Princess Run (2)
Hearing the fairy's question, the elf made a disgusted expression. It was not an expression of empathy for the other's anxiety but more like a protest at how such words could even be spoken.
"Larisa! What era do you think this is for you to say such impertinent things?!"
Blair wore a look as if she had been insulted. She was an elf with such deep loyalty that she would take any careless words directed at her superior as an attack on herself.
Surprised by the unexpected reaction, the fairy muttered with half-crazed eyes.
"Do you not eat animals that beg for their lives? Well, I guess that's a relief."
"Stop worrying about useless things. The chairman isn't a cruel tyrant who punishes subordinates by death for making a big mistake. It would be wrong to imagine someone who would devour his subordinates for making a mistake or for not being hungry like the old dragons."
Then, she murmured in a barely audible voice.
"...And the chairman has stopped eating meat for quite a while now."
"Then is he a vegetarian?"
"Stop with the boring jokes."
A few hours later, they found out that it wasn't that Jenkinson had delayed his response but that there had been a malfunction in the communication network between Earth and the other world.
"We're back online. Larisa, get the documents ready for transmission."
Blair Campbell was certain. She believed there would be no excessive punishment even if they had caused a major accident, as the chairman was a reasonable person.
After the communication was restored and she had finished reporting the situation via video call with the chairman, she silently prayed that her trust would not be shattered.
"Let me summarize what I've heard so far."
The chairman, Jenkinson, appeared in dragon form during the magical video call. Unlike Earth, the committee's headquarters was equipped with accommodations suitable for all kinds of species.
Placing his hand on a table that was tilted at the scale of several dozen stories high and laying out documents the size of a school playground, the dragon frowned. As soon as the communication was restored, the fairy had transmitted the data for printing on his side. His breath made the flames flicker, a clear sign of his displeasure.
The elder dragon slowly moved his eyes and re-read the documents. Written from the perspective of the security officer. After finishing, he spoke.
"So, you're telling me that all the 'treasures' in the B-39 sector were stolen last night?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
"And despite having noticed suspicious signs around the warehouse, you were still unable to prevent it?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
Each time she gave the same answer, the elf felt smaller.
"And you say there are no traces of the thief, and it's impossible to track them even with the fairy's abilities?"
Again, the only possible answer was:
"...Yes, that's correct."
The great dragon sighed deeply. His breath burned the documents he was holding with a whoosh. Blair knew that this was the most intense display of anger Jenkinson had shown to his subordinates.
"Campbell. You know why I've made six dimension jumps and came all the way to the committee headquarters, enduring days of hardship, right?"
"I know."
"It was because of what was in that warehouse. And now you're telling me it was stolen? Larisa Andreyeva."
When her name was suddenly called, the fairy tensed up and answered, now fully sober.
"...Yes, sir!"
"Do you have any idea how much money we spend on you?"
"..."
She stayed silent, knowing this wasn't a question meant to receive an answer. The dragon continued without giving her a chance to respond.
"I get a report every month about the cost details connected to the cost center in your name. Your base salary, bonuses, benefits, entertainment expenses, commission payments, consumables, rent, etc... All together, almost a billion a month. It's similar to what we pay to the top 1% of contract agents, but I've never thought it was a waste."
After a brief pause, he added:
"I've never doubted that you're the best in your field."
His tone was calm, but the words were cutting into the fairy's heart like sharp knives.
"I believed that because you confidently told me you were the best in your field. Your ability to move freely between the physical world and the spirit world, a place even dragons can't enter or spy on."
A heavy light filled the dragon's eyes.
"I'm not blaming you for the vault being breached. Much of the protective barrier inside was set up by me. But the real problem is your attitude in reporting that you have no way to track down the thieves. Did I pay all that money just to hear such words?"
"...I'm sorry."
"And Blair Campbell."
"Yes, Chairman."
"I know about the communication issues between Earth and the other world over the past few days. But are you telling me that you couldn't report to me directly just because of that? Even though you noticed something suspicious? Think about it. Was there truly no way?"
"..."
"We both know about a communication network that is unaffected by external or internal conditions. If you had gone to the committee's Earth branch and requested emergency support, you could have used their spiritual communication network. But you didn't do that."
It was true.
"Why not? Simple. You were afraid that sensitive information might leak. After all, they're not part of Jenkinson Company, and you can't trust them."
He was absolutely right.
"And you didn't contact 'him' either. The most reliable ally in my absence. The reason is the same. He's just a contract agent. A temporary business partner, not someone you can fully trust."
"...I'm sorry."
"That apology is very dangerous. It could imply that this will happen again in the future."
"Th-that's not it!"
"I know the psychological traits of elves well. You have issues with 'trust'. You rarely allow anyone into the lines you draw."
Blair nodded slowly in acknowledgment.
"But the reason I hired you wasn't because I expected you to always think and act like an elf. I hired you because I believed you could show me something more. If you're bound by the limits of your species, your mediocrity, and the average, there's no reason for you to be working with me."
The fairy and elf were silent, bowing their heads. Jenkinson, after giving them a moment to think, spoke about his plans.
"I'll end the call and immediately share this information with the committee."
This was unexpected for the fairy. Jenkinson had seemed like someone who would first hide this from the committee and pressure his subordinates even more before they found the stolen goods.
The dragon revealed his reasoning.
"Whatever background those thieves have or what their purpose is, one thing is clear. They're going to try and leave Earth as soon as possible and escape to another world. Fortunately, there's no record of any passenger or cargo ships leaving Earth during this time. I'll be working with the committee to close all 'terminals' on Earth."
He was talking about a dimensional blockade.
"Even if I leave for Earth right now, it will take several days to arrive. I hope you'll have gathered as many traces and clues as you can by then."
The dragon then gave orders to his secretary.
"Campbell, contact him. Tell him we'll meet all his terms."
"Okay, understood. Chairman."
"And Andreyeva."
"······Yes!"
"From now on, you should refrain from reporting in this manner. Otherwise, I might reconsider the advice Dr. Yevdos gave me."
"Dr. Yevdos?"
It was the first time she had heard the name. The dragon kindly explained to the fairy.
"Before I came to this world, he was my personal physician. I accepted his advice and stopped eating protein. He said that's how I would live as long as I wanted to."
The fairy, who had been grumbling about how a dragon, who could live thousands of years, was so concerned with prolonging its life, suddenly froze upon realizing the true meaning of the dragon's words.
The dragon was suggesting that he might reconsider eating meat again, something he had given up due to the advice of his physician, for the fairy's sake.
If he resumed eating meat, whether beef, pork, lamb, or fairy meat, there would be little difference for the dragon.
"···I will remember that."
The dragon then turned his twelve eyes back to the elf and spoke.
"Campbell, remember. Once the communication is finished, contact Minjun immediately."
After issuing the stern order, Jenkinson fell into a moment of thought.
'Things have really become troublesome. I didn't want to rack up more debt than this.'
The help Minjun provided regarding Edelines and Jang Taejun could be seen as an exchange of favors, but in reality, it was Jenkinson who had made the request. Both were matters he did not want to reveal to the outside world, so he had asked Minjun for help in secret.
Jenkinson was wary of the scale tipping even further in Minjun's favor.
'But…'
Despite everything, he had eventually turned to Minjun because he trusted him. The dragon thought with a faint hope.
'Yes. If it's him... he might have a way!'
"This isn't working. There's no solution like this. I'm afraid I don't see anything either."
Minjun made this declaration just after arriving at the charred remains of North Han Mountain, following the urgent summons from his secretary the next day.
The secretary bit her lip.
"As expected…"
Following Jenkinson's orders, they had tasked Minjun with investigating the site. They had thoroughly examined the fire site and the warehouse, which was off-limits to outsiders, hoping for any clue. There was nothing to worry about, as the place had been completely cleaned out.
"Hm."
Minjun, carefully inspecting the scene, asked Larisa, whom he was meeting for the first time.
"You must have already done an astral search, right?"
The fairy nodded weakly.
"Everything there burned down, so there was nothing."
"Astral searchers wouldn't have seen anything that I can. It's obvious."
Minjun said this and immediately extinguished the white flames that had been surrounding his eyes. The elf hesitated before speaking.
"Then... is there really nothing we can do?"
Minjun, intoxicated by the dragon's support, had never seen his secretary, who had been so talkative, now floundering like this. For a moment, he considered teasing her a little, but realized it was futile and decided against it. After all, it wasn't like it would make him any richer.
"What other methods have you tried other than the astral search?"
"We only had about 24 hours since the fire was extinguished, so we didn't try too many methods. We called in some psychometrists…"
"Even so, I'm sure nothing came up. Residual thoughts can be erased easily with magic. For a large-scale spell like this, there would be no trace left."
"That's right. And the psychic investigators we hired shook their heads as well."
"Of course. Given the exorcism wards set up around the vault, ghosts probably couldn't get close. Even if some tried, they would have been swept away by the flames and vanished. I'm sure there isn't a single ghost within 3 km of here."
Unlike spirits, who could maintain their identities and provide logical testimony, interviewing a ghost wasn't an option. Minjun scratched his chin in thought. At that moment, the fairy seemed to have an idea.
"Um... Oppa, what about inviting a druid? It's a mountain, after all. There are some wild animals here. Maybe a druid could check if they saw anything unusual that night?"
"They're rare ability users. It would be difficult to find one, and besides, animals that survived the wildfire would have fled far away and won't come back if we call them. They must have been scared and exhausted."
Minjun, who had been explaining, suddenly brightened.
"Ah! Wait a minute… now that I think about it!"
Though psychometrists, psychic investigators, and druids might not be able to help, an idea had occurred to him.
"Right, compared to the 1980s, the number of animals living in mountains like this has actually increased recently."
These wild animals probably hadn't all fled from the fire.
The animals that survived must have run far away and are nowhere nearby.
But on the other hand, that meant the animals that died would be scattered everywhere.
Creatures that had passed away no more than three days ago.