The arena of combat.
These three words often signify for a man a moment of decision, agony, and death. To err is human, but in such circumstances, there is no room for error, and every decision is fraught with difficulty.
For an ordinary man, this would be a crisis of monumental proportions. Yet for Jonas, it was not so. Not only was there no substantive connection between these three aspects, even if there were, Jonas held sway over them all.
There exists a certain type of individual who can find opportunity amidst adversity, and Mr. Jonas is evidently one of them. Though he caught a whiff of the scent of the arena, Jonas remained unruffled. Instead, he swiftly devised a strategy, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his lips.
Miss Esny's thoughts were easy to decipher, and Jonas could conveniently exploit them to further entrap her in this scenario. Picturing this, Jonas couldn't help but smile, addressing Eiffel before him in a tone as calm and tender as one would to a long-lost lover.
"You've arrived. Please set the documents aside for now."
His demeanor was soothing, with a hint of warmth and amusement in his eyes, akin to reuniting with a beloved after a long absence.
Observing Jonas's stance, Eiffel felt a hint of wariness, though she kept it from showing on her face. She then heard Jonas continue with concern evident in his tone.
"Let's set work aside for the moment. How have you been lately?"
Jonas's tone carried genuine concern, leaving Eiffel further puzzled as to his intentions. She looked to him, attempting to convey her query through her gaze.
However, Jonas avoided her gaze, leaving Eiffel no choice but to respond, "I'm doing fine."
"That's good to hear."
Upon hearing his words, Jonas seemed to remember something, reaching into his drawer and pulling out a box of throat lozenges, offering them to Eiffel. He continued, "While work is important, Miss Eiffel, you must also take care of your health."
Watching Jonas's actions, Eiffel's gaze grew more vigilant. She was now certain that the despicable Mr. Jonas had ulterior motives. She hesitated, seemingly pondering whether or not to accept his kindness.
However, upon seeing the smile in Jonas's eyes, Miss Eiffel felt an inexplicable impulse.
—Surely he wouldn't dare to deceive me?
With this thought in mind, Eiffel accepted the throat lozenges from him, softly expressing her gratitude, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Jonas. I'm deeply moved."
—Let's see what you're really up to.
Since Miss Eiffel entered, Esny's gaze remained fixed on the two figures. Jonas's tender gaze seemed genuine... perhaps he truly preferred Miss Eiffel over herself.
Understanding her own thoughts, Esny suddenly snapped out of it, shaking her head to dispel such thoughts from her mind.
—Why compare myself to her? I don't even like him. It's none of my concern who he's with.
Though she thought this way, the warmth in Jonas's eyes still stirred a sour feeling within the girl.
However, Miss Esny wouldn't admit to feeling jealous... her self-esteem was still intact. Apart from her willingness to compromise when it came to her sister, Esny was rather resolute in other aspects.
Like prey ensnared in a trap struggling futilely, only to sink deeper into it, Esny's self-doubt was indeed the most exploitable weakness.
The more she thought this way, the more she found herself unable to extricate herself from the realization of her own downfall.
"Alright, Miss Esny, if you have no further business, you may leave now."
Jonas's voice suddenly broke the girl's reverie. Though his tone remained calm, it was starkly different from how he addressed Eiffel.
Esny pursed her lips, nodding before making her way towards the elevator.
As she descended, watching the floors decrease on the elevator's display, a hint of confusion flashed in Esny's eyes.
—Why do I feel... unsatisfied?
As if realizing her own thoughts, Miss Esny's hand instinctively reached for the collar around her neck.
As the elevator doors reflected her figure, her gaze shifted from confusion to determination.
—Since he's already humiliated me like this, I can't just let it go.
As if finding justification for her actions, Esny's eyes gradually grew brighter.
Yes, that's right. I'm simply unwilling to accept defeat.
Her thoughts seemed to follow a predetermined path, step by step descending into the abyss of her own downfall.
Perhaps even Jonas himself couldn't have anticipated how smoothly Miss Esny's self-sabotage would proceed. This impromptu plan had achieved results beyond his expectations.
In the office of the Alt division, after Esny's departure, Eiffel finally realized the reason behind Jonas's unusual behavior.
"This time, you've done well, Miss Eiffel," Jonas said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Eiffel couldn't help but give him a wry look.
Yet Jonas seemed to anticipate her reaction, placing an apple against Eiffel's lips before she could respond.
Taking a vicious bite, the girl seemed to release her frustration.
Though she had already suspected his motives, the revelation left her feeling irked.
—This guy only cares when he's toying with women.
With this thought, Eiffel couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Whether it was due to being treated as a tool or jealousy over the target not being herself, it was hard to say.