Chapter 520: Strange Contract Method, Is Unlocking a Ritual?
For the better part of the afternoon, Courage, Decora, and the other female executives of the World Gourmet Organization managed to shatter the hearts of every male staff member present on the construction site. These usually untouchable, high-ranking beauties were swarming around a single man with an enthusiasm that bordered on absolute devotion. The way they eagerly pointed out every minor detail of the developing property made them look less like elite inspectors and more like smitten schoolgirls proudly showing off a prized trophy to their parents.
Nakiri Mana and her entourage, meanwhile, had been entirely relegated to the role of glorified tour guides. Standing off to the side, Nami watched the bustling workers and executives hauling processed materials across the dusty lot, letting out a long, quiet sigh.
Catching the sound, Decora blinked and turned her attention away from Ren. "Nami, what's wrong?"
Nami offered a helpless, slightly overwhelmed smile. "I just can't quite imagine what this place will look like once it's finished... But Courage, I've been meaning to ask you something. If this establishment actually gets built, won't you be forced to work here every single day?"
Hearing this, Courage smoothed down her skirt and sighed softly. "Well, technically we would have to clock in daily. But given our special identities within the WGO, and the fact that we don't live very far from here, we have a lot of flexibility. We can just drop by whenever something requires our immediate attention."
Ren tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. "So, when I come over to teach my classes, some of you might just conveniently skip out. Decora did mention something about an evaluation earlier."
Decora flashed a bright, unapologetic smile. "Of course! We already anticipated that, which is exactly why we agreed that at least one of us will always be stationed in the store. This way, Ren, you won't have a single chance to slip away from us."
Ren tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Is that so? What if I just turn one of you against the others?"
Decora froze. Her eyes slowly drifted toward Courage, who instantly shrank back under the scrutiny.
"Uh... wh-what?" Courage stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "Ah... Decora, I haven't betrayed anyone! I'm just... a little embarrassed, that's all. Why would you immediately look at me...?"
"Because we've been best friends for years, and I know exactly how you operate," Decora declared, pointing an accusing finger. "I can feel it in my bones. You are absolutely going to betray us for him!"
"N-No, I won't..." Courage whispered, her voice lacking any real conviction. "You have to believe me..."
Decora shook her head with resolute finality. "On any other matter, I'd trust you with my life. But when it comes to this? You are definitely on Ren's side!"
Watching the immediate collapse of their united front, Nakiri Mana pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Your grand alliance is already crumbling, and the restaurant hasn't even opened yet..."
Decora blinked, suddenly realizing she had been played, and whipped her head back toward Ren.
He merely offered a wicked, easy smile. "Actually, I originally wanted to turn you against the others, Decora."
A furious blush exploded across Decora's face, spreading all the way to the tips of her ears. She shook her head frantically, stepping back. "I-I won't betray my teammates!"
"Eh? What a shame."
Courage tilted her head, opening her mouth to defend her own loyalty again, but a smooth, amused voice cut through the bickering.
"As expected of Ren. He really knows how to play with his food," Justice said, leaning casually against a nearby pillar with a wide grin. "But Ren, what exactly have you been staring at for the past five minutes?"
Ren shifted his gaze back to the sprawling blueprints in his hand, then pointed toward the far end of the dusty lot. "I'm looking at the perimeter fence over there. I can't shake the feeling that something crucial is missing..."
"Missing something?" the WGO girls echoed in unison.
Ren took the master sketch directly from Decora's hands, tracing a line across the paper with his index finger. He sighed. "You guys are building the main parking lot all the way in the back, right?"
Mana nodded, stepping closer to inspect the drawing. "Yes, that's the designated parking area. Is there a problem with the layout?"
Ren looked at her with a mix of amusement and helplessness. "Are you absolutely sure you want the parking lot pushed that far back?"
"What's wrong with it?" Mana asked, her brow furrowing in genuine confusion.
Suddenly, a look of sheer horror washed over Courage's face. "Uh... Lady Mana..." she began, her voice dripping with embarrassment. "If we build it exactly like that, it's going to be completely out of bounds. The heavy food delivery trucks... they'll get completely stuck in the bottleneck."
Mana started, her eyes widening as she re-examined the sketch. "Eh? You're right! How did the drafting team miss this? Logically, the spatial flow should have been fine."
Ren handed the blueprint back. "You overlooked one very practical detail. You didn't leave a side service entrance for the delivery trucks at all. Instead, you drew a beautiful, winding access road that leads straight into a dead end."
Mana's mouth twitched. Staring at the fatal flaw in the design, she realized he was entirely correct.
Courage buried her face in her hands, groaning softly. "No wonder I felt like something was off when we walked the perimeter... I knew it didn't make sense. Why would massive delivery trucks use the front customer entrance?!"
Decora frowned, crossing her arms. "Who was the one that gave the final approval on this document?"
"Uh... it was Rantabi," Courage muttered through her fingers. "But she seemed really distracted... Ah! Wait, she did say there was a problem with the drafting, but then she got pulled away for an urgent call and never followed up on it!"
Ren chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "It's fine, it's an easy fix. You just need to knock out a section of the wall and open a service door. Speaking of which, despite the blueprint hiccup, you all have a fantastic eye for real estate. This isn't deep in the city center, but it's close enough to draw a massive crowd. It meets all the optimal requirements for a high-end establishment."
Mana and the others nodded, their professional pride slightly restored. They were just about to discuss the revisions when Decora suddenly froze, her eyes locking onto the tall, silver-haired woman leaning against the pillar.
"Wait a second, I just realized something!" Decora blurted out, pointing at Justice. "Who are you?"
Justice pushed herself off the pillar, flashing a brilliant, devastatingly cool smile. "Good afternoon, ladies. I am Justice. I'm also Ren's girlfriend."
Courage, Decora, and the rest of the WGO executives stared blankly at the silver-haired demon. The silence stretched on for several agonizing seconds before a collective, confused squeak escaped their lips. Once Justice casually elaborated on her living situation with Ren, the high-ranking inspectors visibly deflated, their previous enthusiasm replaced by a heavy, dejected gloom.
After wrapping up the site inspection, the group decided to head toward the commercial district to buy some everyday necessities for Justice.
As they walked, Modeus suddenly tugged on Ren's sleeve, subtly waving him closer. Understanding the cue, Ren slowed his pace and lowered his head. Modeus immediately rose onto her tiptoes, pressing her soft lips near his ear as she whispered something meant only for him.
When she pulled back, Ren stared at the Lustful Demon with a deeply puzzled expression. "Modeus, are you serious? Do you really still need a ritual for this?"
Modeus nodded, her expression deadpan and intensely serious, though her breathing had grown noticeably shallow.
Ren couldn't help but laugh. "Your pupils are completely dilated, so you don't look serious at all. Though, to be fair, it would probably be a lot stranger if you actually acted normal."
Walking slightly ahead, Lucifer glanced over her shoulder, her regal brows knitting together in confusion. "What did Modeus just say to you?"
Ren smiled smoothly. "Modeus said she wants to head back to the house to discuss a very important matter with me. She claims it requires some specific kind of ritual, so we're going to head back first."
Lucifer pondered this for a moment. She knew Modeus had been eager to finalize her contract with Ren, but she couldn't fathom what sort of demonic or magical contract required a specialized 'ritual' in the middle of the afternoon.
Dismissing the thought, Lucifer waved a hand elegantly. "Alright, you two go on ahead. The rest of us are going to shop a bit more. We will be back in time for dinner."
Modeus checked the time on her phone, letting out a heavy, heated sigh of relief. She grabbed Ren's arm, her grip surprisingly tight. "Ren! Let's go back quickly!"
Startled by her sudden urgency, Ren nodded and glanced at the others. "Alright then, you all have fun. We'll be taking our leave."
As they watched Ren and Modeus hurry down the street, Justice crossed her arms, a knowing, wicked smirk playing on her lips. "Hey, Lucifer. Did you by any chance tell Modeus to 'unlock' something?"
Lucifer blinked, her crimson eyes filled with genuine bewilderment. "Uh... Huh?! Unlock what? What on earth are you talking about?"
Justice leaned in close, shielding her mouth with her hand as she whispered the exact nature of Modeus's 'ritual' directly into the CEO of Hell's ear.
In a fraction of a second, Lucifer's dignified composure shattered. Her face flushed a violent, brilliant crimson, the heat radiating all the way down her neck.
"Un... unlock?!" Lucifer stammered, her voice pitching up in sheer scandalized horror. "So the contract she was talking about... it's... it's a key?!"
Justice simply smiled, giving a slow, confirming nod.
Lucifer covered her burning face with both hands, letting out a long, trembling sigh. "That is... that is completely absurd..."
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