3375 words
A few enervating hours passed by as Kiyotaka dealt with the military personnel.
It would not come much as a surprise, but the military had quite a lot of involvement in the politics. However, from what he could infer, the upper echelon of military was commanded by the royal family in disguise — which explained why the military had it's roots so deep into the politics.
There was quite some back and forth between the two parties, but in the end, they were able to come to a common consensus. Kiyotaka was able to retain a large part of his company for public sales — which had the potential for for higher margins — and a lower part for military.
Military sales, while lower in margin, had some other benefits such as exemption from taxes, access to news and events beforehand, and the new political party was going to launch active campaigns in favor of whatever business he was going to open.
In a sense, the politics felt more like cults operating the kingdom rather than set parties that wished to work for the betterment of general public — even though that was the front they wished to present.
During this meeting, Kiyotaka had digested more than half of his Briber potion as well. Since the powers of 'Bribing' itself activated after presenting a literal or symbolic bribe, he was able to have his way by offering part of his company's production capacity as a 'symbolic bribe.'
Since he had retained a bigger portion of his higher margin producing side, the criterion for Acting Method were all satisfied.
Other than this, Kiyotaka noticed that at least two of these were from Black Emperor Pathway as well. There were unmistakable hints of his intelligence being lowered multiple times and him coming under the influence of some kind of charm which made him recede in some areas.
They were not detrimental, as Kiyotaka had already determined what needed to be discussed, and how much leeway he was going to give them. If anything, it worked even better in his favor as lowering his intelligence in some moments made him even more stubborn.
In a sense, it all worked quite smoothly in his favor.
And all in all, despite selling a part of himself to them, he still got more benefits out of it.
In exchange, he was given a preliminary payment of around £6.000 to start the research and development of the vehicles which could provide faster transportation and could withstand bullets from steam powered rifles.
Satisfied with the deal, Kiyotaka was excused and he made his way down to the main party hall.
As he descended, he saw a bunch of ladies flocking Gehrman Sparrow who was currently holding a glass of wine, which was half-full. The women were giggling and chatting, while he just stood there like a stone statue, his jaw tight and his eyes intense.
Occasionally, he would nod and reciprocate with some words, but mostly it was the ladies who would just not leave.
Just as Kiyotaka descended the final steps of the stairs, Gehrman's gaze landed on. Behind the hardness of his eyes, Kiyotaka could feel a slight "call-for-help." That said, he had never seen Klein interact with women other than Tarot Club or his landlady.
Hence, he turned around and completely ignored him.
On the other hand, while Klein was definitely uncomfortable with so many women swarming him, he did not particularly mind. After all, 'Sherlock Moriarty' was a reserved person and interacted with everyone equally but he was also someone who was not famous amongst the ladies.
So it worked somewhat in his favor as well. A few minutes later, dinner was served and a lot of lords and ladies ate at the same table. They all talked about menial stuff and Kiyotaka mostly kept to himself.
Maury did not fan his achievements as well, knowing as too much recognition could be a bad thing. After all, he was bound to achieve scrutiny once the deal was made public.
After the light dinner — which comprised of smoked salmon, caviar, thinly slices roast beef, turkey, glazed carrots, peas & other seasonal vegetables. The dessert was composed of small fruit tarts, custard and some pastries — some of the other musicians gathered near the grand piano and the first notes of a waltz drifted across the drawing room.
By this time, more or less everyone was quite tipsy as alcohol had remained a steady companion of everyone.
Kiyotaka stood in a corner as a glass of wine slowly turned between his fingers as couples and unaccompanied guests alike began to take to the floor, moving gleefully to the rhythm of the music. They had huge smiles on their faces while some had their faces flushed.
Kiyotaka, however, had yet to take a single sip.
"Mr. Holmes."
Kiyotaka turned his head as he saw Riana Macht approach him with a glass of wine in one hand. "Mrs. Macht."
Maury Macht was still nowhere to be seen, presumably still busy with the military and parliament personnel.
"I hope you don't mind me joining you."
"Not at all."
Riana came to stand beside him as her gaze drifted toward the ballroom. "You have been remarkably patient tonight. My husband has a habit of becoming rather enthusiastic when discussing matters of business."
"I noticed. Though I found the discussion quite interesting, so I can understand why he gets like that."
"That is kind of you to say." She glanced at the untouched glass in his hand. "And apparently you have found the wine interesting enough to carry around, but not interesting enough to drink. Is our wine not up to your palette, Mr. Holmes?"
Kiyotaka looked down at it. "I suppose I have been distracted."
"By business?"
"Among other things."
Riana smiled. "Then I hope the evening has not been too tedious."
"Quite the contrary. I have met several interesting people."
"That is reassuring. I would hate to think we had invited you all this way merely to subject you to political discussions."
Kiyotaka nodded his head and looked at his reflection in the wine as he gave it another twirl. "I imagine that is one of the unavoidable privileges of attending a gathering as grand as this."
Riana laughed softly. "You speak rather carefully, Mr. Holmes."
"It tends to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings."
"An admirable habit." Riana moved her head in satisfaction. Her eyes remained on him for another moment as she changed the subject, partially. "And how have you found Backlund society?"
"It has been welcoming."
"Only welcoming?"
Kiyotaka did not show any visible expression, however, it was obvious that he was being quite soft and polite with her. "I have not yet been here long enough to offer a more informed judgment."
Riana gave him an amused look. "Very diplomatic."
"I would hope so."
Riana chuckled and placed her delicate fingers on her mouth. There was no awkwardness in his answers, nor did he seem particularly eager to impress her. He simply gave each question the answer it deserved and nothing more.
Riana found that rather refreshing.
Most young men of his age either spoke too much in an attempt to prove themselves or too little because they were frightened of saying the wrong thing. As she was having these thoughts, her gaze moved briefly toward the dance floor. "You haven't danced yet."
"Not yet."
"Do you dance?"
"I know the basic steps."
"Only the basic ones?"
"You must know, Mrs. Macht, I come from humble beginnings. Learning how to dance was the least of our concerns, growing up. However, I had learned a few things, watching others."
Riana smiled. "Modesty as well. You are making my assessment rather difficult."
"Assessment?" Kiyotaka glanced at her.
For the first time, Riana's smile became slightly mischievous as she took another sip of her wine. "Its a figure of speech. You may have noticed my daughter has remained rather quiet this evening." She said pointing with her head towards Hazel who was standing with her arms crossed.
It was a simple gesture which warded off any men who would want to come and dance with her.
"I did notice that, yes."
"Hazel has always been somewhat selective about the company she keeps."
"I imagine that is a useful quality."
"It can be." Riana's eyes briefly wandered toward Hazel, who was standing with several young ladies near one of the windows. "She mentioned your automobiles earlier."
'I doubt that...'
Riana continued talking. "I believe she was genuinely curious about them. Perhaps you satiate her curiosity. And in doing so, perhaps, you may find a young companion in her." As if realizing her mistake, she took a sip of her wine. "A young friend. I believe being surrounded by old politicians and generals is not a pretty sight."
"If you say so." Kiyotaka lowered his head a little.
'How exhausting... I want to go home. But that said, where is the real danger? Have I not come across it yet? Or has the source of danger not noticed me yet? The paper boat in my pocket is still intact so there's nothing that Sherlock has detected either. How strange.'
"The evening is still young," she continued. "And I suspect Hazel would appreciate having someone as smart as you accompany her without turning the conversation into a lecture. Ah yes, however, if you wish to not dance, you can take her to show your creation right away as well."
Kiyotaka looked at her hand, then toward Hazel. "Would she be agreeable to that?"
"I believe so." Riana's smile became slightly wider. "And if she isn't, I shall take responsibility for the suggestion."
"A dance with you shall suffice."
Riana chuckled and placed her gloved hand on her lips as she did. She looked at his silky hair and then at his frame was lithe but dominating at the same time. And somehow, along the line, his words had more or less began to charm her as well.
"Very well." She smiled and took the final sip from her wine before picking up another glass. "I will leave her in your care then." Saying that, Riana took her leave and mingled in with a group of women who were not dancing.
As Kiyotaka began to awkwardly walk towards Hazel, Klein suddenly appeared and stopped him. "That girl... Hazel, is her name right? She is a Beyonder, that much is clear, and has a Mystical Item corresponding to Sequence 7 or higher. Plus, she is not alone, there is a High Level Beyonder here."
"High level?"
"Yes. The feeling is very vague, but I can tell."
"Hmm, alright. We can wait until further developments. How about you go somewhere else and check? Don't investigate into first floor. There are powerful Beyonders from different pathways there. So the High Sequence Beyonder has to be on the ground floor."
"Right. I will see. If I find it..." The look on Gehrman Sparrow's face darkened. "...we are going to hunt it."
"I would strongly advise against that."
"Oh for heaven's sake, let me act!" Gehrman accidently raised his voice, however, no one seemed to have noticed. Getting back into character, he turned around and left.
As he did, Kiyotaka's gaze naturally drifted toward Hazel.
She was standing near one of the tall windows with several other young ladies, her arms no longer crossed but resting loosely by her side.
The dark emerald dress she wore complemented her wavy black-green hair, which fell over the lace collar around her neck. She was of medium height, neither particularly tall nor short. Unlike the other young women around her, Hazel did not seem particularly interested in the dance.
As a matter of fact, she did not even seem interested in the conversation she was engaged in.
As he began walking toward her, Hazel noticed him. Her brown eyes met his pale-blue ones for a moment, and then she subtly straightened herself.
"Miss Macht."
"Mr. Holmes."
Kiyotaka offered a polite bow. "I hope I am not interrupting."
'How exhausting... I hope no one else invites me to these parties anymore.'
"Not at all." Her answer was immediate and perfectly courteous, however, with how quick she replied, it did imply subtly that he was interrupting... Whatever she was doing.
Kiyotaka glanced briefly toward the dance floor before returning his attention to her.
"Your mother suggested that I ask you for a dance."
Hazel's eyes shifted toward Riana where she was already engaged in conversation with another group of ladies. Her chest rose and fell, as if sighing without showing it on her face.
"I see." There was a faint pause as she continued. "I suppose I cannot very well blame you for following my mother's suggestion."
"Then I shall take that as a reluctant acceptance."
Hazel's lips curved by the smallest amount. "You may."
She extended her hand and Kiyotaka took it gently, careful not to grip too tightly, and guided her toward the dance floor. As they joined the other couples, Hazel glanced at him.
"I hope you know how to dance."
"I believe I know enough not to embarrass you."
"That is a rather low standard."
"It seemed appropriate for a first dance."
Hazel looked at him for a moment before a tiny, helpless smile appeared, before being snuffed out. "Perhaps."
The musicians continued their waltz and Kiyotaka placed one hand appropriately at her side while keeping the other around her gloved hand.
He was making sure to control his strength. After all, even if he wasn't trying, his bone density and grip strength had increased so much that if he was not careful, he could easily crack the young girl's bones. That is to say, if she was not a Beyonder.
Hazel, on the other hand, followed his lead with practiced ease. Her movements were measured and graceful and soon a lot of gazes were directed to them.
Kiyotaka had quickly realized that she was a considerably better dancer than he was but he was adapting in tandem to her. Hazel increased the cadence and complexity of her steps, however, he could always match her, despite how complicated it became.
At first, Hazel had followed the conventional pattern of the waltz which comprised of three slower steps, a turn and then three more.
However, when she saw that Kiyotaka was matching her, she changed it.
Rather than completing the ordinary turn, Hazel shifted her weight sharply onto one foot and guided him into a tighter rotation, forcing the pair of them to turn almost twice within the same span of music.
Kiyotaka's eyes lowered for less than a second as he saw the placement of her foot, the angle of her shoulder and the slight change in the pressure of her fingers against his hand.
That was enough for him as his next step adjusted accordingly by itself.
Hazel's eyes widened ever so slightly.
After all, she had expected him to stumble, but he hadn't. Instead, he matched her energy and did the same thing, forcing her spin three times before grabbing her by the waist again.
At the same time, The musicians moved into a livelier section of the waltz, and Hazel took advantage of it.
She stepped forward, forcing Kiyotaka backward, then pivoted around him before returning to his side. Her emerald skirt swept across the floor as she turned, the folds of the fabric briefly fanning outward before settling against her legs again.
Kiyotaka followed without hesitation as Hazel changed her tactics once more and deliberately shortened her steps, forcing him to do the same before suddenly lengthening them again.
The movement required a quick adjustment of balance, particularly when performed while turning.
However, Kiyotaka's body 'broke the rules of a normal human body,' and hence these changes meant next to nothing.
Hazel's lips parted slightly, as if she was trying to say something, however, the maneuvers she was doing made her breathless and any words she wished to say were drowned underneath a breathless whisper.
Unsatisfied, she tried again. This time, she introduced a sequence that required them to cross paths briefly before reconnecting, something that would have been difficult for someone who only knew the basic steps.
When Hazel turned left, he turned with her. When she shifted backward, he compensated. When she accelerated, he accelerated as well. When she deliberately broke the rhythm, he followed that as well.
It was no longer Hazel leading and Kiyotaka following.
The realization seemed to amuse her deeply and a faint smile appeared on Hazel's lips. "You really weren't exaggerating when you said you knew how to dance."
"I know the basic steps."
"This is considerably beyond the basics."
"I have been fortunate to have a good partner."
Hazel gave him a look. "Are you complimenting me?"
"I believe the compliment was deserved."
Her smile grew slightly. "Then I shall accept it."
The music continued and Hazel's confidence grew with every movement.
She increased the tempo again, this time adding a series of rapid turns. Her hand tightened slightly around his as she spun, using the connection between them to maintain her balance before returning smoothly into his arms.
Kiyotaka adjusted his footing almost instinctively.
It became less of a dance and more akin to a test.
And eventually, Hazel realized that she could no longer tell whether she was testing him or simply enjoying herself.
The music reached its climax.
Hazel performed one final turn, her emerald dress sweeping outward as she rotated before Kiyotaka guided her smoothly back into position.
The final note rang through the ballroom and for half a second, there was silence.
Then, all of a sudden, applause erupted around them.
Several guests clapped enthusiastically, while others smiled and exchanged quiet remarks. A few of the older ladies were already whispering among themselves, their eyes moving between Hazel and Kiyotaka with unmistakable interest.
Hazel remained still for a moment.
Her breathing had become slightly heavier from the exertion, and there was a faint flush across her cheeks as she looked at Kiyotaka. "So much for the basic steps."
"I believe you were the one who made them complicated." Kiyotaka replied, his scalp moist as most of his hair drooped down and stuck to his forehead and laid messily on his face.
"And you kept up."
"I tried."
Hazel gave him a small, almost disbelieving smile. They left the dance floor together and moved toward a quieter corner of the ballroom, where a small table had been arranged with wine and other refreshments.
Hazel picked up a glass and Kiyotaka did the same, but he had picked some cold bear instead. For the first time that evening, he actually took a sip.
Hazel drank as well, allowing the liquid to soothe her parched throat after the dance.
"I must admit," she said after lowering her glass, "I expected you to be considerably worse. You handled yourself well."
"Thank you."
Hazel took another sip of wine. "You are interesting."
There was no flirtation in her voice. It was almost a clinical observation, but it was considerably warmer than anything she had said to him before, or anyone else. Hazel looked toward the ballroom. "And your automobile..."
Her gaze returned to him. "Would it be possible for me to see it tonight?"
Kiyotaka considered her for a moment. "Certainly."
Hazel's expression softened. "And perhaps take a short ride?"
Kiyotaka raised his glass slightly. "If your parents permit it."
Hazel glanced across the ballroom and lo-and-behold, Riana and Maury — who had returned at some point during their dance — were watching the two them from a good distance.
"I don't think permission will be the difficult part." She said as a faint sigh escaped her.
Kiyotaka followed her gaze, however, Riana and Maury immediately looked away and became extremely interested in the conversation of the people shaking their hands as they began to leave.
Kiyotaka returned his attention to Hazel. "Then I suppose the matter is settled."
However, at the same time, Kiyotaka saw Gehrman Sparrow step inside foray once more. He had the same cold and brutal look on his face. With his hand hanging by his side, he quietly snapped his fingers.
Kiyotaka reached into his pocket, however, the paper boat was safe.
Which meant that he only wished to talk and there was no immediate danger.
Turning around to face Hazel, Kiyotaka looked down at her. "Excuse me for a moment, Miss Macht. I will be back shortly."
"Sure." Hazel replied and then turned away, walking towards her parents.
Her parents saw Kiyotaka and Klein — disguised as Gehrman — talking before both of them walked over to a quiet corner.
Maury moved his tongue on the inside of his cheek as he narrowed his eyes. 'Gehrman Sparrow, huh? This calls for an investigation.'