Chapter 473: Forgiveness


    Those present held wanting gazes, thereid a small excitement on their faces. Put it another way, when one gifts a present, they usually expect a good reaction to validate the effort. Part of him wanted to smile, another wanted to hide.


    “Let’s head to the car,” said she holding the briefcase.


    “Sorry about the urgency,” voiced the cool-faced Elvira, a call came prior concerning important matters.


    “I’ll go on ahead,” said the leader of Phantom rushing to another parked car. The guards adjacent saluted the moment she came in sight. Big heavy wheels rolled upon the wet-tarmac flicking droplets about, the weather came to a bnce between sunny and rainy. The moving grey-clouds were emotionless.


    “Don’t you like the present?”


    “No, that’s not it,” he paused outside reluctant to spoil the leathered interior.


    “Get in already,” she reached to pull his arms, “-I told you, there’s no need to worry about dirtying the car.” The door shut peacefully with the wipers cleaning the windscreen. “Take a look for yourself,” said she pressing the ‘start’ button.


    .....


    ‘The phone is amazing, my Id, papers and bank card. Everything’s interlocked with the phone. The bank ount reads 10 million Exa with my name on top.’


    “Impressive, isn’t it?” she smirked and sped for the apartment.


    “Lady Mother,” gently shutting the case, “-I’m sorry, I can’t ept it. Having all that money is more of a pain than I thought. It doesn’t feel natural, I want to earn the right and not have it be given. I’m afraid I might go numb to the pleasures of working hard to attain a goal. Please, I c-can’t.”


    “Look at you,” she gave a motherly smile, “-I’m d you think that way, truly. Still, It’s my way of atonement for having abandoned my son so many years ago. Come on, let me spoil you,” the innocent lift of the lips and nose, even brows joined her bashful expression.


    “On one condition,” said he, “-I want to work hard and earn on my own. Is that ok?”


    “Do as you wish, the phone there is equipped with an AI named éir. It’s unique and only listens to a certain person. It went offline with the sister-system running as a back-up. This is the final test. You’ll find contacts lenses and earrings below the dashboard. Wear them now.”


    “I don’t have piercings.”


    “No worries,” *snap,* two faint ambers burnt the center of the earlobe, “-there. Should fit easily now.”


    ‘Scary,’ the earrings were golden and held dark stones filled with minuscule white dots – a reflection of the star-stuttered night he admired so much. The contacts feltfortable, almost inexistent.


    “Don’t worry about changing the liquid,” said she, “-the contact works fine without the cleaning agent. Shower, extreme sports, do anything, it’s going nowhere.”


    “I’ve got them on,” said he waiting for the response.


    “Ok,” she nced, “-there should be an interface,” the focus returned to the road.


    “You mean the highlighted white boxes over yonder?”


    “Yes, it’s a good sign already. Now, turn over the phone, remove the casing, there should be a needle. Let it prick your thumb.”


    “Ok?” senselessly following instructions, ‘-it vibrated.’


    *Host recognized,*


    “What?” he jumped.


    “You heard it?” asked she wanting to turn, theplexyout of vehicles made her weary, “-a voice.”


    “Yes, it said, host recognized.”


    “Good, it works,” sheughed, “-I knew it. Go on and turn over the phone, son, you’ve just inherited éir. It will help you more than is imaginable.”


    “éir, what does it do?”


    “A spirit that roams thend beyond our world. He holds the key to many vestiges of the past, the future, the present, nothing escapes him. I won’t go into details, the thing’s just going to bore you.”


    ‘This is amazing,’ he stared the world with a new perspective. People’s faces were highlighted, sometimes their name and upation woulde on, other times, their social media. Buildings, roads, traffic lights, stores, anything he watched had informatione up. Things became apparent after passing a dark-alley, the boxes were color graded from white, green, yellow, red, and ck. In that instant, the red box came with ‘-kidnapping in process.’


    “Lady Mother,” he shouted, “-please, stop the car.”


    She mmed the breaks, “-what happened?”


    “Igna Haggard,” spoke the same mysterious voice, “-what are your orders?”


    “Help me stop the kidnapping,” leaving no exnation, he bolted out of the car. Arrows showed the optimal route, smaller screens appeared with a feed from cameras, smart-phone, and even the recording of the assant.


    “Get her in the van already,” said a man smoking a cigarette. The alley led into a hidden plot with rusted and broken shops. Gross ck substances leaked out the many outside walls. The bins were littered with smelly bags.


    “Please be on the lookout,” said the voice, “-calling authorities. Estimated time of arrival, 05:00 minutes.”


    ‘Five minutes?’ thought he leaned against a moisture brick wall. The unknown group fought to keep the girl silent. She’d kick, punch, and even go for the eyeballs. ‘I can’t help but be amazed. I can see their figures through the walls, these contacts are overpowered. One has a gun, the other two have daggers?’


    “Culprit recognized as the Tunn’s Gang. Their involvement in human trafficking has gone unnoticed. The leader is under investigation. What will you do?”


    “I don’t know,” he stopped, “-I came here as a hero and don’t have a n. I don’t even have a weapon.”


    “Son,” approached Lady Courtney with high-heels, “-there are things you need to tell me before rushing off,” her white-hair flowed to vanish into the empty plot. Not even a second past, she apprehended the kidnappers and let the girl free.


    “Amazing...” thought he admiring her strong figure.


    “Stop gawking,” a chop to the headter, “-you know how hard it is to find parking?”


    ‘She’s mad about the parking and not me running off? I’m lost for words.’ He followed silently and the trip resumed.


    “Don’t just run out without a n,” said she.


    “Mother, these contacts would be more useful on your hands...”


    “Don’t look at me as if a stray,” she poked his cheeks, “-it’s rted to éir, and only the spirit has the right to see a fitting host. He’ll take good care of you in my absence. I won’t force the duties of a noble-birthed boy on you, go out and explore, live the world for yourself. You imposed your condition, and it’s now my turn. Never take off the contacts or earrings. There’s a special slot on the phone that manages the contacts. Put them when you sleep or don’t need them. The phone needs, and I repeat, MUST be on you at all times, is that clear?”


    “Yesdy mother, I appreciate it.”


    “Good, then feel free to mess around with the AI. After all, it’s a creation of Phantom, a gift from my brother. You’re back to our family, don’t cause too much trouble. Elsedy Haru is going to be angry.”


    “Bydy Haru,” a frightful possibility shed, “-did you speak to her?”


    “Obviously,” sheughed at his timid face, “-she knew it all along. Now, what will you do?”


    “Don’t know,” he shrugged, “-I guess I’ll head to the Trader’s Guild and start working. I did promisedy Haru to do my best... I mean, I did sort of get kicked out of thedy Yuki’s favors.”


    “I won’t be so sure,” without realizing as he kept on scouring the phone for more features, she sneakily brought the car to the town square. Twilightid out the window, the stone-road ambered with streetmps until a nicely lit, ‘Loron’s Restaurant’.


    “Lady Mother, are you sure?” asked he bewildered at her decisive stare.


    “Yeah, I heard from Lord Lordon earlier. It’s part of the reason why Elvira return. The Lordon’s were very apologetic, mostly Yuki, she grieved the most at her attitude. Here,” the speakers came to life. “-Lady Elvira, I beg of thee, I never knew my actions would end in such a scandal. I’m saying this not as the owner-chef of Loron, but as thedy who endeavored to teach a young boy. I know my personality is very toxic at times, I’ve acknowledged it for years... habits are hard to change. I pledge from this moment forth to care for Igna with all my might. I thought he would havee for revenge. Those sympathetic eyes that turned tofort and love, I want them back, they are the reason I stepped in the kitchen. I want the best for him, please, give me a chance.”


    “I don’t have a say in the matter,” said she strictly, “-the decision is master Igna’s alone. Lady Courtney shall bring him to the restaurantter. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t forgotten the way you treated a potential heir to the Haggard’s. If word of this got out, the Lordon’s might be vanquished and squandered like the feasting ants you are. That goes double for you, Lord Lordon. My sources say you’ve engaged in rendezvous with the Five conglomerates of Alphia, must I remind thee of thy stature? Thou art part of the nobility of Hidros, scandals can break a nation’s peace. Let this be a warning, any more of those secretive meetings and I swear,” a heavy object dropped onto the table, “-the DG might get involved.”


    “I apologize,dy Elvira, I was naught but an exchange of food talk with another gourmet. I meant no harm.”


    “What is done is done, don’t stand out too much,” the recording ended. The pause of silence amplified the terrifying nature of the cheerful Elvira.


    “She’s a totally different person,” he stepped out.


    “That’s the leader of Phantom for you,” winked Courtney, “-go on and decide. Tis thy future. there’s a gift waiting inside. Don’t take long,” the windows rolled.


    ‘Off she goes,’ back against the speeding car, he walked slowly towards the opened restaurant. Many o’ couples went to and fro. The night-life had begun, the atmosphere had a sophisticated air to it. No longer were teenagers and mothers gossiping, it reced for one quiet and peaceful.


    “What did she mean by surprise?”


    “Lady Courtney sent a bike, a gift for quicker movement. Anything else you’d like to know?”


    “I was wondering, are you éir?”


    “Yes, I’m your assistant from today onwards. There’s no particr thing to be worried about. Make sure the phone is charged, that’s about it.”


    “Are you sentient?”


    “Yes, I’m a living being in all the sense of the word except in physical form. Remember, if you need anything, just speak, I shalle to thy aid without dy. The interface before is my view on the world. In other words, we’ve merged for you see what I see, and I see what you see. The danger levels are self-exnatory, you can configure the settingster,” it zoomed onto a strange figure hidden behind a curtain.


    “That’sdy Yuki, isn’t it?”


    “Yes,” the visual changed to the inner-camera, “dy Yuki.”


    “You can ess anything?” asked he with a cheeky expression.


    “Affirmative, I can even get into an actress’s bedchambers and leak a few explicit videos and photos, granted there’s digital gadgets present.”


    “A nice invitation,” heughed, “-éir, thank you for the help.”


    “No worries. I’ll configure the current settings for cooking. Lady Elvira uploaded a summary of preferences and such.”


    “I don’t have any idea of what you speak, but thank you.” The voice turned mute with small pop-ups in the corner, he took to speaking in word.


    ‘This is awkward,’ he stood at the door, “-excuse me, may Ie in?”


    “Igna?”


    “Manager J,” he entered the emptied restaurant, “-where’sdy Yuki?”


    “In the kitchen,” she stopped mid of cleaning the tables as he walked by, “-psst.”


    “Yeah?”


    “Come here,” she gestured, “-do you know anything about thedy’s strange behavior?”


    .....


    “No, maybe it’s the weather.” Not only was J cleaning the room, but the other chefs were also spotted here and there recing sses and tes. They nodded as hello and resumed. ‘Interrupting them is not that good an idea,’ he figured and pushed the wide-double doors of the kitchen.


    “Lady Yuki,” she stood strongly with a wandering gaze.


    “Igna,” her half-smile felt confusing and on edge, Joe paused to lean into the would-be exchange. Emma and Emmy were cat-like in their espionage to crouch tantly behind flour. Something was wrong, they felt it first-hand. “You’vee?”


    “Yeah?” he shrugged, “-about the restaurant.”


    “It’s fine,” she interrupted, “-I won’t be sad if you leave us now. I mean, it’s partly my fault. I mean, you’re from a noble family, I can’t expect to have you cutting vegetables for a living,” the words sped, “-so, so, I’m...”


    “Lady Yuki,” he chuckled, “-I came to work. Mydy mother sort of dropped me here and left.”


    “You’re not leaving?” the tense cheeks eased into her resting face, “-I’m d. We don’t have time to speak, go get dressed, service starts in half an hour.”