From the outset, Miss Aifel was keenly aware that this negotiation was fundamentally uneven.
As Jonas had pointed out, after his agreement with the Nason Consortium, the Board's desire to take the chip from him became nothing but a fool's dream.
In other words, this was supposed to be a scam where Jonas maximized his benefits by exploiting loopholes in the other party's words.
But after Kogar uttered that sentence, the meaning of this negotiation became simple yet violent.
Watching Kogar's lifeless body slump on the conference table, Miss Aifel's expression became subtly nuanced.
Though she knew Jonas's temperament, she couldn't help but quip:
"So, is this what Mr. Jonas meant by maximizing benefits?"
Jonas's casual demeanor stiffened momentarily. After coughing twice, he began to justify:
"There were some unexpected developments along the way, uh, in a sense, this could also be considered as maximizing my benefits?"
"As long as you're happy."
Miss Aifel sighed helplessly, then looked at the unconscious bodyguard next to Kogar, asking:
"What should we do with this man?"
"Dispose of him as you wish, preferably cleanly."
Upon hearing this, Miss Aifel nodded.
She then walked behind the bodyguard, grabbed his head, and twisted it forcefully.
With a light crack, the burly man also ceased to breathe.
Seeing the two bodies in the room, Miss Aifel knew she had more work to do.
Handling the bodies of such people was troublesome, and they couldn't be simply disposed of. Otherwise, the news from the 25th District would surely flood in the next day.
But she couldn't just hand them over to the gang, as those fellows were fickle and might even sell the bodies to the Board, causing more trouble.
- Once again, it's me who has to deal with this dirty work.
Miss Aifel couldn't help but sigh, feeling somewhat resentful.
The aftermath of this incident would surely not be as simple as it seemed. What was originally a situation where victory was assured has now become somewhat troublesome.
The trouble from the Vinten Consortium side would be easy to resolve, but if the Board clung to this matter, Jonas could always present the proof of his cooperation with the Nason Consortium to counter it.
What she feared was the potential for Kogar's death to be sensationalized by the Levie Consortium, manipulating the media to spread so-called "conspiracy theories."
At that time, the cooperation between Jonas and the Nason Consortium would inevitably be affected.
The more she thought about it, the more Miss Aifel felt that Jonas had acted too impulsively in this matter. She lifted her head, about to speak, only to see Jonas's gaze looking out of the floor-to-ceiling window, calm yet profound.
Outside the window, the buildings stood tall, and the bustling streets poured out the hustle and bustle of the world.
Perhaps it was just Miss Aifel's imagination, but she sensed a hint of melancholy in Jonas's gaze.
It was the first time the girl had seen such an expression from him, as if that reckless Mr. Jonas also harbored unknown sadness in his heart.
She thought of Jonas's father, a very steady and excellent elder. Although every time she heard Jonas mention him, he would complain that he was an unworthy son, occasional glimpses of his expression revealed that their relationship was not bad.
It was probably his departure that caused such a drastic change in Jonas...
For some reason, Miss Aifel's heart fluttered.
Almost involuntarily, the girl stood up and walked to the man's side.
Jonas, lost in thought, did not notice the girl's approach. Miss Aifel gently embraced Jonas's head, letting his head sink into her soft embrace.
"Please don't worry, no matter what happened, I will always be with you until the end."
Listening to these words, Jonas's mind was momentarily unable to comprehend.
"?"
But he didn't struggle. Although he didn't understand why the other suddenly did this, it seemed...quite nice?
........
At first, Jonas was somewhat puzzled as to why Miss Aifel inexplicably got involved in self-assurance, but after hearing her say, "No matter what happened, I will always be with you until the end," Jonas's mind began to turn slightly.
To be honest, he didn't have any real feelings for the original owner's parents, after all, he had only crossed over less than a year ago, and hadn't even seen their faces.
So when Kogar cursed him as a "bastard without parents," there was no fluctuation in his heart, and he even felt like laughing a little.
But it seemed that the secretary misunderstood something...
Although Jonas wanted to explain, Miss Aifel's embrace was really soft and comforting, so Jonas simply closed his mouth and enjoyed it.
As for why Jonas wasn't angry about shooting Kogar... that was a decision made after careful consideration. Even if the other didn't insult him, when the decision to come to the Alt District was made, the outcome of death was already sealed.
He needed a reason, a way out, a scapegoat.
And Mr. Kogar was undoubtedly a very suitable choice.
The insult from the other party was beyond his expectations. As for the impact... well, maybe shooting felt even more satisfying.
Whether it was impromptu or premeditated, the Board's reaction would undoubtedly be very intense, and the more intense the Board's reaction, the more it would fit Jonas's plan.
Only Jonas's head moved slightly, and he spoke with some difficulty:
"Um, that's enough, Miss Aifel, I'm having trouble breathing."
........