People started walking inside the chamber.

The first person to enter was Alem Schmidt. He was someone that Ryder had met previously. When Ryder's sister was kidnapped, and Ryder had caused an accident to save her, Alem had gone there with three Major Generals to save him from being arrested.

He was the Non-Executive Director of the Defence Technology Branch of Dream Corporation. In terms of importance in the Dream Corporation, he was ranked fifth, but some people said that his actual position was technically higher since he was close to Shu.

The Second was the Executive Director of the Dream Corporation's Research Branch, Mark Quinn. The Third to enter was the Executive Director of Defense Defence Branch, Fisch Layman. They were the third and fourth in terms of importance in the organizations.

The fourth person who entered the chamber was the person who held the most authority in the Dream Corporation after Shu. He was the Managing Director of the Dream Corporation, Drake Lamia.

"Only five of us are here? I thought it was a board meeting?" Drake asked as he sat on the chair that was directly opposite to Shu, on the other end of the table. 

" Yeah. Are the others late? How unprofessional. It's already the time of the meeting, yet they aren't here? I'm disappointed," Fisch chimed in as he also found a seat.

" They shouldn't be late on such a special occasion. I feel like something is different. Could it be that only five of us were supposed to be here?" Mark raised a concern.

Everyone looked towards Shu for an explanation, including Alem.

" Mark is right. This board meeting is only between the five of us," Shu answered casually.

"Well, it's true that the five of us possess most of the authority in the company but is it right to have a board meeting without other members?" Mask asked with uncertainty.

"I don't like crowds. If you wish, you can tell them what we discussed here today after I leave. This is only for you guys and me," Shu said, clearing the concern of the man.

"Alright. If that's what you want, this meeting shall be between us only. So tell us, what is it for? You don't generally come here personally unless it's really important, handling the matters from the back unless necessary. What brought you here?" Drake asked as he gazed straight at Shu.

Mark also looked at Shu to hear his answer while Fisch picked up the glass of water in front of him and started drinking the water.

"I want to buy Necrosis Corporation."

Shu only said six words, but these six words were enough to stun everyone.

Fisch, who was drinking the water, spat out in shock. Drake also frowned. Mark, on the other hand, seemed to be lost in some thought.

Alem was as expressionless as he was mostly. 

"Do you know what you are saying? Necrosis Corporation is having its best time of life right now. Even the government is getting involved in their business. Do you think it's easy to buy them? Let alone then selling us, even if they did, can we afford it? We have such big plans for expansion. After spending so much, we would be pushed back by decades even if we managed to buy them successfully. And we will become a joke if we don't. This is a failed endeavor from the start," Drake explained calmly.

" Yeah. Think of our reputation. It would take such a massive hit if people know we failed to buy a newly risen company," Fisch also chimed in.

"Could it be that you're concerned about their rise? The government is closely working with that, so there's a chance they will enter the weapon industry, which is our turf. They can be a direct competitor to us. Could it be the reason you want to buy them? To eliminate the competition before it gets big enough to threaten us?" Alem let out, thinking rationally.

"Yeah, that's true. I had the same suspicion as well; however, if it's about competition, we don't have to go all out like this. We can ruin them without even buying them. There are so many ways to sabotage their growth. It won't be tough to spread the news everywhere that their Divinity Glasses kill people. We already have the media companies in our hands," Mark said as he smiled. 

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