It did not take long for some servants to return with dishes for me and Rachel. While they went about setting out plates in front of us, I try to make small talk.
"What's with the suits? I thought you were taking a day off."
"Just taking the time to have a meal with our family," Robert replied as he used a knife to cut into whatever he was eating. Raising it with his fork, he chewed and swallowed before adding, "Once we're done, your brother and I will be going back to the office. Lincoln, however, has the day off."
At mention of going back to the office, noises of agreement could be heard from Richard and Velma.
Once the clatter of plates stops, I take a look in front of me and my eyes widened at the sheer number. While everyone else has one plate, I've got ten. Not only that, but the variety. A club sandwich, spaghetti, steak, some sort of noodles and white sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, burger and fries, some sort of fish, what I think is chicken with some sort of sauce on it, and a bowl of chicken soup.
Apparently noticing my confusion and disbelief – not to mention Rachel's and the others at the table –, Lidia speaks with some embarrassment, "I wasn't sure what you would want or how you were feeling. So, I had the chefs prepare various options. I hope you like it!"
Fortunately, Layfon was not really one to care about food, so I don't have to pretend to like anything specifically. However, that means I can't act like I like anything either. Fuck that soup. I'll just eat everything else and say I'm full if its still there. Only problem is that – unlike me – Layfon doesn't care about wasting food. So, whatever I don't eat now will probably get trashed. It might seem weird if I ask to save any of it. Well…I am pretty hungry.
Like that, I had a pretty enjoyable time. Relying on Layfon's memories to make sure I showed proper manners or whatever, I was able to enjoy the delicious food – except the soup, fuck that. Fortunately, no one chose to kick up a conversation with me while we ate. Though, due to the late arrival, they naturally finished their already half-eaten meals before I did. At least me keeping something in my mouth kept the conversations off of me.
Conversations started with Robert talking to Richard and Velma about business stuff I didn't understand. Didn't they say they were going to leave after eating? However, Rachel then chimed in.
"Why don't you have Layfon join the company," Rahcel said.
Layfon? The spoiled youngest son of the Drogo family who's never worked a day in his life, only puts effort into the things that entertain him, and otherwise pushes anything that could be 'work' onto others?
Naturally, all eyes turned to Rachel with looks of disbelief.
The stern-faced patriarch looked like he was restraining a scoffing laugh at the idea, but he managed to swallow it and regain his stern expression as he addressed his daughter – though a trace of laughter remained in his tone –, "What brought this on, Rachel?"
Rachel glanced at me – frozen at her sudden suggestion with my fork and mouth full of mash potatoes – before explaining. "While we were on our way down, he said that he was thinking about what he was going to do after school to fill his time and keep him occupied."
"Is this true," Robert asked as his attention shifted to me – now taking the topic more seriously.
Quickly chewing and swallowing the mash potatoes, I try to hide my nervousness and speak in the calm, unbothered tone Layfon would use, "I don't think I said anything about working at the company, but I figured I should consider what I should do after graduating."
"What brought this on," Lidia asked.
I shrug. "Nothing really. Just figured I'll have a lot of time after I graduate, and figure I would need something to keep from getting bored."
My answer seemed to be generally accepted before Robert looks away. "Hmm. Well, if you do think about working at the company, come talk to your brothers or me."
"I will," I say. I then change the course of conversation. "Speaking of school, what about you, Rache?" I then resume eating to silently remove myself from the conversation.
"Huh," Rachel questions as she raises her head.
"Oh, yes," Lidia happily claps. "You'll be joining your brother at the academy this year. Do you have any plans or anything you need?"
Slightly flustered at becoming the center of conversation, Rachel replied, "Oh, not really. I figure I'd just get a feel for how things are."
"That's fine, but…" Lidia trailed off as she thought about her words.
"It's never too late to start thinking about what moves you could start making," Veronica explained.
"What do you mean," Rachel asked.
"Well," Veronica looked off in thought as she put a finger to her chin, "the Nou family daughter is also enrolling this year. There's also one of the Gregory heiress's subordinates who will be officially enrolled this year."
Lidia nodded. "That's right. There's no harm in thinking about trying to approach them and make connections now. Also, there is the Yamamoto heiress in the year above you. You might want to think about how you could try to approach her."
Velma chimed in, "Why her? Their company – I hear – is on the verge of being bought out by Nkives Corporation."
"That's an unconfirmed rumor," Richard blandly said. "All that's confirmed is that Yamamoto Industries is participating in a joint project with Nkives. Publicly, they're joining Yamamoto's research with Nkives technology to produce a new form of transport. However, there are rumors about the president's health taking a turn."
Lincoln frowned. "Nkives is just a tech company; in the Big Picture, they just have money. There's no way those in power would allow Yamamoto to be bought out by them. But…the current president leads their research and development. If there's no one to continue his work…They could make the argument of letting them take over to use their resources to keep things on track. This partnership would also give them access to their work. They might try getting ahold of things they shouldn't to push things in their favor…"
His expression turning sour, Lincoln continued, "I don't like how likely all that is. Nkives has always been trying to break into the big leagues. This might actually be there chance. It might be a problem if they succeed. If they get their foot in the door, they have what it takes to pry it open."
"Speculation is just that," Robert interjected. "Rachel, Layfon, if there is an opportunity, I want you to approach young miss Yamamoto while your siblings look into things on their end. See what are just rumors and what are facts. If Yamamoto Industries really is in need of some assistance, let it by us who gives it and earn some good will. We don't need upstarts like Nkives rocking the boat and causing trouble."
Orders given, the conversation quickly died.
Soon, Robert, Richard, and Velma all had to leave. Then, Lincoln. Rachel tried but was quickly caught by Veronica and Lidia who decided to do some new school shopping together.
Left on my own, I ate all I could and ignored the slight breaking of my heart as I had no choice but to leave more than I'd like behind.
Leaving the room, I decided to head back to my room. On the way, I can't help but wonder if I may have changed the plot of the story. The 'Gregory heiress's subordinate' connects the main character to Rachel who connects him to the Nou heiress. That was already going to happen, but there is no mention of Rachel having a connection to Yuuko Yamamoto or the Drogo family getting involved with them. Instead, exactly what they think is happening happens.
Yamamoto Industries is a research and development firm that specializes in studying things about the Great Divide. Despite their relatively small size, their specialty and success lead them to being considered on par with the Drago family. However, for reasons that are only revealed later to be a result of that research, the current president falls ill. It's only revealed later that his 'illness' is caused by his research. Despite what people think, he wasn't actually the leader of the research.
The actual main guy preferred to focus on his research which made him more of a background figure. This meant that there is someone to take over his work, but they aren't really one to run a company and prefer to focus on their research. This allows Nkives to effectively take over with his support. There's no buyout, but the head researcher working with Nkives basically gives them control of development. That's when things start to go wrong…
Getting back to my room, I make sure to lock the door behind me as I let out a breath.
"That seemed to go well."
Opening my eyes, I see Alice looking at me from the couch. "Yeah~ Might have changed some things though."
"Is that a problem," Alice asked with a tilt of her head.
"No." I begin walking over to the couch. "I'd just like it to be intentional."
"As an Invader, you are meant to bring change to your surroundings. You won't always be able to control it."
"True." I plop myself down beside her. "Now, on to more important things."
I focus my mind on my Inventory and I can see it appear in the corner of my vision. The third square is now holding an item. I try to focus on it, to try and pull it out. When I do, I can feel some sort of impulse. Absentmindedly reaching out my hand, it begins to vanish into thin air as it seems to slip into some sort of invisible space. Despite being unable to see it, I can feel my fingers brush against something. I grab it and retract my hand.
As my hand reappears, I am now holding some sort of palm-sized, purple and red crystal. Observing it, depending on how I hold it, it almost looks like a dragon head.
Using Analyze, what I see is:
Doru-essence crystal, Rank: D (MAX potential: SSS)
"So, this is supposed to be the thing that allows me to absorb the dragon bloodline or whatever?"
"That is correct. Simply focus your mind on it, and you will be able to absorb its potential."
"There's no side-effects or anything, right? Am I going to be overcome with pain? Is my body going to be torn apart and remade? Do I have to keep myself from exploding?"
With a shake of her head, Alice denied, "No, no. Perhaps if the item you were using was well above you, that might be an issue. Or if it were actually remaking your body. But how this will work is more simple. Think of it as if you are absorbing the spirit of a dragon hatchling. In truth, the level of power you are absorbing is inferior to your own. You will gain new abilities, but otherwise, the changes you undergo will be minimal. The only 'side-effect' will be you going into a somewhat meditative state while your spirit adjusts to the change."
"Okay…And, what's this 'MAX potential' thing?"
"Oh! You used Analyze on it. For living things, the future is unknowable, so it currently isn't possible for you to be able to see their actual potential. However, items like this are more static. MAX potential is just a denominator of – if utilized to its fullest – the heights this item can reach."
"Uh-huh…" If I've got this Rank thing right, then 'SSS' should be second from the top. Level eleven. Getting there might be an issue, but otherwise…I can't help but smile. This must be what having plot armor is like. If only the MCs of the various stories could recognize when they've got it.
The story begins proper in about a month. That'll give me time to at least get used to this whole 'Invader' business. Then I can start planning how exactly I can begin my rise to the top.
For now, I've got a crystal to absorb.
Closing my eyes, I focus on the crystal like I was instructed. When I do, my consciousness starts to feel hazy, but at the same time, I can feel something flowing into me…
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In what look like a deep underground cavern, strange moss and rocks along the bottom illuminated the wide and spacious path. The ceiling – however – remained hidden in darkness. The floor was unnaturally flat and smooth in contrast to the walls that consisted of dark, rough stone.
Patrolling the area with an expression of complete disinterest, Vayda – Vee for short – was a girl in her early twenties with bright, yellow eyes; silver, bob-cut hairstyle; and curvaceous, toned figure with a large chest, wide hips, large rear, and plump thighs. Pale skinned, the black lipstick of her upper lip and black nail polish stood out in stark contrast. She had on a zipped-up, dark gray, short-sleeved crop coat with a golden fur collar and cuffs – the swell of which did nothing to conceal her E-Cup chest. She wore a pair of white short-shorts; black, thigh-high socks with thin, yellow stripes on the sides; and black, steel-toed combat boots.
Blowing bubbles with her chewing gum, V may find patrol boring but she did take it somewhat seriously. So, when she found an unusual crevice she was sure was not there the previous day, she could only say one thing – accentuated with a *POP* from her gum bubble.
"The fuck is this?"