Although Shaloni had said with her own mouth that it was a small gift, the sight of the large boxes increasing one by one didn't match the word "small" at all.

Rather, there were so many that it was troublesome to figure out how to dispose of them.

"Isn't this too much?"

"This is the result of trimming down what I originally wanted to give you."

It was already quite substantial, and this was the trimmed-down result? When Osian looked at her with a suspicious gaze, Shaloni smiled as if she understood.

"You seem suspicious."

"Well, Antique Gear could directly hire us if they wanted to."

"Of course, there were many such opinions. But that was rejected along the way. The reason being not to spoil their mood unnecessarily."

The statement that a major corporation would consider the feelings of a mere fixer group didn't make sense. This was even more nonsensical than a lion fretting over a mouse's opinion.

'No. But this nonsensical thing became possible because we accomplished it.'

They successfully completed a mission that had seemed impossible. It was only natural that Antique Gear would highly value Osian and his group for that alone.

"Anyway, the things you're worried about won't happen, so you can relax. This is truly a gift given purely out of goodwill, with no intention of tying you down or anything like that."

"That's excessively generous for mere goodwill."

"You wouldn't believe me if I said this is just a big corporation's generosity, would you?"

Shaloni nodded as if she understood.

"Do you know what happened after you succeeded in your mission?"

"I only know the surface-level events."

The incident in District 38 was covered up as a gang fight at night. There were questions about why gangs would be in such an industrial area.

But the surrounding area was a zone strictly controlled by Battle Trench for experiments. That's why there were few witnesses despite the commotion.

Obviously, the aftermath of the battle with the Giant was too massive to be covered up with such flimsy excuses. However, since the city government actively attempted to manipulate information and conceal the truth, it was sufficient to blind the eyes and ears of the public.

Of course, only the public was blinded. Large organizations that should know about this incident would have already obtained substantial information.

"What happened to Battle Trench then? Was this incident essentially swept under the rug despite breaking unwritten rules?"

"If that were the case, we wouldn't be here with gifts, so delighted."

Shaloni's expression seemed more excited than usual, which suggested that the worrisome scenario hadn't materialized.

"I see. So while they're burying this incident by concealing information, behind the scenes they're actively taking care of business."

"No matter how dangerously Battle Trench acted, it would be impossible to completely uproot a pillar corporation using that as an excuse."

There's a saying that even a cornered rat will bite a cat. A massive and arrogant corporation like Battle Trench, when cornered, would be no less, if not more, dangerous than a rat.

Knowing this, the city government pressured them only to the point where Battle Trench could bow down and accept.

'Over the past few days, all sorts of negotiations must have been going on under the surface.'

And the fact that Shaloni came here like this meant those negotiations were likely in their final stages. Considering her position, she might have heard the results faster than others and come here.

"So Battle Trench has maintained just its shell while having a significant portion of its interests reclaimed?"

"That's not all. They essentially had important parts of their core eaten away. Among those, the significant development is that we've acquired the trading rights for military automatons supplied to the army."

This was not just good news for Antique Gear; it was like giving them wings. In public perception, Antique Gear produces automatons that can be used by the general public. Most combat models supplied to the military were Battle Trench's work.

'Of course, Antique Gear can also make combat automatons.'

But impressions, once set, are difficult to shed. It's a surprisingly powerful inertia. No matter how much you try to resist, you're forced to follow it.

When you give up resisting and get buried in that inertia, you forget even the thought of change. Antique Gear had been doing its best to break free from that, and finally, they had reaped the rewards.

"Battle Trench essentially had its core business rights confiscated. Even without those, a major corporation is still a major corporation. Of course, they can maintain an enormous scale, but the problem is that their core is gone. It's like an automaton with its core removed."

Originally, Battle Trench and Antique Gear were two corporations that maintained a balance of power. But this incident completely shattered that balance.

Even a minor crack would give the opponent reason to tear into you, but Battle Trench had even lost its prime business area.

As much as they shrink, Antique Gear grows larger. Naturally, Antique Gear will need time to digest the newly acquired business areas to properly govern them.

'But with this, the weight has completely tilted to one side.'

Yes. Battle Trench might look fine on the outside, but it was rapidly heading down the path of decline.

They were truly like frogs slowly being boiled alive. They must know this too. They'll struggle to escape somehow. If it had been earlier, who knows, but their mistake was too big for it to make any difference now.

In common sports rules, a corporation of this size could easily withstand three red cards. Considering how others might tremble at just one yellow card, it seemed absurd.

'However, this incident is worth ten red cards. With the city government deliberately calling for an inspection with fire in their eyes, Battle Trench had no choice but to bow their heads and apologize.'

Whatever the case, there seemed to be no need to worry about being in a hostile relationship with Battle Trench. Right now, they wouldn't have the leisure to pay attention to the fixers who interfered with their plans.

Even if they tried to do something, Antique Gear wouldn't sit by and let it happen.

"Thanks to this, all sorts of bonuses are overflowing in our department. Even our chairman, whose illness had worsened, laughed heartily this time, I heard."

"That's truly a celebratory occasion."

"My grandfather personally wanted to come here to express his gratitude, but the secretaries around him had a hard time stopping him."

Osian stared at Shaloni. It seemed she no longer had any intention of hiding her identity.

"By the way, I got promoted too."

"I see. Congratulations."

"I'm happy, but it's not all good. My sisters and brothers have started eyeing me with fire in their eyes."

It seemed to be related to succession disputes within the company. Osian nodded in empathy, having experienced succession issues in the Goldiron family.

Even in a wealthy investor's family, such issues gave headaches. How much worse would it be in a renowned major corporation?

"So from now on, I need capable and talented people. I need to expand my network with them."

Shaloni revealed her purpose. Of course, this wasn't entirely her own will. The one who gave this advice was none other than Director Zahart.

-Shaloni. From now on, you'll be a target for your sisters and brothers. Until now, you've slipped away like a loach, but now you too have been dragged into this chaos.

-Yes. I'm fully prepared.

-No, you still don't understand. How desperate and dirty this fight can be. Especially for those without ability and talent. It might not apply to you, but you must remember. Sometimes, those less capable than you can, out of pure malice, trip you up at crucial moments.

Zahart’s words were persuasive. He was the protagonist of a success story who had risen from the bottom to the position of Director. His words contained the essence of experiences accumulated over many years.

-I won't tell you to find good connections. You've become that connection now. Therefore, from now on, you'll need excellent talents around you who can handle your affairs when you're in trouble.

-Excellent talents...

-Anyone will do. If they have ability, befriend them regardless of their background. Since you started late, you need to do this even more. When your brothers and sisters won't even glance at the mud, you should search there directly for gems. No matter how dirty you get in the process, you must endure.

Shaloni felt some shock at those words. And she decided to sincerely accept Zahart’s advice.

"You are my first."

At Shaloni's words, the knights who had been happily looking at their gifts all turned their heads sharply in this direction.

"F-first?"

"What does that mean?"

The muscular men gathered in one place, perking up their ears like rabbits and starting to eavesdrop on the conversation. Their expressions were already filled with the pleasure of chewing, tearing, and savoring the relationship between Osian and Shaloni.

"That young lady seems to be someone high up, doesn't she?"

"Of course. She's the chairman's granddaughter. The youngest granddaughter."

"Is she making advances to our successor? Wow, a love story between a fixer and a major corporation chairman's granddaughter. Does that make sense?"

"Hey now. Do you know who our successor is? Don't talk nonsense. It's a question of whether it's appropriate even if the chairman himself confessed."

The conversation among themselves in the back was also audible to Osian. What's with the chairman visiting personally, you idiots? Are you suggesting I should have a romance with an old, groaning grandfather?

Ignoring their words, Osian said to Shaloni:

"I might be your first. But I already have someone."

At those words, the knights who were eavesdropping in the back were struck with shock.

"What, he already has someone? Who could it be?"

"The person chosen by our successor? No matter how I think about it, there are too many suspicious candidates."

Osian desperately suppressed the slight twitching of his forehead.

'Do these guys think I'm some kind of playboy?'

He hadn't done anything to develop a relationship with a woman since coming here, so he couldn't understand why the guys who had been watching him closely reacted like that.

"As expected of our successor! You live up to your looks! I'm moved!"

Glancing at Asmer, he saw the guy shedding tears of joy. Come to think of it, he always had a fanatical personality toward him, so it was somewhat understandable, but it was still annoying.

Fortunately, Shaloni, who hadn't heard their words, continued to smile despite her disappointment.

"As a knight, do you serve only one person?"

"You know about knights?"

"I've read a little about them in books before."

Though she said that, it was certainly not just a little.

"Only sworn knights who belong to someone serve just one person."

"Then?"

"I am what's called a wandering knight. I don't particularly serve anyone. But maintaining good relationships doesn't necessarily have to be with just one person."

Osian smiled gently and extended his hand.

"Let's get along well from now on."

The moment she saw that smile, Shaloni felt her breath stop. What is this? It was a phenomenon she couldn't understand at all.

A man who usually had an almost expressionless face smiled softly once, and the contrast was incredibly striking. Come to think of it, Osian was so handsome that it made one wonder why such a good-looking man was working as a fixer.

Not only that. He was good at fighting, had a good body, and his mind worked well too. Seeing how he could figure out things she hadn't mentioned, he really didn't seem like a fixer who only used his body.

Objectively speaking, he was full of elements that would attract the attention of all women.

'This, this can't be.'

Shaloni looked down at Osian's hand, rubbed her palm on her skirt, and then shook his hand. Just holding hands, but the sensation of his sturdy palm felt electrifying.

Strange. Why did she feel this way about this man? Shaloni hadn't had many connections with the opposite sex. Of course, there were many men who approached her, attracted by her appearance or status.

But Shaloni rejected them all. No matter how they tried to hide it, they all reeked of men with dark intentions.

Therefore, this kind of relationship, formed purely out of goodwill, was a first for her. Shaloni unconsciously blushed and nodded.

"L-let's get along well."

And seeing that, Asmer nodded with a solemn face as expected. Crossing his arms was a bonus.

"As expected of our successor."